nucmednet Chapter 351 Leaving the Yelü Family
Chapter 351 Leaving the Yelü Family
In the elegantly furnished study of the Yelü residence, the carved wooden window was half-closed, and soft light filtered through the lattice, casting dappled shadows on the blue brick floor. Gu Mochen and Yelü Fengqi sat facing each other, with a set of antique tea utensils neatly arranged on a low table between them. Steam rose from the teapot, filling the entire study with the aroma of tea.
Gu Mochen was dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, its hem fluttering, making him appear like an immortal descending to earth. The robe was soft and lustrous, embroidered with exquisite patterns that shimmered as he moved. A dark jade belt, about three inches wide, was tied around his waist, inlaid with warm, lustrous jade stones, which further accentuated his slender waist and upright posture.
He picked up the teacup with elegant and composed movements. The teacup was made of white jade, crystal clear and flawless. Its rim was smooth and rounded, and the walls were as thin as cicada wings; a gentle touch seemed to release the aroma of the tea. Gu Mochen took a small sip; the tea was rich and flavorful, its fragrance filling the air. He swallowed slowly, then set down the teacup, his gaze falling on his elder brother, Yelü, opposite him.
Brother Yelü was a burly man with a resolute face, but at this moment his brows were slightly furrowed, and he looked worried. Seeing this, Gu Mochen said softly, "Brother Yelü, this matter is really strange. To dare to harm you so blatantly, I don't think your second branch of the family would have the guts." His voice was deep and magnetic, which made people feel trust in him.
Yelü Dage nodded and sighed, "I also feel that this matter is not simple, but we lack evidence and it is difficult to investigate."
Gu Mochen frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said, "As a royal merchant family, your business dealings involve many people. It's inevitable that some officials will try to exchange power with your family for personal gain. In this complex situation, elder brother, you must be careful and take precautions." His words revealed his concern and worry for his elder brother Yelü.
Yelü Fengqi frowned slightly, a look of worry on his face. He sighed and said, "Brother Gu is absolutely right, and I know that too. But the affairs of this family are so complicated and intertwined that I really don't know where to begin to deal with them." He also picked up his teacup, but only swirled it gently in his hand without drinking it.
Gu Mochen looked at Yelü Fengqi with a firm gaze and continued, "We have already troubled you for quite some time, and it is inconvenient for us to stay any longer. We plan to head north to experience the local customs and culture. The doctor in your household doesn't seem to be top-notch, and I'm afraid he won't be able to handle complex illnesses. I have some connections with Medicine King Valley, and I have already sent someone to invite a highly skilled doctor, who will arrive soon. Once he arrives, you and your family will have an extra layer of protection. In the days to come, you must take good care of yourself and your family."
Upon hearing this, Yelü Fengqi felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He quickly stood up, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Gu Mochen, and said gratefully, "Brother Gu, I, Yelü Fengqi, will never forget such a great kindness. If it weren't for your righteous help, I don't know how long I would have struggled in this predicament."
Gu Mochen also stood up to return the greeting, and said with a smile, "Brother Yelü, we are brothers, why be so polite? It's fate that we met along the way. If you need anything in the future, please don't hesitate to ask."
Yelü Fengqi sat down again, a hint of reluctance on his face, and asked, "Brother Gu, now that you're heading north, will you return to my place?"
Gu Mochen pondered for a moment and said, "I've already arranged for people to come here to trade in a few days. They will contact my elder brother then. If my elder brother needs anything in the future, he can inform them, or contact me through the people of Medicine King Valley. As for what my elder brother said about selling me those items, I have no objection. Most of what I purchased this time has already been transported away." In reality, Gu Mochen knew that he had only arranged for a portion of the items to be transported normally, while the vast majority of the valuable items had been quietly stored in Ye Qingchen's spatial storage. Although Ye Qingchen's space wasn't particularly spacious, it was more than enough to store these crucial items; he had only left a small portion in various locations as a cover.
The two chatted for a while longer, reminiscing about past anecdotes and sharing their hopes for the future. Before they knew it, dusk was falling. Gu Mochen rose to take his leave and returned to his residence to make final preparations for his journey the next day.
The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight shone through the courtyard of the Yelü residence, Gu Mochen, Ye Qingchen, Bai Zhi, Fu Ling, Bai Yufei, Song Ming, and others were already prepared and waiting in the open space in front of the mansion. A row of carriages were parked nearby, filled with luggage and packages, many of which belonged to Bai Zhi and Fu Ling. Lacking any spatial magic items, the two dared not carry too much, keeping only essential necessities. The rest, along with the items Gu Mochen and Ye Qingchen had purchased, were stored in a courtyard they had recently bought in the city.
The courtyard wasn't large, but it was quiet and secluded. Although the houses were a bit old, they were kept clean and tidy. Gu Mochen solemnly handed the courtyard key to Yelü Fengqi and said, "Brother Yelü, I hope you will take good care of the things in this courtyard. Once my contact arrives, these items will be properly moved."
Yelü Fengqi took the key and nodded, saying, "Brother Gu, rest assured, I will take good care of these things and will not let them be damaged in the slightest."
After bidding each other farewell, Gu Mochen and the others boarded their carriages. The coachman cracked his whip, and with a sharp "snap," the carriages slowly started moving, their wheels making a "gurgling" sound as they rolled along the stone road. Yelü Fengqi stood in front of his mansion, watching the departing convoy, reluctant to leave for a long time. Only when the convoy disappeared at the end of the street did he turn around and walk back into the mansion with steady steps, secretly thinking that he must deal with the crisis at home properly and not let down Gu Mochen and the others' help.
Meanwhile, Gu Mochen and the others sat in the carriage, watching the receding Yelü Mansion through the windows, each with their own thoughts. Ye Qingchen leaned against the carriage wall, closing her eyes to rest, but her mind was racing, considering the upcoming journey and the various situations they might encounter. Bai Zhi and Fu Ling, on the other hand, watched the ever-changing street scenes outside the window with curiosity, conversing in hushed tones. For Bai Yufei and Song Ming, this journey north was also filled with unknowns and anticipation. They knew that the journey might not be peaceful, but with Gu Mochen and Ye Qingchen by their side, they felt more confident. The carriage traveled north along the official road, the dust kicked up by the wheels shimmering golden in the sunlight, as if telling the story of a new journey that was about to begin.
As for the Yelü second branch of the family, the second master and Xiao Huan had already been discovered by everyone. The second master was weak and exhausted, and Xiao Huan, who had been starving for three days, was barely breathing and unable to even dress. Thus, the Yelü second branch had no choice but to take the naked Xiao Huan as a concubine, but there was no joy in it. Now that the affair had been exposed, everyone understood what they would face, but few felt confident in their resolve.