Chapter 93
Cao Xunâs vitality was undeniable, his youthful energy practically radiating from him. He took a special concoction three times a day, and in no time, he was back to his old self, ready to conquer whatever came his way.
But Yunzhu, ever the concerned one, insisted that he take another day to rest and recuperate.
Once he was fully recovered, Cao Xun threw himself back into training with the esteemed Marquis Pingxi and his seasoned generals, and, as always, Yunzhu was by his side, watching every move he made.
Marquis Pingxi was a force to be reckoned with, a master of military strategy and discipline. He ran the border troops like a well-oiled machine, and Cao Xun, as the border patrol governor, fit right in.
After a particularly intense drill, local military leaders, eager to test their skills, threw down the gauntlet against Cao Xun.
He made quick work of three of them, impressing even the battle-hardened Marquis Pingxi. After the dust settled, Marquis Pingxi, always thinking ahead, said, âTimeâs short. Letâs call it a day. How about you give my grandson some pointers tomorrow?â
Cao Xun flashed a smile at Cen Hao, who was chomping at the bit to face off with him, alongside his comrade, Xie Lang.
âIâm a few years older than you,â Cao Xun teased. âGoing one-on-one might not be fair. How about you two team up and try to take me down together?â
The challenge stirred something fierce in the two young men, and they couldnât wait to join forces against the man they saw as unbeatable.
That evening, Cen Hao stayed at the official residence, likely scheming with Xie Lang on how to take down the legendary Cao Xun.
Meanwhile, Yunzhu couldnât help but worry. Could Cao Xun handle the combined might of Xie Lang and Cen Hao?
Cao Xun, ever the calm and collected one, shrugged it off. âVictory or defeat doesnât matter in a fight like this,â he said, exuding confidence. âIf they win, Iâll take pride in shaping future warriors. If they lose, itâll be a lesson they wonât forget, teaching them the importance of humility.â
His words were as smooth as ever, and his demeanor was pure grace.
But Yunzhu, uncertain if he was truly being sincere, whispered, âIâll stay out of it. Winning would be nice, but your graceful acceptance of defeat is something I canât quite bring myself to match.â
Cao Xun, ever the charmer, pulled her close and whispered soothingly, âDonât worry, my dear. Iâll make sure youâll be smiling.â
Yunzhu, ever the tease, asked, âAnd what if that smile fades?â
Cao Xun, always in control, replied, âThatâs up to you.â
The next day, preparations were underway. As soon as Marquis Pingxi finished his breakfast, he summoned a group of military leaders to witness the spectacle at the training grounds near the official residence.
The area was small but intense, with military leaders lining the sides, while Yunzhu stood by the Marquis.
As Cao Xun and his challengers walked into the center of the arena, Marquis Pingxi looked at Yunzhu, his expression teasing. âThis man, Fushan, has always been a bit old-fashioned, you know. Marriage should make a man more mature, but instead of staying steady, heâs getting bolder.â
His gaze lingered on Yunzhu, who blushed deeply, the heat in her cheeks matching the intensity of the moment.
At first, Yunzhu thought Cao Xun was just trying to prove himself like the rest of them, but her suspicions were confirmed when Marquis Pingxi voiced the same opinion.
With Xie Lang starting to show signs of a cold, Yunzhu wasnât bothered by it. After all, Xie Lang had been teasing himself about getting "old" for a while now.
Though he wasnât fond of the jokes, he still tried to lighten the mood with humor, breaking away from his usual serious attitude.
Marquis Pingxi shot a knowing smile at Cao Xun across the martial arts field and remarked, âWell, this is something to see. A young man like you should let loose and enjoy yourself.â
And then, the fight began.
Yunzhu clasped her hands together, watching with intensity. She knew this wasnât just another one-on-one bout like before. Now, it was two against one.
As Xie Lang and Cen Hao tried to throw Cao Xun off, Yunzhuâs nerves started to fray. But Cao Xun was sharp. His vigilance never wavered, as he blocked their every move with ease.
Marquis Pingxi leaned in, sharing a piece of wisdom: âOn the battlefield, you canât rely on just your eyes. Every movement stirs the air. Fushanâs been at it for over ten yearsâhe can feel the wind and anticipate positions.â
Yunzhu nodded, remembering her grandfatherâs similar lessons.
It wasnât long before Cao Xun made his moveâhe pierced Xie Langâs shoulder with a swift strike, tearing his clothing just enough to make the point, but stopping the assault right there.
Xie Lang stood defeated, irritated not just by his failure to dodge in time but by the burning humiliation. Without thinking, he stole a glance at Yunzhu.
They were young, sure, but the sting of failure in front of someone important to you hit deep.
As for Cen Hao, he was a different story. He didnât have the same emotional attachment to Yunzhu as Xie Lang did. Instead, he was focused on learning from Cao Xun, hoping to get a few moves in and perhaps even score a victory.
But his excitement quickly turned to surprise when Cao Xun hit him even harder than Xie Lang. Cen Hao barely dodged the blow, but Cao Xunâs spear still grazed the waist of his belt. The cut was cleanâjust halfway through, leaving Cen Haoâs pants intactâbut his face flushed in embarrassment as he instinctively clutched the back of his belt.
The generals, including Ping Xihou, burst into laughter, filling the air with the sound of it, their mirth infectious.
Xie Lang, still recovering from his own humiliation, couldnât help but feel a bit sorry for Cen Hao. He looked down at the tear in his robe and almost felt grateful that Cao Xun had shown him mercy.
Cen Hao, red-faced, stole another glance at Cao Xun, but this time there was a glimmer of appreciation.
Cao Xun, ever the gentleman, apologized with a humble bow, âIâm sorry, brother. My mistake.â
Cen Hao quickly assured him it was nothing, figuring Cao Xun hadnât meant to do it.
Finally, Cao Xun turned his attention back to his wife, and Yunzhu, meeting his gaze from across the field, shot him a sharp glare. But as she lowered her eyes, a sly, contented smile crept onto her lips.
*
Suzhou was the last stop on Cao Xun's border patrol, but instead of rushing home, the couple decided to extend their stay for two more days, dragging it out before heading back with Xie Lang and the hundred guards. The journey was uneventfulâaside from some overnight stays and being caught in a heavy snowstorm. But that didnât stop them; even though Yunzhu wanted to speed up to get back to the capital in time for the New Year celebrations, everything flowed smoothly.
Then, on the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, the capital was finally in sight, just as familiar as ever.
Cao Xun, always on duty, took Xie Lang to the palace to dive back into his responsibilities, while Yunzhu had the coachman take them straight to the Duke Ningguo's mansion. Her family was waiting for her, eager to greet her return.
After being apart for half a year, Yunzhu couldn't help but feel her heart swell with joy at the sight of her father, as handsome and elegant as ever, her gentle and beautiful mother, her sturdy and strong brother, and her younger brother, who seemed to be growing into his looks. First, she wrapped her arms around her mother, not wanting to let go.
Meng shi, ever the caring mother, embraced her daughter with one hand, massaging her shoulders and wrists with the other. "I was worried you might not adjust to life away from home, Yunzhu. I thought you'd lose weight from hunger. But look at you, youâve gained some weight, havenât you?" she said, her voice full of affection.
Yunzhu could feel her mother's prideâseeing her glow, her curves filling out, it was obvious her son-in-law had been taking good care of her. Pretending to be annoyed, Yunzhu shoved her mother away playfully, giving a pointed look at Gu Min, who was standing nearby.
Gu Min chuckled and teased, "I'm just kidding. You look great. Youâre not fat at all. But me? Iâve definitely put on a few pounds."
Yunzhuâs eyes softened as she noticed her sister-in-law's unmistakable baby bump. "You're beautiful, pregnant or not," she said, her voice warm and genuine.
Li Yao, her typically rough-and-tumble older brother, surprised her with his gentle words, agreeing, "She's beautiful, no matter what." Gu Min blushed, the attention catching her off guard.
The family then moved to Nuan Pavilion to settle in and chat, the conversation flowing freely as they shared their news and laughed.
Meng shi, ever the one to keep up with the family, informed Yunzhu, "Yurong gave birth to a healthy baby boy. We celebrated the babyâs full moon on the tenth of the month. She told me to remind you to bring a present when you head back to the capital."
Yunzhuâs heart soared at the news. She couldnât wait to visit Xuâs house the next day, but first, she was eager to reunite with her family tonight.
About an hour later, Ah Jiu arrived from the palace to say that the Emperor had detained Cao Xun for lunch and he wouldn't be free until the afternoon. When Cao Xun finally walked into Ningguo Duke's mansion, it was nearly dusk.
Li Yao and Meng shi greeted him warmly, and Yunzhu took the chance to ask, "Why are you so late?"
Cao Xun shrugged, looking slightly apologetic. "The Emperor wanted detailed reports on the generals across the regions. I lost track of time going over the situation."
As expected, Emperor Xining was meticulous, not only inquiring about the state of affairs but briefing Cao Xun on everything major that had happened over the last six months. Politics, plans, and updates on all sidesâthey had gotten so wrapped up in the conversation that time slipped away unnoticed.
Yunzhu's face softened as she processed the conversation. The new Emperor was sharp, and it pleased her to see his wisdom in action.
The Li family's celebratory dinner was full of energy and laughter, the kind of night that left you feeling alive. By the time the banquet wrapped up, the night had fallen, casting a shadow over the festivities.
Cao Xun, ever the thoughtful one, asked if Yunzhu wanted to stay the night at Ningguo Dukeâs Mansion before heading back to Dingguo Dukeâs. But Yunzhu had already thought it over. âLetâs head home first,â she said, âNew Yearâs is coming up, and there's a lot to handle at home.â
This wasnât exactly a private matter, though. Even though they kept their voices low, Meng Shi, sitting nearby, heard every word. And when she saw her daughterâs calm expression, calling Duke Dingguoâs mansion âhome,â Meng Shi could tell â after six months of travel, the bond between her daughter and son-in-law had deepened.
After bidding her family goodbye, Yunzhu joined Cao Xun in the carriage, ready to head back. Meanwhile, back at the Cao familyâs estate, Cao Shao had been expecting them. He figured his brother and sister-in-law would return tonight, so heâd been waiting in the main courtyard. As soon as he heard the carriage, he was out there, eager to greet them.
Cao Xun stepped down from the carriage at Duke Dingguoâs gates, ready to help Yunzhu down, but she playfully tapped him on the shoulder, her eyes dancing with mischief. He met her gaze, a silent challenge passed between them.
Even though Cao Shao had seen his brother reaching out to embrace Yunzhu, he still walked over with a respectful smile. âBrother, sister-in-law, youâve returned,â he said, his voice full of warmth.
Cao Xun grinned. âYes, I pushed the horses hard to make sure weâd be here for the New Year. Spent some time with our parents before coming over. But youâve been waiting long, havenât you, dear brother?â
Cao Shao chuckled, a little mock-somber. âIâve missed you both so much, waiting all this time. You didnât have to come greet me.â
Cao Xun simply nodded, brushing off his brotherâs words. Then, ignoring Yunzhuâs playful gestures, he pulled her into a tight embrace.
Cao Shao, sensing the moment, excused himself with a polite suggestion that his brother and sister-in-law go rest.
As Yunzhu watched him walk away, she shot Cao Xun a teasing look. âWhy donât you just pretend to be the good brother tonight?â
With Yunzhu in his arms, Cao Xun chuckled. âI had to play the part earlier. You know, telling everyone our marriage was about loyalty. Couldnât act like I was abandoning my brother. But now, two years in, itâs only natural for me to get attached to you. But, as long as he keeps his head, he wonât have a reason to hold anything against me.â
Yunzhu raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips. âWhat if he blames you?â
Cao Xunâs eyes darkened, the playful edge sharpening in his voice. âThen letâs give him a show he wonât forget anytime soon.â
Yunzhu shot him a quick, teasing jab in the chest, a mock reprimand on her lips. âYouâre such a scoundrel!â
âHmmm,â Cao Xun smirked, leaning in closer, his tone low and playful. âMaybe youâre worried he wonât come back.â
Yunzhu scoffed, a small smile creeping onto her face. âPlease, you could handle three or four like him with one hand tied behind your back.â
For a moment, Cao Xun faltered, the lightness in his expression slipping. A brief flicker of regret crossed his mind, thoughts of impulsive actions in Suzhou. It was enough to snap him out of his teasing mood. He quickened his pace, heading toward the inner rooms, ready to shift gears and get back to where they left off.