While Shi Mei nodded, she was also a little worried and didn't forget to give Shen Ruoxuan some advice.
"You need to be careful."
"Alright," the two men said, and with a wave of their hands, they led their men into the mountains without looking back.
Hailing sat in the carriage watching their figures disappear, her heart filled with emotion. Her previously thin and pale face, after several days of rest, had become radiant and beautiful. Now, bathed in a glow, she was even more breathtaking. Holding the kitten, she murmured softly to herself.
Little kitten, these two people are your father and mother's friends. They did everything they could to save your father. If they ever need help in the future, you must repay them for their kindness.
Inside the carriage, Shi Mei instructed the driver to find a secluded spot to park and wait for Mu Ye and Shen Ruoxuan's situation.
At this time, in the imperial palace of Northern Lu.
The study was completely silent. Everyone's face was gloomy, and no one spoke. They all looked up at the man behind the dragon desk.
He wore a white robe embroidered with dragons, over which was a bright yellow dragon robe with gold trim. His hair was tied up with a golden crown, and his jet-black hair cascaded down like the finest brocade. His exquisitely beautiful features were pale at this moment, but his slightly drooping eyes easily revealed his cold-bloodedness. A chilling aura emanated from his body. He was gently turning the ink brush in his hand when suddenly, with a forceful movement, the ink brush snapped in two. He suddenly spoke in a deep voice.
"How dare the Great Zhou Dynasty demand our people? What despicable things! We in Northern Lu haven't even settled accounts with them yet, and the Right Chancellor of the Great Zhou Dynasty is having an affair with a concubine of the Northern Lu Kingdom! This is an insult to the dignity of our Northern Lu Kingdom! What right does Feng Zixiao have to demand our people?"
Ye Lingfeng spoke in a sinister and cold tone, and the people in the study nodded in unison. Then one of them stepped forward and spoke.
"If they dare to be so arrogant again, we, the people of Beilu, will swear to be irreconcilable enemies with the Great Zhou Dynasty from this day forward."
"Yes, we are sworn enemies with them, let's fight."
"That insatiable ingrate, he's truly ungrateful," said Ji Shaocheng, the junior general of Beilu. He had previously helped Feng Zixiao eliminate Jiang Batian along with Ye Lingfeng and others. Although they were helping their sister get rid of Jiang Batian, it also allowed Feng Zixiao to reclaim the throne. Unexpectedly, he now sent envoys to Beilu demanding the release of the Right Chancellor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, claiming that Beilu shouldn't have arrested him and demanding his return, or they would not let it go. What did he want to do? Fight? They weren't afraid. If they fought, Feng Zixiao would become a sinner of the Great Zhou Dynasty, his infamy etched in history. What did that have to do with them?
"This matter will be handled by General Ji. There's no need to be polite with these envoys. Let them understand the strength of Northern Lu and tell them that if the Great Zhou Dynasty wants to fight, Northern Lu will be ready to oblige."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey."
Ji Shaocheng accepted the order and glanced at the Emperor. Although the Emperor was still domineering and decisive in handling matters, why was his face getting paler and paler? Moreover, he heard that Ling'er had been sent to a secluded place to recuperate. All of this seemed unusual, but Ji Shaocheng couldn't quite put his finger on what was unusual. He had even asked the Emperor in private what had happened, but the Emperor said nothing.
"Everyone, go back. The Ministry of War will begin preparations, inspecting all the troops and officers in various locations, and informing all stationed troops to train diligently and be ready to be deployed at any time."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey the decree," and everyone in the study withdrew one by one.
After everyone else had left, Ye Lingfeng reached out and rubbed his forehead, involuntarily thinking of Ling'er. He wondered how she was doing, whether she was alright, whether she was eating well, and whether she had given birth to her little baby yet.
All the thoughts flooded his mind, almost overwhelming him. Lately, he hadn't dared to think about them, focusing all his energy on political affairs to keep himself from thinking about them, otherwise he was afraid he wouldn't be able to resist going to them.
In addition, the Ice Jade Cold Poison was flaring up more and more frequently. Since Ling'er and the others left, it had flared up twice more, each time more severe than the last. Although it wouldn't kill him for the time being, it was making him thinner and thinner every day. In addition, he was busy with political affairs, so his body was getting weaker and weaker.
Inside the room, Ye Lingfeng was deep in thought when Shi Zhu walked in.
Holding a letter in his hand, he spoke in a deep voice.
"Your Majesty, it was Chen Ruoxuan from Medicine King Valley who sent it to the palace at top speed."
"Pass it over," Ye Lingfeng's eyes lit up, and his handsome, pale face was instantly radiant with light, dazzling to the extreme. Shizhu looked at her master like this and felt even more heartache. Of course he missed the Empress so much, why did he have to give her the Forgetfulness Pill? Wouldn't it have been better to let the Empress stay by his side and accompany him? Even if there wasn't much time left, the two of them should stay together.
However, Shi Zhu said nothing. His master had his reasons for doing things, and it was not his place as a subordinate to question them. His master just loved the Empress too much and didn't want her to be upset. Shi Zhu thought to himself, and handed over the letter. Ye Lingfeng quickly opened the letter and began to read it. His long, thick, dark eyebrows rose and fell, then relaxed, and his expression was unpredictable. A smile slowly crept onto his lips, and finally, his fingers began to tremble.
Shi Zhu anxiously pressed, "Your Majesty, what has happened?"
"Ling'er went into premature labor, and the baby has been born."
"Your Majesty went into premature labor, is the little prince alright?"
When Shi Zhu heard that the Empress had given birth prematurely, she became anxious. If something happened to the child, how could the Emperor bear it?
"The child is fine, just a little smaller than usual. Ling'er calls him Little Kitten."
"Little kitten, Your Majesty really knows how to name children." This nickname sounds so soft and cute. The little prince must be very adorable. Shi Zhu couldn't help but wonder whether he resembled the Emperor or the Empress more.
After Shi Zhu finished speaking, she noticed that the Emperor was still staring at the letter, wondering what else was written on it. She couldn't help but ask again, "Is Your Majesty alright?"
Ye Lingfeng read it for a while, then handed the letter to Shi Zhu. Shi Zhu read it and her face lit up with excitement.
"Your Majesty, the letter says that the Empress has found a way to cure the Ice Jade Cold Poison. This is wonderful! They are now going to retrieve the Azure Dragon Serpent's Elixir and the Hundred-Year-Old Tiger Gallbladder. Once they return with these items, Your Majesty will be saved."
Ye Lingfeng, however, did not share Shi Zhu's joy; his deep, mysterious eyes held a hint of reluctance and worry.
"The letter says that the kitten's blood is needed to exchange for my blood. You know, the kitten was born prematurely, how much blood does he have? How can I agree to let him exchange for blood? No, I do not agree to this."
The thought of having to detoxify his son so soon after birth was too cruel for him. So he preferred to suffer the pain of the ice poison rather than let his kitten be harmed because of him.
"emperor,"
Shi Zhu called out, but the Emperor hadn't said anything because he was too happy. But when the Emperor spoke, he came to his senses. That's right, the kitten was premature and was already smaller than a normal baby. If the Emperor were to have his blood transfused again, it would take another seven days, and he might die. If that were the case, the Emperor would definitely not agree.
However, the Empress will make a decision on this matter. Thinking about it this way, she discovered something else.
"So, Her Majesty has regained her memory and will be back soon."
"Hmm," she thought, knowing that Ling'er would be very angry if she came back.
However, since God has brought them together as a family, then no matter what suffering they endure, let them get through it together. As for the matter of detoxifying the kitten, he would absolutely not agree to it, because that would harm the kitten.
That evening, Ye Lingfeng went to Lanqing Palace and showed the letter to his mother.
Empress Dowager Jinlan was thrilled and overjoyed.
"Night, I never expected the Empress to give birth to a son. Although he was premature, as long as the little kitten is alright, that's all that matters. You don't know how fast babies grow. Premature birth isn't a big deal. As long as he can eat and sleep well, the little kitten will grow up quickly. Now there's a way to cure the Ice Jade Cold Poison. This is truly a blessing from heaven."
"Mother, if you want the kitten to perform a blood transfusion for me, I would rather not cure this Ice Jade Cold Poison."
He didn't want to hurt his son to save himself; that would be too selfish.