Baili Huang’s expression immediately turned to disappointment, "Only five thousand? Yuanxiu, the Beiyang army has five hundred thousand this time! What can five thousand troops do?"

Baili Xun also said, "Indeed, Uncle Mu, the five hundred thousand troops have surrounded the four cities in the Northern Land; five thousand are not enough to resist."

Mu Yuanxiu said, "The five thousand troops are for transporting grain, not to fight Beiyang. I received war reports and learned that the Northern Land is besieged, anticipating that there’s not much grain left. With the New Year approaching and heavy snow, with nothing to eat or drink, the soldiers’ morale would be unstable. So, I brought some grain to support the army."

Baili Huang breathed a sigh of relief, his face brightened with joy again, "So, the main army is coming later?"

"There is no main army."

Baili Huang, "..."

"No main army? How to make the enemy retreat?" Baili Xun was surprised, "Uncle Mu, do you have another good plan?"

Mu Yuanxiu looked in the direction of Beiyang, "Yes. Tomorrow night, I will lead a team to infiltrate the Beiyang army and capture their commander. The Beiyang army will naturally collapse."

Baili Huang slapped his thigh in worry, "Yuanxiu, I just got the news, the commander of Beiyang this time is the Beiyang Empress Dowager. This woman is very cunning, unlike that arrogant Lang Feihua. She has controlled Beiyang’s court for many years, holding a very fierce Dark Feather Guards under her command, making it impossible for anyone to approach easily."

He waved his hand, disagreeing with Mu Yuanxiu going on such a risky mission.

"If you do not enter the tiger’s den, how will you get the tiger cub? How will you know if success is possible without trying?" Mu Yuanxiu lightly curved his lips, "Whether successful or not, it will be known the day after tomorrow."

Seeing Mu Yuanxiu insist on his decision, Baili Huang, thinking of his skills, reluctantly agreed, only asking him what time to depart tomorrow night and what specific preparations would be needed.

Mu Yuanxiu said, "It’s late tonight, everyone should rest first. Tomorrow I’ll inspect the guard situation, and we’ll decide when to set out."

By this time, it was almost the third watch of the night.

Baili Huang nodded, "Very well."

He personally escorted Mu Yuanxiu to the guest room.

As the two walked towards the back residence, Baili Huang brought up the matter of Guoguo.

It turns out that when the news of the Li Family being the Li Royal Family and Li Boxuan ascending the throne reached Baili Mansion in Liangzhou City, the whole household was shocked.

Second Madam Baili became worried, "In this case, will Guoguo still look favorably upon Xiao Rui? Guoguo is a Commandery Princess now, while our Ruirui is just an ordinary young master."

Baili Huang comforted her, "As long as the two children are destined, they will meet again."

He did not harbor great hope in his heart.

What he said was to comfort his wife.

The children were only three to five years old when separated. After a few years, what could they still remember?

But the children’s memories exceeded the couple’s expectations.

Soon, Guoguo arrived at Baili Mansion, bringing an imperial decree of betrothal.

Lifting a smile, the barely six-year-old Guoguo held Baili Rui’s hand, saying she wanted to be his wife.

Baili Rui was bewildered, while Guoguo seemed precocious, telling him that as his wife, they would never be apart and would always stay together.

From then on, every year in the summer, Guoguo would come to stay at Baili Mansion in Liangzhou City.

She was also bold, bringing only a few guards, a nanny, and a leopard.

She would return to Zhen An Prefecture after spending the summer at Baili Mansion every year.

This year, Guoguo also planned to return after the Mid-Autumn Festival. However, due to repeated harassment near Liangzhou City by Beiyang people, she stayed and did not return to Zhen An Prefecture.

"Xiao Rui has grown up and learned martial skills; he will take good care of Guoguo, so Yuanxiu need not worry." Baili Huang assured Mu Yuanxiu, "They went to the barracks; Xiao Rui is inspecting troop training and formations, while Guoguo insisted on wearing a soldier’s outfit to go along. But rest assured, Yuanxiu, they have many guards with them."

Mu Yuanxiu was not at all worried about Guoguo.

Rather, it should be those whom Guoguo targets that should be worried.

"In that case, I am relieved." Mu Yuanxiu smiled.

Compared to her past life, Guoguo’s temperament had completely changed.

He knew why Guoguo had become this way.

Because, like him, Guoguo was unwilling to accept the fate of her past life and had come to live again.

When he noticed that Guoguo’s gaze was different from other children, he secretly taught her the Beast Taming Skill.

And gave her a golden whistle that could play the tune for taming beasts.

At a little over one year old, using the Beast Taming Skill, she summoned a young adult leopard and quickly tamed it, a testament to Guoguo’s intelligence.

Later, Guoguo grew older.

Just like during the object-grabbing ceremony, she, though a girl, loved daggers and whips over rouge and powders.

Li Xingmao wrote in a letter to Li Yuzhu that after being titled a Commandery Princess and returning to Taohua River Village, Guoguo begged Li Xingmao to find her a martial arts teacher.

Upon learning of Guoguo’s interests, Li Boxuan selected ten Imperial Guards to send to Taohua River Village.

He also chose many martial arts books to be sent to the village.

Guoguo’s intelligence and eagerness to learn surpassed even Li Jing and Li Yu.

Nowadays, Guoguo, only ten years old but no less skilled than Li Xing’an in martial arts. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

No wonder she dared, at such a young age, to travel four thousand li to find Baili Rui.

Her annual stay at Baili Mansion is likely to prevent the tragic events of her past life.

Back then, he remembered someone died at Baili Mansion; he just didn’t know who it was.

When Guoguo laid him to rest, she wore mourning clothes.

She wept at the time, saying, "If there is an afterlife, I wish everyone alive."

In this life, he would fulfill Guoguo’s wish.