Chapter 132: Entrusting Life and Death
Forcing herself to issue a series of instructions seemed to have exhausted the last bit of strength in Su Wanrou's life. The tough mental defenses that had supported her through the difficult childbirth and faced the danger of her child crumbled the moment she confirmed that the child was temporarily safe.
She felt as if her entire body had been crushed and then barely pieced back together, every bone screaming in pain and exhaustion. A bottomless darkness surged in from all directions, enveloping her gently yet irresistibly. The weight of the infant in her arms, seemingly weightless, became her only, fragile connection to the conscious world.
With red-rimmed eyes, Granny Zhou and Qingdai carefully tried to remove the young master from her arms so she could fall asleep peacefully. But even on the verge of losing consciousness, Su Wanrou's arms still instinctively tightened, as if they were the only piece of driftwood she was clinging to in a raging storm.
“Yan…gui…” A faint, broken murmur escaped from her chapped lips. The sound was so soft it was almost inaudible, yet it was like a fine needle, piercing the hearts of Granny Zhou and Qingdai.
Qingdai's tears fell instantly again. She turned her head away, unable to bear to look any longer.
Granny Zhou took a deep breath and gestured for Qingdai to prepare a more nourishing medicinal soup. She then sat on the footstool by the bed and gently wiped away the cold sweat that kept seeping from Su Wanrou's forehead with a warm, damp cloth. The old nanny looked at the lady's tightly furrowed brows and pale, bloodless face, even in her unconscious state, and felt as if her heart was being torn apart.
The postpartum blood stains had been cleaned up, and she had changed into clean nightgowns, but a faint smell of blood and medicine still lingered in the air. Su Wanrou lay there, as fragile as a precious piece of porcelain, as if the slightest touch would shatter her completely.
Her consciousness sank into a chaotic abyss. Sometimes, it was the soaring flames of Falling Eagle Gorge and the piercing clash of weapons; Gu Yangui, covered in blood, charged through enemy lines, desperately trying to scream, but her throat felt constricted, unable to utter a sound. Other times, it was the day of the spring hunt, his strong arms encircling her, the fragrance of jasmine mingling with his cool breath—the beginning of her peaceful life. And then it was their wedding night, red candles burning brightly, him clumsily loosening her sash, his breath hot…
Fragmented images flashed by in a bizarre and surreal way, finally settling on the night before Gu Yangui left home. He didn't say many sweet words, but simply hugged her tightly, resting his chin on the top of her head, his voice low and hoarse: "The capital is not peaceful, the manor... and you, I'm leaving them to you. Wait for me to come back."
Wait for me to come back.
These four words became the last straw that broke her back, and also the only belief that kept her from completely succumbing to despair.
"The banquet is over...danger...run quickly..." she began to mutter anxiously again, her head swaying unconsciously on the pillow, tears constantly seeping from the corners of her eyes, "My child...my child...don't take my child away..."
Granny Zhou quickly grasped her icy hand, repeatedly comforting her, "Madam, it's alright, it's alright. The young master is fine, sleeping right beside you. No one can take him away. The Duke... the Duke will surely be safe and sound. You must hold on and wait for him to come back..."
Perhaps it was the continued reassurance that worked, or perhaps her body's instincts required a deeper period of rest to recover; Su Wanrou's murmurs gradually subsided, and although her breathing remained weak, it finally became slightly more even and long. However, the hand that wasn't holding the child was still tightly gripping the quilt beneath her, her knuckles white, as if she were struggling against something invisible even in her sleep.
Physician Lin came in again to take her pulse, his brow furrowed. He whispered to Granny Zhou, "Madam's vital energy is severely depleted, her spirit exhausted, and the sudden pain has further disturbed her peace of mind. Medicine is important, but she needs rest even more; she absolutely cannot be subjected to any further stimulation. If any more bad news comes… I'm afraid…" He shook his head, his unfinished words filled with worry.
Granny Zhou's heart was heavy. She looked at the sleeping lady, then at the premature baby beside her who needed the utmost care, and then at the Duke, whose fate was unknown at the front lines. She felt that God had been far too cruel to the Duke's mansion, which had just seen a glimmer of light.
A deathly silence fell over the delivery room, broken only by the ticking of the water clock, marking the agonizing passage of time. How long had passed—perhaps an hour, perhaps longer—was broken by the sound of deliberately soft, yet still hurried, footsteps outside.
Uncle Fu appeared outside the screen. He didn't come in, but lowered his voice, his tone filled with suppressed excitement and uncertainty: "Granny, Mo Yu just sent back a message..."
Granny Zhou's heart tightened, fearing it was more bad news. She quickly got up and went to the screen, asking urgently in a breathy voice, "How is it?"
Uncle Fu's voice trembled slightly. Was it good news or bad news that made him lose his composure like this? "A military report from the northern border has just arrived in the capital by express courier! It says... it says that the Duke has killed the Rongdi general Wutuo'er in battle at Luoying Gorge, and has successfully broken through the encirclement with the remaining soldiers!"
"What?!" Granny Zhou was so shocked she almost cried out. She quickly covered her mouth, glanced back at the still unconscious Su Wanrou, and her heart pounded. "Successfully broke through? Is that true? Is the Duke alright?"
"That's what the military report says! It says the breakout was successful, but... but the Duke was wounded during the breakout, and the report is vague about the extent of his injury... Moreover, it doesn't say where he went after the breakout, or whether he rejoined the main army!" Uncle Fu's voice was filled with anxiety. "Now the court is in an uproar. Some say the Duke turned the tide and deserves great credit; but Minister Zhao and his group are fixated on the 'underestimation of the enemy and reckless advance' that led to the loss of more than half of their troops, and they're still impeaching him!"
The fleeting joy that had just begun to rise in Granny Zhou's heart was instantly shattered by the uncertain news and the court's infighting. A successful breakout was fantastic news, but what about the injuries? How severe were they? Where were they now? All of this remained unknown!
Is this news a balm to cheer the lady up, or a sharper dagger that could completely destroy her?
Granny Zhou hesitated. Looking at Su Wanrou, who was barely breathing on the bed, she really didn't dare to take the risk.
Just then, Su Wanrou on the bed seemed to be startled by their extremely low conversation. Her eyelashes trembled a few times, and she slowly opened her eyes. Her once clear and bright almond-shaped eyes were now dull and bloodshot, filled with confusion and weakness as she struggled out of a deep coma.
"Granny..." her voice was terribly hoarse, "Is there... news of the banquet's return?"
Both Granny Zhou and Uncle Fu were startled. Granny Zhou quickly went to the bedside, forcing a smile: "Madam, you're awake? How are you feeling? Have some ginseng soup first..."
“Tell me.” Su Wanrou interrupted her, looking directly at her, her gaze weak yet unwavering, “I heard… break through… Yan Gui… is he still alive?”
Knowing she could no longer hide it, Granny Zhou knelt down before the bed with a thud, tears streaming down her face: "Madam! Heaven has mercy! Military news has just arrived, the Duke... he has successfully broken through the encirclement at Luoying Gorge! He's still alive!"
Su Wanrou's pupils contracted sharply, and she froze as if struck by lightning. After a few seconds of deathly silence, large tears silently rolled down her cheeks, not from sadness, but from extreme, unbelievable ecstasy and catharsis.
He's still alive! He's really still alive!
However, what Granny Zhou said next made her heart leap into her throat again: "But... the military report says that the Duke was wounded during the breakout, the extent of his injury is unknown, and his whereabouts are unknown after the breakout, and he has not yet rejoined the army... In the court... there are people in the court who are using this to attack the Duke..."
Su Wanrou closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face even more fiercely. Joy and worry battled fiercely within her, causing her body, still reeling from immense trauma, to tremble slightly. But this time, she did not succumb to despair.
It's good that he's alive. As long as he's alive, there's hope.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her turbulent emotions. When she opened her eyes again, although there were still tears in them, a bright light had rekindled within them.
"Uncle Fu," her voice was still weak, but carried an undeniable determination, "use all the resources in the manor, at all costs, to find out the Duke's exact whereabouts and injuries! As for the court... have our people spread the news of 'slaying the enemy chieftain and successfully breaking through the siege,' the louder the better! As for the impeachments... we'll deal with them when Yan Gui returns!"
"Yes, Madam!" Seeing that although the Madam was so weak, her mind was so clear and decisive, Uncle Fu felt reassured and quickly accepted the order and left.
Su Wanrou lay back down, her arms instinctively tightening around the child in her embrace. The child seemed startled, letting out a soft groan.
She lowered her head, looking at the fragile little life in her arms, and then thought of her husband, who was far away and also injured. Her heart was filled with bitterness, but also with an incredibly resilient strength.
"Baby, can you hear me?" she whispered, tears falling onto the baby's swaddling clothes. "Daddy's still alive... He'll definitely come back... We all have to be okay... and wait for him..."
This time, her babbling was no longer filled with panic and despair, but with endless hope and a belief in entrusting her life to someone else.
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