The main battlefield victory of the Liang and Chen camps at Xiangzhou forced Pei Song’s remaining troops to continue retreating north.

When Wen Yu heard that Gu Xiyun had been injured in this battle, on her return journey she made a detour to Xiangzhou to see her, and there received news of Wei Qishan’s passing.

She looked through the reports sent from the northern border in the warm chamber. Li Xun and several other strategists stood below, saying, “After the Marquis of Shuobian’s death, the former Jin princess that North Wei supports has posthumously conferred upon him the title of Duke Weiguo of former Jin. Also following his deathbed will, she has enfeoffed his adopted son as North Wei’s new lord.”

Fearing Wen Yu would be saddened, he didn’t dare directly mention Xiao Li’s name. When saying this last sentence, he even more carefully raised his eyes to look at Wen Yu sitting above, but saw she only calmly turned through the reports, seeming to have no great reaction to this.

A strategist beside him said, “It’s heard that Wei Qishan had long since handed the Wolf Cavalry to this son. Whether North Wei’s title or military authority, he actually left nothing to his own blood son—quite strange indeed.”

Another strategist said, “This son is fierce and brave. Though his time in the northern border was short, he has already established illustrious military merit and has always had prestige in the northern border. After Wei Qishan led troops south and Mount Yanle was attacked with Liao Jiang’s death, it was he who turned the tide and drove the invading barbarians back out. That old fox Wei Qishan was deeply calculating—having his blood son marry that former Jin princess North Wei pushed forward, foolishly dreaming of contending for the realm. Then in the future, that piece of North Wei territory would have to be separately enfeoffed…”

Speaking to this point, he couldn’t help shaking his head, “Seeing his northern border declining, Your Highness generously fought for two cities for nothing in exchange for this son’s return. They swore to us that as long as this son was willing to return to the Liang camp, they would release him. Then they turned around and directly granted this son the position of North Wei’s new lord! Cunning! Truly cunning!”

With him explaining it this way, the strategist who had asked earlier couldn’t help but see the light—no wonder Wei Qishan was willing to offer such great benefits. It was to compete with them for this fierce general.

The reason Xiao Li was unwilling to return to the Liang camp was also obvious.

The benefits Wen Yu could offer might not necessarily surpass Wei Qishan’s.

Moreover, though he had formerly been in their Liang camp, he had left long ago and currently had no foundation. Returning now, even if occupying a high position, without his own people below, his grip on power would not be as solid as in North Wei.

A strategist who didn’t know Xiao Li’s past in the Liang camp denounced, “In my view, this son is merely someone who clings to power and influence. He betrayed and left our Liang camp. Your Highness, mindful of his merit in not exposing her identity previously and knowing he was trapped, disregarding past grievances wished to exchange him back. Yet he again stayed in the Wei camp for greater benefits…”

He was bringing up exactly the wrong topic!

Li Xun’s expression immediately changed as he interrupted, “When General Xiao initially left the Liang camp, there were some misunderstandings involved.”

Having said this, he quickly changed the subject to ask Wen Yu, “Your Highness, with the northern border holding mourning rites, should we send someone to go?”

That misunderstanding from back then, with Li Yao’s death, had almost become an unsolvable deadlock.

This couldn’t be blamed on Xiao Li, yet couldn’t be blamed on Wen Yu either.

Ultimately, it was fate playing tricks.

Li Xun had already been Wen Yu’s close minister in Pingzhou and had personally witnessed how this misunderstanding was born, so he naturally understood how uncomfortable Wen Yu felt about it.

Now that Xiao Li clearly had no hope of returning to the Liang camp, when he brought up this matter before Wen Yu, he became even more cautious.

Yet from beginning to end, Wen Yu appeared exceptionally calm. She closed the report and said, “His Wei clan is no longer my minister of Liang. With the one aid to Luodu, the Majialiang incident from the past is also settled. Considering there’s still an alliance to jointly attack Luodu at present, have General Fan’s side send someone to offer incense.”

Li Xun clasped his hands and acknowledged.

Wen Yu methodically asked about some other matters. After consulting with the strategists to establish procedures for matters requiring her deliberation and decision, she had everyone withdraw.

When she went to the side room to keep company with Gu Xiyun, who had injured her leg and was temporarily unable to walk well, she frequently lost focus.

Gu Xiyun was telling her about her battle with Han Qi on the day they fought for Xiangzhou, “That Han clan boy was provoked out by battle challenges to cross weapons with me. Wielding that silver spear he looked imposing, but after fighting me for dozens of rounds, his expression repeatedly changed. If not for my physical exhaustion and that Tyrant Lance in my hands being too heavy, how would I have been tripped and fallen off my horse together with him…”

She gestured describing the situation of the battle then. Speaking to this point she was still somewhat indignant. Not hearing Wen Yu make a sound, she turned her head somewhat puzzled and called, “A Yu?”

When there were no outsiders, she still called Wen Yu by her childhood name as in the inner chambers before.

Wen Yu, coming back to her senses, gave an “Mm” and raised her eyes to look at Gu Xiyun, saying, “You speak, I’m listening.”

Gu Xiyun frowned and asked, “What’s wrong with you?”

Her appearance was truly somewhat off.

Wen Yu only gently shook her head, saying, “Nothing.”

Gu Xiyun looked at her, pressing her lips slightly tighter together, saying earnestly, “A Yu, now you are the princess commanding two kingdoms. Many matters of governance—perhaps I can’t help with them all, nor can I share your worries. But as long as you need it, I’m always here.”

Under her good friend’s gaze, Wen Yu steadied herself for a while. As if too tired, that warm and composed appearance she always showed before others cracked, her eyes revealing faint sorrow as she said, “I just… suddenly feel somewhat sad.”

Gu Xiyun was stunned and asked, “What happened?”

Wen Yu again gently shook her head, slightly bitterly curving the corners of her lips, only saying, “Swept along by this chaotic world’s torrents, the common people of the realm have no right to choose. Neither do I.”

Gu Xiyun sighed, her expression also dimming somewhat as she said, “The burden on your shoulders is too heavy.”

Weariness showed through Wen Yu’s serene expression, but after this moment of vulnerable release, her eyes had already become resolute again. She was about to say something more when a woman’s inquiring voice suddenly came from outside the side room door, “Is the Commandant awake? I’ve stewed some soup to bring over.”

Wen Yu felt that voice was somewhat familiar. She slightly restrained her facial emotions and looked toward Gu Xiyun.

Gu Xiyun said, “It’s Lady Chen. Learning that Minister Chen must coordinate the entire northward campaign strategy and cannot return to Pingzhou for New Year, she came to the army to visit. She also brought hometown yuanxiao for the soldiers so they could have a good New Year in the army. Hearing I injured my leg, these past days she’s been constantly changing methods to help stew nourishing soups for me.”

Speaking to this point, she felt somewhat melancholic as she patted her cheeks, “Each time she stews such a huge portion. If I don’t finish it, I feel I’m wasting her heartfelt intention. Look at my face—I’ve drunk it round!”

Wen Yu was tickled and couldn’t help smiling. The gloom from before mostly dispersed.

Before long, Tong Que guarding in the outer room knocked to announce. After receiving Wen Yu’s permission, Lady Chen entered carrying a food box. A woman servant who came in together with her was also holding a baby girl.

Lady Chen curtsied to Wen Yu, saying with a smile, “Not knowing Your Highness was also here, this subject’s wife has presumptiously disturbed you.”

Wen Yu had Tong Que offer Lady Chen a seat, saying, “This Palace also saw battle reports on the return journey and learned Xi Yun was injured, only then made a detour. Hearing that during the time Xi Yun has been injured, it was you, Madam, who made soups to care for her—this has troubled you.”

Lady Chen quickly said she dared not, also saying, “This subject’s wife came rashly—as long as it hasn’t added chaos to the army, that’s good.”

Wen Yu said, “Madam is too modest. Before the festival, Madam sent yuanxiao to the soldiers, boosting morale and greatly inspiring the troops. This Palace should properly reward Madam later.”

The two exchanged more courteous words. She noticed the baby girl being held by the servant beside Lady Chen and asked, “This is…”

Lady Chen said, “It’s said to be a child brought back by a guard beside Nephew Zhou, whom Nephew Zhou has taken as an adopted daughter. But he has no serving maids or women at his side. A group of rough guards—how would they know how to care for a child? So I’ve been helping care for her. Yesterday seeing the Commandant was bored, I said I’d bring the child over today to amuse her.”

Gu Xiyun clearly knew the baby girl’s origins and took up the conversation, “Speaking of which, this child is also fated to be connected with Your Highness. I heard Guard Cen beside Young Minister Zhou say this child was originally saved by you in Tongcheng—an orphaned child left by the married-out daughter of the Luodu Feng family.”

With her saying it this way, Wen Yu had an impression. She beckoned for the servant holding the child to come forward. Taking the baby girl who had grown much compared to over half a year ago, she played with her saying, “So it’s that child. What about the couple who adopted her?”

Though they had been rushed when escaping Tongcheng that day, they had still found a family with substantial means whose character also had a good reputation locally to adopt her.

Gu Xiyun said, “Guard Cen said after they settled in Pingzhou, following your instructions they went to seek out the family who had initially adopted this child. Who would have expected that because of their substantial means, that household was targeted by mountain bandits within Tongzhou’s borders. When they went looking, that household had already been slaughtered without even chickens or dogs remaining. Only the household’s mistress had escaped calamity because she was visiting her maiden home with the child. But many townspeople gossiped, saying this child was a disaster star. That family had adopted this child, which led to such an outcome. The woman’s maiden family wanted her to remarry and were also unhappy about her bringing a child unrelated by blood. That’s why Guard Cen brought the child back.”

Wen Yu remembered that before going to South Chen for the alliance marriage, she had indeed had Cen An and the others go find the household that adopted the Feng family woman’s orphaned child. Thinking that with warfare starting and the situation chaotic, it would be good to either bring them to Pingzhou or give them some money to treat the child better.

But Cen An had later returned to Zhou Sui’s side, no longer belonging to the Qingyun Guards. The reports delivered from Pingzhou to her hands were all important matters concerning the north-south war situation, so she truly hadn’t known that the Feng family woman’s child had been brought back after going in circles.

She gently tapped the baby girl’s chubby little hand with her index finger, saying with pity, “Truly an ill-fated child…”

The child wasn’t afraid of strangers either. Seeing Wen Yu tapping her soft plump palm, she simply closed her chubby fingers and grasped that finger of Wen Yu’s, giggling continuously at her.

Seeing this, Wen Yu’s heart softened several degrees more. Lady Chen beside her also smiled, “This child seems to know Your Highness is her benefactor—she’s so happy seeing you!”

Perhaps seeing this child was lovely and knowing her background, thinking to help find her another relative, Lady Chen thought and said, “It’s heard the Feng family woman married to Qinghe years ago. Her husband’s family should be the Qinghe Ruan clan. Has the Ruan family never sought this child?”

Speaking of this matter, Gu Xiyun became somewhat angry again, saying, “Don’t mention it. If the Ruan family were willing to acknowledge this child, would there still be a need for Young Minister Zhou to take this child as an adopted daughter and bring her along? After the Majialiang battle, that Pei traitor threw who knows how much dirty water on our Liang camp and Your Highness. When Young Minister Zhou went to various academies to persuade students and teachers, passing through Qinghe, he also wanted to send this child back to the Ruan family. But the Ruan family directly closed their doors and refused to see him, also saying something about how their young master had long since divorced the Feng family woman and was now about to take a second wife, telling Young Minister Zhou not to bring this child to disturb them again.”

Lady Chen’s heart clenched hearing this. Looking again at the baby girl held by Wen Yu, she couldn’t help but feel full of pity, saying, “Under heaven there are actually such cruel families who won’t even acknowledge their own flesh and blood?”

Wen Yu played with the tiny soft bundle of an infant in her arms without speaking. Back when the Feng family woman had traveled south alone with her daughter to flee disaster, she had guessed it must be that her husband’s family feared Pei Song’s power, which forced the Feng family woman to take her daughter and leave alone.

So when leaving the city, when the Feng family woman entrusted the child to her in her final moments, she had only promised to find a good family to adopt the child, not to send her back to her husband’s family.

Gu Xiyun followed Lady Chen in cursing many words about the Ruan family’s heartlessness and cruelty, cursing until her throat went dry before stopping, entreating the woman servant beside Lady Chen to pour her a cup of tea to moisten her throat.

Lady Chen said with amusement, “Just focused on talking, I forgot to have you drink this pig trotter soup I stewed today. I stewed it for a full two hours. Try it…”

As she spoke, she lifted the lid and took a white porcelain small bowl, about to serve a bowl for Gu Xiyun.

Wen Yu sat to the side holding the child. Smelling the scent, her heart inexplicably felt nauseated, almost dry heaving.

The woman servant beside her, thinking she felt unwell, quickly took the child from her hands.

Hearing the sound, Zhao Bai and Tong Que had also rushed to her side, one on each side supporting her arms and helping pat her back to ease her breathing.

Lady Chen said with concern, “Are you alright, Your Highness? Should we call for a physician to examine you?”

Gu Xiyun held the soup bowl, nodding like a pecking chicken, “I see Your Highness’s complexion isn’t too good. A physician really should be called to properly regulate your body.”

After Wen Yu recovered from that wave of nausea, she said, “Perhaps I was blown by wind while in the carriage and caught a cold. Later I’ll have the physician prescribe some medicine and that will be fine.”

But Gu Xiyun and Lady Chen wouldn’t allow her to continue staying here and urged her to go back and rest.

As soon as she returned to her own courtyard, Zhao Bai quickly summoned the female physician among the Qingyun Guards to take Wen Yu’s pulse.

After examining her pulse, the other party’s brow furrowed tighter and tighter, her expression half puzzled and half alarmed.

Seeing this, Zhao Bai urgently asked, “How is Your Highness’s health?”

Wen Yu gazed calmly at that medically skilled Qingyun Guard. When she had first arrived at Pingzhou, her health hadn’t been very good, but since she began setting aside an hour daily to practice some body-strengthening martial arts techniques with Zhao Bai, even headaches and fevers had become rare.

On this northern journey, aside from that time she was attacked by hunting dogs and fell into Xiao Li’s hands, she also hadn’t caught cold again.

Could it be that recently, from excessive worry and anxiety, she had fallen ill again?

That Qingyun Guard didn’t dare answer directly. Wiping the sweat on her hands on her clothes, she said, “This servant’s medical skills are not proficient. This servant earnestly requests Your Highness allow this servant to take the pulse again.”

Hearing this, Zhao Bai and Tong Que, worried about Wen Yu’s health, showed somewhat unpleasant expressions.

Only Wen Yu’s expression remained peaceful as before. She gave that Qingyun Guard a slight nod of permission.

The other party placed her three fingers on Wen Yu’s wrist again.

This time taking the pulse, the atmosphere in the entire room was even more tense. Everyone could almost be said to be holding their breath in silence.

But that Qingyun Guard’s brow clearly furrowed even tighter, seeming quite at a loss for a moment.

Zhao Bai demanded, “How is it?”

That Qingyun Guard looked at Zhao Bai, then looked at Wen Yu, and directly bowed her head and knelt down, “This servant’s skills are inadequate.”

Before Zhao Bai could lose her temper, Wen Yu said, “Just say what pulse condition you detected.”

Only then did that Qingyun Guard say hesitantly, “Your Highness’s pulse is smooth and flowing, like… like pearls rolling on a jade plate. This… this is a slippery pulse!”

As the words fell, the entire room sank into deathly silence.

Both Zhao Bai and Tong Que were shocked, except that after Zhao Bai’s shock, she quickly became angry, while Tong Que remained in bewilderment and shock for a long time.

The most composed was Wen Yu.

She said, “Lock down the information. Before returning to South Chen, don’t let anyone know about this matter.”

Zhao Bai said painfully, “Then after you return to South Chen…”

Wen Yu said calmly, “My being pregnant when returning to South Chen is a good thing.”

Zhao Bai thought of the conditions Empress Dowager Jiang had set for Wen Yu to become South Chen’s Regent Princess Imperial, and somewhat awkwardly lowered her head without saying more.

Jiang Yu was already dead, and Empress Dowager Jiang had once required Wen Yu to bear a child together with Jiang Yu.

Then if Wen Yu returned to South Chen with a pregnancy, saying the child was Jiang Yu’s, it would become a case with no testimony to refute since the dead cannot speak.

Moreover, when Wen Yu initially fell into the Wei camp’s hands, she had posed as Jiang Yu’s pregnant concubine. To a certain extent, this could also deceive the Empress Dowager and the Jiang family.

Even if they would have doubts, they also had no way to definitively determine the child was certainly not Jiang Yu’s.

After exiting the room, Zhao Bai instructed that Qingyun Guard female physician to find a way to obtain pregnancy-stabilizing medicine for Wen Yu. After the other party acknowledged and left, Tong Que, whose face still showed she hadn’t recovered from her shock, stammered in a small voice asking, “Your… Your Highness’s child in her belly is… is whose?”

Zhao Bai’s expression instantly became frighteningly cold.