The last official task was successfully completed, and Zhou Fuli was able to resign and return home without any worries.

He returned to the government office and took off his official uniform and official hat, stacked them neatly and placed them on the table in the lobby.

He had already organized all the paperwork so that no matter who succeeded him, he could easily take over. After saying goodbye to all his subordinates and colleagues, he walked out of the Yamen in a simple manner.

The relatives of the Zhou family were already waiting at the door. There were more than a dozen carriages loaded with belongings and luggage. As soon as they saw Zhou Fuli walking lightly, everyone immediately gathered around to care about his condition.

The gray-haired Duke of Lu patted his son on the shoulder and sighed with emotion: "I have wronged you. It is useless to be a father. I am afraid that we will start to live a life of wandering and wandering. Will we be able to live in peace and harmony in the future?"

Retiring is a problem. Otherwise, you should continue to stay here, and at least you can maintain a short-term peace..."

He knew that his son chose to resign and leave for himself and the Zhou family. After all, the grievances between the Zhou and Song families were not easy to resolve.

But the Zhou family has completely offended the royal family, and they will probably be liquidated and punished when the new emperor ascends the throne.

He himself was defeated and lost the battle, and his son killed the princess behind him. Both of these major events damaged the interests and face of the royal family. According to the usual practice, he would probably face the outcome of having his family confiscated and beheaded.

Although it is a bit humiliating to submit to Song Xi, at least it can keep the family safe. It is not known whether returning home at this time is a blessing or a curse. His son, who is rich in knowledge, should not be stuck in the countryside.

Zhou Fuli was a little moved when he heard this, shook his head and comforted: "Dad, even if there were no grievances between the Zhou and Song families, I would still choose to resign and return home today. The great Zhou Dynasty has reached the end of the road, and it will inevitably happen when troubled times come.

There will be rivers of blood flowing. The future and destiny of the Song family are still unclear, and I cannot take my whole family to fight for that uncertain future."

If he was alone and had no family members to take care of and protect him, he might let his hands and feet go to gain the merit of following the dragon.

But now he has a wife and children, his parents are old, and as the eldest son of the direct line, he is also responsible for the livelihood and safety of more than 200 people. He cannot take the whole family on adventures willfully, let alone risk the lives and thoughts of his relatives for his own selfish desires.

There is nothing wrong with resigning and returning home. With the current situation of the Zhou Dynasty, the court should not have time to deal with them. Then they will remain anonymous and dormant for the time being, and then come out to seek a better future when the world is settled.

This is currently the safest option and the best way to preserve the Zhou family.

Zhou Fuli explained his thoughts to his father one by one, and then advised him not to be sad.

Duke Lu also understood his son's plan and nodded without saying anything more.

The Zhou family present breathed a sigh of relief and gradually changed their minds to accept the reality that they were about to become civilians.

Although it will definitely be difficult to move forward without status and power, as long as you keep your life, there will be unlimited possibilities in the future.

The Zhou family still has a lot of property and money, and they can stay in seclusion for two or thirty years. After they return home, they will actively look for a suitable livelihood and will not waste all their wealth and chips.

The whole family put aside their psychological baggage and gathered together chatting and laughing. After counting their number of people and luggage, they prepared to board the carriage and leave.

"Brother Zhou, please stay."

A clear voice stopped everyone.

Song Xi walked over with two of his confidants, holding a one-foot-square wooden box in his hands.

"Marshal Fu'an." Zhou Fuli stepped forward and bowed as a guest, looking at him with a little doubt, "What are you doing?"

Song Xi handed him the wooden box in his hand and said with a relaxed smile: "I am here to give it to you. This is 'Cheng Yi' for you."

Cheng Yi? Could it be gold and silver?

Zhou Fuli opened the box with curiosity on his face, but saw that there was no gold or silver in the box.

There are only three bottles of unknown elixirs, two human skin masks, two household registration guides, and a special token.

His mood suddenly became excited, and he asked with some anticipation: "Is this for us?"

Song Xi nodded slightly and confirmed his guess, "These three bottles are recovery pills, which can quickly and effectively treat severe trauma, and can also cure most serious diseases; this token is specially made for the remaining officials of Sanjin.

, can help you leave this place smoothly; as for the two human skin masks and road guides... you should know where they can be used."

After saying that, he smiled meaningfully, as if he had understood all the plans of the Zhou family.

Zhou Fuli was very surprised by the gift and thanked him with a grateful face.

"Thank you so much, Marshal Song! This kindness and kindness will be unforgettable. If I have the opportunity in the future, I will definitely sacrifice my life to repay him!"

These gifts may seem ordinary, but they can help Zhou Fuli rescue important relatives in the capital.

There are also his grandmother and mother in the Duke of Lu's palace, and his younger brother's family is also carefully seeking survival in the capital.

After the Zhou family left Sanjin, the generals divided into two groups and headed in different directions. Lu Guogong took his daughter-in-law and grandson to return to his hometown of Yuzhou first, while Zhou Fuli sneaked back to the capital with a dozen secret guards to rescue the remaining family members.

Human skin masks and household registration guides can help them avoid investigations and arrests. If they are unfortunately injured, they can be treated with rehabilitation pills in time. Grandma is old and has limited mobility. With rehabilitation pills, she can ensure safety on the road.

Zhou Fuli was originally worried about how to rescue his family. With these few items, he could increase the chance of a successful rescue.

The situation in the capital has become a mess. As long as you are more cautious, you should be able to evacuate smoothly.

They are willing to give up any title or glory, and all they want is to be reunited with their family.

Duke Lu poked his head and looked at the contents of the box, and he understood the usefulness of it in a moment. However, he was still very unhappy with Song Xi, and he grunted twice and started talking nonsense again.

"Hmph! You're a smart kid! It's not in vain for me to risk my life to open the city gate for you. This little thing is my son's reward for this period of time. You can't ask for anything in exchange for a favor.

.”

Song Xi put away her gentle smile, glanced at him and said coldly: "Old man, are you forgetful? Zhou Fuli opened the city gate to save you, what's the point of remuneration? If he is not your son, I will definitely

I want to promote him to a higher position and put him to good use! You have delayed your son's future time and time again, and you still have the nerve to challenge me?"

The Duke of Lu asked him to step on his painful foot, and he immediately jumped in anger and said: "Sister! How dare you talk to me like this?! Anyone who disrespects the elders will be struck by thunder. Let's see how far you, a rebellious traitor, can go in the end!"

Song Xi smiled confidently and calmly, and responded sarcastically: "Not only can I go far, but I can also live for a long time! Old man, you have to live well and live to witness the glory of my Song family!
Chapter completed!