13 – Farewell
Ye Chen carried Shen Qiu into the back chamber, and the two of them slipped into the bathtub together. As the warm water enveloped their bodies, Shen Qiu thought to herself, “This is even more exhausting than fighting on the battlefield!”
While washing Shen Qiu’s body, Ye Chen noticed her dazed expression and asked, “What’s wrong? Are you uncomfortable somewhere?”
Shen Qiu shook her head vigorously and said, “Can I wash myself? This feels so strange!”
Ye Chen chuckled and said, “No. If you can still wash yourself, it means I haven’t given my all.”
Shen Qiu looked confused, “Ah, what do you mean by that?”
Ye Chen leaned close to Shen Qiu’s ear and whispered, “If you can still wash yourself, it means your husband hasn’t satisfied you completely! Shall we go again?”
Shen Qiu glared at Ye Chen and didn’t say another word, afraid that continuing the conversation would lead to more inappropriate remarks.
After finishing Shen Qiu’s bath, Ye Chen applied medicine to her wounds before carrying her to bed.
The next day at Yin hour, Shen Qiu woke up. Having slept too late the previous night, she originally wanted to sleep longer, but her mother was returning to the northwest this morning and she needed to see her off. Who knew when they would meet again!
Seeing Shen Qiu struggling to keep her eyes open, Ye Chen held her tenderly and said, “Sleep a bit more in my arms.” I’ll wake you when we reach the city gate.”
Shen Qiu nodded, “Okay, you must wake me!”
When Ye Chen and Shen Qiu arrived at the city gate, Shen Qiu’s mother’s carriage had just stopped at the entrance.
Awakened, Shen Qiu slapped herself twice lightly, took a deep breath, and jumped down from the carriage.
Watching his wife’s adorable behavior, Ye Chen couldn’t stop smiling, though her method of waking herself up seemed a bit harsh.
The guards returning with Shen Qiu’s mother included the same escorts who accompanied Shen Qiu between the northwest and capital every year, plus eight additional guards Ye Chen had assigned from the Ye family – sixteen guards in total, along with some servants.
Shen Qiu’s mother repeated yesterday’s instructions to Shen Qiu once more before departing.
Gazing at the road she traveled every year, Shen Qiu suddenly felt disoriented. She had always been the one leaving in the carriage, but today she had become the one seeing others off.
Ye Chen pulled Shen Qiu into an embrace, wiping the tear stains from her face as he said, “Qiu’er, don’t cry. When we have time, I’ll take you back to the northwest to visit them!”
Shen Qiu smiled weakly, “The northwest is too far.”
Ye Chen cupped Shen Qiu’s face and said, “Qiu’er, believe me, I keep my promises! Will you take me to see the four northwestern counties, with their snow-capped mountains and Gobi deserts?”
Shen Qiu smiled and nodded, grasping Ye Chen’s hand as she sniffled, “Thank you, husband!”
Ye Chen said, “Silly, I’m your husband. Never thank me, understand?”
By the time the couple returned to Duke Manor, it was already Chen hour. They went together to pay respects to Old Duke and Xiao Taijun.
Ye Chen accompanied Old Duke in playing chess on the bed while Shen Qiu joined Xiao Taijun and Granny Sun in flower arranging, tea brewing, and cat’s cradle. Xiao Taijun particularly loved playing cat’s cradle.
Watching Shen Qiu play cat’s cradle with Xiao Taijun one moment and acting cute the next, Ye Chen felt indescribable peace and sweetness in his heart.
So this is what tranquil happiness feels like!
Xiao Taijun suddenly remarked, “The dog days of summer have begun, haven’t they?”
Granny Sun responded, “Not yet. The first day of the first fu period is the day after tomorrow.”
Xiao Taijun looked at Shen Qiu and said, “Chen’er’s study is that Water Pavilion in the lotus pond. Would you like to move in there after the dog days begin? It’s much cooler inside!”Ye Chen chimed in, “The Cherishing Autumn Pavilion has been tidied up. We’ll move in within the next few days!”
“Cherishing Autumn Pavilion? Which courtyard is that?” Xiao Taijun asked, puzzled.
While placing a chess piece, Ye Chen explained, “It’s the former Ink Study. I had it renamed the day after our wedding!”
Xiao Taijun glanced at Shen Qiu, who had lowered her head deeply, then said to Granny Sun, “I heard from you that this rascal renamed their courtyard to Autumn Dust Courtyard the day after their wedding? This boy wants to turn our entire Duke Manor into an autumn theme!”
Shen Qiu’s face was flushed crimson, her eyes darting around as if searching for a hole to hide in.
Yet Ye Chen nodded seriously, “That’s not a bad idea, Grandmother. You understand me so well. Tomorrow I’ll rename your Hall of Glory and Majesty with an autumn-themed name too, and even change the guest courtyard!”
Xiao Taijun pointed at Ye Chen, laughing heartily, “You really have thick skin, young man!”
She then took Shen Qiu’s hand, saying, “Knowing he treats you well, I’m truly at ease! My old friend can rest assured too!”
Shen Qiu stole a glance at Ye Chen, who was smiling at her with indescribable tenderness in his eyes.
Granny Sun changed the subject, “Old Duke’s birthday is in one month – his seventy-eighth!”
The Old Duke on the bed paused his chess move, saying, “No need for grand celebrations. Just a family meal will suffice.”
Xiao Taijun suddenly turned serious, “No, this year we must celebrate grandly. How long will you keep torturing yourself like this? You’re only afraid to avoid people, aren’t you?”
“If you don’t get out of bed soon, your legs will truly become useless!”
Ye Chen added, “Let’s have a grand celebration, Grandfather. Qiu’er and I will need you and Grandmother to help raise our children. You can’t abandon us, can you?”
Ye Chen looked at Shen Qiu with a smile, “We plan to have seven or eight children. We won’t be able to handle them all ourselves. If you don’t help us, we’ll be exhausted to death!”
Xiao Taijun immediately beamed with joy, looking at Shen Qiu, “Really? That would be wonderful! If the old grump won’t help you, I will. I’ll help raise them all before I depart this world!”
Shen Qiu glared at Ye Chen but didn’t expose his exaggeration.
Although the Old Duke didn’t explicitly agree in the end, he didn’t object either – which was significant progress for him.
After returning, Ye Chen sat at his desk and listed all the friends and subordinates he could remember from his grandfather’s past. He personally wrote invitations, hoping they would all come. As long as his grandfather was willing to see people, getting him to walk again wouldn’t be far off!
Shen Qiu brought in some chilled plum soup and handed a cup to Ye Chen at his desk. “How’s the list coming along?” she asked.
Ye Chen took her hand and pulled her onto his lap. “Thank you, Qiu’er. You were right – Grandfather needs to be pushed. He’s punishing himself like this, but it’s hard on Grandmother too.”
“He and Grandmother were comrades fighting side by side on the battlefield, and inseparable partners in life. I heard from Grandmother that they vowed never to abandon each other, in life or death.”
“But the way Grandfather is now is too unfair to Grandmother. He hasn’t considered his wife’s feelings, nor how much pain Grandmother endures seeing him like this every day.”
Shen Qiu rested her head on Ye Chen’s shoulder, saying, “Let’s hope Grandfather stops letting Grandmother down.”Ye Chen said with a mischievous grin, “Qiu’er, let’s work hard to have a child soon. With a little one making noise around, Grandfather should recover faster!”
Shen Qiu looked at Ye Chen in astonishment. Leaning close to her ear, Ye Chen whispered, “Your husband thinks this is an excellent idea!”
After speaking, he scooped Shen Qiu up and carried her to the bed. While walking, he called out, “Mu Qing, clear the area!” And so, three people once again took their posts at the entrance of Autumn Dust Courtyard, while the other maids and elderly servants were ordered to stay indoors.