Indeed a bit frivolous!
Hehe, Qi Yue chuckled inwardly, but quickly interrupted out loud.
"Mother, please don't think like that. You're not even forty yet, and there are people who have children at fifty, aren't there?"
This reassurance actually made Zhao Yongzhe feel a bit embarrassed.
After all, his eldest son was in his twenties and still unmarried, and now mother was expecting again.
Everyone laughed for a mont, and the tense atmosphere from the earlier discussion about where to go instantly dissipated.
Zhao Xiyan was the first to offer a suggestion.
"Mother, Yueyue and I do not wish to rush our marriage, and I would like to marry her in Longnan County Governnt. Given the current chaos, if father and mother are reluctant to go to Yecheng, it might be better to retreat to Youyun Mountain for a while."
Youyun Mountain was where Zhao Xiyan had studied martial arts in his earlier years. It was a secluded and safer place.
Qi Yue also nodded in agreent.
"Father, mother, Xiyan has told about this place, and I think it's feasible. With the situation now uncertain, a temporary retreat is best. Of course, with Xiyan in Yecheng, it's also safe."
Zhao Shuangyue understood the others' desire to follow her but it was not feasible.
Her next destination was Longnan County Governnt, and she had many matters to handle. She couldn't look after these delicate young ladies.
After further discussion, Zhao Yongzhe still refused to leave Beiyuan, and finally, it was decided to take the family to Youyun Mountain.
But they couldn't leave imdiately; they had to wait for the Shen Family.
Shen Yu, worried that the Imperial Court would retaliate against the Shen Family once the Zhao Family left, didn't consult with Zhao Xiyan and directly inford the Shen Family to leave with them.
So everyone had to wait here for a few days to confirm whether the Shen Family would co or not.
Qi Yue didn't mind waiting; after all, with planes and cars, travel was quick and surprisingly so.
If pushed for ti, they could just sedate everyone and fly back.
Zhao Xiyan, however, was skeptical.
"Mother, Uncle has long been disengaged from worldly affairs, and I fear he might not co, which is why I didn't tell him. But now, this makes it difficult for him."
Zhao Yongzhe also nodded.
"Yanyan is right, Uncle has kept to his academy, out of court politics, with students all over the world; the court won't make things difficult for him. You should have discussed this with Yanyan first."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yu realized the problem and felt sowhat regretful.
But what was done was done, and they could only wait for news from the Shen Family now.
Sure enough, by evening that day, a fast horse arrived at Lizi Village, bringing news from the Capital City.
The Zhao Family had mysteriously disappeared, causing a stir in the court, but no pursuit order was issued against them. Instead, various governnt offices were instructed to assist in locating them.
However, the news about the Imperial Palace and the Pri Minister Residence being emptied was unexpectedly quiet.
The Emperor and the Pri Minister had not made this public, as if nothing had happened.
Qi Yue guessed they were scared, or their brains couldn't handle it, still in shock and unable to accept it.
Once they recovered, they might link the Zhao Family to this incident, and considering previous rumors, they would likely suspect her.
anwhile, the disappearance of the Zhao Family was wildly speculated upon by the public.
So said Zhao Xiyan was aspiring to compete for supremacy, so he moved his parents to prevent them from being held hostage.
Others said that the Zhao Family had not committed any cris, yet had been confiscated by the court; the Duke had nearly died, so their reaction was only natural!
...
Everyone was silent after reading the contents of the letter.
Qi Yue felt sowhat responsible.
If not for her, the Zhao Family probably wouldn't have been forced to leave the Capital City.
This subtle emotion was detected by Zhao Xiyan, who imdiately reassured her with a look that ant "don't overthink it."
Zhao Yongzhe and others also ntioned that they had long wanted to leave the Capital City, and it was bound to happen sooner or later.
Shen Yu's comforting words were even more heart-moving, warming Qi Yue's heart.
"Yueyue, don't think too much, Mother actually wants to go back to live in Northern Ridge. Although it's a bit humid, it gets quite nice once you get used to it. Mother still thinks about that wooden house even now," she said.
"Exactly, we built it with our own hands. The courtyard here in the Capital City is spacious, but it's really not as good as when the whole family was together," Zhao Yonglian added.
The family's chatter made the atmosphere peaceful.
The next morning, a letter from the Shen Family arrived.
Just as Zhao Xiyan had thought, Shen Changye, the uncle from the Shen Family, wrote that after consideration, he personally had decided not to leave the Capital City and continue teaching at the academy, but wanted the younger mbers of the family to leave with them.
This uncle from the Shen Family, being a literate man, saw things clearly and thought things through.
In the letter, he ntioned that he foresaw great changes in the near future and wanted the young n of the Shen Family to join Zhao Xiyan in building a career.
He also ntioned that considering the current situation, it was inevitable that the young n of the Shen Family would eventually be drafted into military service. Wouldn't it be better for the family to avoid conflict by joining early?
Knowing that several cousins and nephews were coming, the three sisters of the Shen Family were also happy.
Shen Yu was pleased as well.
The family waited half a day, and by the afternoon, a group of more than ten riders arrived at Lizi Village, followed by a carriage.
The greeters recognized them as the younger mbers of the Shen Family, and Zhao Shuangyue and the others went out to et them.
Qi Yue initially didn't want to go, but couldn't withstand the persistent coaxing of the three Shuangyue sisters and ended up going.
Although the Shen Family was a family of scholars, each mber was tall and strong, but they all seed well-behaved.
Upon seeing Zhao Xiyan, all of them were very respectful.
While everyone was greeting each other, so movent finally ca from the carriage behind.
"Second brother, third brother, you t brother Xiyan and are chatting so happily, you've forgotten about and Sister Ruyan. Just watch, I'll tell father later, and have you properly punished by copying books!"
With a tender voice, the carriage curtain lifted, and two won stepped out.
Qi Yue was taken aback on the spot.
Fortunately, the Shen Family mbers and the three Shuangyue sisters all went up to talk to them, and no one noticed her perturbation.
Qi Yue did not recognize the woman who spoke, but from the conversation, she seed to be Shen Family's illegitimate youngest daughter, Zhen Niang.
The other woman was Liao Ruyan.
Zhao Xiyan's rumored first love, his White Moonlight!
During the last visit for elder Master Shen's funeral, Qi Yue went to pay respects and didn't see Zhao Xiyan, but she saw this woman.
At that ti, she was wearing the White Jade Hairpin.
But now, it was not in her hair.
Perhaps, due to the exhausting journey, she was worried about damaging it, so she had put it away.
Qi Yue speculated, and unconsciously glanced at Zhao Xiyan, only to see that he did not go to greet the woman called Ruyan, but was walking towards her instead.
"Yueyue, let's go back. You didn't need to co out to et them," he said.
"Why? It's good to get out and about," Qi Yue tried to restrain the emotion in her voice.
Zhao Xiyan smiled.
"They're all very immature. You'd only get annoyed by eting them. Co on, I'll help you pack up so we can leave here sooner."
What immaturity, what annoyance!
Was he implying that Ruyan was childlike, but she was worldly-wise?
Qi Yue twitched the corners of her mouth, forcing a smile.
"Aren't you going to greet your cousins?" she asked.
"Shuangyue is there. I can't be bothered with them," Zhao Xiyan said, taking hold of Qi Yue's hand. "I'd rather spend the ti alone with you."
A man's tender words, deeply affectionate, yet to Qi Yue, it felt exactly like a playboy fearing a eting between his current and his ex!
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