Chapter 733

Chapter 740: Taking Chestnuts (Part 2)

Early the next morning, while Elevenniang and Lord Xu were having breakfast, Deng Duo hurried in: "My Lord, a letter from General Gong has just arrived!"

Lord Xu quickly took it, glanced at it, and his expression turned bitter: "Yan Duo's whereabouts were spotted near Yulin the morning before yesterday. He has already ordered Ouyang Ming to lead ten thousand troops to Yulin, with Jin accompanying as the assistant commander... There's no need to visit Minister Chen now!"

The further west they went, the closer they got to the grasslands and the farther from Datong, making it more likely for Yan Duo to successfully escape. If they didn't pursue soon, the opportunity would likely be lost!

They had tried to stop Jin, but they were too late.

Elevenniang let out a long sigh: "Man proposes, heaven disposes. I hope Jin understands his situation and cooperates well with Ouyang Ming. With Ouyang Ming taking the lead, he’ll attract less attention."

Compared to the emperor’s high-profile protection of Ouyang Ming, Jin remained more low-key.

Lord Xu thought the same and gave an approving look: "After the meal, I’ll go see Wang Li. Some matters are better handled by them." Elevenniang nodded, keeping a close watch on the news from Yulin.

On the second day of the sixth lunar month, Ouyang Ming’s troops caught up with Yan Duo near the Qin River, not far from Yulin. Just as Ouyang Ming thought Yan Duo was at his mercy, over twenty thousand Tartar cavalry suddenly emerged... Lord Xu’s knuckles turned white as he gripped the letter: "Twenty thousand Tartars... So those Tartars who fled from Datong never returned to the grasslands but hid near Datong, waiting for an opportunity?"

The messenger delivering the news to Lord Xu was Hu San, a trusted aide of Gong Dongning, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, calm and deeply trusted by Gong Dongning. Lord Xu’s intense gaze made it hard for Hu San to breathe. He nodded with difficulty, not daring to look at Lord Xu’s expression.

"What’s the current situation?" Lord Xu asked Hu San after a long pause.

Hu San replied cautiously: "Lord Ouyang defeated eight thousand enemies but was severely injured and is now unconscious." His voice was low but clear. "Lord Xu led the three thousand troops from Yulin’s defense and pursued him!" As he spoke, the image of Gong Dongning’s grim face before he left suddenly appeared in Hu San’s mind, and Gong Dongning’s hoarse voice echoed in his ears: "...Lord Xu has been like a father to me, entrusting me with his favorite youngest son. Not only did I fail to take good care of the child, but I also lost him... If it weren’t for my military duties, I would have gone to Yanjing to personally apologize to Lord Xu. When you go, remember to kowtow on my behalf and tell Lord Xu that once I hand over my command, I will come to apologize. Whether he chooses to beat or scold me, I will accept it without any resentment." Hu San shuddered and quickly added, "My Lord, our general has sent the most capable and battle-hardened General Li, along with all the cavalry in the army, to pursue them. I believe we’ll have good news in a few days..."

Before he could finish, Lord Xu waved his hand gently: "Even though it was a Tartar ambush, it was still a defeat. Only by capturing Yan Duo can he atone for his mistakes. Even if you catch up to him, I doubt he’d return with you."

Hu San looked up at Lord Xu in surprise.

Lord Xu’s face was expressionless, but a trace of sorrow flickered in his eyes.

Hu San, recalling the anecdotes circulating in the military camp about Lord Xu’s resolute and decisive nature, felt uneasy. Knowing he was overstepping, he couldn’t help but say: "My Lord, that won’t happen. General Li is not only skilled in battle but also persuasive. He will surely convince Lord Xu to return. Otherwise, our general wouldn’t have sent him. Our general also said that the commanding officer for this mission was Lord Ouyang, and Lord Xu was only the deputy. Even if there were mistakes, they would be Lord Ouyang’s responsibility. Lord Xu can stay with our general for a few years, lie low, and when there’s movement in the northwest, he can confront them again and reclaim his honor."

Under normal circumstances, Lord Xu would never have engaged in conversation with someone like Hu San. But today, a situation that had seemed all but certain had suddenly taken a turn for the worse. Moreover, he had to face Elevenniang, who would be eagerly awaiting news... For a moment, his resolve wavered.

"You don’t understand—Jin is a determined child," he murmured. "As long as there’s a sliver of hope, he won’t give up. Especially since your general has sent General Li with all the cavalry from the army... There’s no way he will turn back!"

Hu San fell silent.

Having been around Gong Dongning, he had some understanding of Jin’s temperament.

"Alright, you’ve traveled hard day and night and must be tired. Go rest now." Lord Xu waved his hand, ending the conversation.

Hu San bowed respectfully and quietly withdrew.

Lord Xu sat on the large *kang* by the window in his study, staring blankly at the green duckweed in the glazed jar on the windowsill. It wasn’t until dusk began to fall that he finally let out a long sigh, placed the letter in a box nearby, and got off the *kang*. After taking two steps, he turned back, placed the box containing the letter in the most inconspicuous small compartment at the bottom right corner of the antique shelf, and returned to the main room.

Unlike the desolation of previous days, the main room was brightly lit today. Maids, young married women, and older women moved about briskly, their eyes and brows filled with joy under the glow of the red lanterns.

Lord Xu was taken aback.

Han Xiao came out to greet him: "My Lord, please come in quickly! The madam has been waiting for you for a long time!"

Lord Xu’s heart tightened.

Did Elevenniang already know something?

The thought flashed through his mind, but he quickly dismissed it as paranoia.

If Elevenniang had learned about Jin’s situation, how could the household be filled with such a celebratory atmosphere?

As he pondered, he nodded faintly to Han Xiao and strode into the inner chamber.

Lady Eleven was leaning against the pillow on the large heated bed by the window, speaking gently to Amber. Hearing the commotion, she turned her head, a touch of bashfulness in her expression. "You’re back, my lord!" Amber quickly rose to greet Lord Xu and called Leng Xiang in to help him change into casual wear.

Lady Eleven remained lying on the bed without moving.

Lord Xu was slightly taken aback. He walked over and sat by the edge of the bed. "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"No!" Lady Eleven's face flushed, and she seemed somewhat flustered. "I'm perfectly fine!" she added, "Lord Xu, please go change your clothes. I'll have the maids serve the meal right away."

Lord Xu caught a glimpse of Amber smirking.

"What's going on?" Lord Xu asked Amber suspiciously.

Amber glanced at Lady Eleven, then smiled and half-crouched to perform a curtsy. "Congratulations, Lord Xu! Congratulations! The lady has just received a happy diagnosis!"

A joyful condition...

Lord Xu was stunned for a long moment before he finally processed the words. "R-really?" His voice was unsteady.

Jin Geer was already in his teens, and he had long given up hope. Never did he expect this... It felt like recovering something he’d thought lost, and he was overjoyed.

"Are you feeling unwell anywhere?" His hand instinctively moved toward her abdomen. "Is there anything special you'd like to eat?"

Thinking back to her discomfort during her pregnancy with Jin Geer, his tone was filled with concern.

"Nothing like that!" Lady Eleven's face was very red. "If Amber hadn't reminded me, I wouldn't have even thought of it—I've been so caught up worrying about Jin Geer lately!" At the mention of this, her expression turned serious. "Is there any news about Jin Geer? By my calculations, there should be a letter from Yulin by now."

"No news yet. I'll let you know as soon as there is." Lord Xu tried to keep his voice as calm and gentle as usual. "Are you really feeling alright?" He changed the subject, his hand gently stroking her abdomen. "Has Mother been told yet?" His voice was exceptionally soft.

Amber glanced at the servants in the room, signaling with her eyes, and they filed out.

"Not yet," Eleven Miss lowered her eyelids. "I don’t even know how to tell Mother... Zhuang Geer is already running around everywhere..."

Lord Xu smiled and pulled Eleven Miss into his arms. "What's there to be embarrassed about! It’s common for uncles to be younger than their nephews. It just shows our family is thriving!"

Hearing him say "uncles younger than nephews," Eleven Miss replied, "It might be a daughter! Last time I was pregnant with Jin Geer, I felt uncomfortable every single day, but this time I didn't even know I was pregnant!"

"A daughter is wonderful!" Lord Xu said casually. "A daughter is a mother’s little warm jacket—warm and comforting! So thoughtful and caring!"

"I think so too," Eleven Miss said, her voice full of longing. "Heaven must have thought Jin Geer was too mischievous and decided to compensate me with an obedient one!" Lord Xu laughed heartily, though his heart felt cold.

Jin Geer had chased Duoyan into the grasslands, and his whereabouts were unknown... They had longed for another child for so many years, and now, of all times, Eleven Miss was pregnant... Was it truly Heaven taking pity on their childless state and compensating them?

The thought made his heart ache as if pierced by a knife. Yet, he dared not show any of it in front of Eleven Miss and had to keep smiling as he spoke to her: "Be careful, or Jin Geer might find out and come questioning us. He’s never thought of himself as mischievous!"

Thinking of their son frowning in mock anger, Eleven Miss laughed, but then she worried: "Do you think Jin Geer might feel a little left out if he finds out he’s about to have a little brother or sister?"

"Why would he feel left out?" Lord Xu asked, puzzled. "He’ll have a blood sibling, someone to support him. Why would he feel left out?"

Jin Geer had always been the center of attention. If he had a blood sibling, her attention would inevitably be divided, and she might not dote on him as much... Still, Lord Xu’s words made sense—in this world, more children meant more blessing. Perhaps Jin Geer would be delighted!

"Should we write a letter to Jin Geer?" Eleven Miss suggested with a smile. "That way, he won’t be too surprised when he returns home."

"Let’s write it tomorrow," Lord Xu said calmly. "For today, let’s have dinner, then pay respects to Mother and offer incense to our ancestors..."

Eleven Miss nodded, though in her heart, she was already thinking about how to break the news to Jin Geer when he returned.

Within a few days, news of Eleven Miss’s pregnancy had spread.

Lady Lin, Madam Huang, and Lady Zhou all came to visit her. Eleven Miss naturally hosted them with food and drink. The house was bustling with people coming and going, lively for several days.

But Eleven Miss grew suspicious. Why hadn't any of these visitors asked about Jin Geer?