After that, there were no more legends of the Bloody Pagoda or the Three Desolate States in the northern wilderness.

But from then on, perhaps the tales of Xu Suqing and those chivalrous heroes of the jianghu would begin to circulate through the Central Plains.

No one in the Central Plains would ever know that they had once been the ruthless, murderous bandits known as the Bloody Pagoda, who ran rampant through the northern wilderness.

People would only know them as men who had been persecuted by the Chu court, carrying unjust grievances, with no choice but to flee to the frontier — and who then poured out every last drop of their blood on the battlefield, fighting to resist foreign invaders. They died defending the Central Plains.

They would become heroes. They would become models for the jianghu of the Central Plains. And in all likelihood, they would become legends.

Before they died, Gao Wukan had probably foreseen that this would be how things turned out — which was likely why he had told Xu Suqing that this time, they had truly come out ahead.

Their deaths weren’t particularly tragic — not to themselves, at least. And whether others found it tragic or not hardly mattered anymore.

To die in that wooden tower had been their final wish.

Li Chi ordered his men to bury the two bodies, and tore apart some of the wooden tower to build two coffins from it.

“This way… they’ll sleep inside their tower forever.”

Yu Jiuling murmured to himself as he watched the two coffins being lowered into the ground. His tone was not heavy — perhaps he had already felt the peace those two had found in letting go.

A moment later, he walked over to the freshly dug graves and gently knocked on each of the two coffins, as though reminding them of something.

“You must remember — though you died in the northern wilderness, when you’re reborn, you must come back to our Central Plains. When you enter your next life, take a look at the Great Ning. You won’t face injustice there anymore… don’t forget the way home.”

The coffins slowly sank into the earth, and the sandy northern soil fell over them — like the final brushstrokes of color being painted over these two lives.

“There were many people like them.”

Li Chi exhaled slowly and turned to walk back.

“The Chu court brought suffering to far too many people — especially during the time of the Grand Eunuch Liu Chongxin. Countless jianghu men were persecuted, wrongly accused, even killed.”

As he walked, Li Chi said, “Ninth Sister, when we return, remind Us to issue an imperial decree ordering all local governments to carefully investigate — how many jianghu people were framed and wronged. Those who can be helped should be helped, and those whose reputations can be restored must have them restored.”

Yu Jiuling nodded vigorously. “This subject will remember.”

He told himself he had to remember — because it wasn’t just the grievances of countless people. It was also the future of countless people.

Dantai Yajing called out from behind: “Your Majesty, what should we do with the head of Kuoke Diyelan?”

Li Chi said, “Seal it with quicklime — don’t let it rot. After we take White Mountain, send the head back to the Black Martial people. And remember — tell them not to thank Us.”

Dantai Yajing grinned. “Understood.”

Returning to his quarters, Li Chi glanced over at Gao Xining, who was dozing in a chair, and draped his own cloak over her.

Gao Xining startled awake immediately and moved to rise. Li Chi bent down and scooped her up, carrying her to the bed.

“You’re this tired — there’s no need to wait up for me. You’ve been working too hard these past few days. Get some proper rest.”

Li Chi sat on the edge of her bed and reached out to gently tuck a strand of hair back from her face. “I told you long ago not to follow me out to the northern wilderness. The climate here is cold, and everything is exhausting.”

Gao Xining said, “With a scatterbrain like me, if I didn’t have something to wait and tell you about, I’d have burrowed under the covers and been fast asleep long ago.”

Li Chi: “What’s so important that you had to wait up for me?”

Gao Xining lowered her voice. “I feel like something’s off with me.”

Li Chi: “What do you mean, off?”

As he asked, Li Chi was visibly tense — even the look in his eyes had shifted.

Gao Xining said, “I’ve noticed that lately I’ve been eating much more than usual. And whenever I see food, I feel a craving.”

Li Chi: “That’s…”

Gao Xining: “Don’t you think so?”

Li Chi said, “I think you might just be exhausted — so exhausted that your memory of how you normally are is getting fuzzy. Could it be you’ve forgotten that you’ve always been someone who craves food at the sight of it?”

Gao Xining: “By the power of the sacred decree, begone!”

Li Chi: “Alright, alright, alright — let’s have a proper conversation. Please don’t start throwing spiritual powers around…”

Gao Xining laughed. “No, truly — I’m craving things more than before. Even if I see someone eating a plain steamed bun with pickled vegetables, I immediately want some for myself.”

Li Chi fell silent for a moment, then suddenly shot to his feet. “You couldn’t be… could you be… pregnant?”

Gao Xining: “That’s impossible. Auntie Wu always said that women who are pregnant feel terrible — the sight of food makes them want to vomit.”

Li Chi: “It’s not like that for everyone. Some women do get that way after conceiving — they can’t look at food, they’re nauseous all the time. But there are also women like you — after they conceive, they become ravenously hungry, their appetite blooms, and they want to eat everything in sight.”

Gao Xining: “Really…?”

She sat bolt upright, her eyes beginning to shine. “Could I actually be pregnant?!”

Li Chi: “What else would explain it… Wait. Just now — what did you think was wrong with you? When you said you felt ‘off’ — what did you have in mind?”

Gao Xining: “I thought… I thought that because I’d been spending so much time with the divine eagle, I was being influenced by it.”

Li Chi: “Pfft! I’ve spent even more time with you than the eagle has.”

Gao Xining: “Same thing, really… and yet not quite. The eagle eats less than you.”

Li Chi: “……”

He extended his hand. “Let me check your pulse.”

Gao Xining: “You know how to do that?”

Without waiting for Li Chi to answer, Gao Xining suddenly seemed to realize something, and stared straight into his eyes. “Why do you know more about what happens to women when they’re pregnant than I do — a woman myself?”

Li Chi sighed softly and then said with great sincerity, “There are two reasons.”

Gao Xining: “Tell me the first.”

Li Chi said: “First — when I was young, traveling the jianghu with my master, making money wasn’t easy, so we had to know a little of everything. My old master had dabbled somewhat in women’s ailments… Back in those days, his medical reputation wasn’t small across the seven counties of the northern frontier. Otherwise, do you really think that just because of our two tattered Daoist robes, even bandits and ruffians would hold back from killing us when they heard the name ‘Bushy Brow Daoist’?”

Gao Xining: “Tell me the second.”

Li Chi said: “Second… second is that I used to assist my master… as his helper…”

Gao Xining: “Hmph! Nonsense!”

She held out her hand. “Come then. Check my pulse.”

Li Chi made a sound of acknowledgment, and in an impressively convincing manner pressed his fingers to Gao Xining’s wrist for quite a long while — before sighing again.

Gao Xining instantly tensed. “What is it?”

Li Chi said, “We — don’t know how to do this.”

Gao Xining: “……”

Of course the imperial physicians had accompanied the army. Li Chi quickly sent someone to bring them to check Gao Xining’s pulse.

This was a big deal — a monumental big deal. The moment word spread that the Empress might be with child, even the imperial physicians became enormously anxious.

For them, this was also a tremendous test. If they said anything wrong, it would be no laughing matter.

Three imperial physicians took turns checking Gao Xining’s pulse, asking careful questions, and then huddled together, muttering among themselves for a very long time.

Li Chi was beginning to grow impatient, but he didn’t want to interrupt them in the middle of their consultation, so he forced himself to wait.

At last, the three physicians finished their deliberations. All three walked up to Li Chi, lifted their robes, and knelt.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty. The Empress’s pulse is indeed a pulse of joy.”

Li Chi had of course been hoping for this answer — but now that it had reached his ears, he found himself somewhat stunned.

The lead physician, noticing Li Chi’s reaction, carefully added another sentence: “Your Majesty — the Empress is with child.”

Only then did Li Chi come back to himself. He looked over at Gao Xining, and the first words out of his mouth were: “We are quite something, aren’t We?”

Gao Xining was startled, and quickly instructed her handmaids to give each of the three physicians a reward, then reminded them in no uncertain terms that what His Majesty had just said was not to be repeated to anyone.

The three imperial physicians accepted the Empress’s reward with endless expressions of gratitude, and left — visibly relieved as well, walking with a noticeably lighter step.

Meanwhile Li Chi still appeared to be in a daze — except that his face was contorting with barely contained excitement, and his large eyes looked as though they were about to shoot beams of light.

The three physicians stepped out the door. The lead one — already in his sixties — walked along with the others, lowering his voice to murmur: “His Majesty really is still young.”

The middle-aged physician among them nodded. “Quite so. His Majesty is of course young — vigorous and full of vitality…”

The old physician glanced at him, then nodded and said yes, yes, quite right.

But what the old man was actually thinking was: *You’re a physician too, so surely you understand — conceiving a child has very little to do with being vigorous. Even someone not quite so vigorous, well, cough cough — even someone not vigorous can manage it…*

But would he dare say that out loud?

Of course he wouldn’t.

Did the middle-aged physician genuinely not know?

Of course he knew.

Two hours later, with darkness fallen, Li Chi strolled leisurely to the entrance of Tang Pidi’s military tent, hands clasped behind his back.

He peered inside and saw Tang Pidi standing before a map, deep in thought, with Shen Shanhu standing behind him, also studying the map.

The two exchanged words occasionally — clearly discussing how to proceed with the assault on White Mountain.

Li Chi gave a light cough or two, then strolled into the tent with his hands still behind his back. Tang Pidi and Shen Shanhu saw the Emperor arrive and quickly bowed.

Li Chi waved it off. “No need, no need — we’re all family here, no need for so many formalities. We just had nothing to do and felt like taking a walk. Mm, just… a walk.”

Tang Pidi looked at Li Chi’s expression, then smiled and said, “Your Majesty doesn’t look like someone who just felt like a walk. You look radiant with joy — is there good news you’d like to share with this subject?”

Li Chi slapped his forehead. “Aiya, you see — is it really that obvious on Our face? Are We truly as radiant with joy as you say?”

Tang Pidi: “It’s not that obvious, actually. If I’ve guessed wrong, Your Majesty need not tell me.”

“Right, right, exactly right! You’re the Grand General — with your discerning eye, how could you possibly be wrong?”

Li Chi paced the room, hands still clasped behind his back. “It’s just — you know that wager we mentioned before? You’re eight out of ten — no — ten out of ten certain to be behind for a while. Heh heh — ha ha — ha ha ha ha…”

Li Chi looked at Tang Pidi. “Alright, I won’t interrupt your husband-and-wife military deliberations any further. We’ll just continue Our little walk.”

And as he walked away, he muttered seemingly to himself: “It’s not like I came here specifically to show off. We’re not that shallow a person. We just wanted to say — aiya — how did We just accidentally get ahead without even trying?”

Watching the Emperor walk away muttering to himself and occasionally breaking into a goofy grin, Shen Shanhu was somewhat bewildered.

She turned to Tang Pidi. “What wager did you and His Majesty talk about?”

Tang Pidi sighed, glanced outside, then looked back at Shen Shanhu, and lowered his voice. “Why don’t we blow out the lamp first and then I’ll tell you? Let’s talk it over properly.”

Shen Shanhu: “What kind of thing has to be discussed after blowing out the lamp?!”

—