That day, Jiang Yuan, heavily pregnant, cried again, her eyes blurry with tears. The reason was that she wanted to eat chicken, but when Sui'er was killing the chicken, she accidentally saw it and burst into tears on the spot.
"So pitiful." Jiang Yuan hugged a pot of chicken soup, crying as she drank.
"Then why are you still drinking?" Song Yansi reached out and wiped the grease from the corner of her lips, his eyes sparkling with laughter.
"I want to drink it." Jiang Yuan sobbed as she scooped up a spoonful of chicken soup and put it in her mouth. The soup was so delicious that it made her feel comfortable, but tears kept welling up in her eyes. "It's the baby in my belly that's crying."
“…”
Since Jiang Yuan became pregnant, she has been constantly causing trouble. Even Li Qingping, who used to follow her around like a shadow, can't help but tuck his tail between his legs and run away when he sees her now. "Why isn't she giving birth yet!"
"Yeah! Why isn't she born yet?" Jiang Yuan's nose turned red again.
“Two days have passed already.” Song Yansi tapped the wooden table with one hand, gesturing for Fifth Master to look at him.
The old man was reading a medical book, nodding his head, when he was forcibly interrupted. Naturally, he was a little annoyed. "This child isn't a cucumber, you can't just pick him at the appointed time. It's normal to pick him a few days earlier or later."
“Commonplace?” Song Yansi was clearly dissatisfied with his answer and said indifferently, “I remember someone patting their chest and promising to do it on the date.”
"I am a doctor, not a fortune teller!" Fifth Hui stroked his sparse goatee and unhappily threw down his medical book. "Being able to guess the general idea is already a great skill!"
And so, the little one tossed and turned in Jiang Yuan's belly for most of the day, and finally, in the deep of night, when the dew was heavy, it couldn't resist coming out.
Jiang Yuan was half asleep, thinking the pain would subside after a while, as usual, but it was getting worse, and she groaned softly. Song Yansi was a very light sleeper; the slightest movement from her caused him to open his eyes and prop himself up halfway. "Is she going into labor?"
"Mmm." She bit her lip and gripped Song Yansi's clothes. "It hurts."
The candlelight illuminated the entire room, and the peaceful courtyard was immediately broken by the sound of footsteps coming and going.
Midwives had been hired long ago. Even before Jiang Yuan was due, Song Yansi had someone open up the neighboring courtyard and selected a number of maids and servants to be stationed there, where they would be trained by Zhu Chuan.
Fifth Hui also received the news, and before Song Yanji, that devil, could send anyone to summon him, he carried his small medicine box and ran off.
It is said that childbirth is like a woman walking through the gates of hell.
Song Yansi remembered that when Rong An gave birth to her twins in her previous life, basins of bloody fluid were carried out. She was already dying right after the babies were born. Several doctors went to great lengths to snatch her back from the brink of death, but even though she survived, her body was almost completely ruined.
His fingertips, hidden in his sleeve, trembled slightly, but his voice remained as calm as ever, "Come with me into the house and keep watch."
"Me?" Fifth Hui's eyes widened. "I'm a doctor, not a midwife."
"Go in!" Song Yansi did not give him a chance to refuse and stepped onto the steps before Wu Hui.
"Master!" Seeing Song Yansi about to go in, Bi Fan quickly stepped forward to stop him at the door, shaking his head. It was unlucky for a man to enter when a woman was giving birth, especially since he was a general, and people on the battlefield were most superstitious about these things.
"I'll wait outside the curtain, I won't go inside." Song Yanji clearly didn't care, he walked past Bi Fan and pushed open the door, and Fifth Hui had no choice but to follow closely behind. Inside the room, Jiang Yuan's cries of pain became clearer and clearer.
"Don't be afraid, Madam. Master is right outside, and so is Fifth Master." Zhu Chuan listened to the commotion outside and wiped Jiang Yuan's sweat. She was screaming in pain, her wet hair sticking haphazardly to her forehead, and the sheets beneath her were already soaked with sweat.
Upon hearing Zhu Chuan mention Song Yansi, Jiang Yuan was struck by something and suddenly burst into tears. Her eyebrows furrowed, and her voice was already hoarse as she cried, "Brother Zhongli."
"Madam, you mustn't cry. Crying will weaken you." The experienced midwife hurriedly reminded her when she saw her like this.
Yes, she couldn't cry; she had to give birth to this child. Jiang Yuan clenched her teeth tightly, tears falling silently. She had longed for this child for so many years; even in the most painful moments, she had never said she didn't want to give birth. This was her child.
Jiang Yuan cried out twice and then suddenly fell silent. Song Yansi's heart skipped a beat. He disregarded his promise made outside the door and rushed in, leaving Wu Hui with her empty hand.
Jiang Yuan was surprised when he came in, and with a sudden burst of energy, his body felt lighter.
"Wah—wah—" A loud cry came from inside the room; it sounded like a healthy child.
Several old women quickly cleaned the child, wrapped him in a swaddling cloth that had been prepared beforehand, and then handed him to Song Yansi with smiles, saying, "Congratulations, sir, it's a little prince."
The little one's skin was slightly red, and her body was delicate and soft like water. She just closed her eyes and cried loudly.
Song Yansi held him and looked at him for a while. Zhu Chuan was quick-witted and immediately stuffed a few red envelopes into the hands of the midwives. The midwives were overjoyed to receive the reward and said a few auspicious words before leaving.
The room fell silent. Song Yansi then placed the child beside Jiang Yuan, a smile returning to his lips, but his eyes were momentarily vacant. "Ah...Ah Yuan...we have a child."
"Look how happy you are, like you're a first-time dad." Jiang Yuan looked at the little dumpling lying next to him, his eyes reddening, and almost blurted out with a laugh, but quickly realized he had said the wrong thing before he finished speaking.
"Of course, this is my and Ayuan's son." Song Yansi pinched her cheek and then carefully touched the little person next to her.
Jiang Yuan carefully observed Song Yansi. Seeing that he seemed lost in joy and hadn't noticed, she breathed a sigh of relief and secretly complained to herself: "Pregnancy makes you stupid for three years, Jiang Yuan, you really have a pig brain!"
"A-Yuan".
"Hmm?" She looked at Song Yansi, who was kneeling on one knee beside the footstool, holding her hand and placing it on the baby's swaddling clothes. His hand had distinct knuckles and was particularly beautiful.
He just looked at her like that, his phoenix eyes slightly raised, a smile on his lips. Jiang Yuan couldn't help but think of a saying: "A man of noble character and elegant bearing should be like this."
"From now on, everything I own will belong to him." He spoke slowly, seemingly intentionally, then lowered his head to play with the baby in the blanket.
Jiang Yuan's heart trembled slightly at his words. She looked at the man before her with a complex expression; he was smiling, his gaze fixed intently on the child. Jiang Yuan felt uncertain; did he truly understand what everything that lay ahead meant?
Chapter 46 A Gentleman's Promise
At the end of the fifth year of Kangwu, Song Yanji decisively defeated Yanzhou, and the northern part of Shuobei was brought back into the map of Southern Liang. His Majesty, mindful of his achievements, appointed him as a first-rank general in charge of guarding the north. The Liang army marched north to guard the Heyuan region, and the war continued.
In the third month of the seventh year of Kangwu's reign, King Wei, indulging in debauchery, was assassinated by a young boy in the Feathered Tent of the Sleeping Couple Palace, causing an uproar throughout the country. In the same month, Lady Zhuang and her young son ascended the throne, establishing the reign title of Qi'an, and Meng Xizhi was enfeoffed as Duke of Zhenguo. In the fourth month, King Wei sent an envoy, Xue Lai, to Liang, speaking earnestly and offering to cede eight border fortresses to demonstrate King Wei's willingness to maintain friendly relations with Southern Liang.
Song Yanji's victories kept arriving in Lin'an, bringing Li Sheng both joy and worry. He was joyful because the country had been peaceful during Song Yanji's four years of campaigning, and the border cities were impregnable. He was worried because he was getting old and only had one son, born to Consort Bai three years ago.
"Why is Your Majesty so worried?" In the inner hall, the faint scent of lilies wafted as Gu Sijun gently massaged Li Sheng's temples.
"Xiuhua, you don't know, but I'm getting more and more uneasy." He distrusted Song Yanji more and more. Everyone says that emperors are suspicious, but Li Sheng always felt that he had an indescribable feeling about him.
"Is it because of the General of Zhenbei?" Gu Sijun asked softly.
“Xiuhua shouldn’t know too much.” Li Sheng interrupted her, his eyes narrowing as he spoke, his mind racing. Originally, after reclaiming Longdi, Song Yanji should have been granted a title, but he dragged it out until the recapture of Shuobei. Now that Weiguo is showing goodwill and willing to exchange eight border cities for the withdrawal of Nanliang troops, it is another great achievement, and the people’s hearts are greatly encouraged. If he continues to stay on the border, there will probably be problems sooner or later.
Li Sheng coughed lightly a few times, and Gu Sijun quickly brought him some refreshing Phoenix Dew Tea to drink, and then gently patted his back to help him catch his breath.
Li Sheng was thinking, and so was Gu Sijun. She was quite adept at understanding the emperor's mind; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to rise to the second rank of Xiuhua without having children. Above that would be the position of three consorts, which she certainly couldn't climb. This was the best position she could get with her status. Li Sheng was deep in thought, fearing that Song Yanji was becoming too powerful and that the emperor would most likely issue an edict summoning him back to court.
When he comes back, that will be a new beginning.
Who is Song Yansi? He's ruthless to others, but even more ruthless to himself. And what about the secrets of the Song family? If I weren't so limited in my abilities, I would definitely dig them out and investigate them thoroughly! Gu Sijun's fair and delicate hand rested on Li Sheng's dark robe, gently stroking his back. Her fingers traced the raised, cloud-embroidered golden dragon, and a smile played on her lips as always.
Seven harvests of walnuts, eight harvests of pears, and in September the persimmons turn red.
"Sigh!" In the distant Chaisang, a small, jade-like figure sat on a stone bench, eating freshly picked walnuts and sighing.
"Oh, what's troubling our young master Song so much?" The weather was nice today, so Song Yansi took Jiang Yuan out on horseback to enjoy the scenery, leaving Feng Xiuyuan and Mu Qing at home to look after the child. Mu Qing watched Song Chengyu smacking his lips and sighing as he ate, and couldn't help but ask.
"I'm so worried about my Aunt Qingping's marriage!" she said, glancing at Feng Xiuyuan beside her. In a childish voice, she spoke with an air of maturity, holding up two chubby little fingers. "She's already twenty-one, she's getting old!"
Hiding in the corner, Li Qingping almost died of anger at this brat. "Can't you speak properly? What do you mean, 'we're all old'?! Who told him to add that last sentence without permission!"
“That’s right!” Mu Qing nodded in agreement, glancing sideways at Feng Xiuyuan. “It’s all the fault of certain people who brought this disaster and won’t even take it away.”
"Qingping, don't be angry." Rong'an pulled her arm.
"Fine!" Li Qingping trembled with anger, panting heavily as he tried to suppress his rage. "I'll endure it!"
"We should wait until we get back to Lin'an to make any plans." Feng Xiuyuan knew exactly what they were thinking, so he just smiled and shook his head. The border region was definitely not a place for such things, and besides, it was really inappropriate to make Qingping, a dignified county princess, feel so wronged.
Well, hearing this, Li Qingping finally couldn't hold back any longer. What more did he want after all that? Thinking this, he jumped out and, under Feng Xiuyuan's astonished gaze, rushed up to him, pointing his finger at his nose, "You, surnamed Feng, what do you mean! What do you mean by 'make plans again'? Humph, give up on that idea! If you dare to marry someone else when you return to Lin'an, I'll hang myself at your Feng family's doorstep on your wedding night!"
"That's really...so stupid..." Mu Qing looked at Li Qingping and suddenly understood why Song Yansi liked intelligent women. He felt that with Feng Xiuyuan's inarticulate and unyielding nature, he would be driven to his death by this unruly county princess sooner or later!
Jiang Yuan was held on horseback by Song Yansi, with a wildflower tucked into her hair. She had been pampered by Song Yansi and was now plump and radiant. Even after spending several years on the border, her skin remained fair and delicate. Now, her face was as beautiful as a peach blossom, and the delicate flower made her even more charming and lovely. When the two of them went out, the courtyard was peaceful. But before they even entered the gate, they heard Qingping saying that she was going to hang herself at Feng Xiuyuan's house.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Yuan was lifted off the horse by Song Yansi. As soon as his feet touched the ground, he saw a small white figure running towards him.
"Father, Mother!" Upon seeing the two, Song Chengyu stopped eating the fruit and rushed towards them with open arms.
“Yu’er said.” Song Yansi swept his arm around the little white jade dumpling and held him in his arms. Sunlight shone through the thin clouds and fell on him. He looked quite happy, with one arm around Jiang Yuan and the other holding his son.
Jiang Yuan wondered if all men who became fathers were like this, because the faint hint of hostility that had been there before had completely vanished. Sometimes, Jiang Yuan would feel a moment of disbelief, as if this was the life she had longed for day and night, with her husband and children by her side. No amount of wealth or power could compare to the person in front of her.
"Aunt Qingping told me to ask Uncle Feng when he would marry her. Uncle Feng said he could only marry her when they arrived in Lin'an. Aunt Qingping was unhappy and wanted to hang herself on their wedding night." Song Chengyu was young, but his mouth was sharp. After thinking for a moment, he hugged Song Yansi and spoke.
When did Feng Xiuyuan say he wanted to marry her? Li Qingping was dumbfounded.
Then Song Yansi's hearty laughter rang out, "My Yu'er is absolutely right."
"What do you know? You think he's absolutely right?" Li Qingping asked suspiciously.
Song Chengyu is now over two years old. Jiang Yuan feels as if he was just a soft, cuddly baby lying in her arms yesterday. She doesn't know when he grew up to be old enough to start his education. Jiang Yuan has entrusted the education to Song Yanji. He will surely care more about the child he personally taught.
Yu'er is intelligent, and Song Yansi no longer treats her with the same hot and cold attitude as in his previous life. She has been so happy in the two years at the border, and Jiang Yuan wants to hold her tightly in his hands every moment. Jiang Yuan feels that he is probably even more reluctant to part with her than in his previous life.
Or… She looked at Song Yansi, who was teaching Yu'er to write, and gently bit her lip. The temperature in her eyes dropped. She would kill that woman as soon as she saw her!
She didn't want to share this man with that person in her past life, and she doesn't want to in this life either.
"What are you thinking about?" Song Yanji was multitasking and clearly noticed Jiang Yuan's difference. He immediately lifted Song Chengyu off the stool. The little guy was still holding a pen and looked up curiously. Song Yanji patted his head and called Zhu Chuan, "Take Yu'er to find General Mu to play."
Upon hearing that he could play, Song Chengyu's eyes lit up. Fearing his father might change his mind, he grabbed Zhu Chuan's finger first. After Song Yansi watched him being led out the door by Zhu Chuan, he pulled out a round-backed chair, lifted his robe, and sat down, beckoning to Jiang Yuan.
Jiang Yuan, holding the teacup, sat on his lap as usual. A gentle breeze blew by, and melodious birdsong filled the courtyard. She rested her head lightly on Song Yansi's shoulder, listening to the strong beating of his heart in his chest.
I don't want to give in, I can't give in, I won't give in!
Setting down the still-warm teacup, Jiang Yuan cupped his face in her hands, making Song Yansi look up at her with a mixture of anticipation and fear. This was the first time she had asked, "Zhongli, do you like me?"
Of course I like her, how could I not? He wrapped his arms around her waist and nodded, "I like her." He'd liked her for two lifetimes.
"Then if you meet a woman more beautiful than me in the future, don't fall in love with her, okay?" That person has not yet appeared, but Jiang Yuan knows that as long as they return to Lin'an, that woman is a calamity they cannot escape.
“Okay.” Song Yansi took Jiang Yuan’s hand and kissed it, then looked up. His eyes had a beautiful curve, and his gaze was peaceful. “But Yuan, you have to trust me.”
Do not trust your brothers and fathers as you did in your past life, do not trust your best friends as you did in your past life, and whatever happens, you must trust me.
"I believe you." Jiang Yuan lowered her head; she usually looked like this when she lacked confidence.
"You need to trust me more." Song Yansi lifted her chin, his eyes unusually serious, and said, word by word, "I won't lie to you."
"real?"
A gentleman keeps his promise.
In October of the seventh year of the Kangwu reign, with the border city pacified, Li Sheng issued an edict summoning Song Yanji back to court. Jiang Yuan looked at the bright yellow imperial edict in her hand, its dragons dancing in the mist, so bright it hurt her eyes.
Born on the frontier, Song Chengyu had never seen the prosperity of Lin'an City. He had only heard Qingping and the others talk about it before. Now that he knew he was going to a place from a story, he was so excited that he couldn't sleep until late at night. After the maid in the outer room had fallen into a deep sleep, he quietly climbed off the small bed and wiggled his little bottom as he ran towards Jiang Yuan's room.
"Mother." A soft, sweet voice rang out from outside the door with a knock. Jiang Yuanteng was startled awake. Only after recognizing his son's voice did he nudge Song Yansi.
The little guy felt a chill when he was brought in, and Jiang Yuan, feeling sorry for him, couldn't help but pinch his cheek. He was still nestled in Song Yansi's arms, and since Song Yansi wouldn't let go, he could only let Jiang Yuan pinch him, twisting his chubby little body in struggle, "No...no, if you pinch me again...I'll get ugly..."
"You're as mischievous as a monkey." Jiang Yuan pinched him a couple more times before taking him from Song Yansi's arms and wrapping him in a blanket. "It's already this late, why aren't you asleep yet?"
"I can't sleep." The little one snuggled into Jiang Yuan's arms, wrapped in the blanket, but before he could get in, a large hand grabbed his collar from behind.