Those words were so tempting that for a moment, Feng Yue felt having this child was truly fortunate!
However, shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she narrowed her eyes and looked at him with a scowl: “Your Highness certainly has a silver tongue, able to turn black into white!”
“These are simply the facts. How is this merely my saying so?” the person behind the screen replied. “There are only these two paths – you choose.”
With a cold laugh, Feng Yue hugged her pillow and glanced at him sideways: “What if I take your crown prince with me to death? Wouldn’t that be even more satisfying?”
“Satisfying?” Yin Gezhi gave her a contemptuous look and shook his head: “You still don’t understand me? If you die with this child, I’ll simply marry other women and have more children – the position of crown prince won’t remain empty. By then, you and your unborn child will suffer miserably in the netherworld, while I’ll be embracing my beauties and surveying these vast lands.”
Just hearing it, she knew it wasn’t worth it!
Feng Yue felt somewhat dazed, hugging her pillow and thinking for quite a while before looking toward Ling Shu.
Secretly pinching her thigh, Ling Shu’s eyes instantly welled up with tears: “Master, regardless of what status this child might have, he is still your flesh and blood! He carries on the Guan family bloodline! How could you bear to take him to death with you? Young children are so adorable – didn’t you always love holding and pinching me? But I’m already fourteen, a big child now. Babies are much more satisfying to pinch, truly. Don’t believe me? Try it after giving birth!”
It seemed to make sense. Feng Yue pondered, an image floating in her mind of a tiny figure wearing tiger-head shoes and a tiger-head cap, stumbling towards her direction. Running while calling out in a sweet voice: “Mother!”
Her heart suddenly softened. She reached out to touch her belly, her mind finally processing the reality.
She, who had been half-dead, could nurture new life? That life existed vibrantly in her belly, would grow day by day, and finally become an adorable baby, robust, who would smile with incomplete milk teeth. Who would look at her with clear, bewildered big eyes, tugging at her clothes while following her step by step? When encountering difficulties, would blush and softly ask her: “Mother…”
Her expression suddenly turned gentle as Feng Yue understood! The child she would bear would naturally be a descendant of the Guan family. As for Guan family descendants, the more that could live, the better – how could they die?
Her eyes brightened as she turned to ask: “Did the doctor say anything else?”
Hearing these words, Ling Shu was so happy her eyes truly reddened. If her master asked such questions, it meant she definitely wanted to live and wanted to have the child!
“The doctor said your health isn’t good, you need to take proper care of yourself.” Choking up slightly, Ling Shu quickly continued: “This servant has already prepared many tonics to strengthen your body, and this Prince’s mansion can prepare medicinal meals. As long as the master follows instructions properly, this child will surely be healthy and chubby!”
Feng Yue frowned: “We still have to stay here?”
“Where else would you go?” Yin Gezhi asked: “Where do you want to go?”
Emperor Wei was already dead. The Shi clan was about to face punishment. She had nothing left to do, so naturally had nowhere to go.
Falling back onto the bed, Feng Yue closed her eyes: “Mm, then I’ll sleep a bit more. Wake me when food is ready.”
“Alright.” Yin Gezhi nodded calmly, turning to leave with Ling Shu.
Only after the door closed did he open his palm. The wind blew his sweat cold.
Often he wasn’t as composed as he appeared on the surface. Just now, watching Feng Yue’s wavering gaze, hearing her speak of dying together, his heart had almost stopped beating.
Thankfully, she still wanted to live.
“Your Highness?” Ling Shu looked at him worriedly from beside him.
Coming back to his senses, Yin Gezhi’s lips curved slightly: “Go prepare some food for your master. I’ll walk around a bit.”
“Yes.” Ling Shu responded, lifting her skirts as she ran toward the kitchen.
Guan Zhi watched from the side, stepping forward with some concern to support him: “Master, please sit for a while.”
Stiffly following him to sit at the stone table in the courtyard, Yin Gezhi clenched his fist, his gaze calm as he said: “Guan Zhi, I’m going to have a child.”
“This servant knows. Please take care of yourself and don’t get too excited.”
“I’m not excited.” Pointing at his expressionless face, Yin Gezhi said seriously: “Look. This prince is very calm.”
“…” Touching his nose, Guan Zhi shook his head: “Master, your expression may be calm, but your voice is trembling far too much!”
He could hear the excitement and boiling blood within – if it weren’t for his master’s usual composure, he’d probably want to run several laps around the prince’s mansion now, then stand on the roof and roar!
“You don’t understand.” His eyelashes trembled slightly as Yin Gezhi lowered his gaze: “You won’t know how I feel.”
Nonsense, he didn’t have children! Guan Zhi pouted, thinking who was he trying to mock? If he hadn’t been accompanying his master through life and death all this time, would he still be alone now?
“Help me with something.” Yin Gezhi turned his head, his eyes containing stars and seas, so bright it startled Guan Zhi.
“Wh-what thing?”
The autumn wind passed over the courtyard wall, and swept past those strikingly colored eyebrows and eyes, carrying Yin Gezhi’s slowly uttered words into Guan Zhi’s ears.
Feng Yue couldn’t sleep. She lay in bed feeling quite bewildered, not knowing what she should do, or what her future would be like.
According to the original plan, she should have been dead by now, so she hadn’t paved any path ahead. But now, she hadn’t managed to die, so where should she walk in all this mire to avoid falling in?
Her mind turned slowly, until finally she became impatient, simply waving her hand – to hell with it all, she’d take it one step at a time!
In the crisp autumn air, the Prince’s mansion was very busy. Even though Yin Gezhi always received people in the reception hall to avoid disturbing the main courtyard, Feng Yue could still hear quite a bit of activity.
He was going to ascend the throne, right?
In the current Wei state, letting him ascend was the best choice. The court officials weren’t fools – in prosperous times, they might struggle for private interests. But in such precarious circumstances, if they didn’t push Yin Gezhi up to bear it, no one could handle it.
Poor Prince Xiao’an, deceived and abandoned by his imperial father, yet still has to stay behind to clean up this mess.
It seemed everyone’s days weren’t going very well. Feng Yue felt reassured and hugged her jar of preserved fruits, chewing away. Her appetite wasn’t bad. When she felt more energetic, she would even run to stand under the windows outside the reception hall to eavesdrop.
“Your Highness, while the Guan family was indeed wronged, the late emperor already bestowed quite a few rewards. These rewards from you seem excessive.” Qiao Tangjie said with a worried expression: “The Guan family only has Guan Qingyue left – so many things are unnecessary.”
“How is it unnecessary?” With a serious expression, Yin Gezhi said: “These are betrothal gifts after all – how could they be shabby?”
“Even if they’re betrothal… wait, what gifts?!” The wrinkles on his face were frightened smooth as Qiao Tangjie stared with wide eyes, looking quite terrified at the person before him.
Brushing the dark patterns on his robe, Yin Gezhi calmly emphasized: “Betrothal gifts.”
Unable to catch his breath, Qiao Tangjie “ohh” -ed and fell to his knees, repeatedly kowtowing: “Your Highness, please reconsider! The coronation ceremony is imminent – what betrothal gifts are you talking about?”
If it were gifts for another family’s daughter that would be one thing, but why specifically Guan Qingyue?!
“There’s a common saying – children repay their father’s debts.” Looking deeply at the old man before him, Yin Gezhi sighed: “Father Emperor owed the Guan family far too much. As his son, I naturally should repay on his behalf. Otherwise, he cannot rest peacefully in the Western Heaven – that would be unfilial of me.”
Listening from outside the window, Feng Yue couldn’t help rolling her eyes, thinking Emperor Wei would truly be unable to rest peacefully if you married me. His coffin lid probably couldn’t stay shut and would flip open!
Qiao Tangjie’s lips trembled endlessly as tears flowed: “Your Highness…”
“You need not be too moved.” Yin Gezhi nodded with a deeply righteous expression: “This is all that this prince should do.”
“…”
To establish an empress simultaneously with the coronation ceremony – what was this? Through how many dynasties, or rather looking at all the great nations, no emperor had ever set such a precedent! If Prince Xiao’an did this, it would mean sharing the honor of ascending the throne with the empress – wouldn’t this empress be spoiled to the heavens by him?
Since ancient times, beautiful women have brought disaster! This Guan family daughter would inevitably harbor enmity toward the Yin clan. If she were truly allowed to take control of affairs… This won’t do! Really won’t do!
Chewing on preserved plums, Feng Yue smiled by the window, then gracefully returned to the main courtyard. As soon as she entered, she called out: “Ling Shu, prepare tea – we’ll have guests soon.”
Ling Shu looked completely bewildered, wondering who would come as guests to the main courtyard. But since her master said so, she still obediently went to brew a large pot of fresh tea and washed the cups while waiting.
Before long, Qiao Tangjie led several important ministers over with aggressive momentum.
If Prince Xiao’an was difficult to deal with, then they could start with Guan Qingyue! They deliberately had someone detain Yin Gezhi, then planned to come have a heart-to-heart talk with this Guan family female general.
However, as soon as they pushed open the door, they saw a maid smiling brightly: “Guests did come. Please enter, honored officials.”
The momentum they had just built up scattered halfway upon seeing the cups of fragrant tea already prepared.
Feeling unsettled, Qiao Tangjie examined the young lady sitting in the host’s position and tentatively opened his mouth: “Might this be Lady Guan?”
“Censor Qiao.” Feng Yue rose, smiling and nodding: “Please sit.”
Sure enough, as a child of the Guan family, every movement carried an imposing presence. Even wearing a simple dress, she still forcefully suppressed the momentum of their group of elderly ministers.
Feeling somewhat intimidated, Qiao Tangjie sat properly in his chair, obediently holding his tea with both hands as he spoke in a muffled voice: “May I ask Lady Guan, do you know of His Highness’s intention to marry you?”
“I’ve heard a bit.” Feng Yue said: “His Highness has always had good judgment in seeing people.”
“…” Was this praising Yin Gezhi, or praising herself? Qiao Tangjie was stunned, shaking his head and thinking how could a young lady be as shameless as Prince Xiao’an? Impossible, impossible, it must be his imagination.
Clearing his throat, he rallied his spirits and spoke: “His Highness’s coronation is imminent with many matters to attend to. This old official feels that establishing an empress at this time is not the best timing.”