Chapter 90: A Shared Glory Across Ten Thousand Miles
Gu Yangui has been away on campaign for over a month.
The last vestiges of autumn warmth were swept away by the biting north wind, and the sycamore leaves in the courtyard fell, leaving only bare branches pointing straight to the gray sky. The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, too, seemed to fall into an unusual silence with the departure of its master. But this silence was not lifeless; rather, it was an orderly, carefully maintained tranquility.
Su Wanrou's life suddenly became extremely regular, but also extremely busy.
Every morning, she would rise on time as usual, wash and eat, and then go to Gu Yangui's study first. Before he went to war, he had specifically allowed her to enter the study at any time to read some books that did not involve confidential matters, and even use his desk. The study seemed to still retain the faint scent of ink and pine wood emanating from him. Su Wanrou would always sit quietly for a while on the large rosewood chair he often sat in, as if that would bring her closer to him. She would carefully brush away the dust that was not actually there on the desk and check if the orchid on the windowsill was thirsty—it was one of his favorite plants.
Then, she began to handle the day's affairs. The steward, Gu Zhong, would arrive punctually each day to report on all matters, large and small, concerning the estate's harvest, the shops' accounts, and the gifts exchanged for social obligations… Su Wanrou listened carefully to every detail, asked clear questions, and made decisive decisions. Her approach gradually took on the efficiency of Gu Yangui, yet incorporated a woman's unique meticulousness and thoroughness. After several such experiences, even an old man like Gu Zhong was filled with genuine trust.
"Madam, the manager of the rice shop in the west of the city has come to report that the new rice has been stored this year. He would like to ask how much to keep for the manor and how much to sell on the market?" Gu Zhong asked, bowing.
Su Wanrou pondered for a moment, then asked instead of answering immediately, "Has the grain delivered from the estate been counted? After deducting the household's annual expenses and the allowances for the servants in each courtyard, is there any surplus?"
"Reporting to Madam, everything has been accounted for. This year's harvest is good, with the total yield from all places exceeding that of previous years by more than 10%. After deducting the household expenses, there is still a large surplus."
“In that case,” Su Wanrou tapped the table lightly with her fingertip, “According to the old custom, we will set aside an extra 30% of the household expenses for unforeseen circumstances. As for the rest, we will not rush to sell them. You can have the manager inquire whether the granaries in the several prefectures and counties in the northern border that have been ravaged by war this year are full. If they are insufficient, we can sell to the granaries at a fair price, or we can contact a few familiar noble families to donate some grain together, which can be considered as doing our part for the soldiers on the front lines.”
Gu Zhong was slightly taken aback, then his eyes revealed admiration. This young lady was so thoughtful and far-sighted, not only considering the household expenses but also thinking about the front lines and the disaster victims. Her magnanimity was beyond the reach of ordinary people. "Yes, Madam is kind-hearted. This old servant will go and do it right away."
After finishing the housework, it was nearly noon. Su Wanrou would personally go to Mingxuan's courtyard to check his homework and have lunch with him. After Gu Yangui left, Mingxuan seemed to have become much more sensible all of a sudden, studying and practicing calligraphy even more diligently. Perhaps subconsciously, he felt that if he behaved better, his father would be more at ease while he was away.
"Mother, do you think I recited 'Exhortation to Learning' well?" Mingxuan looked up at her expectantly.
Su Wanrou listened attentively, then patted his head: "You recited it very fluently, and you understood the meaning quite well. However, reading is not just about memorizing, but also about keeping it in your heart and putting it into practice. If Father knew that Mingxuan has made such progress, he would be very pleased."
Upon hearing the word "father," Mingxuan's eyes lit up for a moment, then dimmed again. He asked softly, "Mother, when will Father be back?"
Su Wanrou felt a pang of sadness and pulled the child into her arms, saying softly, "Father has gone to fight the bad guys and protect us and the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty. He'll naturally come back after he's done fighting the bad guys. We must protect our home so that when he returns, he'll see a better Mingxuan, a better home, okay?"
"Okay!" Mingxuan nodded vigorously, burying his face in her warm embrace.
In the afternoons, if the weather was alright, Su Wanrou would take Mingxuan for a walk in the garden or do some simple needlework. She began to consciously teach Mingxuan some principles of human relationships, not through dry lectures, but through storytelling and analogies. She discovered that the child had inherited Gu Yangui's intelligence and grasped things very quickly.
Days slipped by quietly in this seemingly mundane cycle. To the outside world, Su Wanrou was composed and prudent, managing the Duke's mansion flawlessly, handling all interactions with ease and grace, leaving no room for criticism, and gradually dispelling those who had initially waited to see the young Duchess make a fool of herself. At home, she was the mother Mingxuan relied on, and the mistress the servants trusted.
Only in the stillness of the night would that deep longing surge into her heart like a tidal wave, enveloping her completely. She would take out the few letters left by Gu Yangui and read them over and over again. The letters were short, mostly just to let her know they were safe, urging her to take care of herself and Mingxuan. The handwriting was strong and vigorous, just like him. She could practically recite every single one of the letters from memory.
She would also spread out her letter paper and write back to him. She would ramble on about the trivial matters of the household, the amusing things about Mingxuan, and the rumors in the capital, but she always reported good news and never bad. After writing, she would carefully seal it and hand it to the household's personal attendant who was responsible for delivering letters to and from the military front. Imagining his expression when he received the letter, a gentle smile would unconsciously appear on her lips.
That evening, after putting Mingxuan to sleep, Su Wanrou sat alone by the window. The night sky was clear, and a bright moon hung high, its gentle light casting a long, lonely shadow over the world. Today was the fifteenth, a night of the full moon, yet people were scattered.
She recalled the ancient poem: "May we all live long and share the beauty of the moon, though separated by a thousand miles." At this moment, in the distant north, was her husband also looking up at the same bright moon? Was the moon in the north as cold and desolate as it was in the capital? Was he resting peacefully in his tent? Had his old wounds reopened?
A myriad of thoughts linger in my mind, refusing to dissipate.
"Madam, it's getting chilly, please put on another layer of clothing." Qingdai quietly entered and draped a cloak over her shoulders.
Su Wanrou snapped out of her reverie, straightened her clothes, and asked, "Have the winter clothes and medicines sent to the army been successfully dispatched?"
"Don't worry, Madam. Three days ago, the Second Steward personally escorted it, carrying the Duke's token, and sent it to the Northern Border at full speed along the official road. If all goes well, it should reach the Duke within half a month."
Su Wanrou nodded, feeling slightly relieved. The north was bitterly cold, and it got cold much earlier than the capital. She had already ordered people to make thick cotton-padded clothes and fur coats, and prepared a large amount of medicinal herbs to prevent frostbite and ward off the cold. This was the only practical thing she could do for him at the moment.
A few days later, Su Wanrou was invited to a flower banquet at the Duke of Ying's mansion. She was now quite adept at handling such occasions. During the banquet, it was inevitable that some people would subtly inquire about the war in the northern border, or hint that the Duke of Zhenguo was in his prime, while his wife was young, and that a long separation might lead to unforeseen circumstances.
The wife of an imperial censor, who was not on good terms with the Yongchang Marquis's family, feigned concern and said, "The Duke is leaving now, and we don't know when he will return. You are so young, and it must be hard for you to support the household on your own. Speaking of which, I heard that the environment in the northern border is harsh, and some generals can't stand the loneliness and take local women as concubines. After all... hehe, you should be more open-minded, Madam."
Su Wanrou held the teacup steadily, her smile unchanged, her tone gentle yet firm: "Thank you for your concern, Madam. My husband is fighting for the country, and it is my duty to stay at home to care for my family and raise our children. As for other matters, I have great faith in my husband's character and in our marital bond. It would be best not to offend the ears of you ladies with such nonsense."
Her demeanor was composed, and her words were tactful, demonstrating both her trust in her husband and a subtle dig at the other woman's gossip. The censor's wife, feeling awkward, fell silent. The Duchess of Yingguo, seizing the opportunity, changed the subject, her gaze towards Su Wanrou filled with clear admiration. This young woman's composure far surpassed that of her peers.
It was already evening when Su Wanrou returned from the Duke of Ying's mansion. She was a little tired and was about to rest when she heard a series of hurried but familiar footsteps outside the door.
"Madam! The messenger from the army has returned! He has brought a letter from the Duke!" Gu Zhong's voice was filled with rare excitement.
Su Wanrou stood up abruptly, her heart pounding: "Please come in quickly!"
A middle-aged general, travel-worn and still bearing the chill of his armor, strode in, knelt on one knee, and presented a letter sealed with wax: "I have been ordered by the Duke to return to the capital to deliver a military report and, by the way, a letter from home for the Lady! The Duke is well, please rest assured, Lady!"
Su Wan suppressed her excitement and took the letter, which seemed to still carry the marks of the northern frontier: "General, you've worked hard. Please rise. Qingdai, prepare tea, wine, and food, and let the messenger rest well."
She eagerly opened the letter. The letter was still brief, but this time, besides the usual reassurance and words of advice, there was an extra line at the end:
"The moon is cold in the north, but thankfully a letter from home keeps me warm. Where your heart is at peace is my home. Don't worry, take care."
Those few words instantly brought tears to Su Wanrou's eyes. He, such a cold and hard man, could actually utter such words as "Where your heart finds peace, there is my home." Did this mean that her letter, her concern, had truly traveled across mountains and rivers to reach his heart, becoming a small comfort to him in this harsh land?
She walked to the window and gazed up at the night sky once more. The bright moon remained, its clear light shining over the vast expanse. But this time, she no longer felt alone. For she knew that under the same moonlight, someone else was sharing the same longing as her.
Thousands of miles cannot sever the bond between us; the bright moonlight shines upon our two hearts that are closely intertwined.
Shining brightly across thousands of miles, our hearts are connected.
Su Wanrou gripped the letter tightly, a warm and relieved smile appearing on her face—the one she hadn't seen in a month.
My husband, you are out there protecting our country, while I am at home managing our household and our livelihood. Though we are separated by thousands of miles, we are working together for each other, for our family, and for this land.
This is the best companionship.
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