Chapter 86
For over ten days, a relentless snowfall blanketed the north. The biting cold seeped into the garrison tents, yet a flicker of joy also warmed the atmosphere within.
Fu Yu, now five months pregnant, felt her belly gently swell with each passing day.
Inside the tent, the fire burned brightly, casting a warm glow. Fu Yu leaned against the warmth, wrapped in a blanket, while Li Yicheng applied some ointment to his fingers, rubbing them until they were slightly warm before gently massaging Fu Yu's swollen belly.
Despite being only five months along, her belly was unexpectedly large. The military doctor had warned that the baby was too big, which could make labor difficult.
"He kicked me." Li Yicheng looked up at her with a smile. She lowered her head to observe her round belly, where the baby seemed to be constantly moving, causing a bump to protrude.
"He's quite mischievous." Fu Yu chuckled as she lowered her gaze and tenderly looked at Li Yicheng. "He was quite restless last night too."
Li Yicheng lightly poked the bump with his fingers, then placed his hand on his wife's shoulder. "When he's born, I'll make sure to discipline him properly."
Fu Yu smiled, her lips adorned with shallow dimples, nodding in agreement. She looked at him with concern, noticing his recent tired appearance, and couldn't help but reach out to touch his face.
"Fu Yu."
Li Yicheng lifted his gaze to meet hers and softly apologized, "I'm sorry for making you worry and suffer with me."
"I'm not afraid," Fu Yu understood the sincerity in her husband's eyes. Cupping his head, she ran her fingers through his hair, planting a soft kiss on his forehead. "You won't send me back to Luojia, will you?"
Li Yicheng remained silent, gazing steadily at her before speaking, "Fu Yu, when I was young, I followed General Wei to the Northern Palace. I was full of youthful vigor and determined to drive the Northern Barbarians out of the Eastern Fields. Later, General Wei... "
Before he could continue, tears welled up in Li Yicheng's eyes, unable to recall the rest. "Later, my brother punished me to stay here, not only to defend our home but also to atone for... "
"But it wasn't your fault," Fu Yu shed tears, embracing him gently. "You were trying to save people."
Years ago, when Northern barbarian soldiers infiltrated Wusi City, intending to threaten General Wei Zhan, Li Yicheng had disguised himself and rescued twelve Han people, but was outsmarted by the cunning Northerners and captured.
Fu Yu was one of those twelve people.
They had known each other since their youth, and she knew all the pain he had been through, the misunderstandings he faced, and the guilt he carried.
The General revered General Wei like a mountain, but regretted like the sea.
The exile by the Emperor and Crown Prince was another shadow hanging over his past years.
He had endured the harsh snow and winds of the borderlands, using his own suffering as a form of penance, resolutely guarding the borders and strong city defenses, keeping the Northern barbarians at bay.
"Fu Yu, you know I can't leave here," Li Yicheng's hair was in disarray, with a few stray strands falling on his face. He reached out to hold his wife. "If Dongli goes to war with Yanchi, the North Barbarians won't sit idly by. They will likely invade the border and aid Yanchi."
Fu Yu remained silent, observing the man before her. She had met him at the lowest point in his life and had accompanied him through the years at the border. "I understand. I can return to Luojia on my own. You don't have to accompany me. I will take care of myself and the child. Once I've recovered, I'll bring him to find you."
Fu Yu knew that her baby was too large and the conditions at the camp were limited. Many times, even drinking a hot soup was a luxury, and she couldn't give birth here. Despite her reluctance, she had to part ways with Li Yicheng and quickly return to the North Mansion in Luojia.
She clung to his neck, her arms reluctant to let go.
The stubble on Li Yicheng's chin was rough, causing her skin to ache. He embraced her tightly, his chin tensing slightly as he said hoarsely, "Fu Yu, I will miss you terribly."
*
In the afternoon, urgent military news arrived. The generals Su Yuhe of Yanchi had defeated Yanchi, reclaiming the cities of Yanwei and Jinqi that had been ceded during the previous dynasty. The Yanchi delegation would soon depart for the capital to discuss the return of the cities.
Li Wenjian read the report repeatedly, excited for most of the day. Eighteen cities in the Northern region had been regained, with the remaining sixteen cities soon to follow.
Upon returning from the Duke's mansion, Zhao Heng barely stepped into the courtyard when she heard Li Wenjian calling her name through the window, "Ah Heng."
She looked into the study and saw a man in a well-groomed ponytail, wearing a golden round-collared robe and a white jade crown. He stood at the desk, holding a pen in his hand.
"Didn't Your Highness go to the Xuanzheng Hall today?" Zhao Heng picked up her skirts and hurried over, setting down the book she held and sitting beside him.
Li Wenjian casually picked up a plate of sweet cakes and offered one to her, saying, "I've been back for a while."
Zhao Heng took a bite of the sweet cake and asked, "But I thought you didn't like sweet cakes?"
"Do you know how you looked last night when you quietly came to find something to eat?" Li Wenjian's gentle eyes always softened his features even more when he spoke gently. He couldn't help but smile, "I also know you stole a kiss from me."
Zhao Heng fidgeted with her collar, blushing slightly. She had been feeling hungrier more often since becoming pregnant, waking up last night from hunger. In the moonlight, she saw him sleeping peacefully. Perhaps it was the half-open window letting in the breeze that made Li Wenjian unconsciously furrow his brows in his sleep.
Compelled by some unknown force, she bent down and, in the moonlight, quietly placed a kiss on his cheek.
"Are you dreaming?" Zhao Heng said in a small, guilty voice, noticing the pen on the desk and changing the subject, "Before I came in, what were you writing with the pen?"
"I was choosing a name for our child." Li Wenjian beckoned her over, "Come and pick one."
Finishing the last bite of the sweet cake, Zhao Heng wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and asked, âIsn't the naming of the child handled by the Ministry of Rites?â
"The names they came up with weren't good." Li Wenjian's voice contained a hint of disdain as he held her hand and stood in front of the desk, pointing to the characters on the paper, asking her, "Which one do you like?"
Zhao Heng's fingers pinched the edge of the parchment, holding it up to the sunlight.
Looking at the words "Li An" and "Li Ping" on the letterhead, Zhao Heng's expression was somewhat complicated.
"Which is better, Ping'er or An'er?" Li Wenjian embraced her from behind.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Heng turned her head to look at him and asked, "Which do you think is better?"
Li Wenjian rested his chin on her head and smiled, "Both are good. I originally wanted to name him Ping'an, but I was afraid it would be too auspicious. I felt like I was being too greedy in the eyes of the heavens, so I compromised and chose a single character."
She was both amused and irritated by his casual attitude towards naming their child. But knowing his nervousness and awkwardness as a new father, she simply folded the paper quietly and said, "Let the Ministry of Rites come up with a few more options for the Emperor to choose from."
After a moment of contemplation, Li Wenjian smiled and said, "I should ask Father Emperor's opinion."
Zhao Heng didn't want to discuss what to name their child anymore. She hoped that he would quickly forget all the names he had come up with, and never remember them again.
Suddenly feeling queasy, she quickly turned her head and picked up a green plum from a porcelain plate, pressing it under her tongue. The sweet and sour taste spread in her mouth, easing the discomfort in her stomach.
Smiling, she asked him, "Do you prefer a son or a daughter?"
Li Wenjian beamed and turned to Zhao Heng, showing a gentle smile, "I don't like anyone else, I only like you."
Zhao Heng folded her handkerchief, lightly pressed it against her lips, and smiled, "I was asking if you want me to have a son or a daughter?"
Li Wenjian held Zhao Heng's hand and repeatedly kissed her fingertips, "Then let's have a son."
Zhao Heng blinked and looked at him.
Li Wenjian playfully tapped her belly with his curved finger and said, "When he is born, I will nurture him well, teach him the ways of serving the country and the Emperor. When he can distinguish right from wrong, understand the truth, I will tell him, being a ruler of a nation is too exhausting. If you are filial, just take the throne quickly."
"The child we raise will definitely be the most intelligent and filial, inheriting the throne early. By then, I will have plenty of time to travel with you to famous mountains and rivers, and explore the world." He leaned down and planted a light kiss on Zhao Heng's forehead, whispering softly in her ear, "Spending days you enjoy."
Listening to his words, Zhao Heng quietly touched her flat stomach, pursing her lips and smiling. Moved by his words, she found herself also hoping that the child in her womb would be a son.
After the Lantern Festival, the Emperor and Empress decided to move to the Qinzhou Palace.
The Emperor, now unconcerned with state affairs, could trust everything to Li Wenjian. After the fierce battle with the Yanchi army and sudden attacks from the Northern barbarians, he even considered abdicating in favor of Li Wenjian and becoming a hand-off retired Emperor.
He was originally a scholar, pushed by the world to his current position. In these more than ten years confined to the court, burdened by power, he has not lived happily at all.
With little time left, he wanted to spend it with his beloved wife.
Qinzhou was the place where their hearts were united, and as they grew older, they wanted to go back and visit.
"After I leave the palace, all palace matters will be entrusted to you."
The Empress asked the servant to bring a beautifully crafted box, and when Zhao Heng opened it, she was surprised to find the Empress's seal inside. She looked at the Empress in astonishment.
"The Emperor intends to build his tomb in Qinzhou. When the Emperor and I leave, we may not return for a while, so we probably won't need this item. Since there is no one in the East Palace, you can hold onto the seal for now," the Empress said with a gentle smile.
The Li family was planted with deep affection.
The Emperor had initially refused to let her enter the previous imperial harem, choosing to marry her despite the tremendous pressure of previous imperial authority.
The late Emperor was just a rural butcher, using his bare fists in defiance of the ruthless Emperor's million-strong army after his wife's death.
With Li Wenjian, he entrusted the Golden Dragon (Jinlin) Guards to Zhao Heng, his last lifeline.
Whether Li Wenjian would have someone else in the future, she didn't know and didn't want to know. The past could not be undone, and the future was too uncertain, so focusing on the present was best.
Thinking about this, she continued, "Having control of the Phoenix Seal is a simple matter. Everything has rules and regulations, following them ensures no mistakes."
"In the past, I would participate in battles and plan for the welfare of the injured soldiers, strategizing for the people during wartime. Therefore, no one in the Li family's army disobeys me, nor dares to disrespect me." The Empress remained composed, with a resilient gaze that spoke of her enduring hardships: "They say that An women are blessed with good fortune, even marrying into a humble family, I still became Empress."
She chuckled softly, "I don't like how they put it, as if I only have everything today because of him. They say my fortune is good, but they don't know that as long as someone marries me, I have the ability to place them in the highest position.
Without me, the Li family is just rural villagers; but without the Li family, I can still be Empress."
"The Emperor and I have respected and loved each other for over a decade. What continues our relationship is not my appearance or background, which may attract his attention momentarily but can't make him love you for a lifetime. You were educated by my father, a renowned scholar far and wide. It would be a pity if you limit your perspective to the harem."
Listening to the Empress's profound advice, Zhao Heng lifted her eyes and gazed at her.
She understood the Empress's meaning - there is no eternal love in this world.
The Crown Prince is the most noble man in the world, with the burden of the people on his shoulders and the vast land and rivers before his eyes.
Despite his words of wanting to travel the world with her in the future, before the beautiful fantasies come true, they still have numerous days and nights to spend together.
What will support those countless dull and mundane days and nights?
She suddenly understood the deep meaning behind the Crown Prince's request for the old Duke to teach her.
Zhao Heng kneeled in a respectful bow and said solemnly, "Your child follows your command."
The Empress nodded with a smile, "I will leave Tingyun here. If you have any uncertainties, you can ask her."
With that said, the path that Zhao Heng would take in the future remained unknown to the Empress. Each child has their own destiny, and they have their own world.
Excessive love without boundaries and limits might not be good for anyone.
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