After Bai Sheng and the others returned home, they planned to leave the capital for good under the cover of night.
Everyone in the Lu Residence was ready to depart, their belongings packed and each parcel clearly labeled with its owner's name.
The previous day, Uncle Ding had convened a meeting to inform all the household servants about the Master and Madam's impending relocation to Qinghuang Country, giving them the freedom to choose their own paths.
Those unwilling to accompany the Master and Madam to Qinghuang Country were asked to come forward. The Madam would then return their deeds of servitude and provide them with a resettlement fee, allowing them to leave the Lu Residence that very night.
At that time, Uncle Ding sat waiting for a long while, yet not a single servant stepped forward. All of them remained seated, their expressions resolute.
Their lives had previously been exceedingly difficult, not only lacking sufficient food and warm clothing but also constantly subjected to the master's reprimands and beatings. They lived lives worse than that of a dog belonging to the master's household.
It was only after coming to serve the Master and Madam that they had their fill for the first time, enjoying meat and fruits daily. Despite not dining at the same table, their meals were identical to those of the masters, a treatment that was unheard of elsewhere in Great Xia.
They had never encountered masters as enlightened and benevolent as the Master and Madam. As for living in Great Xia or relocating to Qinghuang Country, it made no difference to them.
Moreover, through their prolonged association, they had all recognized that the Master and Madam, along with the four young masters, were no ordinary individuals. Wherever they were taken, they would surely lead good lives.
Therefore, no matter what happened, they would not leave this family.
However, throughout the entire household, only Zuo Hua felt a tinge of melancholy.
Yesterday, Zuo Hua had paid a final visit to Yan Shuo and selectively shared some of the family's affairs with him.
Upon hearing that Zuo Hua's entire family was moving to Qinghuang Country, Yan Shuo was stunned into silence.
In recent times, he had been trying to persuade his parents to propose marriage to the Lu family, but his mother was adamantly against it. She stated that her son would never marry a mere merchant's daughter from a farming background.
Consequently, the proposal had been postponed.
With Zuo Hua's family now relocating to Qinghuang Country, their marriage prospects had become even more challenging.
As a prominent official of Great Xia, Censor Yan would certainly not leave Great Xia, nor would he countenance marriage with the Lu family, who were considered traitors to Great Xia and had gone to an enemy nation.
"Xiao Hua, you are people of Great Xia, why must you move to Qinghuang Country? Qinghuang Country is our enemy nation!" Yan Shuo grasped Zuo Hua's arm, his face filled with disbelief.
Upon hearing his words, a deep disappointment flickered in Zuo Hua's eyes. She coolly pushed his hand away and said sternly, "Yes, we are indeed people of Great Xia, but the ruler of Great Xia has left us no way to live! Qinghuang Country is not our enemy; it is we who actively invaded them! We destroyed their nation!"
Having said that, Zuo Hua turned and left without looking back.
Yan Shuo followed behind, pleading, "Xiao Hua, stay. Stay with me, and I will support you."
Zuo Hua paused, turned back, and said indifferently, "I only wish for a proper, publicly acknowledged marriage! Furthermore, I will not abandon my family. I can support myself. You… take care!"
Watching Zuo Hua's resolute back, Yan Shuo stood frozen in place, feeling powerless.
Before their departure, Bai Sheng, noticing Zuo Hua's dejected demeanor, hugged her to comfort her, "Hua Hua, if you and Yan Shuo are meant to be, your connection will not be severed. Believe your sister-in-law. Once we are settled there, if you wish to see Yan Shuo, I will take you anytime."
Zuo Hua took a deep breath and feigned lightness, "Sister-in-law, it's alright. I am only 14 this year, still very young. No one can predict what the future holds. Besides, I don't want to become the sort of 'love-struck fool' you always talk about. As for Yan Shuo, let's just… let things happen naturally."
"Mm, it's best that Hua Hua thinks this way," Bai Sheng smiled gently, her arm around Zuo Hua's shoulder. "True love can withstand the test of time."
"Sister-in-law, don't worry, I understand," Zuo Hua nodded obediently.
Currently, besides Lu Ye, the individuals in the capital who knew Bai Sheng possessed a spatial artifact were Grandma Wu, Consort Mei, Third Uncle, Prince Yu, and Zuo Hua. Therefore, Bai Sheng asked them to assist in administering the sleeping powder.
After incapacitating everyone in the residence, Bai Sheng willed it, and all the people and their belongings were transported into the spatial artifact.
Before their departure, Zuo Ye had helped Bai Sheng store several bags of spatial grain in the underground passages of the Lu Residence, and also constructed several pools with mud and ash, filled with spatial spiritual spring water.
After summoning the rats, Zuo Ye bid them a brief farewell.
The rats squeaked incessantly, their eyes revealing a reluctance to part.
Leaving the Lu Residence, Bai Sheng then zipped to the Zuo family's residence on the outskirts of the city, sending all their family members, parcels, and livestock into the spatial artifact.
Zuo Siming had returned home the previous day and explained everything to his family. The Zuo family unanimously agreed to the relocation, for in truth, life was best wherever the family was together.
The last stop was Hongshu Village. Under Du Min's urging, everyone had packed their luggage and was waiting at home.
Bai Sheng asked Ga Mei whether she wished to stay in Hongshu Village or accompany them to Qinghuang Country.
Ga Mei had also been conflicted for a long time. Going to Qinghuang Country meant being far from her parents; staying meant being far from Qingfeng Ge.
After much deliberation, she ultimately chose to go to Qinghuang Country.
If she were to remain in Hongshu Village, she would still eventually marry, and likely not to a man of her liking. Among the scruffy suitors in Tianshui Town, which one could compare to her Qingfeng Ge?
It was better to follow the Master and Madam out to forge a new path. Once they established themselves there, she would bring her entire family over to enjoy a comfortable life.
As for Lu Xing, Xiao Ma, and Zhugan, they would continue to remain at the Yesheng Gate in the capital.
No one else knew that Zuo Ye was the master of the Yesheng Gate, so there was no immediate rush to relocate the Yesheng Gate. Once matters were settled in Qinghuang Country, further arrangements would be made.
After Du Min had incapacitated everyone, Bai Sheng collected them into the spatial artifact once more.
Zuo Ye secured all the doors and windows of the house and emerged.
"Husband, we are leaving Tianshui Town. This is where you grew up, can you bear to leave?" Bai Sheng asked, linking her arm through his and looking up at him.
Zuo Ye chuckled, "Only where you are is what I find lingering. Without you, even if given mountains of gold, I would not feel the slightest attachment."
Bai Sheng chuckled, then hugged Zuo Ye's arm and said playfully, "Then, husband, let's go."
"Mm," Zuo Ye took Bai Sheng's hand.
In the darkness of the night, the two cast a final glance over the entire village before leaving with a sense of lingering regret.
Since no spatial possessions were left behind in Qinghuang Country, Bai Sheng and Lu Ye had to travel there by horseback themselves.
Bianzhou bordered Qinghuang Country, so if they rode at a brisk pace, they could reach it in two days.
Their master had mentioned that the Qing Guard Army of Qinghuang Country was stationed in the eastern region, so they rode their horses directly eastward.
The next day, the new Emperor Xia Hongqian issued a nationwide decree to apprehend Qinghuang Country spies.
The imperial messengers rode their horses swiftly, delivering the decree to various states and counties.
Within a day, portraits of Bai Sheng, Zuo Ye, Grandma Wu, Consort Mei, and Gu Canglan had been posted on the city gates of the capital and numerous other prefectures and counties.