Chapter 53: A Heartfelt Gift
Since returning from the horse farm at the villa, Su Wanrou and Gu Yangui's relationship has entered a new, unspoken, intimate phase. During the day, he remains the dignified and composed Duke Zhenguo, and she strives to be a proper and dignified Duchess. But when night falls, behind the curtains, it becomes a world of tender intimacy just for the two of them.
Gu Yangui treated her with increasing patience and gentleness. In bed, though he still maintained the domineering nature of a warrior, he always considered her feelings, guiding her to experience that unfamiliar yet ultimate pleasure. Sleeping in each other's arms afterward became a habit. Su Wanrou went from initial shyness and awkwardness to gradually becoming accustomed to and craving this intimacy. Like a vine receiving ample sunlight and rain, she quietly stretched her branches and leaves, blossoming with an increasingly captivating radiance.
When Su Wanrou woke up that morning, the bedside was empty, with only a faint, cool scent remaining on her pillow, a reminder that Gu Yangui had already risen for court. She sat up, wrapped in the covers, and saw on the small table beside the bed the old, dark blue purse that Gu Yangui always carried with him; the edges were worn, and the silk thread had faded.
This purse was made by the embroiderers in the manor a couple of years ago. It has a simple design with only simple cloud patterns embroidered on it. Su Wanrou held it in her hands and stroked it, when suddenly an idea popped into her mind: she wanted to embroider a new one for him herself.
Once the thought took root, it quickly blossomed, carrying a secret sweetness and anticipation. Although her needlework wasn't top-notch, she had studied diligently in her youth, so embroidering a purse shouldn't be difficult. She wanted to choose the finest material, the most suitable silk thread, and embroider the most auspicious patterns.
two
After having breakfast and seeing Mingxuan off to the family school, Su Wanrou, along with Yunbin and Yuebai, went to the mansion's storeroom with great interest.
The old woman in charge of the storeroom rushed to greet the lady upon her arrival. Su Wanrou explained her purpose: she wanted to find suitable materials and various colored silk threads for making purses.
The old woman solicitously led her to the appropriate shelf. Su Wanrou carefully selected items. Silks and satins were plentiful, but she felt they were all too extravagant and unsuitable for Gu Yangui. Finally, her gaze fell upon a deep, dark royal blue brocade with subtle patterns. The fabric was thick and durable, with a restrained luster and a dignified, sophisticated color, perfectly befitting his status and bearing as a duke.
"I'll take this one," Su Wanrou said, pointing to the brocade.
Having chosen the material, she carefully selected gold thread, silver thread, and several shades of blue silk thread. Back in the main courtyard, she immediately spread out her work and began to ponder what patterns to embroider.
Yunbin suggested from the side, "Madam, how about embroidering a qilin or a lion? They're both majestic and auspicious."
Su Wanrou shook her head. Although the qilin and lion were nice, she felt they were too rigid and overt. In her heart, she wanted to embroider some more subtle patterns that could better express her feelings.
Yuebai, with her delicate mind, said softly, "The Duke often visits the military camp, so why not embroider patterns of peace and good fortune? Or perhaps green pines and bamboos, which would also have a good meaning."
Su Wanrou pondered for a moment, then her eyes suddenly lit up. She remembered Gu Yangui's name—"Yan Gui." "Yan" means peace; "Gui" means return. She hoped that wherever he was, he would return safely. Furthermore, their bond was formed through horses, and horses held special significance for him.
With an idea in mind, she spread out the paper, picked up her paintbrush, and began to carefully sketch. She planned to embroider a galloping horse on one side of the purse, symbolizing a bright future and swift success; on the other side, she would embroider a lotus scroll pattern with the character "安" (peace) encircling it, wishing him peace and good fortune.
By the time she finished drawing the pattern, it was already afternoon. Without taking a break, Su Wanrou immediately picked up the scissors and, comparing the fabric to the dimensions of Gu Yangui's old purse, carefully began cutting it. Her hands were steady, but it was, after all, her first time doing such delicate work independently, and it took her quite a bit of effort just to cut and sew out the basic shape of the purse.
The real challenge began when she started embroidering. The brocade was densely woven, requiring considerable strength to stitch. Su Wanrou first stretched the fabric taut with a quilting frame, then began embroidering stitch by stitch, following the pattern.
At first, things went smoothly, but after less than half an hour of embroidery, her fingertips began to turn red and sting. The tiny embroidery needle was far less obedient than she had imagined; a slight misstep would prick her finger. Bright red beads of blood seeped out, staining the sapphire blue brocade, particularly glaring.
"Madam!" Yunbin exclaimed softly with heartache, and quickly brought over a clean soft cloth and water.
Su Wanrou simply put her finger to her lips and gently sucked on it, then shook her head: "It's nothing, just a minor injury." Her eyes were focused, showing no sign of giving up. This pain was insignificant compared to her desire to do something for him.
three
In the following days, whenever she had a spare moment, Su Wanrou would bury herself in that small purse. During the day, she had to handle housework and spend time with Mingxuan, so she would squeeze out time to work on it in the evenings. Often, after serving Gu Yangui to bed, she would quietly get up, light a small lamp, and continue her needlework under the lamplight.
Gu Yangui wasn't unaware of what was happening. These past few nights, when he woke up, he would always see a dim light in the corner of the inner room, and a slender figure intently working under the lamp. At first, he assumed she was looking at account books or doing needlework to pass the time and didn't think much of it. Until one night, when he got up to get a drink of water and moved closer, he realized that what she was embroidering was a men's style purse; judging by its color and size, it was clearly meant for him.
Under the lamplight, she lowered her head, revealing a stretch of fair and graceful neck. Her expression was focused and gentle. Occasionally, she would furrow her delicate brows slightly because a stitch wasn't perfect, and then carefully undo and re-embroider it with small scissors. Her earnest demeanor made it seem as if she were completing an extremely important treasure.
Gu Yangui stopped in his tracks, not disturbing her, but simply watching quietly. A soft corner of his heart was struck hard by her figure under the lamplight in the dead of night. He thought of his worn-out old purse, which he had never thought of replacing, and no one had ever thought of replacing for him. Yet this wife, fifteen years his junior, had silently remembered this small thing.
He remained silent, retreating back to the bed. In the darkness, he listened to the faint rustling of needle and thread through the fabric, a strange yet warm current welling up within him. This feeling of being quietly cherished and held dear was both unfamiliar and precious to him.
Su Wanrou was completely unaware of this. Her entire focus was on the purse. The outline of the horse was already embroidered, strong and powerful, and she was currently working on its flowing mane; the character "安" (An) on the other side was also finished, elegant and neat. However, her fingers were already covered in wounds, old ones not yet healed, new ones appearing. But looking at the purse gradually taking shape, she felt a great sense of accomplishment, and the pain became a sweet memory.
Four
After dinner that evening, Gu Yangui was kept by Mingxuan to check his homework, so Su Wanrou went back to her inner room first. The purse only needed the final finishing touches and the tassels to be attached. She sat under the lamp, carrying out the final steps.
Perhaps due to staying up late for several days, or perhaps due to the relaxation that came with the task nearing completion, the embroidery needle slipped and pierced her index fingertip while sewing the last few stitches.
"Hiss—" This time it hurt more than ever before. Blood gushed out quickly and dripped onto the nearly finished purse, staining the horse's eye.
Su Wanrou panicked and hurriedly tried to wipe it with a handkerchief, but the blood had already spread, leaving a faint red mark. Looking at that blemish and then at her own battered fingertips, the hardships of the past few days and the sense of defeat at this moment surged into her heart. Her nose tingled and her eyes instantly reddened.
Is it all going to be for nothing? She embroidered this purse with such care, yet it still wasn't good enough.
Just then, a pair of warm, large hands reached out from behind and gently grasped her injured fingers.
Su Wanrou was startled and turned around abruptly, only to find Gu Yangui standing behind her at some point. He frowned slightly, his gaze falling on the obvious wound on her fingertip and the glaring red mark on her purse.
"Husband..." Su Wanrou instinctively tried to hide her hands and put away her purse, her voice trembling with barely perceptible sobs and panic. She had intended to surprise him, but she hadn't expected to be discovered in such a disheveled manner.
Gu Yangui didn't let go of her hand. Instead, he examined her fingertips carefully under the light. Her once slender and fair fingers were now covered with tiny needle marks, some already scabbed over, others still red. His brows furrowed even more.
"How did this happen?" His voice was low and emotionless.
Su Wanrou lowered her head, like a child who had done something wrong, and whispered, "N-nothing...it's just that I'm clumsy."
Gu Yangui remained silent for a moment, then released her hand and picked up the nearly finished purse on the table. The purse had a sapphire blue background, with a golden horse poised to gallop. The other side featured a silver-thread embroidered lotus scroll encircling the character "安" (An). While the stitches showed some roughness and lacked the refinement of a professional embroiderer, every stitch was meticulously crafted, especially the spirited horse, revealing the embroiderer's dedication. Only the conspicuous red mark near the horse's eye resembled a blemish on a beautiful woman's face.
Su Wanrou watched his reaction nervously, her heart pounding in her throat. Would he be disgusted? Would he think her needlework was poor and that she had dirtied her purse?
Gu Yangui's fingertips gently traced the patterns on the purse, finally lingering on the character "安" (An), which he held for a long time. His gaze was deep, as if through the fine stitches he could see her figure buried in her embroidery under the lamp late at night, and her unwavering persistence despite being pricked by the needle time and time again.
After a long pause, he raised his head and looked at the anxious Su Wanrou. His gaze was complicated, but his voice was unusually gentle: "Why are you embroidering this? There are embroiderers in the manor."
Su Wanrou mustered her courage, met his gaze, and said in a soft but firm voice, "I...I want to make one for you myself. The old one is worn out."
Gu Yangui looked at her intently, his gaze seeming to penetrate her very soul. Then, he did something that Su Wanrou never expected—he picked up a small pair of scissors from the side and, without hesitation, carefully pried open and cut the blood-stained silk thread on the purse.
"Husband!" Su Wanrou exclaimed, thinking he was going to destroy the imperfect purse.
However, Gu Yangui did not stop. After removing the flaw, he picked up the needle and thread again—something Su Wanrou had never imagined: that his hands, so adept at wielding swords and spears, could also hold an embroidery needle. His movements were somewhat stiff, yet extremely steady, as he threaded the needle and, using deep red silk thread, re-embroidered a small patch in the small blank space that had been removed. He wasn't embroidering a horse's eye, but rather a rising sun, tinged with red by the dawn, positioned directly in front of the galloping horse.
A bright red sun dispelled the blemishes left by the bloodstains and imbued the scene with the vibrant spirit of the rising sun and a bright future.
Su Wanrou was stunned.
Gu Yangui finished tying the knot, cut the thread, and handed the purse back to her. The purse still bore the marks of her embroidery, but with the red sun he added, it became complete, even... more evocative.
“It’s all right now.” He looked at her, his voice low and firm. “I like it very much.”
five
Su Wanrou took the purse, her fingertips brushing against the red sun he had embroidered with his own hands, her heart filled with mixed emotions. It turned out that not only did he not find it objectionable, but he had also made up for her regret in this way, completing this token of his affection together.
A surge of joy and emotion welled up inside her, washing away her previous grievances and frustrations. She looked up, her eyes glistening with tears, but with a smile: "Thank you, my husband."
Gu Yangui reached out and gently stroked the faint dark circles under her eyes, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible heartache: "Don't stay up late doing these things anymore, it'll hurt your eyes."
"Mmm." Su Wanrou nodded vigorously, clutching the purse tightly in her hand as if she were holding the most precious treasure in the world.
She picked up the dark blue tassel that had been woven beside her, carefully strung it onto her purse, then held it in both hands and presented it to Gu Yangui, her eyes full of expectation: "Husband, here you go."
Looking into her bright, sparkling eyes and the way she presented her treasure, Gu Yangui's heart melted. He took the purse, his fingertips clearly feeling the fine yet slightly uneven stitches; each knot seemed connected to her heartbeat. He didn't put it on immediately, but examined it carefully for a moment before untying the old purse and solemnly tying this brand-new one, bearing their shared mark, to his jade belt.
The sapphire blue purse, paired with his dark black casual clothes, surprisingly harmonized. The steed and the red sun seemed to add a touch of vibrancy to his aloof demeanor.
“It’s very beautiful,” he said, looking at her. It was unclear whether he was referring to the purse or the person who gave it to him.
Su Wanrou's cheeks flushed, her heart filled with sweetness. Looking at her "masterpiece" on his waist, an indescribable sense of satisfaction and belonging welled up within her.
That night, within the bed curtains, the tenderness surpassed all others. Gu Yangui's kisses were filled with an unprecedented tenderness and affection. In the throes of passion, he nibbled on her earlobe, calling her in a low, husky voice, "Jiaojiao... my Jiaojiao..."
Confused and infatuated, Su Wanrou responded, wrapping her arms around his neck in a hesitant yet passionate embrace. Their physical intimacy stemmed from the growing closeness of their hearts. This small, clumsily stitched purse, like an invisible thread, bound their hearts even more tightly together.
six
The next day, Gu Yangui went to court wearing the new purse.
After seeing him off, Su Wanrou returned to her room. Looking at the empty dressing table, she could almost see his focused profile as he mended the embroidered red sun for her under the lamp last night. She picked up the old purse that had been replaced, carefully smoothed out the wrinkles, and then found a brocade box to carefully put it away.
This is not about discarding, but about treasuring. We cherish the old things, and we also cherish the sentiment of creating new memories together.
In the afternoon, the heir of the Marquis of Jing'an came to visit and discussed matters with Gu Yangui in the study. The heir, with his sharp eyes, immediately noticed the new purse at Gu Yangui's waist, which was quite different from his usual style, especially the striking red sun on it. He couldn't help but tease, "Oh, Brother Yangui, this purse looks very new. It doesn't seem to be the work of the embroiderers in your household. Could it be... may I guess, it was a gift from your sister-in-law?"
Normally, Gu Yangui would have given the other person a cold look to shut them up. But today, he simply picked up his teacup, glanced at the young master indifferently, did not deny it, and even curled his lips into a barely perceptible smile.
The Marquis of Jing'an's heir, being incredibly quick-witted, immediately understood. He laughed heartily, cupped his hands, and said, "Congratulations! My sister-in-law is truly insightful and clever; she and Brother Yan Gui are a perfect match!"
The news quickly spread among the familiar circle of noble sons: the cold-faced Duke Gu Yangui now even has his new wife taking care of his personal items, such as purses, and the Duke is wearing them with great pleasure.
The story of the "heartfelt gift in a purse" has quietly replaced the previous "amusing anecdote about an umbrella," becoming a new popular tale in Beijing. This time, however, the rumors are less playful and more filled with genuine envy and blessings for this surprisingly harmonious couple despite their age difference.
Inside the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, Su Wanrou stroked her fingertips, which were no longer in pain. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes and brows were now more relaxed and gentle. She knew that some things were deeply imprinted in her heart and could never be erased. The effort she had put in through those sleepless nights had, in the end, been completely conveyed to his heart.
End of Chapter 53
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