Chapter 372 Leaving Beijing

When the carriage arrived at the Zhuang family, the morning mist that had enveloped Shangjing had dissipated and the sky was bright.

Old Madam Zhuang stood in front of the mansion gate and had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Zhuang Yin and others get off the carriage, she stepped forward to greet them.

"Mother." Yu Lan called Old Madam Zhuang as usual.

"Old Madam." Zhou Boxu bowed his hands in greeting.

Old Madam Zhuang nodded in response, and her eyes fell on Yu Lan's belly.

"You rest assured to take care of the baby in the palace, I will take good care of Yin'er."

Old Madam Zhuang said, waving her hand to call Zhuang Yin over.

"Thank you, mother." Yu Lan looked at Zhuang Yin, feeling a little reluctant and a little guilty.

The Imperial College had not closed for the holiday yet, and Zhuang Yun had to go to school every day, so it was inconvenient for him to live in the palace.

Old Madam Zhuang said, "Yun'er is my grandson. I'm very happy that he can come back to accompany me."

Just thinking about the reason why Zhuang Yun came back, Old Madam Zhuang looked at Zhou Boxu and couldn't help sighing, "I didn't expect that you would also go to the southwest."

Zhou Boxu said calmly, "Killing the enemy and defending the country is a duty and an honor."

Old Madam Zhuang nodded approvingly, looked up at the horizon and said, "Today is a good day, and everything will go smoothly."

Zhuang Yun looked up and followed Old Madam Zhuang's line of sight, and saw a faint golden light in the sky.

That was a sign that the sun was about to rise.

Seeing that the servants had moved all of Zhuang Yin's things, Zhou Boxu asked for his leave from Madam Zhuang.

"Go, and come back safely." Madam Zhuang held Zhuang Yin's hand and watched Zhou Boxu and Yu Lan get on the carriage and drive away.

Yu Lan looked at the old man and the young man standing quietly from the window, and couldn't help but tears in her eyes.

Zhou Boxu didn't say anything, but just held her hand and pulled her into his arms.

They were the reason why he went to the southwest without hesitation and was determined not to let the people of Nanyan invade Shangjing.

The carriage passed through the street, and the noisy hawking outside the car was clear and lively.

However, these sounds fell into Yu Lan's ears, all of which were parting.

Driving across this street, turning into the next street, and then entering the secluded and deserted road leading to the palace, the time they spent together became shorter and shorter.

After an unknown amount of time, when the surroundings suddenly became quiet, Yu Lan realized that the carriage had entered the aisle and was not far from the palace gate.

She held Zhou Boxu's hand with such force that it trembled slightly.

"Princess." Zhou Boxu spoke with a choked voice.

Yu Lan looked at him, holding back tears and said, "You must... come back safely."

"Okay." Zhou Boxu replied solemnly.

Afraid that revealing too much of her emotions would affect Zhou Boxu and make him unable to leave with peace of mind, let alone fight the enemy with peace of mind, Yu Lan took a deep breath, suppressed her worries and pain, and spoke to him with a calm face.

Suddenly, the carriage stopped and the guards reported that they had arrived.

Zhou Boxu pushed open the door, helped Yu Lan get out of the car, and sent her to Zhongling Palace.

Yu Lan turned her head and saw the carriage of Prince Jing's palace. She thought that Yu Zheng and Jiang Shu had arrived before them.

Yesterday, Jiang Shu wrote to her and told her that she would go to Pingyang with Yu Zheng to send Yu Ziyou to the palace for care.

Sure enough, when they arrived at Zhongling Palace, Concubine Yu was holding Yu Ziyou and talking to Jiang Shu and Yu Zheng.

Yu Lan and Zhou Boxu stepped into the palace and saw Concubine Yu handed a brocade box to Yu Zheng. She forced a smile and choked slightly, saying, "This year's birthday gift must be kept well."

Today is the sixteenth day of the winter month, and Yu Zheng's birthday is in two days.

"Mother, you have a good memory. Look at me, I even forgot to prepare a birthday gift for Zheng." Yu Lan deliberately joked.

Concubine Yu Gui followed her words and said, "That won't do. You have to make up for it quickly."

Yu Lan touched her body and finally handed the almost cold soup pot in her hand to Yu Zheng: "This is the only one I have. The gift is small but the friendship is great."

Yu Zheng took it and said, "Thank you, sister."

"Your gift is indeed a bit heavy." The depressed atmosphere was broken, and Concubine Yu Gui finally laughed from the heart. After

laughing and talking for a few words, seeing that it was getting late, Yu Zheng and Jiang Shu got up and left with Zhou Boxu.

Concubine Yu Gui held Yu Ziyou and sent them to the door with Yu Lan.

"Boxu, brother, you all have to come back safely."

Finally, Yu Lan looked at Jiang Shu and said, "You should come back earlier too. I will accompany you when you give birth, and you have to be there when I give birth."

Jiang Shu heard this, his almond eyes flashed, and he smiled back.

"I'll leave Ziyou to my sister and mother."

"Go with peace of mind." Concubine Yu Gui said.

The three turned around and left with heavy but firm steps.

Yu Lan looked at the figures of Jiang Shu and Yu Zheng walking together, and felt a little envious. It would be great if she could accompany Zhou Boxu.

Even if it was just for a trip.

Yu Ziyou stared at Jiang Shu and Yu Zheng walking away with dark eyes, and did not cry.

Perhaps he was used to Jiang Shu and Yu Zheng leaving the house every morning and returning in the evening, so he just thought today was the same as before.

"Ziyou is really sensible." Concubine Yu Gui praised him and turned back with Yu Lan.

The moment she turned around, the smile on Yu Lan's face disappeared, revealing a bit of sadness.

Concubine Yu Gui knew that she was sad, so she could only try her best to comfort her. But as she spoke, her eyes turned red.

Yu Lan forced a smile and said, "I'm fine, mother, don't worry too much, they will definitely return safely and victorious."

Concubine Yu Gui also smiled, "Well, if we are fine and happy, they can be at ease and have no worries."

When the first ray of sunlight broke through the sky, the emperor led all the officials to bid farewell to Yu Zheng and Zhou Boxu, and watched the team go away.

When passing the main street of Chongming, the people lined the road to see them off.

Amid the endless calls, the team left the city and after walking for a while, they saw the waiting army.

Yu Zheng and Zhou Boxu got off the car and listened to the report from the leading general.

Although Zhou Boxu led the army to Yicheng first, Yu Zheng was the commander-in-chief.

After listening to the report and confirming that it was correct, Zhou Boxu ordered: "Organize the army and set off."

"Yes." The general took the order and left.

Yu Zheng raised his hand and patted Zhou Boxu's shoulder, pursed his lips and said, "Remember our agreement."

Zhou Boxu was stunned for a moment, then remembered and laughed dumbly.

"Okay, see you in Yicheng."

This summer, on the day they moved to the princess's mansion, the two of them had made an agreement for autumn hunting after competing in archery. It's a pity that Cao Qian later murdered the emperor and committed treason, delaying this year's autumn hunting.

Under the pale golden morning sun, the mighty team split into two groups. Zhou Boxu led the army to the west, and Yu Zheng led the team to the south.

Leaving Beijing again, Jiang Shu felt mixed emotions, without any joy, and had no intention of appreciating the scenery along the way.

Yu Zheng knew that she was worried about Yu Ziyou, so he held her hand and said, "Don't worry, mother will take good care of Ziyou."

Jiang Shu nodded, took a deep breath and discussed the arrangements for this trip with Yu Zheng.

Because they had to hurry, they couldn't stay at the post station every day, so they had to sleep in the open.

Yu Zheng took out the map and estimated in detail how far they would travel in a day and when they could go to the post station to rest and replenish. When they couldn't stay at the post station, they roughly estimated where to camp.

"According to the speed and time, we should camp here tonight." Yu Zheng pointed to a mountain not far from Shangjing on the map.

It was cold in winter, so they had to find a place with mountains to camp. On the one hand, the mountain could resist the cold wind, and on the other hand, they could easily pick up a lot of firewood to keep warm.

Jiang Shu looked carefully and said, "I hope it won't rain all the way."

Rain not only affects the journey, but also makes the night more difficult.

Yu Zheng raised his hand to lift the car curtain, looked at the bright sun in the sky and said, "It won't rain in the next few days."

As for the next few days, it depends on God's will.