Chapter 173 When one person gains something, even their chickens and dogs benefit.
Afterwards, Doctor Crane gave a few more brief instructions, such as "take your medicine on time and rest quietly," before leaving with his medicine box.
Only when the mother and daughter were left in the room did Zhao Yueru truly breathe a sigh of relief. Holding her daughter's hand, she felt both frightened and relieved, and tears streamed down her face.
"It's good that you're awake. Sigh, my child, if you hadn't made it, your father and I... wouldn't know how we would have survived."
Su Xiaoyu felt a pang of guilt; "Mother, I'm sorry, I... I shouldn't have run away from the manor without telling you."
Zhao Yueru didn't care about her leaving the manor at all; what she cared about was her safety.
“Silly child,” she patted Su Xiaoyu’s head and sighed, “Doesn’t your mother know your personality? You seem carefree, but once you’ve made up your mind, not even ten oxen could pull you back. Your father and I don’t blame you.”
Su Xiaoyu suddenly remembered her father and hurriedly asked, "Mom, where's Dad? Is he alright?"
"Did Father get injured while following the Marquis during Prince Jing's rebellion?"
Zhao Yueru wiped away her tears, and a hint of pride finally appeared on her face: "Don't worry, your dad is fine. He didn't even get a scratch. Not only is he alright, but he also did a great job this time!"
She helped Su Xiaoyu sit up and said, "Your father went with His Highness the Crown Prince to mobilize troops this time. I heard that on the way back, he also led people to quell the rebel army that the Third Prince had planted in the Jianrui Camp in Xishan. This bought precious time for His Highness the Crown Prince to rush back to the hunting grounds to save him. His Highness the Crown Prince also personally praised your father as 'brave, decisive, and unparalleled in loyalty and righteousness'!"
Su Xiaoyu's eyes lit up; she hadn't expected her father to be so amazing!
"Look, the palace rewards have already been issued. The imperial edict says that your father has been promoted exceptionally for his meritorious service in protecting the emperor, and he is now 'General Zhaoyi'!"
“General Zhaoyi?” Su Xiaoyu repeated the four words, her eyes growing brighter and brighter.
"Mother, does that mean you're the General's wife?"
Now, wouldn't the Su family be so powerful that even their chickens and dogs benefit from his success?
Does that mean I can just relax and do nothing from now on?
Zhao Yueru nodded with satisfaction; "Your father is now a formal official. The Marquis, considering his years of loyalty and the great merit he has made this time, has granted our family permission to be freed from slavery and no longer be servants of the Marquis's household!"
"The Emperor has bestowed a house upon our family. Once you have recovered from your illness, we will move out of the Marquis's mansion and into the General's mansion."
Upon hearing this news, Su Xiaoyu was shocked.
"To be freed from slavery?"
"Really? Mother, we...we won't be servants anymore? We can have our own home now?"
Her voice trembled with emotion, and tears welled up in her eyes.
No one knew that since she transmigrated, the deepest constraint was not the era, but her identity as a 'domestic slave,' which was like an invisible shackle, restricting her fate and future.
Now, this shackle has actually been... unlocked?
"Really! More real than real gold!" Zhao Yueru couldn't help but exclaim. "Speaking of which, we have to thank the young master this time. If he hadn't suggested that your father go along to protect the crown prince, perhaps this tremendous credit wouldn't have gone to him."
Su Xiaoyu's heart skipped a beat.
It was the heir apparent who suggested that Father go with the Crown Prince to earn merit.
Thinking of the prince's double at the hunting grounds, a guess suddenly popped into her mind.
Could it be that the Crown Prince's troop deployment and the double at the hunting grounds were all pre-planned by the Heir Apparent?
But how did he know that Chu Yan would attack the Crown Prince at the hunting grounds?
However, Su Xiaoyu was only puzzled for a moment before she thought that as the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, the Crown Prince had countless capable people under his command. Perhaps he had just noticed the news and made arrangements in advance, causing the rebel King Chu Yan's plan to fail at the last minute.
"That's great... Dad is amazing! Mom, we... finally have a home of our own."
Su Xiaoyu was genuinely happy.
However, beneath the wave of joy, there was also a faint sense of loss.
If I leave the Marquis's residence, won't I be unable to see the heir apparent more often?
"Yes, your father and I have discussed it. We must move out of the Marquis's mansion before the young master's wedding to avoid running into the future young master's wife. These next few days, you should stay in the mansion and rest well. Whatever you want to eat, your mother will make it for you. Let's make sure you're fully recovered..."
Su Xiaoyu couldn't hear a single word Zhao Yueru said after that.
Her mind was filled with the news of the "Prince's marriage," and it felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over her head, instantly freezing the remaining smile on her face. Her heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.
"The young master... is he getting married?"
After a long while, she finally found her voice.
Zhao Yueru did not notice anything unusual about her daughter, taking it as just ordinary curiosity.
"That's right. I've heard the servants in the manor talking about it. These past few days, the madam has been ordering people to prepare the six gifts for the marriage proposal. Many precious items have been taken out of the storeroom. Everyone says... that soon Hou will be discussing marriage with the apple of the eye of the Lin family."
"Grand Tutor Lin's granddaughter is outstanding in talent, appearance, and character. She and our young master are a perfect match, a match made in heaven. It will surely be a beautiful story in the future."
Zhao Yueru continued rambling on, but every word was like a dull knife, slowly cutting into Su Xiaoyu's heart.
It seems that even if the prince's fate can be changed, the romantic relationships in this world will still have to return to their original settings.
The male and female leads will eventually end up together.
This is how it should have ended, isn't it?
But why does it feel like my heart has been shattered in two, and why does the heat in my eyes keep welling up?
She pretended to bend down and straighten the corner of the blanket to hide her suddenly pale face and the soreness in her throat.
"Oh... really? That's... very nice."
Besides offering her blessings, she didn't know what else she could say.
Zhao Yueru seemed to finally realize that her daughter's mood was a bit off, and asked with concern, "Xiaoyu? What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Why is your face so pale?"
"No...it's nothing, Mom. I just woke up and I'm still a little tired. I want to...sleep a little longer." She forced a smile that looked more like a grimace.
"Okay, okay, you go to sleep, you go to sleep. Mom won't bother you." Zhao Yueru patted her head tenderly and tucked her in.
"Then you should rest well and not think about anything. Our good days are yet to come."
Su Xiaoyu obediently closed her eyes, hiding all her emotions behind her eyelids.
Yes, it's a good day. My father got promoted, the whole family was released from the household registration system, and we have our own home. This is definitely a wonderful day.
But why does it feel like there's a piece missing in my heart, an emptiness filled with the cold wind of early winter?
...
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