Xiao Jingxi sighed, "Do you know why the northern border was peaceful for so many years, only to become turbulent in recent years?"
Ren Yaoqi pretended to have a sudden realization, "It's simply because life has been too peaceful."
The couple exchanged glances and smiled once more.
As Xiao Jingxi had anticipated, Yelü Sage immediately plunged into the struggle for the throne upon returning. The King of the Southern Court of Liao naturally supported his son-in-law, Yelü Moqi, while the Northern Court split into two factions—one supporting the youngest son of the former Liao king, and the other gradually being swayed by Yelü Sage. Although everyone understood that political and military division at such a time was detrimental to the nation, human desire is a peculiar thing. Those who have never stood at the pinnacle of power cannot comprehend its allure. "Securing the internal before dealing with external threats" was a strategy not adopted by just one or two rulers.
As for how Yelü Sage managed to sway the Northern Court faction so quickly upon his return, it was undoubtedly due to the efforts of a certain man in Yunyang City, whose calculations left no room for error.
The events of this year were significant in the history of Great Zhou, but no matter how momentous, life went on as usual for the common people. The panic of armies pressing upon the city gradually faded from the minds of ordinary Yanbei residents, for eating, sleeping, and surviving were the true priorities.
In the blink of an eye, March arrived—a season of lush grass, singing orioles, and vibrant life everywhere.
Yet, on this day, the Yanbei Prince's Mansion was tense from top to bottom, for Ren Yaoqi was about to give birth.
The Princess Consort had begun preparations for Ren Yaoqi's delivery three months earlier. Ren Yaoqi started experiencing labor pains on the expected due date. Matron Gong and two other midwives had been staying at Zhaoyang Hall for the past few days, so the initial stages of Ren Yaoqi's labor proceeded very smoothly.
The reason it was said to have gone smoothly initially was not because Ren Yaoqi encountered any danger during the later stages of labor, but because, just as the child was about to be born, the weather suddenly changed. The clear, sunny sky darkened abruptly, with thick, rolling clouds and flashes of lightning and thunder, yet no rain fell.
The bustling streets of Yunyang City emptied in an instant as pedestrians hurriedly took shelter in nearby houses or under eaves, gazing up at the dark, purplish clouds illuminated by the lightning.
Spring thunderstorms were common and considered a boon for farmers. Though it was strange to have thunder and lightning without rain, it was not entirely unheard of. Yet, in later generations, some still believed the celestial phenomena of that day were unusual.
And it was amidst this rolling thunder that Ren Yaoqi gave birth to her child.
"Congratulations, Prince and Princess Consort, congratulations, Second Young Master! The young mistress has given birth—it's a young lord!" With a loud cry, the door to the delivery room opened, and the joyful attendants emerged to announce the good news.
Upon hearing this, the Prince and Princess Consort were overjoyed. The Princess Consort, overwhelmed with emotion, covered her mouth to hold back tears. The Prince, standing beside her, gently placed an arm around her shoulder, offering rare soft words of comfort.
Xiao Jingxi's first question was, "How is the young mistress?"
The messenger quickly replied, "It was a smooth delivery. The young mistress is doing very well, though she is somewhat exhausted."
Xiao Jingxi's tense expression finally relaxed, and his eyes filled with joy.
Needless to say, there was no one in the Yanbei Prince's Mansion who was not overjoyed that day, and visitors came in an endless stream to offer their congratulations.When Ren Yaoqi woke again, it was already dark outside—not due to the weather this time, but because night had fallen. The thunder and lightning from earlier in the day had come suddenly and left just as quickly, giving way to clear skies and bright sunshine not long after. However, Ren Yaoqi had been in the midst of labor at the time and was unaware of it all.
As soon as she opened her eyes, Ren Yaoqi saw Xiao Jingxi sitting by the bedside, watching her intently. A warmth spread through her palm—her hand was clasped in his.
Ren Yaoqi still felt exhausted, but she managed a faint smile for Xiao Jingxi. "Why are you sitting here? I’m fine, just a little tired."
Xiao Jingxi gently brushed aside the strands of hair clinging to her cheek. "Mm, I just came in a moment ago. I’ll sit here for a while."
Ren Yaoqi guessed he had been there longer than that, as she had vaguely sensed someone sitting beside her while she slept, a presence that had brought her comfort.
Still, she didn’t call him out on it. She glanced around the room and noticed only the two of them were present—not even a maid in sight.
Noticing her gaze, Xiao Jingxi said softly, "I sent them away, afraid they might disturb your rest. The baby is in the next room. Would you like to see him?"
Ren Yaoqi had only caught a glimpse of the child after the birth, enough to know it was a son, before drifting into a deep sleep. At Xiao Jingxi’s mention of the baby, warmth bloomed in her heart, and she nodded. "Yes."
Xiao Jingxi adjusted the covers for Ren Yaoqi, then stood and walked out. Before long, he returned carrying a small bundle wrapped in bright red swaddling clothes. Ren Yaoqi’s gaze fixed intently on them.
Xiao Jingxi gently placed the bundle beside Ren Yaoqi and sat back down on the edge of the bed, whispering, "He’s still a bit wrinkled and not very pretty now, but Mother says he’ll look better in a few days."
Seeing Xiao Jingxi’s earnest attempt to console her, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but feel amused. She tilted her head to look at her son—the little one’s eyes were closed, his face still flushed, his hair sparse. He truly wasn’t much to look at yet, and he was still too small for his features to resemble anyone in particular.
"Would you like to hold him?" Xiao Jingxi asked softly, noticing Ren Yaoqi’s unwavering gaze on their son’s less-than-pretty face.
Ren Yaoqi shook her head, whispering back, "Let him sleep. I don’t have much strength right now."
Xiao Jingxi had only asked casually and didn’t press further. Husband and wife—one lying down, the other sitting—both watched the soundly sleeping child, occasionally exchanging smiles. Xiao Jingxi never let go of Ren Yaoqi’s hand.
The next day, Ren Shimin and Madam Li, along with Ren Yaohua and her husband, came to visit.
Madam Li was overjoyed to see her little grandson, repeatedly murmuring, "Blessings from the Bodhisattva, blessings from the Bodhisattva," and refused to put the child down once she had him in her arms.
Ren Shimin frowned slightly as he examined the baby in Madam Li’s arms, offering a reserved assessment: "He looks quite clever and bright."
Madam Li also looked down at the child, then glanced at Ren Shimin. The baby’s features hadn’t even fully formed yet, and he had kept his eyes closed the whole time, sleeping soundly. How biased did one have to be to conclude he was "clever and bright"? Even though Madam Li adored her grandson, she couldn’t quite agree with that!
Fortunately, Madam Li rarely contradicted Ren Shimin. Without changing her expression, she nodded in agreement. "You’re right, Master. Look, the child’s forehead even bears some resemblance to yours."Ren Shimin tilted his head to examine for a moment, then nodded and said, "Hmm, indeed it is so."
Ren Yaohua and her husband: "..."
Madam Li and Ren Yaohua went inside to see Ren Yaoqi.
Madam Li wiped her tears as she said, "You are truly blessed. Now I can truly rest assured."
As she spoke, Madam Li turned to look at Ren Yaohua: "How is your health coming along? Your little girl is growing up, and it's about time you..."
Before Madam Li could finish, Ren Yaohua interrupted her: "Mother, I'm still young. Children will come in time. Please don't worry about me."
Having served as the mistress of the Lei Family for so long, Ren Yaohua had undergone a significant transformation in both demeanor and temperament. When her daughter was first born, she might have had some concerns, but now she no longer did. Although heirs were important, she clearly understood that even if she never bore a son in her lifetime, she could still firmly hold her position as the mistress of the Lei Family. Moreover, having been married to Lei Ting for so long, Ren Yaohua trusted him deeply.
Seeing her like this, Madam Li could only soften her stance and sighed, "As long as you know what you're doing, that's fine. Later, hold the baby more often—perhaps it might bring one into your own belly."
Ren Yaohua didn't believe in such things, but she humored her mother with a vague response, then asked Ren Yaoqi, "Have you chosen a name for the child yet?"
Ren Yaoqi went along with Ren Yaohua's change of topic: "The name hasn't been decided yet." The child's name was to be chosen by the Prince, but the Prince of Yanbei hadn't made up his mind yet.
Seeing the two sisters talking, Madam Li, thinking of her grandson outside, sat for a while before going out again, leaving the two daughters to chat in the room.
After Madam Li left, Ren Yaohua breathed a sigh of relief. Every time Madam Li saw her, she brought up the topic of children. If Madam Li weren't her own mother, Ren Yaohua would want to avoid her from afar whenever she saw her.
"By the way, have you heard the rumors outside?" Ren Yaohua deliberately lowered her voice to ask.
Ren Yaoqi had just given birth yesterday and was still very weak, so naturally she didn't know what Ren Yaohua was referring to. But since Ren Yaohua was asking her now, it must be related to her, so she asked, "What rumors?"
Ren Yaohua glanced at Ren Yaoqi, hesitated for a moment, then lowered her voice further: "Do you know about the unusual celestial phenomena yesterday?"
Ren Yaoqi was taken aback. She truly didn't know—yesterday she had no energy to pay attention, and afterward, no one had mentioned it in front of her.
Ren Yaohua said, "When you were giving birth yesterday, there was suddenly thunder and lightning, and amidst the churning clouds, there was a faint purple aura. Rumors outside say it's because the young master of Yanbei Prince's Mansion is born extraordinary and will inevitably be of unparalleled nobility in the future."
Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but feel startled.
Given the status of Yanbei Prince's Mansion, the child was already born into immense nobility. What "unparalleled nobility" hinted at, Ren Yaoqi naturally understood. However, she did not rejoice at this; instead, she frowned.
She herself did not believe in such things—thunder and lightning were quite common at this time of year. But even if she didn't believe it, she couldn't stop others from believing. Even if others didn't believe, those with ambition would still harbor concerns about it.
As a mother, Ren Yaoqi hoped her child could grow up safe and sound—that was what mattered most. She didn't want her child to be branded as "extraordinary" from birth, attracting attention from all sides, because that meant the child would face far more dangers than others while growing up.
After Ren Yaohua and the others left, Ren Yaoqi had someone call Xiao Jingxi back and asked him about the rumors outside.Xiao Jingxi, seeing the worry in Ren Yaoqi's gaze, said, "Rest assured, I will protect our child well and ensure he grows up safely. I won't let the rumors outside endanger him."
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