The Foolish Agent

Chapter 119

This time, Xuanyuan answered eagerly:

“I thought the palace was empty anyway, and so many palace servants had nothing to do. So I thought of sending them back to their hometowns. But Eunuch Fu said that many palace servants said they had no family left, and he was afraid that they would lose their way to make a living after they left. Xiao Jieyi, what do you think we should do about this? Anyway, you are the head of the harem, so these things should be handled by you.”

Leng Jie thought for a moment and nodded in agreement: "I think Eunuch Fu is right. Those palace servants, especially the eunuchs, will indeed have a hard time surviving after leaving the palace. Let them stay where they are for now! After I get through this busy period, I will try to conduct some experiments, which will require manpower."

"Alright! Let's listen to Xiaojie and leave them here for now!" Xuanyuan completely agreed with Xiaojie's words.

"Thank you, Your Majesty! Your Majesty is truly a living goddess!" Eunuch Fu said gratefully, tears streaming down his face.

"Please don't say that, Eunuch Fu. The Emperor and I have always regarded you as an elder and family. If you really think I'm a good person, please treat me like Xiao Jie, just like before. Don't keep calling me 'Your Majesty' this and 'Your Majesty' that, making me feel uncomfortable," Leng Jie replied with a smile.

"Yes, this old servant obeys!" Eunuch Fu replied respectfully.

Alas! Isn't this just a change in name only? It seems there's no hope of changing Eunuch Fu's servile nature.

"Eunuch Fu, aren't you going to tell them this good news?" Xuanyuan teased Eunuch Fu, who was so moved he didn't know what to do.

"Oh! This old servant will go right away." In his excitement, Eunuch Fu did not forget to bow to the Emperor and Empress before leaving.

Leng Jie and Xuan Yuan exchanged a smile and shook their heads helplessly. After watching Eunuch Fu leave, Xuan Yuan scooped Xiao Jie up in his arms.

"What are you doing? Put me down right now, this is the study!" Xiaojie shouted coquettishly.

"Sit on my lap, and we'll look at the memorials together."

"Let me sit next to you! It won't look good if someone comes in. It's working hours now," Leng Jie said, wrapping her arms around Xuan Yuan's neck. Afraid that Xuan Yuan wouldn't listen, she added, "Otherwise, you can handle the demolition yourself."

But Xuanyuan seemed completely unfazed by her threats, still insisting on holding her close on the spacious dragon throne. His hot, thin lips lightly pecked her cheek, and he said with a smile:

"How could I bear to let my wife suffer any more? As long as you stay by my side, I will feel endless strength flowing from my body."

"You..." Leng Jie was speechless. It turned out he just wanted her to be with him. She'd thought he still wanted her to share his burdens, just like three years ago! That'd made her argue with Xingyue and the others. Now, she'd become the one who truly washed her hands of the matter.

"Don't you trust your husband?" Xuanyuan asked hastily, seeing his wife's annoyed expression.

"No, I just feel like I have nothing to do. I feel empty inside," Leng Jie replied truthfully.

"Why do you feel so empty? Can't your husband fill your heart? What about our son? How can your heart still feel empty?" Xuanyuan deliberately asked with a stern face.

"Stop fooling around, get back to work." Leng Jie picked up a memorial and handed it to Xuan Yuan, saying seriously, "After you finish, let's go to the Prime Minister's residence for a meal. You, as the son-in-law, should also pay your respects to your parents-in-law." She then picked up another memorial and began to read it intently. Xuan Yuan nodded and smiled at Xiao Jie, then also buried himself in his work…

...

Half a month later, the Shui family case was closed. According to Jinghe law, the two old men of the Shui family and their sons were all beheaded and their heads displayed in public. The women and children were all exiled, and all the accomplices involved were brought to justice.

Jiang Feifan's father was exonerated, and Jiang Feifan was officially appointed as the Minister of War. Shui Rong'er, who took the blame for his father's crime, married Jiang Feifan as his concubine.

A month later, Shi Yu returned with the ceasefire agreement signed with Xiping. Xiping ceded Jincheng, which bordered Jinghe, and three other cities to Jinghe. Jinghe agreed to increase their critically needed grain supply by 200,000 dan, along with other detailed terms.

Qingfeng had cured Ye Ling'er's illness to about 70-80%. However, to restore her martial arts skills and allow her to resume her training, they needed to return to Wuyou Valley. This was because a special medicine was needed to unblock her meridians, and that medicine was only effective in Wuyou Valley. Therefore, at Xiaojie's request, Qingfeng took Ye Ling'er back to Wuyou Valley to treat her injuries.

Xiao Jie's belly grew bigger day by day. She became bolder and bolder because the pregnancy was stable. She kept herself busy all day long. Xuan Yuan still treated her like a precious gem, living a life of blissful anxiety.

To take care of their daughter's diet, Madam Leng and Prime Minister Leng have accepted Xuanyuan's invitation to stay in the empty palace. Furthermore, Madam Leng has become the principal and instructor of the girls' school founded by Leng Jie. The idle palace maids and eunuchs have become the school's first students.

Happy times always seem to fly by. Winter passed and spring arrived in the blink of an eye, followed by summer. In the sweltering summer heat, Leng Jie, with her round belly so large she couldn't even see her own feet, finally reached her due date.

On the morning of June 1st, Leng Jie woke up to find she was bleeding. She immediately called out to Xuan Yuan, who had just brought her water to wash her face:

"Husband! Go and call Mother over quickly."

"What happened?" Xuanyuan asked anxiously.

"It's okay, I'm about to give birth," Leng Jie replied excitedly. She could finally take off this heavy "burden" from her belly. How could she not be excited?

"Really? Xiaojie, are you really going to give birth? I'm going to be a dad!" Xuanyuan jumped up with joy. His days of anxiety were finally coming to an end!

"Go and call my mother! We still need to prepare some things!" Xiaojie urged.

"Okay, I'll go." The person who spoke had already flown away and disappeared from sight.

Three hours later, in the modern delivery room that Leng Jie had prepared for herself, she was drenched in sweat and on the verge of tears from the little one inside her. Waves of aching and swelling pain in her lower back made her involuntarily clench her teeth.

"Xiao Jie, please scream! I'm begging you!" Xuan Yuan, who was pacing anxiously, was also covered in sweat. Moreover, his face was even paler than Xiao Jie's, who was in pain.

"Your Majesty, don't worry. Xiao Jie will be alright," Madam Leng said, gently massaging Xiao Jie's lower back to ease her pain.

"But she's been in pain for ages, why hasn't she given birth yet?" Xuanyuan asked worriedly.

"It's alright, the first child is always difficult. It will get better afterward. Her Majesty the Empress is blessed with good fortune and will be fine. Your Majesty, please go out first!" the midwife advised. Although she thought the Emperor was making a fuss over nothing—it's just childbirth, what woman doesn't go through this? But because he was the Emperor, she had no choice but to say so.

"What do you mean 'later'? I will never let the Empress suffer like this again. Don't bring it up again!" Xuanyuan's face suddenly darkened, and he roared at the midwife.

The midwife was so frightened that she stood frozen in place, her legs trembling uncontrollably.

"Xuanyuan, don't be like this. You've scared Momo!" After a series of pains, Xiaojie finally caught her breath.

"Xiao Jie, are you alright?" Xuan Yuan hurriedly grabbed Xiao Jie's hand and asked anxiously.

Leng Jie smiled and shook her head at Xuan Yuan, replying weakly:

"Don't worry, I'm all prepared. If I really can't give birth naturally, I'll have a C-section. You'll be the surgeon, and I'll tell you how to do it."

Because her belly was so big, Leng Jie had been worried that the baby would be too large to deliver easily. Therefore, she prepared all the necessary equipment for a cesarean section well in advance.

"No, how could I possibly cut open your stomach! Would I even be human? Even if I don't want the child, I can't let anything happen to you." Xuanyuan shook his head desperately in refusal. At the same time, his hands were trembling uncontrollably.

"Don't... Ouch!" Before Leng Jie could finish her comforting words, another wave of even stronger pain swept over her.

"Xiao Jie! Bite my hand! Don't clench your teeth!" Xuan Yuan put his hand to Xiao Jie's mouth.

"Just bite on this. Your hand mustn't get hurt." Madam Leng took a rolled-up towel stick and put it into Xiao Jie's mouth.

Inside the delivery room, everything was in perfect order. Outside, the court officials were all kneeling and praying to Heaven for mercy, for a wise and intelligent prince to be born. He was Jinghe's hope and future!

"Father, has my little sister given birth?" Yang Tian rushed over, carrying Xingyue, who was also heavily pregnant. He pulled Leng Xiang aside and asked.

"No, there's not a sound from inside. Sigh, she's just as strong-willed as your mother. She didn't even utter a sound when giving birth!" Leng Xiang said worriedly.

"Is Mother inside? I'd like to go in and see her too," Xingyue said, starting to walk inside.

Leng Lian hurriedly gave Yang Tian a meaningful look. Yang Tian grabbed Xingyue and coaxed her softly:

"You can't go in looking like that."

"Why?" Xingyue asked in disbelief.

“That’s the rule,” Yang Tian replied affirmatively.

Is there such a rule? How come she's never heard of it? Xingyue pondered.

Yang Tian and his son Leng Xiang both breathed a sigh of relief. She was already too terrified to live without even seeing it; if she had seen that staff, she would have fainted from fright!

"Wah!" A loud baby's cry came from the delivery room.

"It's born! Father, husband, Xiaojie has given birth!" Xingyue exclaimed in surprise, holding Yangtian's hand.

"Such a loud cry must be from a prince!" The kneeling officials immediately rose and surrounded the entrance to the delivery room, waiting for the emperor to come out and announce the question they cared about most.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty, it's a princess!" The midwife presented the wrinkled, blood-soaked infant to Xuanyuan.

"Xiao Jie, we have a daughter! That's wonderful! Our daughter will definitely be as smart and adorable as you," Xuan Yuan exclaimed excitedly, holding Xiao Jie's hand.

Xiao Jie, who was almost exhausted, unconsciously forced a happy smile. Suddenly, her smile froze, and then her entire face contorted in pain.

"Xiao Jie, what's wrong? Don't scare me!" Xuan Yuan called out anxiously.

"Xiao Jie, there's one more inside! Push harder!" Madam Leng called out anxiously.

Leng Jie took a deep breath, using all her remaining strength. Finally, another loud cry rang out. She had collapsed and fainted...

When Leng Jie opened her eyes again, she was already back in her bedchamber in the Dragon Palace. Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out. "Girl! You're awake!" The carefree old man called out affectionately with a smile as radiant as a celestial being.

"Master! Am I dreaming? How could you bear to leave Worry-Free Valley?" Leng Jie sat up abruptly, exclaiming in astonishment.

"You heartless girl, is that the look you give your master? Your master came here specifically to help you take care of your child!" The carefree old man gently patted Xiao Jie's forehead, feigning anger.

"Heavens, forget it. I wouldn't dare trouble you. My child can't be treated like you treated my senior brother," Leng Jie immediately refused.

"Xiao Jie, congratulations on getting a son and a daughter!" Qingfeng sincerely congratulated her.

"Senior brother! You're back too! Where's Ling'er? Is her injury healed?" Leng Jie asked excitedly.

"She has fully recovered. I've taken her back to the Ye residence," Qingfeng replied calmly.

"Xiao Jie, I want to be your child's godfather," Shi Yu said with a bittersweet tone.

"Shi Yu! You're back too." Leng Jie looked at Shi Yu in surprise, then nodded generously and replied, "Be my godfather! No problem! Anyone else who wants to be my godfather is welcome!"

"Me too!" Duanmu Xingchen exclaimed, not wanting to be left behind.

"Me too!" Yangpu shouted, raising his hand.

“I’m the child’s uncle! This was agreed upon long ago,” Zi Ying said slowly.

"Stop arguing, my dear grandson just fell asleep," Madam Leng said softly.

"No way! The child is mine. Without my consent as the biological father, none of you can be the godfather!" Xuanyuan, who was blocked on the outside and couldn't even see his wife, finally couldn't hold back and exploded.

Looking at the circle of her family and friends from this world gathered around her bed, Leng Jie felt an indescribable sweetness in her heart. She finally believed her master's words. She thought she should have belonged to this world all along! A happy smile unconsciously spread across her lips...

(End of article)

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