The Road to Glory

Chapter 189: "The Child in the Princess's Womb Is..."

With the main battlefield in Xiangzhou secured by the Liang and Chen camps, Pei Song's remaining forces had no choice but to continue their retreat northward.

While returning from visiting the injured Gu Xiyun in Xiangzhou—a detour Wen Yu had made upon hearing of her injury—news of Wei Qishan's passing reached her.

In the warm chamber, Wen Yu perused the dispatches from the Northern Border. Li Xun and several other strategists stood below, reporting: "With the death of the Marquis of Shuobian, the former Jin princess supported by Northern Wei posthumously honored him as the Duke of Weiguo of Former Jin. Following his final wishes, she also enfeoffed his adopted son as the new Marquis of Northern Wei."

Fearing Wen Yu's distress, Li Xun avoided mentioning Xiao Li by name outright. When he reached the last part, he cautiously glanced up at Wen Yu, who sat calmly reviewing the reports, showing little reaction.

A strategist nearby remarked, "It's said Wei Qishan had long handed over the Wolf Cavalry to this son. Strangely, he left neither Northern Wei's title nor military power to his own flesh and blood."

Another added, "Though this son has been in the Northern Border for only a short time, his valor and military exploits have earned him great renown. When Wei Qishan's forces were ambushed at Yanle Mountain during the southern campaign and Liao Jiang perished, it was he who turned the tide, driving back the invading barbarians. That old fox Wei Qishan was cunning—marrying his own son to the former Jin princess his faction promoted, dreaming of contending for the realm. Eventually, Northern Wei's territory would have to be granted elsewhere..."

Shaking his head, he continued, "Seeing his Northern Border in decline, the princess even willingly exchanged two cities for this son, vowing to us that if he wished to return to Liang Camp, she would release him. Yet, in the blink of an eye, she bestowed upon him the title of new Marquis of Northern Wei! Devious! Truly devious!"

Enlightened by this, the earlier strategist realized why Wei Qishan had offered such substantial benefits—to compete with them for this formidable general.

The reason Xiao Li was unwilling to return to Liang Camp became clear.

What Wen Yu could offer might not surpass Wei Qishan's incentives.

Moreover, even if he had once been with Liang Camp, his long absence meant he had no foundation there now. Returning to a high position without his own loyal followers would make his authority less substantial than in Northern Wei.

A strategist unaware of Xiao Li's history in Liang Camp criticized, "In my view, this son is merely an opportunist. He betrayed our Liang Camp, yet the princess, grateful he hadn't revealed his identity earlier and knowing he was trapped, sought to bring him back despite past grievances. He, however, chose to stay in Wei Camp for profit..."

Touching on a sore subject!

Li Xun's expression immediately darkened, cutting him off: "General Xiao's departure from Liang Camp was due to misunderstandings."

He quickly changed the subject, asking Wen Yu, "Princess, with Northern Wei holding the funeral, should we send envoys?"

That misunderstanding, compounded by Li Yao's death, had become an inextricable knot.

It was neither Xiao Li's fault nor Wen Yu's.

Ultimately, it was the whims of fate.

Having been a close aide to Wen Yu since Pingzhou, Li Xun had witnessed how the misunderstanding arose and understood well the pain it caused her.

Now that Xiao Li clearly had no hope of returning to Liang Camp, Li Xun broached the topic with even greater caution in her presence.Yet Wen Yu remained exceptionally calm from start to finish. She closed the letter report and said, "The Wei clan is no longer a subject of our Liang. The aid to Luodu and the previous battle at Majia Liang have settled all debts. Considering our current alliance to jointly attack Luodu, have General Fan send someone to offer incense in remembrance."

Li Xun bowed and acknowledged the order.

Wen Yu methodically inquired about other matters, discussing and finalizing plans with her advisors for decisions requiring her judgment, before dismissing everyone.

She then went to the side chamber to keep Gu Xiyun, who had injured her leg and was temporarily unable to walk, company, but found herself frequently distracted.

Gu Xiyun recounted her duel with Han Qi during the battle for Xiangzhou: "That young Han brat was taunted into facing me in combat. He looked quite imposing with his silver spear, but after dozens of exchanges, his expression kept shifting as I pressed him. If I hadn't been exhausted and my domineering spear too heavy, I wouldn't have been tripped and fallen off my horse with him..."

As she gestured, reenacting the battle, Gu Xiyun grew somewhat indignant. Not hearing any response from Wen Yu, she turned her head in confusion and called, "A Yu?"

When no outsiders were present, she still used Wen Yu's childhood name as she had in their maiden days.

Wen Yu, snapping back to attention, responded with an "Mm," lifting her eyes to Gu Xiyun. "I'm listening. Go on."

Gu Xiyun frowned. "What's wrong with you?"

Her demeanor was truly unusual.

Wen Yu merely shook her head gently. "It's nothing."

Gu Xiyun looked at her, pursing her lips slightly, and said earnestly, "A Yu, now that you're the princess commanding two nations, there may be many political matters I can't assist with or share your burdens in. But whenever you need me, I'll always be here."

Under her friend's gaze, Wen Yu paused for a moment, as if utterly weary. The gentle composure she always maintained in public showed cracks, and a faint sorrow welled in her eyes. "I just... suddenly feel rather sad."

Gu Xiyun was taken aback. "What happened?"

Wen Yu shook her head again lightly, a bitter smile touching her lips. "In this turbulent era, the common people have no choice, and neither do I."

Gu Xiyun sighed, her expression dimming slightly. "The weight on your shoulders is too heavy."

Wen Yu's serene expression was tinged with exhaustion, but after this brief moment of vulnerability, her eyes regained their determination. Just as she was about to speak again, a woman's voice inquired from outside the chamber door: "Is the Commandant awake? I've brought some soup I prepared."

Wen Yu found the voice somewhat familiar and composed her expression as she looked at Gu Xiyun.

Gu Xiyun explained, "It's Madam Chen. She learned that Lord Chen is overseeing the entire northern campaign and can't return to Pingzhou for the New Year, so she came to the army to visit. She also brought yuanxiao from their hometown for the soldiers, so they can celebrate the New Year well in camp. Hearing about my leg injury, she's been preparing nourishing soups for me in various ways these past days."

She patted her cheeks somewhat ruefully. "Every time, she makes a huge pot. I feel it would be wasteful not to finish it, considering her kindness. Look at my face—it's gotten round from all that soup!"

Wen Yu couldn't help but chuckle, her earlier gloom largely dispelled.

Soon after, Tong Que, stationed outside, knocked and announced the visitor. With Wen Yu's permission, Madam Chen entered carrying a food container, followed by an elderly woman holding a baby girl.Madam Chen curtsied to Wen Yu with a smile and said, "I didn't know Your Highness was here. I apologize for the intrusion."

Wen Yu gestured for Tong Que to bring a seat for Madam Chen and replied, "I was on my way back when I saw the battle report and learned of Xiyun's injury, so I stopped by. I heard that during Xiyun's recovery, you've been preparing soups and taking care of her. You've been most diligent."

Madam Chen hurriedly demurred, adding, "I came unannounced. I only hope I haven't caused any disruption to the military affairs."

Wen Yu said, "You are too modest. Before the New Year, you sent yuanxiao to the troops, boosting their morale and lifting their spirits. I must properly reward you for that later."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Wen Yu noticed the infant held by the maidservant beside Madam Chen and asked, "This is..."

Madam Chen explained, "I heard she was brought back by a guard under Young Master Zhou's command and was adopted by him as his foster daughter. But he has no maids or nannies around, and his guards are all rough men who don't know how to care for a child, so I've been looking after her. Yesterday, seeing the commandant feeling down, I thought to bring the child today to cheer her up."

Gu Xiyun, clearly aware of the infant's background, chimed in, "Speaking of which, this child has a connection with you, Your Highness. I heard from Guard Cen under Young Master Zhou that she was the orphan of a daughter from the Feng family of Luodu whom you rescued back in Tongcheng."

At this, Wen Yu recalled the incident. She beckoned the maidservant holding the child forward, took the infant—who had grown noticeably since half a year ago—and coaxed her, saying, "So it's that child. What happened to the couple who adopted her?"

Though they had fled Tongcheng in haste back then, they had still managed to find a well-off family with a good local reputation to adopt the child.

Gu Xiyun replied, "Guard Cen said that after settling in Pingzhou, they followed your instructions to visit the family that had adopted her. Unfortunately, that family's wealth had attracted the attention of bandits in Tongzhou. By the time they arrived, the household had been slaughtered, with only the wife spared because she had taken the child to her parents' home. But gossip spread in the town, calling the child a jinx and blaming the family's misfortune on adopting her. The wife's family wanted her to remarry and disapproved of her raising an unrelated child, so Guard Cen brought the child back."

Wen Yu remembered that before leaving for the marriage alliance with Southern Chen, she had instructed Cen An and the others to find the family that had adopted Feng's orphan, thinking that amid the chaos of war, it would be better to bring them to Pingzhou or provide them with funds to ensure the child's well-being.

However, Cen An later returned to Zhou Sui's side and was no longer part of the Azure Guard. The reports sent to her from Pingzhou concerned crucial matters of the north-south conflict, so she had been unaware that Feng's child had been brought back after such twists of fate.

She gently tapped the infant's chubby hand and said pityingly, "What a pitiable child..."

The child, unafraid of strangers, closed her plump fingers around Wen Yu's finger as she tapped her soft palm and giggled delightedly at her.

Wen Yu's heart softened further at the sight, and Madam Chen, standing nearby, laughed and said, "It seems this child knows you are her benefactor, Your Highness. She's so happy to see you!"Seeing how lovable the child was and knowing her background, Madam Chen seemed inclined to help arrange another marriage for her. After some thought, she said, "I heard Lady Feng married into the Qinghe region years ago. Her husband’s family should be the Ruan clan of Qinghe. Has the Ruan family never tried to find this child?"

At the mention of this, Gu Xiyun grew visibly upset. "Don’t even bring it up. If the Ruan family had been willing to acknowledge her, why would Lord Zhou have needed to adopt her as his foster daughter? After the Battle of Majialiang, that Bandit Pei slandered our Liang Camp and the princess relentlessly. When Lord Zhou was touring academies to persuade scholars and tutors, he passed through Qinghe and attempted to return the child to the Ruan family. But they shut their doors on him, claiming their young master had long divorced Lady Feng and was preparing to remarry. They told Lord Zhou not to bother them with the child anymore."

Madam Chen’s heart ached at the story, and she gazed at the infant in Wen Yu’s arms with profound pity. "How could any family be so heartless as to disown their own flesh and blood?"

Wen Yu remained silent, gently playing with the soft bundle in her arms. Long ago, when Lady Feng fled south alone with her daughter, Wen Yu had guessed that the husband’s family, intimidated by Pei Song’s power, had forced Lady Feng to leave with the child. Thus, when Lady Feng entrusted the child to her on her deathbed outside the city, Wen Yu had only promised to find the girl a good adoptive family—not to return her to her father’s house.

Gu Xiyun joined Madam Chen in vehemently condemning the Ruan family’s cruelty, ranting until her throat grew dry. She finally paused to ask an elderly servant beside Madam Chen for a cup of tea to soothe her voice.

Madam Chen chuckled. "We’ve been so engrossed in talking that I forgot to offer you the trotter soup I simmered for two hours today. Here, have a taste..." She lifted the lid of the tureen and reached for a small white porcelain bowl to serve Gu Xiyun.

Wen Yu, sitting nearby with the child, suddenly felt a wave of nausea at the smell and nearly retched.

A maidservant, assuming she was unwell, quickly took the baby from her arms.

Zhao Bai and Tong Que, hearing the commotion, rushed to her side. They supported her arms, one on each side, patting her back to help her catch her breath.

Madam Chen asked worriedly, "Are you alright, Your Highness? Should we call a physician?"

Gu Xiyun, holding her soup bowl, nodded vigorously. "You do look pale, Princess. It would be wise to have a physician examine you and help restore your health."

After the nausea subsided, Wen Yu said, "It’s probably just a chill from the wind during the carriage ride. I’ll have a doctor prescribe some medicine later."

But Gu Xiyun and Madam Chen insisted she not stay any longer and urged her to return and rest.

Once back in her own courtyard, Zhao Bai promptly summoned the female physician from the Azure Guard to check Wen Yu’s pulse.

The physician’s brow furrowed deeper as she felt the pulse, her expression a mix of confusion and alarm.

Zhao Bai anxiously asked, "How is the Princess’s condition?"

Wen Yu calmly watched the physician. When she first arrived in Pingzhou, her health had been frail, but since dedicating an hour daily to practicing strengthening exercises with Zhao Bai, she had rarely even suffered from minor ailments. During this journey north, aside from falling into Xiao Li’s hands after the Hawk Hound attack, she hadn’t caught any colds. Could it be that recent worries had made her ill again?The Azure Guard physician didn't dare answer directly, wiping her sweaty hands on her clothes as she said, "This humble one's medical skills are inadequate. I beg Your Highness to permit me to take your pulse again."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Bai and Tong Que grew concerned about Wen Yu's health, their expressions turning grim.

Only Wen Yu remained as composed as ever, giving the Azure Guard physician a slight nod of permission.

The other woman placed three fingers once more on Wen Yu's wrist.

This time during the pulse reading, the atmosphere in the room grew even more tense, with everyone practically holding their breath.

But the Azure Guard physician's frown visibly deepened, appearing momentarily at a loss.

Zhao Bai demanded sharply, "Well?"

The physician looked at Zhao Bai, then at Wen Yu, before bowing her head and kneeling directly: "This humble one's skills are insufficient."

Wen Yu spoke before Zhao Bai could lose her temper: "Just report what pulse reading you detected."

The physician then said hesitantly, "Your Highness's pulse is smooth and flowing, like... like pearls rolling across a jade plate. This... this is a slippery pulse!"

Upon these words, the room fell into dead silence.

Both Zhao Bai and Tong Que were astonished, though Zhao Bai's shock quickly turned to anger, while Tong Que remained in a state of bewilderment and surprise for a long while.

Wen Yu was the calmest of all.

She said, "Keep this information sealed. Before returning to Southern Chen, no one else must know of this matter."

Zhao Bai said with anguish, "But after you return to Southern Chen..."

Wen Yu replied calmly, "It would be beneficial for me to return to Southern Chen while pregnant."

Remembering the conditions Empress Dowager Jiang had set for Wen Yu to become Southern Chen's regent princess, Zhao Bai bowed her head in discomfort and said no more.

Jiang Yu was already dead, and Empress Dowager Jiang had previously demanded that Wen Yu and Jiang Yu bear a child together.

Thus, if Wen Yu returned to Southern Chen pregnant, claiming the child was Jiang Yu's, it would become a matter where the dead could tell no tales.

Moreover, when Wen Yu first fell into the Wei camp, she had presented herself as Jiang Yu's pregnant concubine, which to some extent could also mislead the Empress Dowager and the Jiang Family.

Even if they might suspect, they couldn't be certain the child wasn't Jiang Yu's.

After leaving the room, Zhao Bai instructed the Azure Guard physician to find a way to prepare miscarriage-prevention medicine for Wen Yu. After the other woman acknowledged and departed, Tong Que—who still hadn't recovered from her shock—murmured quietly, "Wh... whose child is in the pr... princess's womb?"

Zhao Bai's expression instantly turned frighteningly cold.