I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 160 Wait for me to take you home
Consort Qin felt a lump in her throat, unable to breathe: What was Gu Xuan anyway, how could she compare to her daughter?

Consort Han scoffed inwardly, continuing to harp on Princess Xuan, "I still believe that as a daughter-in-law, Princess Xuan should personally return to the capital to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday."

“My mother is staying in the Northwest to take care of the refugees. The Empress Dowager, being the mother of the nation, will surely think that settling the refugees is more important than celebrating her birthday,” Tang Zhao said as she stepped into the main hall. “Of course, I will convey my mother’s filial piety to the Empress Dowager.”

"Princess Zhaoshan," Consort Han gritted her teeth, "it's you again."

"Nonsense!" King Xuan slammed his hand on the table and stood up. "If you return to Luoyang, what will happen to Wuwei City?" He turned to Consort Han and said, "Just go when I tell you to. How dare a mere concubine like you interfere in the decisions made by the King and the Queen!"

Consort Han was shocked and furious, and dared not utter another word in rebuttal.

"Father, I have to go," Tang Zhao said, ignoring the angry look in Xuan Wang's eyes. "I have important business to attend to."

Seeing the girl's resolute gaze, King Xuan suddenly stopped, said "Go if you want to," and strode away.

When Consort Han and Consort Qin saw that King Xuan was angry, they knew that the matter was already settled and that further fuss would be useless, so they each went back to their rooms to pack their things.

After everyone left, Princess Xuan asked, "Why did you return to Luoyang all of a sudden? Did something happen to you after you left the residence?"

Tang Zhao was surprised by the Princess Consort Xuan's keen insight and honestly replied, "Yes, I met someone on the road who told me that there was an important matter waiting for me to handle in Luoyang."

Princess Xuan looked quietly at the girl in front of her: When she first saw her, she knew that she was different from ordinary women. She thought she was gentle on the outside but strong on the inside, but she didn't expect her to be even stronger on the inside.

Apart from her appearance, she bears no resemblance to her mother whatsoever.

"Go if you want to," Princess Xuan said, not insisting that he stay. "Just one thing: take care of yourself and make sure you come back safely no matter what."

"Okay," Tang Zhao nodded, then added, "Seventh Sister doesn't need to go," so as not to hold them back.

Princess Xuan nodded.

Tang Zhao bowed respectfully, turned and left the main hall, where he bumped into Gu Ci, who was rushing over.

"Did Father say you insist on returning to Luoyang?"

Tang Zhao nodded.

Seeing that it was too crowded to talk to, Gu Ci pulled Tang Zhao by the wrist and led her to a secluded corner in the backyard. "You knew that Emperor Sheng'an was sending people to Luoyang as hostages, so why did you still take the risk?"

The man gripped the ground tightly, and Tang Zhao struggled but couldn't break free. "Be gentle, it hurts!"

The man loosened his grip slightly.

Tang Zhao sighed, "Gu Ci, do you know how my maternal family died?"

Gu Ci was taken aback, and subconsciously said, "The Turks are attacking the city."

"No matter how powerful the Turks are, they couldn't have breached Wuwei City in just a few hours!"

"You suspect someone is colluding with the enemy?"

“It’s not a doubt, I have witnesses,” Tang Zhao said, looking up into Gu Ci’s eyes. “He told me personally that before the Turks attacked the city, my maternal grandfather received a letter of betrayal, saying that someone was colluding with the enemy.”

“My father also suspected it back then and investigated for a long time,” Gu Ci said in a low voice, “but the battle was fierce back then, and countless soldiers and civilians were brutally slaughtered by the Turks. My father couldn’t find a single surviving person who knew the truth, and you…”

“I don’t need to look,” Tang Zhao interrupted him. “The person in the know came to me.”

"The one you just ran into?" Gu Ci frowned and looked Tang Zhao up and down, noticing dust marks on Tang Zhao's clothes and boots. "Did he bully you?"

"Yes!" Tang Zhao complained, "Once I find out who killed my maternal grandparents' family, you help me beat him up, beat him to death!"

Is this a case of discarding a useful tool after it has served its purpose? Gu Ci pursed her lips and nodded solemnly. "You," Gu Ci's throat was dry, she had so much to say, yet she didn't know what to say.

"I will do everything in my power to come back alive," Tang Zhao promised, "even if I don't get to the bottom of things." "Hmm," Gu Ci nodded, slowly letting go of Tang Zhao's hand after holding it for a while. "The Turks have been harassing the border a lot lately, and I need to guard the border, so I won't see you off."

"The stability of the border is of utmost importance," Tang Zhao said understandingly. "By the way, Liuli Workshop has made another hundred telescopes. Remember to pick them up on your return trip."

Gu Ci nodded, and the two remained silent on the way back to the Protector General's Mansion. Tang Zhao arranged for people to pack their bags, while Gu Ci summoned the court officials and the guards of the Prince's Mansion, ordering them to prioritize protecting Tang Zhao at all times.

Chao Yi and the others solemnly agreed.

Three days later, at the north gate of Wuwei City, the banner of the Prince Xuan's Mansion was raised high, and a long procession of carriages and horses was protected in the middle by soldiers of the Northwest Army.

Princess Xuan saw Gu Xuan off at the city gate, stuffing a cart full of food and clothing into it. She held Tang Zhao's hand and gave him instructions for a long time, only reluctantly letting go when the leader of the Flying Dragon Guard urged them to leave.

Tang Zhao bid farewell to Princess Xuan and turned to get into the princess's carriage.

"Set off!" The leader of the Flying Dragon Guard gave the order, and the convoy began to move forward. Tang Zhao looked through the carriage window and watched the Wuwei city gate grow smaller and smaller until it disappeared from sight.

Qiu Yu complained, "The young master is really something, he didn't even come to see the young lady off."

Tang Zhao said coolly, "Gu Ci is seeing me off, while you're going to guard the border?"

Qiu Yu dared not complain anymore and poured a cup of tea for Tang Zhao.

Suddenly, the carriage stopped abruptly, spilling tea all over Qiu Yu. As she wiped her clothes, she shouted, "Dong Mei!"

"Miss!" Dongmei's voice came into the carriage, "The young master has arrived!"

Who? Tang Zhao didn't react for a moment. When Dongmei opened the car door, Tang Zhao leaned out halfway and turned around. He saw a man wearing a helmet and iron armor, holding a gun in his left hand and riding a horse at high speed.

Gu Ci leaped off his horse a few steps away from the carriage, threw his silver spear behind him without looking back, and strode toward the carriage.

Chaohui, who was right behind him, caught the silver spear.

While Tang Zhao was still in a daze, Gu Ci helped and carried her down from the carriage.

"What happened? Why did the carriage suddenly stop?" Consort Qin lifted the curtain and asked expectantly, "Has the Prince come to take us back?"

The servants who were attending him replied, "It's the Fifth Young Master."

Consort Qin frowned, "Fifth Young Master?"

Holding the medical book, Gu Fu said without looking up, "They're probably here to see off the princess."

Consort Qin snorted coldly.

Tang Zhao asked blankly, "Gu Ci, why are you here? Didn't you say you weren't coming to see me off?"
“I regret it,” Gu Ci said, looking down at the woman in front of him. “My father rushed back to the military camp early this morning to inspect the border for me, so I came to see you off.”

There's something I forgot to tell you.

"What?"

"Your safety is the most important thing," Gu Ci said in a deep voice. "Once the Empress Dowager's birthday is over, I will go to Luoyang to bring you home."

Tang Zhao looked up at the man's sincere eyes, which were almost overflowing with sincerity, and chuckled, "Okay, I'll wait for you."

"I'm waiting for you to take me home."

After Tang Zhao finished speaking, he turned around and stepped into the carriage.

Gu Ci stood still until the last person in the convoy disappeared from sight before setting off back.