Zheng Boyuan led the horse to the gate and said to Xu Zhi, "It's too cold outside, you should go back quickly."

Xu Zhi hesitated for a few steps, then walked up to Zheng Boyuan and said, "Brother Boyuan, I wanted to bring Yuanyuan out, but Yuanyuan doesn't want to come."

Zheng Boyuan saw Xu Zhi's expression through the lantern hanging at the door, and his heart softened. He said, "I know, I know Yuanyuan won't come with you. We siblings have already troubled Azhi to take care of us."

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhi waved her hands repeatedly and said sadly, "Brother Boyuan, you can't say that. We're family. This is what I should do. It's just that what I did attracted some people's attention, and Yuanyuan became their target. Brother Boyuan, I'm so sorry."

Zheng Boyuan tightened the collar of Xu Zhi's cotton-padded coat and said, "How could this be your fault? Don't be sad. Your great-aunt is a very sensible person. With her watching over you, Yuanyuan will be fine."

Xu Zhi nodded and said, "I trust my great-aunt, but she is getting old. Brother Boyuan, could you write a letter to Yuanyuan? I'll send someone to deliver it to her and ask her to come here for the New Year. We can't afford to offend her, so it's better to stay away for now."

Zheng Boyuan thought for a moment and said, "In that case, I will write it when I get back tonight, and you can send someone to deliver it to her first thing tomorrow morning. It's also a way to get her to come over here. After all, the Marquis of Pingxi's side has more than just his great-aunt; there are also his uncle and aunt."

Hearing Zheng Boyuan say this, Xu Zhi looked relieved. Zheng Boyuan naturally understood that she was actually worried about the two men from the Marquis of Pingxi, but she was too embarrassed to say it because they were her biological father.

After seeing Zheng Boyuan off, Xu Zhi skipped and hopped into the courtyard. Seeing Xu Di standing there, she asked him, "Brother, what are you doing here?"

Xu Di snorted and said, "I'll wait for you, Xiao Jiu. You know, if you have your own difficulties, why don't you go and tell your grandfather and grandmother? Don't make them bother you like this for nothing."

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhi laughed and said, "Don't mistresses often encounter such things? I ran away because I was too impatient to deal with those people. I just spoke with Brother Boyuan and asked him to write a letter to Yuanyuan. I will send someone to deliver it by fast horse so that Yuanyuan can come over before the New Year. The capital is in a very murky place right now, and there's no good in staying there."

Xu Di nodded and said, "That makes some sense. It's quite remarkable that you weren't blinded by the Sixth Prince and knew that he wasn't someone to be trifled with."

Xu Zhi sighed and said, "Brother, to be honest, I didn't really see the Sixth Prince's true colors either. It was Sister Mingwan who reminded me. We haven't seen that Mr. Chu since then. Who knows where he's hiding? He's in the dark while we're in the light. If we're not careful, we might get devoured whole."

Thinking back to what happened at the manor on the outskirts of Beijing, it was indeed quite dangerous. If Shen Mingwan hadn't been somewhat wary of that Mr. Chu from the beginning, and if that person hadn't been able to get close to either Shen Mingwan or Xu Zhi, things might have really gotten out of control by now.

Xu Di inwardly breathed a sigh of relief and asked Xu Zhi, "What will happen to the Shen family's daughter if you leave?"

Xu Zhi sighed and said, "I was thinking of having Sister Shen come with me, but Sister Shen said she was going to Dafosi Temple to spend the New Year with her father. She told me to leave quickly, since I am the mistress of the mansion, and if I leave, those invitations won't be delivered to our home. She also told me to find a way to take Yuanyuan away, preferably to stay in another place, not in the capital, but somewhere near the capital. See if there are any farming and scholarly families, and find someone promising to marry Yuanyuan."

At this point, Xu Zhi looked somewhat troubled and said, "But Yuanyuan is not my biological sister after all. Although she was adopted, she still has her great-aunt and the Marquis of Pingxi. She is still of the Marquis of Pingxi's blood. When the time comes, it will be quite easy for the Marquis of Pingxi to stop this marriage. So, in the end, my sister-in-law's marriage should be decided by Brother Boyuan."

Xu Di nodded and said, "It's not easy for you to think of this. I'll talk to Zheng Boyuan about what to do next. You're right. Let's hide for a while and avoid the limelight. As for your sister-in-law's marriage, you can only help find one, but we can't decide which family she should marry into. That should be decided by the elders of the Zheng family."

Xu Zhi agreed. Xu Di saw that her nose was red from the cold and said, "Once you're here, don't think about anything. Just rest well, play when you want to play, sleep when you want to sleep. Make plans for everything after the New Year."

Xu Zhi agreed, and Xu Di said, "Hurry up and go inside."

Upon returning to the camp, Zheng Boyuan wrote a letter to Zheng Yuanyuan that very night. After some thought, he also wrote separate letters to the Zheng family matriarch and the Marquis of Pingxi. In his letter to the Zheng family matriarch, he carefully explained Zheng Yuanyuan's current situation and suggested that she lay low for a while and marry a prince. He warned that if things went wrong, it could put the whole family at risk. Others might be eager to marry him, but Zheng Boyuan would not use his sister to gain glory.

Xu Zhi sent a guard to the capital to deliver a message. The guard rode at full speed, traveling only by land, and arrived in the capital in just a few days.

After receiving the letter, Zheng Yuanyuan read it carefully and, following the instructions, took it to the courtyard of the Zheng family matriarch.

After reading the letter, Old Madam Zheng frowned and asked, "Yuan'er, tell your great-aunt, is what your brother wrote in the letter what you think?"

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