0p0 Chapter 222 Persuading Xiao He 3
Chapter 222 Persuading Xiao He 3
Upon hearing Xiao He's words, Xiao's father retorted with a solemn expression, "Stop talking nonsense! No matter the situation, you must put your own safety first and not be careless in the slightest. Do you understand?"
Seeing the worry on his father's face, Xiao He quickly replied, "Yes, Father, I understand."
After a brief pause, Xiao's father pressed on, "So, when exactly do you plan to set off?"
Xiao He pondered for a moment and replied, "Please allow me to wait a couple more days. After all, before we set off, we need to find out about Princess Jiayang's character and personality in the next few days. Only by having a clear understanding of her can we ensure that this trip will go smoothly."
Upon hearing this, Mr. Xiao gazed at his beloved son with a look of satisfaction and said slowly, "My son has truly grown up now. His consideration of matters is so thorough and meticulous, which makes me very happy. However, it is best not to tell your mother about this for now. If she knew the details, she would surely be worried and anxious again."
Xiao He nodded repeatedly in agreement, saying, "Yes, Father. I will lie and say that I am going out to study."
Mr. Xiao nodded slightly and reminded him again, "Remember, remember, no matter where you are, you must always be vigilant about your safety and never let your guard down."
Xiao He replied solemnly, "Father, please rest assured, I will keep it in mind and will never forget it."
Finally, Mr. Xiao waved his hand and said, "Alright, you should go and keep your mother company."
Xiao He bowed and said, "Then I will take my leave." After speaking, he turned around and walked slowly out of the study with steady steps, heading straight towards the backyard.
Watching Xiao He's retreating figure until it disappeared from sight, Xiao's father revealed a deep sense of worry and helplessness. He slowly shook his head and sighed deeply. After a moment of silence, he turned and sat back down at his desk. After pondering for a long time, he called out, "Someone! Summon the steward."
Before long, the butler trotted to the study door and stood respectfully awaiting Mr. Xiao's instructions. Mr. Xiao's expression was grave, his eyes slightly narrowed, and he instructed the butler in a low, steady voice to hire a group of highly skilled guards. The butler listened attentively, nodding occasionally to indicate that he understood his master's meaning. After Mr. Xiao finished speaking, the butler acknowledged the instruction and hurriedly withdrew to make the arrangements.
On the other side, Xiao He left his father's study with light steps, walked through the winding and secluded corridor, and headed straight for the backyard. The moment he stepped into the backyard, a heartwarming scene came into view—his mother was sitting on a stool in the house, holding a needle and thread and concentrating on mending a garment.
Hearing the soft footsteps behind her, Xiao's mother subconsciously looked up and immediately saw Xiao He walking towards her. She quickly put down the clothes she was not yet finishing, stood up to greet him, and held Xiao He's hand tightly, asking with concern, "Child, is it cold outside? Don't catch a cold."
Xiao He smiled and gently patted his mother's hand, softly comforting her, "Mother, I'm not cold, don't worry." Then, he helped his mother walk to the stool and sit down again.
After settling down, Xiao He took a deep breath, looked at his mother with a determined gaze, and said softly, "Mother, there is something I want to tell you. I have decided to go out to study, hoping to broaden my horizons and achieve something in my studies."
Upon hearing this, the kind smile on Xiao's mother's face froze instantly, and a look of astonishment and reluctance flashed in her eyes. Her lips trembled slightly, and it took her a while to come back to her senses. She murmured to herself, "He's about to leave home... I wonder when I'll see my son again." As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes.
Despite her deep reluctance, Xiao's mother knew the importance of her son's education for his future. So, suppressing her heartache, she began to nag him, "Take good care of yourself while you're away. Remember to wear warm clothes when it's cold, eat and sleep on time, and don't get into arguments or cause trouble..." Xiao He listened quietly to his mother's nagging with a smile, his eyes filled with warmth and love. Looking at his mother, so busy and devoted to him, he was deeply moved.
Before they knew it, evening had fallen. The setting sun, like blood, dyed half the sky crimson. Xiao He bid farewell to his mother and went to his friend Yu Zhuang's house to tell him about his decision to go to the Qin state. Yu Zhuang was overjoyed and very satisfied with Xiao He's decision, praising his lofty ambition and commendable courage. However, after a brief pause, Yu Zhuang suddenly seemed to remember something and asked, "Brother Xiao He, why don't you take your father and mother with you on this trip? It would be good for each other to look after each other."
Xiao He slowly shook his head, a hint of helplessness on his face, and said softly, "Our family is now very large and powerful, and we can't just leave so easily! This trip to Qin is merely to find out what's going on. If Qin is truly worth my service, then I will stay; but if Qin is not a land of enlightened rulers, I still hope to return to Pei County. Even if I live a life of mediocrity, it would be wonderful to be able to stay by my parents' side."
After hearing Xiao He's words, Yu Zhuang fell into deep thought. After a moment, he looked up at Xiao He and said, "This matter is of great importance, and I need to discuss it carefully with my superiors."
Xiao He seemed to have anticipated this. He nodded slightly to show his understanding and then said, "That's alright. If there are no problems in the end, then let's set off in two days."
Yu Zhuang responded, "Okay."
Afterwards, Yu Zhuang bid farewell to Xiao He and left the Xiao residence. He walked cautiously, glancing left and right from time to time, slowing his pace and meandering along until he was sure no one was following him. Only then did he quicken his pace and head straight for the inn. As soon as he entered the room, Yu Zhuang eagerly told Lin Qi about Xiao He's situation in detail.
Lin Qi was overjoyed to hear that Xiao He was willing to go to Qin. However, when he learned that Xiao He did not want to take his parents with him and that he would return to Pei County if Qin was not worth serving, he frowned and began to think deeply. After weighing the pros and cons repeatedly, Lin Qi finally made up his mind and nodded, saying, "Very well, since that's the case, let's do as he wishes for now."
In Lin Qi's view, if a person truly refused to serve, even forcibly sending their entire family to Qin would be ineffective. Therefore, after careful consideration, Lin Qi decided to send Xiao He to Qin alone first. If Xiao He still refused to stay, it wouldn't be too late to send his parents to Qin.
Upon receiving the order, Yu Zhuang dared not delay for a moment and immediately rushed back to the Xiao residence, truthfully relaying the final result to Xiao He. Both parties thus expressed their approval and satisfaction with the arrangement.
Over the next two days, Xiao He busied himself preparing the necessary items for his trip. Simultaneously, he seized every opportunity to secretly inquire about Princess Jiayang. However, due to Pei County's remote location, very few people knew the true nature of Princess Jiayang; most only had hearsay and fragmented information. Despite Xiao He's tireless efforts, he ultimately failed to obtain much valuable intelligence.
Time flew by, and two days passed in the blink of an eye. Finally, the day of departure arrived. That morning, sunlight shone through thin clouds onto the earth, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves. With a heart full of both trepidation and excitement, Xiao He, under the watchful eyes of his family, followed Yu Zhuang and a dozen strong guards, slowly stepped out of his home, embarking on the long journey to the Qin Kingdom.