Xu Rao ultimately didn't tell Xu Zhi what he had found out. He simply told Xu Zhi and Zheng Yuanyuan to go to the courtyard in the south of the city in a couple of days. He had already arranged for people to take over the finishing work there. Xu Zhi and Zheng Yuanyuan only needed to bring their luggage and follow the team delivering cotton-padded clothes to Wuzhou.

Xu Zhi rested at home for two days with peace of mind. Perhaps it was because the matter on her mind had been perfectly resolved, or perhaps it was because Chen Zhaoci's prescription was good. In any case, she recovered quickly.

Xu Zhi and Zheng Yuanyuan, carrying their luggage and local specialties purchased from the capital, followed a large group of people escorting cotton-padded clothes to Wuzhou.

This large group of people came from Wuzhou, and were arranged by Xu Rao. They claimed to be members of the Imperial Guard, and were ordered to escort Xu Zhi and his party to Wuzhou.

Even so, they still experienced more than ten fierce battles, big and small, along the way. When they reached Wuzhou, Zheng Yuanyuan's carriage was no longer usable, so she simply abandoned it. Zheng Yuanyuan lay wearily on Xu Zhi's carriage. In the past few days, Zheng Yuanyuan had been under great tension. She really did not expect to encounter so many things.

At this point, Xu Zhi was quite at ease. Those days that had frightened her were over. Since she knew that the road ahead would not be peaceful, she would take it one step at a time and find a way to solve any difficulties she encountered.

Looking at Xu Zhi, who was still in good spirits, Zheng Yuanyuan said enviously, "Sister-in-law, I think you are really amazing. I can't do it. I feel so tired right now. It's not just physical, but also mental. I'm so tired that I don't want to think about anything. I just want to lie down and sleep for three to five days."

Xu Zhi lifted the curtain and looked outside, then smiled and said, "It's not that I'm not scared either. We're carrying so much stuff, and it's all flammable. If someone sets it on fire, we'll really be helpless. But thankfully we're already in Wuzhou. If we just hang in there, we'll be able to see your brother soon."

Zheng Yuanyuan rolled over and lay on her back on the carriage, saying, "Sister-in-law, this time I really know what's what. You can't just do things because you want to and work hard. Look at how many things have happened so far. Sister-in-law, I'm so glad you're here. If it weren't for you, I don't know when I would have given up."

Xu Zhi said, "When I was very young, my brother told me that nothing is ever done easily. No one knows what difficulties you will encounter, but you must not be afraid of these difficulties, because there are always more solutions than problems. If you think about it carefully, you can always find a way to solve the problem."

Zheng Yuanyuan said enviously, "Sister-in-law, I love your family. You're so warm and friendly, and you always make people feel positive and uplifted. I've never seen you feel frustrated because you didn't do something well. Sister-in-law, the environment in which a person grows up is so important. Look at you, and then look at me. My brother and I didn't have any proper elders to teach us when we were young. It was only after you married into the family that my nanny and I taught me things little by little. If it weren't for you, I'd probably still be stuck in that small inner courtyard, letting my stepmother find me a not-so-good marriage. I would be like many other women in the inner courtyard, letting these people torment me. I probably wouldn't even live for a few years."

Hearing Zheng Yuanyuan say these words, Xu Zhi thought of the time when she was married off to the Duke's mansion in place of her. Wasn't she just like Xu Zhi said back then? A child without a mother is like a blade of grass. If someone pulls it up and throws it by the roadside, it might take root and continue to grow if it has strong vitality, but if it doesn't, it might be dried up by the sun.

Xu Zhi patted Zheng Yuanyuan's head and said, "Why are you suddenly bringing up these things? Our family will definitely have a better future."

Zheng Yuanyuan sat up and leaned against the carriage wall, saying, "Sister-in-law, I just had some feelings on my mind and wanted to talk to you about them. Of course, I know our family will definitely get better and better. Not to mention other families, just take the Pingxi Marquis's mansion. Before, I envied Sister Yun. Sister Yun is my stepmother's biological daughter. From a young age, she was always the first to have the best food and toys. My stepmother really worried herself sick over Sister Yun. But now, not to mention anything else, Sister Yun's marriage has become a difficult matter for the Pingxi Marquis's mansion. They're not good enough for anyone, and they've been looking for someone since she was ten or so. It's been so long."

Thinking of the gossip she had heard from the Marquis of Pingxi's residence, Zheng Yuanyuan leaned close to Xu Zhi and whispered, "Two days before we set off, I heard from the old woman at the gate that Sister Yun was originally engaged to the eldest son of a noble family, but the family disliked that Sister Yun's mother was a second wife, and a cruel one at that, so the marriage was called off. Sister Yun cried at home for several days because of this."

Xu Zhi felt a pang of heartache when she thought of the brother and sister's miserable childhood. She pulled Zheng Yuanyuan, who was sitting next to her, into her arms and said, "People need to broaden their horizons. You can't always focus on what's in front of you. Sometimes, if you're too concerned about gains and losses, you'll lose your balance. Once you lose your balance, all sorts of problems will come your way. When you look back in the end, you'll realize that you brought it all on yourself."

Zheng Yuanyuan nodded. Someone outside was calling out, "Look, isn't that the group coming to pick us up?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhi quickly got out of the carriage and stood on the carriage shaft. In the distance, she saw a group of people approaching. The weather was very clear today, with a clear blue sky. Although the sunlight was not very warm, it was very bright. Xu Zhi put her hand on her forehead and looked carefully. She thought that the one at the head of the group looked like Zheng Boyuan.

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