"Please!" Liao Xiaodie rushed to kowtow twice before anyone could help her, and said humbly, crying:
"Honglei, please help my mother and I."
Guo Honglei was startled and swiftly dodged, but due to the cramped and crowded room, he couldn't completely avoid it. His face darkened, and he was furious. He whispered, "Why can't we sit down and discuss this? Why do we have to kneel? And not only kneel, but kowtow? You're shortening my life!"
"Cousin Liao," Jiang Yushu came to her senses, concealing her displeasure. She sighed, "Everyone urged you to get up, but you just kept kneeling. If someone didn't know, they'd think someone was forcing you to kneel."
Wang was extremely worried. She slapped the armrest with her right palm and ordered sternly, "Xiaodie, get up and talk!"
Liao Xiaodie sobbed, and when she saw she had almost knelt down, Guo Hongzhe and Guo Hongxuan persuaded her to stand up. She frantically explained, "Madam, please calm down. I'm really scared and have no idea what to do. As long as I can save Brother Peng, kneeling and kowtowing is nothing. Even if it costs me my life, I'm willing to do it."
"Strange! Since you're so determined to save your husband that you're willing to sacrifice your own life, why are you still hesitating? Immediately pack your bags and turn yourself in at the government office." Wang Qiaozhen leaned back in her chair, watching with a cold eye, and said slowly, "You're only feeling scared now, but it's too late."
Liao Xiaodie's eyes were red and swollen, and she said worriedly, "But it's late at night, and Zhu'er is sick. How can I, how can I hurry on? Looking across Xicang, this is the only place that can save the Gong family. Honglei, if I can get you to escort me there, Brother Peng would be very grateful if he knew."
He made one plea after another and kept praising me.
Among the six members of the Guo family, some gloated over their misfortune, some thought carefully, and some were at a loss.
After a moment, Jiang Yushu made up her mind, stood up and broke the silence, saying clearly: "Cousin Liao, I'm sorry, Hong Lei can't escort you."
Liao Xiaodie suddenly looked up, her eyes wide open, and asked in surprise: "Why, why?" She had made sufficient preparations in the morning. She had guessed that Wang's aunt and nephew would obstruct her, and that Jiang was kind and soft-hearted... She had never expected this, so she was stunned.
The Guo family members were also stunned and looked at Jiang Yushu together.
Jiang Yushu remained calm and replied, "Soldiers are forced to do things of their own accord. He was only given twenty days' leave to visit his family because he was seriously injured and had to leave camp on the fifth day of the first lunar month. He had to return before the deadline. Even a quarter of an hour late would be a violation of military law, and delays would result in severe punishment. The two places are so far apart, and considering the time, how could he have the time to escort you back to the capital?"
Facing the sobbing relatives, Guo Honglei patiently told them frankly, "That's true. In two days, I have to go back to Yuehu."
Liao Xiaodie was caught off guard. She bit her lip and calculated, her eyes red and swollen. She said pitifully, "Calculate the time. Aren't there still several days left? If we hurry, it shouldn't delay your return to camp."
"It's too late." Jiang Yushu was determined, not moved by the other party's pitiful behavior. "I've carefully calculated that if he is escorting you, unless he grows wings, there is no way he can make it back to the camp in time."
Hearing her son fear punishment, Wang was startled. Without further hesitation, she immediately stated, "That's right! Military regulations are strict. Honglei can't stay as long as he wants. Xiaodie, it's not that he doesn't want to help, but he really doesn't have the time."
"Old lady——" Liao Xiaodie was unwilling and looked weak, her whole body swaying.
Wang Qiaozhen was extremely impatient and taunted, "That's enough! The Guo and Mu families have gone to great lengths, risked their lives, and taken care of everything for the Gong family. Now it's up to you. Who else can turn themselves in for you? No! What are you dawdling about?"
"Sister-in-law, you have a point. If you surrender and confess your crime, no one can do it for you." Jiang Yushu, a bystander, noticed that the other party was vaguely in love with her husband, and she was naturally unhappy. She had a blank expression on her face, her eyes fixed, and she asked slowly:
"Does Hong Lei have to escort us? Can someone else do it?"
"Huh? Ahem." Wang Qiaozhen cleared her throat and looked at her sister-in-law in surprise.
Guo Hongzhe and Guo Hongxuan knew the past very well. They were stunned and looked at their brother nervously, secretly worried.
The daughter of the Minister's family was said to be gentle and virtuous, yet Jiang Yushu dared to ask such a question? She was really jealous.
The two women looked at each other for a moment. Liao Xiaodie lowered her head in shame and was very puzzled. She avoided answering and complained, "I followed Lord Pan and came to Heqin in a hurry. I only brought a maid, a wet nurse and two servants. The elderly, the weak, women and children. If we met robbers on the road, wouldn't we be dead? Besides, Zhu'er is very ill. If we traveled all night, the child would not be able to bear it." After that, she burst into tears.
Guo Honglei helped his wife sit down and adjusted her snow hat. Just as he was about to speak, he heard his mother say, "What's the point of crying? Stop crying. I'll arrange for some people to take you back tonight. As for Baozhu... Well, if you're relieved, leave the wet nurse with her. Wait until Yipeng is safe, then come back to pick up the child."
With her husband standing beside her, Jiang Yushu calmed herself down and continued, "Actually, once Yongzhou was recaptured, Xicang became much more peaceful than before. After the battle, reinforcements are gradually withdrawing from Yuehu and returning to their original locations. Soldiers are everywhere, and the bandits haven't dared to show their faces for the time being. You're a group of a dozen people, so bring your own weapons and don't be too afraid."
"There's no time to lose!" Guo Honglei spoke bluntly, staring at Liao Xiaodie and asking sternly, "What are you planning? Saving lives is like putting out a fire. If you continue to hide and hesitate, forget about saving me. Just wait for the imperial envoy to summon you."
Liao Xiaodie tried her best, but seeing the Guo family's concerted efforts, she realized she couldn't gain any more benefits and had to give up. She wiped her tears, gritted her teeth, and replied with frustration, "I understand. I can hide for a while, but not forever. Even if I hide to the ends of the earth, I can't escape. So, old lady, please have mercy on Zhu'er. When the storm calms down, Brother Peng and I will come to pick her up as soon as possible!"
Wang was helpless and tiredly ordered, "Honglei, pick a few people, pack up quickly, and set off as soon as possible to avoid any more trouble."
"Yes." Guo Honglei whispered a few words to his wife, then opened the door and went out.
As the night deepened, the wind died down and the snow stopped.
The incense burner made the bedroom cozy and warm. Jiang Yushu lay alone in the quilt, unable to help but have wild thoughts and sulk, thinking to herself: How can this be!
The man is married, the woman is married, and both have children.
But you were in public, seemingly intentionally or unintentionally, ignoring me the whole time and obsessed with a married man?
You really don't take me seriously!
snort!
…
After a long time, the door creaked open and familiar footsteps were heard.
Guo Honglei came back feeling cold, and he quickly took off his cloak and outer robe, put them on the shelf, washed up in the outer room, and poured himself some tea.
He walked into the inner room, holding the teacup, and looked at the bed:
Jiang Yushu lifted the curtain with one hand, raised half her body and asked, "Are you back?"
Their eyes met, and Guo Honglei nodded and replied, "Why aren't you asleep yet?"
"I was almost asleep." In reality, Jiang Yushu tossed and turned, unable to control her thoughts: Liao Xiaodie is weak and tearful, yet eloquent. Would he be moved by her farewell? Would he be so moved that he would escort her back to the capital? If so, how infuriating!
Guo Honglei asked apologetically, "Did I wake you up?"
"Not really." Jiang Yushu lowered the curtains, pulled up the quilt, breathed a sigh of relief, and thought: Great, he's back.
Then, Guo Honglei could no longer see anyone, so he looked at the curtain and asked, "Are you thirsty?"
Jiang Yushu shook her head, and then she realized that the other party couldn't see her, so she replied softly, "I'm not thirsty."
Guo Honglei nodded, drank the warm tea, set the cup back on the outer table, blew out the lights, and went to bed. In the darkness, he hugged his wife and whispered, "I just got back from my mother's. She said you don't have to worry about the full moon banquet. I'll write the invitations, and she and my sister-in-law will prepare the banquet. You can rest."
"Really? That's great!" Jiang Yushu smiled happily, and her mood gradually calmed down. "I was just worrying about it, and help came."
Guo Honglei smiled. "Baozhu will be taken care of by the nanny and will continue to live in that room. We will move out together tomorrow."
"Yeah." Jiang Yushu felt pity. "That child is really pitiful. He has been taking medicine all the time since he came here."
Guo Honglei frowned. "It seems that Cousin Liao is not very good at raising children. If Brother Shi can escape safely, I must remind him not to let his wife give supplements to our daughter carelessly."
Jiang Yushu was silent for a moment, then asked solemnly, "If Brother Gong can't escape this disaster, what will happen to his daughter?"
"This..." Guo Honglei sighed, "If something unexpected happens, the Gong family won't just ignore their granddaughter. They'll definitely send someone to pick her up and bring her back to the capital to raise her."
The couple hugged each other and chatted for a long time before going to bed until they were sleepy and fell asleep.
The next day. Early morning
It is an auspicious day to move.
Wang and others brought three carriages from Changping, Jiang Yushu had one, and the four carriages were full of luggage. They rushed to the new house, arranged it properly, and then returned to pick up people to move in.
The three brothers of the Guo family were busy running around all the time.
The luggage was moved away and the bedroom became empty.
Jiang Yushu held the child in her arms and said softly, "Ye'er, we're moving today. Our new home is in Guangchang Lane. Are you happy?"
The baby grew a little, his skin became rosy, he blinked his eyes and yawned, looking innocent and adorable.
"Of course I'm happy." Madam Pan came closer with a thick blanket, smiling, and said, "Look, I'm sleepy."
Nanny Qiu took the blanket, shook it open, and examined it. She said thankfully, "Thank goodness it's not snowing or windy today. I'll wrap this up for the young master later to keep him warm."
Moving into a new home, Jiang Yushu was full of anticipation and said cheerfully: "Wrap it up before you go out. The carriage will stop at the door of the new house, and you can walk into the house in a few steps."
The next moment, Wang and her men passed by. Worried about her grandson, she came into the house and warned him, "Yushu, please take good care of Ye'er. Dress him warmly and be careful not to catch a cold."
Jiang Yushu stood up quickly. "Oh, I see. Where is the old lady going?"
Wang sighed and replied helplessly, "Yu'er was naughty and insisted on visiting Baozhu, but that girl was ill, so it wasn't appropriate for the children to play together. So I persuaded Yu'er to stay and asked your sister-in-law to take him back to his room and wait for the carriage."
Jiang Yushu suddenly realized and raised her hand to offer him a seat.
"No." Wang waved her hand, her gray hair neatly combed into a bun, her eyebrows bright with joy. She turned around and said with a smile: "I have to comfort Yu'er. It's a happy day for moving into a new house. If he cries, it will be very unreasonable."
Jiang Yushu watched him go, "Okay, then go slower."
At this moment, Ducheng Jiang Mansion
With a series of "ding-ling-dang-clang" sounds, Jiang Yushan swept away the bronze mirror, comb, hairpins and other items, and scattered them on the ground.
The maids panicked and all of a sudden tried to persuade her: "Young lady, calm down and don't do anything stupid."
"Where's the Madam? Hurry, go and tell her immediately!"
"Girl, put down the scissors quickly, be careful not to cut your hands."
"Calm down. If you have anything to say, wait until Madam comes and we can discuss it."
…
"Shut up!"
"Get out!"
In the morning, as the maidservants were helping her wash and dress, Jiang Yushan suddenly lost her temper. She pulled a pair of scissors from her sewing basket, clutched them tightly, and waved them around, shouting, "Get out! Get out!"
How dare the maids leave? They were all terrified and tried hard to persuade her.
Jiang Yushan's face was pale, her eyes were red and swollen, and her chin was pointed. She grabbed a handful of hair and cut it with the scissors a few times, sending strands flying. She cried angrily, "Don't stop me, get out of here!"
"There's no room for me at home. Today I'm either going to die or cut my hair and become a nun!"
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Jiang Yushan: If there were a pill to regret...
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