CHAPTER 407: CHAPTER 375: SU QING AND HIS WIFE RETURN TO THE CAPITAL (FIRST UPDATE)

Lu Xingzhou looked at her and suddenly said, "Ah Yin is much stronger than the Empress Dowager."

Knowing he was comforting her, Fanghua smiled.

Before going to bed, a maid from the main courtyard brought Lu Yanli back.

The little fellow was tired from playing, and once he came in, he couldn’t stop yawning.

Fanghua originally wanted to take him for a bath, but seeing his condition, she decided against it and gently carried her son to the bed inside to sleep.

After a while, the couple both finished washing up and lay down in the inner room.

The night passed without incident.

The next day, the family of three entered the palace with the Old Marquis at the appointed time.

Fanghua handed over the little fellow to her husband and went to see Emperor Guangxi, where she told him the words she had coaxed out of the Old Marquis.

Emperor Guangxi, now middle-aged, had grown increasingly paranoid and suspicious. No matter what Fanghua said, he was convinced that the Old Marquis Lu was responsible for the Empress Dowager’s death, and threatened that although he could spare the Lu Family for his sister’s sake, he would never employ any member of the Lu Family in an important position again.

At this point, there was a rift between the siblings’ opinions.

To prevent her brother from feeling that she was biased in favor of the Lu Family, Fanghua did not argue with him and, after delivering the message, went to the memorial hall.

——

With the passing of the Empress Dowager, the once bustling and lively Capital grew quiet, and no one dared to call out or make merry in the marketplace.

Meanwhile, the war in the Northwest continued.

Su Qing received an imperial edict from Emperor Guangxi and returned to the Capital with his wife Lin Xiaoyue and their two-year-old daughter Su Pingting from the border area.

In the carriage entering the city, Lin Xiaoyue was feeding her daughter pastries, wiping her mouth with a handkerchief from time to time.

The carriage curtains were drawn wide open, allowing easy conversation with the man sitting on the horse outside.

Returning after such a long time, Lin Xiaoyue felt a bit emotional, "I wonder how much the Capital has changed in these two years."

The place where Su Qing was stationed was far from the Capital, and news from there was hard to come by; even if he had people under him, he could only learn about the most sensational events.

For example: Prime Minister Su was ennobled as Duke Jing, the position of Prime Minister was abolished, and henceforth, there was no Prime Minister Su in the court, only Duke Su.

Another example: The fourth son of the Su Family, after a mishap that left him disfigured, became disheartened and entered Fahua Temple to practice with his hair still grown.

Yet another: The sudden death of the Empress Dowager in these past two days.

Holding the reins tightly, Su Qing gazed at the desolate streets and turned to look at his wife, "Missing home?"

Lin Xiaoyue thought of the unpleasant affairs before leaving the Capital and found herself unable to feel nostalgic for it, "To speak of home, I am more fond of Suzhou. Though simple, it is peaceful, and living there makes one feel secure."

Su Qing gave her a deep look.

Lin Xiaoyue said, "No matter how you look at me, I will say it. After all, since marrying you, except for the two years of peaceful life in Suzhou, I have not had a single day in the Capital without anxiety."

Su Qing was silent for a moment before speaking, "Then how about I have someone send you back?"

"Sure!" Lin Xiaoyue agreed immediately, "By coincidence, I left something behind in Suzhou. Going back would make it convenient, saving me from worrying."

Su Qing said no more and continued riding ahead.

Lin Xiaoyue saw he was ignoring her, so she leaned out of the window to look at the man’s upright back, "Don’t just talk and not act!"

Su Qing did not turn back, his voice cool, "Hmm, you can go by yourself, Ah Nuan will stay."

Lin Xiaoyue was choked by his words and, after a moment, lightly snorted, "You can’t be a good father like this; will our daughter learn well following you?"

Su Qing’s tone remained unchanged, "Always thinking about having Ah Nuan without a father, you, as the mother, aren’t exactly exemplary either."

"..."

Lin Xiaoyue slammed down the bamboo curtain, shutting his latter half of the sentence outside.

Two-year-old Ah Nuan, seeing her mother’s frustrated and darkened face, couldn’t help but giggle.

Lin Xiaoyue poked her forehead, "Your mother was bullied, and you still find it funny?"

Ah Nuan, who spoke late, enunciated unclearly, pointed at the snack box on the seat full of honey candies, and said to her mother, "Eat candy～"

The sweet and soft voice soothed Lin Xiaoyue’s restless heart.

The hand that had been poking her forehead changed to stroke her head, "Ah Nuan is so good."

...

Knowing that Mr. Qi and Granny Qi were returning home today, Steward Liu brought people to wait outside early.

Seeing Su Qing riding over, Steward Liu hurriedly greeted him with a smile, "Mr. Qi has been away from the Capital for more than two years, this old servant has long awaited your return."

Su Qing dismounted, and a servant immediately took the horse to the stable.

He looked at Steward Liu, "In the two years I’ve been gone, is everything in the household still well?"

"All is well, all is well." Steward Liu nodded repeatedly, "Rest assured, Mr. Qi, with us old folks watching, no one dares to cause trouble in the household."

After glancing around and seeing the servants far away, Steward Liu intentionally lowered his voice, "I wonder if Mr. Qi has heard that the Prime Minister has been deposed."

Su Qing nodded faintly, "While I was in Suzhou, I heard some about it."

"However, now that place has already become the Duke Mansion." Steward Liu sighed lightly at this point, "It’s just a pity that the innocent Fourth Young Master has suffered repeatedly and ended up retreating into the Buddhist life."

Su Qing looked up at the plaque above his home’s main gate, the four characters "Martial Champion Mansion" inscribed by the emperor remained powerful, yet the gilding on it vaguely showed traces of being washed by rain over the years.

He lamented, "Who would have thought that in just two years, so many changes would occur."

The nephew Little Four, whom he originally thought would be poisoned by his biological father one day, not only remained uncorrupted by the mundane world but also voluntarily avoided it by retreating into the Buddhist life.

The Empress Dowager, who he thought was at the peak of her power, unexpectedly passed away before anyone could react.

As they spoke, Lin Xiaoyue got off the carriage holding her daughter’s small hand.

With keen eyes, Steward Liu immediately greeted them with a smile, "This old servant greets Granny Qi and Miss."

Lin Xiaoyue raised an eyebrow and looked at Steward Liu, "Is the renovation of the main courtyard completed?"

"It was completed in the year Mr. and Granny Qi left the Capital." Steward Liu truthfully said, "The arrangements in the house were restored as per Mr. Qi’s instructions as much as possible. Granny Qi, if you find anything unsatisfactory upon inspection, this old servant will adjust it according to your wishes."

"In the two years we’ve been away, no one from the big mansion came to cause trouble, did they?" Lin Xiaoyue asked again.

"Granny Qi, rest assured, it’s been very peaceful." Steward Liu replied respectfully.

Too many things happened in the big mansion over these two years, they were too busy cleaning up the mess to spare any energy to bother with a mansion with no owners present.

However, such words were not meant for outside the gate, so Steward Liu only smiled and invited Mr. and Granny Qi inside.

Su Qing instinctively glanced back at Lin Xiaoyue, seeing her holding Ah Nuan’s hand, he retracted his gaze and stepped inside the gate.

Lin Xiaoyue and her daughter quickly followed.

The family of three went straight to the main courtyard.

Entering the courtyard gate, Lin Xiaoyue carefully examined the newly renovated house before her.

Seeing that the interior arrangements were indeed the same as two years ago, she couldn’t help but feel relieved.

Ah Nuan curiously looked around before finally turning to her mother, her eyes filled with confusion.

Lin Xiaoyue patiently explained to her, "This is our true home."

Ah Nuan didn’t quite understand and still felt bewildered.

Lin Xiaoyue smiled and pinched her little cheek, "Just remember, wherever there’s mom and dad, that’s home."

Just as she finished speaking, Su Qing, who was chatting with Steward Liu, looked over with an insightful expression.

Lin Xiaoyue looked back at him, silent, and only spoke after Steward Liu left, "If there’s something you want to say, speak up. Don’t just stare at me silently, it’s quite unnerving."

Su Qing said, "You two have lunch by yourselves, I need to go to the palace."

Su Qing’s term of external assignment had ended, returning to the Capital meant he had to report for duty.

But with so much happening in the palace nowadays, Lin Xiaoyue advised him, "Take care of yourself alone."

Su Qing acknowledged and went inside to change into his official robe, then headed out the main gate, mounted his horse, and rode toward the Imperial City.

Unexpectedly, he encountered Duke Su at the Imperial City Gate.

Duke Su had just come out of the palace, and after a brief moment of surprise at seeing Su Qing, his face quickly lit with a smile, "Seventh, you’re back? You’ve been away for so long, how come you didn’t send word to the family?"

Su Qing smiled faintly, "With my mother deceased and my wife and child on duty, there’s no need to send word to anyone."

Duke Su picked up on the irony in his words, "So you’re not going to acknowledge me as your elder brother anymore?"

Su Qing looked at him, "I personally believe that familial bonds are mutual. Elder Brother always carries himself as ’eldest brother like a father’, expecting those below to honor and be useful to you, but perhaps you’ve forgotten the saying ’an unkind father makes an unfilial son’."

Duke Su’s face darkened.