Two days later.
Yang Ge escorted the Liu family and Zhao Miao, along with her brother Zhao Hong, as they departed west from Lu Ting.
Outside the city gate, Fang Ke led a team, where a large group of disguised elite guards had been waiting for a long time.
"I have arranged everything on the side of the capital. Once you arrive, rest assured and take a break. Someone will come to your door to talk about the shop and the grain supply channels; negotiate as we discussed, do not let anyone take advantage of you, nor suffer any loss, and listen to the Shopkeeper’s advice..."
Yang Ge first helped the Shopkeeper onto the carriage, then, unable to let go of his concerns, earnestly instructed Liu Mang: "The Shopkeeper has not been in great health these past two years. I have already found a reputable doctor for him. Once you arrive, he will come to treat the Shopkeeper. I have already paid for the consultation and medicine fees in advance, so you do not have to worry about it."
Liu Mang, though not very shrewd, felt something was off seeing all the arrangements, but could not pinpoint what exactly was wrong and eyed Yang Ge skeptically: "You... you aren’t hiding something from me, are you?"
Yang Ge smiled and said: "What could I possibly hide from you?"
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Upon reflecting further, Liu Mang also felt he was probably just being paranoid: "We are family; if there is anything, you can’t keep it from me. Even if I can’t be of much help, I can at least look after the house for you... that’s still something good..."
Yang Ge nodded, received a large bundle from Zhao Hong’s arms, and handed it to him: "Hmm, I will surely speak up if there’s anything... These are some dry food and snacks I made, keep them for the road."
Liu Mang, without much thought, took the bundle and stepped onto the carriage: "I will quickly set things up in the capital, trying to make it home for the New Year. Whether or not you come is up to you; if you are not afraid of elder’s scolding, feel free not to come."
Yang Ge smiled and waved his hand in agreement.
He was not worried that the court would harm the Liu family.
If he could return, the court would not dare.
If he could not return, the court would not bother.
Even if some fools wanted to seek revenge on the Liu family, his friends would make them think twice...
After ensuring the Liu family was well-settled, Yang Ge took a small bundle from Zhao Hong’s arms and, pushing Zhao Miao behind him, walked her to another carriage while continuously instructing: "When you get home, calm your spirit. Your family has stricter rules than the inn; but of course, if anyone deliberately bullies you, don’t be scared. Your second brother has many friends; they will all support you. I’ve put some silver notes in the bag. Use them sparingly..."
Zhao Miao, head lowered, let him push her silently toward the carriage.
Yang Ge helped her into the coach and handed her the bundle.
Zhao Miao did not take it, stubbornly pursing her lips and silently staring at him.
Yang Ge, hardening his heart, placed the bundle on the seat, let down the coach curtain, turned around intending to walk away, but his legs felt as heavy as if carrying a great weight.
He pursed his lips and, through the curtain in a voice so soft only he and Zhao Miao could hear, said: "These two years you’ve been at the inn, have been the happiest two years here for your second brother..."
Inside the coach, Zhao Miao, clutching the small bundle, suddenly burst into tears like a fountain.
Yang Ge turned and walked a few steps towards the city gate, then turned his head back to look at Zhao Hong who was still reluctantly following him, and said irritably: "Why are you still following me? You’re grown enough, do you need me to put you in the carriage too?"
Zhao Hong, with an indignant look, retorted: "Don’t you have anything else you want to say to me?"
Yang Ge scoffed: "Why else do you think I’m sending you back to the capital? Don’t you have any idea? If you had shown a bit of spine, would I have had to wade into this mess? Use this opportunity to go back, read more books, learn something worthwhile. If I can’t make it back, then it’s all over. But if I do, come back at the start of the year dutifully to resume your duties, and don’t make me come to the capital to drag you back..."
"Also, don’t think that just because I am not around, you can bully your older sister. I, Yang Erlang, may not have much, but I have many friends. If you dare bully her, there will be plenty of people to make you regret it!"
"Get lost! Seeing you just annoys me!"
He waved his hand impatiently as if shooing a fly.
Zhao Hong defensively said: "I’m just wasting words with you!"
After speaking, he turned and strode towards his own carriage. Halfway there, he turned back, before seriously saying to Yang Ge: "Make it back alive, and as soon as I ascend the throne, I will grant you Luting County as your fiefdom!"
Yang Ge: "Get lost, kid!"
Zhao Hong: "A dog bites Lü Dongbin..."
Yang Ge feigned a gesture to hit him, and Zhao Hong swiftly ran away.
Yang Ge watched him enter the coach, then waved to Fang Ke, who was mounted on a tall horse in the distance.
Fang Ke, from afar, saluted him by clasping his fist, turned his horse and shouted loudly: "Begin the journey!"
A large troop escorted the three carriages as they slowly set off, heading west on the wide, straight official road.
Yang Ge stood outside the city gate, watching the three carriages move forward in the morning sunlight.
Suddenly, from both the left and right carriages, the curtains were lifted. The aged face of the Shopkeeper and the tear-streaked face of Zhao Miao simultaneously appeared from within, waving at Yang Ge.
Yang Ge smiled and waved back...
Not until the carriages disappeared from his line of sight did he lower his arm, and softly asked: "Aren’t you leaving?"
At a nearby tea stall, a white-haired, shriveled but large-framed old man in a purple robe gently put down his crude porcelain tea bowl, pulled out two coins for the tea from his pocket, placed them on the table, then picked up a long object wrapped in gray cloth next to him, and slowly walked towards Yang Ge, stroking his beard and smiling: "We old fools may not be much, but we haven’t degraded to the point of sitting idly by while a junior takes up our cause."
Yang Ge turned his head, staring at the man’s trimmed beard for a moment, surprised, he said: "And here I thought the Royal Horse Guards were filled with only eunuchs."