Chapter 133: Frequent Good News
When Su Wanrou woke up again, she was startled by a faint but continuous noise outside the window. The sound was unlike the usual tranquility of the mansion; it seemed to be coming from a long street in the distance, mixed with cheers, gongs and drums, and even the crackling of firecrackers.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively looked towards the pillow. The tiny swaddled baby still lay there quietly, breathing softly but steadily. Granny Zhou was fast asleep on the low couch at the foot of the bed, her eyes dark and swollen.
"Qingdai..." Su Wanrou tried to call out, her voice still hoarse, but with a bit more strength than yesterday.
Qingdai, who had been waiting outside the screen, immediately tiptoed in, her face filled with barely suppressed excitement and joy: "Madam, you're awake! Are you feeling any better? There's been some bird's nest porridge warming up on the stove, would you like some?"
"What's that sound outside?" Su Wanrou tried to sit up a little, and Qingdai quickly stepped forward and placed several soft pillows behind her.
"Madam!" Qingdai's voice trembled with tears, yet it was filled with joy. "It's a victory! A tremendous victory! The Northern Frontier has won a great victory! The Duke... he not only successfully broke through the siege, but also led his remaining troops in a surprise attack on the Rongdi royal court's grain supply points, burning their provisions and forcing the Rongdi Khan to retreat a hundred miles! Now, the Duke is returning in triumph with the captured Rongdi royal banner and a large number of prisoners! The capital... the capital is practically boiling over!"
Su Wanrou was stunned, momentarily unable to react. The news was too shocking, too sudden, a world apart from the previous messages of "missing whereabouts unknown, injuries unclear." Overjoyed, like a surging tide, instantly shattered the defenses she had built up over the past few days, causing her whole body to tremble uncontrollably.
"Really...is it true?" She grabbed Qingdai's hand, her nails almost digging into her flesh, her voice trembling uncontrollably. "Yan Gui...is he really alright? And he even performed such a great service?"
"Absolutely true!" Granny Zhou was also awakened. Hearing the conversation, she knelt down excitedly by the bedside, clasped her hands together, and kept chanting Buddhist prayers. "This old servant just heard what Uncle Fu said! It's an official military report delivered by express courier! It has already spread throughout the court and the country! The Duke's military strategy is brilliant, winning with fewer troops against a larger force. This is an immense achievement! His Majesty is overjoyed and has already issued an edict ordering all civil and military officials to come out of the city to welcome him!"
After the initial joy came a deeper worry. Su Wanrou suddenly recalled the vague word "wounded" in the previous military report.
"What about his injuries? Did the military report say how serious they were?" Her heart jumped again.
Granny Zhou and Qingdai exchanged a glance, their smiles fading slightly. Granny Zhou carefully chose her words, saying, "The military report only says that the Duke was wounded by an arrow in the arm, but it's nothing serious and has already been treated by the military doctor. Madam, rest assured, since he's returning in triumph, he'll surely be able to ride a horse and lead the army, so I suppose... I suppose he really is alright."
An arrow wound in the arm… Su Wanrou's heart clenched. Arrow wounds on the battlefield are rarely as simple as "nothing serious." Who knows if the arrow was poisoned? How deep is the wound? With all his travel, will his injury worsen?
But in any case, he is alive, he won, and he is on his way back!
This news was more effective than any magic pill. A long-lost hue finally returned to Su Wanrou's pale face, and her dim eyes regained their light. Looking down at the still-sleeping child in her arms, tears welled up again, but these were hot, joyful tears.
“Baby, can you hear me?” She gently stroked the baby’s soft baby hair with her cheek. “Daddy won… He’s a great hero… He’s coming back soon… We’ll see him soon…”
Perhaps it was the mother's joy that infected the child, or perhaps it was a coincidence, but the baby, who had been sleeping quietly, suddenly let out a cry that was slightly louder than before. Although it was still weak, it was full of vitality.
"Oh my! The young master is so happy because he knows his father is coming back!" Granny Zhou cried with joy. She and Qingdai quickly picked up the child and checked whether he needed to change his diapers or be fed.
As Su Wanrou watched them busily working, her heart was filled with immense happiness and anticipation. The fear, despair, and pain of the past few days seemed to have been worthwhile at this moment.
"Granny," she instructed softly, her voice carrying a renewed energy, "have the entire mansion thoroughly cleaned again, especially the Duke's main room and study, which should be fumigated with mugwort. Find that piece of moon-white brocade in the storeroom and make a few new nightgowns for the Duke. Also... ask Physician Lin when I can get out of bed and walk around a little in my condition? I want... I want to go to the door to greet him."
Even just standing behind the screen wall at the second gate and catching a glimpse of him from afar would be enough.
"Madam, this is absolutely not allowed!" Granny Zhou exclaimed in alarm. "You've only given birth a few days ago, and your body is very weak. You absolutely mustn't be exposed to the wind! Physician Lin said you must complete the full two-month postpartum period and take good care of yourself! When the Duke returns, he will surely come to see you and the young master first. Just stay in your room and wait patiently!"
Su Wanrou knew her idea was somewhat willful, so she sighed and stopped insisting. Her most important task now was to recover her health, take good care of the child, and be in the best possible condition to welcome his return.
In the following days, the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was freed from its previous gloom and oppression. Everywhere was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and the servants' faces were filled with pride and joy. Uncle Fu led his men to clean the mansion inside and out until it was spotless, and even the plaques on the lintels were wiped clean and made to shine.
In the capital, the legendary exploits of Duke Gu Yangui, the Duke of Zhenguo, have been widely circulated, with countless versions emerging. Some say he single-handedly stormed into the enemy camp and took the enemy chieftain's head as easily as taking candy from a bag; others say he was a brilliant strategist who had already laid an ambush, waiting for the Rong and Di tribes to fall into his trap; still others say that he fought on despite being seriously wounded, as if he were a god descended from heaven.
These messages would inevitably reach Su Wanrou's ears to some extent. As she listened, she would sometimes smile and sometimes worry, but the anticipation in her heart grew stronger with each passing day. She asked Qingdai to find the few letters Gu Yangui had sent back, and she repeatedly stroked the familiar, slightly messy handwriting, as if she could draw strength from them.
She began to try to eat, forcing herself to drink the nourishing medicinal soups even when she had a poor appetite. She even tried to take a few slow steps by the bedside with the help of Granny Zhou. Each small step forward brought her one step closer to her goal of personally welcoming him home.
The premature baby seemed to sense the impending reunion, and its condition stabilized day by day. Although still much smaller than a full-term baby, its breathing gradually became stronger, and its cries louder. After each pulse diagnosis, Physician Lin's tightly furrowed brows would relax a little.
That day, Su Wanrou was leaning against the headboard, personally feeding her awake child warm water little by little with a small silver spoon when Qingdai rushed in, her face beaming with joy, her voice trembling:
"Madam! They're back! The Duke's entourage has reached Shili Pavilion outside the city! They'll be entering the city in about an hour!"
Su Wanrou's hand trembled, and the water in the silver spoon spilled out. Her heart suddenly raced, as if it were about to leap out of her chest.
He's finally going home.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com