"Gift?" Yin Gezhi frownеd, lооking аt Lingshu in сonfusion.
Lingshu blinked аnd sighеd, "When Mistrеss was at Drеаm Rеturn Раviliоn, she oftеn drank Contraceрtiоn Deсoсtiоn. It's sоmеthing brothеl girls rоutinеlу tаke, sо I always рrеpаred it for her аnd served it tо her."
His hеаrt sаnk. Yin Gеzhi сlоsеd his eyеs. "Shе didn't want tо hаvе anу cоnnеction with mе."
"Yеs." Lingshu noddеd mercilesslу. "Although I don't knоw whаt hаpрened betwееn уou аnd Мistrеss, I саn tеll she's vеrу differеnt towаrd you, уet it dоеsn't sеem likе shе lоvеs you wholеheartedly."
She hаd never askеd her mistress аbout this. It wаsn't until lаter, аfter returning to Wei Kingdom, when she overheard many secrets and pieced them together, that she finally understood what was going on between these two.
Her mistress was the sole survivor of the Guan family, while the prince was indirectly responsible for the massacre of the entire Guan household. They might have loved each other once, but now their positions were different, making it difficult for them to stay together. In other words, once her revenge was complete, her mistress would have no reason to live.
"I just don't want Mistress to die." Pouting, Lingshu rubbed her slightly sore nose, her tone growing more subdued. "She clearly said she'd wait for me to earn money and support her in the future, but judging by her actions, she never intended to wait until I grew up... She's a liar. She only cares about her own revenge."
And what about her? Who would she buy mung bean cakes for in the future?
A faint pain pricked his heart. Yin Gezhi lowered his gaze, his eyes suddenly dimming.
Wasn't she indeed a liar? She even said she'd keep her life to carve a tombstone for Guan Canghai, yet she had long planned to perish together with Emperor Wen of Wei. It was close—truly just a little bit more—and he would have fallen into that boundless hell, never to be reborn.
"So," Lingshu paused for a moment, straightened her back, and with the expression of a child throwing a tantrum, gritted her teeth and said, "From the moment we set foot in Wei Kingdom, every Contraception Decoction Mistress was supposed to drink, I replaced with Body-Tonic Medicine!"
Yin Gezhi, who had been immersed in sorrow, was taken aback, as if he didn't understand. He looked up somewhat bewildered at the little girl before him.
Lifting her chin, Lingshu declared, "I want Mistress to conceive a child—as a gift for Your Highness, and also to give her a reason to keep living. No matter what, I hope Your Highness will make an effort to claim this gift!"
Outside, Guan Zhi, who was driving the carriage, nearly lost his balance and almost fell off the shaft! The carriage jolted, and Yin Gezhi, stunned, tightened his embrace around Feng Yue.
"I've consulted a physician." With a completely serious expression, Lingshu said earnestly, "The physician said it's easiest to conceive around half a month before the menstrual cycle. Mistress's cycle is at the end of the month, which means around the middle of the month, no matter what methods Your Highness uses, please make sure to..."
"Middle of the month?" Interrupting her, a glint flashed in Yin Gezhi's eyes as he suddenly asked, "What did the imperial physician say when he took her pulse just now?"
Lingshu was taken aback. She lowered her head and thought for a moment before replying, "He said this little soldier seems to have suffered from acute internal heat, damaging his organs, and his pulse is chaotic, requiring careful recuperation."
"He thought she was a man, so he said her pulse was chaotic." His eyes flickered slightly. The usually composed First Prince suddenly lost his composure. Holding Feng Yue, he actually tried to stand up!
The result was predictable. The carriage roof wasn't high enough, but it was sturdy enough. When a head collided with it, there was a resounding "thud."Lingshu was stunned, watching Yin Gezhi’s frantic, flustered state, and suddenly realized what was happening. She too began to panic, pulling open the carriage curtain and shouting, “Lord Guan Zhi, hurry, find a physician!”
Guan Zhi replied, “The physicians followed the procession back to the palace via the main road.”
“Then drive faster!” Yin Gezhi barked. “The faster the better!”
Lingshu immediately added, “But not too bumpy!”
Guan Zhi: “…”
Who could teach him how to drive both fast and smoothly? This was a mountain road, after all!
Perhaps infected by the emotions of the two in the carriage behind him, Guan Zhi held his breath, chose the smoothest path, and raced back to the prince’s mansion!
The entrance to the prince’s mansion was crowded with officials who had rushed over upon hearing the news, hoping to discuss matters with Yin Gezhi. However, when they finally saw the prince’s carriage arrive, the person who stepped out paid them no attention. Carrying an armored soldier, he charged straight inside.
“Your Highness! Your Highness!”
Ignoring the exclamations outside, Yin Gezhi carried Feng Yue into the main room, closed the door, and personally changed her clothes before allowing Lingshu to enter.
Lingshu efficiently fetched water to wipe Feng Yue’s face and tidied her hair. While waiting for Guan Zhi to bring a physician, she took the opportunity to change her own clothes.
The physician came to take Feng Yue’s pulse. Initially calm and composed, he grew nervous under the intense gazes of the prince and the maid beside him, his hands trembling.
“This… this young lady appears to have a weak constitution and seems to have a slippery pulse, though it’s not very distinct,” the physician ventured after a careful examination. “She should first take some body-tonic medicine. A more definitive diagnosis can be made after some time.”
Yin Gezhi frowned. What was a slippery pulse? He had no knowledge of medicine and couldn’t understand at all.
Lingshu, however, understood. Overjoyed, she pushed Guan Zhi to follow the physician and fetch the medicine. After closing the door, she explained, “A slippery pulse is a pregnancy pulse! The pulse flows smoothly, like beads rolling on a plate! But if the physician says it’s not distinct, it means the pregnancy is still early and not yet certain. After a few more days of care, we can draw a conclusion!”
Bombarded by her rapid-fire explanation, Yin Gezhi reacted slowly, narrowing his eyes. “So, it’s not certain whether she’s pregnant now, only that it’s possible?”
Her previously smiling face fell at his words. Lingshu said unhappily, “Can’t you say something nicer?”
“It’s fine.” Yin Gezhi shook his head, his gaze firm. He reached out and placed a hand on Feng Yue’s stomach, speaking earnestly. “Even if she isn’t pregnant now, I can make her conceive again.”
“…”
How shameless! Lingshu covered her face, thinking it was for her mistress’s good, so she decided not to argue for now.
Feng Yue remained asleep, clearly exhausted. The group from the courtyard gathered outside, a dozen heads huddled together as they listened to Lingshu whispering.
“Emperor Wen of Wei has passed away, and the Guan family’s name has been cleared. Our young mistress has nothing left to do,” Madam Qiu sighed. “What Lingshu says makes sense. We must persuade her, watch over her, and not let her lose hope.”
“It’s hard not to lose hope,” Luo Hao said, pursing his lips. “She has nothing left.”
“Nonsense!” Lingshu glared at him. “She still has us, doesn’t she?”"Yes," Yin Yanzhong nodded. "The young master has carried this blood feud for four years now. It's time for her to let it go and live her own life properly."
Everyone voiced their agreement.
However, while they thought this way, Feng Yue seemed unwilling to cooperate. After falling asleep, she not only failed to wake up but also developed a high fever by evening. She muttered incessantly in her delirium, unable to be roused no matter how others called to her.
"Old man..."
"Feng Yue."
"Emperor Wen of Wei cannot die..."
"Guan Qingyue!"
Yin Gezhi's expression was grim as he sat by the bedside, cradling her head in his arms. While changing the cloth on her forehead, he kept calling her name.
The atmosphere in the room was heavy. A row of elderly ministers stood nearby, their beards white with age, trembling as they spoke: "Your Highness, the palace is still in chaos, Your Highness..."
Turning to look at them impatiently, Yin Gezhi said coldly, "What does that have to do with me? Haven't the Empress and the Crown Prince been handed over to the Director of the Imperial Clan for sentencing?"
"But..." an old minister hurried forward, "His Majesty has just passed away. With the Crown Prince convicted, if you do not step forward to stabilize the court, the Wei Kingdom may descend into great chaos!"
"What chaos is there to fear?" Yin Gezhi frowned. "Isn't the Fifth Prince still here? Just put him on the throne."
Hearing this, several old ministers knelt in unison, crying out, "Your Highness! The Fifth Prince is only fifteen years old, Your Highness!"
"What of fifteen?" Yin Gezhi's face darkened. "I was already on the battlefield at fifteen!"
"Your Highness!" Wu Ze, kneeling behind them, said solemnly, "That is precisely why only you are fit for the throne. You have illustrious military achievements, were the late Emperor's most favored Golden Seal Prince, and are the eldest son. By both sentiment and reason, only your ascension will win the hearts of the people!"
Turning his gaze back, Yin Gezhi continued changing Feng Yue's cloth, his voice cold. "She hasn't woken up yet. I have no time."
Everyone felt a chill in their hearts. Who could have known that Prince Xiao, always so calm and mindful of the greater good, would stubbornly refuse to leave this place? Who was this girl on the bed? No one dared to inquire. And how could she be made to wake up?
The old ministers were deeply troubled, their hair growing even whiter with worry.
Knowing that Yin Gezhi had secluded himself, the Shi clan seized the opportunity to cause trouble, resisting to the death. However, Commander Chen and Commander Lian Heng led their men and suppressed them mercilessly, imprisoning those who should be imprisoned and sentencing those who should be executed to await their fate. Many high-ranking officials of the Shi clan were indignant. They were a prestigious family of many generations—how could they be treated this way just because a few had rebelled?
Indignant and unwilling to yield, even while imprisoned, they mobilized their remaining influence, loudly proclaiming their innocence and fighting for a way out.
Feng Yue's fever subsided. She woke up, drank a bowl of porridge, and then fell back asleep, only to develop another fever. Worried, Yin Gezhi was in a foul temper when Lian Heng came to report that there was trouble in the prison.
Trouble, was it? Very well. Yin Gezhi rose and went to the palace.
Civil and military officials still attended court daily. Without an emperor, they debated among themselves, filled with anxiety and fear. Finally seeing Prince Xiao, the ministers were so grateful they nearly knelt and proclaimed him emperor on the spot."There is a matter on which I would like to hear your opinions." Looking at these men, Yin Gezhi said, "The Shi clan plotted rebellion, and the principal offenders have already been executed. However, their clan members remain incorrigible, still harboring rebellious intentions. Today is a fine day, suitable for sentencing and executing the Shi clan. What do you all think?"
Asking for their opinions? Several senior ministers exchanged glances, then immediately knelt and shouted, "We obey your decree!"
Given the current precarious situation, only Yin Gezhi could turn the tide. They had no desire to become ministers of a fallen state or to watch the Wei Kingdom head toward ruin! In that case, they had no choice but to forcibly honor him as emperor!
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