Yu Qizhe and Yu Zhizhou came over from behind. Yu Fuling quickly wiped the corners of her eyes with her sleeves. Yu Jiao looked over and saw that Yu Qizhe was still wearing the crimson straight-robed official uniform. He had a slender figure, black hair tied up high, and a handsome face. He was no longer as young and weak as before. His frail and sickly body became taller and taller, like a lush bamboo in the mountains. Unknowingly, he had grown tall and straight. He was no longer the sickly young man from Qingyu Village.
Yu Jiao restrained herself from looking away and stood aside, listening quietly to the three people's farewell.
In fact, she had said everything she needed to say, but the sadness of parting made her reluctant to let him go. She couldn't help but repeat those words over and over again. When Yu Fuling bent down to get on the carriage, she burst into tears. She was not like Yu Zhizhou, a man who could come to the capital in the future. After this farewell, she would have to go back to be a good wife who took care of her husband and children and was virtuous and obedient. She was afraid that it would be difficult for her to come to the capital again.
Yu Jiao took out a handkerchief and wiped her tears. Yu Fuling held her hand and choked up, "You and Qizhe must be well in the capital." Then, she let go of Yu Jiao's hand, wiped her tears, and got into the carriage.
Yu Zhizhou was going to go to Wang Xueyan's shop on Chang'an Street to buy spices. He sat on the shaft of the cart and said to Yu Jiao and Yu Qizhe, "Let's go."
The driver pulled the reins and drove the carriage out of the alley and gradually went away.
No longer able to see the shadow of the carriage, Yu Jiao withdrew her gaze. The branches of the apricot tree planted in the next yard stretched out of the wall, and the pink and white apricot flowers were blown down by the breeze and slowly fell on the bluestone slabs under her feet.
She was silent for a long time and noticed a tall servant standing inside the courtyard gate. She didn't know when another servant appeared in the courtyard.
She said in a calm voice to the person standing beside her, "I'm going back home."
A shadow fell on her head. Her whole body stiffened. She looked up at Yu Qizhe who was leaning towards her, and subconsciously stepped back.
Yu Qizhe's eyes dimmed slightly, and he withdrew his hand from above her head, grasping a petal with his fingertips. His face was calm and composed, without any ripples.
Yu Jiao looked at the apricot blossom petal and realized that she had misunderstood. She bit her lip but could not say anything. She now didn't know how to be alone with Yu Qizhe.
When she lowered her eyes, she found that the cracked Bai Ze jade pendant was hanging on Yu Qizhe's waist. She took a deep breath and suppressed the urge to ask him what he meant by "But I don't want to be just your brother" not long ago. But what would it matter if she asked?
I had heard him say that he only treated me as his sister, and that there was only a brother-sister relationship between them, and this could not be faked. Rather than making things awkward, it was better to maintain some semblance of dignity now.
Yu Jiao walked towards the carriage and left Kanjing Hutong in silence. After Yu Fuling left, she probably wouldn't have the chance to come here again.
Yu Qizhe stood there silently, crushing the petals between his fingers, squeezing out the sticky juice. His handsome face was filled with gloom, and he turned back to the yard.
When Yu Jiao returned to the yard, Liu Ziqi was waiting for her in the house. He was holding an account book in his hand. When he saw Yu Jiao come in, he closed the book.
It was time for dinner in the evening. Yu Jiao called out, "Big Brother," and told Jianjia to ask the kitchen to prepare more food that day.
Liu Ziqi called Jianjia and asked her to take the food box on the table downstairs to heat up the pastries inside.
This was because he bought her some food again. Yu Jiao couldn't help but feel much better. She smiled and asked, "Where did you go today, big brother?"
"I came back from Annan Marquis's Mansion. Madam Gu asked the cook at home to make these snacks. She asked me to bring them back for you." Liu Ziqi paused and asked softly, "Are you having a quarrel with Gu Yun?"
Yu Jiao did not deny it. "I just want to make it clear to him what needs to be said."
Liu Ziqi knew that she still had Yu Qizhe in her heart. After all, they had only been together for a short time. She cried so sadly at that time, so it was natural that he couldn't let go for a while.
But Yu Qizhe was not a good man after all. He just used a little coercion and inducement, and that man easily abandoned Yu Jiao. How could he risk his life to protect Yu Jiao?
"I'm going on a long journey with the Jiangnan caravan in a few days, and I may not return to the capital until half a year later." Liu Ziqi touched Yu Jiao's head and said with some reassurance, "I'm not in the capital. If you have any problems, send someone to find Gu Yun. No matter what happens, he will protect you."
Yu Jiao and Gu Yun have not spent enough time together. In Liu Ziqi's opinion, if they spend every day together, Yu Jiao will naturally forget about Yu Qizhe and develop a good impression of Gu Yun.
"Don't worry, big brother." Yu Jiao knew that he was worried about her safety. He was even a little too nervous in this regard, as if many people would harm her.
Yu Jiao comforted him, "Mother will take us to Pingliang Prefecture in a while. Maybe when we return from Pingliang Prefecture, big brother will also return to Beijing."
Liu Ziqi nodded. Although he had left secret guards beside Yu Jiao and instructed Gu Yun, he still felt a little uneasy. If it were not inconvenient for him to go to the Lingnan army, he really wanted to bring Yu Jiao with him.
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