Chapter 391: Separation

Before dawn, the city gates of Samerhan opened.

Zhu Yong stood at the gate, with the Governor's Office Zhu Yong had lived in for three years behind him.

The morning mist had not yet cleared, shrouding the blue‑domed mosque in a haze, and the crescent on Xuanli Tower flickered in and out of the fog.

Zhu Biao walked out of the city, dressed in moon‑white everyday robes, a jade sash tied at the waist.

Zhu Xiongying followed behind, a fifteen‑year‑old boy shouldering a bundle, with a Damascus‑steel short sword sheathed at the waist.

"Father, Second Prince is out," Zhu Qiong Jiong said, standing beside Zhu Yong, unusually not shouldering their Wolf Fang Club but swapping to a short sword at their waist.

The twelve‑year‑old boy wore a half‑worn blue shirt, his hair neatly combed.

Zhu Huanhuan came up from behind, carrying a bundle that held rouge and spices brought back from Persia.

She wore a light‑blue jacket‑skirt, her hair braided into a single plait hanging behind, quietly standing beside her father.

Zhu Yong looked at the daughter, fell silent for a moment, then said, "When you reach Yingtian Prefecture, bow to the Grand Empress Dowager for me, tell her I miss her, and when things settle here, go back to see her."

Zhu Huanhuan nodded and whispered, "Father, rest assured."

Zhu Yong turned his gaze to the son.

The boy had been clamoring since last night to go back to see the imperial grandparents, yet when the time to leave came, he fell silent.

"When you reach Yingtian Prefecture, heed your Second Prince's words and do not cause trouble."

"Father, when have I ever caused trouble?" Zhu Qiong Jiong retorted.

Zhu Yong said nothing.

Zhu Di emerged from the city leading a horse, with Zhu Gaochi following behind.

The nine‑year‑old boy was chubby and pale, clutching the little notebook he never left, his eyes a bit red.

"Second Prince, Eldest Brother, I will escort you out of the city," Zhu Di said, flipping onto the horse.

The party set off.

Zhu Biao rode at the front, Zhu Yong walked beside him, and Zhu Di pressed the rear.

A few children followed in the middle, Zhu Xiongying and Zhu Qiong Jiong side by side, chattering quietly.

Zhu Huanhuan and Zhu Gaochi lagged at the rear, one silent, the other bent over writing and drawing.

Beyond the city gates, the official road ran straight eastward.

On both sides of the road stretched vast fields; the wheat had been harvested, leaving the soil bare, only stubble remaining.

In the distance, a few cows grazed leisurely, their tails swishing.

"Second Brother, drop them off here!" Zhu Biao halted his horse and turned.

Zhu Yong also halted his horse, looking at the elder brother.

The two brothers stared at each other for a moment, neither speaking.

Zhu Xiongying rode up from behind, stopped before Zhu Yong, dismounted, and knelt to bow his head three times.

"Second Uncle, take care."

Zhu Yong bent down, helped them up, patted their shoulder and said, "Xiong Ying, go back and study well, listen to your father's words."

Zhu Xiongying nodded, the eyes slightly reddened.

Zhu Qiong Jiong also dismounted and walked to the father's side.

The twelve‑year‑old boy straightened his back, seemed about to speak, opened his mouth, then swallowed the words.

Zhu Yong looked at the son, reached out to adjust the son's collar and said, "When you reach Yingtian Prefecture, don't just play; go to Dabentang and study diligently. Your brother Xiong Ying has been studying there for years, so you'll have a companion."

"Father, I don't like studying."

"Even if you don't like it, you must study; your Second Prince has arranged it for you."

Zhu Qiong Jiong pursed their lips and said nothing more.

Zhu Huan walked over, stood before the father, and whispered, "Father, take care of yourself, don't keep skipping meals."

Zhu Yong smiled, "Got it. When you arrive, write a letter to me."

Zhu Huanhuan nodded, the eyes rimmed red, but did not cry.

Zhu Yong turned his gaze again to Zhu Gaochi.

The boy rode a small pony, still clutching the notebook, the eyes red, yet the back stood straight.

"Chi Er, go back and study diligently with your mother, and also lend a hand with your father's affairs."

Zhu Gaochi nodded vigorously, "Second Uncle, rest assured."

Zhu Di rode up from behind and stopped before Zhu Biao.

The two brothers glanced at each other, Zhu Di flipped off the horse, dismounted, and knelt to bow his head.

Zhu Biao bent down, helped them up, patted their shoulder and said, "Fifth Brother, with the matters here, assist your Second Brother more."

"Eldest Brother, rest assured, I understand," Zhu Di's voice sounded a bit muffled.

Zhu Biao looked again at Zhu Gaochi, the boy still astride the horse, the eyes reddened.

"Chi Er, go back and send good wishes to your mother, tell her Eldest Brother misses her."

Zhu Gaochi nodded earnestly.

Zhu Biao flipped onto the horse and cast one last glance at Zhu Yong.

"Second Brother, take care."

Zhu Yong nodded, saying nothing.

Zhu Biao turned the horse's head, tightened the grip on the saddle, and the warhorse surged forward.

Zhu Xiongying and Zhu Qiong Jiong followed behind, while Zhu Huanhuan and Zhu Gaochi lagged at the very end.

Zhu Yong stood where he was, watching the procession of riders recede.

The morning mist cleared, sunlight fell on the road, stretching the people's shadows long.

Zhu Di stood beside him, and said nothing.

The two brothers stood side by side, watching the column of riders shrink smaller and smaller until it became a few black dots that vanished on the horizon.

"Second Prince, return!" Zhu Di said.

Zhu Yong nodded, turned, and walked back.

On Sa Ma Er Han Street, the townsfolk had already begun a day's labor.

The old man selling flatbread pushed his cart out from the street corner, shouting hoarsely.

A few Persian merchants stood before the silk stall, haggling with the shopkeeper.

A Turkic woman led a child out of the mosque; the child clutched a bunch of grapes, eating them with juice all over the mouth.

Everything was the same as usual.

But Zhu Yong felt that the city had suddenly become much emptier.

He returned to the Governor's Office and sat in the courtyard.

The pomegranate tree was laden with fruit, bright red, glimmering in the sunlight.

Guanyin Nu stepped out of the house, carrying a bowl of tea, and placed it before him.

"Leaving..." she sat down beside him.

"Leaving."

Guanyin Nu was silent for a moment, then said softly, "When Huan Huan left, she told me to remind you not to always skip meals."

Zhu Yong lifted the tea bowl and took a sip.

"Understood."

"She also said to remind you not to stay up late all the time, and to go to bed earlier."

Zhu Yong set down the tea bowl, gazing at the courtyard's pomegranate tree.

"Understood."

Guanyin Nu said nothing further, simply sitting beside him, keeping him company as he watched the pomegranate tree.

Zhang Wu entered from outside, clasped his fists and said, "Prince, the autumn grain reports from the western counties of Tie Mu Er Prefecture have been delivered; would you like to take a look?"

Zhu Yong stood up, took the stack of documents, and opened them to glance through.

The numbers all matched; the grain that should have been collected was collected, and the taxes that should have been paid were paid.

After Zhao Wenhan's incident, he replaced the magistrates of the western counties of Tie Mu Er Prefecture; the newcomers were all brought by Zhu Biao, young, motivated, and not so scheming.

"Fine, place them in my Study!"

Zhang Wu replied, turned to leave, then halted and asked, "Prince, the young Prince and the others... have they arrived at Yingtian Prefecture?"

"They left early! It's only been an hour; why, are you reluctant..." Zhu Yong said, looking at Zhang Wu with some curiosity.

Zhang Wu scratched his head and laughed, "That kid usually makes a ruckus in the residence; suddenly leaving, it's really a bit unfamiliar."

Zhu Yong gave no reply.

He too felt a bit unaccustomed.

Zhu Qiong Jiong, that kid, has never left his side since birth.

Now that he's gone, it's uncertain when he'll return.

"Prince, should we send someone to follow?" Zhang Wu asked.

Zhu Yong shook his head and said, "No need; his elder uncle is with him, nothing will go wrong."

Zhang Wu responded and stepped back.