Why did you provoke me?

The captain of the guard looked at Hou Yulin with his lips tightly pressed together.

Butler Han treated the guards who accompanied the young master very well.

Whenever they encountered difficulties, Butler Han would solve them immediately, with the only requirement being that they be loyal to the young master.

Although Hou Yulin also had the arrogance and willfulness typical of scions of noble families, he treated his guards quite well, at most only scolding them a few times.

Ten minutes later, Hou Yulin composed himself.

"Tell me what the current situation is?"

"Young Master, Butler Han instructed me to stop you from going to Kyoto. Also, we're out of money now."

"You're all out of money? Uncle Han didn't give you any?"

"When we went to Jingchuan, Butler Han gave us the money, but it was for the young master's medical treatment. Later, it was directly transferred to Jingchuan's account."

Hou Yulin pondered for a moment, "So you mean we still have money saved up in Jingchuan?"

The guard captain paused for a moment. "There should still be some left. But we're in great danger right now, and going to Jingchuan will be difficult."

"How much news do you know about Grandpa's situation?"

The captain of the guards lowered his head. "Young master, I've been following you the whole time." In other words, how would I know things that you don't even know?

Hou Yulin closed his eyes briefly, realizing he had been incredibly foolish to ask such a question.

After thinking for a moment, I thought, "Uncle Han sent us here, he must have some plans. Let's look around the corners of the house and see if Uncle Han left anything behind."

"Yes." The guard captain left. Without Hou Yulin's permission, even if he had the idea, he wouldn't dare touch anything in the room.

"Be careful, don't break anything. This is a backup plan that Butler Han left for us, we must remember this kindness." The captain of the guards' voice was not loud, and his eyes were a little red.

Everyone agreed and began to look around.

Hou Yulin sat by the window, the communication bell resting quietly in his palm. He wanted to send a message to his grandfather, to tell him he was safe. He wanted to ask how so much had happened in just a few days.

But Butler Han's words still echoed in his ears: he couldn't return to Kyoto. He'd also said that his grandfather's words hadn't been finished when the communication bell went dead. He couldn't send his grandfather a message now; the bell might no longer be in his grandfather's possession. Unable to go back, unable to send a message, he had no idea how his grandfather was doing.

He stared blankly at the small courtyard outside. He suddenly felt that without his grandfather and Butler Han, he was powerless to do anything.

At least for now, he doesn't know what he should do. He doesn't even know who is reliable.

He wanted to ask someone, but apart from his old drinking buddies, it seemed he had no one else to ask.

The sound of the door opening startled him. He turned his head and saw the captain of the guard walking over with some things in his hands.

"Young master, there's a card and some valuables. There's also a letter for you."

"Take the money, give me the letter." Hou Yulin held out his hand.

The guard captain withdrew. Hou Yulin opened the letter.

"Young master, if this letter reaches you, it means I am already dead."

You are the future head of the Hou family; you must survive no matter what. But if you are truly exhausted, remember what I said on the battlefield? Use that thing to seek refuge; no one will say anything. Oh, I forgot to mention, these weren't my orders; they were given by the old patriarch.”

As he watched, Hou Yulin started crying again. He didn't want to, but he couldn't help it.

That night, the captain of the guards stopped the group of people who were about to leave on the path. "Young Master has treated us well. Is what you're doing appropriate?"

"Captain, he's just a spoiled brat. What can he do? Without our protection, it's uncertain whether he can even get out. Even the old patriarch was tricked, how could he? He promised us money on the battlefield if we could get out, so now I'm taking the money to get out. Isn't that the right thing to do?"

"This is betrayal," the captain of the guard shouted sternly.

"This money is life-saving. This is all we have right now. If you take it, what will happen to the rest of us? If you get caught by Second Master's men, can you keep quiet?"

"This is what he promised us, I deserve it." This person showed no remorse whatsoever. "Captain, we owe Butler Han a favor, not the young master. Besides scolding us, what else has he done?"

The captain of the guards looked around at the people. "You all think so too? That's right, otherwise how would they have been able to steal the money?"

"I already said, it wasn't theft, he owes us," one of them shouted.

"Let them go," Hou Yulin's voice rang out from not far away. "Anyone who wants to leave can, including my captain of the guard."

"Young Master, I will never leave!" The captain of the guards suddenly turned around and shouted.

Hou Yulin didn't expect such a strong reaction. He touched his nose and said, "Then you can stay."

"What about you? Are there any left?" Hou Yulin's voice was no different from usual.

But the guards could still hear the tremor in his voice.

Suddenly, a man knelt down and said, "I'm sorry, young master, I still have an old mother to support. I can't lose my life."

"Me too. My child is only three years old. Without me, they will starve to death."

……

Everyone gave a reason why they couldn't afford to lose their lives.

Hou Yulin's heart turned completely cold. Butler Han was indeed good to them, but they forgot that those resources and money belonged to the Hou family. Butler Han only gave them what he approved.

But now, it's clear they don't think that way, or perhaps they don't want to think that way.

"Go, all of you. The money in that card should be enough to meet all your needs on the battlefield. That way, we'll be even. I just hope you all achieve your goals."

Hou Yulin turned and went back. The captain of the guard looked at his former brother, said nothing, and followed Hou Yulin back to the courtyard.

Why didn't you come along?

"I survived because you gave me a steamed bun that winter." The captain of the guard looked up at the young master in front of him. He was thin and not very tall.

"Really? Then go pack your things, we'll leave tonight."

"Huh? Let's go, where to?"

"We've been here for seven days. If the Hou family doesn't leave soon, they might not be able to leave at all."

"Okay, I'll get ready right away. Give me half an hour." The guard captain ran off.

Hou Yulin smiled bitterly. This was reality. But at least one of them was left behind because of him. Just like his grandfather said, in crucial moments, having one loyal person is enough.

As for where to go, since Jingchuan was able to rescue him, he should be able to protect this sickly fellow as well.

Besides, he brought resources with him, and he has a good relationship with Butler Han, so he shouldn't be kicked out.

That's his plan, but whether he can actually get there is still uncertain. Since his second uncle could even scheme against his grandfather, what does he, a mere nephew, amount to?

He sighed; this was the only path he could take now. The rest would have to wait until he recovered.

The captain of the guard moved quickly. "Young Master, where are we going?"

"Go back to where I received treatment. Do you remember the route?"

"Remember, this is a captain's basic skill."

"Shall we go then?"

The head of the guards drove the car out. "Young Master, what will happen to those people?"

"To survive, they'll betray our whereabouts. We'll have to disguise ourselves at the next location. We can't keep the car either."

"what?"

"My second uncle's men won't let them go," Hou Yulin explained.

The captain of the guard didn't ask why. He simply pressed the accelerator lightly, taking advantage of the darkness to go as far as he could.