Chapter 219: Final Chapter - Six

Chapter 219: Final Chapter - Six

He hugged her and sat her down on the porch, gently stroking her dry, cracked hair with affection. "You've gotten ugly."

Minglan immediately snapped back to her senses, punching his shoulder with force and retorting fiercely, "You're not much better, looking like a ghost!"

After half a year of hardships—rough meals, sleeping outdoors, endless battles, and days of night-riding at full speed—he was now thin and haggard. His high cheekbones, deep-set eyes, and dark, weathered skin made him look terrifying, almost like a demon. In comparison to her own gaunt and pale appearance, they looked quite a match.

Sitting across from each other, there were so many things they both wanted to say, but neither could find the right words.

He kept looking her over, his gaze moving from her face, down to her body, and finally resting on her large belly. "I really feared…" He feared for her safety, feared she'd fall ill, feared she was worried. "I should have told you about the defeat sooner, so you wouldn't have had to worry."

Saying it didn't matter would be a lie, but what else could he do? "It was right that you didn't tell me," she paused before continuing, "Have you heard about General Zheng? His grandfather and grandmother both passed away within three days."

He sighed. "What a pity. Zheng is the most filial… He left with his troops under the guise of mourning to set up an ambush outside the city."

Minglan was silent for a moment before she spoke again, "If the ruler is not secretive, the country is lost; if the minister is not secretive, he loses his life. I understand this principle."

If we talk about closeness, the Zheng family father and son were as close as bones, with decades of filial piety and affection. If we talk about loyalty, General Zheng was filled with righteous courage, with an iron will. Not to mention Zheng's wife, who lived her whole life without contesting the world. Even so, there are things that cannot be said—things that simply cannot be spoken.

This is the rule of blood.

As family, what one can do is trust and be strong.

"Moreover, Madam Bo once said that for the family of a military officer, if the man truly dies in battle, there is no need to seek death or misery; raising the child is enough," Minglan said heavily.

Without hesitation, Huzi (bearded man) nodded. "That's true. But…" he couldn't help adding, "Not everything should be learned from Madam Bo."

"Why is that?" Minglan felt deeply that Madam Bo was a remarkable woman. Every time misfortune struck, she somehow managed to avoid it.

"When General Bo was young, he had no family or support. By chance, he was taken in by a scholarly family and received great kindness from them. So, when General Bo asked to marry their daughter, the family couldn't refuse. But the girl didn't want to marry him; she was waiting to become a widow and remarry. General Bo said that for the sake of his pride, he would outlive her!"

Minglan laughed. "That's nonsense. I heard that General Bo came from a noble family, but his family fell on hard times."

Huzi gave a look as if to say, "Successful people always have all sorts of wonderful guesses about their background," and laughed. "What nonsense! General Bo's family was in some remote mountain village, and he didn't even have a big name growing up. It wasn't until he entered elementary school that he had a fortune-teller change his name overnight."

"Then, what was the original name of General Bo?"

Huzi said, "I heard the old man mention it when he was young, it seemed to have a 'dog' character in it. But I don't know if it was 'Er Gou' (Second Dog), 'Gou Sheng,' or 'Gou Dan' (Dog Egg), something like that…"

Minglan bent over laughing, and Huzi let her lean against his chest. One hand tightly held hers, while the other gently stroked her hair. The quiet, spacious courtyard suddenly became peaceful and lovely.

After a moment, the cry of a young child came from the side room. The couple snapped back to their senses. Minglan touched the golden tiger head on Huzi's shoulder and smiled, "Tuan Ge knows that his father is back. You should change your clothes and then go see him."

"Don't bother changing clothes. As a military leader, I'm not allowed to enter the capital without an official order. I sneaked into the city. Let me hold my son first, then I'll have to go back right away…"

Minglan didn't hear the rest of his words clearly. She just felt her ears buzzing. After a moment, she screamed, "You entered the city without permission! You… you… what's wrong with you! If you were concerned about your wife and son, couldn't you have just sent a message in? Why did you have to come yourself! Do you know what the punishment is for entering the capital without an official order? Do you think those censors are just for show? Your father-in-law isn't in the Imperial Censorate anymore, no one is covering for you! You big fool! And what are you looking at…"

Huzi laughed loudly. At that moment, Mother Cui came out holding Tuan Ge'er. Huzi immediately picked up the chubby little boy, kissed him several times, then handed him back to Mother Cui. With large strides, he turned to leave, but not before gently touching his wife's cheek.

Minglan was furious. She threw the fan with force, stomped her foot, and scolded, "You big fool! Go back and write a letter of apology, begging the emperor for forgiveness! I have no interest in sending you to prison for meals!"

What answered her was a burst of loud laughter, echoing back from outside the courtyard. The laughter was bright and lively, so full of joy that it seemed in an instant, this quiet, dark night had turned into a spring day in full bloom.

Minglan fumed for a while, but then suddenly realized, with her hands on her hips and her belly jutting out, scolding, she was just like a "teapot." The sleepy little chubby boy stared blankly at his mother, as though in surprise—Minglan couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle lightly.

...

The news of Huzi's return late at night spread throughout the entire marquisate before dawn. The maidservants, old women, and servants, along with the managers, suddenly seemed to have found a backbone. They were all energized, getting up early to clean the courtyard, tidy the flowers and plants, and the whole house was filled with a scene of diligent and lively activity.

Minglan, however, felt a bit lazy. Her body felt heavy, and she couldn't summon the energy to do anything.

By noon, the Grand Scholar of the Wuying Hall personally went to the outskirts of the city to issue orders, allowing the 500 light cavalry to enter the city in sequence.

Since Huzi hadn't shaved, despite being at the forefront, none of the young girls or wives in the street paid him any attention. Instead, they kept throwing their pouches and flowers at the several handsome young officers behind him.

Even Old Geng received a few, happily accepting them, when, unexpectedly, he caught sight of his own steward in the crowd, whose sharp gaze instantly scared him into a cold sweat. He quickly dismounted in front of the palace gates, hurriedly stuffing the pouches and fruits into the hands of his deputy.

In the Golden Hall, after the usual rewards and encouragements, with the tedious procedures of politics, by the time Huzi returned home, it was already dark.

Just as he had pulled back his reins and dismounted, he saw Steward Liu standing at the door, craning his neck, running up to him excitedly. "My lord, hurry inside! Madam is about to give birth!"

Huzi's heart tightened. He pulled the reins again and mounted his horse. With a sharp tug, he urged the horse forward, crashing through the front gate. Everyone was stunned as he rode straight into the courtyard. He dismounted in front of Jiaxi Residence, tossed the reins aside, and hurried into the house with quick steps.

Inside, the courtyard was crowded with people, all waiting anxiously for news. Inside, however, Cuiwei had cleared out all the unnecessary people. Only a few old women and maidservants were coming and going, carrying hot water and white cloths, all working in an orderly manner.

Huzi had intended to step inside immediately to check, but he was stopped by a group of older women in the courtyard, who insisted on telling him about various rules and taboos. He, being a person who valued propriety, did not push through but was increasingly anxious and restless, pacing back and forth, unable to do anything. Just as he was boiling with impatience, he caught sight of a foolish young man peeking from behind a tree. He quickly went over, grabbed him, and scolded, "You little brat, what are you doing here? Hmm… What's that you're holding?"

Little Brother Shi, holding a small stool awkwardly, froze for a moment. "Hehe… Hehe, this… Oh, I thought you might be tired, so I brought you a stool to sit on!" In truth, that wasn't the reason, but he was quite proud of his quick thinking.

At that moment, Gu Quan, who was standing nearby, burst out laughing. "Shi Shaodi, you don't need to lie. That stool is for Xiao Tao, isn't it?"

Shi Qiang's face turned hot, but luckily, he was dark-skinned, so it wasn't too noticeable. He had been tense, expecting a scolding, but unexpectedly, Huzi looked him up and down before suddenly patting him on the shoulder and smiling. "You're starting to care about your wife, huh? Hmm, you're going to be successful in the future!"

Before Shi could be happy, Huzi added, "Starting from now, if Madam gives birth within an hour, we'll arrange your wedding this year. If it takes two hours, it will be next year. Three hours, and it'll be the year after. Little brat, you can calculate it yourself!"

Little Brother Shi was dumbfounded. He remembered when his sister-in-law gave birth to his niece; it took an entire day and night. It had only been two hours, and now… this… he didn't want to wait seven or eight years to marry!

Seeing the young man terrified, his face pale and green, Huzi was satisfied and slapped his hand away, feeling much more at ease.

Inside the house, the low sounds of pain intermittently echoed. Huzi walked in circles around the courtyard, making Shi Qiang dizzy and lightheaded. After about two or three hundred laps, the sounds in the house finally turned into cheers, followed by the soft cries of a baby. Cui Mama came out, wiping her hands, with a beaming smile on her face. "It's done! Madam has given birth! It's another boy!"

Shi Qiang tightly clutched the stool, almost bursting into tears from joy. Cui Mama gave him a strange look, thinking to herself that this child seemed even more excited than the proper family members.

The baby, pink and delicate, was held by his father, who kissed him like a thief, but the baby didn't seem scared. He calmly glanced at Huzi before turning his head to sleep. Since he was born when the family was gathered together, they decided to give him the nickname "A Yuan," as the two brothers' names would now form a perfect pair.

Huzi was absolutely delighted. He praised his son's long fingers, saying he would surely be a scholar, and then remarked that he resembled his mother and would grow up to be elegant and handsome, eventually earning the title of the most handsome man in the capital! Ha ha, ha ha…

Minglan, exhausted and drenched in sweat, was resting in bed. Upon hearing this, she rolled her eyes in annoyance and threw a pillow at him with all her might—PS, the title of the most handsome man in the capital is still held by a married man with the surname Qi.

Huzi effortlessly caught the pillow and sat at the bedside, smiling as he kissed his wife and then his son, feeling a deep sense of joy and contentment. He sighed, saying, "If the Emperor were to ask me to retire now, I would agree in a heartbeat."

In the following days, Huzi was so busy that he barely saw his wife and son awake.

The expeditionary forces were still out there, and even though the turmoil had been quelled, there were still many rebels and fugitives to deal with. How to handle the Empress Dowager and the Prince Rui, discussions about capturing the remaining rebel forces, confiscating their property, trial procedures, determining guilt, fortifying the capital, and so on—it was a huge pile of work. Huzi was so busy he left home before dawn and came back after dusk, without even time to shave his beard.

After about three or four days of this, on the fifth day, the Emperor finally had a moment of conscience and allowed General Zheng to return home for the funeral. Other senior officials were also given half a day off, on a rotating basis.

After the Zheng family set up the mourning hall, the two sons, unfortunately, couldn't stay by their deceased parents' side. Luckily, the eldest son had many children, so at least the funeral ceremony was properly supported—though, even without children by the mourning hall, the continuous stream of people coming to offer prayers and the lively atmosphere, similar to a bustling market, along with the imperial decree for a grand funeral, showed that the Zheng family was still in good standing.

After Madam Xuan visited, she vividly described the situation to Minglan to help pass the time for the new mother. In the end, she hesitated before mentioning something—after the battle on the hillside that evening, when they were inspecting the dead and awarding merit, they pulled Gu Tingwei's body out from the pile of corpses. It was said that he had died from the first volley of arrows. His body was sent back to the residence, and the old madam fainted on the spot. When she woke up, she was unable to move most of her body.

Minglan didn't want to say much, and in a calm tone, she replied, "General Bo Xi comes from a family with a deep martial tradition, and the arrow formation he leads is certainly unparalleled in its sharpness." As for someone who openly threatened the lives of her and her son, she didn't care if he died.

Madam Xuan smiled and didn't say any more. In her opinion, the noblewomen who came to visit Minglan and her son were not fewer than those who went to the Zheng family to offer sacrifices. This showed that Gu Tingye was currently in the Emperor's favor. But Gu Tingwei, who had dared to gather mountain bandits and go to the Duke's residence to kill and set fire, wasn't just bold—he was insane. Only a fool would defend his family.

The next day, Huzi finally had a break. At noon, he and Minglan shared a meal on the kang. On the table were a plate of stir-fried Chinese broccoli, a dish of honey-glazed duck breast, a deliciously steamed bass, and a large bowl of chicken soup with lotus leaves and mushrooms.

Huzi ate with vigor, putting down his chopsticks when he was about 80% full and sighed, saying, "This is actually the first meal I've had with you since I returned." He sounded both sentimental and emotional.

Minglan stared at his face and said, "When are you going to shave your beard?"

"You've been eating alone these days, right?" he continued, still sounding sentimental.

"Is there soup on your beard? Do you need a napkin?" she responded.

Huzi became unhappy, glaring at her and saying, "Can't you just speak properly?"

"Alright, alright, I'll speak… What should I say?" Minglan bit her chopsticks and thought for a while. "I'm carrying a big belly, so I can't go out for a walk or watch plays. I'm even afraid of going to the temple because it's crowded… Every day I just eat, sleep, watch the accounts, and take care of the children. Day after day, there's nothing exciting to talk about. You've been gone for half a year, and the things you've seen in the military must be much more interesting than the trivialities at home, right? Why don't you tell me about them?"

For some reason, these words seemed to have turned off Huzi's enthusiasm for talking, as if a dam had been closed. He fell silent for a long time before speaking in a calm tone, "There's something I should have told you long ago, but I never had the time… about Man Niang and her son…"

He paused, and Minglan's heart tightened. "I found them at my army's location."

Minglan had difficulty swallowing the grain of rice in her mouth. "And then, what happened next?" She was annoyed; he was so irritating, leaving things half-said, lacking the basic qualities of a storyteller.

Huzi was about to speak when a respectful voice suddenly came from outside. "Lord, Master Geng has arrived and is waiting at the gatehouse. Will you go to him now, or should I ask him to wait a little longer?"

The emperor's holiday wasn't given without reason, and one of the important activities was to visit the Zheng family to offer sacrifices. Therefore, the two men, Geng and Huzi, had agreed to go together. Huzi pondered for a moment before looking at Minglan. "It wouldn't be good to keep Old Geng waiting. He's got his own matters to deal with. Let's go early and return early. In the evening, we'll invite Rong to come over and have a meal with the family."

"Alright, fine…" Minglan drooped her ears, pouting unwillingly. Her appetite had been piqued, and it was so frustrating to be left hanging like this.

Huzi rolled off the bed and adjusted his clothes. As he turned, he noticed Minglan's disappointed expression and laughed as he gently touched her ear. "It's nothing major, it doesn't really affect our life together. If you're really curious and can't wait, I'll have that little brat, Xie Ang, come over and tell you."

Minglan hesitated for a moment, then nodded firmly. Who knows when he'll come back? Does he expect to leave her hanging for the whole afternoon? If he dares to let an outsider talk about it, then she dares to listen!

After Huzi left, Xia Zhu and Xiao Tao worked together to clear the table, replacing it with a half-old, cornered small table. Xia He brought in a few cushions that were heated under the sun and placed them behind Minglan. The warm, comforting heat instantly made her feel at ease. Then, she directed the two maids to move a folding silk screen to the center of the room.

Just as the girls were finishing the setup, Lü Zhi led Gu Hou's personal guards into the room, and with them was the squad leader, Xie Ang.

Xie Ang had followed Gu Tingye for many years and had seen his fair share of life-and-death situations. However, at this moment, he was blushing, twisting his hands nervously, and looked like a shy newlywed, as he bowed to Minglan from behind the screen. Lü Zhi brought him a chair, but the tall young man, unable to sit fully, perched himself on the edge, looking exceedingly delicate and reserved.

"Xie, little brother, don't be so formal," Minglan said, softening her tone, trying to make him feel more at ease. "You've been with the lord for so many years; you're like family."

"No, no, I dare not… I'm just… a relative, how could I dare?" Xie Ang didn't even dare to lift his head. Even though he couldn't see anything through the screen, he kept his gaze fixed on his toes, refusing to move.

Minglan continued, "The lord has told me that in a few years, he'll help you get a good position. You'll have your own family and career by then."

"No, no, there's no need… My mother says I should stay with the lord for a few more years… For now, it's fine, it's fine." Xie Ang declined while inwardly feeling aggrieved about why the lord had saddled him with such an awkward task—discussing the former mistress of the master and madam's previous relationship. It was such an awkward topic.

Minglan spoke kindly for a few more moments, but seeing Xie Ang remain shy and hesitant, she finally sighed and said, "The lord is busy, so just tell me what he asked you to say."

Xie Ang's gaze was confused. "Say? Ah! Oh… That matter…" He felt a tangle of thoughts in his mind. "This… Where should I begin?"

From behind the screen came a calm voice, "Start with when you first saw Madam Man."

Xie Ang sighed, "Well, it's not really about discovering them… It was actually…" He paused, seemingly trying to find the right words.

"It was right after we recaptured Xiliao City not long ago. We had been hiding in the grasslands, pretending to be weak for over half a month. Just before our food ran out, we finally lured out the Xianbei army. After a bloody battle, we won a great victory, though at a heavy cost. We went into Xiliao City to rest. That day, a young general from the Divine Archery Camp suddenly came looking for me. He said that while he was helping distribute grain to starving people in the northern part of the city, he encountered a woman leading a sick child. She claimed to be a member of our lord's household, and her story seemed convincing…"

Xie Ang swallowed, trying to glance at the madam's expression, but all he saw was Lü Dongbin on the screen, looking self-consciously stylish as he stroked his beard, and He Xiangu with a flirtatious gaze. Feeling awkward, Xie Ang continued, "I was startled and hurried over to take a look, and to my surprise, it was Sister Man… uh, I had met her before in Jianghuai…"

At that time, Man Niang always presented herself as Madam Gu, actively making friends with people like the couple Che San Niang, and being very considerate toward the younger brothers, greeting them warmly. He had joined others in teasingly calling her 'sister-in-law.' Thinking back on it, Xie Ang became even more uneasy, again wanting to check the madam's expression.

But once again, Lü Dongbin was still stroking his beard, and He Xiangu continued her flirtatious look.

"I didn't dare to make my own decision and quickly reported it to the lord. The lord went to check, didn't say anything, and brought her and her son back. Unfortunately, Chang Ge'er was in a deep feverish coma." He sighed slightly, recalling how he had once lifted that boy over his head. "The military camp was a sensitive place, so people couldn't just come and go, so the lord took them to a small courtyard and called for a doctor to examine Chang Ge'er."

In truth, it wasn't that simple. He had left out some details that made him uncomfortable.

When they reached the small courtyard, Gu Tingye's face was grim. He immediately demanded, "What are you doing here?!"

Man Niang, filled with tears, said, "Second Master, I'm here to follow you through life and death! Even if I have to die, we'll die together!" and other such melodramatic words. She wasn't aware of the great victory the day before; she had only heard rumors and thought that General Zhang Gu's army was still holed up in Xiliao City.