Chapter 74: Soothing the Young Child's Heart
As autumn deepens, the night wind grows chilly, causing the windowpanes to creak softly.
That night, Su Wanrou had just finished checking the list of birthday gifts to be sent to the Marquis of Anyuan's residence the next day, and after looking at the account books for a while, her eyes felt a little sore, so she prepared to rest. The sound of the third watch gong came from outside the window, and the night was already deep.
As Yunshan was removing her hairpins and ornaments, she suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside, mixed with the suppressed sobs of a child and the soft, soothing voice of a wet nurse. Immediately afterward, the young maidservant waiting outside reported urgently through the curtain, "Madam, Madam, are you resting? The young master... the young master is having a nightmare, crying so hard, the wet nurse can't soothe him..."
Su Wanrou's heart tightened. She immediately stood up, not even bothering to stop herself from wearing only her nightgown. She grabbed a thin cotton cloak and quickly went outside. There she saw Mingxuan's wet nurse, Granny Zhou, standing in the outer room, holding Mingxuan who was crying uncontrollably. Her face was filled with anxiety and helplessness. Mingxuan's little face was red from crying, his hair was wet with sweat and stuck to his forehead, and his big eyes were filled with fear and tears. His small body was sobbing in Granny Zhou's arms.
"What happened?" Su Wanrou stepped forward with heartache, took Mingxuan in her arms, and gently patted his back. "Xuan'er, be good. Mother is here. Don't be afraid."
Upon smelling the familiar scent, Mingxuan immediately gripped Su Wanrou's clothes tightly with his little hands, crying even louder, mumbling between sobs, "Father... I want Father... Father..."
Granny Zhou quickly explained, "Madam, the young master was sleeping soundly when he suddenly woke up, saying he dreamt of the Duke... dreamt that the Duke didn't want him anymore, and he cried his heart out. No matter how I tried to comfort him, I couldn't, so I dared to disturb you, Madam..."
Su Wanrou understood. No matter how well-behaved and sensible a child is during the day, at night, the subconscious fear and longing will still uncontrollably surface. While gently rocking Mingxuan in her arms, she said to Granny Zhou, "It's alright, leave the child to me. Granny, you've worked hard too, go back and rest first, let Xuan'er sleep with me tonight."
Seeing that Su Wanrou had no intention of blaming her and was instead taking care of her personally, Granny Zhou was grateful and said repeatedly, "Thank you for your consideration, Madam. Then... then I'll have to trouble you, Madam." Only then did she retreat anxiously.
Yunbin, quick-witted, had already turned up the lights in the inner room and quietly went to the small kitchen to warm a bowl of calming milk and honey water.
Su Wanrou carried Mingxuan back to the inner room, sat on the warm kang by the window, and wrapped his small body tightly in her arms, pulling him close with her cloak. Her voice was so gentle it could melt water: "Xuan'er, be good, don't cry. Look, Mother is here. It was just a dream. Dreams are always the opposite of reality. How could Father not want Xuan'er? Father loves Xuan'er the most."
Mingxuan sobbed, raising his head with teary eyes: "Really...really? But I dreamt that my father rode away on a big horse, getting farther and farther away, and no matter how I called him, he wouldn't turn back..." As he spoke, his little mouth twitched, and he was about to cry again.
"Of course it's fake." Su Wanrou gently wiped away the tears and sweat from his face with a soft handkerchief, her tone absolutely certain. "Father went to Shuofang City to fight the bad guys, to protect the people of our Great Zhou Dynasty, and also to protect Xuan'er, Mother, and Grandmother. After defeating the bad guys, Father will return in triumph on a tall horse. When that happens, the first thing he'll do is hold his Xuan'er and check his homework."
She took the warm milk from Yunbin and carefully fed it to Mingxuan's lips: "Come on, Xuan'er, drink some sweet milk to calm your nerves. This is a method your grandmother used to comfort your mother when she had nightmares as a child, and it works really well."
Mingxuan took small sips of the warm milk from her hand. The sweet taste and the pleasant jasmine scent from his mother gradually calmed him down, and his sobs subsided. Seeing that he had calmed down a bit, Su Wanrou gently patted his back and softly hummed a Jiangnan folk song. It was a lullaby that her mother often sang when she was a child, with a melodious and gentle tune, carrying the unique tenderness of the water towns.
In his mother's warm embrace and gentle singing, Mingxuan's tense little body slowly relaxed. He rested his head on Su Wanrou's chest. Although his big eyes were still red, the fear had faded, leaving only dependence.
“Mother,” he whispered, “when will Father come back? I miss Father.”
Su Wanrou felt a pang of tenderness in her heart. She lowered her head and kissed the top of his head, saying softly, "Mother misses Father too. But we must wait patiently. Father is a great hero, and great heroes always need time to become. We can write to Father and tell him what you want to say, your lessons, and your drawings, okay?"
"Yes!" Mingxuan nodded vigorously, then suddenly remembered something, sat up straighter from Su Wanrou's arms, looked up at her with his little face, and said very seriously, "Mother, I will never be afraid of dreaming again. I am a man, and I should be brave like Father, and not always cry."
Seeing his forced mature act, Su Wanrou felt both heartache and relief. She hugged him tightly again and said gently, "Good, our Xuan'er is the bravest. But if you miss your father or feel scared, it's okay to cry. With your mother, Xuan'er can never pretend to be strong."
These words seemed to touch the softest spot in the child's heart. Mingxuan's tears, which he had just stopped, welled up again, but this time it wasn't a terrified cry, but a sob filled with grievance and dependence. He buried his face deeply in Su Wanrou's neck and said in a muffled voice, "Mother, you smell so good... different from Father, but... but you smell very nice too."
Su Wanrou's heart was instantly filled with those words, and an indescribable tenderness and sense of responsibility welled up within her. She knew that this child had truly accepted her as his "mother" from the bottom of his heart.
She hummed the lullaby softly again, gently rocking the baby. After some time, the little one in her arms began to breathe evenly and deeply, finally falling into a deep sleep, though the tiny hand still tightly gripped her clothes.
Afraid of waking him, Su Wanrou dared not move easily and remained in this position, leaning against the pillow. Yunbin quietly brought a soft brocade quilt and gently covered the two of them.
The flickering candlelight cast a warm and peaceful silhouette on the wall, illuminating the mother and son embracing. Su Wanrou looked down at Mingxuan's sleeping profile; long eyelashes still held undried teardrops, his lips slightly pouting, he slept soundly. A sense of tranquility filled her heart, and the fatigue from handling the day's affairs seemed to vanish.
This child was a responsibility entrusted to her by her husband, and also the bond that tightly connected her to this family. She gently stroked Mingxuan's soft hair, silently praying in her heart: Husband, rest assured, I will take good care of Xuan'er and this family. Please return safely.
That night, Mingxuan slept exceptionally well, without any nightmares. As for Su Wanrou, although the position was somewhat uncomfortable, her heart was filled with the satisfaction and strength of being a mother.
Since that night, Mingxuan has become increasingly close to and dependent on Su Wanrou. During the day, after school, he would always be the first to run to Su Wanrou, showing off his handwriting and drawings like a treasure. During meals, he would imitate the adults and serve Su Wanrou her favorite dishes. Before going to bed at night, he would always make sure Su Wanrou kissed and hugged him before he would obediently go to bed.
Su Wanrou also devoted more of her attention to Mingxuan. She cared not only about his studies but also about his joys and sorrows. She would take time to play with him, tell him stories and anecdotes, teach him to identify the flowers and plants in the courtyard, and patiently answer his all sorts of whimsical questions.
The bond between mother and son deepened day by day under the warm autumn sun and through the everyday moments of companionship. That natural "Mother" contained ever-growing affection and true love.
Meanwhile, Gu Yangui, far away in Shuofang City, in his next letter home, in addition to expressing his longing, also specifically mentioned: "Seeing Xuan'er's painting, although the brushstrokes are immature, the painting depicts you and me standing side by side, enjoying each other's happiness, which comforts me greatly. Jiaojiao, you have worked very hard in managing the household and raising the children."
As Su Wanrou read the letter, Mingxuan was perched on her lap, fiddling with a nine-linked ring. Sunlight streamed through the window, bathing them both in warmth. She glanced down at the child, then at her husband's strong, powerful handwriting on the letter, a gentle smile spreading across her lips.
This is what home is like. Even if we are separated temporarily, as long as our hearts are together, that is true fulfillment.
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