Chapter 34 : I know you’re at home. Open the door

The next morning, Cui Yunzhao was awakened by a knocking at the door.

She struggled to open her eyes and heard the deep voice of the man beside her “You keep sleeping, they must be looking for me.”

Cui Yunzhao suddenly woke up.

“What time is it?”

Huo Tan, already awake, sat up and drew aside the curtain.

Outside, there was a faint hint of morning light.

In Bo Ling, the winter mornings are very late, with dawn only beginning to break around the time of the rooster crow. It was still quite dark inside, suggesting it was not yet dawn.

Huo Tan whispered, “The city gates might have just opened.”

Bo Ling still had a curfew, and people were not allowed to go out at night.

Cui Yunzhao responded and got up, stretching lightly with a yawn.

“If there’s something urgent, let’s get up quickly.”

Huo Tan sighed in relief, quickly getting dressed.

Cui Yunzhao lit a lamp in the room, opened the window, and looked outside. It was still dim, with the moon setting and the dawn light faint and hazy.

A cold breeze blew in, completely dispelling Cui Yunzhao’s sleepiness.

Huo Tan had already donned his military uniform and said softly, “Be careful not to catch a cold.”

Cui Yunzhao nodded, putting on her coat and casually arranging her hair on top of her head, securing it with a plum blossom silver hairpin.

The couple quickly got ready. Huo Tan went to the hall to fetch his boots, while Cui Yunzhao went to open the door.

A cold wind swept in, and the dim morning light cast a gloomy haze, making the world look chaotic.

Outside the door stood Ping Shu and a young soldier in a blue military uniform.

The soldier appeared to be only around fifteen or sixteen years old, with a very youthful face. He was tall but thin, like a reed.

What stood out most were his large eyes, which blinked constantly, making him seem even more juvenile.

As soon as the young soldier saw Cui Yunzhao, his face flushed red, and he stammered, not knowing what to say.

At this moment, Huo Tan had finished putting on his boots and was strapping on his medicine pouch “Speak.”

As soon as his voice rang out, the young soldier jumped.

He didn’t enter the house, but said at the door, “General Huo, we just received a military order commanding you to lead your troops to the North Gate.”

Huo Tan furrowed his brow slightly, but soon his expression returned to normal “Alright, wait for me a moment.”

He turned and looked at Cui Yunzhao.

At this point, Cui Yunzhao stood there with a look of confusion and clear concern on her face.

This time, the campaign against the rebels…

Huo Tan did not leave, but the reason for this sudden arrangement for him to lead a team remained unclear.

Cui Yunzhao’s heart raced.

Her palms instantly became sweaty as she worried about Huo Tan and was perplexed by the sudden change in circumstances.

Seeing her troubled expression, Huo Tan sighed inwardly and stepped forward to take her hand.

“My lady, don’t be afraid. This trip isn’t dangerous,” Huo Tan said after thinking for a moment. “It will take at most ten days or as few as five. I will definitely return.”

Cui Yunzhao looked up at him.

The situation was sudden. The room had only one lamp lit, and the faint candlelight did not brighten the large space or illuminate Huo Tan’s face.

But at this moment, Cui Yunzhao knew that Huo Tan’s face was filled with determination.

She exhaled slowly.

Cui Yunzhao reached out to help Huo Tan adjust his misaligned medicine pouch, then carefully tidied his collar.

“Be sure to take care of yourself and return triumphantly.”

Huo Tan suddenly held her hand and pressed it against his face.

His hand was very warm, dispelling the cold from her cheek.

He quickly embraced Cui Yunzhao, said nothing more, then let go and turned, striding into the night.

His figure soon disappeared.

The young soldier had already followed Huo Tan away, leaving only Ping Shu at the door with a lantern, quietly watching Cui Yunzhao.

Cui Yunzhao let out a long sigh. Noticing that Ping Shu looked cold as well, she forced a smile and said, “Ping Shu, you should go rest. It’s cold outside.”

Ping Shu nodded, shuffled his feet a bit, and then said, “Don’t worry, Madam. Every time Master goes to war, he always returns victorious. He’ll be fine.”

But where in the world is there something that is completely foolproof?

Cui Yunzhao knew Ping Shu was only trying to comfort her, so she smiled again and said, “I understand. You should go to bed now.”

Ping Shu nodded, hesitated for a moment, and then turned and left.

Once he was gone, Mother Xia opened the door to the side room, walked over, and entered the main hall.

She closed the door behind her and took Cui Yunzhao’s hand.

“Miss, let me stay with you and talk for a while.”

She knew Cui Yunzhao might have trouble sleeping, so she offered her company.

Marrying a military man means gradually getting used to farewells and waiting.

These worries, Cui Yunzhao had experienced in her past life, and it was precisely because of so many trials that she found it almost unbearable in the end.

It was too painful.

Now, reborn, Cui Yunzhao was…

In the midst of her thoughts, Cui Yunzhao came to a certain realization. She roughly understood that Huo Tan wouldn’t die at this moment, he would ultimately become the person destined by fate.

But she still worried about whether he would get injured or bleed.

Cui Yunzhao grasped Mother Xia’s hand in return and sighed, “Mother, I am stronger than you think.”

“From the very first day I married, I prepared myself for this. I just didn’t expect it to come so quickly, so early.”

Mother Xia said nothing.

She helped Cui Yunzhao into the bedroom and sat with her at the tea table by the window.

Cui Yunzhao did not let Mother Xia do anything; she lit the tea stove herself and then began to brew the tea at a deliberate pace.

As the fragrance of tea wafted up, her heart began to calm.

Cui Yunzhao took a deep breath and looked up at Mother Xia: “Mother, have some tea.”

Mother Xia, though pained for her, did not show it, only managing a faint smile “Have some tea.”

The two of them drank a cup of tea in silence. Cui Yunzhao, no longer feeling sleepy, discussed the position with Mother Xia.

Mother Xia agreed “I am getting older, and I do want to stay by your side in the future. As for outside matters, it would be best to hire a steward to manage things now, given the circumstances.”

Cui Yunzhao nodded, discussing potential candidates with her. By the time they finished, the sky outside was starting to brighten.

When there was some noise outside, Cui Yunzhao had Mother Xia help her with her hair. After freshening up, she went straight to the main courtyard.

The main courtyard was already somewhat lively.

Huo Chenzhang was heading to martial arts class, Lin Xiu Gu was going to the morning market to buy vegetables, and Huo Xinzhi was already up, setting out bowls and chopsticks in the hall.

Old Lady Fu was sweeping snow in the courtyard, the sound of the brush against the snow bringing a sense of calm.

Cui Yunzhao then realized it had started snowing again.

Snowflakes fluttered down, settling on her eyes and between her brows, blanketing the quiet city of Bo Ling.

Cui Yunzhao looked up at the sky, exhaling a puff of white mist, nodded to Old Lady Fu, and stepped into the hall.

The Huo residence was a small compound; there was no portico or corridor in front of the hall, so Cui Yunzhao had to stand under the eaves and brush off the snow as best as she could.

Huo Xinzhi put down the bowls and chopsticks and looked at her with a faint, indifferent gaze “Why has my sister-in-law come over?”

Her naturally cold demeanor, coupled with her calm and unchanging expression, made her seem somewhat mocking.

Cui Yunzhao, however, was unaffected by her coldness. She smiled and stepped forward to help set the table.

“Has Mother gotten up? I have something to discuss with her.”

As she finished speaking, Lin Xiu Gu hurriedly emerged from the bedroom.

“Stop, don’t get involved. Let your sister handle it,” the elderly lady called out in a loud voice.

Cui Yunzhao thought, If she was trying to be kind, she certainly had a peculiar way of showing it.

Cui Yunzhao offered an apologetic smile to Huo Xinzhi, who was indifferent and continued setting out the bowls and chopsticks with a stern expression.

Cui Yunzhao stepped forward, just about to speak to Lin Xiu Gu, when another door opened.

The old lady appeared, dressed in a new silk robe and holding a hand warmer, looking like a high-ranking official’s wife.

Beside her, Gu Yinhong carefully supported her, as if treating her like a revered elder.

In another context, Cui Yunzhao would have found it amusing.

The old lady had likely heard Cui Yunzhao’s voice early and had come out before Lin Xiu Gu could speak, probably to make a pointed remark.

“I thought a noble young lady had come to our Huo family, but it turns out it’s just my granddaughter-in-law,” she said with a tone dripping with sarcasm.

She turned her sharp eyes on Lin Xiu Gu and said, “And you, why are you so courteous to your daughter-in-law? Are you afraid she’ll eat you?”

Lin Xiu Gu rubbed her hands together, remaining silent.

Since her marriage, Lin Xiu Gu had been reprimanded daily by her mother-in-law. Whenever she saw the old lady, she instinctively looked down.

When Huo Zhan was around, things were somewhat better, he would protect her or send the old lady to stay at the Gu family for a few days. Now that Huo Zhan was gone, Lin Xiu Gu had become the old lady’s outlet for frustration.

Cui Yunzhao, standing by, did not speak.

It was Huo Xinzhi who threw the dishes onto the table with a loud clatte: “It’s early in the morning. Is Grandmother not well-rested?”

She then looked directly at Gu Yinhong “Is it because Cousin Gu is here that Grandmother didn’t sleep well? Perhaps we should find a house for Cousin Gu to stay in.”

At these words, the old lady’s face stiffened, and she fell silent.

Once the hall quieted down, Cui Yunzhao addressed everyone “This morning, a messenger came and informed us that my husband has military duties and will be going out of the city to suppress bandits.”

Cui Yunzhao continued, “He has already left. Before he departed, he asked me to report to Grandmother and Mother that he will return triumphantly soon.”

Upon hearing this, the old lady’s expression darkened even further.

But she did not say much, only letting Gu Yinghong help her sit down. After catching her breath, she said, “Ninth Master is blessed by Heaven and will be fine.”

It was rare for her to say something reassuring.

Lin Xiu Gu, however, was not as composed as the old lady. Her lips trembled, and her face turned pale, showing her anxiety.

Huo Xinzhi hurriedly put down what she was holding and went to support Lin Xiu Gu. Cui Yunzhao also stepped forward to help.

Lin Xiu Gu was breathing heavily, clearly anxious about Huo Tan’s sudden departure.

Cui Yunzhao quickly reassured her, “Mother, Husband said this time there is no danger.”

Lin Xiu Gu did not want to cry in front of Cui Yunzhao, but she couldn’t help it. Since Huo Zhan’s passing, any talk of military expeditions or battles made her extremely anxious.

She clung tightly to Cui Yunzhao’s hand, tears welling up in her eyes.

Lin Xiu Gu said, tears streaming down her face, “He will come back, won’t he?”

Cui Yunzhao felt a pang of sadness and fought back tears as she comforted her “Mother, it will be alright. Husband will return.”

The atmosphere in the hall was heavy with gloom, and for a moment, no one spoke not even the old lady criticized Lin Xiu Gu.

But just then, a loud banging sound came from outside the main door.

A rough voice echoed in the alley: “Huo Xinzhi, I know you’re at home. Open the door.”