CALID Chapter 53

Nandu

On the third day of April, the army returned to Nandu.

Duan Xu joined them three days before the army arrived in Nandu. It was raining heavily that day, and the grass along the official road was lush and muddy. He stood there, holding an umbrella, waiting. When he saw Qin Huanda leading the troops with a grand procession, he raised the umbrella in greeting.

Qin Huanda noticed the young man with bright yet somewhat melancholic eyes, exuding an indescribable atmosphere of gloom. But in an instant, Duan Xu’s smile dispelled all the darkness.

He bowed and said, “General Qin, I’m back.”

Qin Huanda looked at him coldly. If it weren’t for Duan Xu’s distinguished background and remarkable achievements, how could he disregard military discipline like this, disappearing for so long and only now returning? He didn’t want to say much, just nodded to indicate that he understood. As the heavy rain gradually stopped, Duan Xu put away his umbrella and leisurely walked behind the army. Qin Huanda heard the soldiers of the Tabai and Chengjie armies cheer, “General has returned!”

Tabai didn’t say much, but the soldiers of the Chengjie army, under Duan Xu’s command for only two or three months, had already become his personal soldiers, obedient to him.

Qin Huanda glanced back, and his deputy said, “General Duan, this person…”

He didn’t finish his sentence, but Qin Huanda understood.

This person was a genius, destined to become a major threat one day.

Meng Wan was delighted to see Duan Xu return, but she soon noticed that he didn’t look too well, as if he had just recovered from a serious illness. She couldn’t help but think of the stories about evil spirits that claimed souls, secretly worrying. Duan Xu had said he was going to find friends in the Martial world, disappearing for a month. She had a hunch that he had gone to find Shi Qi.

Although the evil spirit Seventeen didn’t seem too bad, she was still an ominous presence. What if she harmed Duan Xu?

Just as Meng Wan was about to speak, Xue Chenying ran over, grabbing Duan Xu’s sleeve and looking up at him with sparkling eyes. “Third brother, where’s… Sister Seventeen? Didn’t she come back with you?”

Meng Wan pretended not to care and observed Duan Xu’s expression. She saw him lower his gaze for a moment, then look up and smile. There was a hint of fatigue in his expression, but he still looked cheerful.

“She went home,” Duan Xu replied briefly, squatting down to pinch Chenying’s cheek. “I’m going home too, Chenying. Let’s go home together.”

Meng Wan breathed a sigh of relief, but seeing Duan Xu’s pale complexion, she couldn’t help feeling uneasy.

The celebration ceremony welcoming the triumphant return of the army to Nandu was grand. Duan Xu rode his horse amidst the cheers of the people, passing through the streets filled with joyous music. The entire city was filled with an atmosphere of happiness. Wealth and stability abounded in Daliang, and Nandu was the most prosperous and affluent place in the entire empire. Everywhere you looked, there were exquisite buildings and pavilions, a testament to the prosperity of the era.

A golden age of peace and prosperity for half the country.

Duan Xu squinted his eyes slightly but still managed to display a cheerful smile at the opportune moment.

When he dismounted in front of the Duan residence and handed his horse over to the servant, Duan Xu looked at the tall gate and the stone qilins on either side. He listened to the servants loudly proclaiming the return of the Third Young Master, feeling as if he had been away for half a year in a different world. Chenying tightly clung to his clothes, and Duan Xu looked down at him, asking, “Feeling unfamiliar? Scared?”

Chenying nervously nodded.

He rubbed Chenying’s head and smiled, “I feel the same way, feeling unfamiliar.”

Just as Duan Xu finished speaking, he heard a clear shout, “Uncle!”

A boy of about ten years old, dressed in dark green clothes, ran out from inside the gate. The boy was tall and handsome, with a resemblance to Duan Xu in his features. He ran to Duan Xu’s side at lightning speed, hugged his waist, and exclaimed, “Uncle, you’re finally back!”

His voice startled the sparrows on the eaves of the house.

Duan Xu smiled and lifted the boy with one hand, spinning him around. “You’ve gotten heavier!”

“Uncle, put me down! I… I’m ten years old already! I’m a grown-up!” The boy’s face turned red with embarrassment, but he persisted in struggling in Duan Xu’s arms. Duan Xu then put him down and said to the woman who followed behind, “Sister-in-law, long time no see. Are you well?”

The woman had a gentle and graceful demeanour. She gently spoke, “Everything is fine, but Yuan has been talking about you incessantly. He’s grown a lot taller recently and keeps saying he’s all grown up, refusing to listen to anyone. I’ve been quite troubled. Your return is timely; please discipline him well for me.”

She looked Duan Xu up and down for a moment and sighed, “Little brother, you’ve lost weight. You’ve suffered a lot this time.”

“Danzhi invaded our Daliang, and the border army has been through a lot. My experience is nothing compared to theirs.” Duan Xu smiled. He turned to his nephew, Duan Yiqi , and said, “Since you claim to be all grown up, do you want to join me on the battlefield?”

“Even if you’re reckless out there, must you take your nephew with you?” The stern and solemn tone of the question didn’t come from his gentle sister-in-law.

Duan Xu looked up and saw a slender middle-aged man wearing a dark blue robe embroidered with cranes standing at the door. He was tall, but years of illness had left him slightly hunched. Nevertheless, his eyes were bright and sharp. Standing beside him was a young girl in a pink butterfly-patterned dress, holding his arm. Her bright eyes were filled with joy as she looked at Duan Xu.

Duan Xu smiled and bowed deeply. “Father, your unfilial son has been away for several months. Are you well?”

Duan Chengzhang scrutinized Duan Xu for a long time. His eldest daughter-in-law could see Duan Xu’s weariness and scars, and naturally, so could he. He had originally had three sons, but now only one remained, almost losing his life on the battlefield.

He sighed and said, “What are you standing at the door for? Come in and talk.”

Duan Xu nodded and followed everyone into the house under their escort. His sister-in-law went to help his father, leaving his pink-clad younger sister empty-handed. She walked up to him and walked side by side with him, saying, “Third brother, you’ve lost weight.”

“Jingyuan, you’ve gained quite a bit of weight,” Duan Xu remarked.

“…”

As Duan Jingyuan’s cheeks puffed up in anger, Duan Xu intervened at the right moment. “Nice new clothes. The fabric is shiny and the pattern is unique.”

Duan Jingyuan immediately stopped being angry. She proudly showed off her dress and said, “Yes, yes. Let me tell you about this outfit. You won’t find a second one like it in the whole city… But how did you know it’s new?”

“On such a momentous occasion as my triumphant return, how could you not wear new clothes to greet me?”

Duan Xu’s younger sister was very fond of beauty. Although she wasn’t well-educated, she was adept at designing clothes and had a knack for colours and scents. He could imagine that if there ever came a day when he was killed in battle, his sister would surely make the most beautiful mourning clothes for him, becoming the most stunning woman at his funeral.

Would she come if that day truly arrived?

Duan Xu was momentarily stunned, then shook his head and laughed, pushing thoughts of He Simu out of his mind.

After some warm greetings and exchanges with his family, Duan Xu was invited by his father to the study after lunch.

Incense in the study wafted gently, and his father coughed lightly twice. Duan Xu asked, “Father, is your cough acting up again?”

“This body of mine is what it is, constantly acting up.” Duan Chengzhang waved it off, sitting in the high-backed chair behind the pearwood desk. He pointed to the chair beside him. “Have a seat.”

Whenever his father wanted to talk to him before, Duan Xu was always made to stand. The other chairs in the study seemed purely decorative. It was the first time his father had asked him to sit.

Duan Xu smiled faintly and said, “My injuries are almost healed. Standing for a while is fine.”

Duan Chengzhang didn’t insist. After a moment of silence, he asked, “What are your plans for the future?”

His expression showed no joy, unlike that of a father welcoming a triumphant general.

Duan Xu smoothly replied, “I am now the commander of both the Tabai and Chengjie armies. If all goes well, I will likely be promoted upon my return to the capital, perhaps ranking only below General Qin…”

“Nonsense!” Duan Chengzhang slammed the table and coughed again.

His reaction was expected by Duan Xu. He paused, his hands lightly clasped behind his back, waiting for his father to continue.

“Do you still want to return to the military? Haven’t you done enough with your life? You need to stay in the capital, where Prime Minister Du needs you. The path was already paved for you, but you’ve taken a detour. It’s time for you to return.”

Duan Chengzhang’s tone was unquestionable. He probably also thought he had been too harsh, as he softened his expression slightly. “You do have a talent for military and political affairs. You’ll be just as effective as Chancellor if you become Minister of War in the court.”

Duan Xu fiddled with his cufflink, smiling brightly. “Alright, Father, I’ll listen to you.”

Seeing that Duan Xu, who had always been obedient and filial, was willing to comply, Duan Chengzhang felt slightly relieved. His tone softened even more as he continued, “This time you return to the capital, there’s an important matter to attend to. Shunxi, you’re turning twenty this year, it’s time for you to marry and continue the Duan family line.”

“But doesn’t Duan’s younger generation already have Yiqi?”

“Yiqi is Yiqi, and you are you. Don’t mix them up!”

Duan Xu lowered his gaze, casually smiling. He said, “I’m not familiar with the noble ladies of Nandu. Father, who do you think would be a suitable match for me?”

Duan Chengzhang was pleased with his son’s response. He asked Duan Xu to fetch three portraits from the bookshelf and said, “These are the portraits and birth charts of the eldest daughter of Minister Wang, Su Yi, the fifth daughter of Scholar Lu, Zhang Ling, and the fourth daughter of Prince Xie, Qiu Yan. Take a look and see if any of them catch your eye.”

Holding the three scrolls, Duan Xu chuckled, “Minister Wang, Scholar Lu, Duke Xie.”

Some wield real power, some are imperial teachers, others are nobles. If the Du family had an eligible daughter, he probably wouldn’t even have the choice to pick.

Although the Duan family had been renowned for three generations as distinguished ministers of the state, after the deaths of his elder brothers, and his father’s resignation due to illness, the family’s prestige had gradually waned. Now that the glory of the Duan family was somewhat restored through him, it was only natural to seize this opportunity to stabilize their position. His father had indeed made all the arrangements.

Duan Xu twirled the scrolls in his hand, not immediately eager to see the wives his father had chosen for him. Instead, he looked at his father and suddenly spoke with sincerity, “Father, I heard that there was a girl who grew up with you since childhood, someone you were close to. But she left when you married Mother.”

Duan Chengzhang was stunned, evidently not expecting his son to bring up this past.

After a moment’s pause, Duan Xu continued, “I also heard that Mother had another fiancé before marrying you, but he was executed for involvement in a rebellion. Many years later, you reinvestigated the case, and he was posthumously exonerated.”

Duan Chengzhang frowned. “What are you trying to say?”

“Father, I have no experience in matters of the heart. If you want me to marry, I would like to seek your advice. Do you still remember the girl you grew up with? Do you regret marrying Mother?”

People in Nandu said that Mr. Duan, apart from his wife, had no concubines, and they respected each other as equals, a model couple.

But Duan Xu knew very well, even from a young age, that his parents had never truly loved each other.