During the march, Yin Gezhi divided his army into sixteen camps, advancing without rest. Within half a month, they reached the northwestern border. Just after passing the checkpoint, he received an invitation from Ye Yuqing.
“To the ruler of Wei: After your tiresome journey, Yuqing and Wangrou have prepared modest wine at the Laifeng Inn below Chongnan Mountain to help wash away the dust of travel. We respectfully await Your Majesty’s arrival around the hour of You.”
Wangrou?
His gaze circled these two characters, and Yin Gezhi smiled lightly, thinking that Ye Yuqing deliberately added this name to coerce him into coming. How could a mere woman, who had no connection to him except perhaps concerning Fengyue, be used as leverage?
He casually crumpled the letter and tossed it into the fire basin. Yin Gezhi called out: “Niu Zicang!”
“Your servant is here.” Someone outside heard and entered, sweating profusely despite the winter cold, trembling as he looked at him.
Originally intending to have him deliver a response, but seeing his state, Yin Gezhi narrowed his eyes: “Has something happened?”
“No… nothing has happened.” He shook his head repeatedly. Niu Zicang swallowed and said: “Your servant has just finished counting all the people under your… your command.”
“Hmm?” Sensing something amiss, Yin Gezhi grabbed his collar and stared at him fiercely: “Tell the truth, what exactly happened!”
His legs gave way. Niu Zicang fell to his knees with a “clang” and stammered: “Your servant… your servant was just too surprised that Guan Qing has also returned to your side.”
Guan Qing? Looking at him with confusion, Yin Gezhi couldn’t react for a moment. Wasn’t Guan Qing Guan Qingyue? And wasn’t Guan Qingyue Fengyue? Fengyue should be safely expecting a child in Lidu, so what did he mean by “returned to his side”?
His eyeballs moved stiffly. Yin Gezhi asked: “You saw her?”
“I… I did.” Niu Zicang lowered his head: “But somehow her belly is big, looks quite frightening…”
Before he could finish speaking, the emperor before him vanished in a flash. The tent curtain flew up high, letting in the cold wind from outside, making him shiver.
Without having to search personally, as soon as Yin Gezhi left the tent, he saw Guanzhi kneeling before him, who rushed to grab his legs upon seeing him, crying desperately: “Master! Your servant had no choice! The Empress threatened with her life, your servant truly had no option but to dare keep this from Master! Master, please listen to my explanation, don’t get excited first!”
Kicking him away, Yin Gezhi narrowed his eyes at the person standing before him in armor, grinding his teeth: “Guan! Feng! Yue!”
“Hee hee hee.” Showing him a fawning smile, Fengyue held her belly while looking at him, blinking as she asked: “Does your humble wife look good in this outfit? It’s the lightest and most sturdy soft armor!”
The red undergarments paired with white armor made her look valiant despite her pregnant belly. Under the high-tied male hairstyle was a face without makeup, the sight making his heart skip a beat.
This wasn’t Fengyue, this was Guan Qingyue.
Steadying himself, Yin Gezhi remained furious: “You think dressing up prettily means I won’t be angry?!”
Not to mention this was the harsh border region, but just the half-month journey, eating and sleeping rough – how dare she?!
“Calm down, calm down. Your Majesty, your humble wife isn’t as fragile as you think.” Running over to soothe him, Fengyue blinked and said: “Before leaving, your humble wife asked the Imperial Physician. He said the child won’t be born until summer, it’s still early. He also said that your humble wife is in good health, the pregnancy is stable, and traveling won’t be an issue. Besides, Guanzhi has been watching your humble wife closely the whole way, and we’ve had doctors check at every town we passed through. There’s no problem, if you don’t believe me, feel it!”
As she spoke, she grabbed his hand and placed it on her belly.
Fengyue thought this way: her belly could serve as protection. Even if Yin Gezhi was furious enough to punish her, he’d have to feel the belly first and think it through carefully, right?
However, as soon as his hand touched, before she could let him feel the child’s movement, his trembling hand startled her.
Yin Gezhi lowered his gaze, looking deeply at her belly, his hand shaking severely.
The surroundings fell silent for a moment. Fengyue’s heart softened, and she struggled to reach out and embrace him. Patting his back, she softly comforted: “It’s alright now, it’s alright. I’m fine, and the child is fine too.”
Guanzhi quietly squatted to the side wiping his sweat, thinking that his master truly had it rough – in his twenty-some years of life, he’d probably never been scared this badly before.
When Niu Zicang lifted the curtain to come out, he saw Guan Qing standing on tiptoes embracing the emperor, the tall emperor slightly bent over with his head buried in her neck, while Guan Qing gently patted him, muttering: “There, there, don’t be scared!”
As if struck by lightning from the clear sky, Niu Zicang stared in bewilderment: “This… Your Majesty?”
Coming to his senses, Yin Gezhi disdainfully pulled Fengyue away, coldly turning to look at him: “What?”
“…Nothing.” Seeing his displeased expression, Niu Zicang shrank his neck and asked: “Is there anything else your servant needs to do?”
He wanted to ask why Guan Qing had become a woman. And was pregnant? Why could this pregnant woman embrace the emperor this way? Why did the emperor’s expression seem gentle just now but turned fierce in an instant?
However, under the emperor’s cold gaze, all these questions were swallowed back into his belly.
“Send someone to Chongnan Mountain to respond to the Prince of Wu. Tell him I need to continue marching forward to meet with General Yin, so I won’t be stopping.” Commanding in a deep voice, Yin Gezhi grabbed him and added in a low voice: “Have the first six camps break camp at nightfall and continue moving beyond the border, the remaining forces will stay put.”
Slightly startled, Niu Zicang asked: “Will you be departing?”
“You’ll depart in my place.” Placing the military tally in his hand, Yin Gezhi said: “Go handle it immediately.”
Years of following had built some tacit understanding, so Niu Zicang didn’t ask further and turned to carry out the orders.
Fengyue frowned: “You’re traveling in secret, yet Ye Yuqing knows you’ve arrived?”
Pulling her into the tent and letting her warm up by the fire basin, Yin Gezhi said: “No wall is without cracks.”
With such a large movement, he never expected to keep it from Ye Yuqing, so receiving his invitation wasn’t surprising. However, what came next would truly be a battle of wits. Having this bold Guan Fengyue by his side made him feel more at ease than before, and his mind also became clearer. He immediately called a soldier in: “Go to the nearby town to find a doctor and get pregnancy-stabilizing medicine. When we break camp later, bring the medicine pot along.”
“Yes.”
Fengyue raised an eyebrow, thought for a moment, and shook her head: “How cunning!”
“You can’t use derogatory terms for your husband.” Lifting his eyelids, Yin Gezhi glanced at her indifferently: “Say it again.”
A smile immediately appeared on her face. Fengyue exclaimed admiringly: “Your Majesty is truly wise!”
Nodding proudly, Yin Gezhi was very satisfied, handed her hot tea, and reached out to warm her cold-reddened face.
At the foot of Chongnan Mountain.
Wangrou looked at the empty path outside the window, lowering her eyes: “The hour of You has passed. No one came.”
Leisurely looking at the book in his hand, Ye Yuqing said while turning the pages: “You’re really useless.”
Though he said this, he didn’t expect Yin Gezhi to be foolish enough to come dine with him at this time. The invitation was meant to frighten him – he knew all the news that Yin Gezhi had tried so hard to conceal. Such a clever person, knowing his plans had leaked, must have had an interesting expression.
As for why he added Wangrou’s name, that was on a whim, wanting to tease her a bit.
Since her miscarriage, Wangrou hadn’t been as lively as before. Always silent, no one knew what she was thinking. He had favored her plenty afterward, even said he forgave her, not holding her mistake of letting Duanxian escape against her, yet still couldn’t get her to smile.
Ye Yuqing was somewhat angry – he wasn’t holding it against her anymore, yet didn’t know what she was still angry about. So this time bringing her out, he had been frightening her along the way, saying he would use her to exchange things with Wei.
Actually, what could a mere palace maid be exchanged for?
“Your Highness!” A scout came to report: “Word from Wei’s side says the Wei ruler is in a hurry to continue the journey and won’t attend the banquet. Also, it seems the Wei Empress’s whereabouts have been discovered in the military camp.”
Fengyue? Slightly startled, Ye Yuqing closed his book and sat up straight: “Isn’t she pregnant? How could she be in the military camp?”
“Your servant doesn’t know, but Wei’s army has already sent people to nearby towns to summon doctors.”
Finally showing some ripples in her eyes, Wangrou frowned and muttered: “Her belly should be quite big by now, how could she stay in a military camp? What if something happens to the pregnancy…”
“Is Wangrou very worried?” Smiling slightly, Ye Yuqing said gently: “If you beg this prince, perhaps I could let you go see her.”
Her body stiffened, and after thinking, Wangrou knelt before him: “This slave begs Your Highness to let me see the Wei Empress once.”
Her child was gone, so seeing someone else’s would be nice too. Even though it hasn’t been born yet, being able to touch would be good.
Looking at her askance, Ye Yuqing covered his mouth and laughed: “If you want to go so much, then go. This prince will have Feng Chuang take you.”
“Thank you, Your Highness!” Giving him a grateful look, Wangrou immediately followed Feng Chuang outside.
After the doctor came to check and confirmed that both mother and child were indeed safe, Fengyue rolled over on Yin Gezhi’s soft couch: “Now are you relieved?”
Pressing her down on the bed with one hand, Yin Gezhi said: “Stay still, don’t roll around.”
Batting her eyes at him coquettishly, Fengyue sighed: “When you used to look down on your humble wife so much, you surely never imagined there would be such a day.”
These words made Yin Gezhi’s expression difficult, yet he could do nothing about her. Indeed, he hadn’t imagined such a day, had he? If he had known, he definitely wouldn’t have committed such sins.
“Master,” Guanzhi said outside, “The guards outside say Wu’s army has sent a young lady over, named Wangrou, requesting to see the Empress.”
He Chou is still alive? Her eyes brightened, and Fengyue immediately sat up: “Let her in!”
Yin Gezhi gave an “mm,” and Guanzhi bowed and went to bring the person in.
The curtain lifted, and Yin Gezhi casually protected the person beside him behind his back, raising his eyes to look at the visitor.