The Crown Prince Chases His Wife
Extra 15Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Grand Finale
Six years after Great Xia and Northern Liang formally established diplomatic relations, Emperor Xiao Qian of Northern Liang, Empress Shen Shiying, and their five-year-old Crown Prince made their first joint visit to Great Xia.
Calling it a visit wasn’t entirely accurate, as Empress Shen Shiying of Northern Liang was originally from the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion in Great Xia. This trip could also be seen as a return to her maternal home.
Aside from strengthening the diplomatic ties between the two nations, this visit by the Northern Liang Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince had another purpose, which was the upcoming 70th birthday of the Duke of Zhenguo Shen Changshan.
To put it simply, Duke of Zhenguo Shen Changshan was the father of Empress Shen Shiying of Northern Liang, making him Emperor Xiao Qian’s father-in-law and the maternal grandfather of the Northern Liang Crown Prince. On a broader scale, the Duke of Zhenguo Shen Changshan was also the father of the Empress of Northern Liang.
Since the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion was also the maternal family of Empress Qin Yan of Great Xia, both the arrival of the Northern Liang delegation and the Duke’s birthday banquet were treated with utmost importance by the Great Xia imperial family. The Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple were ordered by the Emperor to handle the arrangements with great care.
Upon arriving in the capital city of Great Xia, the Northern Liang delegation did not head to the accommodations prepared by the Honglu Temple. Instead, they went directly to the large mansion Qin Yan had prepared for Shen Shiying, the Jiaoyuan, which was now also known as the Huayang Grand Princess Mansion.
The five-year-old Crown Prince of Northern Liang, Xiao Yi, had been different from other children since birth. He was rarely active or noisy, and his calm and composed demeanor was almost unnatural. This had once led Xiao Qian and Shen Shiying to suspect that the child’s intellect had been affected by the contraceptive medicine.
However, as Xiao Yi grew older, everyone realized that the Crown Prince was far from having any intellectual issues. On the contrary, his memory and comprehension abilities were extraordinary. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call this Crown Prince a prodigy.
Shen Shiying finally felt at ease, though her son Xiao Yi was indeed not very talkative and had a cold demeanor. In this regard, Shen Shiying was somewhat resigned, thinking that he would likely grow up to be a cold-faced emperor, much like his father.
However, upon arriving in Great Xia, the cold-faced Crown Prince Xiao Yi seemed to regain some of his childlike nature. Xiao Yi couldn’t help but explore every corner of the Princess Mansion, his heart filled with curiosity.
Was this the place where his mother had lived for so many years?
Well… but child, you might be mistaken. Your mother didn’t actually live here for long…
Shen Shiying, reclining lazily on a soft couch, half-opened her enchanting eyes and looked at the tall, handsome man standing before her. She said lazily, “This time, Your Majesty doesn’t need to sneak over in the middle of the night or climb over walls…”
Xiao Qian’s eyes narrowed slightly. His tall frame leaned down, his sharply defined face closing in on Shen Shiying with a commanding presence. His thin lips paused just an inch away from Shen Shiying’s red lips when a sound at the door suddenly interrupted him.
“Crown Prince.” The servants outside bowed to Crown Prince Xiao Yi.
As the voices fell, the slightly ajar door was knocked on rhythmically three times before slowly being pushed open.
“Mother…”
As Xiao Yi stepped inside, his gaze briefly landed on the couch before he calmly lowered his eyes. He then took a step back and…
Closed the door…
On the couch, Shen Shiying’s face showed a hint of embarrassment, while Xiao Qian turned back and continued to lean down, resuming what he had been about to do…
At least the boy had some sense.
Outside, Xiao Yi walked away slowly…
How could His Highness not know his place?
Which child wouldn’t want to have their mother by their side, sleeping every night in her fragrant, soft embrace? Yet, even when he managed to fall asleep with his mother, he would always wake up alone in the side chamber, surrounded only by maids and nannies.
He could never compete with his domineering father. He didn’t want to give his father a pleasant expression, nor did he bother to speak much to him.
And so, the precocious Crown Prince Xiao Yi became increasingly silent…
————
The Great Xia imperial family hosted an exceptionally grand welcoming banquet in the Fengtian Hall of the imperial palace for the Northern Liang Emperor, Empress, and their entourage. Members of the imperial family and important court officials attended the banquet to accompany the guests.
Emperor Xiao Qian and Empress Shen Shiying of Northern Liang were both over forty, but they appeared to be in their early thirties. Both were exceptionally handsome and elegant and with the young Crown Prince also being strikingly good-looking, the three of them drew gasps of admiration as they entered the hall.
After the formal greetings, the banquet began.
During the banquet, Crown Prince Xiao Yi of Northern Liang couldn’t help but glance repeatedly at Empress Qin Yan of Great Xia, who sat on the phoenix throne.
Was that beautiful lady his elder sister?
Xiao Yi had heard many stories about Empress Qin Yan of Great Xia, his elder sister, from his mother and court officials. He had secretly admired his elder sister for a long time, and today he finally got to see her in person.
Of course, he admired his father and mother the most. If only his father weren’t so domineering, things would be even better.
Xiao Yi glanced at his father and mother, who were whispering to each other and then turned his gaze back to the high platform. This time, however, he looked at the extremely handsome man beside his elder sister, Emperor Feng Zhan of Great Xia, his elder sister’s husband.
If Feng Zhan could hear this kid’s inner thoughts, he would surely turn grim on the spot.
Qin Yan is the elder sister, and I’m the uncle?
————
After the banquet, Emperor Xiao Qian of Northern Liang and Feng Zhan went to the imperial study to have tea, leaving Shen Shiying and Qin Yan, mother and daughter, to chat.
In the eastern warm chamber of the Kunning Palace’s main hall, Qin Yan and Shen Shiying lounged comfortably on opposite sides of a soft couch, chatting idly about this and that. Suddenly, a commotion came from outside, and soon the three children who had gone to play in the imperial garden returned. They each chose a chair to sit on and began enjoying the pastries and fruit tea the servants had just brought in.
Both Qin Yan and Shen Shiying gazed at the children with soft, affectionate eyes.
After resting for a moment, Xiao Yi turned to Qin Yan on the couch and said, “Elder sister, shouldn’t they call me ‘little uncle’?”
As soon as these words were spoken, the room fell silent for a moment. Feng Qi and Feng Ning, the twin siblings, were momentarily stunned.
That child, younger than them, was to be called “little uncle”?
Xiao Yi turned back to the twins and then pulled out two exquisitely embroidered pouches from his pocket.
“Call me ‘little uncle,’ and I’ll give you a gift.”
After all, Xiao Yi was only a five-year-old child. His attempt at sounding mature still carried a childish lilt, which was both amusing and endearing.
Qin Yan and Shen Shiying watched the children with faint smiles, neither of them speaking.
Feng Qi and Feng Ning, the twin siblings, stubbornly remained silent, seemingly unwilling to concede. Although they knew they were of a younger generation, the way that kid was using his seniority to assert dominance was truly annoying.
Xiao Yi opened one of the pouches and took out a high-quality, though ordinary-looking smooth white jade pendant. He was about to speak to the twins when Shen Shiying, who had been lounging on the couch, sat up and asked first, “Is this the jade pendant you learned to carve yourself with your master a while ago?”
Xiao Yi looked at his mother and nodded slowly.
Shen Shiying immediately laughed. Oh, so that’s what it is.
After laughing heartily for a moment, she added, “Your master told me that you ruined several pieces of fine jade and even hurt your hand while learning to carve this pendant, all just to give your nephew and niece a gift?”
Xiao Yi seemed a bit embarrassed, his face slightly red, and he didn’t respond.
Hearing this, Feng Qi and Feng Ning’s expressions softened somewhat.
Handmade? This kid had some sincerity after all.
Feng Qi and Feng Ning didn’t hesitate any longer and promptly called out, “Little uncle.”
Xiao Yi smiled faintly and handed the pouches to a servant, who bowed and received them with both hands, presenting them to the Crown Prince and Princess Anping.
After Feng Qi and Feng Ning put away the pouches, Feng Qi took Feng Ning’s hand and said, “Come on, let’s show our little uncle some of the treasures we have. If there’s anything you like, little uncle, feel free to pick!”
The five-year-old Xiao Yi, trying to sound mature, replied, “Hmm, good kids.”
Feng Qi and Feng Ning’s eyes widened in surprise. This… this was what people meant by “climbing up the ladder when given a chance”?
Feng Qi, being a child at heart, immediately took offense. He puffed up his cheeks and glared at Xiao Yi, saying, “Little uncle, call me ‘big brother.'”
Beside him, Feng Ning clutched her stomach, laughing uncontrollably.
“Little uncle? Big brother? Are we each calling each other whatever we want? Hahaha…”
Before long, the three children ran out, laughing and playing, while Shen Shiying and Qin Yan in the room were also laughing uncontrollably.
After her laughter subsided, Shen Shiying felt a deep sense of relief.
Her son, Xiao Yi, seemed to finally show some childlike behavior around Qin Yan’s twins.
————–
In contrast, the atmosphere in the Xianfu Palace, where Dowager Consort De and Princess Jingyi resided, was far from cheerful.
Dowager Consort De’s brow was furrowed with worry. She looked at Feng Yuyao and, after hesitating for a long time, finally asked, “Yuyao, how are things between you and your prince consort?”
Feng Yuyao remained silent for a moment before softly replying, “Mother, am I being too greedy?”
Dowager Consort De did not answer immediately. She took her daughter’s hand and gently stroked it, while Feng Yuyao leaned her head on her mother’s shoulder as if returning to the days before her marriage.
After Feng Yuyao and Shen Ci got married, Shen Ci often left the capital due to official duties, and the couple spent little time together.
But human beings are never satisfied.
Feng Yuyao used to think that as long as she could marry Shen Ci, everything would be fine. After the marriage, she began to wish that Shen Ci could be more proactive and considerate.
On ordinary days, Feng Yuyao could barely manage, but whenever she entered the palace and saw how the Emperor and Empress interacted, her heart would ache with envy.
Shen Ci, on the other hand, was fully devoted to military affairs. Feng Yuyao and Shen Ci had little in common, and the couple seemed mismatched in every way.
When Shen Ci returned to the capital, if he noticed Feng Yuyao was upset with him, he didn’t know how to comfort her. He would simply retreat to his study and stay there all night.
Fortunately, Shen Ci had no interest in other women, and the household remained relatively peaceful.
After a moment of silence in the room, Dowager Consort De’s voice slowly broke the quiet, “Yuyao, if you insist on forcing Shen Ci to change for you, you’re only making things difficult for him and for yourself.”
“In a marriage, there’s no such thing as absolute fairness. It’s not about you taking a step forward and him having to do the same. It’s about mutual compromise.”
“And… there’s a saying, ‘Couples who quarrel at the head of the bed make up by the foot of the bed…'”
After saying this, Dowager Consort De’s face showed a hint of embarrassment.
The room fell silent again for a moment before Feng Yuyao suddenly looked up, “Mother, I don’t think you and Father ever experienced these things in your relationship.”
Seeing the hint of doubt in Feng Yuyao’s eyes, Dowager Consort De coughed lightly, looking slightly uncomfortable, and then said, “I read about this in a storybook.”
Upon hearing this, Feng Yuyao burst into laughter.
“Hahaha, what kind of storybook is it? Mother, you should lend it to me so I can learn from it too, hahaha…”
Dowager Consort De looked at her carefree, laughing daughter and sighed softly.
It was a good thing that neither she nor Yuyao were overly clever or perceptive, but at least they weren’t the type to obsess over things.
Still, jokes aside, the truth remained the same.
All the times we refuse to let go of others ultimately end up being times we refuse to let go of ourselves. Why bother?
————-
After the birthday banquet at the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion, it was time for the Autumn Ceremony. The Northern Liang Emperor, Empress, and their entourage were naturally invited to observe the ceremony in the western suburbs.
According to the established protocol, members of the royal family and some court officials would head to the western suburbs.
Last year, after getting married and returning to Youzhou, the Shizi of Duan Wang Mansion, Feng Subei, had planned to bring his shizifei to the capital for the occasion. After all, Feng Subei was not only a member of the imperial family but had also once served as the liaison between Great Xia and Northern Liang.
However, just before their departure, Shizifei Qin Lin discovered she was pregnant. Overjoyed but also concerned for his wife, Feng Subei requested permission from the Emperor to remain in Youzhou and not travel to the capital.
According to tradition, during the Autumn Hunting Ceremony, at least one prime minister must remain in the capital to handle government affairs. Left Prime Minister Ji Mu, whose wife Wang Jingyi had recently given birth, volunteered to stay in the capital, allowing the newly appointed Right Prime Minister, An Wenjing from the Grand Scholar Mansion, to accompany the Emperor to the western suburbs.
On the day the Emperor’s entourage set out, Ji Mu returned to his mansion and encountered Wang Jingheng, the current Governor of Shuobei Province, who had returned to the capital to report on his duties. Wang Jingheng was also Ji Mu’s brother-in-law.
Wang Jingheng’s visit to the Prime Minister Mansion had two purposes. First, to handle official business and hand over duties to his brother-in-law, Prime Minister Ji Mu; and second, to visit his sister, Jingyi, who had just given birth to a daughter.
Wang Jingheng was highly capable, and during the Ministry of Personnel’s evaluation a year earlier, he had been recommended by several officials to return to the capital. The Emperor approved the recommendation, allowing Wang Jingheng to return to the inner cabinet.
However, Wang Jingheng politely declined the opportunity to return to the capital, choosing instead to remain in Shuobei. The appointment was quickly issued, and Wang Jingheng became the new Governor of Shuobei, tasked with collaborating with Marquis Han Shuangling to manage the region.
Whenever Wang Jingheng thought of his ex-wife, Han Shuangling, his eyes softened with affection.
After years of relentless effort (or rather, persistent pursuit), Han Shuangling had finally become less resistant to him, allowing Wang Jingheng to interact with her as an old friend. It was a good start, though the process had been arduous and lengthy.
However, …
Wang Jingheng’s expression turned cold.
Nowadays, Marquis Han had quite a few friends, such as the commander of the Chifeng Army, Duan Hong, who frequently collaborated with Han Shuangling on official matters and had considerable contact with her.
Wang Jingheng would not linger in the capital for long. Once his affairs were settled, he would return to Shuobei immediately.
In Shuobei, there was still his long road to winning back his wife…
This year’s Autumn Hunting Ceremony followed the same procedures as previous years. After setting up camp and resting, the event began with a horse race.
During this time, Crown Prince Xiao Yi of Northern Liang and Qin Yan’s twins had been spending every day together, having so much fun that they lost track of time.
After the horse race, everyone dispersed to freely explore the hunting grounds. Xiao Yi, along with Feng Qi and Feng Ning, rode their ponies under the protection of the imperial guards, playing not far from the camp.
These three children were cautious in their actions, but there were also some spoiled children who, having been pampered to no end, caused one trouble after another.
Sure enough, an incident occurred in the hunting zone.
Xie Ru, the adopted daughter of Marquis Yongding Xie An, and He Yunzhou, the son of Minister of War He Xiao, had their guards take them into the hunting zone. The two children were playing wildly near the edge of the dangerous animal area when they encountered two white tigers.
While the guards were fighting the tigers, other wild animals were drawn to the commotion. The area was soon filled with the children’s screams, the roars of beasts, and the heavy scent of blood.
The forest guards immediately rushed to assist, and Marquis Yongding Xie An, upon receiving the news, galloped into the forest on horseback.
Marquis Xie arrived just in time to save his adopted daughter Xie Ru from the tiger’s jaws. However, as Xie An was getting older, his movements were slightly slower. His face was scratched by the tiger’s claws, and in the chaos, he also took several heavy blows from a black bear to his chest and back.
Of course, the situation was eventually brought under control by the imperial guards, and the dangerous animal area was immediately reinforced to prevent anyone else from approaching its edges.
After emergency treatment at the camp, Marquis Yongding Xie An and his group were sent back to the Marquis Mansion that night.
The Emperor dispatched imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital to treat Marquis Xie’s injuries, but this incident did not disrupt the progress of the Autumn Hunting Ceremony.
A few days later, the Autumn Hunting Ceremony concluded successfully, and the Northern Liang delegation prepared to depart from Great Xia.
However, at the farewell banquet for the Northern Liang Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince, Marquis Xie was notably absent.
After the banquet, the imperial physician reported to the Emperor, “Your Majesty, when Marquis Xie was scratched by the tiger’s claws, his right eye was also injured. Marquis Xie will likely lose vision in that eye.”
“Marquis Xie already had old injuries from his time in the military. This time, his internal organs were damaged by the bear’s blows. With the autumn dryness exacerbating his condition, there are signs that Marquis Xie may develop tuberculosis.”
Following this, the Imperial Hospital, under the Emperor’s orders, sent precious medicinal ingredients to the Marquis Yongding Mansion to do their utmost in treating Marquis Xie.
————-
In the tenth month, Xie Changyuan, the Shizi of Marquis Yongding, returned to the capital from the northwest and, for the first time in many years, stepped into the Marquis Mansion.
By Xie An’s sickbed, Xie Changyuan coldly observed the man whose right eye was bandaged and who was coughing violently into a handkerchief.
When Xie An’s coughing subsided slightly, Xie Changyuan spoke, “I heard that you were injured while saving your adopted daughter?”
Xie An did not respond. He merely glanced at Xie Changyuan before closing his eyes to rest, still breathing heavily.
After a moment, Xie Changyuan’s indifferent voice continued to echo in the room, “I heard a story from the former Wangfei of Yizhou. You might find it interesting.”
At these words, Xie An opened his eyes and looked at Xie Changyuan, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.
After Xie Changyuan finished recounting the story, Xie An was utterly shocked. He immediately tried to sit up, using his hands to push himself up, but the sudden movement strained his lungs, causing him to cough violently again.
Xie Changyuan watched Xie An with a calm expression. When Xie An finally stopped coughing, Xie Changyuan spoke again, “Marquis Xie, you’ve done a good deed. The biological parents of your adopted daughter will surely be grateful for your great kindness.”
After saying this, Xie Changyuan turned to leave, but Xie An shouted angrily, “Stop right there.”
Xie Changyuan paused and looked back at Xie An, who was now sitting up on the bed, one hand clutching his chest, his father.
Xie An took a few heavy breaths and then said, “Have you met the son of Minister of War He Xiao from the He Mansion?”
Xie Changyuan narrowed his eyes, seemingly puzzled by Xie An’s sudden mention of this matter.
Xie An took a moment to compose himself and continued, “That child from the He Mansion looks exactly like you did when you were young. Do you have any explanation for that?”
Xie Changyuan frowned, his expression filled with suspicion as he looked at Xie An.
What nonsense was Xie An spouting?
Xie Changyuan had no intention of listening to Xie An’s ramblings any longer. He turned and walked away, but Xie An’s angry voice followed him, “You used to be close to He Xiao from the He Mansion, but what exactly did you do?”
“That child is still young, so only I can see the resemblance now. But when he grows up, it will be obvious to everyone…”
Xie An was overcome by another fit of violent coughing. When he removed the handkerchief from his mouth, the bright red bloodstains on it made his brow furrow deeply. Then, Xie An recalled what Xie Changyuan had said earlier.
“Ye Qingli miscarried and found another baby girl to raise in the Yizhou Wang Mansion…”
Xie An closed his eyes, his face filled with hatred.
Ye Qingli!
Ye Qingli!
———–
After leaving, Xie Changyuan’s thoughts were in turmoil.
Seeing Xie An coughing violently on the sickbed had brought back memories of his mother’s frail and haggard appearance when she was bedridden during his return from Shuobei to the capital.
A mocking smile tugged at Xie Changyuan’s lips. If Ye Qingli’s actions were meant to retaliate against him and Xie An, then Xie An’s current suffering could be seen as karmic retribution.
After getting into the carriage, Xie Changyuan did not instruct his subordinates to return to his mansion.
After a moment of silence in the carriage, the subordinates heard their general’s voice, “Go to the Minister He Mansion of the Minister of War.”
Xie Changyuan’s carriage stopped a few meters away from the He Mansion, but he ultimately did not get out.
Originally, according to his plan, he would visit He Xiao’s son during this trip to the capital. But now…
Xie Changyuan did not believe that Xie An would lie to him. Moreover, Xie An’s words reminded Xie Changyuan of certain events that took place years ago at the Shuyu Pavilion by the Qianshui Lake.
Could it be that… that night…
————–
Nanxu, He Xiao’s concubine, continued to live in the He Mansion after He Xiao’s death.
When He Xiao was alive, he had mentioned elevating Nanxu to the status of a secondary wife, but Nanxu knew that He Xiao had said it more out of anger towards Qin Nian. Later, when He Xiao passed away suddenly, the matter was left unresolved, and Nanxu remained merely a concubine.
However, since Nanxu was the mother of He Xiao’s only son, her life in the He Mansion was relatively comfortable.
Nanxu did not know when her son, Yun Zhou, had become so close to Xie An’s adopted daughter, Xie Ru, to the point where the two of them had caused such trouble at the western hunting grounds.
After the Autumn Hunting Ceremony, He Yanming, the Minister of War, personally visited the Marquis Yongding Mansion with generous gifts to express his apologies.
He Yun Zhou had been clamoring to visit Xie Ru at the Marquis Yongding Mansion, but Nanxu stopped him. Initially, Nanxu was concerned that her son should not add to the chaos at the Marquis Mansion while Xie An was still recovering from his severe injuries. However, after that day, Nanxu became even more resolute in her decision.
Her son, He Yun Zhou, had actually said that he wanted to marry Xie Ru when he grew up.
Nanxu was immediately alarmed.
After the incident at the Autumn Hunting grounds, rumors began to circulate quietly in the capital. It was said that Xie An’s adopted daughter, Xie Ru, might actually be Xie An’s illegitimate child. Otherwise, why would Xie An risk his life to save an adopted daughter, ultimately suffering such severe injuries?
If Xie Ru truly were Xie An’s illegitimate daughter, then she would be Yun Zhou’s aunt…
Nanxu dared not dismiss her son Yun Zhou’s words as mere childish talk. If the rumors turned out to be true, the consequences would be unbearable for her. Nanxu immediately scolded her son and forbade him from seeking out Xie Ru again.
Nanxu thought to herself, what could a six-year-old child possibly understand? He might forget about it after a few days of playing with something else.
He Yun Zhou did not throw a tantrum, but his eyes welled up with tears, and he spent the entire day feeling wronged.
He did not tell his mother that on the day of the Autumn Hunt, he had already given Xie Ru the family heirloom jade pendant left to him by his father. He had also promised Xie Ru that he would marry her when he grew up.
————
On this day, Xie Yunzhou took advantage of the changing of the guards to sneak out of the mansion. When Nanxu found out, she was frantic with worry and personally led a group of guards out to search for him.
After leaving the He Mansion, Nanxu instructed the guards to split up and search separately. She herself prepared to head to the Marquis of Yongding Mansion. Along the way, a paper ball was thrown into Nanxu’s carriage. She lifted the carriage curtain, but the street was bustling with people, and she couldn’t tell where the paper ball had come from.
About the time it takes to burn an incense stick later, Nanxu arrived at a tea house by the Qianshui Lake and got out of the carriage. She glanced around and then stepped inside alone.
After unfolding the paper ball, Nanxu saw a line of text written on it, which immediately eased her mind, but then she couldn’t help but feel suspicious.
Who was this person?
Nanxu entered a private room on the second floor with a window view, where she saw the nobleman she had been infatuated with for many years.
“Shizi,” Nanxu bowed slightly to Xie Changyuan, who was sitting on a meditation chair.
Xie Changyuan gestured for Nanxu to sit opposite him. After pouring her a cup of tea, he got straight to the point, “Tell me, what’s the story with your son?”
Nanxu did not answer, nor did she raise her eyes. Only her hands, tightly clutching her clothes on her knees, betrayed her current nervousness.
After a moment, Xie Changyuan’s voice sounded again, “Is he my son?”
At this moment, the child named He Yunzhou had been drugged unconscious and was in the hands of Xie Changyuan’s men. Indeed, as Xie An had said, the child’s facial features looked more and more like Xie Changyuan, causing a vein to throb on Xie Changyuan’s forehead.
Xie Changyuan had some suspicions in his heart. His question was almost unnecessary, as the answer seemed all too clear.
Finally, Nanxu looked at Xie Changyuan with guilt in her eyes and slowly said, “Shizi, Yunzhou, he is indeed your…”
“Enough,” Xie Changyuan ultimately interrupted Nanxu, cutting her off before she could continue to reveal this shameful truth.
Xie Changyuan closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then spoke, “You raised my son in the He family?”
In the evening, Nanxu brought her mischievous runaway son, Yunzhou, back to the mansion.
Several days later, the young master of the He family, He Yunzhou, and his mother left the city to offer incense at the Waning Temple. On their way, they encountered bandits, and both mother and son vanished without a trace.
He Yanming, the Minister of War, was furious and offered a hefty reward for any clues.
The Jingzhao Prefecture was held accountable for such a brazen and atrocious incident occurring within its jurisdiction.
In the study of the General Mansion of the Xie family.
A subordinate entered and reported, “General, the person has been settled properly.”
Xie Changyuan waved his hand, and the subordinate promptly withdrew.
Xie Changyuan furrowed his brow, closed his eyes, and sighed softly. He recalled the words that Qin Yan’s mother, Auntie Ying, had said to him when she returned to the capital that year, “In the future, you will probably suffer because of women…”
Women…
————-
At the Marquis of Yongding Mansion.
That day, after Xie Changyuan came to the Marquis Mansion and told Xie An the “story” he had heard from the former Yizhou Wangfei, Xie An’s heart was in turmoil.
Having raised this “daughter” for so long, it would be false to say there was no affection.
But, Ye Qingli…
In the end, Xie An summoned his subordinate and instructed him to return the person to where she had been brought from.
The subordinate was very surprised, and the task was also difficult.
Now Yizhou was the fiefdom of the Empress, and the Yizhou Wang Mansion no longer existed, so…
But since the Marquis had made his decision, he could only comply.
Xie An lay back on the bed, his chest heaving violently.
Ye Qingli, this woman, had treated his Marquis of Yongding Mansion as a fool!
Xie An coughed violently for a while, and this time blood splattered onto his clothes.
Xie An closed his eyes, breathing heavily to calm his emotions.
Xie Zhao, where was Xie Zhao?
Xie An propped himself up on the bed with one hand, his feet just touching the ground as he tried to get up when suddenly he was wracked by another bout of violent coughing, and a sweet, metallic taste rose in his throat.
A wave of dizziness struck Xie An, and he fell back onto the bed. The blood that had just surged into his mouth flowed back into his airway as he gasped violently, and Xie An instantly found himself unable to breathe.
Xie An put his fingers into his mouth, trying to clear the blood blocking his airway, but it was futile.
He wanted to call for the servants outside the door, but earlier, in his foul mood, he had ordered them not to disturb him. Thus, even if these loyal servants heard the commotion inside the room, they did not enter immediately.
The room was filled with the faint and difficult sounds of Xie An’s struggle. In the end, Xie An, unable to breathe, lost his strength, and his consciousness gradually faded…
By the time the servants finally sensed something amiss and pushed the door open, it was too late.
In the early days of winter, Xie An, the Marquis of Yongding, passed away from illness. The title of Marquis of Yongding had been designated as the hereditary title by the late emperor, so Xie Changyuan, the shizi, succeeded him and became the new Marquis of Yongding.
After Xie An’s funeral, Xie Changyuan once again headed to the northwest.
The past, at last, was coming to an end…
————–
Yangzhou.
Officials from the Ministry of Personnel had come to Yangzhou to ask Qin Wenzheng to return to office, but Qin Wenzheng declined, citing illness.
Qin Wenzheng did not wish to return to officialdom, the place where he had once been glorious but also from where he had fled in disgrace.
Recently, Qin Wenzheng had been suffering from increasingly severe headaches, whether from physical illness or a troubled heart, it was unclear.
The two concubines in the mansion had ultimately not become pregnant, and Qin Wenzheng had also heard that the Emperor and Empress of Northern Liang, along with their five-year-old crown prince, had visited Great Xia.
Shen Shiying, she bore a son for another man…
Thinking of this, Qin Wenzheng felt his headache intensify even more.
At this moment, the steward Zhang Quan entered, “Master, the young master has returned.”
The young master Zhang Quan referred to was Qin Luo.
Qin Luo had put down roots in Shuobei over the years, but he occasionally returned to Yangzhou.
Initially, Qin Wenzheng avoided seeing him, but eventually, he did. The father and son did not speak much. Each time Qin Luo would have a meal with Qin Wenzheng and then leave, and Qin Wenzheng would not ask him to stay.
Now Qin Wenzheng was even more certain that Qin Luo was not his son.
Qin Wenzheng felt nothing but weakness and sorrow. Had his entire life been a mistake…
————–
Over the years, Feng Zhan and Qin Yan often sent people to invite Master Yishan back to the capital to retire, but Yishan refused, choosing to guard Empress Dowager Xiao’s tomb instead.
When Empress Dowager Xiao was alive, she had once contributed to the state of Great Xia, but her alliance with the Western Rong and her attempt to secede Yizhou from Great Xia could be seen as treasonous.
After the current emperor ascended the throne, he did not confer a posthumous title to Empress Dowager Xiao, so she was still referred to as the Empress Dowager.
After Empress Dowager Xiao’s death, she was not buried in the imperial mausoleum but was instead interred near Meishan outside of Yizhou.
Master Yishan deeply regretted this outcome for Empress Dowager Xiao. She was originally an extraordinary woman, but her heart was not broad, and she harmed others as well as herself.
In the year when Crown Prince Feng Qi and Princess Anping turned twelve, Feng Zhan and Qin Yan entrusted them with the responsibility of jointly overseeing state affairs and handling government matters.
Meanwhile, Qin Yan and Feng Zhan retreated to the Fengyu Palace in the western suburbs, entering a semi-retired state.
When the Crown Prince reached the age of twenty and underwent the capping ceremony, Emperor Wu, Feng Zhan, abdicated the throne, and Crown Prince Feng Qi ascended as Emperor Cheng.
Throughout his life, Emperor Wu, Feng Zhan, never took a concubine, and his harem consisted solely of Empress Zhuang Suwen, Qin Yan. This act initiated a trend of monogamy and the rejection of concubinage in Great Xia, with everyone from the royal family to the high-ranking court officials emulating this practice.
Even the Ministry of Personnel incorporated this implicit criterion into the evaluation of officials, giving priority to promotion to those who maintained harmonious marital relations without taking concubines. This trend gradually spread among the common people across all sectors of Great Xia.
During the reigns of Emperor Wu and Emperor Cheng, Great Xia underwent significant reforms, expanded its territory unprecedentedly, and became a prosperous and powerful nation. Later generations referred to this era as the Wucheng Golden Age.
Both Emperor Wu and Emperor Cheng are celebrated in Great Xia’s history as the most outstanding wise rulers. Empress Zhuang Suwen, who had an extremely important influence on the civil and military achievements of these two emperors, was also hailed by historians as a virtuous empress of her generation.
Life may be filled with both fulfillment and regrets, but ultimately, it cannot escape the principles of withering and flourishing, prosperity and decline, life and death, existence and non-existence.
As for the stories, some have already reached their conclusion, while others are just beginning……
— The End —