"Imperial edict?" Guo Honglei was stunned, suddenly nervous. He had experienced his father's stripping of his title and the confiscation of his property, and it felt like being bitten by a snake. He was instantly on guard when he heard the words "Imperial edict."
Pan Kui and the others were shocked. They looked at each other in amazement and whispered, "Imperial edict, imperial edict—is it true?"
"Did I hear correctly?"
"In my entire life, I've only heard the word 'imperial edict' in operas."
"This is really an eye-opener."
…
Pan Kui, the older man, was the first to come to his senses and hurriedly urged, "Honglei, why don't you go and receive the order?"
The messenger also urged, "Guo Honglei, go to the front hall immediately to receive the imperial edict! The imperial envoy is waiting."
Guo Honglei slowly exhaled, then regained his composure and answered loudly, "Yes." He turned to his friends and said, "You guys keep practicing. I'll go see what's going on."
"Go ahead."
"Hurry up! Don't keep the imperial envoy waiting for too long." Pan Kui waved his hand and urged.
Guo Honglei nodded, took big strides, and hurried to the front hall of the government office.
Soon, he stood at the bottom of the stairs, clasped his fists and said, "Guo Honglei, come here to receive the imperial edict!"
"Go in." The guard responsible for reporting came back.
Guo Honglei calmed himself down and climbed the stairs steadily. He stepped over the threshold and glanced around. He saw two princes, Commander Dou and his generals, several unfamiliar provincial officials in brand new uniforms, and an imperial envoy sitting in the hall.
The room was full of officials, and he was about to greet them one by one, but as soon as he bowed, the imperial envoy stood up, slowly unfolded the bright yellow imperial edict, and ordered:
"Guo Honglei, receive the order."
"Here." Guo Honglei knelt down according to the law to receive the imperial edict and listened carefully with bated breath.
Following the imperial edict, Prince Li and others also stood up and bowed their heads solemnly to show their respect to the emperor.
The imperial envoy raised his head and read aloud, word for word: "The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, decrees: The Guo family, formerly Marquis of Jingyang, were exiled to Xicang for breaking the law and forced to work as a soldier and cultivate the land. According to reports, their second son is loyal and brave, having made numerous military achievements, and their second daughter-in-law is sincere, diligent, skilled in farming, and has made significant contributions to grain storage. Considering your peaceful and diligent work to atone for your sins, the Guo family is pardoned from exile."
May our ancestors bless us and may heaven have mercy on us!
Finally pardoned!
Finally freed from the charge of being a "fugitive"! Guo Honglei gritted his teeth in excitement, ecstasy and mixed emotions. He tried his best to remain calm, expecting to hear the words "imperial order", but the imperial envoy continued to read:
"In recognition of his merits, I hereby appoint Guo Honglei as the commander of the Zhaoxin Army, award him 6,000 taels of silver, and grant your wife, Ms. Jiang, the position of special envoy for military reserves in Xiping Warehouse. This is my decree." After the announcement, the imperial envoy closed the imperial edict.
Military reserves? Xiping warehouse? Special envoy?
The emperor actually gave my wife an official title? What kind of official title is this special envoy?
Guo Honglei was stunned and bewildered again.
The imperial envoy reminded: "Guo Honglei, obey the order."
"...Yes." Guo Honglei, filled with doubts, concealed his concerns and spread his palms. Due to his shoulder injury, he could only raise his hands halfway. He said loudly, "The Guo family thanks His Majesty for the grace of pardoning exile. From now on, we will abide by the rules and serve you wholeheartedly to repay your grace!"
After hearing this, the imperial envoy paced back and forth and solemnly handed the imperial edict to the other party.
Prince Li watched for a while, then sat down and said gently, "Get up after receiving the imperial edict."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Guo Honglei stood up, holding the imperial edict, stunned and confused. He couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, what is the official title of this military depot envoy? I'm a young woman with limited knowledge and experience, and I'm afraid I'm not qualified for this position."
Prince Li spoke slowly and dignifiedly, "The imperial court has decided to establish a new military depot in Xicang, named 'Xiping', to store grain and fodder. Every man has a share of responsibility for the fate of his country, and so does his wife. Jiang is skilled in agriculture and sericulture, and in the storage of grain, she is as capable as any man. Therefore, His Majesty has made an exception and granted her the position of 'Special Envoy.'"
Guo Honglei was greatly surprised and couldn't believe it for a moment, and was hesitant to speak.
"You must explain the truth to Special Envoy Jiang in detail and make sure he understands: from ancient times to the present, there have been only a handful of female officials in the court, and it is only because of the magnanimity and wisdom of the emperor that they were appointed as exceptions." Prince Li advised.
The imperial decree had been issued, and the words had come to this point, so Guo Honglei could only bow and answer: "I will obey your highness's orders."
Afterwards, Li Wang and others continued to discuss the matter, while Guo Honglei took his leave and returned to his place.
The hospital for the wounded was filled with laughter, joyful cheers, and constant congratulations, making it very lively.
Upon hearing the news, familiar officers and soldiers rushed over and crowded around. Regardless of whether they could read or not, they all stared at the imperial edict carefully and said in unison:
"Congratulations!"
"Hey, you kid," Pan Kui grabbed Guo Honglei's right shoulder and shook it vigorously, feeling genuinely happy for him, "you finally made it through!"
"From now on, I shall address you as 'Captain Guo'."
"It's such a happy occasion, it's not right not to set up a few tables of wine."
"How strange! Your Madam actually got an official position?"
"So women can also be officials?"
…
Guo Honglei answered each question, thought for a moment, and then said solemnly, "I am able to achieve what I have today thanks to the advice and care you brothers have given me. I am forever grateful. My wife should have given birth by now. We will have a full-month banquet. I hope you will all come and enjoy a drink!"
"must!"
"As long as the higher-ups approve the leave, there's no way we brothers won't go."
Cao Da put his arm around Guo Honglei's shoulders and shouted, "Honglei, you've received a title and now have offspring. It's a double blessing! I'm really envious."
"Mrs. Guo has also received an official position. Shouldn't it be called 'Triple Happiness'?"
"Oh, yes, it is indeed 'Triple Happiness'!"
"But I don't understand how a woman can be an official."
Yes, how can a woman become an official?
In fact, Guo Honglei was also confused and puzzled. He pondered secretly and gave a brief explanation.
In early February, the nights were still cold, but the wind and snow were getting weaker, so you didn't need to cover your mouth and nose when going out.
The light from the oil lamp flickered, causing the shadows to sway randomly.
Pan Kui put on his clean military uniform, solemnly ignored everyone's dissuasion, and went to ask to see the commander.
"I have made up my mind, you don't need to persuade me anymore!" Pan Kuila opened the door, stepped out of the threshold, closed the door with his backhand, and walked away quickly.
But after taking a few steps, the door behind him creaked open. He turned around in surprise and saw Guo Honglei. He frowned and said, "I've thought it through. Don't try to persuade me."
"You misunderstood." Guo Honglei sighed, "I'm not here to dissuade you, but I also want to see General Dou for something."
Pan Kui was stunned for a moment, then smiled, "You want to ask for leave again, right?"
In the dim light of lanterns along the way, the two walked side by side. Guo Honglei nodded, then replied helplessly, "Yes. Calculating the date, the child should have been born by now. How can I not be anxious? I asked for leave twice before, but the General refused. I'll try again. I have to go home and see him no matter what."
Pan Kui naturally understood, but he warned, "Brothers, when fighting on the battlefield, are always worried about their families. But there's nothing we can do. As the saying goes, 'It takes a hundred days to heal a broken bone.' The general didn't grant leave for your own good. He was worried that you might have hurt yourself in your haste. Your shoulder was nearly broken, it's very dangerous. Rest for a few days and get stronger."
"It's okay. She's almost fully recovered. Riding a horse won't be a problem." Guo Honglei made up his mind and sighed, "From the time she became pregnant until she gave birth, I only visited her three or four times, and I was always in a hurry... Sigh, I don't know how she and the child are doing now."
"Stop overthinking. Of course, mother and daughter are safe!"
Guo Honglei whispered, "I hope so."
After a while, the two arrived at the commander's residence.
After receiving the approval, they stepped into the study together, bowed and greeted respectfully, "General."
Dou Yong's temples were gray. He put down his official documents for a moment, his face tired. "No need to be polite. Sit down."
"Thank you, General."
"How's your recovery going?"
Pan Kui subconsciously raised his hand and touched the hideous scar on his face, "Much better."
Guo Honglei was polite and then replied, "I'm almost recovered. Thank you for your concern, General."
Dou Yong said with a pleasant expression, "You said you have 'important matters'. What is it? Tell me about it."
Pan Kui opened his mouth, hesitated, and gently nudged his companion next to him with his elbow.
Guo Honglei understood, stood up, and said earnestly, "General, I haven't visited my family for several months. I am very worried about them. Please grant me a few days' leave so that I can go home and visit them."
Dou Yong had anticipated the other party's intention and answered readily, "Since your injury is no longer serious, go home and have a look. Injuries to the bones and muscles heal slowly, and you haven't fully recovered yet. You'll be recovering anyway, so I'll grant you twenty days' leave."
Twenty days?
"Thank you, General!" Guo Honglei was overjoyed and eager to go home. He wished he could ride out of the city immediately.
Dou Yong asked again, "Pan Kui, what about you? What's going on?"
"General, please forgive me for not being able to follow you from now on."
Pan Kui stood up, a tall, burly figure. He was deeply reluctant to leave. As soon as he opened his mouth, his intact right eye quickly flushed red. He solemnly declared, "The doctors have repeatedly diagnosed my left eye and concluded it's incurable. The military is full of talented individuals, and many young men have recently made contributions... I'm old, and I'm blind in one eye. According to customary practice, I should retire early due to injury. Please grant me permission."
Dou Yong suppressed his smile, remained silent for several breaths, then asked with a sullen face, "This General is nearly sixty years old and has served in the army for decades. Despite all the injuries and illnesses, he has fought tooth and nail and has not dared to slack off. And you're only in your forties, and you're actually retiring?"
"General, calm down." Pan Kui's voice trembled as he explained sadly, "Unless I die in battle, I had planned to stay in the barracks until the very end. Suddenly, I became half-blind. Conventionally, blindness is like being missing a limb; it's considered a disability. I have no choice but to leave."
Dou Yong asked unhappily, "You have to leave? When did I tell you to leave? Did someone force you to leave?"
"No, no one forced me. So what you mean is..." Pan Kui asked cautiously.
Dou Yong sternly ordered, "First, rest and recuperate. I will take care of everything. Due to your abilities and contributions, you will be granted exceptional treatment."
Pan Kui's eyes were immediately filled with tears and he was at a loss.
"Of course, if you insist on retiring, this general will not force you to stay."
"No! No, I, I simply don't want to leave." Pan Kui raised his sleeve, awkwardly wiped away his tears, and choked out a sob, "I just thought: as a half-disabled person, it's better to leave on my own than to be persuaded to leave. That's why I, that's why I beg the general to take me in!"
Dou Yong said with a straight face, "This general never advised you to leave."
Guo Honglei, standing nearby, breathed a sigh of relief and said happily, "General, you are wise!"
Dou Yong chuckled, his expression softening as he generously instructed, "Pan Kui, you haven't visited your family in a while, so I'll grant you twenty days off as well! Take advantage of this rare free time and go home for a few days to spend time with your family."
"Thank you, General!" Pan Kui knelt down and kowtowed properly.
The next day was the fifth day of February. More than ten wounded soldiers rode out of Yongzhou City on horseback and headed south to Xicang to visit their relatives.
However, in Heqin County, it was a rare sunny day in the early morning of the ninth day of the first lunar month.
Jiang Yushu got up early and drank only half a bowl of porridge, but her throat was already full and she felt inexplicably irritable.
"Why did you eat so little?" Madam Pan asked with concern, "Is the porridge not to your liking?"
Jiang Yushu shook her head. "The porridge is good, but I'm not hungry."
"How do you feel?"
Jiang Yushu thought about it carefully and said, "Same as yesterday."
"Still feeling bloated and achy?"
Jiang Yushu nodded and pounded her lower back. She often felt chest tightness and shortness of breath from the weight of the child. She answered tiredly, "Yes. Oh, it's getting more and more uncomfortable. I just feel uncomfortable all over. I stay in my room all day like I'm in prison. I can't go anywhere. I really want to give birth soon."
"Don't rush, don't rush," Nanny Pan comforted her. "The midwife said that the birth could happen any time in the next two days. Don't go out!"
Jiang Yushu leaned against the couch, closed her eyes, and patiently murmured, "I understand. Ma'am, don't worry. I'm not going anywhere."
"That's right!" Nanny Pan smiled. "A few days ago, Old Zhou sent a letter from the young master. He said that the young master and his family had only suffered minor injuries, and he would take leave to visit his family after he recovered. By the time he returned, the child would be born."
Jiang Yushu was still worried and guessed, "It's true that the handwritten letter is real, but I suspect they were probably seriously injured, but they downplayed it in the letter to try to comfort us."
“Again!”
"Madam, you're worrying too much." Nanny Pan quickly cleared the dishes and repeatedly comforted her, "Your top priority is to have a child. Don't worry about anything else for now."
"Take a break. I'm going to the kitchen to make bird's nest soup." Pan Mama picked up the tray and walked out, mumbling, "Only two mouthfuls of porridge for breakfast, how can that be okay? Even if the adults aren't hungry, the children will be."
"Hey - whatever you want, just stew it."
Jiang Yushu sighed, pulled up the quilt, curled up on the low couch, and fell asleep.
She was in a daze and didn't know how long it had been when she suddenly felt a pain in her abdomen. She opened her eyes, but before she woke up, she felt another pain, and then something hot flowed out.
Huh? Is this... a baby coming?
Jiang Yushu suddenly woke up, and hurriedly struggled to sit up. She looked around and felt another pain. She blurted out, "Mammy? Mammy Pan? Pan——"
“Here I come!”
"Here she comes!" Nanny Pan rushed back with freshly cooked bird's nest soup. She walked around the screen and was startled. "What's wrong? Your stomach hurts? Are you going to give birth?"
Jiang Yushu was uneasy and answered reluctantly: "It seems so, no, I think it should be!"
"Don't panic, lie down, lie down quickly." Nanny Pan's face changed. She slammed the stew pot on the table with a thud, helped her lie down, and then ran out in a hurry, "I'll call for a midwife right away!"
In the afternoon, the doors and windows were closed, and faint cries of pain could be heard from time to time.
At the bottom of the stairs, Guo Hongzhe paced back and forth, looking at the door frequently, and asked nervously, "Strange, it's been a long time, why hasn't the baby been born yet?"
"Actually, half a day isn't that long." The county magistrate's wife, Mrs. He, came specially and persuaded them, "Lunch is ready. Why don't you two go and have some first?"
Guo Hongzhe shook his head. "No, I'll wait a little longer. Maybe, maybe I can help."
Pei Wenfeng had no appetite for food. He lowered his hands, clenching his fists in his sleeves, his knuckles white. He asked calmly, "How can you help her give birth?"
Guo Hongzhe was choked. Not good at arguing, he replied hesitantly, "Anyway, I have to stay here. Master Pei, you can go and take care of your official duties. You don't have to keep guarding me."
Pei Wenfeng looked straight ahead, his gaze fixed, his heart sinking into a vast abyss. His voice drifted, "My uncle's family is far away in the capital, and I can't visit them. They've repeatedly asked me to look after my cousin. How could I just walk away?"
"Well, well... okay." Guo Hongzhe had no objection.
He didn't pay attention to the expressions of the two people and walked straight to the door. "I'll go in and take a look."
The door opened and then closed.
He walked around the screen and saw Jiang Yushu lying flat on the bed, her face pale, her hair disheveled, and sweating profusely.
Nanny Pan was always by her side. She had fed her bird's nest soup in the morning and was now feeding her chicken noodle soup.
"How is it?" He stopped three feet in front of the couch.
The midwife was calm and collected. "This is Madam Guo's first baby, so most births are slower, but that's okay. Let's take our time."
"No, I don't want to 'take it slow.'" Jiang Yushu ate a few chopsticks of noodles and felt sick. She quickly rinsed her mouth, tears streaming down her face from the pain. She asked in a panic, "Auntie, can you go faster? It hurts so much, I really can't stand it."
The midwife was experienced and knowledgeable. She remained calm and soothed him calmly: "Don't worry, madam. Lie down and do as I say. The baby will be out soon."
"Really?" Jiang Yushu's eyes were red and her tears wet the pillowcase.
The midwife answered firmly, "Of course! Madam, you will be a mother soon. Please make more efforts and give birth to the child."
"Okay." Jiang Yushu closed her eyes, tears rolling down her cheeks. She tried her best to suppress her emotions and obeyed the midwife's orders again.
This life lasts from early morning to dusk.
"Oh my God."
"She hasn't even been born yet?" Guo Hongzhe was so worried that he only ate a quick meal that day. He was worried about his brother's request, and he was worried that something might happen to his sister-in-law. He paced back and forth, holding his head, anxiously asking, "Why is it so slow? Isn't it too slow? Why is it so slow?"
The servant brought a chair and Pei Wenfeng sat down, closing his eyes and answering, "Be quiet, you're giving me a headache."
Guo Hongzhe was embarrassed, walked away silently, and continued to mutter.
The next moment. The county government gate
"Young Master, we're here!" Lin Qin and others were still injured, so Zou Gui and Hu Gang followed them.
"Whoa!" Guo Honglei reined in his horse with one hand, jumped off nimbly, and came to investigate at night, exhausted.
Zou Gui trotted over and explained his purpose to the gatekeeper he knew. The yamen runner was enthusiastic and led the way for the master and servants. "Mr. Guo, please come in."
Guo Honglei walked quickly towards the back court.
At this moment, Jiang Yushu had been suffering all day, the pain was so severe that she almost fainted. Suddenly, she exerted all her strength, exhausted, and her consciousness was blurred. Finally, she heard the baby crying -
The author has something to say:
Three good things are coming (*＾▽＾*) The second son is going to be a father~
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