Chapter 260: Departure
Outside the city gate, Shen Ruolan bid farewell to Madam Gu with red eyes: “Mother, remember to write to me when your foot injury is healed! When Xinghui passes the Xiucai exam, my husband and I will come back to take you to the capital, and then our family can be together.”
Standing beside Shen Ruolan, Wen Ruiqing said at this moment, “Mother, Ruolan and I will come back to visit you when we have time, and we will take you to the capital then. In the future, our family will live together happily in the capital.”
This time, he was sincere. He had even arranged for his privately purchased residence outside to be cleaned, preparing to accommodate Madam Gu and the two children when they moved to the capital.
He knew that Madam Gu would definitely be unwilling to live in the Eldest Princess’s Residence.
Madam Gu nodded with mixed emotions and glanced at Wen Ruiqing: “I understand. Just focus on living your own lives well. I don’t plan to go to the capital.”
She had already grown indifferent to this daughter and son-in-law.
Xingqing and Xinghui had Xingnong, Ruoxi, and herself. They didn’t need this couple to take care of them.
They could live however they wanted, as long as they didn’t bother Xingqing and Xinghui in the future.
Thinking of what her husband had said to her last night, Shen Ruolan added, “Mother, we can go back at the end of the year. Xingqing and Xinghui should also start considering marriage. We’ll take you to the capital then and find good matches for them.”
Xingnong had been sitting impatiently in the carriage, listening. Hearing this, her eyes turned cold, but she lowered her head, so no one saw.
Madam Gu’s heart skipped a beat. Hearing her say this, she wanted to go back even more quickly and settle Xingqing and Xinghui’s marriages as soon as possible!
She wondered what kind of reliable matches this couple could find for Xingqing and Xinghui?
Madam Gu warned, “I understand, I’m going back! Xingqing and Xinghui’s marriages must have my approval. Don’t act rashly. Alright, you should go back!”
She gave a perfunctory reply to appease them.
After finishing her words, Madam Gu looked at Chu Tiankuo and said with a smile, “Your Highness, we’re leaving!”
Chu Tiankuo nodded: “Safe travels, Grandmother.”
With the date set, the three letters and six etiquettes would begin. He needed to lead the betrothal gift procession, along with the Chu Kingdom formation master team, to the Jin Kingdom. He would depart two days later and meet up with Xingnong and the others in Futai County before proceeding to the Jin Kingdom.
For now, he would be apart from her for a few days, but fortunately, they could still meet every night.
Chu Tiankuo glanced at Xingnong inside the carriage. She had an expression of reaching her limit of patience, clearly annoyed by Shen Ruolan and her husband.
He quickly stepped aside and gestured to Songbai with his eyes that they could depart.
Madam Gu glanced at Chu Yuehou again, wanting to say something. However, remembering that he hadn’t recovered his memory and they had no relationship, she ultimately didn’t say anything and lowered the carriage curtain.
Chu Yuehou didn’t say anything as he watched Madam Gu.
Inside the carriage, Xingnong said to Songbai, who was driving, “Let’s go!”
Shen Ruolan and Wen Ruiqing rushed over to bid farewell to Shen Ruoxi and the Jin Kingdom Emperor, but before they could speak to the people inside the carriage, it started moving!
They could only hurriedly step aside to make way.
The carriage slowly moved forward, with Chu Tiankuo and Chu Yuehou standing by the side, watching.
Wen Ruiqing was about to suggest to Shen Ruolan that they go back, but seeing that neither of the two men had moved, he moved his lips but ultimately didn’t make a sound.
As Chu Yuehou watched the departing carriage, his head suddenly ached, and some images flashed through his mind. They were about parting.
The young Madam Gu was very beautiful. She gave him a safety amulet and waved goodbye to him with a smile as he set off for battle. Beside her stood two pretty little girls—their daughters. He carried his backpack and after walking some distance, he looked back to find Madam Gu wiping away tears.
His heart ached, but he quickly turned back and left with quickened steps!
He was afraid that if he didn’t leave, he wouldn’t be able to bear parting.
The departing carriage was already out of sight. Chu Tiankuo mounted his horse and said to Chu Yuehou, “Grand Commander, are you going to enter the palace?”
Chu Yuehou came back to his senses and nodded at Chu Tiankuo: “Yes.”
He quickly mounted his horse and left.
✿✿✿
Neither of them paid any attention to Shen Ruolan and Wen Ruiqing.
Wen Ruiqing: “…”
~~
After seeing the guests off, Shen Ruolan returned to her residence, and Wen Ruiqing went back to the Yamen to handle official matters.
Shen Ruolan was truly a little reluctant to see Madam Gu leave, and she felt that Madam Gu no longer loved her as much as before. Her mother was blaming her! Thinking of this, she felt a bit sad and wronged, and couldn’t help but shed tears. After all, over the years, who knew the hardships she had endured?
At this moment, as she walked back to her courtyard, her eyes were red.
The Yong’an Heir Apparent happened to emerge from behind the artificial mountain, and the two met unexpectedly.
“Your Highness!” Shen Ruolan called out and hurriedly took out a handkerchief from her bosom to wipe her eyes. However, in her haste, the handkerchief fell to the ground.
The Yong’an Heir Apparent looked down at the handkerchief that had landed at his feet.
Seeing this, Shen Ruolan bent down to pick it up.
However, the Yong’an Heir Apparent bent down first and picked up the handkerchief. He felt the dampness on it, paused for a moment, then stood up with an expressionless face.
Shen Ruolan smiled and reached out to take the handkerchief: “Thank you, Your Highness. Haven’t you gone to the academy yet?”
The Yong’an Heir Apparent glanced at her red eyes but didn’t say anything, simply handing the handkerchief back to her.
After Shen Ruolan took the handkerchief, he walked past her.
Their bodies brushed past each other.
Shen Ruolan didn’t pay much attention. The Yong’an Heir Apparent had always been distant towards her. Subconsciously, she used the handkerchief to wipe the tears from the corner of her eyes, then paused: Why was the handkerchief dry?
She unfolded the handkerchief and looked at it. There was only an embroidered orchid on it. It was definitely her handkerchief.
Could it be that the Yong’an Heir Apparent had used his internal energy to dry it for her?
Her heart warmed. Although the Yong’an Heir Apparent appeared cold on the surface, he was, after all, the child she had raised single-handedly from a very young age.
Before the age of seven, the Yong’an Heir Apparent had been very attached to her. He disliked it when she held Princess Changle, and at night, he would only fall asleep if she held him.
Shen Ruolan thought of Xingqing and Xinghui. If only they were as attached to her!
However, just the thought of Xingqing gave Shen Ruolan a headache!
How could she be so wicked? Causing the Princess to owe money for those shops, such a large sum!
~
That night, Chu Yuehou had many dreams. In his dreams, there was Madam Gu and their two daughters.
After waking up in the middle of the night, he went to the study in the next room, took out those documents, and read them for a long time. Then he covered his face with his hands. It wasn’t until the eastern sky began to show signs of dawn that he started grinding ink and wrote a memorial to the throne, which he then presented to the Emperor after the morning court session.
After staying in the Imperial Study for two quarters of an hour, Chu Yuehou left the palace and returned to the backyard of the Admiral’s Military Headquarters.
Zhang Ruohua happened to return from outside as well. She was going to depart with the main group for the Jin Kingdom to participate in the Youth Formation Master Competition the next day. She had just gone out to meet with the formation masters who were also participating. To her surprise, she didn’t see that Master Shen! There was only Old Master Tang’s disciple, Shen Xingnong, that Crown Princess who had only studied for a few months! She must defeat her in the Youth Formation Master Competition and let the Crown Prince see who was truly worthy of him!
Seeing the Grand Commander, Zhang Ruohua said happily, “Grandfather, for this trip to the Jin Kingdom to participate in the competition, those formation masters chose me as the team leader. I’m leaving for the Jin Kingdom tomorrow to participate in the competition. Please take care of yourself, Grandfather.”
Among those formation masters, some knew she was the Grand Commander’s granddaughter and chose her as the team leader. For the team competition, if she led the team to victory, her prestige in the formation master community would be even higher!
