One after another, relatives and friends came, and the Xie family received more than thirty carriages.
Bao Weida was filled with jealousy and helplessness. He glanced around several times. The Xie family had been exiled, yet they still wanted to ride in a carriage. Did they think this was the Wei and Jin Dynasties?
We're working hard right now, and you still want to ride in a horse-drawn carriage? It's already a good thing you brought some food and drink.
However, I'll accept whatever gifts I receive.
Horse-drawn carriages are valuable items; they're not sold in most towns. This one could easily fetch a hundred taels of silver.
As darkness fell, a carriage and a fast horse emerged from the city in the distance, still hesitant, looking around every few steps.
When the carriage arrived, Xie Zhaozhao saw that the person riding the horse was Gu Zhongyu, and the person driving the carriage was Gu Zheng.
Gu Zhongyu casually handed a bundle to Xie Zhaozhao: "These are cotton-padded clothes and shoes made by your sister-in-law. She caught a cold and couldn't come in person, so she asked me to deliver them to your sister-in-law."
Did Mr. Lu catch a cold?
What a coincidence?
However, at this time of year, even offering a ride is a gesture of goodwill.
Xie Zhaozhao thanked him, and then saw Gu Zheng take out a package containing some food and a few silver notes.
"Third Aunt," Gu Zheng said sadly, his eyes reddening, "Third Aunt, have a safe journey..."
The carriage curtain was lifted, and a maid jumped down; it was Ya Lan, who served the old lady of the Marquis's mansion.
She jumped down and reached out to help the old lady out of the carriage.
Looking at Xie Zhaozhao, Old Madam Hou couldn't contain her excitement and said, "Long time no see... Hmm, how should I address you?"
Xie Zhaozhao looked at her calmly.
"Grand Secretary's wife? No! Princess Consort? Even more wrong, you've been divorced! How about calling you Miss Xie? No, you've both been exiled, how can you still be called Miss? Tsk tsk, I really don't know what to call you anymore, huh?"
Gu Zheng said anxiously, "Grandmother, we agreed when we came that we would only see you off and not say anything else!"
Gu Zhongyu picked her up and shoved her into the carriage, saying to Gu Zheng, "The things have been delivered, and the words have been spoken, let's go!"
Old Madam Hou continued to stick her head out of the carriage: "Madam Xie, you still want to be high and mighty..."
Gu Zheng gagged her.
Xie Zhaozhao walked to the carriage, lifted the curtain, looked at the smug Old Madam Hou, and said, "Now that you see the Xie family in trouble, you want to kick them while they're down? Sorry, you're destined to be disappointed!"
Before Madam Hou could say anything, she heard someone call out, "Your Highness?"
"Your Highness has arrived!"
Two fast horses came galloping towards them like the wind.
The man on the horse had sword-like eyebrows, phoenix eyes, a straight nose, and thin lips; it was Zhou Shaoyu.
On the other horse was Nanxing. He jumped down and helped Zhou Shaoyu dismount. Bao Weida and the other escorts immediately kowtowed to Zhou Shaoyu to pay their respects.
As soon as Gu Zheng saw Zhou Shaoyu arrive, he immediately greeted him: "Greetings, Your Highness!"
Zhou Shaoyu ignored him and didn't greet Xie Anfeng or Madam Xie. He walked up to Xie Zhaozhao, stood still, and didn't say a word for a while.
His eyes were fixed on her, deep and heartbroken.
After a while, he reached out and touched her head.
Xie Zhaozhao did not dodge.
Xie Zhaozhao looked at the tall man standing in front of her, the longing in his eyes almost overflowing, turning into a tangible desire...
Her eyes lowered for a moment, then lifted again.
The distant and indifferent gaze froze Zhou Shaoyu's hands.
"Zhaozhao, I've brought Heng'er out."
"Okay, thank you for your hard work from now on." As long as her son wasn't held captive by Emperor Hui, Xie Zhaozhao believed that Zhou Shaoyu would treat his biological son very well.
What could she say? All words were too pale.
The child was never by her side after he was born. She knew in her heart that she had let him down, but what could she do when she was overwhelmed with her own problems?
“He’s too small, otherwise I would bring him to you to see!” Gu Shaoyu pinched his palm with his fingers, forcing a smile, and said, “Don’t worry, no one can take him away. I will take good care of him.”
"Thank you," Xie Zhaozhao said softly, her fingers pinching her palm.
"I'll find a way to bring you back in a few days."
"No need, I'm fine with my grandmother and father."
She didn't want to be saved; she wanted her entire clan to live.
Zhou Shaoyu said with a somber expression, "Then I will bring the entire Xie family back as soon as possible."
"Thanks."
"..."
Zhou Shaoyu couldn't remember what to say anymore, and the two just stood there facing each other.
The entire Shili Pavilion was silent, with the cold wind howling and the chill penetrating to the bone in waves.
Princess Changping's tears fell like beads, and she buried her head in her legs, biting her lip and crying, but not daring to cry out loud.
As darkness fell, Zhou Shaoyu stood before her. The once eloquent Grand Secretary Gu, who had been so persuasive in the imperial court, now had a blank mind and could not recall anything.
"I'm leaving?"
"good."
As Zhou Shaoyu was about to leave, Xie Zhaozhao suddenly called out, "Zhou Shaoyu?"
"Yes." Zhou Shaoyu hurriedly turned around. As long as she asked him to come along, he would immediately follow without hesitation.
“Please give me back my prayer beads. They were a keepsake given to me by the Living Buddha. I want to live a good life,” Xie Zhaozhao said.
Every word was like a knife, leaving Zhou Shaoyu bleeding profusely.
Zhou Shaoyu pinched his palm and asked with a sore throat, "Can I ask you for another set of strings?"
"No way! You should get yourself a string of them from now on!"
Zhou Shaoyu lowered his head apologetically and said, "I'm sorry, I can't return it to you! I didn't bring it with me today; I left it at the manor."
"Oh, never mind then," Xie Zhaozhao said. "Go back and throw it away."
Xie Zhaozhao turned back to the group. Zhou Shaoyu stood there blankly for a while. Nanxing walked up to Xie Zhaozhao and pleaded, "Madam, His Highness hasn't slept for several days. He had a falling out with His Majesty to come see you and was even beaten with ten strokes of the cane. That's why he's late, and His Highness is still injured..."
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