Chapter 348 - 347: Year’s End

Chapter 348: Chapter 347: Year’s End

Du Yunluo lowered her eyes and softly said, "Second Sister-in-law has truly been aggrieved over this past half-year.

She doesn’t dare tell Second Aunt, and she certainly doesn’t dare let Grandmother know, so she can only come to me.

Second Sister-in-law says, I’m her sister-in-law, and both our husbands are at the border, so only I can understand her.

She’s been secretly crying, worried about Second Uncle and her own belly.

Especially during the hot summer, when pregnant women’s rooms can’t have too many ice basins, she just has to endure it. She can’t sleep well at night and often has nightmares.

You don’t know, but Second Sister-in-law has become so thin.

When I hear her speak of these things, I also feel uncomfortable, and occasionally have nightmares too.

Pregnant women are prone to worries, Second Sister-in-law has endured so much, even if Second Uncle returns, she wouldn’t complain.

Oh, by the way, Princely Heir, don’t go telling Second Uncle about this, otherwise Second Sister-in-law surely won’t even speak to me then.

At that time, she’ll have no one to confide in, and that would be too pitiful."

Du Yunluo’s voice was soft and anxious, with a tinge of grievance.

Mu Lianxiao said hoarsely, "Second Sister-in-law told you a lot? Did she frighten you?"

"Hmm..." Du Yunluo softly responded, took a deep breath, looked up again at Mu Lianxiao and said, "I know military affairs are pressing, these things are inevitable. You can return to the capital several months a year, which isn’t easy. Many soldiers haven’t returned home in years..."

Mu Lianxiao held Du Yunluo tighter.

To balance family and country, personal feelings, it’s never easy?

He knows Du Yunluo feels aggrieved and worried, he too wishes to stay with her, to see the child born with his own eyes, instead of being at the border, relying only on letters to know if his wife grows fatter or thinner, or how the child is doing.

But the people of this border, the vast rivers and mountains, must have someone to protect them.

This morning in the Imperial Study Room, the Holy Emperor pondered over the map for a long time.

This will be a protracted war, just like before, fighting back and forth for a few years, then resting for a few, repeating in cycles.

Such warfare drains the people and depletes the treasury’s accumulations over years, yet one cannot avoid fighting, cannot let Dazi invade recklessly.

If one could decisively crush the Dazi, perhaps it could bring ten or even decades of peace.

Mu Lianxiao agreed with the Holy Emperor’s views and listened to some of his plans.

"Yunluo," Mu Lianxiao released Du Yunluo and pulled her to sit on the Arhat Bed, saying, "The situation at the border is just as Grandmother said, the Holy Emperor wants some changes, but temporarily there’s no good method, in the coming days I will go to the palace, if we can find a way, it would be good to end the war early."

The Holy Emperor’s plans are only just an outline, Mu Lianxiao couldn’t tell Du Yunluo about it, even if he did, Du Yunluo would likely be in a fog.

Du Yunluo intertwined her fingers with Mu Lianxiao’s.

She didn’t know what the Holy Emperor intended to do, in her memory, this war didn’t end until eight or nine years later, in a past life, was it that the plans didn’t succeed, or did it simply take too long?

Meeting Mu Lianxiao’s gentle and tender gaze, Du Yunluo didn’t utter words of despair, but smiled with her eyes bent: "Yes, it would be good to end it early."

A night of good sleep.

Du Yunluo slept very soundly, surrounded by warmth, Mu Lianxiao’s body temperature was more comfortable than underground fire dragon or a hot water bag.

She practically wrapped her arms and legs around Mu Lianxiao.

Mu Lianxiao had a hard time coaxing her to lay properly, not long after, Du Yunluo entangled herself again.

After several times, Du Yunluo’s increasing clinginess made Mu Lianxiao completely lose his temper.

At the break of dawn, Du Yunluo opened her eyes.

The bed curtain hung, blocking the outside light, she was about to call someone as usual, lifting her hand, she caught a glimpse of the red mark on her upper arm out of the corner of her eye, and she was momentarily stunned.

Ah yes, Mu Lianxiao came back yesterday, she was not alone.

Du Yunluo hugged the quilt and laughed, after enough laughing, she quickly called for Jin Rui to help her freshen up, then hugged a hand warmer to watch Mu Lianxiao practice martial arts.

Even in the dead of winter, Mu Lianxiao worked up a sweat from practice.

Du Yunluo, as an amateur, watched with excitement, only feeling that Mu Lianxiao’s boxing had become more powerful and more aesthetically pleasing than half a year ago.

She watched very intently, unwilling even to blink, her eyes following Mu Lianxiao’s movements.

After finishing his practice, Mu Lianxiao walked briskly toward Du Yunluo, bending down to look at her.

His suddenly closer, handsome, and heroic face made Du Yunluo’s heart thump: "What’s the matter?"

"Your nose is frozen red." Mu Lianxiao’s long fingers tapped Du Yunluo’s nose tip, chilly, "Quickly, go inside."

Du Yunluo laughed and followed him in.

Every winter, in the north wind, the only thing she couldn’t protect was her nose.

Her ears were covered by a snow jacket, her hands embraced a hand warmer, only her nose was exposed.

She couldn’t possibly cover her face with a curtain hat...

Moreover, a curtain hat can only block sight, it can’t block the wind.

Du Yunluo rubbed her nose tip, and after Mu Lianxiao freshened up and changed clothes, they had breakfast together.

After going to Baijie Hall to pay respects, Mu Lianxiao went to the palace, while Du Yunluo went to the Flower Hall to handle affairs.

This year, the court set the seal on the 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month. Around that time, Mu Lianxiao also had many social engagements, so busy he didn’t even touch the ground.

In truth, Du Yunluo wasn’t idle either.

This was her first winter in charge of family affairs, besides the various arrangements in the twelfth month, she had to prepare for the New Year, manage the incoming accounts from the estates and shops, prepare New Year’s gifts for other relatives and the Duke’s Mansion, and respond to invitations from various households.

Du Yunluo mostly spent her days in Jingshui Hall.

Mrs. Zhou and Nanny Su taught in detail, and Du Yunluo studied diligently.

Whenever Mu Lianxiao had a moment to spare, he would also come to Jingshui Hall, keeping Mrs. Zhou and Du Yunluo company.

After the store managers who brought accounts were gone, and after busying for several days, it was finally Little New Year’s Eve.

That day, Mu Lianxiao came back early, and after not finding Du Yunluo in Shaohui Garden, he went to Jingshui Hall.

Being a festival day, Mrs. Zhou had adorned herself with two more golden hairpins than usual, and had applied some rouge, looking very spirited.

Mu Lianxiao, with a sweet tongue, was chatting with Du Yunluo back and forth, making Mrs. Zhou laugh continuously.

Mrs. Zhou held her son’s hand, observing carefully, and said, "Lian Xiao, is there good news?"

Mu Lianxiao raised an eyebrow, seeing Du Yunluo also looking at him curiously, he grinned.

Du Yunluo clasped Mrs. Zhou’s arm, her eyes twinkling as she said, "Princely Heir, one of us is your mother, the other is your wife, do you still intend to hide from us? Quickly, confess the truth."

Mrs. Zhou nodded along, "That’s right, confess the truth."

Mu Lianxiao took a deep breath, chose his words carefully, and said, "Recently, the Holy Emperor has been contemplating the border warfare, discussing with the Ministry of War officials and several generals. Today it’s roughly decided that in the spring of next year, besides the current forces in the Northern Border, additional troops will be stationed at Lindong."

Lindong?

Du Yunluo furrowed her brows, isn’t that where her maternal uncle holds office?

Mrs. Zhou also tightened her lips, a trace of gloom flashing in her eyes.