The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 776 - 738: The Pride of the Nation (Third Update)

Chapter 776: Chapter 738: The Pride of the Nation (Third Update)

The next day, Wen Wan almost got up together with Song Wei. After seeing the man off, she changed her clothes and went to the Changning Marquis Mansion.

Zhao Xunyin saw that she had come without having breakfast and quickly had it prepared.

Lu Yanli was still asleep, and Zhao Xunyin didn’t let anyone wake him up.

Wen Wan had breakfast with her parents and then accompanied them into the palace to see Emperor Guangxi.

When they reached the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Guangxi had just coughed up blood, and the handkerchief Mr. Cui brought out was stained with startling red.

Zhao Xunyin’s heart clenched, "The Emperor he..."

Mr. Cui didn’t respond, only sighed helplessly, and had the little eunuch take the handkerchief out to be dealt with.

Zhao Xunyin exchanged a glance with Lu Xingzhou, and the couple, together with their daughter, stepped into the hall, walking for a while until they turned into the inner hall.

The hall was resplendent, layered with gauzy curtains, yet the pungent smell of bitter medicine could not be blocked.

"Elder brother." Zhao Xunyin called softly.

Inside came the sound of Emperor Guangxi’s hoarse breathing, followed by weak words, "Fanghua came?"

Zhao Xunyin choked slightly, already knowing that Emperor Guangxi’s illness was beyond cure, she didn’t ask about his condition today and tried her best to smile, "I brought Wanwan to see her uncle."

"Little Wan..." Emperor Guangxi seemed to laugh happily, but because of his serious illness, the laughter sounded eerie.

Wen Wan stepped forward, bent her knees, and knelt on the ground, "Uncle, Wanwan has come to see you."

Through the heavy curtains, she couldn’t really see the bedridden Emperor Guangxi, but it wasn’t hard to tell from the voice that the person inside was utterly weakened.

Wen Wan got up and wanted to go in, but Zhao Xunyin stopped her and shook her head silently.

Lu Xingzhou also gave her a look, implying she should not go.

Mr. Cui noticed but said nothing.

Inside, Emperor Guangxi seemed to say something.

The voice was too faint for those outside to hear.

Mr. Cui immediately went in to listen closely and quickly came out, asking Lu Xingzhou to go in, probably about the matter of deploying troops.

Zhao Xunyin and Wen Wan stayed outside.

With no one around, Wen Wan asked quietly, "Mother, why won’t you let me go in?"

Zhao Xunyin said, "Your uncle is very sick, and you have a delicate constitution. It wouldn’t be good if you caught the disease."

"If it were contagious, I would have had a premonition before entering the palace." Wen Wan still insisted on going in.

Zhao Xunyin stubbornly prevented her from doing so.

It wasn’t because she was really afraid Wen Wan would get infected, but for fear that seeing the emaciated Emperor Guangxi would leave a bad impression.

While in Ningzhou, the couple had befriended many locals, and once visited a sick old lady with Lu Yanli; the little guy got scared and had nightmares for several days.

With her mother not allowing it, Wen Wan had to wait outside with them.

Lu Xingzhou came out after a short while and told Wen Wan, "Your uncle is very happy you came to see him."

"Did he ask me to go in?" Wen Wan asked.

"No." Lu Xingzhou shook his head and said, "No need to go in. Your intent is what matters."

Wen Wan thought that perhaps the Emperor Uncle was too ill, and her parents didn’t want her to witness the scene, so she no longer insisted. After some casual conversation, she left the palace with Lu Xingzhou and Zhao Xunyin.

After the family of three left, Mr. Cui reported to Emperor Guangxi, "Your Majesty, Lady Duan escaped from the Cold Palace last night, insisting on coming to the Qianqing Palace to meet you."

Emperor Guangxi, eyes closed, uttered a faint, cold hum, "Hasn’t her title been abolished? Where’s the Lady coming from?"

Mr. Cui immediately slapped his mouth, "This servant spoke too hastily and forgot that Liang Shuren has already been deposed."

He glanced at Emperor Guangxi’s expression and cautiously asked, "How does Your Majesty plan to deal with her?"

Emperor Guangxi retorted, "What do you think should be done with her?"

"Oh dear, Your Majesty has troubled this old servant." Mr. Cui pleaded, "This old servant is just a runner, how could I make such significant decisions for Your Majesty?"

Emperor Guangxi stopped speaking, his breath long and even, as if he were asleep.

Mr. Cui tucked in the corners of the Emperor’s quilt and was about to retreat quietly when he heard Emperor Guangxi say, "Keep her locked up until her hair turns white and her teeth fall out. If she is still alive by then, let her out of the palace."

Mr. Cui couldn’t help but shiver.

This must be the most cruel punishment in the world.

To isolate someone from the world for decades and then release them, to let them see firsthand how everything has changed, and make them feel the deepest and most desperate loneliness under the sky.

Mr. Cui had entered the palace as a little eunuch in his teens; he didn’t understand the romantic sentiments, nor did he understand the feelings Emperor Guangxi had for that person. But he knew that this time, Emperor Guangxi was genuinely disappointed to the extreme.

...

In five days, Lu Xingzhou had appointed the generals he wanted to use, assembled an army of 400,000 from the West Mountain Camp, East City Camp, and garrison in each province, along with over a hundred mechanical beasts prepared by the Divine Soldier Bureau. After the flag was consecrated, they prepared to set off.

Song Wei and his wife took Jinbao to the city gate to see them off.

Zhao Xunyin was already there with Lu Yanli. Seeing Wen Wan, she waved with a smile.

Wen Wan walked over and asked her in a low voice, "Mom, did Dad listen to me about bringing an extra military doctor?"

"He did," Zhao Xunyin said. "Could he not listen to his daughter’s words?"

"That’s good," Wen Wan sighed with relief.

The mother and daughter were chatting idly when they soon heard the orderly and grand sound of hooves coming from afar.

Wen Wan turned her head and saw a vast expanse of soldiers in armor sitting on horseback.

The one leading them, upright and wearing Red Gold Armor with Steel Stars, was Lu Xingzhou. Behind him, two soldiers held high the flag of Chu Country.

Seeing her husband, Zhao Xunyin moved forward with her son to greet him.

Lu Xingzhou raised his hand to stop the army, dismounted, and, looking at his wife and children, showed a slight, heartwarming smile, "No need to see me off. Go back and wait for my return."

Zhao Xunyin was about to say something, but Lu Xingzhou spoke again, "The people of the Northern Border cannot wait; I must set off immediately."

Zhao Xunyin had to swallow her farewell words, told him to take care, and let Song Wei and Wen Wan turn back.

Lu Xingzhou watched them walk away before getting back on his horse, waving at the backs of his wife and children, and resolutely diverted his gaze, riding out of the city.

Wen Wan and company returned to the carriage, not rushing to leave, but instead watched the army leave the city. Many people were watching like them, all coming for the mechanical beasts.

The Divine Soldier Bureau had an underground warehouse, vast in size, specifically for storing finished mechanical beasts.

These mechanical beasts were usually not seen and were only released during warfare.

At present, a lion-shaped mechanical beast was coming their way. As the leader, it should be the largest one, more than three zhang tall, just enough to pass through the city gate. With every step, the ground seemed to shake. Those following behind were much smaller but very agile; they looked complex in shape but were filled with mechanisms everywhere, capable of ambush, attack, and defense, and could even be slips-resistant in such snowy weather.

With each mechanical beast that passed, the citizens on both sides of the road let out one exclamation after another, their faces showing a sense of pride and an honor for their country.

Even Wen Wan was filled with passion by such a spectacular scene.

Indeed, on this continent, Chu Country might not be the most powerful in terms of military might, but it was the first country to produce mechanical beasts on a large scale and deploy them on the battlefield.

This alone was enough to make the people of Chu Country proud and confident and enough to make them believe that Chu Country’s soldiers had the ability to defend the borders and return the people to a peaceful time.

The people’s trust was undoubtedly the greatest encouragement for the warriors.

The soldiers walking beside the mechanical beasts were all vigorous and in neat formation, demonstrating their usual rigorous training.

Wen Wan sighed, "The ancestor of the Liu Family who invented the mechanical beasts could never have imagined that hundreds of years later, his efforts not only did not perish but became peerless divine weapons on the battlefield and forever pride of the people of Chu Country."

Zhao Xunyin agreed wholeheartedly, "That ancestor was indeed great; his name should be remembered by future generations."

As she spoke, she turned her head to look at Song Wei.

Song Wei immediately responded, "Mother-in-law, rest assured. Once I return, I will petition the Crown Prince to erect a monument and write a biography for the ancestor of the Liu Family."

...

After Lu Xingzhou went north, the New Year approached closer.

The annihilation of the Tongji Association, coupled with the spectacular scene of tens of thousands of troops and hundreds of mechanical beasts setting off, added a lot of confidence to the citizens. The market was no longer as deserted and desolate as before, now filled with vitality and the flavor of the New Year.

On New Year’s Eve, Zhao Xunyin got up early. The day before, someone from the Lu Family had sent a message, inviting her to the Duke Mansion for a reunion dinner today. She had just finished dressing and was about to change her son into a thicker hat when Dou Kou came in and said, "Princess, the second young master has returned."