Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1241: Chapter 1243: Rumors Heard_1

Tu Lie, wracked with pain, held his forehead and said, ”I started from the ranks, and I’ve always felt I should be strict with the children, whether sons or daughters, I’ve always instilled in them the need to earn military merits. Even when Tu Ying, a girl, said she wanted to become a female general, I encouraged her.”

Bai Ruozhu felt somewhat distressed and spoke softly, ”Tu Ying is a woman who refuses to be outdone by men. Even if you didn’t encourage her, her competitive nature would’ve driven her.”

Tu Lie shook his head, ”Actually, both kids are sensible, it’s just that I put too much pressure on them. Tu Bai isn’t particularly talented in martial arts, and he doesn’t even have much interest in charging into battle. But to live up to my expectations, even under my coercion, he went to the battlefield, and now there’s no news from him.”

”Tu Ying saw early on that her brother wasn’t interested in warfare, and she wanted to carry the burden of the Tu Family herself, so he wouldn’t have to work so hard,” Tu Lie said as tears streamed down his face, ”I’ve always known, but I kept thinking that one has to be toughened up like jade. I’ve only been harsh on them, even during the recent chaos instigated by Prince Duan, when they were pushed into the eye of the storm.”

”I am a good general, but not a good father. I’ve only got these two children, but I forced them both into dangerous situations. Ruozhu, if you have the chance to find Tu Ying, you must persuade her to come back, tell her that I was wrong. I no longer want them to establish careers through their merits, I just want my children to be safe and sound,” finished Tu Lie, no longer able to hold back his tears.

Bai Ruozhu’s eyes also reddened. Now that she was a mother, she understood the feelings of a parent. She knew that Tu Lie was full of regret at this moment, but she couldn’t find words to comfort him and only nodded, saying, ”Lord Tu, if I can get in touch with Tu Ying, I will definitely persuade her to come home, and I will certainly convey your words.”

Tu Lie’s emotions had now calmed down. As a soldier steeped in blood and iron, it was rare for him to lose control like this. He expressed his gratitude to Bai Ruozhu with an awkward smile, ”Thank you.”

”You’re being too polite,” Bai Ruozhu wanted to inquire about Tu Bai, wondering how there could be no news of him. Could there have been some sort of incident at the main camp in the northwest?

However, Tu Lie seemed reluctant to discuss it further, probably due to secrets surrounding military operations. Bai Ruozhu did not press further.

The group of friends had endured hardships together, escaped assassinations in Jiangnan, and returned to Beiyu City to evade persecution by Prince Duan, defeating his rebellious plots; they had already formed a bond akin to comrades in arms. Bai Ruozhu, too, was worried about Tu Bai’s safety.

It was Meng Liangshen who finally broke the awkward silence, ”Let’s take our seats quickly. After the farewell feast, Yichun and the others still have duties to perform, and we must not delay.”

Tu Lie nodded and followed Meng Liangshen out.

Jiang Yichun came over and took Bai Ruozhu’s hand, whispering, ”Don’t worry, they are blessed people. They will surely be able to turn danger into safety and return soon.”

Bai Ruozhu nodded, ”I believe in them.”

The farewell feast was lively, but it became somewhat melancholic towards the end because Jiang Yichun mentioned that after the duties were completed, they would immediately return to the Capital to report, without making another trip to Beiyu City.

There was no helping it—the moment they returned with the Holy Maiden Fen Wan to the Capital, they couldn’t simply go back to Beiyu City. Even if nothing went wrong, the emperor would surely punish them for dereliction of duty if he found out.

Thus, the Meng Family felt that it would be a long time before they could see the two again. Of course, the person who found it hardest was the elderly Madame Meng, whose old age made her more susceptible to sentimentality, particularly in times of farewell.

”Ruozhu, you must find time to visit your grandmother after you complete your mission. I’m getting old, and who knows when I might pass away. Come to see me whenever you can,” Madame Meng said as she began to tear up.

Bai Ruozhu quickly took her hand and said, ”Grandmother, don’t think like that. You’re in great health, and you’re sure to live to be a hundred. I must drink to your hundredth birthday. Once I rest for a while after this trip, I will come to see you and bring little Dengdeng to kowtow to you.”

Mistress Meng’s heart swelled with joy when she heard this. ”Good, good, I’ll be waiting for you all,” she said.

There’s no banquet that doesn’t come to an end. After the luncheon concluded, Jiang Yichun and Bai Ruozhu took their leave and continued on their journey.

According to the Holy Edict, the town afflicted by the plague lay near the northwestern passage into the Western Regions and was called Guangqi Town, somewhat akin to Anyuan Town in size. However, Guangqi Town didn’t share the prosperity of Anyuan Town; trade between the Western Regions and Danliang Country wasn’t as frequent as that which passed through the Turkic territories.

Of course, the plague in Guangqi Town was merely a facade, a smokescreen to deceive others. Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun needed to first rush to Guangqi Town to stay a few days, then disguise themselves as a merchant team to enter the territory of the Western Regions.

The Western Regions lay to the northwest of Danliang Country, and slightly to the west resided several formidable Barbarian Tribes. Consequently, Jiang Yichun brought along quite a few skilled men on this trip, partly to ensure convenience in their actions upon entering the Western Regions and partly to fend off any raids by the nomadic tribes of the Barbarian Tribes.

On their way, Bai Ruozhu stopped by the Commerce Association and unexpectedly received a verbal message for her. She took the token, looked at its contents, and realized it was written by her mentor.

”Achun, Master has gone to the Capital. He said he would look after the Bai Family and told me not to worry. How come we just missed seeing Master?” Bai Ruozhu said with a touch of regret.

”We’ll see him when we get back,” Jiang Yichun said with a smile.

Bai Ruozhu suddenly felt something was off, wondering why Achun showed no surprise at the news, almost as if he knew all along that Lin Zhenghui would be going to the Capital after them.

She fixated on Jiang Yichun, voicing her suspicion, ”Did Master tell you in advance?”

”If he didn’t tell you, why would he go out of his way to tell me? Even if he did inform me, wouldn’t I have told you? Perhaps something urgent came up and he had to go to the Capital. It’s not unusual for the Commerce Association to call these elders to the Capital for meetings several times a year,” Jiang Yichun explained.

Bai Ruozhu acknowledged with an ”Oh”, doubting whether she was overthinking things.

Jiang Yichun excused himself to arrange some affairs, but in truth, he was dodging Bai Ruozhu out of guilt. He could share his own secrets with Bai Ruozhu but couldn’t divulge more about Lin Zhenghui. Before leaving the Capital for an extended period, he was worried about the instability there and had urgently ordered Lin Zhenghui to watch over things.

Seven days later, the group finally arrived at the city closest to Guangqi Town—Jinshui City.

As they still had time to spare, they didn’t linger long in Jinshui City, merely buying some supplies. However, while making purchases, Bai Ruozhu, with her keen ears, overheard some people discussing the epidemic in Guangqi Town.

”Oh dear, anyone coming back from Guangqi Town should be quarantined. The infectious disease there is so severe; what if they bring it to our Jinshui City? I heard a lot of people have died already!” exclaimed a middle-aged man with a face full of terror.

”Really? Is it that serious? But why hasn’t the Government Office posted any notices? Shouldn’t they warn everyone against going to Guangqi Town carelessly?” Another person asked in disbelief.

”Oh, please, the Government Office just doesn’t want to create panic,” the first man retorted.