Chapter 221: Arrival in the Capital
Sheng Wanyan nodded, a warm smile spreading across her face as she looked down at the infant.
“Huzi, I hope you grow up safe and strong,” she whispered softly. “May you have a smooth and beautiful life.”
Pan Yue chuckled softly at the sentiment. “Huzi should thank his aunt for such a lovely blessing. He’ll certainly grow up to do just that.”
Wanyan played with the baby for a while longer, her heart melting at how soundly and peacefully he slept.
With Huzi’s arrival, the Sheng household became livelier by the day. Grandpa Sheng and Father Sheng were absolutely smitten, practically competing for the chance to hold him in their arms. Meanwhile, Grandma Sheng and Mother Sheng dedicated themselves to Pan Yue’s postpartum confinement, meticulously preparing nourishing meals to help her body recuperate. As the old saying goes, the first ten years depend on the mother-in-law, and the last ten years depend on the daughter-in-law. Mother Sheng understood this wisdom perfectly and treated her daughter-in-law with the utmost care.
Once Pan Yue was comfortably settled into her recovery, Wanyan and Gu Tingxiao packed their bags to head back to the Capital for the Lunar New Year. Before their departure, Gu Tingxiao sent an express telegram to his family to deliver the joyous news of Wanyan’s pregnancy.
When Mother Gu found out, she was absolutely over the moon. Knowing the expectant couple was returning for the holidays, she immediately set to work deep-cleaning their wedding suite. The premium furniture they had purchased for their marriage had been shipped up to the military base months ago, so the room was currently arranged with the bedroom set Gu Tingxiao had used prior to the wedding. He had always taken immaculate care of his belongings, so aside from a slight, familiar aged patina, everything was in flawless condition.
The moment Gu Tingxiao’s parents learned of the pregnancy, they began scouring the local markets for premium ingredients suitable for an expectant mother. Even Grandma Gu couldn’t sit still; she spent her mornings floating in and out of the high-end Overseas Chinese Stores, regularly returning with baskets of imported nutritional supplements.
A week later, Sheng Wanyan and Gu Tingxiao safely arrived at the Capital station. The moment they stepped out of the terminal, they spotted Grandpa Gu’s personal orderly waiting to greet them.
Since both of Gu Tingxiao’s parents and his elder brother and sister-in-law were occupied with their respective careers, only the grandparents were currently at the estate. The children of the household hadn’t broken for winter vacation yet; with a full two weeks remaining before the New Year, their school term had another week to go. Because of the timing, the sprawling family compound was remarkably quiet. Grandpa and Grandma Gu were absolutely thrilled that the young couple had managed to return early.
Spotting them in the crowd, the elderly general’s orderly waved enthusiastically and jogged forward to relieve them of their heavy suitcases.
“Uncle Hu, thank you for making the trip,” Gu Tingxiao said respectfully.
Uncle Hu was Grandpa Gu’s trusted bodyguard. He had protected the old general for over twenty years and was now forty-five.
“Why are you being so polite with me, Third Young Master?” Uncle Hu beamed. “The old general was so ecstatic when he learned you and your wife were arriving today that he didn’t sleep a wink last night. He had me down here waiting since the crack of dawn.”
Though Uncle Hu was technically classified as a guard without a grand military rank, his decades of unyielding loyalty had long since cemented his status as the old general’s absolute confidant. Within their social circles, even prominent officials showed him a great deal of deference out of respect for his position.
“Come along, the vehicle is parked right over here,” he directed.
Gu Tingxiao and Uncle Hu loaded the massive trunks into the trunk, while Wanyan stood comfortably by the side, her hands entirely free. Once the luggage was secured, Gu Tingxiao carefully guided Wanyan into the backseat. Ensuring they were safely settled, Uncle Hu started the engine and smoothly navigated the vehicle toward the military compound.
Wanyan rested her chin in her hand, watching the scenery blur past the window. The winter chill in the Capital was sharp and biting, structurally identical to the freezing air of Chengdu.
As the car rattled along the main thoroughfares, they swept past Tiananmen Square and the majestic walls of the Forbidden City. Staring at the sprawling, historic courtyard houses lining the adjacent lanes, Wanyan’s real estate instincts tingled. The moment the private housing market opens up in the future, she resolved silently, I must purchase a few of these traditional siheyuan estates and hold onto them for long-term appreciation.
After a thirty-minute drive, the vehicle approached the heavily fortified gates of the high-ranking military compound. The sentries executed their routine security checks with rigorous precision. Finding nothing amiss, they saluted and raised the barrier.
The car rolled through the pristine lanes of the compound, finally pulling to a stop before the familiar Gu family residence.
Hearing the hum of the engine outside, Grandpa and Grandma Gu hurried out to the porch, their eyes scanning the driveway to confirm their children had truly arrived. The moment she caught sight of Wanyan stepping out of the car, Grandma Gu bustled forward, eagerly grasping the young woman’s hands in her own.
“You’re finally home,” Grandma Gu murmured, her voice laced with deep affection. “That long train ride must have been terribly grueling.”
“Grandpa, Grandma,” Wanyan greeted warmly.
Gu Tingxiao offered a proper greeting as well. Standing right behind his wife, the old general offered a proud, definitive nod of welcome, while Grandma Gu gently steered the travelers inside.
“Traveling across the country while carrying a baby… you mustn’t be so reckless next time,” Grandma Gu chided softly, though her eyes were filled with pure doting concern. She carefully inspected Wanyan’s face, letting out a breath of relief when she noted her complexion was beautifully rosy and vibrant.
“I’m not tired at all, Grandma,” Wanyan smiled, offering a defensive shield for her husband. “Tingxiao took absolute, meticulous care of me the entire way.”
Hearing her grandson praised so beautifully, Grandma Gu’s heart melted. Seeing the young couple navigate their marriage with such deep, mutual respect and absolute care gave her immense peace of mind. “Listen to you, already shielding him.”
“Come sit down and have some hot water to thaw out the chill,” she added, her eyes crinkling with laughter as she gestured for the family nanny to bring out two steaming cups.
“Thank you, Grandma.”
Wanyan was indeed feeling a bit frozen from the transition, and after taking a few deep sips of the hot water, a comforting warmth finally spread through her limbs.
“Your parents and your older brother and sister-in-law are all still at their offices,” Grandma Gu explained gently. “You two should have a quick bite and head straight upstairs to rest. Tonight, once everyone is back, we’ll sit down for a proper, long family chat.”
Wanyan looked bright and healthy, but Gu Tingxiao cut a significantly more weathered figure. A shadow of dark stubble lined his jaw, and the deep circles beneath his eyes made it glaringly obvious that he hadn’t managed a full night’s sleep in days.
“I had the kitchen prepare two fresh bowls of hot noodles,” the old matriarch smiled. “Fill your stomachs first.”
Under Grandma Gu’s vigilant, adoring supervision, the couple sat at the dining table and cleanly finished every last strand.
“Grandpa, Grandma, we’ll head upstairs to unpack and rest now,” Gu Tingxiao said, lifting the smaller bags. Grandma Gu nodded in rapid succession, shooing them toward the staircase so they could catch up on their sleep.
When they entered their private suite, Wanyan found the space immaculately dusted, the fresh linens radiating the clean, crisp scent of traditional laundry soap.
“Go ahead and take a hot shower first, honey,” Gu Tingxiao said, pulling a fresh pair of pajamas from the trunk. “I’ll handle the unpacking.”
Wanyan accepted the clothes gratefully. She hadn’t managed a proper, deep wash during their entire week-long journey on the locomotive. While she had diligently refreshed her base layers during their train stops, the sheer luxury of a proper bath was enticing. Thankfully, it was the dead of winter, meaning she hadn’t broken a sweat; otherwise, she jokingly imagined she would have evolved into a walking biohazard by now.
“Don’t worry about organizing the trunks right now,” she urged, catching his arm. “Get some rest first, then we can untangle the luggage together.”
Her gentle concern sent a wave of pure sweetness through Gu Tingxiao’s chest, tasting sweeter than a piece of refined candy. “Alright. I’ll obey my wife’s orders.”
Sheng Wanyan shot him a playful glare. Give this stubborn man a single inch of affection, and he would instantly find a way to tease her. “Quiet down.”
“Yes, wife.”
Wanyan could only shake her head, completely defeated by his sudden boyish charm. Grabbing her pajamas, she slipped into the adjacent bathroom to indulge in a long, thorough wash, brushing her teeth and scrubbing her face until she felt entirely human again.
The moment she stepped back into the bedroom, Gu Tingxiao met her with a soft towel, gently guiding her to a stool to dry her hair. Under the rhythmic, soothing motion of his hands, Wanyan’s eyelids grew heavy, and she drifted fast asleep before her locks were even fully dry.
Seeing her drop off, Gu Tingxiao carefully tucked her beneath the thick quilts, ensuring she was completely warm, before gathering his own clothes to take a quick shower himself.
By the time Wanyan’s internal clock finally woke her from her deep slumber, dusk had fallen over the compound. Downstairs, the front door was continuously clicking as the rest of the Gu family rushed back from their respective office shifts.
Gu Tingxiao had woken well before her. Seeing that his wife was still resting peacefully, he refrained from breaking her sleep, content to let her body gather all the strength it required.
He put his quiet hours to excellent use, systematically organizing their wardrobe and setting the Chengdu and base specialties aside in neat rows, waiting for Wanyan to personally distribute the gifts to the family. After changing into a clean, pressed outfit, he quietly stepped out of the suite and glided downstairs.
Down in the spacious living room, the entire Gu family had already assembled, waiting expectantly for their first look at the returning couple.
