Chapter 285: Reunion
Su Rende dispatched a troop to escort Su Yaoguang back to the capital city.
Two months later, Su Yaoguang rode on horseback, looking up at the city gate in front of her, and lightly exhaled.
“I didn’t notify Wangshu in advance, wanting to give him a surprise. I wonder what expression he’ll have when he sees me.”
“The son-in-law will definitely be very happy.” Su Rende’s deputy general said, “Eldest daughter, your subordinate general must go directly to the imperial palace to report to the Emperor, so I won’t escort you back to the marquis manor.”
“You all go about your business, no need to worry about me.”
Behind her was also a merchant team that she needed to bring back to Peach Blossom Workshop.
Peach Blossom Workshop doorway.
Zhang Yingdi had just seen off those noblewomen who fawned over her ingratiatingly and was about to return to the shop when she saw a large procession heading toward Peach Blossom Workshop. She stood at the doorway, looking at the person in the lead, and shouted loudly: “Yaoguang is back. Everyone come quick and see, Yaoguang is back.”
Zhang Pandi and the others ran out from inside.
Su Yaoguang rode on a tall horse, looking heroic and valiant.
She waved her hand and said with a smile: “I’m back.”
“Yaoguang…” The crowd came forward to greet her.
Su Yaoguang dismounted from horseback and said to the merchant team behind her: “Take the things to the backyard.”
“So many things, what are they all?” Zhang Yingdi asked.
“Animal hides I transported back from the border, and many little trinkets only available on that side of the border.”
“I’ll go take a look.” Zhang Yingdi said, “You all take Yaoguang inside to rest for a bit and eat something.”
“Yaoguang definitely hasn’t slept well, go sleep for a while first!” Jiang Jing said, “Once you’re well-rested, we’ll talk about the rest.”
“Does Wangshu know you’re back?” Zhang Pandi asked, getting to the point.
Su Yaoguang gently shook her head: “He doesn’t know, so I’m planning to go find him and give him a surprise.”
“If you’re going to find Wangshu, you can’t go to his old yamen. He’s now a great favorite by the Emperor’s side, with a status comparable to your father’s. He is now…” Zhang Yingdi said mysteriously.
Zhou Wangshu came out from the cabinet and bowed in farewell to his other colleagues.
“Prime Minister Zhou…” A nearby colleague looked surprised in the opposite direction.
Zhou Wangshu followed his line of sight, and upon seeing that brightly and boldly dressed woman, his pupils contracted.
Su Yaoguang rode on horseback and waved to him: “Husband, I’m back.”
Zhou Wangshu ran over.
The other colleagues: “…”
Although Zhou Wangshu was young, his methods were extremely ruthless, and no one had ever dared to underestimate him. But at this moment, words like mature, steady, dignified, and imposing had nothing to do with him.
He was like a butterfly fluttering toward a flower, smiling so radiantly.
Too painful to watch.
Was he really the one who recently purged the traitorous prime minister for the Emperor?
“My lords, sometimes you can’t know too much. Knowing too much makes it easy to be killed to silence. Everyone should withdraw quickly!”
The officials hurriedly withdrew from here. But before leaving, seeing the scene of Zhou Wangshu tightly hugging Su Yaoguang, they couldn’t help but feel envious.
Envious of the young people’s feelings being so passionate and sincere.
Even though they themselves had never had such fiery feelings when they were young.
Zhou Wangshu held Su Yaoguang tightly in his arms: “When did you get back? Why didn’t you send word in advance? Then I could have come to pick you up.”
“Just got back. I did it on purpose, wanting to give you a surprise. Were you shocked?”
“Shocked, and delighted. My Yaoguang is finally back.” Zhou Wangshu hugged her tightly.
“Let’s go back first. There are so many people here.” Su Yaoguang pushed him.
“Alright, we’ll talk when we get back.”
Zhou Wangshu first helped Su Yaoguang onto the horse, then mounted behind her.
The two rode through the long street.
“Isn’t that Prime Minister Zhou? The one he was holding is his wife, right?”
“Didn’t his wife go to the border? This is her coming back?”
“General Su conquered the enemy country, so we’ll have no more war from now on. Miss Su made great contributions at the border! This husband and wife are both more impressive than the last.”
“A perfect match of talent and beauty!”
On the street, a deranged woman held a swaddling cloth, inside which was a already rotting corpse. She huddled in the corner, muttering: “I am the prime minister’s wife, I am a first-rank imperial lady…”
“This crazy woman is still holding her dead child?”
“Exactly, we tried to take it to bury, but she bites people. So scary.”
“I heard this child was a fool to begin with. Actually, being freed early is a good thing. Otherwise, growing up with such a mother, that child would suffer too.”
Su Yaoguang and Zhou Wangshu returned to Zhongyi Marquis’s Mansion.
Zhongyi Marquis is a hereditary title that can be passed to the son. Prime minister is an official position that cannot be inherited; it is merely Zhou Wangshu’s glory.
“Madam is back.” The butler saw Su Yaoguang and was extremely excited.
“Yes, I’m back.” Su Yaoguang said, “I bathed at Peach Blossom Workshop and ate something, no need to prepare anything for me.”
“Yes.”
Zhou Wangshu pulled Su Yaoguang back to the room and said: “You haven’t rested since you got back, right? Lie down and rest, I’ll stay by your side. When you wake up well-rested, we’ll talk.”
“Then sleep with me.”
“Alright.” Zhou Wangshu carried her onto the bed.
He lay at her side.
Su Yaoguang snuggled close, listening to his heartbeat.
“I just got back and haven’t had time to talk to everyone, but while waiting for you, I heard some things from the passing people. In the time I was away, you accomplished such a great feat. How are you so amazing?”
“You’re amazing too.” Zhou Wangshu said.
Su Yaoguang fell asleep leaning against Zhou Wangshu.
When she woke up again, it was pitch black outside.
Zhou Wangshu was tired too and slept deeply.
Su Yaoguang didn’t disturb him and nestled in his arms to sleep.
This peaceful life now was exactly what she wanted.
“Awake?” Zhou Wangshu held her hand and pulled her into his arms. “By my calculations, your mother-in-law should have given birth by now, right?”
“She did, it’s a boy, fair and chubby. My father stayed at the border because my mother had just given birth and it wasn’t convenient to return to court. He said now that the two countries have merged, His Majesty will likely choose a new capital city, and then he’ll come to the new capital city to join us.”
“We’ve indeed been handling this matter recently. Everyone has differing opinions on the site for the new capital city. But it should be settled soon.”
After determining the site for the new capital city, the next step is building the imperial palace. That’s a huge expense. Fortunately, with the expanded territory, the tax revenue from various places will bring in considerable wealth, which should cover it.
“Yaoguang, if all goes as expected, I should be among the first officials to move to the new capital city, to supervise the imperial palace construction there. The Emperor and the others will bring the civil and military officials over gradually. Will you come with me?”
“What do you think?” Su Yaoguang snuggled against him, “Where you are, that’s where I am. I specially rushed back to be with you.”
