Chapter 885: Li Yuzhu & Mu Yuanxiu Extra (04): Beiyang Empress Dowager

Before Li Boxuan could suggest who to select to support Liangzhou City, a minister quickly recommended Mu Yuanxiu.

"Emperor, the Third Prince Consort is the newly crowned Martial Champion; he is the most suitable candidate to support Liangzhou City." Prince Xiangyang was the first to step forward and bow to Li Boxuan as he spoke. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Others echoed in agreement.

"I second the motion."

"I also second the motion."

Almost everyone agreed that Mu Yuanxiu should go to the Northern Land to offer support.

Li Boxuan had no choice but to say, "Since everyone agrees on Prince Consort Mu leading the troops to support Liangzhou, I will approve it."

.

The Wei Family, upon hearing the previous court discussions, inevitably held onto Li Boxuan, worriedly sighing.

Li Boxuan said, "Yuanxiu wants to prove his ability; besides going on an expedition, there is no other way. I believe in his capability."

To ease the Wei Family’s worries, Mu Yuanxiu came into the palace to personally reassure them, "Rest assured, Father and Mother, I will assuredly return triumphantly."

The Wei Family advised him, "Be sure to act cautiously. You are a father now, you have a family, think more about Yu Zhu and the children."

In Mu Yuanxiu’s heart, he thought silently that for Li Yuzhu, he must return to Beiyang once.

"I have always kept Yu Zhu in my heart."

.

Returning to the Mu Mansion, Mu Yuanxiu saw Li Yuzhu standing on the steps, waiting for him.

Now a mother of two children, Li Yuzhu had shed her liveliness and immaturity from when he first met her, gaining a gentle calmness and resilience.

She looked at him unblinkingly, "Yuanxiu."

Mu Yuanxiu dismounted, handed the horse to the gatekeeping servant, and took Li Yuzhu inside the mansion. "It’s cold; why are you standing here?"

He gently held Li Yuzhu’s hand.

"The ministers all suggested that you should go to Liangzhou City, right?" Li Yuzhu lifted her head and asked as she looked at him.

"Yes, driving out foreign invaders is a duty of a military officer." Mu Yuanxiu tightened his grip on Li Yuzhu’s hand, "Rest assured, Yu Zhu, I will return soon."

Saying this, he reached out and embraced Li Yuzhu’s shoulders.

"I want to go with you." Li Yuzhu looked up at him, "I am not at ease about you."

The two had already reached the rear courtyard at their bedroom door.

Mu Yuanxiu stopped his steps, looked at her decisively, and said, "No!"

"Anyway, I already know about it. If you don’t let me go, I’ll find my way there myself; it’s not like I don’t know the road." Li Yuzhu spoke with determination.

"Dad, Dad!"

The two toddlers, who had just learned to walk and could say a few simple words, stumbled towards Mu Yuanxiu.

"Dad, carry me!"

Mu Yuanxiu picked them up, one on each side.

"How can you go? What about the children?" Mu Yuanxiu nodded towards Li Yuzhu, "Let’s go inside and talk."

The family of four went inside the house.

The two little ones clung to Mu Yuanxiu, refusing to get down.

Li Yuzhu sat down next to him.

The nanny, seeing the young couple’s serious expressions, put down the teacup and left.

Li Yuzhu took a cloth towel, poured a little hot water from the stove beside the room, dampened it, and handed it to Mu Yuanxiu to wipe his hands.

She removed the two children from him and placed them neatly on a chair to sit.

The children were well-behaved and took the two cloth dolls she handed them, playing together.

"I’m not at ease about you." Li Yuzhu embraced the children, looking towards Mu Yuanxiu with worried eyes.

Mu Yuanxiu wiped his hands, put down the towel handle, and holding her small hand, said, "I have a strong fate; nothing will happen. The last time we went to Liangzhou City, I handled such dangerous matters easily."

Li Yuzhu was momentarily stunned. Yes, the last incident wasn’t simple; Mu Yuanxiu effortlessly captured the Beiyang general.

But, she was still very worried, what should be done?

"At the slowest, eight months, or as soon as six months, I will return." Mu Yuanxiu embraced her, "Yesterday we agreed, and I still have to personally teach Tongtong and Zhanzhan to read."

Li Yuzhu looked at him, "I’ll wait for you for eight months; if you don’t return by the night of the fifteenth of August, I will go to the Northern Land to find you."

Mu Yuanxiu smiled warmly, "Alright, it’s agreed."

.

At night, after Li Yuzhu lulled the two children to sleep, she began organizing Mu Yuanxiu’s travel clothes.

Nine years had passed since she met Mu Yuanxiu; this was the first time the two were parting.

Moreover, it was a long separation.

Within Li Yuzhu’s heart, a deep-seated concern arose without apparent reason.

With her hands sorting the clothes, her mind reminisced about their past.

The first words she spoke to him.

The first time she held his hand.

The first time...

Wore the clothes he made.

Recalling something odd, Li Yuzhu turned her head and asked Mu Yuanxiu, who was watching their two children sleep, "Yuanxiu, there’s something I want to ask you."

Mu Yuanxiu looked up at her tenderly, "What is it, Yu Zhu?"

Li Yuzhu looked at him, recalling the past, "I remember when I first met you, I asked you a favor, to make me some clothes. Do you remember?"