Chapter 478 - 472_1
In the evening, Lin Yue stayed up late to finish an embroidery of hibiscus and peonies, and had just gone to sleep when she suddenly heard a disturbance outside. Ever since Zhao Erhu had left home, Lin Yue didn’t know if it was due to a lack of security or what, but she could never fall into a deep sleep. Any minor noise would startle her awake, let alone such a commotion outside. Lin Yue practically jerked out of bed at once, and the maid Xixi, who was attending to her needs, also woke up upon hearing the noise.
"Xixi, what’s happening outside?" Lin Yue asked, but then felt it might have been redundant; Xixi had heard the noise at the same time as her, and how could she possibly know what it was. Having asked, Lin Yue then dressed herself, and Xixi followed her out to the outer courtyard. They hadn’t even left their own yard when a figure dashed over quickly and embraced Lin Yue in a full hug.
The moment Zhao Erhu left home that month, he had been constantly thinking of his little wife back home. Once he arrived, he couldn’t contain himself. He handed over the front courtyard’s affairs to Zhao Xinglin and others to handle first, and ran straight around to the back courtyard. He arrived just in time to see Lin Yue come out and stretched out his hands to pull her into his embrace.
"Wife, I’m back!" Out in the world, he missed her terribly, and thought of the thousand things he wanted to say to his little wife upon his return. When the moment came, though, he managed to say only that one sentence.
Because it was night, and even with a lantern in hand the light wasn’t very good, Lin Yue didn’t see clearly. Suddenly a dark shadow approached, and before she could even cry out, she found herself in the warm embrace of familiar arms, scented with the faint odor of travel. Lin Yue relaxed and her joy was beyond words.
"Zhao Erhu, you’re back!" Lin Yue responded somewhat foolishly, her face full of smiles.
"Let’s go, let’s talk back in our room." Zhao Erhu said as he lifted her horizontally; she seemed lighter than when he had left.
Back in the room, where the light was brighter, Lin Yue saw Zhao Erhu disheveled from the road, his beard ragged, and his face showing the signs of the elements. Thinking of their hurried journey, hungry and tired, Lin Yue did not bother to ask Zhao Erhu any other questions and immediately had Xixi go to the kitchen to prepare boiling water and food.