Chapter 156 A Lifetime of Peace
Chapter 156 A Lifetime of Peace
The 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month was the Little New Year. News of the great victory in the north and the triumphant return of the Duke of Zhenguo spread like wildfire throughout the streets and alleys of Chang'an within a day. When the news arrived, Su Wanrou was in the kitchen with her servants checking if the sugar melons and pastries for the Kitchen God's Festival were ready. The steward almost stumbled in, excitedly babbling incoherently, "Madam! Great news! The Duke, the Duke has won a great victory! The Rongdi King has submitted a letter of surrender, and the army will soon be returning to the capital!"
The candied melon in her hand fell to the ground with a "thud," shattering into several pieces, but Su Wanrou was completely unaware. She only felt a huge surge of heat rush from the bottom of her heart to her eyes, blurring her vision instantly. Nearly three months of anxiety and sleepless nights finally settled down at this moment, turning into scalding tears that gushed out.
"Okay...okay..." she said repeatedly, her voice choked with emotion, yet filled with a relieved smile. "Quickly, go tell Mingxuan and Sheng'er! Everyone in the manor will be rewarded!"
The entire Duke's mansion erupted in excitement, sweeping away the oppressive atmosphere of the past few months. Everywhere was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, even more festive than the New Year. Upon hearing the news, Mingxuan locked himself in his study for a long time. When he emerged, his eyes were slightly red, but he straightened his back and proactively helped his mother manage the mansion's affairs, arranging all the preparations for welcoming his father's triumphant return. Gu Sheng, on the other hand, ran wildly around the courtyard, telling everyone he met, "My father is a great hero! He chased away the bad guys!" Even the innocent Mo'er seemed to sense this joy, giggling happily.
On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, the city of Chang'an was deserted as people braved the bitter cold to crowd along both sides of Zhuque Street, eager to catch a glimpse of the triumphant soldiers. Su Wanrou, dressed in full regalia, stood on the high steps in front of the mansion gate with Mingxuan and Gu Sheng. She held Mo'er, who was wrapped up tightly in her arms, her gaze fixed on the end of the long street.
Finally, amidst deafening drums and cheers, the triumphant procession appeared. Banners fluttered, armor gleamed, and the victorious soldiers marched with synchronized, powerful steps, their faces beaming with pride and glory. At the very front of the procession stood Gu Yangui, clad in black armor and a scarlet cloak, riding his magnificent steed, Wuyun Taxue. His posture was as upright as a pine tree, and although his face was slightly gaunt from the hardships of life, the majesty and imposing presence between his brows were even greater than when he left the capital. Sunlight shone on his cold armor, reflecting a dazzling light, making him appear like a war god descending upon the world.
His gaze swept past the cheering crowd and landed precisely on the graceful figure and the children in front of the mansion gate. Their eyes met, and a thousand words were unspoken.
The procession stopped in front of the mansion gate, and Gu Yangui nimbly dismounted. Mingxuan and Gu Sheng, unable to contain themselves any longer, rushed down the steps, calling out, "Father!" Gu Yangui bent down, picked up his two sons, one in each arm, and a genuine smile finally appeared on his usually cold lips. He looked up at Su Wanrou, who was carrying her daughter and walking towards him step by step.
She was dressed in her finest attire today, and her face appeared even more radiant and beautiful under the warm winter sun. However, her almond-shaped eyes, which were gazing at him, were filled with tears—the joy of having her worries settled and the excitement of finally achieving fulfillment after a long wait.
“My husband…” She walked up to him, her voice trembling slightly, but with the brightest smile on her face, “Welcome home.”
Gu Yangui put down his son, stepped forward, and reached out. Instead of hugging his daughter first, he gently grasped her cold fingers, squeezed them tightly, and said in a low voice with a barely perceptible hoarseness, "I'm back."
Three simple words, yet they carried a weight heavier than a thousand pounds. Mo'er looked curiously at the "unfamiliar" person in cold armor before her, seemingly a little frightened, and shrank closer to her mother's arms. Su Wanrou gently coaxed, "Mo'er, it's Daddy, quickly call him Daddy."
Gu Yangui then turned his gaze entirely to his youngest daughter, his eyes softening instantly. He carefully reached out and touched Mo'er's rosy cheek, his voice gentler than ever before: "Mo'er, don't you recognize Daddy?"
Perhaps it was the bond of blood, or perhaps it was the gentle tone of his voice, but Mo'er blinked her big eyes, hesitated for a moment, and then timidly but clearly called out, "Father..."
That cry of "Father!" instantly struck the softest spot in Gu Yangui's heart. He laughed heartily, as if all the fatigue from days of battle had vanished, and reached out to embrace his wife and daughter. Amidst deafening cheers and the joyful tears of his family, Duke Gu Yangui had truly returned home.
The days following the triumphant return were busy and fulfilling. There were audiences at the palace, reports to the emperor, rewards, and congratulations from all sides... until the end of the year approached, when things gradually calmed down. The Duke's mansion finally regained its former tranquility, but this tranquility was completely different from the oppressive atmosphere caused by pressure before Gu Yangui went to war. It was a peace filled with the joy of family reunion after the burden was lifted.
On New Year's Eve, ancestor worship, staying up late to welcome the new year, and a family banquet were all conducted with meticulous care, yet the atmosphere was exceptionally warm and harmonious. Gu Yangui was unusually relaxed, spending time with the children setting off fireworks and solving riddles, and even being pestered by Gu Sheng to tell him some amusing stories about the borderlands that weren't so dangerous. Su Wanrou watched from the side, and under the lamplight, the solemnity between his brows completely melted away, leaving only peace and contentment.
As night deepened, the children were taken to bed by their wet nurses. The hustle and bustle of the mansion gradually subsided, leaving only the hazy glow of the lanterns lit by people keeping vigil under the eaves. Su Wanrou and Gu Yangui did not immediately return to their room, but instead sat down together in the warm pavilion in the back garden. The pavilion was warmed by the heated floor, a world apart from the bitter cold outside. On a small table sat a pot of fragrant Tusu wine and several plates of delicate pastries.
Outside the window, someone, perhaps impatient, had already set off firecrackers to welcome the New Year, their crackling sounds breaking the silence of the night.
"Things have finally settled down." Su Wanrou poured Gu Yangui a glass of wine and sighed softly. These past few months have been a test for her, for him, and for the whole family.
Gu Yangui took the wine glass but didn't drink it, instead holding it in his hand to warm it. He looked at her cheeks, slightly flushed from the warmth of the heater, his gaze deep and gentle: "These past few months have been tough on you." Although he was at the border, he knew how difficult things were at home. Not only did she have to manage the household chores and raise the children, but she also had to bear their worries about him and keep the family at ease.
Su Wanrou shook her head and smiled slightly: "I'm just staying home, how can that compare to your hard work fighting outside?" She paused, her tone filled with heartfelt relief, "As long as you come back safely, everything is worth it."
Gu Yangui reached out and took her slightly cool hand in his palm, enveloping it with his warm hand. "Wanrou," he whispered, "I used to think that a man's ambition should lie in the four corners of the world, that he should prioritize the affairs of the country, and that dying on the battlefield would be a blessing. But this time at the border, whenever the night was deep and quiet, looking at the cold moon beyond the Great Wall, what I thought about was not the outcome of the battle, not the emperor's reward, but you, Mingxuan, Sheng'er, Mo'er, the lights in this mansion, and being able to drink the hot tea you brewed by your own hand when I returned."
His words were simple, yet they contained the deepest affection. Su Wanrou's heart fluttered, and she intertwined her fingers with his, whispering, "I know. That's why I'm at home, making sure everything is in order so that whenever you return, this will always be the place you want to come back to."
“This has always been the place,” Gu Yangui said with certainty, his gaze sweeping over the familiar furnishings in the warm pavilion and the familiar courtyard scenery outside the window. “Home is wherever you are.”
Outside the window, the sporadic sounds of firecrackers gradually increased, eventually merging into a deafening roar, announcing the arrival of the New Year. Colorful fireworks bloomed in the night sky, illuminating the room with flickering light.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new, they felt a strange tranquility. It was not a silent stillness, but the peace of mind that came after weathering storms and hardships; the reassurance of knowing each other's hearts were set on a shared future; and the satisfaction of watching their children grow up healthy and their family live in harmony and happiness.
"Another year has passed." Su Wanrou leaned on Gu Yangui's shoulder, listening to his steady and strong heartbeat, and felt extremely at ease.
"Mmm," Gu Yangui hugged her tighter and kissed the top of her head, "From now on, every year, we will spend it together like this."
As the fireworks gradually subsided and the clamor faded, the night returned to tranquility. Inside the warm pavilion, candlelight flickered, and the aroma of wine was intoxicating. A pair of figures, leaning on each other, formed the most ordinary yet most precious picture in this prosperous Chang'an, amidst the myriad lights of homes.
A lifetime of peace doesn't mean a life without storms, but rather having a safe harbor to return to, a shoulder to lean on, and the quiet years to watch over each other after weathering the storms. For Gu Yangui and Su Wanrou, the thrilling battles on the battlefield are a thing of the past, and the turbulent changes in the court have temporarily subsided. The tranquil warmth of embracing each other to celebrate the New Year is the most precious peace they have earned through their deep affection and steadfast commitment.
And this peace will continue with every sunrise and sunset, every spring, summer, autumn and winter, until we are old and gray, until the end of time.
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