"Sister, you will always be our cousin, that will never change," Zuo Ye said to Lu Hao with a smile.
"Yes, Sister Hao Hao, you are forever our cousin," Bai Sheng clasped Lu Hao's hand.
Bai Sheng was deeply moved. When she first transmigrated to this barren land, everything was still in a state of bewilderment and exploration.
After she and her husband were driven out by the village and came to Red Tree Slope, they met this group of refugees. Although she fed them, they also gave her their utmost trust and support. Without them, she would not be where she was today.
Since everyone was willing to follow them to Qinghuang Kingdom, they should make preparations as soon as possible.
The houses, workshops, orchards, and cactus and aloe gardens here would be entrusted to families like Xiao Ma, Zhugan, Gmei, Chi Bao, and Cheng Tuo to look after.
If there was an opportunity in the future, they would return to deal with them.
Bai Sheng and her husband had Zhao Dazhuang and Feng Pingyuan hand over all village affairs. They only told the villagers that they were going to the capital to live, and did not mention relocating to Qinghuang Kingdom.
After dealing with the matters of Red Tree Village, the couple went to the Ghost Shadow Pavilion.
The Ghost Shadow Pavilion was now running smoothly. As the disciples in the pavilion did not know the true identities of the Pavilion Master Tian Wai Fei Xue and the Hell Messenger, the Ghost Shadow Pavilion would temporarily remain in the Great Xia Kingdom.
After all, even if they went to Qinghuang Kingdom, Bai Sheng could instantly flash back to the Ghost Shadow Pavilion.
Bai Sheng refilled the base with provisions of grains and meat and vegetables.
Finally, the couple flashed to the small courtyard on Apricot Blossom Street in Ta Sha Commandery.
Wen Zhi Mo and Bai Sheng's unfamiliar grain store would continue to operate. Bai Sheng filled the rooms of the small courtyard with grains again.
The old trees on Apricot Blossom Street, after being watered many times with spirit spring water by Bai Sheng, grew taller and more luxuriant than the other trees on nearby streets.
The strange thing was that all the branches and leaves of these trees stretched towards Bai Sheng's courtyard. Especially the old tree directly facing the courtyard entrance, its tall and lush branches and leaves had covered half of the small courtyard, like a natural umbrella.
Bai Sheng and Zuo Ye walked hand in hand and watered the old trees with spirit spring water again.
Then they looked up at the big trees, waved to them, and turned towards the county office.
They were going to bid farewell to Brother Ji and Brother Wen.
Upon hearing about the events in the capital, Ji Cheng He was greatly shocked and couldn't believe it was all true.
Zuo Ye cupped his hands and bowed to them. "Brother Ji, Brother Wen, we know a lot of royal scandals. The new emperor and the eldest princess will surely not let us off.
Therefore, we don't know when we will suddenly leave the Great Xia Kingdom. Thus, we have come to say goodbye in advance. If we settle down there in the future, we will definitely invite you two brothers to visit."
Ji Cheng He also sighed, "Xiao Ye, Xiao Sheng, I, your elder brother, cannot accompany you. Although the Great Xia Dynasty has been ailing for a long time and plagued by deep-rooted corruption, I am, after all, an official of Great Xia. No matter what, I must stand firm in my position and fight for my ideals. If by any chance I stand in a high position in the future, I will work hard to ease the relationship between Great Xia and Qinghuang."
"Brother Ji, you can do it!" Bai Sheng clenched her fist and smiled.
"I will write a letter later, and trouble Xiao Ye to take it to Prince Yu, oh no, to Brother Baili," Ji Cheng He said.
"Okay," Zuo Ye replied.
Wen Zhi Mo, now a strong man, couldn't hold back his tears. Sniffling, he said to Zuo Ye and Bai Sheng, "Xiao Ye, Xiao Sheng, your second brother cannot go with you either. My career is in Great Xia, and I really can't leave. You two... must be well, and write to me often. I will raise several hundred carrier pigeons for you tomorrow."
Bai Sheng patted Wen Zhi Mo's muscular arm and said with a tearful smile, "Second brother, don't worry, we will be fine. However, you must quickly find us a sister-in-law and have a litter of cubs."
Wen Zhi Mo wiped his tears with his sleeve, "Okay, I'll listen to my little sister and go marry a good-tempered, big-bottomed wife tomorrow."
Everyone couldn't help but chuckle.
Bai Jing, who had gone to the kitchen to arrange dinner, walked over and exchanged tearful goodbyes with Bai Sheng.
After lunch, Bai Sheng and Zuo Ye left. Because the political situation in the capital was constantly changing and at a critical juncture, Ji Cheng He and Wen Zhi Mo did not press them to stay.
As soon as the two returned to the Lu residence, several mice scurried over.
They seemed to have been waiting for them in the residence for a long time, and as soon as they saw Lu Ye, they squeaked excitedly.
The day before, during a struggle with the Black-faced Fox, Lu Ye's sword had cut its arm. Although it was only a small cut about an inch long, it had left the Black-faced Fox's blood on the sword.
When they returned that day, Zuo Ye had gathered hundreds of mice, let them smell the Black-faced Fox's blood, and then searched the entire city.
As expected, these mice had news of the Black-faced Fox.
The Black-faced Fox was hiding with the former crown prince in a manor in the southern part of the city.
Zuo Ye and Bai Sheng were overjoyed to receive the news. The couple planned to go to the manor first to scout its situation using their spatial abilities.
As night deepened, the two quietly sneaked to the vicinity of the manor. The manor was surrounded by hills, with dense vegetation and towering trees, making its location very secluded.
After they approached the manor, Bai Sheng asked Heng Heng to check who was in the manor.
Heng Heng looked and said to Bai Sheng, "There are five or six guards in the front courtyard, four servants doing chores in the side rooms, and in the main hall, there is a person wearing a black robe with their face covered and a young man."
"That must be the Black-faced Fox and the former crown prince," Bai Sheng said happily.
Heng Heng suddenly said, "Master, please wait a moment. There is also a mysterious room in the backyard. Inside, a middle-aged woman is holding a bowl and feeding a white-haired man something. That man is chained all over his body!"
It was one thing to have a woman, but how could there be a man chained? And to chain a man and personally feed him?
This was quite strange.
Bai Sheng asked Heng Heng to listen carefully to what they were saying.
Heng Heng narrated vividly, "The man said with disgust, 'I don't need that woman to feed me the medicine.'
The woman got angry and said to the man, 'Gu Cang Lan, don't be ungrateful!'"
"Gu Cang Lan?" Bai Sheng murmured, suddenly finding the name very familiar.
When Zuo Ye heard it, he immediately whispered in her ear, "My dear, Gu Cang Lan is Master's husband, and Aunt Qing's biological father."
"That's right!" Bai Sheng was startled, no wonder it felt so familiar, "That woman must be Yu Zi!"
Lu Ye nodded.
"Husband, we need to go back and call Master, Aunt Qing, and Prince Yu over," Bai Sheng whispered.
Lu Ye nodded, "Yes, I will also invite the three Wei brothers to help. This time we must catch the Black-faced Fox, and never let him escape again."
The two flashed back to the Lu residence.
Bai Sheng went to find her Master, while Lu Ye went directly to the neighboring Wei family.
After hearing Bai Sheng's words, Granny Wu jumped out of bed in shock, her demeanor completely unlike that of an old woman in her fifties. "Sheng'er, hurry, take me there!"
Bai Sheng smiled, "Master, don't worry, I'll call Aunt Qing and Cousin Jingyu."
Soon, everyone gathered, all dressed in black night clothes, and quietly sneaked towards the manor in the southern part of the city.