Chapter 738

Chapter 745: Homecoming (Part 2)

Xu Sijin nodded with a smile, "...Mother, you didn't expect this, did you? I didn't either..."

Eleven Mother couldn't help but ask with concern, "What exactly happened? Isn't the Wang family in Liaodong? How did they suddenly end up at Yulin Guard?..."

"After the Wang family arrived in Liaodong, they've been trading with the Mongols and Tartars. When Xuantong City was breached, Father was worried that the Mongols might take the opportunity to move south," he said, "and if the Tartars coordinated from the north and west, it would pose a threat to the court. So he asked the Wang family to help gather information about the Mongols. Sixth Master Wang, Zhang Shun's uncle, received Father's letter and selected capable men. He personally led the Wang family into the grasslands..." He chuckled, "Mother, Father is truly remarkable. If it weren't for his letter, forget capturing Duoyan—I might not even have made it out of the grasslands alive. No wonder Lord Gong says Father is the person he admires most in his life—not only is he brave and skilled in battle, but he’s also far-sighted and leaves nothing to chance. I still have so much to learn from him!" By the end, his tone was full of admiration.

Lord Xu had never mentioned any of these arrangements to her.

Eleven Mother recalled the times he had tried to speak to her, only for her to pretend not to notice, leaving him looking dejected. For a moment, her mind wandered.

Given Lord Xu's personality, he would never speak of something until it was accomplished. She knew he was like this, yet she had vented her life’s frustrations on him... He must have felt awful.

She also thought about how, during this time, he had always been gentle and soft-spoken with her, never showing the slightest displeasure. Suddenly, she felt a heavy, uncomfortable weight in her heart.

She could openly express her emotions because, deep down, she saw him as someone she could rely on, someone who could share her joys and sorrows... But when he suffered such grievances, why couldn’t he show his unhappiness in front of her? Was it because he felt they didn’t have that kind of relationship yet?

"Your father truly has clever maneuvering," she said, her voice unintentionally cool. "Anyone else would never have thought of the Wang family!"

"Yes, yes!" Xu Sijin had never thought much of his father while at home, but after being away and going through a life-and-death ordeal, he began to realize his father's extraordinary qualities. His admiration for his father was growing like spring grass running wild. It never occurred to him that his mother, who usually held his father in high esteem, might secretly criticize him, nor did he detect the chill in her words. He laughed and said, "It's a pity I didn’t get to see Zhang Shun. According to Sixth Uncle, Zhang Shun is in Tieling learning to use the abacus from an elder of the Wang family—from what Uncle Wang said, it seems Zhang Shun will be working as an accountant until his capping ceremony." The thought of Zhang Shun in such a role amused him, and he burst into laughter.

"Weren’t you supposed to be sneaking back?" a voice suddenly rang out in the room. "It seems to me you’re laughing quite loudly!" Eleven Mother and Xu Sijin turned toward the sound.

Lord Xu stood at the door with his hands behind his back, his expression stern.

"Father!" Xu Sijin had never been afraid of Lord Xu’s cold demeanor. He excitedly leaped off the heated bed (kang), spread his arms, and hugged Lord Xu. "When did you get here? You didn’t make a sound—you gave us quite a scare!"

It had been years since anyone dared hug him like this.

Lord Xu seemed slightly uneasy, and he cleared his throat softly. "Was it Gong Dongning who asked you to come back?" His tone was very gentle. As he spoke, he sat down in the adjacent armchair.

Xu Sijin smiled and nodded, hurriedly sitting down on Lord Xu’s right side: “How did you know?”

"The time for the presentation of captives is approaching, and everything that should be given to you has been provided. By then, only other rewards can be bestowed." Lord Xu spoke with a calm demeanor, as if such matters were commonplace. "With positions now vacant, there will certainly be those who harbor ambitions and schemes, while you are determined to secure the private mines. Rather than trying to balance the interests of all parties later, it would be better to act early, when the Emperor’s intentions are still mere speculation."

Xu Sijin held up his thumb to Lord Xu: "Father, you are truly formidable! Right on target!"

Looking at his son’s fawning manner, Lord Xu sternly said, “Do you speak to Lord Gong like this as well?”

Xu Sijin said with a grin, "Our Lord Gong just loves it when I speak to him like this, especially when I say, 'If my father were here, he probably wouldn't have thought of it either.' That makes him even more pleased." A hint of cunning flickered in his eyes, "If I need something from him, I just bring up that line and he’s sure to agree."

Lord Xu could not help but chuckle.

Xu Sijin seized the opportunity to say, "Father, since you see things so clearly, please help us! Putting aside our family's relationship with Lord Gong, for my future, you cannot stand idly by, especially since this involves Prince Yong. Moreover, the Guizhou Regional Military Commission has achieved remarkable military success, and Lord Gong owes his great accomplishments to them. Promoting someone from the Guizhou Regional Military Commission to the position of Guizhou General would only benefit morale and stability. After all, Lord Gong will be guarding the northwest, and if the Tartars invade again, even if Lord Gong is like Wei Qing reborn, he still needs capable subordinates—no one would remain loyal to him if they fought alongside him in bloody battles but had no prospects for advancement."

"You're quite eloquent!" Xu Lingyi smiled at his son, "It seems you've learned quite a bit from being with Lord Gong!"... "Dad, I feel so guilty when you say that!" Xu Sijin looked at his father pitifully, "It sounds like the tone of those military supervisors when they rejected Lord Gong..." "You brat!" Xu Lingyi couldn't help himself any longer and slapped his son, "You actually compared me to a military supervisor..."

The military supervisors were all eunuchs.

Xu Sijin, clutching his head, darted to Lady Shiniang’s side: “Mother, Father hit me!”

Lord Xu followed Xu Sijin’s gaze.

But Eleventh Lady turned her head away.

He ignored her from the moment he entered the door. If it weren't for Xu Sijin, he probably wouldn't have even glanced in her direction!

"Good hit!" She stared straight at her son. "Who told you to speak nonsense? If you do this again, I'll give you a taste of my own hand!"

Xu Sijin put on a long face.

Lord Xu looked at Lady Xu’s cold expression and sighed to himself. "Alright, stay by your mother’s side these next couple of days and stay put. Once the army enters the capital, it’ll be safe to show your face." He then stood up. "I won’t be back for dinner tonight—I’m meeting Minister Chen first."

Xu Sijin was thrilled.

From his father’s tone, it was clear he intended to help him with this matter.

He hurried over eagerly, taking Lord Xu’s arm. "Father, let me see you out!"

"You’d better stay home and keep your mother company," Lord Xu said, torn between amusement and exasperation. "Don’t go complaining about being bored and running off somewhere later."

Xu Sijin quickly agreed, insisting on escorting Lord Xu to the main hall before returning to the inner rooms.

"Mother," he ran to Lady Xu’s side, "did you and Father have a quarrel?" Lady Xu’s heart gave a jump, and she scolded lightly, "More nonsense!"

"I’m not talking nonsense!" Xu Sijin retorted defiantly. "Usually when Father comes in, you always smile and pour him tea. Today, you didn’t even acknowledge him..."

"I was just letting you two discuss important matters," Lady Xu replied. Since her son was rarely home, she didn’t want him returning to the military camp with any lingering doubts. She dismissed it lightly and changed the subject. "You’re sixteen now—at the age to be considering marriage. Have you considered what kind of wife you’d like to marry?"

Though generally outgoing, Xu Sijin turned bright red at such topics. "I—I won’t marry! I’ll stay with Mother!"

"You can’t stay with me forever," Lady Xu teased, looking at him. "I’m asking you now. If you won’t say, I’ll just pick someone for you. You’ll have to treat her well and not pick fights over trivial matters..."

"Aiyo!" Xu Sijin stood up, embarrassed. "I rushed back day and night without even a proper night’s sleep—I’m going to bed!"

Xu Sijin actually feeling shy—now that was something you didn’t see every day!

Lady Xu couldn’t help covering her sleeve to hide a laugh.

Xu Sijin darted into the heated room.

Worried it might not have been properly tidied, Lady Xu followed him in and saw him lying on his back, arms behind his head, staring at the ceiling with an expression of both anticipation and joy.

Her words must have touched a nerve with her son.

Lady Xu felt a slight twinge of sadness.

Her son was growing up day by day. Soon, his care, affection, and teasing would be directed toward another woman.

She leaned against the doorframe of the heated room, watching him quietly for a long while before softly tiptoeing away.

By the time Lord Xu returned, everyone had already gone to bed.

Hearing the noise, Lady Xu thought of her son sleeping in the heated room and got up.

"You’re back, my lord." Perhaps because of her pregnancy, the smell of alcohol on Lord Xu made Lady Xu uncomfortable. She frowned slightly. "Have you been drinking?" As she spoke, she instructed Leng Xiang to prepare sobering broth.

"You should go rest," Lord Xu said, slightly taken aback before smiling. "You need more sleep now. Let the maids handle these trivial matters." With that, he smiled at Lady Xu and turned to go to the washroom.

Lady Xu gazed at the solitary horn-shaped palace lantern on the heated bed-platform for a long moment before getting into bed.

When the second night watch sounded, Leng Xiang tiptoed in. Seeing Lady Xu leaning against the bolster pillow at the head of the bed, she was somewhat surprised and said softly with a smile, "Madam, His Lordship said he had too much to drink and will rest on the kang by the window." She added, "His Lordship must be worried the smell will bother you," her eyes revealing a touch of envy—the marquis was truly considerate toward his wife.

Lady Xu nodded.

Leng Xiang took bedding from a black lacquered cabinet and went out.

Soon after, Lady Xu heard the door close, and the room fell into complete silence.

She turned restlessly, finally drifting into a hazy sleep, only to be awakened by the sound of loud clinking of porcelain and Lord Xu mumbling under his breath outside the bed curtains.

What had happened?

Lady Xu woke immediately, slipped on her shoes, and pushed aside the bed curtains.

A magpie-and-plum-blossom patterned porcelain teacup was rolling across the kang table. Tea had spilled all over the table and was dripping onto the bedding beside it. Clearly, Lord Xu had been thirsty after drinking and had fumbled and tipped the teacup.