T/N: I apologise for the irregular updates these days. I had assignments and end-semester exams. Now that I’m finally free of its clutches, I feel so much refreshed. I’m grateful to everyone for their patience.
Thank you so much for the ko-fi, @elamia and @TheTanJar! There’s a triple update today. Enjoy~
When Gu Sui’er heard that her parents were coming, she almost jumped in happiness.
Counting the days, she has been away from her hometown for more than half a year. And it could even be said that she had experienced more things in these past months than she had in the past ten-plus years of her life there.
Now recalling the incidents when she was in Gujia Village, it really felt as if all that had transpired in some previous life.
As for her parents and younger brother, they seemed even more like distant memories that felt to be so far away that she would never reach Gujia Village at the foot of Xushan.
She never imagined her parents and younger brother coming here.
After Gu Sui’er heard the news, she couldn’t calm down for a while. One moment, she felt that she needed to organize a place for her parents to reside, in the very next moment, she wanted to let the servants prepare the food they liked to eat, then she thought of something else and another thing again; making herself dizzy.
Seeing this, Xiao Heng comforted her: “You don’t need to rush. Prepare slowly. It may take more than ten days for them to reach Yanjing City by land.”
Although he knew that she had been looking forward to their arrival, he only told her about it now. This was because he knew she would be anxious if she was informed was too early or late.
Gu Sui’er thought for a moment: “So it’s just ten days away!”
Xiao Heng was instantly left speechless.
Ten days could be very long or very short.
At first, Gu Sui’er felt anxious that just around ten days were left but later, after she was done preparing their rooms and everything else, she realized ten days were remarkably torturous.
So she either played with little Ah Chen to pass the time or went out for a stroll around the TingZhu Courtyard several times a day.
Everyone in the residence soon got to know that Gu Sui’er’s parents were coming. Now that the matters of Xiao Heng’s main wife were out of the question, Gu Sui’er, as his only concubine, was naturally quite valued.
The Old Madam specially asked the unused beddings in her yard to be brought over after knowing this: “These are made of good quality cotton. I had them made some time ago. Place them in the room prepared for your parents; they can use these.”
The Madam was usually very busy as she was in charge of managing the residence, but she still found some time to call Gu Sui’er and ask if she required something or not. If yes, she just needed to mention it.
Gu Sui’er couldn’t thank them enough for their kindness.
Lu Qingyi has gone back home now, leaving only Xiao Jin and Xiao Xu in the residence around Gu Sui’er’s age. Xiao Xu came over to accompany her ‘Little Sister-in-law’ often. This day, she brought an embroidered canopy, saying that her Concubine Mother had sent it for her parents.
“She has worked hard. I have some here so Concubine Zhou should keep it for her own use.”
Xiao Xu pouted after hearing this: “Little Sister-in-law, do you detest it because my Concubine Mother sent it?”
How could Gu Sui’er dare to say she disliked it? As a result, she promptly accepted it.
More than ten busy days later, the day she had been eagerly waiting for had finally arrived. Xiao Heng said that the escorts riding before them had sent news that they would be able to arrive today.
All of a sudden, Gu Sui’er couldn’t sit still, she immediately wanted to greet them.
Xiao Heng appeased: “I need to meet His Majesty for some work-related matters today. I will be done by noon so wait for me, I will accompany you to the city gate to welcome your parents.”
If it was any other matter, he still could have pushed it off but the court officials were going to gather in the Imperial study this morning. He absolutely couldn’t do that with this.
However, Gu Sui’er asked: “What if my parents enter the city ahead of time? Wouldn’t there be no one greet them then?”
Noticing her fervent pair of eyes, Xiao Heng knew that he wouldn’t be able to stop her. Therefore, he had no choice but to let Hu Tie prepare the carriage and horses. Nanny An was asked to lay a soft cotton-padded mattress inside the carriage. After everything was done, Hu Tie had to escort her outside the city gate.
But remembering that Hu Tie wouldn’t recognize Gu Sui’er’s parents, he ordered Jiang Zheng to accompany him post a while’s hesitation.
Gu Sui’er was eager to leave for the city gate so as soon as Xiao Heng’s orders were carried out, she bade his farewell, stepped into the carriage and rushed out.
When the group came out of the city gate, she saw the vast wilderness stretching as far as she could see. There were occasionally some passers-by who entered the city driving their carriages noisily. But her parents were nowhere to be seen.
She stared at the road. It was the road that had ushered her inside the city before and now, her parents were also about to traverse it. Tears nearly fell as she thought of this.
Jiang Zheng was standing far away.
He stood perfectly upright, looking straight at the wide road in the distance. As if he felt something, Jiang Zheng turned his head and noticed that there seemed to be a little water glistening in Gu Sui’er’s eyes.
He abruptly remembered her ignorant and dazed eyes at about this time last year.
With a light cough, he called Hu Tie, who was guarding the carriage, to come over.
Hu Tie walked over with his sword, and asked in quite a loud voice: “What is it?”
Jiang Zheng raised his hand and motioned him to lower his voice before saying: “It’s windy outside. Ask Young Mistress to get into the carriage. I’ll ride ahead and find out when they will arrive.”
Hu Tie turned to look at Gu Sui’er, only to see the slender woman standing by the carriage against the wind, staring at the road without blinking.
“Alright, I’ll do that!”
So Hu Tie came over to persuade Gu Sui’er: “Young Mistress, it is better for you to get inside the carriage. Jiang Zheng said to have you do that because it’s windy outside. He said he will ride ahead and find out when the elders will arrive.”
Hearing this, she looked up and saw Jiang Zheng standing perfectly upright without looking in her direction.
She thought about it, nodded, and said gratefully: “Thank Guard Jiang on my behalf.”
She was also feeling a little cold, thus she didn’t dare to delay. After getting into the carriage, she stuck her head out through the window, only to see Jiang Zheng riding ahead on a horse.
Although Guizhi was beside her, she remained quiet; so quiet that it seemed Gu Sui’er was the only person inside the carriage.
She leaned against the wall of the carriage, recalling the time when she left Gujia Village again.
At that time, everything in front of her felt as if it was shrouded in fog. She couldn’t see clearly; she didn’t know how the path ahead would be, and she didn’t know whether taking this step would result in life or death.
But after so long, everything cleared up. The people of the Marquis residence were very nice, little Ah Chen was extremely adorable, and third Master also pampered her very much.
The days ahead were steady and prosperous. She was living a good life and wished her parents could witness it too.
Just as she was letting her imagination run wild, the sound of horse hooves was heard from outside. She looked up and saw Jiang Zheng galloping back on his horse.
After getting close, he got off the horse and announced respectfully: “Young Mistress, the Master and Madam have arrived. They are just behind.”
Gu Sui’er had already guessed it. She quickly draped a bǐ over her shoulders, got out of the carriage, and stood by it.
As expected, they saw an oncoming carriage not long after.
It was a not-too-big oil-cloth carriage escorted by several guards.
Gu Sui’er’s eyes lit up. Excited, she wanted to call her father and mother, but when things came to a head, her throat seemed to be stuck; she couldn’t speak.
Seeing the carriage gradually approaching, she broke into a run without any further thoughts.
The accompanying guards quickly reined in their horses and stopped the carriage.
On the other side, Gu Sui’er’s mother and younger brother, Gu Bao’er, were also gazing outside the carriage.
The family had actually seen that figure a long time ago, but they didn’t dare to deduce it beforehand. Now that the distance was getting shorter, they finally saw her clearly: “Si-sister!”
Gu Bao’er said to his mother, “Mom, see! That person is really Sister!”
Gu Sui’er’s mother didn’t dare to believe it. The woman’s hair was tied into a bun like that of a married woman and adorned with pearl hairpins. There was a large and fluffy white bî draped over her body; she looked too dignified to be an ordinary person.
She looked carefully, and finally recognized: “Sui’er! It’s really Sui’er!”
Suddenly, her emotions were stirred up: “Hurry, get off the carriage. That’s Sui’er! Bao’er’s father, look, that’s really our Sui’er!”
The carriage stopped. Amidst the dust, Gu Sui’er’s mother was the first one to get out of the carriage. Gu Bao’er and Gu Sui’er’s father came after her.
When Gu Sui’er came close, she couldn’t help but stop, looking at her mother in a daze, and then throwing herself into her arms.
“Mom… Mom, you are really here!”
With tears streaming down her cheeks, Gu Sui’er’s mother hugged her daughter: “Sui’er, since you left, I have been worried day and night, afraid of you being bullied. The others also said that we might have been defrauded and you were pushed into a living hell! I heard everyone say that, and thought that I would never see you again in this life! It’s good now. Luckily, we mother and daughter can meet again!”
It turned out that after Gu Sui’er, there were many rumors in the village. Some people said that Gu Sui’er was probably married to a very old man or a crippled idiot. Or else, which wealthy family would want to take her as the bride? Some of them coveted the things their family received and said that they perhaps obtained them using the wrong means.
Because of such things, Gu Sui’er’s mother was troubled a lot.
Thanks for reading ٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶! If you found any typo or want to suggest some corrections, feel free to do so in the comment section or on our discord server. And if you like my translation, please consider rating it on NU and supporting me on:
