Cui Yuanbin and Liao Yuying immediately looked at Zhou Gu upon hearing the news.
Zhou Gu asked, "Are you willing to accompany me to the Southern three states, my fourth uncle and aunt?"
"Of course," the two of them responded in unison, without hesitation. They were just bored with nowhere to play.
Zhou Gu had no more to say, "We depart in the afternoon. Since that’s settled, you two should go and get ready!"
"Bah, no need to get ready. We can leave anytime, just need to bring enough silver notes," Cui Yuanbin waved his hand and sat down beside Zhou Gu, "Nephew, are you going to the Southern three states on an errand? What kind of errand? Tell us first, so we have an idea."
Liao Yuying also felt her husband was right; there wasn’t much to pack. She too sat next to Cui Yuanbin, looking at Zhou Gu, "Right, tell us."
They weren’t fools—they knew that if Zhou Gu had to personally leave the Royal Capital for this errand and had been instructed by his uncle to bring them along, it must be extremely important and certainly not a trivial matter.
Zhou Gu did not conceal the details and briefly explained.
Cui Yuanbin took a deep breath, "Sounds dangerous."
Liao Yuying gave him a sidelong glance, "Naturally, and that’s why we need to be extremely cautious and careful, and bring more people with us. Leave some of the Evil Ghost Sect in the Royal Capital, but bring the rest."
Cui Yuanbin nodded, "As for the Southern three states, it’s a vast area; I’m afraid just bringing these few people won’t be enough. We need to bring more Hidden Guards."
He looked at Duke Cui, "Right? Uncle."
"Indeed, bring them all," Duke Cui instructed, "As long as you understand the gravity and importance of this matter. You are being brought along to help, not to drag us down. So, don’t be out of line."
"How could we possibly? Rest assured, uncle," Cui Yuanbin immediately straightened up to show his agreement.
Liao Yuying quickly added, "Uncle, please be assured, I will keep an eye on my husband and will not allow any mistakes."
Duke Cui nodded.
When Su Rong arrived, the four had already discussed and agreed on their plans. After Su Rong joined them, Liao Yuying and Cui Yuanbin reassured her further, promising that they would bring enough people to protect Zhou Gu.
Su Rong had not expected Duke Cui to let these two follow, and smilingly said, "Since that is the case, I entrust Zhou Gu to my fourth uncle and aunt. You also be careful and protect yourselves."
Both nodded in agreement, telling her not to worry.
On her way to the Cui Residence, Su Rong had already dispatched people, passing messages to Fang Yue, Lady Wan, Qin Feng, and others. She had also had provisions prepared, filling a medicine chest, and considering the possibility of military action. Hence, upon meeting, she handed the Military Talisman over to Zhou Gu, "If there’s a need for troops, don’t hesitate; strike first and strike hard."
Zhou Gu accepted it, "Alright, rest assured."
Su Rong looked at him and couldn’t resist pinching his waist again.
Zhou Gu clasped her hand, whispering, "It must all be bruised from your pinching, and it doesn’t fade for days."
Su Rong huffed softly and took out a safety talisman, tying it around his waist, "Since you are going out on a mission, don’t rush too much; just make sure to return before the Great Wedding."
Zhou Gu laughed, "Understood."
Watching the couple’s reluctant farewell, Cui Yuanbin and Liao Yuying blinked at the scene, while Duke Cui stroked his beard and smiled at the two of them.
After spending half a day at the Cui Residence and having everything duly prepared, Zhou Gu didn’t wait for Su Rong to see him off and left with his people.
Outwardly, only Cui Yuanbin, Liao Yuying, Ziye, and a few guards were present, but in secret, following Zhou Gu’s departure from the Royal Capital, Zhou Gu’s Hidden Guard, the Hidden Guards brought by Fang Yue’s Lady Wan, along with the Cui Residence’s Hidden Guard and people from the Evil Ghost Sect, had successively left the Royal Capital and were trailing behind.
Cui Yanjin didn’t know his parents had left the Royal Capital until he returned home that evening. The moment he found out, he exclaimed in shock, "What about the painting my cousin promised me? He hasn’t given it to me yet."
"He has," Duke Cui pointed to a long box, "It’s packed inside there. Your cousin spent a full seven days on it. How could he not fulfill a promise he made to you? Before leaving the Royal Capital, he came to the Residence specifically to deliver it to you."
Cui Yanjin was overjoyed and ran to look at the painting. After a moment, he was deeply moved, "My cousin is truly good, he keeps his word."
"You should also strive to be a man who keeps his word," Duke Cui took the opportunity to teach, "A true gentleman’s promise is worth a thousand taels of gold."
Cui Yanjin nodded repeatedly.
After admiring the painting for a while, he said, "Why did my parents follow my cousin? Is it really to receive the Old Duke?"
It didn’t feel right to him. At this time, with his cousin being so busy, and with the Old Duke and Eldest Princess Shengan possibly arriving, they would undoubtedly have their own guards with them. There was no need to go and receive them, right?
"There was official business which had to be taken care of, so they went to meet them along the way," Duke Cui didn’t plan to tell Cui Yanjin the truth, having prepared this explanation for the public.
Cui Yanjin uttered an "oh" twice, "That’s what I thought."
He grumbled, "My parents are so annoying. After having their fun in the Royal Capital, they’re off playing with my cousin again. Sigh, I hope they don’t cause any trouble for him."
Duke Cui was speechless, both annoyed and amused, "Indeed, they’re less reliable than a child like you, making a child worry about them. Hopefully, this trip will see them become more sensible, as they claim they will."
Cui Yanjin nodded earnestly, clutching the box with the painting, "I’ll go deliver this to the old Chief of Staff right now. He’s been eagerly waiting for it every day."
"Go on, then!" Duke Cui gestured.
Clutching the box, Cui Yanjin headed to the old Chief of Staff’s Residence at the Ministry of Works.
Qin Luan saw that Xie Yuan was very accommodating. Xie Yuan didn’t make things difficult for her and told her to start her duties the next day and to assist in preparing for the female study and other matters.
After leaving the Xie Residence, upon returning to the Qin Residence, Qin Ruo inquired about how things went, and Qin Luan briefly explained.
Qin Ruo advised, "Master Xie is highly talented. Sister, if you work with him in overseeing the female study, you’ll benefit greatly. Pay attention, observe, and be active in your duties. Being Master Xie’s student for a while will benefit you for a lifetime. The Princess was personally raised by him." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎
Qin Luan nodded, "Don’t worry, big brother. I’ll work hard."
Qin Ruo nodded in agreement, then brought up another topic casually, "Zhou Gu left the capital today."
Qin Luan was startled, "Do you mean the Master of the Imperial Daughter?"
"Yes."
Qin Luan was surprised, "Why?"
"The Old Duke of Protectorate along with the Grand Princess Shengan, The Lady of the Duke, and Eldest Lady Su are on their way to Nanchu. Having received news, Zhou Gu happened to have official matters to attend to and took the opportunity to go meet them," Qin Ruo shared the news he had gathered.
Qin Luan remembered seeing Su Rong and Zhou Gu appearing to have an unpleasant exchange in the Imperial Study Room earlier today. She asked, "What matter is it that requires the Master of the Imperial to personally attend to it? It must be unusually urgent or important, right? Otherwise, he could’ve sent someone else. Why would he need to go himself?"
Qin Ruo shook his head, "I don’t know. Perhaps, given the importance of the Old Duke, Grand Princess Shengan, The Lady of the Duke, and Eldest Lady Su, and with people like Cui Xingzhi watching the Ministry of Revenue, he must be missing his grandparents and mother. Besides, Eldest Lady Su is also his mother-in-law, so it’s not strange for him to make the trip himself."
Qin Luan thought it made sense, but she still felt puzzled. After all, she had witnessed the scene in the study, suspecting that things might not be that simple.
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