Chapter 17: Guarding Through the Night
Su Wanrou didn't sleep for long. With Mingxuan on her mind, she woke up after just over an hour. When she got up, she felt weak all over and her head was a little dizzy, but thinking of her child, she forced herself to stay awake.
"Yun Que, what time is it? Has there been any news from Ming Xuan?"
“Madam, it’s just past 1 PM. Someone from Songtao Courtyard just came and said that the young master woke up once, took his medicine, and went back to sleep. His fever hasn’t returned.” Yun Que replied while helping her change her clothes, her face showing concern. “You still don’t look well. Please rest more.”
Su Wanrou shook her head: "No, I need to go and check to feel at ease." She ate some simple snacks and then hurried off to Songtao Courtyard.
The courtyard was much quieter than it had been in the early morning, and the smell of medicine had faded. Granny Zhao tiptoed out of the inner room and, upon seeing Su Wanrou, quickly bowed and said in a low voice, "Madam, why didn't you sleep a little longer? The young master just took his medicine and fell asleep; his breathing is much more stable now."
Su Wanrou nodded and quietly entered the inner room. On the canopy bed, Mingxuan slept soundly. His face still bore the pallor of his illness, but the abnormal flush was gone; his brow was relaxed, and his breathing was even. She reached out to check his forehead; it was cool to the touch. Her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled. She tucked the blanket around him and sat down by the bed, quietly watching him with tender affection.
Granny Zhao brought over a cup of warm tea and whispered, "Madam, why don't you go rest outside? This old servant will stay here and watch over you."
"It's alright, I'll sit for a while." Su Wanrou took the tea, her gaze still fixed on Mingxuan. After the chaos of last night, the peace at this moment seemed all the more precious.
About half an hour later, Mingxuan's eyelashes fluttered, and he slowly woke up. He opened his eyes, blinked somewhat dazedly, and when he saw Su Wanrou by the bedside, his eyes immediately brightened, and he softly called out, "Mother..."
"Xuan'er is awake?" Su Wanrou leaned down and asked softly, "Are you still feeling unwell? Are you thirsty? Are you hungry?"
Mingxuan shook his head, then nodded, and said softly, "My throat is a little dry... and my stomach is empty."
Su Wanrou smiled and gestured for Granny Zhao to bring over the warm porridge and side dishes. She personally tested the temperature before patiently feeding Mingxuan spoonful by spoonful. The child was recovering from a serious illness and had a poor appetite; he ate only half a bowl before shaking his head and refusing to eat any more. Su Wanrou didn't force him, but fed him water and then wiped his face and hands with a damp cloth.
“Mother,” Mingxuan said, clinging to her sleeve with a look of dependence, his dark, grape-like eyes filled with affection, “Last night, you stayed with me the whole time, didn’t you? I had so many dreams. Sometimes it was hot, sometimes it was cold, but… but I could always smell your sweet scent, so I wasn’t scared.”
The child's words were simple and straightforward, yet they touched the heart more deeply than any words of gratitude. Su Wanrou's heart softened, and she gently hugged him: "Yes, Mother said she would stay with Xuan'er. Xuan'er is very brave; he fought off the illness."
Mingxuan nestled in her arms and whispered, "When Xuan'er was sick before, only Granny Zhao and Father were there... Father was very busy and could only come to visit... Now that Mother is here with me, it's so good." As he spoke, he yawned slightly, feeling sleepy again as the effects of the medicine hadn't worn off.
"Sleep a little longer, Mom will stay here with you." Su Wanrou gently patted his back, humming an unknown, tender tune. Under her gentle comfort, Mingxuan quickly fell into a deep sleep again, a relieved smile on his lips.
Su Wanrou stayed by his side until she was sure he was fast asleep before gently getting up. Turning around, she saw Gu Yangui standing at the door of the inner room, quietly watching them. He must have just returned from court, still wearing his court robes, his posture upright, though a hint of fatigue was barely perceptible between his brows.
"Husband," Su Wanrou called softly, afraid of disturbing the child.
Gu Yangui stepped in, his gaze lingering for a moment on Mingxuan's peaceful sleeping face before settling on Su Wanrou's still weary face. "Why didn't you rest more?" His voice was low, with the characteristic hoarseness of early morning.
"I can't sleep well because I'm worried. I just fed him some porridge, and he's asleep again." Su Wanrou replied softly, "Has your husband finished court? Has he had lunch?"
Gu Yangui shook his head: "Not yet." He looked at his son sleeping peacefully on the bed, then at Su Wanrou, "Let's go back to Jinse Courtyard and have some."
This was the first time Gu Yangui had explicitly invited her to dine with him. Su Wanrou was slightly taken aback, then a warm feeling welled up in her heart, and she nodded gently: "Okay."
Back at Jinse Courtyard, the maids had already prepared a light yet exquisite lunch. The couple sat facing each other, silent for a moment, broken only by the soft clinking of bowls and chopsticks. Su Wanrou was indeed hungry, but her table manners remained refined. Gu Yangui ate quickly, yet not rudely, displaying a composed and steady demeanor.
After he finished eating, he put down his chopsticks, watched Su Wanrou sip her soup, and suddenly said, "Thank you for your hard work last night."
Su Wanrou looked up and met his deep gaze. His eyes no longer held the scrutiny and distance of before, but instead showed more gentleness and...approval.
“My lord, you flatter me. This is my duty.” Su Wanrou put down her spoon and said earnestly, “Mingxuan is your child, and he is also my child.”
Gu Yangui was silent for a moment, then said, "If there are any difficulties with the affairs of the manor, you can have Gu An come and report to me at any time. There is no rush with the accounts of the imperial estate."
This was a clear expression of support, granting her greater authority and leniency. Su Wanrou was grateful, knowing that this trust was earned through her sincere efforts the previous night. She smiled slightly and replied, "Thank you, my lord. I understand. I will sort out the accounts as soon as possible and dare not delay important matters."
Gu Yangui nodded and said nothing more. But the atmosphere between the two was noticeably more harmonious than before. The invisible barrier seemed to have quietly melted away after they had spent the night together protecting the child.
After lunch, Gu Yangui went to his study in the front courtyard to handle official business. Su Wanrou took a short nap and felt much better, so she went to Songtao Courtyard. Mingxuan was already awake and was leaning against the headboard, playing with a nine-linked ring with a maid. He was clearly in much better spirits. Upon seeing Su Wanrou, he immediately dropped his toys and opened his arms to hug her.
Su Wanrou smiled and walked over, touching his forehead to make sure his fever had subsided, which put her mind at ease. She chatted with Mingxuan for a while and told him a short story. The child was easily tired after recovering from a serious illness and soon became sleepy again. After coaxing him to sleep, Su Wanrou carefully instructed Zhao Mama and the maids on what to pay attention to at night before returning to her own courtyard.
She didn't rest, but instead sat back down at her desk and continued reviewing the imperial estate's account books. Having experienced Mingxuan's illness, she felt even more strongly the need to quickly sort out these matters so she could have more energy to care for her family. Moreover, Gu Yangui's change in attitude today gave her even more motivation to do what he had entrusted to her.
As dusk settled, the city lights began to twinkle. Around dinner time, Gu Yangui returned to Jinse Courtyard. He seemed to have grown accustomed to silence, and Su Wanrou, not being one for many words, ate quietly as usual, but the atmosphere no longer felt oppressive or awkward.
After the meal, Gu Yangui did not leave immediately. Instead, he strolled to his desk and casually picked up an account book that she had already annotated, flipping through it. Su Wanrou's heart skipped a beat, and she watched him nervously.
Gu Yangui read it quickly, his gaze sweeping over her neat and beautiful handwriting and clear annotations, occasionally pausing for a moment at a certain spot. After a while, he closed the ledger, put it back in its place, and said only two words: "Very good."
Su Wanrou secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and the corners of her lips unconsciously turned up. To receive a word of approval from him was more gratifying than any reward.
"Rest early today, don't overwork yourself." Gu Yangui left these words before leaving.
"Yes, my husband, you should rest early too." Su Wanrou saw him to the courtyard gate.
As night deepened, the Duke's mansion returned to tranquility. Su Wanrou, after bathing and changing, found herself unable to sleep. She sat by the window, gazing at the hazy moonlight, reflecting on the events of the past two days. Mingxuan's dependence during his illness, and Gu Yangui's subtly changing attitude, all made her feel that she was truly integrating into this family and being needed by them.
It's a reassuring and warm feeling.
Meanwhile, in the study in the front courtyard, Gu Yangui was also awake. He stood by the window, stroking a warm jade pendant in his hand, his mind filled with the image of Su Wanrou, who had stayed by Mingxuan's bedside the previous night, her gentle yet resolute figure keeping vigil without sleep. He remembered her tired yet unwilling to leave, Mingxuan's complete dependence on her in his drowsy state, and the earnest look in her eyes when she said today, "Mingxuan is my husband's child, and also my child."
This young wife, whom he had married out of a sense of responsibility, seemed quite different from what he had imagined. Beneath her delicate appearance lay a resilience and kindness beyond her years. Her sincerity towards Mingxuan was genuine.
Perhaps... this marriage is not just about giving Mingxuan a mother in name only.
A hint of tenderness, unnoticed even by himself, flickered in Gu Yangui's deep eyes. He turned and walked back to his desk, picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and began processing official documents, but his state of mind seemed slightly different from usual.
That night, the Duke's mansion was peaceful inside and out. In the Songtao Courtyard, Mingxuan slept soundly; in the Jinse Courtyard, Su Wanrou finally succumbed to exhaustion and fell into a deep sleep; in the study in the front courtyard, the candlelight burned until midnight.
End of Chapter 17
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