Chapter 396 - 395: Return

Chapter 396: Chapter 395: Return

Mu Liancheng felt tense under her gaze and said hoarsely, "Anuan, I must go fight the Dazi."

"Is it the Dazi? Or the title?" A shadow passed through Jiang Yunuan’s eyes. "I don’t care if I’m the Marchioness."

"I care." Mu Liancheng interrupted Jiang Yunuan, cupping her cheeks, and said, "I care. I want to give you the best. ℯℯ𝘭.

Anuan, to inherit the title, there must be sacrifices.

Like father, all the brothers died in battle, and what came of it? The position of Princely Heir is still Ah Shao’s. Father has nothing.

I can only have a chance at the title by going to the battlefield."

Jiang Yunuan raised her hand to grasp Mu Liancheng’s wrist, her voice trembling, "What about Third Uncle?

The Northern Border is dangerous, battles are constant, and Third Uncle could be in danger, but he went to Lindong.

I don’t know warfare, but I do know that nothing happens in Lindong all year round; he won’t even fall down, let alone get injured.

Once Third Brother’s wife has a son, in a few years, the title will rightfully be his.

And you, your body already bears so many scars, if anything happens, what am I to do? What is Sister Niang to do?"

As Jiang Yunuan spoke, her tears could no longer be held back and fell silently, and she began to sob aloud.

She was afraid, she was lost, she didn’t want to be alone.

Calloused hands caressed her cheeks, Mu Liancheng said word by word: "If there’s truly no danger at Shanyu Pass, why would the Holy Emperor deploy troops?

General Huang is not there for retirement.

No one can predict what happens on the battlefield. As long as I come back alive, the title will be mine sooner or later."

"What if you don’t come back?" Jiang Yunuan blurted out, her words barely falling from her lips before she realized her mistake.

She was hoping for Mu Liancheng’s return, but she was truly afraid he wouldn’t make it back.

In this Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, how few have not returned?

That person, too, did he not fail to return?

No trace of his body, no news—dead or alive, she didn’t know.

The wavering and pain in Jiang Yunuan’s eyes pierced through Mu Liancheng. He wrapped her tightly in his embrace, squeezing so hard she almost cried out in pain.

"If I don’t come back, then it’s my fate not to!"

Mu Liancheng’s voice was low, yet it thundered like a storm, leaving Jiang Yunuan speechless.

Even after Mu Liancheng released her, Jiang Yunuan stood there in a daze, tears streaking her face without her noticing.

The night passed without sleep.

The next morning, after sending Mu Liancheng off, Jiang Yunuan returned to the Shangxin Courtyard and sat dazed for half the morning before slowly coming to her senses, then hid in the inner room and cried her heart out.

These events were passed on to Baijie Hall, where Madam Wu knelt in the little Buddha Hall chanting scriptures. She glanced at the Guanyin Statue but said nothing.

Mrs. Xu accompanied Madam Wu. After Mu Yuanjing’s death, Madam Wu fell ill once. Although she recovered quickly, it was apparent to anyone that her health wasn’t as robust as before.

To comfort Madam Wu, Mrs. Xu and Mrs. Lu frequently came to keep her company.

Upon hearing about Jiang Yunuan, Mrs. Xu’s lips tightened slightly.

Madam Wu, sharp as ever, said, "If you have something to say, just say it."

Mrs. Xu hesitated for a moment and finally said, "I just envy her. She can cry when she wants to and complain when she wants to. When Lian Xiao’s wife just married in, she often complained."

"Oh?" Madam Wu responded ambiguously.

"You know, usually, I have nothing much to do, so I embroider Buddha statues. Lian Xiao’s wife’s maid, Jin Rui, paints beautiful patterns, so every couple of months, I’d send someone to ask for one," Mrs. Xu said lightly. "Once, they took a long time to return, and when I asked, they told me they happened to run into Lian Cheng’s wife crying in Shaohui Garden, and Jin Rui was inside attending to her and couldn’t leave. Afterward, they even fetched water, and when Lian Cheng’s wife came out, her eyes were red from crying."

Madam Wu fingered the Buddha Beads, giving a low acknowledgment.

The incident of Jiang Yunuan crying in Shaohui Garden was never mentioned by Du Yunluo to Madam Wu.

It’s understandable. If Madam Wu were in the same situation, she wouldn’t spread tales of sisters-in-law crying.

As for tears, who among them hasn’t shed any? All in hiding, crying into pillows, with even the maids and matrons cautious not to let anyone notice, let alone others.

"Isn’t Lian Xiao’s wife due to give birth soon?" Mrs. Xu smiled lightly. "It would be nice if it’s a boy."

Madam Wu sighed, "Yes, a boy would be wonderful."

In Guishu Alley, members of Hong Jinbao’s family checked the ear room.

It had already been converted into a birthing room.

For fear that Du Yunluo might go into labor at any time, the underground fire dragon in the ear room burned day and night.

The Yang Family visited every other day. Though a bit nervous, Du Yunluo was more expectant.

At night, she couldn’t sleep well, waking every couple of hours, forcing her to nap more during the day.

At dawn, Du Yunluo awoke again.

The space beside her was empty; Mu Lianxiao had already arisen to train.

Du Yunluo wanted to call Jin Rui in, but before she could speak, her stomach suddenly ached.

She lay in bed, drawing breaths evenly. It had been like this for days, bouts of pain striking intermittently, each day worsening, as Mrs. Qiu said, signaling imminent childbirth.

Expecting this discomfort to mirror previous times and pass after a stint, she washed and dressed again, only to find the pain blanching her complexion.

Returning from training, Mu Lianxiao found Du Yunluo slumped on the couch, gasping for air, and hurried over to comfort her.

Du Yunluo forced a smile, "I’m all right, I can still bear it."

Mu Lianxiao pecked at her brow, "Shall I call the midwife?"

"No need, huh?" Halting mid-sentence, Du Yunluo’s eyes widened suddenly. Her legs felt wet, and joy overshadowed panic. Clutching Mu Lianxiao’s sleeve tightly, she exclaimed, "I think it’s happening."

Mu Lianxiao paused, then quickly called for Hong Jinbao’s family.

Hong Jinbao’s family quickly entered, checking under Du Yunluo. The thick golden heart green flash satin cushion below was thoroughly soaked.

"Madam has broken water. Heir, I will move Madam to the birthing room," said Hong Jinbao’s family.

Worried about Hong Jinbao’s ability to lift Du Yunluo, Mu Lianxiao disregarded her protests and carried his wife to the birthing room himself.

The entire small courtyard busied itself immediately.

Water was boiled, messages were sent, Jin Rui and Hong Jinbao’s family helped Du Yunluo change into house clothes, and Mu Lianxiao summoned Mrs. Qiu into the courtyard, forbidding him from staying in the birthing room.

Du Yunluo had suffered the pain earlier, finding some comfort now.

Mrs. Qiu chuckled, "Don’t worry, Lady. The water’s broken. It’ll take a few hours yet. Use this time to fill your stomach for strength later."

Just at breakfast time, red date cake was being steamed in the kitchen. Jin Lan fetched a food box but was intercepted by Mu Lianxiao midway.

Mu Lianxiao confidently strode into the birthing room.

Mrs. Qiu hurriedly protested, "This is inappropriate!"

Mu Lianxiao grinned, "Mama, hasn’t she given birth yet? I’m only joining her for breakfast."

The handsome young man grinned so brightly that Mrs. Qiu was momentarily dazzled, standing in a daze. By the time she realized and slapped her thigh, Mu Lianxiao had already entered the ear room, and she hurried after him.