novelhk Chapter 182 Mother and son meet
Chapter 182 Mother and son meet
The meal was a joyful one. After the meal, Mu Xiaoqiao had to tell Mu Dingzhi and Mrs. Mo that she was leaving. Mrs. Mo couldn't help but feel sad and reluctant. Mu Dingzhi was also reluctant to leave his daughter, but he also knew that he had to return to Rui State, otherwise Ruan Haoyu would be branded as unfilial. Mu Xiaoqiao certainly didn't want to do that, so she helped to comfort Mrs. Mo.
Mu Xiaoqiao repeatedly assured her that she would return as soon as possible to visit Mrs. Mo after dealing with Ruiguo's affairs. Only then did she feel better.
Mu Xiaoqiao accompanied Mrs. Mo to rest that night. The mother and daughter slept in the same bed and talked about a lot of family matters until they fell asleep out of exhaustion.
Ruan Haoyu went to see the Imperial Master Jing Lao and asked him if he wanted to go with them. Jing Lao shook his head and said, "It's useless for me to go. I can't help you in any way. I'll just wait for you in the General's Mansion. When you want to look for me, just come back to the General's Mansion."
Understanding that Mr. Jing was old, Ruan Haoyu did not force him. He also knew that Mr. Jing was only a guide, but he and Mu Xiaoqiao would have to walk the road themselves.
But the road ahead is endless. Although there is a clear goal, I don’t know where to go. This feeling is really not good.
"Master Jing, I don't know whether this trip will be a good or bad one. If we can't find the Glazed Light Ring and the Murray Bracelet, I'm afraid you will be implicated..."
"Everything has its destiny, just keep moving forward, don't think too much."
Ruan Haoyu nodded and took a deep breath. He was not an indecisive person. He believed that only by trying hard to do something could you know whether it would succeed or not. He would do his best and leave the rest to God.
The next morning, the two reluctantly bid farewell to General Mu Dingzhi and his wife, Mrs. Mo, and left Muze City in the new carriage prepared by Nishang.
The Phantom Guards naturally withdrew as well. Nishang followed in the car, and the rest of the Phantom Guards scattered in the dark. Before they left Mu Ze City, a Phantom Guard came to report that Xiao Mubei was waiting for them at the city gate.
Mu Xiaoqiao and Ruan Haoyu looked at each other, and Ruan Haoyu said, "I thought that after what happened yesterday, the Eighth Prince would not want to see us again, but I didn't expect that he would come to see us off. This is rare."
Mu Xiaoqiao smiled and said, "Don't be too optimistic. It may not be a special gift for us."
People like Xiao Mubei who come from the battlefield and have lived on the edge of a knife must have their intentions and considerations behind everything they do. It has become their habit to plan three steps ahead before taking one step.
Sure enough, as soon as they arrived at the city gate, they saw Xiao Mubei standing tall and slender outside the city alone. He was without any servants and had also dismissed the soldiers guarding the city. It was obvious that he was waiting for them.
Ruan Haoyu got off the carriage first and helped Mu Xiaoqiao down. Although Mu Xiaoqiao was Ruan Haoyu's maid to outsiders, Xiao Mubei knew very well their relationship, so they didn't need to pretend in front of him.
"Thank you very much, Your Highness the Eighth Prince, for coming in person to see me off." Ruan Haoyu bowed to Xiao Mubei as soon as he got out of the car.
"You are welcome, Sixth Prince. I am here today to express my gratitude and to apologize. I had no choice but to kidnap Your Highness. I hope you will forgive me."
Xiao Mubei looked as gentle as jade, as if he had forgotten that Mu Xiaoqiao had just extorted 500,000 taels of gold from him yesterday.
But Mu Xiaoqiao was not so easy to fool. She said with a half-smile, "Don't worry about it, cousin. We have benefited from it anyway, so we won't blame you anymore. If you have anything else to say, just tell me."
"My cousin is really straightforward," Xiao Mubei said without further ado, "After this departure, I don't know when we will see each other again. The world is in constant strife, and I'm sure you two know that the world will eventually unite after a long period of division. I will be leaving for the military camp soon, and we may meet again on the battlefield..."
Mu Xiaoqiao understood what he meant and interrupted him, "Cousin, I understand what you mean. You are worried that we will have different positions. When we meet again someday, you will use the weapons I designed to attack the Rui Kingdom. You feel uneasy, but you have to do it, right?"
Xiao Mubei showed admiration on his face and nodded, "Cousin, you are wise."
Mu Xiaoqiao smiled slightly, "Cousin, feel free to do what you want. My husband and I will not interfere in the disputes between countries. The world belongs to the capable. Besides," she paused, "the people also need a wise ruler to end the suffering of war and bring peace to the world."
"What a great way to return peace to the world," Xiao Mubei was excited, and he bowed and said, "Now I feel relieved. I never thought that my cousin and the Sixth Prince would be so broad-minded. Before, I had a mean mind and assumed the two of you. I really shouldn't have done that. I apologize to the two of you."
Ruan Haoyu held Xiao Mubei's hand and did not let him really bow down. He smiled and said, "This is not your fault, Eighth Prince. After all, it was my wife and I who blackmailed your Highness for 500,000 taels of gold. But don't worry, your Highness. I will give you an explanation for this matter in the future."
"No need to explain. It's worth using 500,000 taels of gold to exchange for two wise friends!"
The three of them laughed heartily. Mu Xiaoqiao stretched out her hand and Nichang immediately handed over the wine jug and wine glasses. The three of them held their glasses. Xiao Mubei said, "No matter where I, Xiao Mubei, hold my position in the future, as long as you two come, you will be my honored guests, without exception."
"It is an honor for my husband and I to be favored by His Highness the Eighth Prince."
The three of them drank the wine, said goodbye to each other, and put down the burden in their hearts. Xiao Mubei felt very relaxed and bowed to Mu Xiaoqiao and the other two to say goodbye.
The two got on the carriage. Mu Xiaoqiao suddenly opened the window again, looked at Xiao Mubei and said with a smile: "Cousin, I have something else to ask. I hope you can agree to it first."
"What's the matter?"
"My cousin must promise not to break his promise before I can say anything."
He hadn't even said what he was talking about yet, so he asked him to agree. What if it was something that went against the righteousness of the family and the country? Xiao Mubei hesitated a little, but thinking of what Mu Xiaoqiao had just said and his observation of her over the past few days, he inexplicably trusted her and felt that she would not put him in an unjust position, so he nodded and said, "Cousin, you decide, and I'll agree."
This trust is extremely rare. Mu Xiaoqiao thought to herself that she had made the right choice. "If one day, my cousin ascends to the throne and I don't have time to come back to congratulate you, don't forget that there is a gift I left for you in the secret compartment of the general's study. But before that day, you must not go to get it in advance, otherwise there may be changes. Remember."
Seeing Mu Xiaoqiao's solemn expression, Xiao Mubei nodded and said, "I'll remember that."
"In that case, take care, cousin. I hope we can meet again in the future." After Mu Xiaoqiao finished speaking, she and Ruan Haoyu bowed to Xiao Mubei and rode away.
Xiao Mubei waited until the carriage was no longer in sight before he summoned his servants and returned to Muze City.
Half a month later.
Ruan Haoyu and Mu Xiaoqiao were exhausted along the way and had almost no rest. They slept in the carriage when they were tired and got off the carriage to move around for a while after eating. They kept changing horses on the way and rushed back to Yanyue City, the capital of Rui State, as quickly as possible.
Mu Xiaoqiao had already asked the Phantom Guard to go back to the palace to report the itinerary in advance, so as soon as the two entered Yanyue City, they went straight to the palace.
Before reaching the palace gate, I saw a woman dressed as a concubine standing there. Although she was no longer young, she had a graceful figure and a little makeup. One could tell at a glance that she must have been a peerless beauty when she was young.
She was pacing anxiously at the palace gate, looking around. As soon as Ruan Haoyu and Mu Xiaoqiao's carriage appeared in her sight, her face immediately showed joy and she couldn't wait to take a few steps forward to greet them.
From Nishang, Ruan Haoyu and Mu Xiaoqiao already knew that this person was Ruan Haoyu's mother, Concubine Rou.
Once you arrive at the palace of the Great Rui Kingdom, you have to observe etiquette. In Concubine Rou's heart, Mu Xiaoqiao has always been the most capable maid and guard she has placed beside Ruan Haoyu, but no matter how much she is valued, she is still a servant after all.
So as soon as the carriage stopped, Mu Xiaoqiao was the first to get off the carriage, saluted to Concubine Rou, then bowed and stepped aside so as not to delay the meeting between Ruan Haoyu and his mother.
Concubine Rou's mind was not on Mu Xiaoqiao at all at the moment. Her eyes were fixed on Ruan Haoyu. When Ruan Haoyu got off the carriage and called out "Mother", she held his hand with tears in her eyes, looked him up and down, and choked up and said, "Son, you have suffered a lot. Why have you lost so much weight?"
Mu Xiaoqiao thought to herself, "How can I not lose weight? I've been wandering around since I came here. Eating a comfortable meal is a luxury. I eat little and exercise a lot. Even riding in a carriage makes me feel uncomfortable. It would be strange if I didn't lose weight."