Chapter 49: Offering an Umbrella in the Rain
Gu Yangui's departure from the capital to the Jingji Camp was scheduled for two days later. Perhaps due to the many matters to attend to before his departure, he returned home later than usual these past two days.
That afternoon, the once clear sky suddenly became overcast, and by late afternoon (5 p.m.), it was as dark as night. Thunder rumbled across the horizon, and large raindrops pelted down, instantly forming a small stream in the courtyard. The rain was torrential, accompanied by howling winds, weaving a vast, white curtain of water.
Su Wanrou was sitting by the window making summer clothes for Mingxuan. Listening to the urgent sound of rain outside the window, she couldn't help but stop her needlework and look towards the direction of the courtyard gate blurred by the rain. A look of worry appeared between her brows.
"Yunbin, what time is it?"
"Reporting to Madam, it's almost 5 PM." Yunbin glanced at the water clock in the corner. "The Duke should be back at this time of day. With this heavy rain, the journey will be difficult."
Su Wanrou stood up and walked to the veranda. Rainwater was blown in by the wind, wetting her skirt. She looked towards the direction of the mansion gate, but all she could see was a continuous curtain of rain, obstructing her vision, and she couldn't even make out the scenery across the street.
"With such heavy rain, my husband will be traveling back by carriage. Although he won't get wet, there will still be a stretch of road from the palace gate to the carriage, and then from outside the mansion to the inner courtyard where he will get soaked," Su Wanrou murmured to herself. She thought of how Gu Yangui was sometimes busy with official duties and inevitably stressed. What if he caught a cold after getting wet in the rain? He was leaving the capital in another day, and he couldn't afford to be unwell.
An idea arose in her mind. She turned to Yunbin and said, "Go and fetch my oilcloth and umbrella, and prepare a larger one. Let's wait at the front gate."
Yunbin was taken aback: "Madam, the rain is too heavy. Are you going yourself? Just have a servant take an umbrella and wait at the door."
Su Wanrou shook her head, her tone gentle yet firm: "It is the servants' duty to wait, but I will go myself; it is my own intention. My husband works hard for this family; this little thing is nothing. Go and prepare."
Seeing that she couldn't persuade her otherwise, Yunbin quickly went to fetch Su Wanrou's lotus-colored oil-paper raincoat and an oil-paper umbrella. She also put on a raincoat herself, and the two of them braved the torrential rain, trudging towards the front gatehouse.
The servants in the gatehouse were startled to see the lady come in person despite the heavy rain, and they quickly invited her in to rest.
Su Wanrou simply stood on the porch, refusing the offer to come inside. She gazed at the empty street, washed clean by the rain, and waited patiently. The rain pounded on the tiles and the ground, its noise only amplifying the tranquility of her wait.
About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the rain subsided slightly, but it was still drizzling. At the end of the street, the outline of the Duke of Zhenguo's carriage finally appeared, the lanterns hanging under the eaves emitting a warm, dim yellow light in the rain and mist.
The carriage came to a steady stop in front of the mansion gate. The coachman, wearing a straw raincoat, jumped off the carriage shaft and was about to put down the footrest when the carriage door was pushed open from the inside.
Gu Yangui bent down and got out of the car. He hadn't expected it to still be raining. Looking at the slippery ground and the still considerable raindrops, he frowned slightly and was about to rush across the road to get back home.
Just then, a soft yet clear voice pierced through the rain: "My husband."
Gu Yangui looked up at the sound and saw Su Wanrou standing under the eaves of the mansion, dressed in a light purple oilcloth, holding an oil-paper umbrella, smiling at him. Behind her was a hazy rain scene, and she stood there like a lotus quietly blooming in the rain, fresh and gentle, instantly dispelling his fatigue and the vexation caused by the weather.
He was visibly taken aback, clearly not expecting her to appear here. He strode up the steps and stood before her, his clothes damp with sweat, his tone disapproving: "It's raining so hard, why did you come out? Be careful not to catch a cold."
Although his words carried a hint of reproach, the surprise and a subtle warmth in his eyes betrayed his true feelings.
Su Wanrou handed him another umbrella, which was obviously larger and sturdier, and moved closer to him so that both of their figures could be covered by her delicate umbrella. She looked up and smiled, "I saw that it was raining heavily and I was afraid that my husband would get wet. Anyway, I had nothing to do inside, so I came out to wait. I didn't have to wait long before my husband came back."
Her hair and shoulders were slightly damp from the rain, and her cheeks were flushed with a healthy rosy glow from walking and waiting in the rain. Her eyes were bright and full of pure concern.
Gu Yangui took the large umbrella but did not open it. Instead, he reached out and naturally took the umbrella from Su Wanrou, tilting it further towards her to completely cover her petite body, while leaving half of his shoulder exposed outside the umbrella.
"Let's go back." His voice was low as he walked alongside her into the still-dense rain. Seeing this, Yunbin, the coachman, and the others tactfully lagged behind a few steps to follow.
There was a considerable distance between the mansion gate and the inner courtyard. The couple shared an umbrella, walking along the cobblestone path, washed clean by the rain. The space under the umbrella was small, and their arms inevitably brushed against each other, allowing them to feel each other's warmth. The sound of raindrops tapping on the umbrella shut out the outside noise, creating a quiet and subtle little world just for the two of them.
Gu Yangui didn't speak, but Su Wanrou could feel the cold, hard aura surrounding him, born of court affairs and the weather, slowly dissipating. She didn't speak either, but by slightly turning her head, she could see his sharply defined jawline and his large, well-defined hand holding the umbrella handle. An indescribable sense of peace and contentment quietly filled her heart.
Unbeknownst to her, this tender scene was witnessed by several officials who had just returned from court and were passing by the Duke's mansion.
One of the ministers, Vice Minister Li, was fairly familiar with Gu Yangui. His carriage slowed down to make way for the Duke's carriage. He lifted a corner of the curtain, intending to greet him, but instead saw the Duke alighting from his carriage, followed by the very young Duchess holding an umbrella and coming forward to greet him. The two of them, sharing an umbrella, slowly entered the mansion.
The Duchess tilted her head slightly and spoke to the Duke, her profile appearing exceptionally beautiful in the rain and mist. The Duke, who was known for his coldness and hardness, leaned slightly to listen, his umbrella clearly tilted towards his wife, completely unaware that his own shoulders were getting wet.
Minister Li opened his mouth in surprise, then chuckled and shook his head. He gently lowered the carriage curtain and whispered to another official in the same carriage, "It's really strange. I just saw the Duke and his wife... I never expected that our cold-faced Duke would have such a... well, considerate side."
Another adult in the carriage also leaned out the window for a glance, only to see a couple walking away arm in arm. He couldn't help but chuckle, "Even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman. Especially such a young and lovely lady. It seems the rumors are true; this new lady is quite favored by the Duke."
These few casual remarks, like pebbles thrown into a lake, quickly spread ripples within a small circle of colleagues. The anecdote of "the cold-faced duke waiting in the rain for his beautiful wife to bring him an umbrella" added a rather interesting footnote of "henpecked" or "loving wife" to Gu Yangui's already legendary resume.
The two people under the umbrella were completely unaware of all this.
Back in the main courtyard, Su Wanrou hurriedly urged Gu Yan to go back to bathe and change, and also asked the kitchen to prepare ginger soup to ward off the cold.
When Gu Yangui came out after changing into dry casual clothes, ginger soup was already on the table. He watched as Su Wanrou also changed out of her slightly damp clothes and was personally serving him food. Under the lamplight, her profile was gentle and serene.
He walked over, but instead of sitting down to eat, he reached out and gently brushed away a stray strand of hair from her temple that was damp with moisture. His fingertips, still warm from his recent shower, touched her skin, causing Su Wanrou to tremble slightly and blush.
"Don't wait for me in the rain anymore." He looked at her, his voice much gentler than usual. "If you catch a cold, it won't look good."
Su Wanrou raised her watery eyes and looked into his deep gaze, where something seemed to be slowly melting. She softly hummed in agreement, but in her heart she thought that if he encountered such a storm again, she would probably still go.
Some feelings need no words, yet they have already seeped deeply into each other's hearts without being spoken. A sudden downpour, a seemingly insignificant act of offering an umbrella, is like a warm spring breeze, dispelling the turmoil of the court and the shadow of parting sorrow, bringing two hearts closer together in the gentle rain.
End of Chapter 49
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