The old lady chose an auspicious day. Early in the morning, Xu Rao and Zhang Zhaoci got up and had breakfast. Then, Xu Zhi took Xu Rao to the old lady's courtyard and kowtowed to her. The old lady held Xu Zhi's hand and said to Xu Rao and Zhang Zhaoci, "You two live well in Ganzhou. No matter what happens, remember that living is the most important thing."

Xu Rao agreed, and the Marquis said, "Mother, the Northern Di have suffered heavy losses and have not been able to fight for decades. Ganzhou is still safe."

The old lady shook her head and said, "You don't know, this is because the Northern Di have been doing well these past few years. Why not take advantage of this opportunity to reclaim Pianguan? Why are the Northern Di willing to pay such a high price to keep the land within Yanmen Pass in their hands? It's because the land between Yanmen Pass and Pianguan is fertile and can be used to grow crops. The land within Pianguan is our territory. Why isn't His Majesty in a hurry to reclaim the land? It's to give the Northern Di a chance to survive. When a desperate enemy is driven to the brink, they can be quite troublesome. The Wei family has guarded Yanmen Pass for generations, valuing it more than their own lives. I hope that in the future, our Great Liang will have a general with outstanding abilities who can truly drive the Northern Di west of Pianguan and reclaim this vast territory."

Upon hearing this, Xu Bai shamelessly said, "Grandmother, your grandson is now diligently practicing martial arts and studying military strategy books with his teacher. In the future, your grandson will work hard to fulfill your wish."

Upon hearing this, the old lady smiled and said, "Brother Bai, your grandmother is reluctant to part with you. That second son of the Wei family will have to go to the battlefield with his father and brothers after he turns ten. Your grandmother does not want to see my children and grandchildren shed blood on the battlefield like their ancestors. Your grandmother is very kind and only hopes that my children can live well. Brother Bai, your grandmother thinks you should think of another wish."

Xu Bai was surprised that the old lady would say these words in front of so many family members. He looked at her in astonishment. The old lady sighed and said, "Children, I am old and don't know how many more years I have left. Your grandmother, when she was young, experienced too much sorrow. She simply didn't have the courage to watch my children continue the path their ancestors walked. Children, think carefully about the path you will take in the future. Once you have thought it through, walk it carefully. As long as the children of our Xu family do things conscientiously and are good people, they are good children."

Everyone in the family came to see Xu Rao and Zhang Zhaoci off, and upon hearing this, they all stood up and agreed.

After kowtowing to the old lady, the Marquis and Madam Wu escorted them to the gate of the mansion. The heir, along with several brothers and younger members of the family, saw them off to the Shili Pavilion outside the city. Xu Rao and Lord Li, along with their families, were escorted by the Marquis's guards and a team of bodyguards hired from a security agency, and then headed towards Ganzhou.

After seeing Xu Rao off, the old lady looked much more tired. Xu Di took Li Yuexi to pay their respects to the old lady, and seeing her appearance, he felt very sad.

Granny Shen was getting on in years, and she was accompanied by two young maids. Xu Di quickly stepped forward to help her up, saying, "Granny, where are you going?"

Granny Shen leaned close to Xu Di and whispered, "The old lady asked me to go to the back storeroom to find some things. Why don't you and the eldest young mistress come and keep the old lady company? You'll be leaving in two days, and the old lady is feeling uneasy."

Xu Di agreed, and after watching Granny Shen walk away, he led Li Yuexi into the old lady's room.

The old lady sat on the large kang (heated brick bed) by the window, wearing tortoiseshell glasses, and flipping through a booklet. When she saw Xu Di arrive, she quickly took off her glasses and said with a smile, "You've arrived. Have you had dinner yet?"

Xu Di bowed and said, "Grandmother, we have already had dinner. What are you doing?"

The old lady said with a smile, "I'll see if there's anything else in my book that would suit you. Your Aunt Ru has been married to Tai'an for so many years, but she hasn't come back many times. She does send things home every year during the four seasons and eight festivals. I'll find a few things for you to take with you, as a memento left by your grandmother for your Aunt Ru."

After Xu Ru married into the family in Tai'an, she rarely returned home. Unlike the people at home, the old lady would simply find something and give it to them whenever she remembered it. This time, Xu Di was going to Xu Ru's house, so the old lady thought of finding a few things for Xu Di to take to Xu Ru.

Xu Di asked, "Did you find it, sir?"

The old lady said with some difficulty, "I usually give all my little things to you. Your Aunt Ru has several children, so it's really hard to find a few small trinkets. And those big items are not easy for you to carry on the road."

Xu Di smiled and said, "It's just a token of your appreciation. You can ask me to bring whatever you want. I'm bringing my wife and a few servants. I plan to travel by land, so I won't need your cart to carry the things."

Upon hearing this, the old lady said, "I was afraid of causing you trouble. Since you put it that way, I will find a few things to take out. However, I will find someone to load them into the cart myself. I have found a few guards for you, who will be able to come over tomorrow and go to Tai'an with you."

Upon hearing this, Xu Di understood what the old lady meant. He guessed that these guards weren't her own people. But since they were going to be taken along, so be it. Xu Di knew that his group would inevitably cause trouble for Aunt Ru and her uncle. He had already written to Aunt Ru in advance, asking her to prepare several separate courtyards. He and Li Yuexi couldn't stay in the dormitories provided by the academy like the other students. Xu Bai and the others could stay there, but the servants they brought along would have to be arranged separately.

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