Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 727 - 680 Growing Up to Marry You (2)

Baili Second Madam likes Guoguo, and Baili Rui also likes Guoguo, Li Yuzhu had noticed it long ago.

But Li Yuzhu did not agree to leave Guoguo at Baili Mansion.

Guoguo is a girl, and the Second Madam’s family has sons.

Currently, the two children’s relationship is quite good.

In the future, when these two children grow up, it’s all well if they can continue to get along, but if something changes and one starts liking someone else, wouldn’t that make things awkward for the other?

It’s better to separate them while they are still young.

When they grow up and meet again, if they like each other, that’s great; if not, there’s no regret.

Having not spent time together, not having developed feelings, no one’s heart will be hurt.

Li Yuzhu smiled slightly and politely declined, "Second Madam, when Guoguo left, her parents repeatedly reminded me to send Xiao Rui back and to take Guoguo home early. We have been out for a full six months, and Guoguo’s parents surely miss her a lot too. Once we return home, we’ll ask her parents’ opinion, and if they agree, we can then bring Guoguo to accompany Xiao Rui, what do you think?"

She spoke tactfully, but the Second Madam could still hear the refusal in her words.

"Actually, I was just mentioning it. How could I disregard Guoguo’s parents’ thoughts and forcefully keep someone? Wouldn’t that worry her parents? What parents wouldn’t be concerned about their child?" Baili Second Madam hugged Guoguo and kissed her, "When Guoguo grows up, come to play again, alright? But don’t forget Aunt and Brother Rui and Sister Xin."

Guoguo, eyes reddened, lunged into Second Madam’s arms, "Mm, I’ll definitely come when I grow up."

"Really a good child." Baili Second Madam held on, unwilling to let go.

.

Plans always change unexpectedly.

While Li Yuzhu was saying goodbye to the people of Baili Mansion with Guoguo, emergency news came from Liangzhou City.

According to the spies from the front, Beiyang had dispatched fifty thousand troops pressing towards Liangzhou City. Based on their marching speed, they were expected to reach the city in three days.

Upon hearing the news, the commoners outside Liangzhou North City Gate had flocked into the city in refuge.

The two sons of Baili Ju, who did not wish to see their mother, also asked Baili Dalang to bring back Mrs. Baili.

After causing such a big scandal, Baili Dalang did not want to see her and sent a servant to house Mrs. Baili in a side courtyard within the city.

Similarly, the side courtyard inside and outside was guarded by servants.

Mrs. Baili, having her affair exposed, felt too ashamed to meet anyone, with or without guards, she hid herself in her room.

.

At the Baili Mansion, Old Master Baili was reprimanding Baili Huang.

"Thinking about it, Liangzhou City hasn’t had a true fight with Beiyang in five or six years. The last time, I beat them so badly they ran with their heads covered, and this time, they won’t go back intact either! Nothing to be afraid of, Erlang! Although the Beiyang people seem brave, they’re all courage without strategy."

Liangzhou City borders Beiyang. Beiyang is a bitterly cold place, and every winter and spring, the Beiyang people would come south to loot.

But in recent years, the Beiyang people have been more compliant. According to reports from spies, it’s because there was internal strife in Bei Yan Country, distracting them from disturbing Zhao Country in the south.

On top of that, last year, Zhao Country and Beiyang signed a marriage alliance, sent a Princess of Heqin and tributes, which kept the border peaceful for half a year.

Baili Huang said, "Father, I will not fear the Beiyang people. They have broken their promises. Last year, we sent them a Princess of Heqin and tributes, yet only after half a year they break the agreement and come south to cause chaos. It seems, without showing them some force, they won’t realize the sky is blue!"

"Deploy more strategies and don’t let them return!" Old Master Baili patted his second son’s shoulder.

.

The outbreak of war also disrupted Li Yuzhu and Mu Yuanxiu’s plans to return home.

They had planned to leave Liangzhou City the day after tomorrow, but now they couldn’t wait until then.

Baili Second Madam personally came to their guest room to inform them of the border situation, "Ruirui’s father received word from spies that fifty thousand Beiyang troops are racing south, expected to be at the city gates in three days. The people outside the North City Gate are fleeing into the city, and some are leaving through the South City Gate, heading elsewhere. You should leave the city soon, from the South City Gate."

Li Yuzhu immediately looked at Mu Yuanxiu, "Yuanxiu?"

Guoguo, who was peeling a mandarin, stopped with a piece in her mouth, her eyes wide open staring at everyone.

Mu Yuanxiu nodded, "Thank you, Second Madam, we shall leave in advance."

Second Madam apologetically said, "I wanted to throw you a farewell banquet, but it seems there is no time. We shall do so next time."

Li Yuzhu smiled, "We’ve stayed at the mansion for so long, eating and drinking abundantly every day. Whether or not there’s a farewell banquet, it doesn’t matter to us."

Guoguo stood up to hold Second Madam’s hand, "Aunt, Guoguo will miss you."

Second Madam’s nose tingled, and she bent down to hug Guoguo, "Aunt will miss you too, Guoguo."

The situation was urgent, and Second Madam hugged Guoguo, urging Li Yuzhu and the others to pack their things quickly.

She called a maid to inform the gatekeeper to harness horses and a carriage for Mu Yuanxiu.

She called another maid to help Li Yuzhu and Zhou Zhaodi pack their luggage.

With several people helping, Li Yuzhu and Zhou Zhaodi took only half an hour to pack their luggage.

Six large boxes and some parcels.

Besides two boxes of clothes for the four of them, one box contained local specialties that Li Yuzhu and Mu Yuanxiu had bought in Liangzhou City to bring home.

The other three large boxes were all gifts from Second Madam Baili and other members of the Baili family.

Mostly clothes and toys for Guoguo, and some food.

The knick-knacks Zhou Zhaodi bought for her older and younger sisters and their mother were packed in two parcels.

The luggage was loaded onto the carriage, driven by Zhou Zhaodi.

Guoguo and Li Yuzhu sat in Mu Yuanxiu’s mule cart.

It was still freezing at that time, with occasional heavy snow pouring, so Li Yuzhu laid a thick wool blanket inside the mule cart.

Worried that Guoguo might get hungry on the road, Second Madam Baili ordered the servants to fetch hot meatballs and soup from the kitchen, packed in two jars, along with over a dozen beef pies, as traveling provisions for Li Yuzhu and Mu Yuanxiu.

The jars and beef pies, stuffed in the wool blanket, could stay warm for half an hour.

The leopard that came with Guoguo, who recently had been eating and resting well at the Baili Mansion, had grown rounder.

Mu Yuanxiu arranged for it to stay secure on the luggage cart.

The servants at the Baili Mansion, accustomed to Guoguo’s big leopard, knew it was intelligent and wouldn’t bite people. When they left, the servants even petted the leopard’s head.

The leopard only lifted an eyelid, lying comfortably in the cart, dozing off.

Second Madam Baili, holding her daughter Baili Xin, with her son Baili Rui, stood at the mansion’s entrance to see off Li Yuzhu and the others.

Baili Xin, being young, didn’t quite understand goodbyes, only grinned and smiled.

Second Madam’s eyes reddened, yet she still smiled and waved goodbye. Only Baili Rui cried out, unwilling to let Guoguo go.

Guoguo bit her lip, leaned out of the cart window, and waved to Baili Rui, "Brother Rui, when I grow up, I will marry you, don’t forget me!"