He and Song Yansi stood outside the hall, listening to the conversation between Jiang Yuan and Xie Jiayan inside. He sighed inwardly at Song Yansi's poor judgment, thinking, "If this Xie family girl were from Wei and entered the palace of my Wei Kingdom, things would probably be very different."
“If one’s life is about pursuing fame and fortune, one must always give up something.” Song Yansi walked to Jiang Yuan’s side, put his arm around her shoulder, and gently patted her twice to comfort her. Only then did the woman in his arms relax her guard. “Unfortunately, my ambitions lie elsewhere.”
"That's a real pity." Meng Xizhi's eyes swept over Jiang Yuan's protruding belly. Jiang Yuan felt uneasy under his gaze and tried to cover her belly without leaving a trace, but this only earned her a sneer from him. "Yuan Yuan is still so afraid of me."
"Zhongli, I'm feeling a little unwell." Jiang Yuan looked at Song Yansi with a pitiful expression. "Can we leave?"
"Okay." Song Yansi reached out and rubbed her head, then took off his black fur coat and tied it around her neck. "It's cold, go back and rest early."
Jiang Yuan nodded, and then Zhang Xiangui helped her out of the Cold Palace. She looked up at the gloomy sky, where a few specks of white snow occasionally fell on her dark fur coat. "It's snowing again."
"Yes," Zhang Xiangui replied. "I will help Your Majesty walk slowly."
"Stop looking, she's already gone." Meng Xizhi glanced at Song Yansi, who was staring at Jiang Yuan's back, and tightened his cloak. "As soon as he heard that she was coming to see the Xie family's daughter, he rushed over anxiously, but it's hard to say whether Yuan Yuan will think the same way."
"What does the Duke of Zhenguo mean?" Song Yanji turned to look at him with a cold face. He Qian was afraid that he would get cold, but Song Yanji had told them not to go over. Now he could only watch helplessly as he stood in the snow wearing only a single robe and holding another large fur coat, unsure whether he should take a step forward.
"What if Yuan Yuan thinks you brought me here specifically to see her? I would be in a terrible situation," Meng Xizhi said, somewhat worried that things might get out of hand.
Song Yanji looked at him coldly, then raised his hand. He Qian then obeyed and quickly draped the fox fur over him. He then spoke indifferently, "Now that you've met him, when does the Duke of Zhenguo plan to leave?"
“Tomorrow.” Meng Xizhi twirled the ring on his finger, his expression unreadable. When he saw her, he was pampered and looked radiant. You could tell how much a man loved a woman just by looking into his eyes. Ever since he saw Jiang Yuan, Song Yansi’s eyes had never left her. He knew he couldn’t do what Song Yansi did.
An envoy's visit lasted only three days, which was unprecedented. However, both Song Yanji and Meng Xizhi understood this, but remained silent.
As Meng Xizhi's thoughts drifted further and further away from the imperial carriage, he couldn't help but lift the curtain. The green bricks and gray tiles gradually disappeared into the distance. There was something he had always wanted to ask Jiang Yuan.
If he had taken her with him when the city fell, and she hadn't met Song Yansi in the chaos, would she have stayed with him?
And now, without even asking, he knows he won't.
"My lord, are we going back so soon? I haven't had enough fun yet." The woman beside him said coquettishly, her soft little hand clinging to his shoulder.
Pulled back to reality, Meng Xizhi smiled and pulled her into his arms, gently pressing a red mark to her neck. "David is much more interesting than Shu."
“Indeed.” Another concubine, secretly resenting the women around him vying for his favor, leaned on his shoulder and laughed, “The girls in our Wei Kingdom are much prettier than those in Shu Kingdom, don’t you agree, sir?”
"Qingqing is right." The car was filled with laughter and chatter.
Xuesheng rode alongside the carriage, only glancing at it once, hoping that this time he would finally give up on the idea.
Chapter 93 A Golden Age
Perhaps it was because he was too tired in the past two years, or perhaps it was because this winter was too cold, but as soon as Meng Xizhi left, heavy snow fell in Lin'an, and Song Yanji, after enduring this for two days, fell ill and died in Chang Le Palace.
The Imperial Physician examined his pulse and said he had caught a cold. He took several doses of medicine but his condition did not improve. His high fever persisted, but his hands and feet were unusually cold. Later, he became delirious from the fever and kept talking nonsense. Jiang Yuan was so anxious that she stayed by his side wiping away tears.
The Fifth Master was forced out of his predicament, but he didn't argue with them. He just frowned, prescribed a medicine, and after taking it for a few days, he saw that he had lost weight and finally became more lucid.
The first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was Jiang Yuan's reddened eyes. Song Yansi's lips had just been moistened with water, and even in the dry winter, they were not chapped. He reached out and touched Jiang Yuan's face, and saw her lips purse, and tears streamed down her face, hitting the back of his hand and burning him with pain. "Why are you crying?"
"You still dare to talk? You've been asleep for days, and even that old man Wu Hui has stopped telling jokes." Jiang Yuan blew her nose while holding a small handkerchief, and with red eyes, she pulled Song Yansi's hand to touch her belly. "He's been moving a lot these past two days, he must have been scared by you."
"Nonsense, Chengyu also frequently had prenatal checkups during this month back then."
"I don't care, it's all your fault." Jiang Yuan reached up and rubbed her eyes, wiping away the tears in her eyes. "Was it from the cold that day? Are you stupid? I was wearing a padded jacket."
“Your padded jacket is so thin, you’re weak, you’ll get cold.” Song Yansi held her hand, and for some reason thought of Meng Xizhi’s words, his eyes suddenly darkened. “That day, I came to see you, I didn’t mean to bring him.”
"I know, that's why I'm not angry, is it?" Jiang Yuan held Song Yansi's fingertips in her hand. His hand was usually burning hot, and it was rare for it to be so cold.
"Really?" His eyes suddenly lit up.
“Of course.” Jiang Yuan nodded, then raised her head. “If I were angry, I wouldn’t be here to watch over you.”
His smile softened, and Song Yansi put her finger to his lips and gently bit it. "How long have I been asleep?"
“Five whole days.” Jiang Yuan said, holding up five little fingers and complaining, “It must be because I’ve been too tired these past few days. Going to court before dawn every day, even an iron body can’t take it. I’ve been talking nonsense for so many days.”
"Nonsense, what did I say?" Song Yansi chuckled inwardly and shook his head. Over the years, he had never talked in his sleep.
Jiang Yuan's smile froze slightly at his question, but then blossomed again with a hint of pride, "You told Master Liaowu that you were going to find me."
His smile was somewhat dazed, and Song Yansi suddenly felt a little uneasy, but he didn't show it on his face. "Anything else?"
"Where else? It's just this one sentence over and over again." For some reason, tears suddenly streamed down her face. Jiang Yuan quickly wiped them away with her handkerchief and smiled, "See, I found it."
That's it?
“That’s all.” Jiang Yuan shook her head, her fingertips sinking slightly into her palm.
Song Yansi finally relaxed and was about to close his eyes when Jiang Yuan added quietly, "Also, I almost forgot just now."
Meeting Song Yansi's suddenly wide-open eyes, the little woman said with a touch of willfulness, word by word, "You said you would only marry me in this lifetime."
"Did I really say that?" Song Yansi was somewhat suspicious; this didn't seem like something he would say.
The lie was instantly exposed. Jiang Yuan was furious and embarrassed. Her face turned red, and she clutched her handkerchief, showing off her pregnant belly, and said, "It was you who said it, don't try to go back on your word!"
"Okay, take it as I said." Song Yansi reached out and put his arm around Jiang Yuan, giving her a light kiss on the forehead.
“You can’t just accept it; you have to admit from the bottom of your heart that you said it.”
“That’s right, that’s what I said.” Song Yansi laughed heartily, and he liked to coax her. “Everything my Ayuan hears is true, and I believe everything she says.”
"You believe everything?" Jiang Yuan propped herself up and looked at Song Yansi. Seeing his unreadable gaze, she parted her lips slightly and said, "Then I'll say that I love Brother Zhongli the most in this world. Do you believe me?"
"So A-Yuan likes Brother Zhongli." Song Yansi reached out and touched her cheek, and for some reason, a thin mist rose in front of his eyes.
"Um."
How much do you like it?
"I love you so much that I want to walk behind you in this lifetime." Not wanting to leave you alone again, Jiang Yuan seemed to have thought of something, "In the next life, I will not drink the Meng Po soup. No matter where you are, I will find you."
"good."
"Then it'll be your turn to carry the little rabbit lantern."
He had also mentioned lanterns, but not wanting to expose Jiang Yuan's words, Song Yansi nodded, "Okay."
They had met so many times before. Jiang Yuan reached out to cover Song Yansi with the corner of the quilt, looking down at the intricate patterns on the brocade quilt, but she couldn't remember it at all.
Jiang Yuan was somewhat lost in thought. No, she did remember. She remembered the Apricot Grove Poetry Gathering, the poem about laurels, the young master Gao who was humiliated by her and blushed, and she remembered that someone had written a short poem on her answer sheet, but she hadn't looked at it carefully. She was only thinking about helping her brother get revenge and had thrown it away in the blink of an eye.
There was also the lantern from the Lantern Festival. That day, she had a big fight with Jiang Zhi and snatched the only little rabbit lantern. She felt extremely wronged after being scolded by her father, so she simply ran out crying. She didn't remember how many people she bumped into along the way, nor did she remember if Song Yansi was among them. She only remembered that the lantern was really beautiful, and the little rabbit's eyes were red and bright, like two huge rubies.
It wasn't just her chasing after him; he chased after her too. But she knew nothing of it. What he remembered that she didn't, what he knew that she didn't, what she wanted to forget, what he didn't want to mention—fate always brought unexpected twists and turns.
Song Yansi held Jiang Yuan's hand, and only when she felt him shaking her did she come back to her senses, "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing, it just feels like it's been a long time since I've seen A-Yuan." Song Yansi held Jiang Yuan's fingertips, their fingers intertwined. "I miss you a little."
"When did you become so eloquent?" Jiang Yuan bit her lip, her big eyes brimming with tears. He had never said these things to her before, not even during the two years when they were closest.
"I've always wanted to say this, but at first I was too embarrassed to say it, and then I never had the chance."
“Now I have it.” Jiang Yuan rested her chin on her hand and looked at him. “You should take good care of yourself and get better. You have to tell me about it every day when you’re fully recovered.”
When did you become so willful?
“I’ve always been this way.” The dragon in the palace was burning hot. Jiang Yuan sat on the little fox carpet and smiled at Song Yansi.
When the sound reached the outer hall, He Qian and the others breathed a sigh of relief, tightened their coats, and hoped that the winter would pass soon.
In March, as spring warmed and flowers bloomed, Jiang Yuan's belly began to show signs of pregnancy. The doctors of the Imperial Hospital all opened their eyes wide and took turns waiting for her day and night. Even the Fifth Master was dragged out by Song Yansi.
"When the time is right, the fruit will fall." Fifth Master was fed up with the disturbance. He was still working on the new herbs, and staying in the woman's room all day long was not a good idea. Finally, after being forced to take her pulse again, he stroked his goatee and assured her, "The Empress's pregnancy will be much easier to deliver."
When will you give birth?
Same person, same problem! He was a doctor, not a god. He only had two days left, so looking at the somewhat anxious Song Yansi, he said perfunctorily, "Tonight."
Unexpectedly, Fifth Hui's words came true. As the sun was setting, before nightfall, Jiang Yuan's stomach began to hurt. This was the only happy event in the harem since Song Yanji became emperor, and the palace servants of Fengqi Palace were all working hard.
Song Yansi paced anxiously outside the palace, while Cheng Yu looked equally grave, as if he wanted to glare through the curtain. It is said that childbirth is like walking through the gates of hell for a woman, and Cheng Yu, being young, was inevitably a little scared, but Song Yansi, as her father, was even more nervous than him.
As cries of pain gradually rose, Song Yanji's heart sank into mid-air. He was torn between his inner turmoil and his final decision to lift the curtain and rush in was met with loud weeping from inside the room.
"So fast?" Jiang Yuan suddenly felt her stomach empty, and something slid out. Unlike the heart-wrenching pain of giving birth to Cheng Yu, this child came very smoothly.
Seeing that it was about time, Mr. Fifth left with a hum, saying, "I told you this birth would be easy."
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Empress! It's a little prince!" Granny He quickly washed the baby clean, wrapped him in a soft swaddle, and before she could even leave, two figures, one big and one small, rushed to the bedside in a flash.
"Ah Yuan." Song Yansi grasped Jiang Yuan's hand.
"Mother." Cheng Yu blushed, looking somewhat worried.
Seeing her child, whom she had finally managed to give birth to, being so blatantly ignored, Jiang Yuan had no choice but to remind them, "The child."
"Granny He," Song Yansi called out, "bring the child here."
The little one in the swaddling clothes was soft and cuddly, his eyes tightly closed. Song Yansi placed him next to Jiang Yuan. Cheng Yu also rushed over, looking him over from left to right. Her little brother was really ugly, not like his mother at all. If he were a little sister, he would be much prettier.
The tenth year of Chengtai.
That day, Jiang Yuan was lying under the wisteria tree when she suddenly felt a tickle on her face. When she looked up, she saw Song Yansi standing right in front of her. He was holding her close, and after a long while, they shared another lingering kiss.
Time flies, and fine wrinkles have appeared at the corners of Song Yansi's eyes. This man has become more composed, and the Shu Kingdom has become increasingly powerful under his leadership.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Yuan climbed up, clinging to his arm, but he still held her close. She chuckled, "Is the court pressuring you to choose a concubine again?"
“You’ve given birth to four sons in one go, and Chengyu is getting old now. Who would be willing to send their daughter to me?” Song Yansi looked at Jiang Yuan and reached out to pinch the tip of her nose.
"It's a pity I couldn't give you a little princess." Jiang Yuan was also a little disappointed. She touched her lower abdomen. Now she was a woman in her thirties. Song Yansi felt sorry for her body and wouldn't allow her to have any more children. But she really wanted a daughter.
"After a while, I'll see if I can give A-Yuan a clever and lovely daughter, a top-notch blacksmith." Seeing Jiang Yuan's puzzled expression, Song Yanji reached out and hugged her, resting his chin on her temple. "Although she's not our child, that child is truly good, and you'll definitely like her."
Where is she?
"I don't know." Song Yansi gently patted her back. "It shouldn't have been discarded yet."
"Mother! Third Brother is bullying me again!" Cheng Zheng shouted, grabbing his little robe and running towards Jiang Yuan. When he got close, he saw Song Yansi's dark face, and his breath hitched, and he stopped in his tracks.
"Little brat, you're tattling again! I'll teach you a lesson!" A clear child's voice came from behind, followed by a dark green figure rushing over. Before even getting close, the figure sensed something was wrong, pulled back its feet, and was about to run back while crouching low.
"Come back!" A stern voice rang out from behind.
"It's over!" Cheng Du stopped abruptly, his head drooping as he thought to himself. In the instant he turned his head, he put on an innocent and pure expression again, ran to Jiang Yuan and Song Yanji, cupped his hands in greeting, and said sweetly, "Father, Mother, Your Highness, I pay my respects to you both."
"What's wrong now?" These two kids, they really are like dogs, they'll start climbing on the roof if you don't discipline them for three days! Even Chengyu and Chengguang weren't this unruly, whose personality do they take after?
"My third brother stole my slingshot!"