Chapter 65: The Request for Battle Controversy
Su Wanrou slept lightly all night and got up before dawn. She opened the window and saw that the morning mist was thick and the air was damp and cold before dawn, just like her mood at that moment, heavy and chilly.
After having breakfast, she mustered her energy and went to Shou'an Hall to pay her respects to the old lady. The old lady had clearly not slept well either, and looked tired, but she still managed to comfort her, saying, "Yan Gui is going to fight a victorious battle. We should stay in the mansion and make the most of our lives so as not to distract him."
After leaving Shou'an Hall, Su Wanrou immediately began handling the affairs of the household. The steward, Gu Zhong, presented her with thick ledgers and tallies, requesting approval for all expenses. She calmed herself, meticulously reviewing each entry, her work clear and without error. Seeing that although the lady's face was pale, she remained composed, the servants' initial anxiety due to the Duke's impending military campaign gradually subsided.
However, this apparent calm was broken at midday.
The Yongchang Marquis's residence, Su Wanrou's maternal family, sent someone in a hurry. It turned out to be Su's personal nanny. The nanny looked anxious. After dismissing everyone else, she took Su Wanrou's hand and whispered, "My dear young lady, something happened in court today!"
Su Wanrou's heart sank: "Granny, tell me slowly, what happened?"
The old woman took a breath and said, "Master came back from court looking very grim! He said that today several ignorant censors seized on the excuse that the Duke was 'newly married' and 'his household was not yet stable' to launch a fierce attack on him in the Golden Palace, saying that the Duke's departure for the expedition at this time was not of pure intention and that he might be harboring troops... Alas, even this old servant can't bring herself to say those words! In short, they were very nasty! They also said that Miss is too young to shoulder the heavy responsibility of the Duke's mansion and suggested that His Majesty choose another virtuous and capable commander!"
Su Wanrou's face drained of color instantly, her fingertips turning icy cold. She had anticipated opposition, but she hadn't expected it to be so vicious, attacking not only Gu Yangui but also directly targeting her! She could guess the unfinished sentence after "possessing troops"—it was nothing more than "self-respect," a veiled attack on her conscience!
"Then... what will Your Majesty decide? My husband..." Her voice trembled almost imperceptibly.
"Fortunately, the Duke made a decisive decision!" The old woman's tone turned to relief, even with a hint of pride and excitement. "The Duke delivered his speech in court, leaving those officials speechless! The master said that the Duke's imposing manner at the time was truly... tsk tsk, it intimidated the entire court!"
The old woman tried her best to recall Yongchang Earl's description and recreate the scene as vividly as possible:
two
(The following is a scene from the imperial court, presented through the narration of a nanny.)
In the Xuanzheng Hall, Emperor Yongxi sat high on his dragon throne, looking displeased at the several censors kneeling below. Leading them was Zhou Zhengqing, who had been rendered speechless by Gu Yangui the previous day. He had clearly come prepared, having contacted several other officials to launch a joint attack.
"Your Majesty!" Zhou Zhengqing knelt upright, his voice filled with grief and indignation. "We are not targeting the Duke of Zhenguo! We are acting in the best interests of the country! The Duke of Zhenguo has only been married for a few months, and he and his wife are deeply in love. If we send him on a distant expedition at this time, what will the soldiers think? They will think that their commander is preoccupied with his beloved wife and cannot fight the enemy with all his might. This is a grave taboo that undermines the morale of the army!"
Another official chimed in, "Lord Zhou is absolutely right! Moreover, the Duchess is only of marriageable age and has been in charge of the household affairs for no more than a hundred days. There is still a young heir and an elderly matriarch in the household. Once the Duke leaves the capital, there will be no adult male in charge of the household. If something happens and the inner quarters become unstable, and the news reaches the army, wouldn't it cause great confusion for the commander-in-chief? If the war goes wrong, who can bear the responsibility?" These words had already preemptively pinned the possible responsibility for defeat on Su Wanrou's "inability to shoulder the responsibility."
"I second that!" Another person stepped forward. "The commander-in-chief of the northern expedition is a matter of national destiny. We should choose a seasoned general who is pure of heart and has no worries about the future! Although the Duke of Zhenguo is brave, he is tied down by family matters and is not the best choice! I hope Your Majesty will reconsider!"
These people, working in unison, portrayed the "newlywed" situation as a colossal weakness, depicting Su Wanrou as a femme fatale and a threat to the household; every word they uttered was vicious. Some officials who had initially been neutral or hesitant began to whisper among themselves. Emperor Yongxi, sitting on the dragon throne, frowned more and more deeply, his gaze sweeping over the ever-silent Gu Yangui.
Just as the atmosphere was about to turn against Gu Yangui again, Gu Yangui took a step forward, his posture as upright as a pine tree breaking through the snow, instantly attracting everyone's attention. He didn't even glance at Zhou Zhengqing and the others, but directly faced the throne, clasped his hands in a salute, and spoke in a low but resonant voice that clearly reached everyone's ears:
"Your Majesty! Your subject has questions for Censor Zhou and his associates!"
Emperor Yongxi nodded: "Granted."
Gu Yangui then slowly turned around, his gaze, like a cold blade, sweeping over Zhou Zhengqing and the others kneeling on the ground. The battlefield ferocity contained in that gaze sent a chill down the spines of these civil officials who were used to verbal attacks.
“Imperial Censor Zhou,” Gu Yangui began, his tone chillingly calm, “you keep saying that I am ‘newly married’ and ‘heartbroken for my beloved wife.’ I would like to ask you, will the iron cavalry of the Northern Di leader Modu slow their advance on Yunzhou just because of my marriage? Will the wronged souls of the soldiers and civilians who died under the walls of Yunzhou find peace because of my family affairs?”
Zhou Zhengqing's face paled, and he vehemently argued, "I...I didn't mean that! I was just stating the facts and considering the commander-in-chief's state of mind..."
"Mindset?" Gu Yangui interrupted him, a cold sneer curling at the corner of his lips. "In Censor Zhou's view, defending the country and driving out the barbarians depends on a mindset of romance and sentimentality? Is the morale of the soldiers of our Great Zhou maintained by whether their commander is newly married?"
His voice suddenly rose, booming like thunder: "This is utterly absurd! The morale of the army depends on the belief in defending the country! It depends on the courage of the commander-in-chief to lead from the front! It depends on the guarantee of sufficient supplies from the rear! Not on the filthy thoughts you all have here to speculate about!"
His gaze was sharp as an arrow, piercing Zhou Zhengqing: "Imperial Censor Zhou is so concerned about the Gu family's residence, does he think that my Zhenguo Duke's Mansion is a mess without me, unable to even guard the gate? Or does he think that the First-Rank Duke's wife, appointed by His Majesty, is so incompetent that she cannot even fulfill her duties of managing the household, raising her young children, and respecting her elders?"
Zhou Zhengqing was speechless, cold sweat beading on his forehead. To question the Duchess's abilities was to question the Emperor's judgment and the appointment of her!
Gu Yangui stopped looking at him, turned to face the assembled civil and military officials, and spoke in a deep and resolute voice, carrying an unwavering determination:
“Your Majesty! My wife, Lady Su, though young, is well-educated, kind, gentle, and virtuous! Since entering the palace, she has been respectful to my grandmother, caring for my young son, and managing the household affairs with great efficiency! At the recent palace banquet, Her Majesty the Empress also praised her personally! I have complete confidence in entrusting the residence to her!”
He knelt on one knee again, clasped his hands above his head, and spoke each word with resounding force:
"When the nation is in peril, every citizen has a duty! I have received the Emperor's grace and my family's bounty, and it is my duty to step forward! The Northern Barbarians are rampant and have slaughtered our cities; this is a national and personal vendetta! I also have a personal grudge against Modu Chanyu from the Battle of Yinshan five years ago! For both public and private reasons, I have an inescapable duty to fight this battle!"
"If I were to shrink back because of a mere family matter, what face would I have to stand in this court? What face would I have to face the starving people of the North? What face would I have to call myself a subject of the Great Zhou, a pillar of His Majesty?!"
He suddenly looked up, his gaze burning, and stared directly at Emperor Yongxi: "Your Majesty! Heaven and earth can bear witness to my heart! On this journey to the northern border, I will lead the troops to recapture Yunzhou and drive out the barbarians! If the city falls, I will not live alone! If I cannot return in triumph, I am willing to die on the battlefield to repay Your Majesty's grace!"
"Your subject once again requests permission to lead the northern expedition!"
three
The imperial court was deathly silent.
Gu Yangui's speech, devoid of any flowery language, was brimming with a soldier's most fervent passion and unwavering resolve. He seamlessly linked personal emotions with national righteousness, transforming the vulnerability of being newly married into the heroic act of sacrificing his family for the country, and even pledging his life as a pledge to the nation! This spirit, this determination, completely overwhelmed all dissenting voices!
Those officials who had initially intended to say something all lowered their heads in the face of this overwhelming momentum. Zhou Zhengqing and his companions, their faces ashen, knelt on the ground, trembling.
Emperor Yongxi looked at the minister kneeling before the imperial throne, seeing the unwavering loyalty and resolve in his eyes. The last trace of doubt in his heart, stemming from the "new marriage" and "family," vanished. He was even somewhat moved; this was truly the pillar of his Great Zhou! This was a capable general to whom the empire could be entrusted!
"Excellent!" The emperor stood up abruptly, his voice booming with imperial decisiveness and admiration. "Minister Gu is unparalleled in loyalty and courage, truly a model for all officials! If all the ministers of my Great Zhou were like you, how could we not destroy the Northern Barbarians and ensure the prosperity of our nation?"
He swept his stern gaze over Zhou Zhengqing and the others: "Your outdated views almost ruined a great undertaking! Get out of here!"
Zhou Zhengqing and the others felt as if they had been granted a pardon and scrambled back onto the train.
The Emperor looked at Gu Yangui again, his eyes filled with trust and expectation: "Minister Gu, I will ask you one more time: can you shoulder the heavy responsibility of the northern expedition?"
Gu Yangui raised his head, his voice resolute: "I would die a thousand deaths for you!"
"Good!" Emperor Yongxi announced loudly, "The decree has been issued and cannot be changed! Grand Marshal Gu Yangui of the Northern Expedition shall, three days from now at Chenshi (7-9 AM), swear an oath at the command platform outside the Zhuque Gate before setting off on the expedition! The Six Ministries and all government offices in the capital region must fully cooperate. Any negligence will be punished as in this case!"
The emperor slammed his hand on the armrest of the dragon throne, the sound echoing throughout the palace.
"Your Majesty, we obey! Long live the Emperor!" The officials responded in unison, and this time, there was no further dissent.
Four
The old woman spoke until her throat was dry, and finally patted her chest, saying, "Miss, you didn't see it. Master said that the Duke's aura at that time was truly... like a god descending to earth! The faces of those censors turned green! After that, no one dared to utter a single word of gossip!"
Su Wanrou listened quietly, her heart churning with turmoil. She imagined him standing alone in the imperial palace, facing the condemnation of thousands, clearing her name, and volunteering for the country. That protectiveness, that sense of responsibility, that unwavering determination, was like a warm current, dispelling the grievances and chill in her heart, but also bringing a deeper worry and concern that almost overwhelmed her.
He publicly pledged his life: "If the city falls, I will not live alone!" This clearly showed his determination to succeed or die trying!
"Miss? What's wrong? Your face is so pale?" the nanny asked worriedly.
Su Wanrou snapped out of her daze and forced a smile: "I'm fine, Granny. Thank you for making this trip. Please go back and tell Father and Mother that I'm alright and that they can rest assured."
After seeing the old woman off, Su Wanrou sat alone by the window, gazing at the withering flowers and trees in the courtyard, remaining silent for a long time.
For her sake, he endured such attacks in the imperial court.
He put himself in such a dangerous situation for the sake of his country.
What virtue or ability does Su Wanrou possess to deserve such protection from him? And how utterly incompetent she is, only able to worry in vain within this secluded mansion?
No, she couldn't just worry. She remembered the pair of cards he had given her, the letter to the old guard in the North, and his entrustment of the Old Madam and Mingxuan. He had given her his "home" and a part of his "foundation," and she had to protect it.
She stood up, walked to her desk, spread out paper, and prepared ink and brushes. She was to write visiting cards, in the name of the Duchess of Zhenguo, to the ladies of several noble families in the capital who were on good terms with the Duke's family and whose sons were about to join the army. Before Gu Yan left the capital, she planned to hold a small family banquet, both as a farewell feast for the departing sons and as an opportunity to solidify the relationships among the women of the household and weave an invisible network of mutual support.
She also needed to manage the household affairs more meticulously, appease the servants, and take good care of her grandmother and Mingxuan. She wanted to ensure that after his departure, the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion would not only remain orderly but would become even more well-organized and impregnable.
She wanted him to know that the wife he had married was not a delicate flower that could withstand the storms of life. She might be weak, but she would do everything in her power to protect their home and give him peace of mind.
The pen tip touched the paper, the ink spreading out, the handwriting neat and powerful. Outside the window, the dark clouds gradually dispersed, and a ray of sunlight stubbornly pierced through the clouds, illuminating her calm and resolute profile.
The storm has passed, and her resolve is stronger than ever. The road ahead is destined to be difficult, but she is ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with him and weather the storm together.
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