Chapter 86: The Dilemma of Loyalty and Filial Piety
Gu Yangui has been away from the capital for three days.
The Duke's mansion seemed to have become much quieter overnight. Although daily operations continued as usual and the servants performed their duties, the absence of the dignified aura of the male master made the entire mansion seem to have lost its backbone, and even the autumn sunlight seemed somewhat cold.
Su Wanrou sat at the head of the flower hall, several account books spread out before her. She tried to concentrate on the dense numbers, attempting to dispel the emptiness in her heart by keeping herself busy. But her gaze would always drift unconsciously to the window, as if that tall figure would appear outside the moon gate at any moment.
“Madam,” the butler Gu Zhong’s voice pulled her back from her reverie, “this is the budget for expenses in various places this month. Please review it and make your decision.”
Su Wanrou composed herself, took the account book, and began to carefully review it. Gu Yangui had entrusted her with all the affairs of the household before leaving the capital, so she couldn't afford to be negligent. As she went through each item, she noticed that one expenditure was significantly higher than usual.
"Uncle Zhong, why is the purchase and repair of the outer courtyard nearly 30% more than last month?" she asked calmly, pointing to that spot.
Gu Zhong bowed and replied, "Madam, it is because many of the bluestone slabs in the alleys outside the mansion are loose and damaged. With winter approaching and more rain and snow expected, it may be inconvenient to walk on them, so we plan to repair them all. Because the project is quite large, the budget has increased."
The reasoning was reasonable. But Su Wanrou remembered that a few days ago, when Gu Yangui returned, he casually mentioned that those alleyways belonged to the public area and should be maintained by the Jingzhao Yin Prefecture. She hadn't paid attention to it at the time, but now she remembered it.
She didn't immediately reveal the truth, but pondered for a moment before saying, "I see. However, I remember my husband once said that the maintenance of alleyways is the responsibility of the Prefect of the Capital. Uncle Zhong, you might as well send someone to the Prefect's office to inquire first. If they do have a repair plan, we won't have to overstep our bounds and will save some expenses. If they don't have any plans for the time being, we can repair them ourselves."
A barely perceptible look of surprise flashed in Gu Zhong's eyes, which quickly turned into admiration. He immediately replied, "Madam's consideration is so thorough that I, this old servant, had not thought of this detail. I am truly ashamed. I will send someone to inquire right away."
Su Wanrou smiled slightly: "Uncle Zhong manages such a large mansion, and there are many complicated affairs. It is normal for him to make mistakes from time to time. In the future, we will need to discuss things more."
Her words were humble, pointing out the problem while saving face for the old steward. Gu Zhong was pleased and became even more respectful: "Madam, rest assured, this old servant will do his utmost to assist you in managing the affairs of the household."
After handling several urgent matters, it was nearly noon. Su Wanrou rubbed her slightly throbbing temples and got up to go back to her room to check on Mingxuan. Just as she stepped out of the flower hall, the gatekeeper rushed in to report.
"Madam, the Princess Consort of Prince An has sent a message. Her carriage has arrived outside the manor. She said that she heard that the Duke has gone to war and has come to visit you."
Su Wanrou's heart skipped a beat. The Princess Consort of Prince An? She had only met this Princess Consort a few times at palace banquets and had no close relationship with her. Although the Prince of An was on good terms with Gu Yangui, the sudden visit of a woman, especially at such a sensitive time when Gu Yangui had just left the capital, made her suspicious.
She quickly gathered her thoughts and instructed, "Please invite the Crown Princess to the main hall for tea. I will be there immediately."
Back in her room, Su Wanrou changed into a more formal dress for receiving guests. She scrutinized herself in the mirror, ensuring her hair and clothes were impeccably styled. The girl in the mirror had lost some of her childishness, gaining a more composed and dignified air. She took a deep breath and told herself: at this moment, she was the face of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion; she absolutely could not show any weakness.
Upon entering the main hall, the Crown Princess of Prince An was already seated, sipping tea. Seeing Su Wanrou enter, she put down her teacup, smiled, and rose to greet her, "Madam Gu, I hope my visit has been uninvited and has not disturbed you?"
"Your Highness the Crown Princess's arrival is an honor to our humble abode. There is no need for me to disturb you." Su Wanrou greeted her with a smile, her attitude neither humble nor arrogant. "Please, have a seat."
The two took their seats as host and guest, and a maidservant served them fragrant tea again. The Crown Princess was about twenty years old, with a bright and beautiful appearance, and her demeanor carried the unique grace and poise of a woman from the royal family. She first greeted Su Wanrou with concern, and then remarked on the hardships of the border and the difficulties faced by military officers, her words revealing familiarity and goodwill.
Su Wanrou responded appropriately and cautiously, neither being overly enthusiastic nor lacking in manners.
After a brief chat, the Crown Princess changed the subject slightly and sighed softly: "Speaking of which, there's been a lot of discussion in the court about Duke Gu's journey north on orders this time."
Su Wanrou's heart stirred, but she remained outwardly calm, only nodding slightly: "Matters of state and military affairs are matters for a woman confined to the inner quarters, and I dare not presume to comment. I only hope that my husband will live up to the Emperor's favor, quell the border troubles as soon as possible, and return in triumph."
The Crown Princess glanced at her and smiled, "Madam is too modest. Who doesn't know how much Duke Gu cherishes you? There are some things I shouldn't say, but considering the friendship between our two families, I can't help but remind you of a few things."
"Your Majesty, please speak. I am all ears." Su Wanrou pretended to listen.
"The situation in the North is complicated," the Crown Princess said in a low voice. "It's true that the Rong and Di tribes are harassing the border, but there are differing opinions in the court. Some believe that we should use swift and decisive measures to deter them, while others advocate for appeasement and pacification to avoid escalating the conflict and wasting resources. Duke Gu is a leading figure in the war faction, and this trip... is under considerable scrutiny and pressure."
Su Wanrou listened quietly, her fingertips slightly curling inside her sleeve. The Crown Princess's words were incredibly revealing. Was she implying that her husband's mission wasn't simply to quell a rebellion, but also involved in political disputes at court? Perhaps… someone didn't want him to succeed?
"Thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty." Su Wanrou raised her eyes, her gaze clear and calm. "I am foolish and know nothing about court politics. I only know that as a military general, it is my duty to protect the country. No matter what the court says, since he has been ordered by the emperor to go to war, he will do his best to repay the emperor's kindness. As for other things, they are beyond my ability to worry about, nor do I dare to worry about them."
Her words clearly stated her and the Duke's mansion's stance: loyalty only to the emperor, not involvement in factional strife. This expressed both her loyalty to the emperor and her absolute trust in Gu Yangui's abilities, while cleverly deflecting any potential probing from the Crown Princess.
The Crown Princess's eyes flickered slightly, then her smile deepened: "Although Madam Gu is young, her insight is remarkable. No wonder Duke Gu is so confident in entrusting his family business to her. Well, these are not things we women should worry about. I came here today mainly to see if there is anything I can help you with. The Crown Prince and Duke Gu are as close as brothers, so please don't hesitate to ask if you have any difficulties."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness and Young Master," Su Wanrou said gratefully. "Everything is fine in the manor, and there are no problems for the time being. If there is anything you need, I will certainly trouble you."
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the Crown Princess rose to take her leave. Su Wanrou personally escorted her to the second gate, and only after watching the carriage disappear into the distance did the smile on her face slowly fade.
Back in her room, she sat alone by the window, pondering the words of the Crown Princess. A dilemma between loyalty and filial piety… At this moment, she seemed to understand the meaning of that phrase. Her husband faced open and honest enemies at the border, while she, in the capital, had to contend with the undercurrents of the situation and the thoughts of all sides.
"Mother!" Mingxuan's clear voice interrupted her thoughts. The little guy came home from school and rushed in like a cheerful little bird, but instead of his usual chatter, he seemed a bit sullen.
"What's wrong with Mingxuan?" Su Wanrou pulled him close and asked softly, "Did you suffer any injustice at school?"
Mingxuan nestled in her arms, his little mouth pouting, and after a long while he whispered, "Today... today the second son of the Qi family said that Father went to fight the barbarians, it's very dangerous, and he might... might not come back..."
Su Wanrou's heart clenched, a surge of anger mixed with heartache welling up inside her. She suppressed her emotions, gently patting Mingxuan's back, her tone firm yet tender: "Don't listen to other people's nonsense. Your father is the most powerful general in the Great Zhou Dynasty, he will definitely return safely. He's just going to teach those unruly bad people a lesson, just like... just like a teacher disciplining disobedient students. Once he's done, he'll naturally go home."
"Really?" Mingxuan looked up, his big eyes still filled with tears.
"Of course it's true." Su Wanrou wiped away his tears with her fingertips, revealing a reassuring smile. "When has your mother ever lied to you? You have to trust your father. When he comes back, he'll check your homework, so Mingxuan has to study hard and not disappoint his father, right?"
"Yes!" Mingxuan was encouraged and nodded vigorously. "I will study hard and recite 'The Art of War' to my father when he comes back!"
Having appeased Mingxuan and watched him being taken away for snacks by his wet nurse, Su Wanrou's smile gradually faded. Even children's squabbles had escalated to discussions of the front lines, demonstrating the complex state of public opinion in the capital. She could no longer wallow in her sorrow; she had to truly support her family.
She summoned Qingdai and whispered a few instructions. Soon after, Gu Zhong was invited over.
“Uncle Zhong,” Su Wanrou said solemnly, “from today onwards, everyone in the manor must be more cautious. If any outsiders inquire about the Duke’s news or matters of the manor, no one should say a word. When Mingxuan goes to and from school, more reliable people should be assigned to pick him up and drop him off, and his safety must be ensured. Also, please investigate carefully what rumors are circulating in the capital recently regarding the war in the northern border.”
Gu Zhong's expression hardened, and he immediately understood the seriousness of the matter: "Don't worry, Madam, this old servant understands, I will make the arrangements immediately."
Night fell, and the city lights began to twinkle. Su Wanrou sat under the lamp, spreading out letter paper, preparing to write her first letter home to Gu Yangui. The pen was dipped in ink, but she couldn't bring herself to write it.
A thousand words could not express her deep concern. But in the end, she only wrote down some casual words about how everything was fine at home and how sensible Mingxuan was, her tone light, reporting only good news and not bad. At the end of the letter, she added: "The autumn wind is getting colder, I hope you take care and look forward to your early return."
She carefully sealed the letter she had written and handed it to her trusted confidant, who would send it to the northern border via the military post road early the next morning.
Standing alone by the window, gazing at the cold autumn moon in the night sky, Su Wanrou clutched the front of her dress tightly. The moonlight was exactly the same as when they parted that day, only now they were separated by a thousand miles.
Loyalty to the emperor and protection of the family's safety. Her husband was fulfilling his "loyalty" at the front, while she had to guard their "home" at the rear. Perhaps this was the greatest "filial piety" and "righteousness" she could do at this moment.
The road ahead is long and uncertain. But she knows she must become stronger. Because she is Gu Yangui's wife, the mistress of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
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