Chapter 908: Li Yuzhu & Mu Yuanxiu Extra Story (16): The Most Luxurious Welcome (Part 2)

In this life, Heaven has blessed her with a large family and loving parents.

Li Yuzhu feels grateful.

She hugged the Wei Family, "Mother, although I’m marrying far away, I will always remember you in my heart."

"Eight thousand miles away, visiting home won’t be easy," Wei Family said, tears falling sorrowfully.

Li Yuzhu comforted her with a smile, saying, "Mother, aren’t you familiar with Yuanxiu’s character? If I want to return home, I can come back anytime."

The Wei Family was momentarily unable to accept Li Yuzhu’s marriage afar, but upon thinking, daughters grow up and need to marry, they can’t stay by their side forever.

She grieved for a moment, then came to terms.

"It’s cold there, take some thick clothes with you." The Wei Family wiped away tears, "I’ll have people from the palace make some for you to take."

Li Yuzhu nodded with a smile, "Mm, thank you, Mother."

.

Unlike the Wei Family’s concerns, Uncle Li was worried that Li Yuzhu might not eat well in the Northern Land.

Bei Yan Country has scarce food and limited varieties.

He ordered a hundred carts of various fine grains for Li Yuzhu to take to Bei Yan Country to eat.

Li Yuzhu knew of Uncle Li’s arrangements, and her heart was deeply touched.

Children, no matter how grown, are still treasures to parents’ hearts, who will always worry about their children not eating well or being inadequately clothed.

She smiled and said, "Father Emperor, rather than sending me food, it might be better to send me more seeds; once this hundred carts of good grain are eaten, there’s no more. The Beiyang Imperial City is far away from Zhao Country Capital; Father Emperor can’t send them year after year, can he? It would be better to send me some seeds to Beiyang, so that every year we can harvest."

Uncle Li said, "It’s cold there, can our Central Plains’ good grains grow?"

"Let’s give it a try; maybe some will grow," Li Yuzhu replied with a smile.

Uncle Li thought for a moment, this idea is not bad; it’s autumn now, the perfect time to harvest seeds.

"Daughter is right, try planting something; surely something can be harvested."

Upon thinking of it, Uncle Li immediately ordered people to collect various seeds suitable for northern weather, selecting the plump ones, packing ten pounds of each type, to be taken by Li Yuzhu to Bei Yan.

Li Yuwen and Li Yu En each took out cherished items to give Li Yuzhu.

Li Xing’an gave two fine carriages.

Li Xingsheng thought differently; he gifted people.

This idea came from Ling Yuezi.

As a fellow Princess of Heqin, Ling Yuezi understood the experience of marrying far away.

No matter how good the husband is, it’s hard to forget the taste of home; she gave Li Xingsheng advice to select several chefs, to be sent with Li Yuzhu to Bei Yan.

In distress over what to send, Li Xingsheng, upon his wife’s advice, chose not only eight chefs but also eight tailors, eight who knew the tunes of Zhao Country Capital, eight who brewed wine, eight doctors.

And some craftsmen.

Hearing that Li Yuzhu would take seeds to Bei Yan, he additionally selected a hundred farming men and women to accompany Li Yuzhu as dowry.

Seeing the dowry sent by her family, Li Yuzhu felt overwhelmed with emotions.

In the past, she hastily married Mu Yuanxiu; she had no dowry, and Mu Yuanxiu only provided her with a wedding outfit, even the house was dilapidated and drafty.

Now, they are the most affluent couple in the world.

He possesses the most luxurious betrothal gifts.

She has the most splendid dowry.

He offers her the peace of his homeland in the Northern Land.

She will gift him a bountiful home.

.

On this day ten days later, the autumn sky was clear and bright, like a freshly washed blue.

Li Yuzhu was set to depart for Bei Yan.

She sat in a spacious carriage with her two children. As the journey headed north, the colder it became, the carriage was lined with thick cashmere rugs.

Besides the three of them, there were also two elder aunts accompanying in the carriage.

These were specially selected by the Wei Family to accompany Li Yuzhu as Lady-in-charge.

Both were just in their early thirties, experienced in dealing with people.

Apart from these two, Wei Family also chose twelve palace maids and twelve eunuchs to accompany the dowry.

Uncle Li then selected fifty guards.

Along with Bei Yan’s Heqin party, nearly a thousand people formed a grand procession departing from the North Gate of the Capital.

Guoguo, Baili Rui, and Li Xing’an escorted the convoy.

Grand Tutor Fei, due to his age, waved goodbye to Zhao Country officials after riding a horse and then switched to a carriage.

Inside, there were two other Bei Yan Ministry of Rites officials.

One praised, "Our Emperor is truly fortunate; look at this dowry, others bring gold and silver, the Third Princess brings seeds and craftsmen. It’s said that the Third Princess is also a divine healer, and she took a carriage full of medical books as dowry."

Grand Tutor Fei observed Zhao Country’s dowry gifts, besides surprise, there was much admiration.

Bei Yan Country’s Emperor marrying Zhao Country’s princess is not only a blessing for the Emperor but also for Bei Yan’s people.

Bei Yan annually lacks grain, soldiers have nothing to eat, thus are forced to rob; if Bei Yan starts growing grain, why would soldiers need to rob?

.

From Zhao Country Capital to Liangzhou City, it took a full two months.

After resting in Liangzhou City for three days, they continued northward.

Two months later, they arrived at Beiyang Imperial City.

By this time, it was already winter, with snow blanketing everywhere, the world vast and desolate.

Beasts hiding, human traces rare.

But in Beiyang Imperial City, it was a different scene.

Even before reaching the city gates, men and women lined up to welcome them could be seen.

Everyone was dressed in festive clothes, shouting joyously, "Welcome Empress back to the palace."

Mu Zhan Yun and Mu Tongyun, who were already two years old, leaned against the window to look outside.

"Mother, who is the Empress?" Mu Zhan Yun blinked, turning to ask Li Yuzhu.

"It’s our mother." Mu Tongyun, mature for his age, explained to his brother.

"And father? Is he the Emperor?" Mu Zhan Yun asked.

Mu Tongyun smilingly said, "Brother, this time you answered correctly."

"Someone is calling our father Emperor." Mu Zhan Yun pointed forward.

Li Yuzhu was momentarily surprised, did Yuanxiu come?

She moved the two children aside and looked out.

She saw Mu Yuanxiu, dressed in a black cloak, exuding elegance without losing authority, on horseback in the middle of the road, staring straight at them.

As the carriage approached, Mu Yuanxiu rode toward it.

He looked at the carriage window, his voice gentle, "Yuzhu, I greet you tardily."