Chapter 64 Now we have another family member in our courtyard...
Bong Chun?!
These two words struck Deng Jie like a thunderbolt. She had never noticed the jade pendant at her waist before, but now that she thought about it, could it really be a pair with Guo Jia's?
She rushed out, ignoring the astonishment of Gao Rou and her husband, and grabbed Zhong Jun, asking, "Your name is Feng Chun? Guo Feng Chun?!"
Before she could answer, Deng Jie reached for the jade pendant at her waist to examine it. Zhong Jun hurriedly covered it, but in the struggle, Deng Jie still managed to pull it off.
The three grain patterns engraved on the tail are genuine; Guo Jia told her that there are only two such pieces in the world.
"You really are Guo Yi, Fengxiao's sister! Since you deliberately came to get close to us, why didn't you tell us?" Deng Jie, having confirmed the truth, would not let it go easily.
"Sister, please give it back to me..." Guo Yi reached out to take it back, but Deng Jie dodged it.
"The evidence is right here, yet you still call me 'elder sister'?" Deng Jie held on tightly, unwilling to let go. "Come back with me now, reunite with Fengxiao, and I will naturally return you!"
“No!” Guo Yi stubbornly shook her head in refusal, tears welling up in her eyes. “You don’t understand… how can I possibly acknowledge him…”
She took a deep breath and began to recount the past thirty years:
After her parents died, Guo Tu's mother took her in. Guo Tu's family was not well-off, and while raising Guo Tu, they also had to give up Guo Jia's grain, so they had no choice but to send her to a Taoist temple.
Guo Tu only knew that there was a girl who had been sent to a Taoist temple by her mother, so he always secretly went to see her.
It wasn't until the third year of the Chuping era, when Guo Tu had established himself in Ye City, that he dared to take her back. It was only then that he learned she was actually Guo Jia's younger sister.
Because he didn't get along with Guo Jia, and couldn't bear to part with Guo Yi, he treated her as a cousin and kept her in his household for three years. After that, he arranged a marriage for her.
Before the Battle of Nanpi, Guo Tu knew that Yuan Tan's strength was far inferior to Cao Cao's. He wrote to Guo Yi to tell him about his background and instructed him: If Guo Fengxiao is pure and good, I will lead him to find you; if he has lost his benevolence, I will not give him any more information about his sister.
Upon hearing this, Deng Jie suddenly remembered that the contents of the silk scroll that Guo Tu burned must have been about Guo Yi.
“My brother Gongze treated me with the kindness of a mountain, and he once said this to me… In the end, he still died in front of Guo Fengxiao…” Guo Yi clenched his fists tightly, “How can you expect me to acknowledge him?”
Deng Jie hurriedly explained to her, "Fengxiao tried to persuade him to surrender! It was Master Gongze himself who was determined to die..."
Her brows furrowed as she recalled the moment Guo Tu pulled down the burning wood, and she gritted her teeth, "Besides... he didn't die in front of Fengxiao, he died in front of me!"
Guo Yi sniffed and wiped away the tears on her face. "What difference does it make to me?"
Deng Jie hesitated with a guilty look in her eyes, "But you still couldn't help coming to see him?"
After all, they are blood relatives. Now that they know about this relationship, how can they resist their curiosity and loneliness?
"I just want to see for myself... whether Guo Fengxiao is as ruthless as my brother Gongze said."
"What do you think?" She had hesitated to stay earlier, probably because she still had some expectations for Guo Jia.
"I don't know..." This wasn't entirely untrue. She had always maintained a close relationship with Deng Jie, but had never had any real contact with Guo Jia.
"Then you can stay here today and keep vigil with us to see it carefully." Taking advantage of this opportunity, Deng Jie returned the jade pendant to her hand. "If you want to recognize it, then you can."
Guo Yi felt relieved, touched the grain pattern on the jade pendant, and nodded. "Once I've thought it through... I'll tell you myself. Sister, please keep this a secret for me, okay?"
Deng Jie finally felt relieved and joked, "But if he finds out himself, he can't blame me, can he?"
Guo Yi was amused by her and burst into laughter through her tears, then scolded her playfully, "You're not allowed to actively make him think about it either!"
Seeing that the two had already agreed to stay up all night on New Year's Eve, Gao Rou bowed to them and said, "In that case, Madam, please allow me to return to the manor and bring my son here."
When Guo Jia returned home with Zhou Buyi after finishing his official business, he was taken aback by the lively scene in the courtyard.
Two more tables were added to the table in the front yard, and Ayu's family was busy preparing food for New Year's Eve.
Gao Rou was setting off firecrackers with ten-year-old Gao and the same-year-old A Xiang.
Deng Jie was talking to Guo Yi when he saw him return. He didn't let go of Guo Yi's hand and led him forward to greet him: "Fengxiao, you're back. Today, I took the liberty of letting Zhongjun's family stay here to celebrate the New Year."
Guo Jia noticed that Zhou Buyi was also drawn to Gao Rou's side, playing with the two children. His gaze swept over Guo Yi's burning eyes, then looked back at Deng Jie, "Of course it's good. It's been a long time since so many people have celebrated the New Year together."
Deng Jie happily grabbed one of them with each hand and dragged them to their seats.
Deng Jie continued to address Guo Yi as "Zhongjun," and Guo Yi continued to call Deng Jie "elder sister" as usual.
However, Guo Yi's gaze lingered on Guo Jia for a noticeably longer and more frankly, with a cautious, re-examining look, and deep in his eyes lay an indescribable complex emotion.
Guo Jia was unaware of this subtle change, but was deeply moved by the scene of reunion before him.
He looked at the table laden with food, the laughter and chatter filling the air, and the shadows of people dancing in the courtyard under the lamplight. He sighed softly, “Look at this scene… If A-Yi were still alive, she would probably be about Zhong-Jun’s age. I wonder if she is also in a courtyard somewhere right now, sitting with her family to celebrate the New Year?”
Before the words were even finished, Guo Yi, who was standing next to Deng Jie, trembled slightly, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Almost instinctively, before Deng Jie could speak, she replied, "She definitely will! If she knew how much her brother cares, she would surely think the same way."
My elder brother is also staying home to celebrate the New Year today; I imagine it's just as lively and warm as it is here.
After she finished speaking, she quickly lowered her head to hide the turmoil in her eyes.
Guo Jia was somewhat surprised by the sudden and enthusiastic response from Lady Zhongjun, but he assumed that she was simply moved by the scene and thought of her brother, so he just smiled gently and didn't think much of it.
Deng Jie thought to himself, "Now my little courtyard finally has a family member."
In the early summer of the following year, Cao Cao's army captured Huguan, Gao Gan was defeated and killed, and Bingzhou was completely pacified.
Guo Jia and Cao Cao discussed the next step: to draft a strategy for a northern expedition against the Wuhuan.
However, the opposition from Cao Cao and Xiahou made it difficult for Cao Cao to make a decision, and he ultimately decided to stabilize the internal affairs first.
Although Guo Jia was anxious, he couldn't deny the strategy of appeasing Bingzhou, so he half-jokingly said, "Jingzhou should be ranked after the Wuhuan for stability. But given my health, at our current pace, I'm afraid we won't be able to wait until then..."
This provoked Cao Cao to feign anger: "Are you just annoyed by my rudeness?"
Guo Jia quickly apologized, but Cao Cao coldly snorted, "It's perfect time to let you rest at home. When the time comes, you'll come south with me to quell the chaos!"
Guo Jia could only smile awkwardly and agree.
In the backyard of the Guo residence, Deng Jie was tending to the newly opened magnolia when the rich fragrance suddenly hit her nose, causing her to sneeze three times in a row. Then, a strong feeling of nausea rose in her throat, and she couldn't help but gag.
"Say it!" Guo Jia happened to return to the courtyard looking for her. Seeing her strong reaction, he quickly stepped forward to help her up. "What's wrong? Did you catch a cold?"
Deng Jie touched her chest, and Guo Jia brought her a cup of water from the pavilion.
After she drank some water and rinsed her mouth, the nausea subsided slightly. She frowned and stared blankly at Guo Jia.
Guo Jia felt uneasy under her gaze: "What's wrong?"
Deng Jie placed his hand on his own pulse, still staring at Guo Jia without moving.
"How are you? Is the cold serious?!" Guo Jia was even more worried.
Deng Jie suddenly grabbed Guo Jia's arm, his voice trembling with excitement: "Go and fetch my master! Now! Right now!"
"Huh?! What question requires a master?!" Guo Jia was even more flustered, and his steps faltered as he stepped out of the courtyard.
"Hey! Hurry up! Don't ask so many questions!" Deng Jie thought he was too slow and pushed him to go outside.
Hua Tuo was hurriedly invited by Guo Jia. Deng Jie sat upright on a low couch in the study, his wrist resting flat on a pulse pillow.
Hua Tuo concentrated and placed three fingers on her pulse.
Guo Jia sat uneasily to the side, glancing at his wife with her burning gaze and then at Hua Tuo with his solemn expression, not daring to utter a sound.
Hua Tuo's brows furrowed slightly at times and relaxed at others, his fingertips subtly adjusting the pressure.
Finally, he slowly withdrew his hand, stroked his beard, and a meaningful, barely concealed smile appeared on his face.
"How is it? Master! Isn't it? Isn't it?!" Deng Jie could no longer contain himself and suddenly grabbed Hua Tuo's sleeve.
Hua Tuo nodded with a smile: "Hmm..."
"What is it?! What is it?!" Guo Jia almost jumped up, rushing to the two of them, his voice trembling. "Is it serious? Master, tell me quickly! Don't beat around the bush!"
Guo Jia was stunned by the news.
The two had been living together for over a decade without any sign of pregnancy, but now... without any warning, she's pregnant?!
He was almost incredulous, frozen in place for a while, watching Deng Jie circle around him several times before grabbing her arm: "Really?! Really?!"
"My master and I both diagnosed it, how could it be false?!" Deng Jie wrapped his arms around his neck, hugged him tightly, and happily kissed him three times on the neck before reluctantly letting go, her eyes brimming with tears. "A few days ago I was wondering why my period was late, thinking maybe I was weak again... I didn't expect... I didn't expect it to actually be me!"
Hua Tuo stood up with a smile: "Alright, alright, don't get excited, don't get excited. It's best to avoid extreme joy or sorrow in early pregnancy."
"Yi-jun, you're not a young girl anymore. This is your first pregnancy, and you're already this age. You need to take good care of yourself."
Deng Jie let go of Guo Jia, then tugged at Hua Tuo's sleeve and pleaded, "Master, could you please take extra care of me?"
Guo Jia finally recovered from his great shock and joy, and pulled Deng Jie into his arms. "It would be too much trouble for you, Master. It just so happens that our lord has postponed the northern expedition. Now it's my turn to take good care of you!"
Hua Tuo looked at the couple who had finally welcomed a new life, stroked his beard with satisfaction and laughed heartily: "Yes, yes! Fengxiao should take good care of them!"
"Then, then!" Deng Jie persisted, his eyes sparkling as he stared at Hua Tuo, "The delivery must be done by Master himself!"
“There are experienced lactation doctors who can help with childbirth…” Guo Jia quickly interjected.
"No way! No matter how experienced someone is, they can't compare to my master!" Deng Jie pouted unhappily.
Hua Tuo nodded repeatedly in agreement: "Very well, I will do it! Right now, I only have Yi Jun as my disciple. How can I entrust such an important matter to someone else?"
Deng Jie smiled radiantly, as carefree as a young girl, and couldn't help but clap her hands and cheer.
Hua Tuo quickly pressed her down and solemnly instructed, "Remember to take it easy! Before the fetus is stable, you must not make a fuss, understand?"
Deng Jie immediately covered his mouth, but his eyes still curved into crescents as he nodded vigorously, replying, "Understood, understood!"
Guo Jia, standing to the side, was so excited he was at a loss for what to do. He paced back and forth in the room, muttering about what to prepare, as if he had inexhaustible energy but didn't know where to use it, with a silly smile on his face.
Seeing his restless state, Hua Tuo couldn't help but chuckle and grabbed his sleeve: "Fengxiao, you have to stay calm too! The first three months are the most crucial. Don't make a fuss or overexert yourself, do you understand?!"
After being scolded, Guo Jia immediately calmed down and stood up straight like an honest student, nodding repeatedly: "Understood, understood! I will definitely stay calm and take good care of Shuoyi!"
Guo Jia looked down at Deng Jie's lower abdomen, his eyes filled with tenderness, and took her hand, saying, "Now we finally have another family member in this courtyard!"
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