The news made the Mo family women look forward to their future life even more, at the same time, the Fifth Elder Brother also ran to inform the Two Elders.
Hearing that there were two more pregnant daughters-in-law in the family, the Two Elders simply couldn't help grinning from ear to ear.
However, they were not complacent because of joy. In order for the whole family to live a comfortable life, it was not yet time for them to relax.
Meng Huaining married Mo Hanyue and had been living in Xi Ling Village ever since the wedding three days ago. No matter how busy he was with official business, he would rush back every night.
Today, maybe there were more things to deal with in the yamen, he and Mo Chuhan were on their way back, and they just happened to meet the last batch of Old Department of Southern Territory coming into the village from the west.
Although there were not many people, it was late at night, and they looked sneaky, which would inevitably arouse suspicion.
Seeing this, Meng Huaining immediately leapt up and rushed towards the group, Mo Chuhan was no slower than him, and the two almost blocked the old department’s way at the same time.
“Who are you? Why did you come here so late at night?”
At this moonless and windy night, the old department simply couldn’t see the looks of the coming people.
However, they soon recognized Mo Chuhan's voice.
"Is it Eighth Master?"
Mo Chuhan couldn't match the voice to a name, but it did sound familiar.
"Who exactly are you?"
"Eighth Master, it's me, Zhao Liu. Back at the days in Border Pass, I had always been your vanguard!"
"Eighth Master, and I'm Li Liang. I was with Zhao Liu. Don't you remember?"
"Eighth Master..."
These old subordinates were obviously very excited. Before coming here, they had heard from Seventh Master that all the Mo family men, including the retired Duke, were alive. Now seeing Eighth Master alive with their own eyes, they didn’t know how to vent the excitement in their hearts.
Mo Chuhan didn't expect that after years of separation, he could still stand with these good brothers who had gone through life and death together.
"Are you few the only ones who came to the northwest this time?"
Li Liang took a few steps forward. Instead of answering Mo Chuhan right away, he took a look at Meng Huaining beside him.
Seventh Master had already told them to go to the northwest secretly, and they might not see the light for some time in the future.
Just now when they greeted Eighth Master, the one beside did not speak.
If it was another master of the Mo family who saw them, he would certainly be as enthusiastic as Eighth Master, after all, they often followed the Mo family men and understood their temper very well.
Therefore, Li Liang did not dare to answer Mo Chuhan rashly, but wanted to see Eighth Master's reaction first.
Mo Chuhan saw Li Liang's concerns. With his understanding of Meng Huaining, this guy was very shrewd. He could figure out the general idea from the few words just now. If he wanted to keep it from him now, that would be futile.
"This is Han Yue’s husband, Yun City Magistrate Meng."
Mo Chuhan's intention was very obvious, telling them that Meng Huaining was not an outsider.
Although Meng Huaining was rarely involved in the affairs of the Mo family, through correspondence with Fei Nanyu, he more or less knew something about the situation of the Mo family.
He even had the idea of reminding the Mo family to train private soldiers to protect themselves.
Later, seeing Ninth Brother and the others go up the mountain frequently, and always acting mysteriously, he guessed that they might have realized this too, and had already started taking actions.
Since it was so, it would be better for him to continue pretending to be muddled, to allow the Mo family to feel at ease doing what they wanted.
After listening to the dialogues between them earlier, Meng Huaining probably couldn’t pretend to be ignorant anymore.
"Rest assured, I know what should and should not be said."
This was addressed to the old subordinates, as for Eighth Brother here, the two had been together for a long time and already had a tacit understanding.
What’s more, if Eighth Brother wanted to hide it from him earlier, he wouldn’t have talked to those people face to face either.
Seeing that Eighth Master remained silent, which could be regarded as approving Meng Huaining’s words, Li Liang finally said, "Eighth Master, we are the last batch. The others have already gone up the mountain."
As he was talking, Second Brother, who had just sent people down the mountain, rushed over with Liang Hao and others.
After greeting each other, Second Brother continued to escort people up the mountain, while Eighth Master and Meng Huaining went straight to the Two Elders' yard.
Mo Chuhan and Meng Huaining came so late, there must be some important things to say. Old Lady Mo immediately sent people to gather all her sons.
Except for Second Brother who was arranging the old department on the mountain, the rest of the brothers all arrived in less than a quarter of an hour.
Mo Chuhan saw his brothers looking at him and explained, "It wasn't me. My brother-in-law has something to say."
Meng Huaining did not beat around the bush either. He took out a note from his arms, unfolded it and handed it to Mo Qing.
"Father-in-law, this is a homing pigeon message Father Fei gave me today, asking me to remind the family members to be extra vigilant."
Although Meng Huaining did not say the content of the note out loud, it was not difficult to see from his expression that there was no good news on it.
Mo Qing took over the note with a solemn expression on his face. Old Lady Mo brought the oil lamp next to her closer to provide better lighting.
Glancing over the contents on the note under the bright light, Mo Qing then heavily patted the table next to him.
"Father, what exactly happened?" Big Brother asked in a deep voice.
"Mr. Fei said that he had just investigated that the Xue family had sent people to the northwest not long ago. He suspected the Xue family came to the northwest with the purpose of dealing with the Mo family."
"Humph! Unfortunately for him, the people he sent to the northwest have all been wiped out by us brothers. This matter should not cause further trouble." Mo Chuhan had been involved in the whole process of dealing with the group of people from Jingxian Building. In his opinion, the people the Xue family sent to the northwest had all been wiped out by them brothers, and no longer posed any threat.
"No matter how many people the Xue family dared to send again, we’ll kill every one that comes. We’ll never show mercy."
Looking at Eighth Brother's indignant appearance, Mo Jiuye was not as relaxed as him.
"While we have already dealt with Xue Fan and his accomplices, no one can guarantee that no fish will slip through the net and escape. We must not be negligent about this matter."
Mo Qing nodded in approval at his ninth son’s words and continued, "What Jiuye said is right. I haven't finished what’s written on the note yet."
After a short pause, Mo Qing went on, "Mr. Fei also said that the Empress had not received any news from the northwest for a long time, so she was preparing to send out a second batch of men. According to his investigation, this time the Empress would send highly trained assassins, not small in number."
Hearing this, Mo Jiuye interrupted him, "Father, what date was marked at the end of the note?"
"July ninth." Mo Qing replied.
Mo Jiuye frowned. "Today is July sixteenth. That means Mr. Fei got the news at least seven days ago. If the Empress did send people, they must already be on the way. From the Capital City to the northwest, even hurrying day and night, it would take little more than ten days or so."
Big brother clenched his fists tightly and said coldly, "In that case, we’ll let none of those people the Empress sent return alive."
