Wang Xianyue shook her head, saying: “Ruhui didn’t speak to me in detail, only saying that someone would soon cause trouble in Jiangdu, and when that time comes, our situation would be very dangerous, so we must leave quickly.”

“Cause trouble?” Du Mother’s face changed, and she carefully asked: “You mean rebellion?”

“That should be it. Looking at my husband’s expression, he seems to know who will rebel, but no matter how I ask, he refuses to say.”

Her words made Du Mother’s neck feel waves of cold. She kept looking outside, hoping that Du Ruhui would appear quickly. After watching anxiously for about half an hour, several horse carriages came into their view. When they stopped, a person got out from inside—it was Du Ruhui.

Du Mother quickly got down from the carriage, nervously saying: “Ruhui, how are you? Are you alright?”

“I’m fine, Mother need not worry.” While speaking, several more people got out of the carriage—it was Wang Father and the others, all wearing expressions of grave concern.

“Father…” Wang Xianyue wanted to know why Wang Father would agree to leave the city, but she had only said two words when Wang Father said: “I already know everything, no need to say more.”

Wang Xianyue helplessly stepped aside. At this moment, someone walked over—it was Pei Qiancheng. After bowing to Wang Father and the others, he said to Du Ruhui: “If everyone is ready, let’s leave the city quickly. In a little while, the city gates will be closed.”

“Everyone is ready.” Saying this, he came to the city gate with everyone. Since the incident of Imperial Guards fleeing occurred, security had been strengthened everywhere, and all those leaving or entering the city needed to have their identities verified. Fortunately, Pei Qiancheng was very close to the gate official, often gathering to drink together, so they only looked casually and let them pass.

After leaving the city gate, Pei Qiancheng stopped and said: “I still need to go back, so I won’t escort you far. Brother Du, take good care of yourself. In the future, whether you and I… will have the chance to meet again, I don’t know.”

Du Ruhui nodded, “This time, I really must thank Brother Pei. Otherwise, we would have been facing great disaster without knowing it.”

Pei Qiancheng sighed, saying: “Since you and I are brothers, we should naturally support each other. Would I just stand by and watch? However, this is all I can do. Outside there’s war and chaos, and you have both old and young with you. It’s best to find a quiet place to live in seclusion and wait until the world is peaceful before coming out again.”

“I know.” Du Ruhui cupped his hands, saying: “Then we part here. If fate allows, we’ll meet again in the future.”

After watching Pei Qiancheng leave, he walked to the front of the carriage, but didn’t get on. Instead, he stood there motionless. Du Mother anxiously said: “Why don’t you hurry up and get on? If we delay any longer, it will be dark. Hurry up.”

Wang Xianyue saw that he still hadn’t moved and tentatively asked: “Husband, do you still have unfinished business?”

Du Ruhui nodded, saying: “Xianyue, you take father, mother, and father-in-law and mother-in-law and head east. I will catch up with you soon!”

Hearing this, Du Mother hurriedly said: “Catch up with us? You’re not going with us?”

“I still have one matter to attend to, so I can’t leave for now.” Before he finished speaking, Du Mother was already anxiously saying: “Everyone is ready, and we’ve brought everything. What other business do you have?”

“Mother, please don’t worry about it. In any case, follow my words and head north to Taiyuan. That’s the Wang family’s ancestral homeland, and father-in-law has quite a friendship with Duke of Tang. They shouldn’t make things difficult for us. After I return to the city to finish my business, I’ll reunite with you all.” Seeing that Du Ruhui was about to leave, Du Mother quickly grabbed him, saying: “No, you said yourself that Jiangdu could have great danger at any time. You absolutely cannot return to the city. If… if you don’t go, I won’t go either!” As she spoke, she kept making eye signals to Du Father and Wang Xianyue, asking them to help persuade Du Ruhui together.

Du Father said: “Your mother is right. The city is dangerous now. You shouldn’t enter the city. What if something happens?”

“Your son has his own judgment and won’t get into trouble. Father and mother, please rest assured.” Du Mother wouldn’t believe his words at all, gripping his sleeve tightly and refusing to let go no matter what.

At this moment, Wang Xianyue suddenly spoke: “Must you go, husband?”

Du Ruhui nodded: “That’s right. If I don’t go, I will never have peace of mind for the rest of my life.”

“I understand.” Saying this, Wang Xianyue said to Du Mother: “Mother-in-law, since husband has made up his mind, please let him go. Husband has a kind and benevolent heart. I believe heaven will protect him, and he won’t be in danger.”

“No!” Du Mother angrily refused. She had been counting on Wang Xianyue to help her persuade Du Ruhui, but unexpectedly, the latter was actually singing a different tune from her—truly incomprehensible. If not for considering that Wang Xianyue was a daughter of the Wang family, she would have scolded her bloody long ago. After barely suppressing her anger, she said with a hard tone: “What heavenly protection? What if heaven is dozing and doesn’t open its eyes? Wouldn’t Ruhui be in danger then? In any case, this matter absolutely cannot happen.” Before she finished speaking, Du Ruhui had already taken advantage of her inattention, forcefully pulled back his sleeve, stepped back several paces to avoid Du Mother’s grabbing hand again, and said with a firm expression: “I must return to Jiangdu, but I promise mother that I will definitely return to see you safely and will never disappoint you.” Speaking thus, he said to Wang Xianyue: “I trouble you, wife.”

Seeing that he was really turning to leave, Du Mother hurriedly said: “If you still consider me your mother, you are not allowed to go!”

Du Ruhui’s steps paused, but he quickly continued forward again. No matter how Du Mother called, he wouldn’t stop. Du Mother was anxious and wanted to get off the carriage to chase after him, but was held back by Wang Xianyue, who said: “Mother-in-law, husband won’t be in danger. You…”

“How do you know he won’t be in danger?” Du Mother sternly interrupted: “If something happens to Ruhui, can you compensate me with a son?”

Since Wang Xianyue entered the family, Du Mother had always been polite to her. This harsh and severe tone was truly the first time. Before she could react, Du Mother scolded again: “Ruhui is your husband, yet you let him risk his life. I don’t know what malicious thoughts you harbor!”

Wang Xianyue said angrily: “You also said he is my husband. Would I harm him? I just believe in him and support the decisions he makes. Is this also wrong?”

“Not only wrong, but completely wrong.” While speaking, Du Ruhui had already walked close to the city gate. Du Mother quickly struggled free from Wang Xianyue’s grip, jumped down from the carriage to chase after him, but had only taken a few steps when she accidentally twisted her foot and fell to the ground, unable to get up.

“Mother-in-law, how are you?” Wang Xianyue’s hand had just touched Du Mother when she was forcefully pushed away. “Get away! I don’t need a woman who doesn’t even care about her husband’s life to tend to me!” Speaking thus, she said to Du Father nearby: “Why don’t you hurry up and help me up to chase after our son? Do you also want him to get into trouble?”

“Oh, oh!” Du Father responded, quickly helping Du Mother up. The latter endured the stabbing pain in her ankle, gritted her teeth and chased after Du Ruhui, but unfortunately, before they could reach the city gate, he had already entered the city. What made Du Mother even more panicked was that the city gate was slowly closing.