He Zhiran also said, "Father, brothers, I'm going to the capital with my husband. My mother has been opposing it, so I don't plan to bid her farewell this time.
I'll have to trouble you all to handle this matter for me. Also, please help take care of my two children for a while. Their baby formula is well-stocked, so you don't need to worry about them not having enough to eat."
"You don't need to worry about that. The two little ones are the treasures of our Mo family. We'll definitely take good care of them. But as for your mother..." Mo Qing didn't know how to put it.
Having Mo Qing explain to his mother-in-law that He Zhiran had secretly left with Mo Jiuye, and everyone knew about it - he really didn't know how to broach the subject.
Not just Mo Qing, but the Mo brothers also felt somewhat awkward about it.
He Zhiran knew this matter was indeed difficult for everyone, but she had no other choice.
With her mother-in-law's temperament, if she knew in advance that He Zhiran was going to the capital with Mo Jiuye, she wouldn't eat, drink, or sleep and would guard her every day.
"Father, brothers, I know this is difficult for you all. How about this - I'll leave a note here. If my mother asks, just say you found out from the note that I went to the capital with my husband."
This way, it would be less awkward for her father-in-law and brothers-in-law.
Seeing that his sister-in-law had written the note, the fifth brother asked, "What about The Eighth Old Zhou who came from the capital? His health has recovered quite well now. What are Brother Jiuye's plans for him?"
The Eighth Old Zhou was an honest man. He still remembered how He Zhiran had saved him before, and his adoring feelings had not disappeared.
It was just that he clearly understood that He Zhiran was now a married woman. Moreover, on the way back to the capital from the northwest, Peng Wang had repeatedly reminded him that a toad lusting after a swan's flesh was just a pipe dream.
Even if He Zhiran wasn't married, she was the daughter of a high-ranking minister's family. The Eighth Old Zhou should look at himself and consider how much he was worth to even think about coveting a minister's daughter.
The Eighth Old Zhou wasn't thick-skinned. He understood everything Peng Wang had said.
It was just that this lingering affection in his heart was something he couldn't control himself.
However, he had never harbored any untoward thoughts. He just quietly kept He Zhiran in his heart.
If it weren't for this incident, he might never have had the chance to see He Zhiran again in this lifetime.
Although he hadn't seen He Zhiran this time he came to the northwest, just knowing that they were so close made his heart a little uncontrollable.
To avoid causing trouble for He Zhiran and to feel more at ease himself, even though his injuries had healed quite a bit, he kept a low profile and avoided any opportunity to run into He Zhiran as much as possible.
For this reason, He Zhiran had never seen The Eighth Old Zhou, to the point that she had forgotten there was such a person in Xilingcun Village.
When asked about arrangements for The Eighth Old Zhou, Mo Jiuye thought for a moment and said:
"He's homeless now. Fifth Brother, ask him later if he's willing to settle down in the northwest. If so, help him purchase a courtyard residence in Xilingcun Village.
As for his livelihood, The Eighth Old Zhou has a good character. If he still wants an official position, put in a word with my brother-in-law to arrange for him to be a constable. If he's unwilling, ask Old Brother Hu if he needs any help.
Also, please tell him for me that I will definitely avenge Peng's grievance against him. He can stay here without worry."
"Good, I'll make the arrangements later."
Mo Jiuye checked the time again. "It's not early anymore. Let's head out now."
The couple rode horses and departed.
They went straight past the provincial capital and reached the official road leading to the capital. By then, night had fallen. After resting briefly in their space, they drove their large car directly to the capital.
The couple traveled at night and rested in the space during the day. Finally, on the fourth night after setting out, they arrived outside the gates of the capital city.
The city gates of the capital were closed at night, prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving unless they had an official pass or a decree from the Emperor.
The guards at the capital were not like those at other cities. Not only were there numerous guard soldiers, but some were also highly skilled martial artists from the imperial palace.
For an ordinary city, Mo Jiuye would have taken He Zhiran and used their lightness skills to find a weakly guarded area to slip in.
But here, he didn't plan to do that.
Not to mention bringing He Zhiran along, even going alone, he couldn't guarantee success in sneaking through undetected.
Therefore, Mo Jiuye planned to rest outside the city for one night. The next morning when the gates opened, he and He Zhiran would disguise themselves before entering the city.
Having reached the vicinity of the capital, the couple's mood was not very calm, as they didn't know what challenges awaited them in the future.
They spent a sleepless night. Before dawn, the couple sat in front of mirrors, applying makeup different from before. This time, Mo Jiuye disguised himself as a middle-aged merchant, while He Zhiran disguised herself as a middle-aged woman.
Moreover, the clothes they wore were darker in color, making them look older.
After making sure there were no issues with their appearances, He Zhiran pulled Mo Jiuye out of the space together.
They were accompanied by a modest horse carriage.
He Zhiran sat in the carriage while Mo Jiuye drove it.
Theoretically, it should have been time for the city gates to open, but the large doors remained tightly shut.
People had already lined up in an orderly queue, waiting outside the gates.
Although Mo Jiuye was puzzled as to why the gates opened later than usual, he remained composed as he drove the carriage to the back of the line.
In front of him was a young couple holding a baby that looked over a year old.
The woman had tears in her eyes as she stared at the baby in her husband's arms.
"Husband, let's try pleading with the gate officials! If we delay any longer, I'm afraid Hu Tou won't make it."
"It's no use pleading. Didn't you see someone who was in a hurry to enter the city went to ask the gate constable and got whipped instead?"
"But Hu Tou's illness can't wait..."
The woman's voice broke as she spoke, and she began to sob.
He Zhiran could clearly hear the couple's conversation from inside the carriage. She lifted the curtain and stepped out, approaching the couple.
"Madam, I know some medical skills. If you trust me, I can take a look at the child first."
The middle-aged couple looked puzzled when they saw the well-dressed woman speaking to them.
After all, in this era, doctors who treated illnesses were usually men, so their doubts were understandable.
Despite their doubts, for the sake of their child's life, the man gratefully said, "Then we'll trouble you, madam."
He Zhiran stepped forward, feeling the child's forehead first, then taking his pulse.
"The child is just suffering from a common bout of typhoid fever. Because it wasn't treated in time, it has affected his lung function."
