freenovelworld Chapter 738 Heading to Qishan!
Chapter 738 Heading to Qishan!
The Emperor's decree was actually quite simple; it was nothing more than expressing his concern for Xiao Zonghua and bestowing upon him many rewards.
After the eunuch finished reading the imperial edict, he secretly took out a bright yellow secret letter from his sleeve.
"Your Highness, this is the Emperor's secret decree. Please read it yourself."
Duanmu Chuze's expression remained unchanged; he simply had someone bring the thank-you gifts and send a few people out.
Mu Xin Nuan saw that bright yellow color because Duanmu Chu Ze had no intention of hiding it from her.
However, she also understood the difference in this secret decree.
He told everyone to start eating, and then saw Duanmu Chuze go to the study alone.
Soon, before everyone had even eaten half full, he returned.
"Why didn't you wait for me? You guys are really going too far," Duanmu Chuze said half-jokingly.
Mu Xin Nuan smiled and said, "I thought you were going to have your meal in the study. I've already asked someone to prepare it for you. If I had known you were coming back, I should have waited for you."
Duanmu Chuze sat down and had someone bring Xiao Zonghua over to sit between him and Mu Xinnuan.
The chair Xiao Zonghua sat in was different from the others; it was slightly higher and had wooden boards all around. Most importantly, there was a table about half a foot wide in front of him.
In Duanmu Chuze's words, this is a special chair for toddlers.
Little Zonghua sat here quietly, neither crying nor making a fuss, waiting for his father and mother to feed him.
"Let me feed him, you eat first."
Mu Xin Nuan glanced at him and smiled, "No need. I already used some, and now that I've finished feeding him, my porridge will be cooled down to a perfect temperature."
Duanmu Chuze stopped arguing with her and let her feed Xiao Zonghua porridge.
Duanmu Chuze, on the other hand, would occasionally pick up some vegetables with his chopsticks and put them on Xiao Zonghua's plate.
Mu Qingye and Mu Qingyuan watched as their brother-in-law, the prince, fed his nephew with his own chopsticks, seemingly without any sense of disgust.
After the family finished their meal together, Mu Xin Nuan asked a few more simple questions before letting the two brothers go back to rest.
"But what trouble did you encounter?"
Duanmu Chuze shook his head, seemingly hesitating whether or not to tell her.
"You don't need to make things difficult for me. Since it's a secret order, it's better not to tell me. Otherwise, if something goes wrong in the future, you might blame me."
Duanmu Chuze knew she was worried about putting him in a difficult position, so he smiled faintly and picked up Xiao Zonghua, who was spinning around on the ground.
"Zonghua? Would you like to go hiking with your father?"
Zonghua couldn't really understand what he meant, but nodded blankly, his big eyes blinking like bright stars in the sky.
"Anuan, I'm going to the Qishan camp tomorrow, and I'd like to take him with me. Do you think that's appropriate?"
Mu Xin Nuan was taken aback, and upon looking at him again, she immediately objected, "No way! How old is he? Besides, the temperature difference between day and night on Qishan Mountain is too great. Aren't you afraid the child will catch a cold?"
"It's alright, he's already so grown up. I'll just bring a few more wet nurses with me."
"No! I don't agree."
Seeing his wife's face gradually darken, Duanmu Chuze knew it was unlikely, and said with some disappointment, "Alright. If you don't want to bring it, then you don't. It's just that I'll be gone for a long time this time, and I'm afraid I won't be back in three to five days."
"Don't worry, he's in the Prince's residence, what do you have to worry about?"
Mu Xin Nuan paused in her actions. "Leaving tomorrow? Isn't it almost Chinese New Year?"
"The Emperor's decree is right here, and I have no choice but to go. Besides, even if the Emperor's decree hadn't been issued, I would still have to go to Qishan. Since some people are being unruly, I don't mind pacifying them."
"Alright. Be careful then."
"Ah."
Mu Xin Nuan thought for a moment, then began to pack Duanmu Chu Ze's clothes herself. Since he wouldn't be back from Qishan anytime soon, he naturally needed to bring his own clothes. Moreover, the person accompanying him should be considerate.
"Why don't you let Chunyu go with you? Otherwise, who will take care of your daily needs?"
Duanmu Chuze chuckled, "Anuan, I'm going to the military camp. Do you think it'll be convenient for me to bring a maid? Don't worry, Ziyi is here. You don't need to worry about me."
The next morning, while Mu Xinnuan and Zong Hua were sound asleep, Duanmu Chuze left.
Zonghua slept soundly because he had played with his father for too long last night, and when Aunt Fang carried him away, he was so sleepy that he could barely keep his eyes open.
Mu Xin Nuan slept well because Duanmu Chu Ze had been too rough with her the night before.
The thought of being separated from his wife for so long naturally made him feel reluctant.
And Mu Xin Nuan, unusually, did not refuse him and let him have his way, simply because she felt he was about to go out.
Before they knew it, it was New Year's Eve. Although the Chang Le Prince's Mansion was decorated with lanterns and filled with laughter, everyone knew that their mistress was somewhat absent-minded.
It was the first time Mu Qingye and Mu Qingxuan had spent the New Year in Yanzhou, so they were naturally very excited.
Fortunately, Mu Xin Nuan had Xiao Zong Hua by her side, which distracted her a lot.
With Duanmu Chuze away, Mu Xin Nuan let Xiao Zong Hua sleep with her, and the mother and son slept soundly that night.
Before they knew it, the fifth day of the first lunar month had passed. Mu Xin Nuan had a carriage prepared and instructed the two brothers to return to the capital first to pay their respects to their grandfather before continuing their studies.
After the two brothers left, the Chang Le Prince's Mansion seemed even quieter.
Rongyue invited a shadow puppet troupe, but the princess didn't seem to be interested in watching it.
Xiao Zonghua, however, found this thing quite rare and played with it quite a bit.
"Your Highness, doesn't the Prince send letters back every day? You don't need to worry." Aunt Fang knew that the Princess missed the Prince.
"Yes, in his letter, he made everything very simple, only asking about the situation at home and saying that he himself was fine. Why didn't he mention that fighting had broken out in Qishan?"
When Mu Xin Nuan said this, there was still a hint of reproach in her tone.
"Isn't Your Highness just afraid you'll worry?"
Mu Xin Nuan sighed softly, "Knowing I'm worried, he still won't tell the truth. This Duanmu Chu Ze is really infuriating."
"Your Highness, Miss Chuchu has arrived."
Mu Xin Nuan had someone invite her in. "Why are you here?"
"Knowing that my teacher's wife is lonely at home, I came to keep her company."
Mu Xin Nuan raised an eyebrow, "Your jealous husband agreed?"
“There’s nothing we can do if we don’t agree. He’s probably already at Qishan by now.”
"Young Master Fu also went to Qishan?"
"Yes, they left yesterday morning. It was the Prince's personal order. Not only Hongyang, but also the second young master of the Fu family, Fu Hongzhang, went with them."