Su Yao lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Liu Ruyan covered her lips with a handkerchief, her eyes crinkling with laughter.
Xie Wanqing's voice remained relatively calm, "And then?"
"And then that little brat tried to steal his subordinate's jerky."
Tuoba Mang patted his chest. "I've thought, the child is still growing, so let's just take him."
Murong Xue felt ashamed and bit down hard on the rim of the teacup.
Gu Moran suppressed a laugh, "Where's the leader of Black Wind Stronghold? Have you seen him?"
"I found him."
Tuoba Mang nodded, "His face was smeared with ash, and he was as thin as a stick. I think that brother is quite pitiful; he has no chest muscles at all, he's very emaciated, and he has to help his wives make a living."
Gu Moran nearly smashed her teacup on the table.
No way, this idiot didn't even notice how obviously she was dressed as a man?
"What do you call the boss?"
"Brother."
Tuoba Mang said matter-of-factly, "He's so thin, he must be starving all the time." His subordinate even patted him on the shoulder and said, "Brother, stop robbing. I'll protect you from now on."
Lin Qingdai's expression changed.
Where did you photograph him?
"His shoulder, but it wasn't captured in the photo."
Tuoba Mang gestured, "Just this once."
"He's afraid of me, but he reacted quickly, leaping up into a tree in an instant."
Tuoba Mang thought about it seriously, "He even blushed and kept glaring at me. I understand, a man's embarrassed face is hard to swallow."
"They've probably never seen anyone as manly as me."
Gu Moran couldn't hold back any longer and leaned on the table, laughing so hard her shoulders were shaking.
"Then what?"
"And then? Nothing more, I gave my sister-in-law the money."
Tuoba Mang was quite proud. "Five taels. My sisters-in-law need to nourish their babies."
Murong Xue finally couldn't take it anymore.
He slammed his hand on the table. " Tuoba Mang, do you want to hear what you're saying?"
Tuoba Mang looked bewildered. "I think it's fine."
Gu Moran finished laughing and slowly sat up straight.
Looking at Tuoba Mang, his eyes suddenly cleared.
This Northern Territory bison arrived just in time.
He was still thinking about how to persuade Tuoba Mang to bring out the snake around Black Wind Stronghold.
Zhao Wuxu knew how to feign pitifulness, fall into the water, and use the stereotype of a weak scholar to deceive people.
But Tuoba Mang wasn't buying it.
He only falls for widows holding babies.
As a result, before he could even guide Tuoba Mang, Tuoba Mang had already fallen into the trap.
Gu Moran raised his hand and solemnly grasped Tuoba Mang's hand.
Tuoba Mang was flattered and stood up even straighter.
"Your Highness?"
" Tuoba Mang."
Gu Moran earnestly, "You have excellent taste."
Several pairs of eyes inside the room turned to look at them.
Gu Moran ignored them and continued, "Those women raising children alone, it's so difficult for them."
Tuoba Mang's eyes welled with tears, and he nodded vigorously.
"Yes! Son-in-law, we really wish we had met sooner! You understand me!"
"Hmm, A Mang, tell me, what are they, as orphans and widows, most afraid of?"
"Afraid of running out of food?"
"Yes, but I'm even more afraid of being scammed."
Gu Moran lowered his voice, his face full of resentment.
"Especially those fair-skinned, delicate scholars who are full of cunning schemes and always pretend to be pitiful."
Tuoba Mang's eyes widened in surprise.
"There are such beasts?"
There are plenty.
Gu Moran patted the back of his hand, "They specifically target soft-hearted women. First, they pretend to be down on their luck, then they scam them out of food, then shelter, and finally, they not only scam them out of their bodies, but also their money."
" A Mang, you just gave away five taels, you don't want to be swindled away by that pretty boy, do you?"
Tuoba Mang's chest heaved, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.
Murong Xue sensed something was wrong. " Gu Moran, what do you want Tuoba Mang to do now?"
Gu Moran naturally released Tuoba Mang's hand and turned to look at her, " Xue'er, people from the Northern Territory value loyalty and righteousness, right?"
Murong Xue looked at him warily, "Don't try to cuckold me."
"I approve Tuoba Mang using his monthly allowance to do good deeds."
Gu Moran seriously, "Go to the vicinity of Black Wind Stronghold and provide targeted assistance."
Su Yao narrowed her eyes.
You want him to go after the widow?
Tuoba Mang blushed, his burly frame twisted slightly, and he rubbed his hands together, looking expectant.
"It's not about chasing after him. Let him help chop wood and carry water first. We can talk about things later when we're more familiar with each other."
Shen Ling'er turned her head away, her ears turning red from trying not to laugh.
Gu Moran continued to instruct, "When you get near the mountain stronghold, if you see any weak-looking men, especially scholars, keep an eye on them."
"And then what?"
"If he tries to get close to his sisters-in-law, ask him what he wants."
Tuoba Mang's eyes flashed with a fierce light. "If he can't explain himself?"
That means they're trying to steal your true love.
Tuoba Mang slapped his chest violently.
"Your Highness, rest assured! Anyone who dares to steal it, I'll crush their bones to dust."
Murong Xue kicked him, "Watch your step, don't kill anyone."
Despite being kicked, Tuoba Mang laughed, "Don't worry, Princess, I know my limits. I'll beat you half to death."
"Get out of here!"
Murong Xue's temple twitched. "Don't get in my way."
Tuoba Mang ran out happily.
He ran to the door and peeked out again, "Your Highness, may I bring some dried meat for the betrothal?"
Gu Moran his hand, "Bring two portions."
Tuoba Mang left in high spirits.
The room fell silent for a moment.
Then Shen Ling'er finally burst out laughing.
Xie Wanqing buried her face in the book, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
Liu Ruyan sighed softly, "That Black Wind Stronghold leader probably won't sleep well tonight."
Gu Moran rested his chin on his hand, "If she knew she had gained a brother from the Northern Territory, she would be eternally grateful to me."
Su Yao looked at him, "Does Your Highness intend to use Tuoba Mang to guard Black Wind Stronghold?"
Gu Moran picked up the teacup. "Just doing it."
Su Yao stared at him.
"And what's this about the pale-faced scholar?"
Gu Moran's teacup stopped at his lips.
This woman is too smart, so smart it's giving me a headache.
They can uncover even the slightest clue.
It would be a shame not to solve the case.
He put down his teacup, smiled, and reached out to gently touch her knuckles that were resting on the ledger.
" Madam Su, I can't hide myself from you anymore."
Su Yao's fingers trembled slightly, and she immediately withdrew them.
"Your Highness, don't try to fool me with that."
Which set?
"That's the kind of sweet talk you use to coax people."
Shen Ling'er added insult to injury, "He already coaxed Tuoba Mang tonight."
Liu Ruyan smiled at Gu Moran, "His Highness can coax anyone with a few words."
After those words were spoken, the smell in the room changed.
Gu Moran looked at her.
Liu Ruyan lowered her eyes and adjusted her cuffs, her snow-white wrist swaying under the lamplight, but her fingertips were a beat slower.
He suddenly understood.
The jujube cake this morning, the words spoken by the stream, and the hand that I didn't have time to pull back when feeding the candied fruit earlier.
Liu Ruyan doesn't fight back, but she feels pain.
Gu Moran out, picked up a candied fruit from Shen Ling'er's plate, and offered it to Liu Ruyan's lips.
Liu Ruyan froze, her cheeks slowly turning red. She wanted to take it, but Gu Moran didn't let go.
She had no choice but to lower her head and gently bite off the candied fruit.
Her lips brushed against his fingertips.
Gu Moran paused for a moment.
Liu Ruyan said in a low voice, "If Your Highness continues like this, I'm afraid you won't be able to sleep well tonight."
Gu Moran laughed, "Then I'll apply to sleep in the woodshed."
Six pairs of eyes pressed down on them simultaneously.
Just then, there was a sudden flapping sound outside the window.
A homing pigeon flew into the windowsill and landed on the table.
Before the blush on Liu Ruyan's face had faded, she had already stood up and deftly removed the bamboo tube.
The letter was unfolded, revealing a jumble of symbols.
Xie Wanqing took it and took out the codebook.
Lin Qingdai lit the candle.
Xie Wanqing tidied the papers and said softly, "A letter has arrived from the capital. The Empress Dowager suffered a sudden illness and nearly died, Chu Tianxing the Imperial Medical Bureau."
Gu Moran the candied fruit in her hand.
The laughter in the room mostly dissipated.
Xie Wanqing continued reading, "The Emperor was overjoyed. Gu Moli deliberately led the Emperor to believe that the Empress Dowager's sudden illness was due to someone using a life-sustaining sorcery. The Emperor also happened to hear from the prison that Xiao Jinghan had been churning recently, but his appearance was becoming more and more like a woman. His Majesty's suspicions about Xiao Jinghan grew stronger."
Shen Ling'er's eyelids twitched. " Xiao Jinghan?"
Gu Moran recalled that guy's evil skill and secretly gave Gu Moli a thumbs up.
Xie Wanqing glanced at him and continued, " Gu Moli said that Xiao Jinghan is going to have a tough time. The Crown Prince's faction is also in turmoil."
Su Yao whispered, "The winds in the capital are about to change."
Xie Wanqing finished reading the last line and suddenly stopped talking.
Gu Moran looked up.
"What's wrong?"
(●◡●)
[Thank you for the milk tea from Golden, 4246398, and Chen Qing's flowers. And thank you to all the other babies for your love and support. I'm so touched, love you all~~ I'm going to Yi Prefecture tomorrow, are you still available for a cameo role?]