Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, the New Year and the Lantern Festival are over. On the day of departure, the sky was gloomy, as if it was also sad for the separation. Zhang Fubao packed her bags early. She was dressed in plain clothes and stood in the courtyard of the Ma Mansion, her eyes full of reluctance. Ma's mother came over and stuffed an exquisite purse into her hand, saying: "Fubao, this is prepared by Ma's mother for you. It contains a peace amulet to keep you safe on your journey." Zhang Fubao took the purse, tears welling up in her eyes. She hugged Ma's mother tightly, choking and saying: "Aunt, I will never forget your kindness, I will miss you."

Ma Yunlu ran over with red eyes, took Zhang Fubao's hand and said, "Fubao, what will I do if you leave? There will be no one to play with me in the future." Zhang Fubao held back her tears and smiled to comfort her, "Yunlu, you have to be good. Wait until I go back and settle down. Maybe I can come to see you again." Dong Bai also walked forward, gave her the gift she had prepared, and whispered, "Take care on your journey."

Ma Teng stood by, his face filled with concern. "Fubao, give my regards to your father when you return. It's a long journey, so be careful." Zhang Fubao complied and, under the gaze of the crowd, slowly boarded the carriage. The carriage slowly started moving. Zhang Fubao peered out the window, watching the outline of the Ma residence recede into the distance. Tears finally welled up in his eyes. Ma's mother, Ma Yunlu, and Dong Bai, who remained behind, continued to wave until the carriage disappeared at the end of the road. Only then, filled with melancholy, did they turn back to their residence.

A large and powerful convoy was moving forward in an orderly manner. The core figure of the convoy was Zhang Fubao, and the envoys led by his brother Zhang Gui were responsible for protecting him. The group was dressed in distinctive armor.

Ma Yunlu, Dong Bai and Ma Teng and his wife carefully prepared many gifts for Zhang Fubao. The gift boxes were decorated with gorgeous silk and precious gems, showing their sincerity and importance. In addition, there were return gifts for Zhang Lu, which filled several carriages.

With Ma Teng's approval, the convoy was able to proceed safely through Xiliang territory, free of any cover-up. Their journey was smooth, but when they reached Longxi County, their tranquility was suddenly shattered. Li Ru, receiving the news in his residence, turned pale and his hands trembled slightly. "Why did this talisman suddenly disappear?" Li Ru panicked. His seemingly perfect plan was now completely disrupted.

Li Ru was known for his composure and composure. No matter how challenging the situation, he always managed to remain calm and composed, calmly planning a response. But at this moment, his usual composure was completely gone. Panic and anxiety were written all over his face. He hurried towards Niu Fu and Hua Xiong's tent, his steps raising dust with every step, as if a flood or a beast were chasing him.

Inside the tent, Niu Fu sat at his desk, intently wiping his incredibly sharp weapon with a soft cloth, his eyes filled with care. Hua Xiong sat carelessly nearby, a jar of fine wine before him. He held the jar in one hand and casually wiped the wine from the corner of his mouth with the other, his face radiating satisfaction.

Li Ru suddenly flung open the tent curtain and rushed in. Niu Fu and Hua Xiong were startled by the sudden movement, their movements halting as they looked at Li Ru in astonishment. Li Ru was breathing heavily, his chest heaving violently, beads of sweat rolling down his cheeks, and his usually neatly combed hair was now a little disheveled.

Niu Fu was the first to come back to his senses and asked in confusion, "Mr. Li, what happened? Why are you so panicked? Has something big happened?" Hua Xiong also put down the wine jar, sat up straight, and looked at Li Ru with concern.

Li Ru didn't even bother wiping the sweat from his forehead as he spoke anxiously, "Generals, this is terrible! Zhang Fubao has suddenly turned around and is heading back!" Niu Fu and Hua Xiong exchanged glances, each with a flicker of confusion. Niu Fu frowned and said, "Why is this wrong? Since he has General Ma Teng's approval, it's only natural for him to return safely. Besides, we're already under General Ma Teng's command. If he's agreed to Zhang Fubao's departure, why would we bother with this? Furthermore, we have our relationship with Ma Chao to consider; we can't disobey General Ma Teng's orders."

Upon hearing this, Li Ru quickly waved his hands and explained anxiously, "Generals, you don't know! That talisman is extremely important to us. Zhang Lu has always been at odds with us. Without the talisman, he could rebel at any moment. If Zhang Lu turns to others, our situation will be in danger. Therefore, no matter what, we must keep the talisman!"

Niu Fu and Hua Xiong, though still somewhat puzzled by Li Ru's analysis, had always had unwavering faith in the wisdom of this strategist. Since Li Ru placed such importance on this matter, there must be some underlying conflict of interest they hadn't yet grasped. Without further questioning, the two men stood up, their expressions becoming serious and solemn, and quickly began to mobilize their troops.

Zhang Fubao's motorcade advanced in an orderly fashion. The wheels rolled, stirring up clouds of dust. The guards, mounted on their fine horses, stood tall and vigilant, observing their surroundings. Zhang Fubao sat in his beautifully decorated carriage, occasionally lifting the curtains to curiously gaze at the scenery along the way.

The caravan reached Longxi County, a vast, mountainous region. Just as everyone thought the journey would continue smoothly, a sudden, clatter of horse hooves reached the distance. Li Ru, Niu Fu, and Hua Xiong, leading a group of heavily armed soldiers, approached like a dark cloud, surrounding the caravan.

Niu Fu led the way, long sword raised high, and shouted, "Stop!" The voice echoed across the open field. The guards instantly tensed, weapons drawn, and Zhang Fubao's carriage was positioned in the middle. The atmosphere froze, and the air was filled with a tense atmosphere.

Zhang Fubao was startled by this sudden turn of events, but quickly composed herself. She drew aside the carriage curtain, revealing a puzzled face. She looked at Li Ru and said, "Mr. Li Ru, why is this happening? Why are you blocking my way for no reason?" While she didn't have much affection for Li Ru, she didn't harbor any ill will either. Zhang Gui, hiding in the carriage, was pale with fear, his body trembling slightly.

Zhang Fubao calmed himself down and said seriously, "Mr. Li Ru, I only returned with Uncle Ma Teng's permission. Isn't it inappropriate for you to do this?"

Li Ru hurried forward, a gentle smile plastered on his face, and said in a gentle voice, "Miss Zhang, please don't worry. Let me explain. This is all for your own good. To be honest, the situation ahead is a bit complicated, and I'm worried that it will be dangerous for you to continue on your journey."

Zhang Fubao frowned slightly and retorted, "Since Uncle Ma Teng agreed to let me go, he must have considered all this. There shouldn't be any problem."

Li Ru patiently coaxed her, "Miss Zhang, General Ma Teng is naturally thinking of you, but he's so busy that he can't help but miss some details. I've already sent someone to explain the situation to General Ma Teng. As soon as he confirms it's safe, I'll personally escort you away."

Niu Fu was scratching his head anxiously, muttering, "Since Lord Li has said so, you guys should stop being stubborn." Hua Xiong also echoed, "That's right, let's stay here first to avoid the hassle of traveling."

Zhang Fubao looked at the soldiers around him who were facing a formidable enemy, then looked at Zhang Gui who was trembling with fear, and sighed helplessly: "Well, I hope you can communicate with Uncle Ma Teng as soon as possible. We don't want to delay any longer." Just like that, Zhang Fubao and Zhang Gui were helplessly left in Longxi County.

The two had only been in Longxi County for a single day, but they were already beset by their problems, their brows etched with worry. The elder brother, brimming with anxiety, paced back and forth across the room, glancing out the window from time to time, as if hoping for a change. The younger sister sat nearby, her brow furrowed, her hands unconsciously fiddling with the hem of her clothes, her eyes filled with worry.

Just as the brother and sister were enveloped in melancholy, they spotted Dong Bai and Ma Yunlu hurrying along from Wuwei County to Longxi County. Their expressions were hurried, their hair slightly disheveled, and beads of sweat on their foreheads, clearly a constant journey.

Zhang Fubao was both surprised and delighted, his eyes instantly lighting up. He hurried forward and asked, "Why are you back?" Ma Yunlu's lips curled up into a bright smile. "Sister Fubao, if I hadn't come, you probably wouldn't have been able to return." As she spoke, she wiped the sweat from her forehead. She continued, "Sister Fubao, ever since you left, Sister Dongbai and I have been overwhelmed by the sadness of parting. Just as we were lost in this sorrow, Cai Wenji arrived. Her expression was solemn, and her tone was serious. "Fubao's journey back to Hanzhong is fraught with danger. As we pass through Longxi, you two must shoulder the important task of escorting him." Sister Dongbai and I were perplexed by these words, our faces filled with bewilderment. Seeing this, Cai Wenji quickly explained, "Mr. Li Ru is a meticulous and rigorous person. His judgment of the situation is extremely accurate, and his mind is extremely meticulous." If Fu Bao embarks on the return journey alone, it will be extremely difficult for her to safely pass Mr. Li Ru. Therefore, I can only trouble you two to accompany her on this journey."

Zhang Fubao sighed slightly and said with emotion: "Sister Wen Ji is really smart. Now we are left here by Mr. Li Ru, the stubborn old man. But what can you do?" After saying that, a trace of worry flashed in his eyes.

Ma Yunlu raised the corner of his mouth, revealing a mysterious smile, and said confidently: "Someone will take care of that stubborn old man Li Ru. Look, isn't Sister Dong Bai back?" As he said that, he looked at Dong Bai with eyes full of trust.

Dong Bai smiled gently, her eyes flickering as she teased, "Look, the eldest daughter of the Ma family is here with us. We're sure you'll be able to return safely. We sisters are united, so why worry about not being able to overcome this little difficulty?"

Zhang Fubao looked at the two good sisters before her, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart. Zhang Fubao listened to Dong Bai and Ma Yunlu's words, her expression still filled with worry. She bit her lower lip lightly and shook her head slightly. "That being said, you haven't seen that the soldiers of Longxi County obey Mr. Li Ru's orders. He holds an extremely high prestige in the army, and his every word and action is dignified. Can you two really convince him to let us go willingly? I simply cannot believe it." As she spoke, she subconsciously clenched the ornament in her hand, as if that would hold onto a glimmer of hope.