Chapter 371 Farewell
Madam Zhou kept talking, tears streaming down her face, and the more she talked, the more emotional she became.
Zhou Boxu pursed his lips and listened, with a hint of fatigue on his face.
Grand Tutor Zhou couldn't bear it any longer, so he stood up and pulled Madam Zhou over and said, "Okay, it's a done deal. If you really care about Boxu, just say less and let him go back and rest early. That's better than anything else."
As an official in the same dynasty, Grand Tutor Zhou knew Zhou Boxu's difficulties and how busy he was with official duties.
And tomorrow morning Zhou Boxu would lead his troops to the southwest, and he might have things to deal with and prepare if he returned home tonight. Besides, he also needed to say goodbye to Yu Lan.
Madam Zhou wiped her tears, and thought of the important things to do, saying, "You don't know when you will be back. The princess is getting pregnant, and she can't be alone. Go back and tell her that we will pick her up and Yan'er tomorrow."
"No need."
Zhou Boxu rubbed his forehead and said, "I will send the princess to the palace early tomorrow morning and leave her in the care of your mother. As for Yan'er, let him go back to the Zhuang family to accompany old lady Zhuang." Madam
Zhou was stunned when she heard this. She didn't expect Zhou Boxu to have arranged it. She wanted to discuss it again, but was stopped by Grand Tutor Zhou.
"That's great. There are experienced nurses in the palace, as well as imperial doctors, and Concubine Yu Gui to accompany the princess to talk and relieve her boredom. Old lady Zhuang is lonely as a widow, and Yan'er should go back to accompany her." Grand
Tutor Zhou was very reasonable. He knew that Yu Lan and Zhuang Yan didn't want to come to the Zhou Mansion, so he didn't force them.
Although Madam Zhou was somewhat reluctant, she could not persuade Grand Tutor Zhou and Zhou Boxu.
After a few more words, seeing that there was nothing important, Grand Tutor Zhou said, "Go back and rest early, be careful, and come back safely."
"Okay." Zhou Boxu responded, bowed and left.
Madam Zhou looked at his receding back, and tears burst out again uncontrollably.
Grand Tutor Zhou comforted her for a long time before she calmed down, but she still couldn't stop worrying.
It got dark very quickly, and when Zhou Boxu returned to the princess's mansion, it was already dark.
Walking into the room under the dim yellow candlelight, Zhou Boxu saw Yu Lan and Zhuang Yan sitting at the table waiting for him.
"Hurry up and serve the meal." Seeing him come back, Yu Lan immediately ordered the maid.
Zhou Boxu walked to Yu Lan and sat down, asking her if she was hungry.
Yu Lan shook his head: "I had some snacks, so I'm not hungry. But you, you've been busy outside until so late, you must be hungry."
"Father, have a snack first." Zhuang Yin brought a plate of snacks to Zhou Boxu.
Zhou Boxu took a look, then stared at Zhuang Yin and asked: "Have you packed up your things?"
Zhuang Yin nodded: "Father, don't worry, I will listen to my grandmother, study hard, practice martial arts, and teach me new moves when you come back."
Zhou Boxu smiled with relief: "Okay, when the academy is on vacation, go to the palace to accompany your mother and help me take care of her and my younger brothers and sisters."
"Yes!" Zhuang Yin nodded heavily.
He was reluctant to let Zhou Boxu leave, but Yu Lan talked to him for a long time, and he knew that Zhou Boxu had to go.
In order to let Zhou Boxu leave with peace of mind, Yu Lan and Zhuang Yin suppressed their reluctance and sadness, and took care of everything so that he wouldn't have to worry.
While the three were talking, dinner was served, and the family of three ate with heavy hearts.
After dinner, Zhuang Yin returned to his own yard.
Zhou Boxu helped Yu Lan to sit on the soft couch in the inner room for a while. The maid prepared hot water, and he personally helped Yu Lan take a bath.
Yu Lan held on all the time, and spoke to Zhou Boxu in a calm voice with a smile on his face.
Zhou Boxu listened carefully, his eyes fell on Yu Lan's bulging belly, his expression was gentle and loving, and his heart was full of reluctance.
"Wait for father to come back." Zhou Boxu stroked Yu Lan's belly with his big hand.
Yu Lan raised her hand, and her slender fingers covered Zhou Boxu's hand, and her voice was gentle: "We'll wait for you to return victorious."
"Yes." Zhou Boxu responded solemnly, as if he was promising.
The water in the pool gradually became cooler, and Zhou Boxu cleaned and dried Yu Lan with neat movements, put on pajamas and lay on the bed.
The candles went out, and the room fell into darkness. Yu Lan snuggled in Zhou Boxu's arms, listening to his strong heartbeat, and could no longer hold back silent tears.
She tried her best to be patient and restrained, but people who practice martial arts have sharp hearing, and Zhou Boxu still heard her low sobs.
"Princess." Zhou Boxu touched Yu Lan's face and felt the wetness on her face.
Yu Lan was speechless. As soon as Zhou Boxu opened his mouth, her tears immediately welled up even more fiercely. The suppressed cry overflowed from her throat, fell into Zhou Boxu's ears, and sank into his heart.
Zhou Boxu's throat was choked, and his lips moved but he didn't know how to comfort her.
He didn't want Yu Lan to cry, but he was afraid that she would accumulate emotions in her heart, which would make her more painful and uncomfortable, and even affect her pregnancy.
After a moment of silence, Zhou Boxu gently held Yu Lan's face and leaned over to kiss her lightly.
From the forehead to the chin, from the eyebrows to the lips. Little by little, one by one, the kiss was light and soft, and full of compassion.
He kissed Yu Lan for as long as she cried.
In the end, Yu Lan was helpless and at a loss because of his kiss, and finally stopped crying.
Hearing that she stopped crying, Zhou Boxu kissed her lips, entwining his lips and tongue with hers, silently telling her his love and reluctance, heartache and deep affection.
Yu Lan responded gently and deepened the kiss.
After the long kiss, Yu Lan leaned on Zhou Boxu's chest and breathed softly.
Zhou Boxu hugged her and whispered hoarsely: "Don't cry when I'm not around. You and the children are waiting for me, and I will definitely come back safely. Don't worry, don't think too much."
"When we get to Yicheng, I will write to you when I have time. Take good care of yourself and the children..."
Yu Lan agreed one by one, and the depression in her heart dissipated a little.
"Go to sleep." Zhou Boxu kissed her forehead again and hugged her to sleep.
A deep sleep all night.
Zhou Boxu got up at dawn.
He ordered people to load Yu Lan and Zhuang Yan's belongings onto the carriage, and ordered people to put his belongings onto another carriage, and arranged the departure in an orderly manner.
The morning breeze at dawn was bone-chilling.
When Zhou Boxu returned to the house, his whole body was icy cold, and he warmed up by the charcoal fire for a while.
After confirming that he was no longer cold, he went to wake Yu Lan up and wash up.
Yu Lan was sleepy and seemed to be half asleep.
Zhou Boxu said distressedly: "Wait until we get to mother's place, you can sleep a little longer." Yu
Lan nodded, yawned and woke up a little, put on her clothes and went to the dressing table to wash.
Just as she was ready, Zhuang Yin came.
Zhuang Yin's face was flushed and he was slightly out of breath, obviously he had just finished practicing in the morning.
Since learning martial arts from Zhou Boxu, Zhuang Yin has been strict with himself, getting up early every day to practice, even in the cold winter.
"Are you leaving?" Zhuang Yin asked.
Zhou Boxu nodded: "We will take you to Zhuang's house first."
Zhuang Yin didn't say anything, just nodded, and walked over to help Yu Lan.
It was just dawn, and the air was filled with the bone-chilling coldness of the night.
Yu Lan was wearing a fur coat and holding a hot pot in her arms, but she still felt cold when she left the house.
It was not until she got on the carriage and was isolated from the morning breeze that she felt less cold. The remaining sleepiness was aroused and she was completely awake.
The wheels rolled, Yu Lan lifted the curtains, looked at the plaque of the princess's mansion, and felt heavy-hearted.
After this departure, she didn't know when she would be able to come back.
Or in other words, she didn't know when her family would be reunited.