"Alright, pass on the order and begin deployment. If there's any disturbance, be sure to report to me beforehand! No one is allowed to act without authorization!"
"Yes!" Gong Shu replied.
"Give this letter to the Prince of Zhenbei, and let him follow this plan to hold back his troops and wait for General Ji and Young General Ji to return to the frontier before devising a plan to repel the enemy!"
"Yes!" Gong Shu replied again, "I will take care of it immediately!"
Nan Xuzong waved for Gong Shu to leave. He would accompany Ji Wushang back to General Ji's residence today. If things went as he expected, Ji Dingbei and Ji Tiankui would definitely attend court this morning to report on the recent battles. Whether they would receive praise or punishment from Emperor Zhou was unknown, but it was certain that even if Emperor Zhou punished them, it would only be a verbal reprimand; he wouldn't dare to actually punish Ji Dingbei and Ji Tiankui! This afternoon, Ji Dingbei and Ji Tiankui would immediately lead their troops back to the frontier. As for a good strategy to repel the enemy, Ji Wushang's plan was the best! He could tell them at the General's residence!
Nan Xuzong smiled and clapped his hands once, then twice more.
Instantly, two bodyguards appeared and knelt before Nan Xuzong, saying, "Master."
"Give this letter to my third brother and tell him to prepare according to what it says!" Nan Xuzong tossed a letter into the hand of one of the guards, who caught it and said, "Yes." He immediately turned and flew off to carry it out.
"Keep a close watch on Prince Lin and the Third Princess! Do not approach them or alert them!"
"Yes." The guard nodded and immediately disappeared.
Nan Xuzong turned around and went back into the house. Ji Wushang was already sitting in the house, with a child's clothes in front of him!
Nan Xuzong was suddenly excited. Was she pregnant? Had he hurt her last night? He was both surprised and delighted, unsure if it was true, so he stepped forward and said, "Wu Shang."
“Cong.” She looked up at him and smiled.
"These are baby clothes. Are you... are you pregnant?" He sat down beside her excitedly, his hand touching her lower abdomen, then taking her hand from among the small pieces of fabric and reaching for her wrist.
Ji Wushang was taken aback.
☆、269 She is still young, and has a long future ahead of her!
His reaction was huge.
She turned her head, somewhat apologetically pulling her wrist away from his large hand, and said, "No, I just wanted to try it out. I wanted to have it too, but I don't... I'm sorry, Cong."
"It's alright, there will definitely be more in the future, don't worry!" Nan Xuzong smiled, the disappointment in his eyes vanishing in an instant. He hugged her waist, looked at the fabric for making the baby, and smiled, "It's very beautiful. I like it very much."
"I like it very much too," Ji Wushang said with a smile. He had been thinking about it so much that he couldn't help but find these silks and make clothes for the child according to his own ideas.
"Are we still going to General Ji's mansion?" he asked, trying to distract her. He knew all too well that she was also eagerly anticipating their child. "I promised you yesterday. If you still want to go, we'll go. If you don't want to go, I'll stay here with you."
"I forgot! Let's hurry! I wonder if Father and Brother are still at the manor!" Ji Wushang said, sounding rather flustered.
Nan Xuzong smiled, "Don't be too nervous, they're definitely still at the residence. They probably just returned from court, so there's no need to rush."
"Oh!" Ji Wushang finally caught his breath. "I'm going to change my clothes. Do you want to change too?"
"This is fine, it suits me perfectly." This robe was made by her; she would wear it even if she died! Nan Xuzong said, "I'll have a servant inform General Ji's residence."
"Okay." Ji Wushang nodded, stood up, packed his things, put them away in the inner room, and then changed his clothes.
Before long, the two of them sat in the carriage and slowly headed towards General Ji's mansion.
As soon as Ji Wushang stepped down from the carriage, he saw Ji Dingbei, Ji Tiankui, and Mo Qiqi waiting outside. Also standing there were Madam Qin and the Fifth Miss Ji Sisi, along with several servants.
Ji Wushang was overjoyed. Nan Xuzong smiled, took her hand, and they went forward together.
"Greetings, Fourth Prince and Fourth Imperial Consort!" Ji Dingbei and the others were about to kneel down to pay their respects when Ji Wushang, surprised, stepped forward and said, "Father, Mother, please get up! And elder brother, elder sister-in-law, fifth sister, please get up! If anyone should be paying respects, it should be Wushang who pays respects to you!"
"You are the Fourth Imperial Consort, your status is now very noble." Ji Dingbei nodded with a smile, but after many trials and tribulations, he looked even older.
Ji Wushang felt a pang of sadness. Although he had neglected his birth mother, Bei Luo'er, because he favored his concubines, such as Bai Yiniang, he now felt increasingly desolate as he grew old.
"What are you still standing there for? Come in and sit down, it's getting quite windy here!" Madam Qin stepped forward with a big smile on her face.
Ji Dingbei nodded, "Yes, yes, hurry up and go in!"
"Yes." Ji Wushang replied, then glanced at Nan Xuzong, who smiled.
Ji Dingbei looked at Madam Qin, stepped forward, and helped her up, saying, "Look at you, running around again. You're not alone anymore, yet you're still wandering around like this."
Ji Wushang understood what he meant and turned around in surprise, "Mother, are you pregnant?"
"Yes, it's only been a little over two months, so it's not showing yet, and it's not a problem. Your father is just worried and keeps restricting what I do!" Madam Qin smiled at Ji Dingbei, her face full of happiness.
Ji Wushang smiled and said, "Congratulations, Father! Congratulations, Mother! This is truly a cause for celebration!"
“Yes, the courtyard will be even more lively then.” Mo Qiqi stepped forward, while Ji Tiankui supported her. Only then did Ji Wushang notice that Mo Qiqi’s belly was slightly protruding, and he asked in surprise, “Sister-in-law, sister-in-law is pregnant too?”
"It's only been a little over three months." Mo Qiqi smiled.
"Congratulations, elder brother! Congratulations, sister-in-law!" Ji Wushang immediately offered his congratulations. He hadn't expected this to be double happiness!
However, Ji Dingbei and Ji Tiankui were about to set off for the frontier. They didn't know when the war would end, and if the entire continent was in chaos, they probably wouldn't have time to come back to see their child born!
Ji Wushang sighed inwardly. Judging from the current situation, Ji Tiankui and Mo Qiqi must have moved back. After the two men went to the frontier, it would be good for Mo Qiqi and Madam Qin to have someone to look after them, and they could also serve the Elder Madam and take care of Ji Sisi at the same time.
Yes, and there's also my younger brother, Ji Wusi. Where is he now? I must ask him later.
Seeing Ji Wushang lost in thought, Nan Xuzong stepped forward and gently took her hand. "What's wrong?"
Ji Wushang came to his senses and said, "I'm fine." At this moment, Ji Dingbei had already helped Madam Qin inside, while Mo Qiqi was helped inside by Ji Tiankui, leaving only Ji Sisi standing there motionless.
Ji Wushang's eyes darkened slightly, and he said to Nan Xuzong, "I'll go see Fifth Sister." He then stepped forward, saying, "Fifth Sister."
"Sister, you're finally back!" Ji Sisi said, flashing her two canine teeth, and said with a smile, "Come on in!"
“Okay.” Ji Wushang nodded and stepped forward to take Ji Sisi’s hand.
Ji Sisi looked up at Nan Xuzong who was walking up to her and asked timidly, "Is this my brother-in-law?"
Nan Xuzong lowered his eyes slightly and briefly looked at the girl who was holding hands with Ji Wushang. She was about ten years old. At this time, she had her hair styled in the bun of a young girl who had not yet left her maiden home. She was wearing a white jade hairpin with a carved phoenix design. She was wearing a light pink silk skirt, had an oval face, and a beauty mark at the corner of her mouth.
"Yes." Nan Xuzong said in a deep voice, his eyes looking at Ji Wushang. "Wushang, I'm going to see Father."
“Alright.” Ji Wushang nodded. “How about you tell me about the method we discussed last night for repelling the enemy?”
"That's exactly what I was thinking." Nan Xuzong nodded, smoothed her hair, and then quickly walked away to another place.
Ji Wushang, holding Ji Sisi's hand, followed Madam Qin and Mo Qiqi into the main hall.
By this time, Madam Qin had already had some snacks brought out, and some were specially prepared for Ji Wushang.
Ji Wushang was overjoyed, and the four of them started chatting about everyday things.
Nan Xuzong went to Ji Dingbei's study, where Ji Tiankui was also there.
The three immediately discussed the war situation, and Nan Xuzong also mentioned Ji Wushang's strategy of attacking the enemy from both sides.
Ji Dingbei nodded in agreement. "However, given the current situation, even if we were to ask the King of the Western Regions for help, it would take time. But right now, I'm afraid there isn't enough time!"
“I have already instructed my third brother to deploy 5,000 elite troops from his garrison on the frontier, disguised as Western Region soldiers, to launch a pincer attack on the Bohai Army when the time is right. If possible, we can annex Bohai!” Nan Xuzong pointed to the map that was now placed in front of the three of them.
"Good idea!" Ji Tiankui stepped forward. "But what if the King of the Western Regions finds out about this? Should we go and talk to him?"
"We can just borrow Princess Mu Chen's words. By the time the King of the Western Regions learned the whole story, it was already too late. Besides, the Western Regions City is currently plagued by a series of outbreaks of disease. He, the King of the Western Regions, is busy enough! He will need at least half a month before he will be able to handle foreign affairs!"
"Plague? How come we didn't know about it?" Ji Dingbei frowned. "When did this happen?"
"Hehe, the King of the Western Regions is keeping the news under wraps, so naturally not many people know," Nan Xuzong chuckled. "Otherwise, how could things have been so peaceful lately?"
Hearing Nan Xuzong's words, Ji Tiankui and Ji Dingbei both nodded; it made a lot of sense. But listen to this: Nan Xuzong actually knew about the information sealed within the Western Regions City—only he knew just how powerful the forces behind this were!
“Now is the best time.” Nan Xuzong’s thin lips moved slightly. “Since Father and Elder Brother are going to the frontier this afternoon, let’s try to make a quick decision. I have already sent someone to inform the Prince of Zhenbei to hold the city and wait for you to arrive before we discuss a better strategy to repel the enemy.”
“Sure, let’s do it that way!” Ji Dingbei nodded.
Ji Tiankui hummed in agreement and slowly put the map away, while Ji Dingbei gestured for Nan Xuzong to step aside, saying, "Tiankui, help your father with the arrangements."
"Yes." Ji Tiankui lowered his head and continued.
Nan Xuzong and Ji Dingbei walked out of the study together and strolled slowly along the corridor, chatting as they went.
The two walked for a long time before Ji Dingbei finally asked, "Has Wushang caused His Highness any trouble?"
"Why do you say that?" Nan Xuzong laughed. "It's me who often causes trouble for Wushang, hehe!" Nan Xuzong smiled.
"Sigh, please take good care of her. Dad owes her so much! Please take good care of her!"
"Father, don't worry, Wushang is the apple of my eye. I will take good care of her." Nan Xuzong nodded. Ji Dingbei was indeed a father who knew how to cherish his children. This reminded him of the Prince of Jinnan. The Prince of Jinnan was now only focused on protecting Leng Ruolan and her unborn child, as well as Nan Zaiqing. Back then, when he had many children, he was preoccupied with politics, thinking about how to cultivate relationships with powerful people and climb the social ladder. But in the end, he would rather give up all that, sever those relationships, than compromise his principles and protect the few remaining members of his family.
We don't appreciate what we have until we lose it, and then we regret it. But what's the use? What's lost is probably gone forever!
"So, you've been together for half a year now, is Wu Shang pregnant?" Ji Dingbei asked cautiously.
Nan Xuzong shook his head gently. "It's my fault. I didn't intentionally want a child, but please rest assured, Father, I will make sure she gets pregnant as soon as possible." Nan Xuzong smiled, expressing his apology.
Ji Dingbei looked at Nan Xuzong but shook his head, "You... don't need to lie to your father, your father knows, knows about her situation."
Nan Xuzong paused slightly.
"Father is guilty, Father has wronged her!" Ji Dingbei said at this moment, and the two walked into the Sunrise Pavilion and sat down.
"Hmm?" Nan Xuzong asked in surprise.
"Back then, I joined forces with the Prince of Zhenbei to resist the invasion from the Western Regions. Once, we captured a junior vanguard, but she let him go! I felt ashamed, and with the war pressing, I was furious and ordered her to be tied up and whipped in public. Afterwards, before she had recovered, I sent her back to her residence, which caused her to suffer from the cold! If I had been more considerate back then and cared for her more, she wouldn't be so weak now and probably unable to have children!"
Nan Xuzong felt uneasy listening to this, but seeing the guilt on Ji Dingbei's face, he thought for a moment and said, "Father, you don't need to blame yourself. Wushang didn't blame you. You had your reasons for doing what you did. Father, you are selfless, you prioritize military orders and discipline, and Wushang did make a mistake by releasing that young vanguard, so it's reasonable for her to be punished..." However, why didn't you heal her properly before letting her return to the General's Mansion? There were many wolves and wolves in the General's Mansion at that time, why didn't you protect her properly!
“Yes! There were many deserters at that time, and the soldiers were somewhat undisciplined. If I hadn’t taken this opportunity to enforce strict discipline, I’m afraid no one would have listened to my command!” Ji Dingbei sighed. “So be it! It’s always been your father who has wronged her! Now, I beg Your Highness to take good care of her for your heartless father!” Ji Dingbei turned around and gently patted Nan Xuzong’s shoulder.
Nan Xuzong nodded, "Yes."
“But Ji Dingbei has one more request.” Ji Dingbei suddenly tried to kneel down, even changing his self-reference. Nan Xuzong was surprised and immediately helped him up. “How can you kneel? Father, get up quickly. Just say what you need.”
“Alright, alright…” Ji Dingbei stood up and looked at Nan Xuzong, saying, “You, you are the Fourth Prince, and you will have many concubines or wives in the future. May I… may I ask Your Highness to preserve Wushang’s position as the principal wife… even though she will be unable to bear children, this is my only wish!” As Ji Dingbei spoke, a tear welled up in his eyes. “This old minister knows that having no heir is a great loss, but please, Your Highness, consider the fact that my family has devoted ourselves to the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty, and please preserve her status and identity!” He then knelt down again.
Nan Xuzong was stunned. He immediately stepped forward and helped Ji Dingbei up. "Whether I am the Prince of Nan or the Fourth Prince, I will never take a concubine. Ji Wushang will only be my one and only concubine. She is my only wife! So please, Father General, get up!"
Hearing Nan Xuzong's words, he was stunned. "Fourth Prince, what you're doing is definitely not acceptable!"
"Whether it works or not depends on me, not others!" Nan Xuzong said coldly. "If others try to force me to take a concubine, I will refuse."
"Then, what about offspring..." Ji Dingbei could hardly believe it. He himself couldn't do it, and he was the Fourth Prince. If his luck changed and he became emperor, would his harem only contain Ji Wushang? That was absolutely impossible! Furthermore, suppose that Ji Wushang was truly infertile, wouldn't he be without an heir? This would be an extremely sinful act, condemned by the world—not by him, but by Ji Wushang!
She was only thinking of asking him to keep Ji Wushang's position as the legal wife; she wasn't thinking about anything else!
"However many children Wu Shang can have, that's how many children I, Nan Xuzong, will have. She's still young, she has a long future ahead of her! Father, you don't need to worry." Nan Xuzong smiled, remembering how he had always said the same thing to Ji Wu Shang! His feelings would never change!
Ji Dingbei was shocked; he never expected Nan Xuzong to say such a thing.
After a long pause, Ji Dingbei finally said, "I still dare to ask Your Highness to take one or two concubines to continue the family line! Just for the sake of the people of the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty!"
"Hehe, my brothers all have concubines or principal wives, so there's no worry about not having offspring to inherit the throne!" Nan Xuzong laughed. "Father, don't overthink it. I know what I'm doing."