Chapter 523 Reunion of Husband and Wife (Second Update)
The person Gu Changqing and Gu Jiao went to pick up this time was the son of Princess Ning'an and Huangfu Zheng. He was thirteen years old this year. When Princess Ning'an mentioned him, she didn't say much, only saying, "He is not in good health."
But when the three of them actually arrived at the address provided by Princess Ning'an, they realized that they had underestimated the meaning of "not in good health".
It was a boy sitting in a wheelchair, with a thin face and pale, sickly skin. He was wrapped in a thick cloak, and the fox fur on his collar fluttered softly in the biting wind.
He has a pair of narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes, just like his father's.
His nose and mouth look just like his mother's.
He sat in the courtyard filled with lush bamboo, with only four guards by his side.
He saw the three brothers and sisters dressed in armor, but his expression remained unchanged. He simply gripped the wheels of his wheelchair with both hands and said calmly, "You've come to pick me up?"
"Uh... Ah, yes!" Gu Chengfeng said blankly.
“Let’s go.” He pushed the wheelchair.
Gu Changqing stared at him intently without saying anything, then stepped forward and went behind him to push his wheelchair: "I'll do it."
He loosened his hands from the wheels.
"Um, aren't you going to ask who we are?" Gu Chengfeng asked him suspiciously.
He said, "You are either my father's people or my mother's people. My father was defeated, so I guess you were sent by my mother."
"He's quite clever," Gu Chengfeng muttered.
Sigh, to be honest, Gu Chengfeng was a little disappointed.
He originally thought they were there to rescue people, but it turned out they were just there to pick people up, as the name suggests.
He wanted to have a fight and show his brother his kung fu skills, but he wasted his time!
Gu Changqing pushed the boy towards the door.
Gu Jiao stood at the doorway, arms crossed, leaning against the doorframe.
As Gu Changqing pushed the wheelchair over, Gu Jiao glanced at his legs.
It wasn't out of offense or curiosity, it was simply a doctor's diagnosis of a patient.
Unfortunately, his legs were covered by a thick blanket, completely obscuring them, so Gu Jiao couldn't see anything.
There was a carriage for boys in the house; the back door could be opened, and when it was lowered, it became a landslide.
Gu Changqing pushed the wheelchair up, and Gu Chengfeng helped close the door.
"Are they going together?" Gu Changqing asked, glancing at the four guards in the house.
The young man said calmly, "Does the capital lack people to serve me?"
There's nothing wrong with what he said, but it just makes him sound a bit unapproachable.
However, Gu Changqing had no intention of getting close to him. On the way back to the capital, they were ruler and subject, but after returning to the capital, they might become strangers who would never see each other again.
There were things on the floor of the carriage to secure wheelchairs, but Gu Changqing wasn't familiar with them, and the boy didn't remind her.
Just as the driver was about to start the carriage, Gu Jiao said, "Wait."
The driver stopped.
Gu Jiao lifted the curtain and got into the carriage, then pulled out several wooden buckles hidden in the floor and secured them to the wheels of her wheelchair.
She did not intentionally touch the boy's legs throughout the entire process.
After doing all this, she glanced at the boy before turning around and getting off the carriage.
They set off first; the main army was still behind.
Gu Changqing found a post station on the way back to the capital and asked for two rooms, one for Gu Jiao and one for the boy.
The army will arrive at night, and Gu Changqing and Gu Chengfeng will sleep in the tent.
The boy fell asleep after checking into the inn and didn't come out for dinner.
The three siblings lit a bonfire in the yard and roasted some sweet potatoes and cured meat.
Gu Changqing picked some grain and fodder to feed the horses in the stable.
Gu Chengfeng and Gu Jiao sat by the fire. Gu Chengfeng moved closer to Gu Jiao and whispered, "Hey, don't you think that kid is acting weird?"
"What's strange?" Gu Jiao flipped over the cured meat on the fire.
Gu Chengfeng swallowed hard, skewered a roasted sweet potato with a stick, and said in a low voice, "His biological father died, and he doesn't seem sad at all. And his personality, it always gives me a creepy feeling. And then there's his leg, what's wrong with his leg? Is he injured or is he lame?"
As Gu Chengfeng was speaking, he suddenly sensed something was wrong. He turned his head sharply and saw that the boy had come out of the house at some point and was sitting in a wheelchair where the cold wind was blowing directly in, looking as sinister as a ghost from the underworld.
Gu Chengfeng, who was always bold, couldn't help but get goosebumps and dropped the sweet potato in his hand!
Gu Jiao glanced at him calmly, then looked away and continued grilling the meat.
"What are you grilling?" the boy asked.
"Cured pork," Gu Jiao said.
"I want some too," the boy said.
Gu Jiao flipped the grilled meat over: "I'll bring it in when it's done."
The boy refused, saying, "No, I want to eat here."
There were steps leading from the house to here, which he couldn't get down by himself. Gu Chengfeng composed himself, walked over, and carried him down the steps, wheelchair and all, before pushing him to the fire.
"It's windy here, you can go inside after you've been out in the wind for a while," Gu Chengfeng kindly reminded him.
The boy didn't respond to him, but instead looked at Gu Jiao, who was intently grilling the meat: "Why are you wearing a mask? Are you ugly? Can't you be seen by people?"
Gu Chengfeng straightened his back: "Hey! How dare you talk like that! Who's ugly!"
The boy scoffed, "Why cover your face if you're not ugly?"
Gu Chengfeng was so angry that he punched him. Gu Chengfeng's face turned cold, and he snorted, "We're happy to do it! Covering your face means you're ashamed to show your face to others, so does that mean you can't walk because you're in a wheelchair!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Chengfeng felt the boy's expression stiffen for a moment.
Gu Chengfeng suddenly realized that he might have said something wrong. He opened his mouth, wanting to make amends, but it was too late.
The boy slowly tugged at the corners of his lips, smiling in a way that was both mocking and sarcastic.
Then, under Gu Chengfeng's somewhat guilty and astonished gaze, he raised his pale hand and pulled back the blanket covering his legs.
A gust of cold wind blew by, lifting his empty trouser legs.
...
The military report of the great victory on the border had arrived at the palace in early December via express courier service, and the emperor and his officials breathed a sigh of relief.
The remnants of the previous dynasty colluded with pirates and the army of Chen, causing war to break out on two borders of Zhao at the same time. Zhao was attacked from both sides, and then it was heard that the old Marquis and Princess Ning'an had been captured.
The general public didn't have much confidence in this battle.
But to everyone's surprise, Gu's army won so quickly.
The emperor began to look forward to the return of Princess Ning'an, Gu Changqing, Tang Yueshan, the old Marquis, and the soldiers.
Of course, there's also the little miracle doctor.
He was the one who gave the imperial decree to let the little divine doctor leave the capital. He really didn't expect the little divine doctor to go to the border. If it weren't for the news from Yuegu City that two officials sent by Empress Dowager Zhuang had arrived with a token from Renshou Palace, he would still be in the dark.
If he had known she was going to such a dangerous place, he would never have given her the imperial decree to leave the city.
Heaven knows he's almost driven crazy by his mother's resentment; he hasn't seen her for three days!
"Has it not arrived yet? Has it not arrived yet?" The emperor paced restlessly in his study.
"It'll be here soon, they say it'll arrive in a few days," Eunuch Wei said with a smile.
The emperor gave him a resentful look: "You said the same thing last time!"
Eunuch Wei chuckled awkwardly, "Wasn't it because... we were caught in a heavy snowstorm that blocked the mountain pass and suddenly couldn't leave?"
The weather was colder on the way back than on the way there, and the mountains were blocked by heavy snow more often.
Originally, based on the army's rapid marching speed, they should have arrived in the capital on the 20th, but day after day they were delayed, and even the Lunar New Year had passed, and there was still no sign of the army!
The emperor slumped back in his chair, utterly dejected: "If the little miracle doctor doesn't return soon, I'm afraid the Empress will never speak to me again for the rest of my life."
The Emperor was wrong. Whether Jiaojiao returns or not, Empress Dowager Zhuang no longer wants to deal with this foolish son!
They actually sent her precious daughter to the border region!
How come she didn't smother him with a blanket back then!
On the other side of Bishui Hutong, the family was also waiting for Gu Jiao with bated breath.
They all went to sleep the night Gu Jiao left, and it wasn't until the next day that Xiao Heng told them that Gu Jiao had gone to the border.
Ms. Yao almost fainted on the spot.
There was a war on the frontier, how did her daughter end up in such a place?
Gu Yan had grown accustomed to Gu Jiao's presence, and when she suddenly left, he felt as if he had been cut in half and taken away.
Gu Xiaoshun was also very worried and sad.
He grew up with Gu Jiao, and they spent the most time together and the least time apart. Therefore, among them, he was actually the one who was least used to it.
When Xiao Jingkong woke up, he found that Gu Jiao was gone. He almost burst into tears, but then he saw the letter that Gu Jiao had left for him. He then held back all his tears.
Jiaojiao isn't in the capital, so his crying is useless.
He wanted to save his tears so he could cry for Jiaojiao when he got back.
Xiao Heng currently holds positions in both the Hanlin Academy and the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Justice is better informed than the Hanlin Academy, and it is the first to know about any developments at the front lines, along with the Ministry of War.
Whether it was for official business or for personal reasons, Xiao Heng spent more time in the Ministry of Justice than in the Hanlin Academy these past two months, opening countless letters.
"Has the mountain been blocked by heavy snow again?"
While writing his memorial, Minister Xing asked Xiao Heng, who was organizing letters nearby, a question.
Xiao Heng carefully put the letter away and said in a normal tone, "Yes, I was delayed in the Cangzhou area."
Minister Xing frowned and said, "Cangzhou is at least seven or eight days away from here. I'm afraid the army won't be able to return before the New Year."
The day after tomorrow is Lunar New Year's Eve, and even if the army travels non-stop, it won't be able to get back to the capital in time.
Xiao Heng gazed at the swirling snowflakes outside the window, a thoughtful expression on his face.
The border region was bitterly cold and filled with the smoke of war, but the capital city remained unaffected by the fighting. The streets and alleys were bustling with vendors, shops, and crowds, a scene of prosperity and splendor.
Every household in Bishui Hutong had hung red lanterns, pasted paper-cut window decorations and couplets, and their family had done the same.
This year, Lin Chengye and Feng Lin both returned to Youzhou for the Spring Festival.
There were quite a few people in the house, but it still felt deserted. I don't know if it was because the two of them were missing, or because Gu Jiao was missing.
The little gossip has stopped chattering, and Auntie no longer invites neighbors to play cards. Yao's youngest son is three months old, but he's well-behaved, neither crying nor fussing, as if there's no baby in the house.
Little Jingkong stood inside the threshold, his little arms outstretched behind him, his little body flapping out, his little head looking towards the alleyways on both sides.
Jiaojiao.
He wants Jiaojiao.
The sound of a carriage came from the doorway. Little Jingkong excitedly ran out with his short legs, but after running for a while, he realized that it was his bad brother-in-law who had returned.
Little Jingkong's face fell, and he said disappointedly, "Why is it you?"
Xiao Heng stepped down from the carriage and tapped his forehead: "Why isn't it me?"
"Hmph." Xiao Jingkong turned his face away.
"I'm leaving," Xiao Heng said to him.
Xiao Jingkong followed slowly behind him, turning back every few steps.
Xiao Heng walked ahead, and even without turning around, he knew what the other man was doing: "Don't look, Jiao Jiao won't be back today."
Xiao Jingkong asked, "Why?"
Xiao Heng said, "The mountains are blocked by heavy snow, and the army cannot move."
Xiao Jingkong: "Can Jiaojiao come back tomorrow?"
Xiao Heng: "I don't know."
Xiao Jingkong: "What about the day after tomorrow? The day after tomorrow is Lunar New Year's Eve, my birthday. Can Jiaojiao come back to celebrate with me?"
Xiao Heng: "You weren't born on New Year's Eve."
Little Jingkong, hands on hips and stamping his feet, exclaimed, "The abbot said my birthday is New Year's Eve! So it's New Year's Eve! Jiaojiao also celebrated my birthday on New Year's Eve!"
Xiao Heng smiled, not arguing with him, but stopping and ruffling his slightly longer hair: "Let's go in."
Early the next morning, Xiao Jingkong sat on the doorstep. He waited from dawn till dusk, until he turned into a little snowman, but Jiaojiao still didn't come back.
Gu Yan walked over and led the little guy inside.
Tonight at midnight will be Lunar New Year's Eve, but the army is still trapped in the snow-capped mountains of Cangzhou, and they are destined not to be able to return for the New Year.
At night, the family sat in the main room warming themselves by the fire.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the front door, and everyone was startled.
"Jiaojiao!" Xiao Jingkong was the first to rush out.
However, it wasn't Gu Jiao who came, but Granny Zhou, who came to deliver dumplings.
"Thank you, Grandma Zhou." Xiao Jingkong politely accepted the basket and expressed his gratitude.
He carried the basket back to the main room.
Just as he sat down, the courtyard gate was knocked on again, and this time Gu Xiaoshun rushed out.
Gu Yan also wanted to rush, but unfortunately he was a sickly young man and couldn't outrun the two of them!
Unfortunately, it wasn't Gu Jiao this time, but Sixth Aunt. Sixth Aunt came to deliver spring rolls.
When the gate was knocked on for the third time, the first guard rushed out. He received a murderous look from his young master, which told him to either seize the gate or die!
Oh, how cruel!
"...Uncle Zhao, thank you so much!"
Guard A carried a basket of duck eggs back to the main room.
Everyone sighed in unison.
The courtyard gate was ajar. Gu Jiao didn't need to knock to return to her own home, so everyone knew perfectly well that it wasn't Gu Jiao who had come.
But they still can't help but look forward to it.
"Go to sleep, everyone," Xiao Heng said to the group.
Everyone returned to their rooms, heavy-hearted.
It seems that Jiaojiao really won't be coming back this Lunar New Year's Eve.
Xiao Liulang tidied up the main room. Since he wasn't sleepy for the time being, he went to the study to read for a while. It was still the same book about the state of Yan. He had read almost half of it.
But tonight, he simply couldn't bear to watch it.
New Year's Eve was the most important day of his life; it was the day he was born, and also the day he "died" in that fire.
It's a coincidence that both times are midnight.
Xiao Liulang glanced at the hourglass on the wall.
It's midnight again.
He closed the book in his hand, went to the quiet courtyard, and stared blankly at the swing that Gu Jiao had made herself, lost in thought.
Thump!
Something hit the gate.
Xiao Liulang snapped out of his daze, frowned, looked around, and strode toward the courtyard gate.
Before going to bed, Granny Fang locked the courtyard gate. Xiao Liulang paused for a moment and then removed the latch.
He pulled open the vermilion courtyard gate, and a gust of biting wind and snow rushed in.
After the snowstorm, a small figure dressed in blue sat against the wall on the threshold, one long leg bent, the hand holding the horsewhip resting on the knee.
Her black hair was disheveled by the wind and snow, her lips were chapped, and she was covered in wind and rain, looking somewhat disheveled.
She leaned against the corner of the wall, exhausted, panting heavily.
She looked up at him with her clear eyes, which had been clouded by sandstorms, and smiled, saying, "Happy birthday, Lord Xiao."
(End of this chapter)
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