The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity

Chapter 830 - 788: The Family Departs

The news of Su Qing’s return to the Capital reached Qianqing Palace at the earliest moment.

Zhao Xi instructed Eunuch Sanbao to wait at the city gate and bring Su Qing directly to the palace to see the Emperor.

Su Qing, still in his armor, was directly intercepted by Eunuch Sanbao at the North City Gate.

He rode a horse named Snow Green, his stern face covered with a layer of gloom, his left hand gripping the reins and his right hand holding a whip, a beast patterned sword tucked at his waist.

"The Emperor summons you, Grand Commander. Please follow this servant to the palace," Eunuch Sanbao bowed, his tone respectful.

Su Qing remained unmoved, the gaze he cast was chilling to the bone.

Eunuch Sanbao thought Su Qing did not hear him, so he repeated himself.

Su Qing remained silent, then spoke in a deep voice, "Move aside!"

Eunuch Sanbao: "..."

Su Qing said coldly, "Those who block me shall die!"

With that, he swung his whip, and the horse neighed loudly, charging towards Eunuch Sanbao.

Eunuch Sanbao broke out in a cold sweat, hurriedly stepping to the side.

Su Qing’s horse had already galloped far ahead, heading directly towards the Su Mansion.

Eunuch Sanbao patted his chest, then stepped onto the carriage, instructing the driver to follow Grand Commander Su to the Su Mansion and wait there.

...

Su Mansion, Yu Xiu Courtyard.

"Mr. Qi is back, madam, Mr. Qi is back!"

With Jin Huan’s jubilant voice, Lin Xiaoyue, who was nearly overwhelmed under the surveillance of the Jinyi Guard, seemed to have found hope for life. Her face, which had been bleak for days, finally lit up with life. She couldn’t even make herself presentable before rushing out in a hurry.

Su Qing had already strode into the courtyard gate.

Seeing his wife rushing over without a care, he halted, the icy stars in his eyes dissipating, replaced by a hint of subtle warmth.

"Mr. Qi, you’re finally back." Seeing him, Lin Xiaoyue recalled all that she had endured and felt all her grievances well up, her eyes turning red.

Su Qing reached out, his rough fingers caressing her soft cheek, his voice carrying a calming steadiness, "Don’t be afraid, I’m here."

Lin Xiaoyue hadn’t had time to say much more when she heard the voices of two children not far behind her.

"Daddy, Ah Nuan misses you so much!"

"Daddy..." This was Amuer’s voice.

The little boy, well-rounded and solid, ran with a sway of his little hips, taking a long time to reach Su Qing, where he stumbled and fell into his arms.

Su Qing caught him effortlessly, then squatted down, his stern and resolute face softening, asking, "While Daddy was away, did you obey your mother’s words?"

"Yes～" The little one said, looking up at Lin Xiaoyue.

Lin Xiaoyue smiled, "After you left, Mr. Qi, the little one listened to me well, it’s just that..."

Here, her smile faded, her expression dimming.

"I know everything," Su Qing said, glossing over the matter with one sentence, "Let’s go inside."

With the Jinyi Guard’s ears around, the courtyard was not a good place to talk.

Lin Xiaoyue realized this and, together with her husband, led a child each into the house.

After closing the door and instructing Jin Zhi and Jin Huan to guard outside, Lin Xiaoyue then placed Amuer on the couch, poured tea for Su Qing, and asked if he was hungry, offering to instruct the kitchen to prepare a meal if he was.

"No need for trouble," Su Qing said, "I’ll probably eat at the palace today."

Lin Xiaoyue froze.

Su Qing didn’t mention Emperor Xuanjing’s order to have Eunuch Sanbao fetch him, only saying, "I need to report to the palace later."

At the words "report to the palace," Lin Xiaoyue felt a weight in her heart, pursing her lips tightly.

After a moment, she said painfully, "Do you know what the Emperor intends?"

"I received the news while at the Northern Border," Su Qing replied truthfully.

"The Emperor wants you to leave your wife and children and send Amuer back to the Western Border to be crowned king," Lin Xiaoyue continued, feeling increasingly unsure, "Mr. Qi, when do you plan to set off?"

After all, she hadn’t given Mr. Qi a son. If he used this as a reason to build another household in the Western Border, what would become of her?

As long as he could stay, she was willing to let him take concubines and bear sons, as many as he wanted.

Seeing his wife suddenly become despondent, Su Qing took a sip of tea, setting down the cup, his gaze falling on her dim face, "You don’t want me to go to the Western Border?"

"I..." Lin Xiaoyue paused for a moment, then nodded, "If it’s possible, I hope you can stay in the Capital, so at least our family can always be together."

After thinking for a moment, she added, "If you want a son, once the mourning period is over, I will find you a concubine according to your preferences, and she will surely bear you descendants."

"What I want is not offspring." Su Qing glanced at her.

Those words made Lin Xiaoyue even more uncertain. She moved her lips.

Su Qing had finished his tea and stood up, gently stroking the top of her head, "Wait for me at home obediently."

Lin Xiaoyue could only nod and hum in assent, then saw him off from the Yu Xiu Courtyard.

...

Eunuch Sanbao was still waiting outside. Seeing Su Qing come out so soon, he quickly put on a smile, "Mr. Qi has seen his family, now you can enter the palace and meet the Emperor at ease?"

Su Qing glanced at the Jinyi Guard stationed outside the Su Family gate, and sneered, "During my expedition to the Northern Border, the court really took detailed care of my wife, with attention to every little detail."

Eunuch Sanbao only pretended not to understand, and followed his words, "Mr. Qi has accomplished great military exploits and is a key minister of the court, naturally, Your Majesty would take extra care of your wife."

Su Qing didn’t respond further, mounted his horse, and, with a flick of the whip, headed toward the Imperial City.

...

After a series of announcements, Su Qing met Emperor Xuanjing in a side hall of the Qianqing Palace.

He remembered that when he went on the expedition, this seventeen-year-old was still just the Crown Prince overseeing state affairs. After six months, the young man had now securely seated himself on the dragon throne and ruled over the realm.

"This humble official pays respects to Your Majesty." Su Qing knelt on one knee, his back straight.

"Grand Commander, no need for such formalities, stand up." Zhao Xi gestured with his hand.

Once Su Qing stood up straight, Zhao Xi asked, "The reason I’ve summoned the Grand Commander back to the Capital, you must already know it?"

"I know." Su Qing paused in his words, "It is one matter, but whether I can go in the end is another matter."

Zhao Xi leaned back, his gaze intrigued, "Oh?"

Su Qing’s expression was mocking, "Your Majesty wants this humble official to go to the Western Border to stabilize the people’s sentiment, but I can’t even stabilize my own family, how can I stabilize the Jiuli Clan?"

Zhao Xi understood, "I suppose the Grand Commander is blaming me for not being able to quell the rumors in the Capital about that child in your house in time."

Su Qing said nothing.

Zhao Xi smiled faintly, having already grasped the thoughts of Su Qing, "Sending Amuer back to the Western Border was the late Emperor’s decree, and the Grand Commander knows it cannot be changed, so now you come to me to negotiate terms, go ahead and state them!"

Su Qing felt a slight surprise in his heart; this new emperor had a clarity of mind that was fearsome.

However, since the Emperor had offered a way out, why not take it, "If I must go to the Western Border, I have only one request, which is to take my family with me."

The young emperor seemed to have anticipated he would say that, showing no surprise whatsoever, his tone calm and slow, "If the Grand Commander takes his family, the court would have no leverage over you. How can I trust that you are truly loyal to Chu Country?"

"This humble official is willing to hand over military power, in exchange for the opportunity to take my family to the Western Border."

Only upon saying this did Su Qing realize that everything was within Emperor Xuanjing’s expectations, or rather, calculations.

Emperor Xuanjing had anticipated he would come to negotiate terms, and the conditions offered would be to take his family, leaving the only leverage he could offer being the military power in his hand.

In the end, Emperor Xuanjing was afraid that he might join forces with the Jiuli Clan to carve out a piece of territory in the Western Border and rebel, so he wanted to take his military power in advance.

So young, yet already playing political tricks, indeed not a single bit of the late Emperor’s years of painstaking cultivation went to waste.

...

Zhao Xi had Su Qing stay in the palace for a vegetarian meal, and when Su Qing returned to the mansion, Lin Xiaoyue was sitting in a daze on the bed.

Su Qing took a couple of steps forward.

Hearing the footsteps, Lin Xiaoyue turned her head, meeting his deep gaze.

"Mr. Qi." Lin Xiaoyue said, "Jin Zhi said that the Jinyi Guard outside has been withdrawn, did you say something to His Majesty?"

"I agreed to His Majesty to send Amuer back to the Western Border." Su Qing replied.

Lin Xiaoyue suddenly found herself unable to speak; the thing she had always been worried about had finally happened.

Thinking that with this departure, he would only return once a year, Lin Xiaoyue felt an unspeakable sadness in her heart.

Su Qing noticed her expression, and suddenly smiled, "If we’re going, we’re not coming back, naturally the whole family needs to go."

"What?" Lin Xiaoyue could hardly believe her ears; she looked at Su Qing with burning eyes, "Mr. Qi, are you not lying to me?"

Su Qing nodded, "The schedule is tight, get the servants to start packing right away."

Lin Xiaoyue still found it unbelievable, "We, mother and daughter, are the leverage His Majesty has over Mr. Qi, how can he agree so easily to let you take me and Ah Nuan? Could it be that you promised His Majesty something in return?"