Proofread by Claire.KK
It is a tough question. Xie Mengxuan was different from the eldest daughter in Xie Family. Maybe there was someone also named as Xie Mengxuan, but the aristocratic Xie Family only has one eldest daughter.
Xie Mengxuan understood his meaning. She said with a smile: “Is there any difference? Xie Mengxuan is the eldest daughter of the Xie Family.”
She did not seem to answer his question. But Uncle Luo had figured it out. He stared at her without saying a word. After a while, he said, “I hope I will not be disappointed if I cooperate with you.”
“Absolutely not.” Xie Mengxuan stood up and breathed in relief. “Thank you, Uncle Luo.”
After she left the cabin, Uncle Luo stayed inside with a meaningful look.
The kitchen was on the opposite of the cabin. So when Xie Mengxuan came out of the cabin, she was stunned at the wisps of smoke rising continuously from the chimney. She stood at the door of the kitchen as if she did not see Gu Yusheng.
Looking at the busy man in the kitchen, she thought it was not easy for her to believe in strangers, but after she woke up in the village, she hardly doubted him or took precautions against him.
He was simple and honest when he got along with her. Xie Mengxuan knew he was far away from what he behaved like. She once thought that she could be a bystander. Maybe he could save himself. But if he couldn’t, Geng might lose his life.
Xie Mengxuan sighed with her sight drooped to the ground. Geng Zhishan was busy cooking, washing vegetables and dealing with the ingredients. He was so absorbed in it that he seemed to have not noticed the people at the door.
At that moment, when she looked at him carefully, Xie Mengxuan just found that if he dressed himself up with brocade clothes and then tied up his long hairs, Geng Zhishan will be a good-looking man.
She lost herself when thinking of that.
“Have you convinced Uncle Luo?” Gu Yusheng walked behind her with his hands on his back, and asked softly.
Xie Mengxuan did not look back. “I thought you heard what I said.”
“Is it worth saving him?” Gu Yusheng’s eyes were full of puzzlement.
“I don’t know, but if I don’t save him, I’ll feel guilty.” Xie Mengxuan thought for a while and answered slightly. Her face was full of doubts, as if she herself was confused too.
Gu Yusheng didn’t say anything for a while before he smiled suddenly, “OK. I will help you so long as you feel better.”
“Have you ever figured out what to do?” Gu Yusheng said with an easy tone.
Xie Mengxuan winked and then looked into his eyes. She enunciated each word clearly and carefully: “Let some of your people help us.
Gu Yusheng was stunned, a touch of panic flashing in his eyes, but he soon covered it with a smile.
Seeing that he just smiled without saying any words, Xie Mengxuan said: “Don’t lie to me that there was no one sent to here protect you. Maybe currently you are not comparable to the n.o.ble sons in the imperial capital, but our master won’t arrange no one to safeguard you.”
Gu Yusheng wanted to say no at first. But it was not easy to blind Xie Mengxuan. He shook his head helplessly, “I know I can’t keep you in the dark.
“How many people are there?” Xie Mengxuan asked.
Gu Yusheng had rejected to save Geng all the time before, so he only mentioned Uncle Luo. She merely thought it was not convenient for Gu Yusheng to expose so much information. But now that he was willing to help, it was time to take advantage of his people.
“In fact, I don’t have a number of people. Is three people enough?” Gu Yusheng replied.
Xie Mengxuan nodded. “Yes. Since they are plotting us in the name of the Mountain G.o.d, we can also make some arrangement in the same way.”
Xie Mengxuan reached out her hand to take the rain. She felt a bit pain when rain water dropped on her palm, “Since it rains so hard and they have the fear of the Mountain G.o.d, then we can take actions more easily.”
Gu Yu thought about it for a moment. “I don’t know what kind of sacrificial ceremony they’ll apply, if Geng is to be buried alive...”
There were many kinds of sacrificial ceremonies including sacrificing in water, burying alive or being pushed down the mountain directly. In other words, it was the most beneficial for Xie to save a person from sacrifice of water. It was also risky if he or she was to be buried alive. What was more, to push him or her directly off the cliff was the most dangerous.
Xie Mengxuan, however, was not in an anxiety. “If he’s buried alive, it will be more convenient to dig him out as long as we take actions as soon as possible.”
Gu Yusheng’s eyes was full of bewilderment. How could she be so confident of herself that she could save him on time?
At that moment, Geng Zhishan served the food on the table, “Let’s have dinner.”
He heard what they said because they didn’t mean to hide it from him. But his face didn’t change a little.
Xie Mengxuan opened her mouth but at last she just said those three words.
They had the meal without saying anything when all the delicious food became tasteless for them.
After eating, Gu Yusheng told them something and then they left the yard.
Outside the cabin, Zhao Long and Zhao Hu still dutifully guarded there. As long as those who went out were not Geng Zhishan, they didn’t care at all.
Xie Mengxuan sat side by side with Geng on the stairs and looked at the acc.u.mulated rain in the yard. Xie Mengxuan took the initiative and said: “Are you willing to leave here?”
It was not that she couldn’t retain her composure but Geng Zhishan was too depressed so she felt the need to lighten the atmosphere.
Geng Zhishan looked over and softly said: “You can persuade Uncle Luo to save me by exposing your ident.i.ty. But it is not worthwhile for you to do that for me.”
Xie Mengxuan frowned. “Death spares neither small nor great. So it is worth saving each life.”
Geng Zhishan nodded, flipped dirt off his clothes, and said nervously, “Em. Meng’er, can I hug you? I"ve never been close to you. Every time you hit me when I get close to you.” Speaking of that, he even seemed to be grievant.
Then Xie Mengxuan deliberately teased him, “You have the heart to feel aggrieved? I am still an unmarried maiden, so how could it be possible to let others hug me from time to time.”
Geng Zhishan looked at her, the light of hope in his eyes slowly disappeared.
“Um... I still cannot hug you ...can I?”
However, the way that Xie Mengxuan treated him was different. She sighed and stretched out her hands. “Be careful of your hands. Just cuddle me in your arms gently.
“Okay.” Geng Zhishan smiled, reached out his hands and carefully put his arms around her.
Xie Mengxuan gently leaned against him, smelling the special good scent of his body which was familiar to her, but she forgot when she had smelt it.
Geng Zhishan held her gently for a while. He made a comment with an intoxicated look, “Soft, fragrant, and warm.”
“Shut up.” Xie Mengxuan was a little embarra.s.sed and cried in a low voice. It seemed that she was going to excoriate him, but in fact, it wasn’t deterrent at all.
The three words were very plain, but her face turned red because of shyness.
“Meng’er, thank you for your arrangement.” Geng Zhishan looked at her sincerely.
Xie Mengxuan looked into his eyes and gently sighed, you need to seize the opportunity tomorrow; the most important thing is to survive; if we cannot leave together, when you are out of danger, you can go to the Imperial Capital to find me.”
“How can I be allowed to enter Xie Family due to my inferior ident.i.ty? I’m afraid I will be driven away as soon as I come in.”Geng Zhishan said with a bitter smile.
Xie Mengxuan then lapsed into silence. His remarks was a little exaggerated, but it was the reality. Those people guarding at the door only paid respect to the rich and the powerful but looked down on ordinary people.
If Geng Zhishan could survive this time, he would not be as “empty and clean” as he was now. She considered for a while and then handed him the silver bracelet on her wrist. “Be sure to find me and return the bracelet when you get out of trouble.”