Fеng Yuе trеmblеd in fright, instinctivelу сrаdling аnd sоothing the babу, thеn felt somеthing was off. Shе lооkеd uр аnd glared аt Yin Gezhi, "Did you bully him?"
Yin Gezhi keрt а straight fаcе аnd shооk his heаd, "Nо, hе likеs mе, but not sо much you."
Whаt?
"If уou dоn't believe mе, hand him ovеr." Wearing а "lоving fаthеr" ехрression, Yin Gеzhi rеaсhеd оut to hеr.
Hаlf-dоubting, half-beliеving, Fеng Yue рassed the wаiling little bundle ovеr, frоwning аs she wаtched him. Yet, аs sооn as thе swаddling сlоthеs wеre in his hаnds, thе child grаduallу stopрed сrуing.
"Nо waу..." Неr fаce fell, аnd she felt deeplу hurt, "After all, I gаve birth to him. Whу doеs hе dislike mе so much?"
Guan Zhi stood to the side, watching his master's expression—which turned intimidating the moment he looked away—and thought it was truly bizarre. Could such a young child really be frightened by him?
"Don't worry." Turning back with a gentle expression, Yin Gezhi comforted her, "The child is young and doesn’t understand. When he grows up, he’ll be filial to you."
Pouting, tears welled up in Feng Yue’s eyes as she sniffled, "I went through so much pain giving birth to him. If he doesn’t bond with me, how can I not worry?"
Seeing her genuinely upset, Yin Gezhi’s heart sank. He immediately glared at the little bundle in his arms. The baby, having just cried himself awake, slowly opened his eyes, filled with confusion. Suddenly glared at by his own father, he pouted and burst into tears again with a loud "wah."
"See, he cries for no reason." Yin Gezhi looked at Feng Yue seriously, "There’s no telling when he’ll cry or when he won’t."
Heart aching, Feng Yue took the child back and gently patted him, "This is a premature baby. I heard my mother gave birth to me prematurely too. The wet nurse said it took a lot of effort to make me strong—milk, food, everything was carefully managed. This little one is unlucky; we’re still at the border, and there’s nothing here."
"Your Majesty, rest assured." Hearing this, Guan Zhi immediately stepped forward, "Everything needed has already been prepared. The young prince will not be neglected in the slightest. The war at the border has ceased, and we will soon return to the capital."
"Postpartum care." Yin Gezhi’s expression grew more solemn, "A special carriage has been prepared. They will take the prince ahead, while you and I travel slowly."
He even considered this? Feng Yue raised an eyebrow, smiled brightly, and suddenly reached out to tug his collar, pulling him into a deep kiss.
Yin Gezhi stiffened, taken by surprise.
It had been a long, long time since she had kissed him so proactively. Lowering his gaze, he noticed that the lingering shadows in her fox-like eyes seemed to have dissipated. Clear, flowing water seemed to trickle from her eyes straight into his heart.
As if understanding something, Yin Gezhi’s expression softened abruptly. He gently wrapped an arm around her waist, taking the lead and deepening the kiss.
Guan Zhi covered his eyes, retrieved the child from between them, his face flushed red, and turned to find the wet nurse. Amitabha, the young prince is still so small! What shouldn’t be seen shouldn’t be seen!
But no matter what, the Empress had safely given birth to the young prince, and the prince showed no issues so far. That meant mother and child were safe, a cause for celebration throughout the land.The Wei Kingdom had won a great victory, and the emperor returned triumphantly with the empress and the crown prince. The entire kingdom was filled with jubilation. Feng Yue sat in the carriage, and at every city they passed, she could hear the sound of firecrackers outside.
"How wonderful," she sighed. "The people can finally live good lives from now on."
Beside her, Emperor Wei Xiao closed the book in his hand and nodded slightly upon hearing her words. "Thank you for the praise."
Only with a wise ruler could the people enjoy good days. His empress was praising him as a wise ruler. It was truly delightful.
Gently tapping him, Feng Yue narrowed her eyes. "I can’t let you teach our son in the future. What if he ends up as shameless as you?"
Yin Gezhi raised an eyebrow. "If not me, then you."
Her? Feng Yue fell silent, thinking seriously for a while before gritting her teeth and saying, "Then it’s better if you do it. And give him a name while you’re at it. We’re almost at Lidu, and he still doesn’t have a proper name."
"I’m not good at naming," Yin Gezhi replied, lowering his head to continue reading. "Such matters are better suited for you, my lady."
What am I good at? Blushing slightly, Feng Yue pouted. "My own name isn’t even proper, and you want me to name our son?"
"What’s improper about it?"
"Feng Yue," she said somewhat sheepishly. "Back then, I thought I was going to enter a brothel, so I chose this worldly name."
His gaze swept over her face, and Yin Gezhi shook his head. "It’s not worldly."
In this world, there are those who are foolishly devoted to love, but such sorrow has nothing to do with the wind or the moon.
A very interesting name.
Looking at the smile on his lips with confusion, Feng Yue tugged at his sleeve unhappily. "You’re making me confused again."
"Don’t think too much. Go back and rest well," he said, putting down the book and pulling her into his arms. Yin Gezhi chuckled softly. "You’ve already worked hard enough in the first half of your life, exhausting your mind and energy. From now on, rest well. I’ll handle everything."
So good? Feng Yue smiled brightly. "I’ll rely on you to protect me, then?"
"Yes."
"But there are always ministers bothering me, asking me to plead with you on their behalf or something. It’s hard for me to refuse. What should I do?"
"That’s easy," Yin Gezhi said, reaching out to stroke her head, his expression gentle. "When we return, I’ll give you a couplet to hang at the entrance of the Central Palace."
What kind of couplet could have such a powerful effect? Feng Yue was puzzled.
The carriage rumbled along the road, carrying the leisurely emperor and empress as they slowly made their way to Lidu.
With music and dance, Lidu became even more prosperous. At the victory banquet, all the officials drank to their hearts’ content, and the returning soldiers were generously rewarded one by one. The newly recovered empress drank herself into a blissful stupor, and by the end of the banquet, she was carried back to the palace by the emperor.
"Why aren’t you drunk?" Feng Yue slurred.
Yin Gezhi replied expressionlessly, "I didn’t drink. I poured it on the ground."
"So sneaky!" Laughing, she poked his cheek and swayed her head as she looked ahead. "Where is this?"
"Your Central Palace," Yin Gezhi said, walking step by step. His eyes warmed as he looked at the brilliantly lit palace entrance. "What I promised you, they’ve already hung it up."
What is it? Adjusting the phoenix crown on her head, Feng Yue jumped down from his arms, took his hand, and walked forward. "The couplet?"
"Yes, can you still make out what it says?"Squinting at the golden lacquered wood hanging on either side of the palace gate, Feng Yue felt somewhat bewildered.
Something warm pressed against her back from behind. Yin Gezhi lowered his head and whispered softly by her ear, "On the left, it reads: 'Spring and Autumn touch not here.' On the right, it is engraved: '...'"
Spring and Autumn touch not here, ...
His empress was to be connected only to him. All other matters of state, the worldly affairs of seasons and passions, were to be kept beyond this threshold.
OpenNovel