Standing in the distance, Qin Chuyuan watched as Gong Xiaohua bid farewell to the others.
The girl had become so much thinner, so very much thinner.
Her previously plump and rounded figure now looked frail and delicate.
Her chubby double chin had become a sharp chin.
Qin Chuyuan's heart ached. Just how much suffering had she endured during those days in Nanlong Prefecture?
After Gong Xiaohua finished saying goodbye, Qin Chuyuan approached her.
"Welcome back safely."
"What are you doing here?"
"I just happened to be passing by. What a coincidence to run into you."
The attendant at Qin Chuyuan's side as well as the guards in the distance said, "Young master, you're able to tell lies now without blushing or quickening your heartbeat."
"Oh, I'm heading back first. Let's chat another day."
"I'll walk you back."
"It's not on your way back!"
"It's fine."
Qin Chuyuan's clever attendant took the opportunity while Gong Xiaohua was distracted to take the reins of the horse she had been leading and stood to one side.
When Gong Xiaohua tried to take back the reins, the attendant retreated a step each time she advanced one step.
So she let him be and went along, as she also had some things to discuss with Qin Chuyuan.
The two walked silently on the road back to the Gong residence. The atmosphere was somewhat awkward.
Gong Xiaohua broke the silence first, saying, "Um, sorry for returning late and missing our wedding day. I hope it didn't cause you any trouble?"
"No, no trouble at all."
Another stretch of road passed in silence.
By the time they reached Wuyi Alley, the passersby continuously stared at Gong Xiaohua and Qin Chuyuan.
Qin Chuyuan, the Gong family's son-in-law, Young Master of the Qin Chancellor's household, they'd heard he was also an official of high rank.
They had seen him once before at the Gong family's wedding celebration, and he left a deep impression. But still, no one dared to approach and converse.
As for the young woman by his side, she seemed vaguely familiar. Upon closer look, her silhouette closely resembled the Gong family's young miss.
Some bolder ones couldn't resist curiosity and went forward to ask, "Are you Xiaohua?"
Gong Xiaohua replied, "Uncle, long time no see. I'm Xiaohua. Have you been well lately?"
"Uncle's doing fine. So it really is you, Xiaohua!"
"Yes, Uncle, it's me."
"Good that you're back. Your mother has been waiting for your return every day. She goes to stand by the city gates every morning, hoping to be able to receive you the moment you arrive."
"I see. Uncle, I must get going now. Please go about your business."
"Alright."
By the time they reached the Gong family's courtyard residence, Madam Gong and Dad Gong were in the yard eating dinner. Cheap younger brother was not home, probably still out working.
When Madam Gong saw Gong Xiaohua standing at the courtyard gate, she froze. After reacting, the ceramic bowl in her hand had already fallen to the ground.
Full of nervousness and bewilderment, she stood and looked at Gong Xiaohua, forcing herself to ask, "Xiaohua, is it you?"
"Mother, Father, it's me Xiaohua. I'm back."
Hearing the familiar voice, Madam Gong instantly broke down in tears. She rushed over to Gong Xiaohua and grabbed her in an embrace, crying, "Flower, my flower, you've finally returned. If anything had happened to you, your mother would have followed you in death."
"Mother, don't cry. Look, I'm perfectly fine." Gong Xiaohua comforted her much thinner mother as she hugged her.
At the side, tears welled up in Dad Gong's eyes too as he walked over to his daughter and wife's side. Looking at his daughter who had lost a lot of weight, he said distressfully, "Flower, you've suffered."
"Father."
"Mm, it's good that you're back. You're back, that's good."
"Wife, let the children come in and rest. Don't keep them standing in the yard, people will laugh if they see."
"Let them laugh if they want. I'm not scared." Though she spoke as such, Madam Gong still released Gong Xiaohua.
After everyone was seated in the hall, Gong Xiaohua looked at the elderly couple before her and saw their complexions were much older compared to when she left, especially Madam Gong who seemed to have lost almost a full circle.
She then asked, "Father, Mother, did anything happen at home while I was away?"
Hearing this question, everyone in the room froze for a moment, Qin Chuyuan in particular.
But it didn't escape Gong Xiaohua's notice. "What's going on? Is there something you're hiding from me? I'll find out sooner or later."
"Nothing's happened, what could have happened? Look, your father and I are perfectly fine."
"Then where's Xiaonan? It's so late but he's still out working?"
"He... He... He's been busy at the prefectural office lately and stays overnight there." Madam Gong said.
"Mother, has something happened to Xiaonan? There's no need to hide it from me. Your expressions show something is off."
Madam Gong and Dad Gong lowered their heads, looking worried.
Finally, Madam Gong spoke. "Xiaohua, Xiaonan... the Wang family's men broke one of his legs. The doctor said with this injury, he may be crippled and unable to walk properly for the rest of his life."
"What? When did this happen? To think you wanted to keep such a major incident from me, did you think I wouldn't find out?"
"It happened almost two months ago. We didn't mean to hide it, just didn't want you to worry about these matters as soon as you returned."
"Xiaonan is my brother, how could his affairs not concern me? Where is he now?"
"In his own room."
Gong Xiaohua could no longer sit still. She stood and immediately headed toward Gong Xiaonan's quarters.
She gently pushed open the door to Gong Xiaonan's room. All was quiet inside.
Gong Xiaohua softly approached Gong Xiaonan's bedside. A crutch leaned against the bedhead, and his left leg was fixed in a splint.
He was currently deep asleep, brows tightly knitted. This was the first time Gong Xiaohua had seen worry etched on the face of this half-grown boy.
Gong Xiaohua gently tucked in his blankets and quietly left the room.
When Gong Xiaohua returned to the hall, her expression was overcast.
Qin Chuyuan immediately said, "I'm sorry. Before you left, you entrusted me to look after your family, yet I broke my word."
Hearing this, Dad Gong quickly spoke up in Qin Chuyuan's defense, afraid his daughter would become prejudiced against her husband. "Child, you mustn't talk like that. You've already done so much for us."
"Father, other than Xiaonan, what else has happened that I'm unaware of? Tell me everything clearly now, so I don't have to hear it from others afterwards."
Since it had come to this, Dad Gong no longer concealed anything. He recounted in full detail everything that had happened in the family during this time, including all the help Qin Chuyuan had provided.
With each matter Gong Xiaohua heard, her expression darkened once more.
When he spoke about the final incident, Madam Gong broke down in tears again, unable to restrain herself. "Xiaohua, your younger uncle said he made a mistake in the army and was reassigned to the frontier troops headed to garrison Xu Mountain. He was made a shock trooper on the frontlines. This trip, the chances of him making it back alive are slim. Wah...wah..."
"When did younger uncle's troops move out?" Gong Xiaohua asked after thinking for a bit.
"They left around ten days ago. It likely won't be long before they reach the frontier."
"Mother, Father, don't worry. I'll handle younger uncle's matter."
"What can you do? This is inextricably linked to the Lin family. They adamantly refuse to release him, even Qin Chuyuan will find it hard to intervene."
"Trust me, I've rendered meritorious service this time. His Majesty will grant me an audience tomorrow. I'll petition him for mercy, it shouldn't be difficult."
Only then were the worries in the Gong elders' hearts put to rest.
Their daughter's future could be fought for again, but younger uncle's safety was most crucial right now.
Younger uncle was the only son of his maternal Uncle's family. If anything happened to him due to the Gong family's involvement, how could they face his parents?
Gong Xiaohua said to Qin Chuyuan, "Thank you for all the help you've provided my family during this time. It's late now, there are many affairs at home to take care of, so I won't keep you any longer."
"I'll come to fetch you another day."
"Fetch me for what?"
These words were met by sudden silence in the room.
Looking left and right at the evasive expressions, Gong Xiaohua was baffled.
Finally, Madam Gong broke the awkwardness. "Xiaohua, your father and I didn't mention this earlier, but we held your wedding ceremony with the Qin family some time ago. You are now Madam Qin."
Gong Xiaohua: "???"
"Mother, while I was away you rashly married me off?"
"Child, sooner or later you'd have to marry, and this was by imperial edict from His Majesty himself."
Gong Xiaohua looked resentfully at Qin Chuyuan. If he didn't have a hand in this, she'd write her name backwards.
However, Qin Chuyuan acted as if he didn't notice Gong Xiaohua's resentment at all. "Don't worry, we'll redo the wedding ceremony for you in the future."
Gong Xiaohua: Thank you, but no need.
