Chapter 362: An Unreasonable Request (3)

Lou Xiyan was busy until the third watch of the night before returning. Zhuo Qing had not rested; instead, she sat on the daybed waiting for him. Usually, even if she had to wait, she would hold a book to read, but today, she sat straight, her face full of worry.

"How did it go?" Lou Xiyan entered the room and took off his outer robe. Zhuo Qing shook her head, her tone filled with helplessness. "She is very stubborn. These two times I went into the palace to see her, she didn't even want to say much to me."

Winter had arrived, and the weather was gradually turning cold. Zhuo Qing was lightly dressed, and her protruding belly was particularly noticeable. Lou Xiyan walked over, helped her up from the daybed, and sat down on the edge of the bed. He pulled a blanket to cover her belly and knees before saying, "Since that is the case, then agree to her request."

Lou Xiyan said this nonchalantly. Zhuo Qing stared at him and asked, "Are you serious?"

Sitting down beside Zhuo Qing, Lou Xiyan hugged her from behind, letting her lean into his embrace. He replied in a low voice, "Having that child by our side is better than letting them drift elsewhere. But this matter must be done discreetly. I will be the one to find the baby girl to be swapped into the palace."

Lou Xiyan had even considered the issue of the baby girl so thoroughly that Zhuo Qing believed he was serious. Her heart was preoccupied with another thorny problem. "Then Yan Hongtian, he..."

Zhuo Qing had only just mentioned Yan Hongtian when the hand around her waist tightened slightly. It gently stroked her abdomen, and the voice that rang in her ear was equally gentle. "It's alright, I am here."

Zhuo Qing felt a warmth in her heart. For her, the most beautiful love words in the world were not "I love you," but "I am here." No matter the situation or who one faced, there was someone with you. Neither needed to hide under the other's wings; they only needed to face the wind and rain together.

In the spacious room, a brocade wood-carved screen stood in the middle, dividing the room into two. Only two oil lamps were lit in the room, so it was not bright. One could vaguely see a woman sitting on the daybed behind the screen, holding a cup of tea in a somewhat lazy posture, forming a sharp contrast with the man pacing back and forth outside the screen with a panicked expression.

"That Qing Mo is pressing step by step, and has actually investigated into the Imperial Guard. If this continues, sooner or later she will find me!" Ever since he was caught by Yiyue talking to Shui Xin last time, he dared not speak freely outside. Sneaking over tonight, his heart was in such a mess that he wanted to find Shui Xin to discuss things.

Half-leaning on the daybed, Shui Xin replied slowly, "Who told you to commit arson and murder? Do you really think she is a pushover?" The principle of 'the enemy does not move, I do not move; the enemy moves, I move first' was correct, but it depended on who the opponent was, how one moved, and whether one could move. That fool Guo Yi being defeated by that girl was only a matter of time.

Just hearing her voice, one could tell Shui Xin was indifferent. Guo Yi was also enraged. "If I don't do that, what if she really digs something out of Hui Jun's mouth?!"

"If you don't want her to dig anything out of Hui Jun, then when she digs to you, you had better grit your teeth and hold on."

The voice coming from the inner chamber actually carried a hint of a smile. Guo Yi's face turned black. Staring at the person inside the screen who still had the mood to drink tea, he urged, "Shui Xin, are you just going to stand by and watch?"

Stand by and watch? Shui Xin's lips curled slightly, and she sighed with a bit of helplessness. "The old man told me not to meddle in other people's business, so how dare I act on my own?"

"You!" Guo Yi had known Shui Xin for more than a year or two. Her methods were vicious, and her mind was unfathomable. When had she ever been obedient to anyone? Seeing that Shui Xin wanted to distance herself, Guo Yi, in a fit of anxiety, actually crossed the screen and scolded Shui Xin, "Shui Xin, don't be smug. If this matter is exposed, no one will be able to hide!"

"Is that so?" A low murmur sounded. Guo Yi suddenly felt a flash of silver light and hurriedly dodged, but his shoulder felt a sharp pain. Guo Yi clutched his arm and retreated repeatedly. Where he had just been standing, a row of silver needles was embedded in the screen, with the long needles half-sunk into the wooden frame. Guo Yi broke into a cold sweat.

"Get out." A very low voice came from the inner chamber. Guo Yi dared not stay longer and immediately ran out. This woman Shui Xin was becoming increasingly eccentric; he had to find the old man!

Time passed like a white horse galloping past a crack. Amidst their respective busyness, winter had arrived again. In the General's Mansion study, in front of a cowhide map, Gu Yun and Su Ling stood on either side, their gazes fixed on the map, their brows carrying a hint of gloom.

"How can the East Sea and the Northwest frontier be in emergency at the same time?" Gu Yun could not understand. The East Sea pirates should have been wiped out a year ago; why were they causing trouble again after a year? The Northwest had always been Mu Cang's territory. She was not the type of person who liked to stir up trouble, and for so many years, they had been at peace. Why did they start fighting with the Northwest garrison at this very moment?

Su Ling did not answer her question, but only asked, "Are you coming with me?"

Gu Yun thought for a moment and shook her head. "No, not this time. They are both due to give birth in ten days or so; I cannot leave." Last time she left, when she returned, Qingfeng's child had died. This time, they were both giving birth at the same time; she could not let them go.

Su Ling seemed to have guessed she would say this, nodded, and replied, "That is fine, but you must be careful while staying in the capital."

Careful? Gu Yun raised her head, raised her eyebrows slightly, and asked, "Careful of what?"

Su Ling lowered his head and continued to look at the map on the table, his resolute face showing a hint of unnaturalness. "Nothing, I'm just worried about you since I won't be by your side."

He avoided her gaze. Gu Yun faintly felt that something was wrong. Walking to Su Ling's side, Gu Yun leaned against the table leg and asked, "Is there anything else you need to entrust to me?"

Su Ling finally raised his head, turned around, and circled Gu Yun between the desk and himself. He replied, "There is nothing to entrust, just keep Ice Refinement with you at all times. Firstly, it can protect you, and secondly, although it cannot command the Su Family Army, all members of the Su Clan will obey your orders." In his usually sharp eagle eyes, worry flickered. Although he hid it well, Gu Yun still discovered it. Su Ling clearly had something left unsaid. Was it that he didn't want to say it, or couldn't say it? Gu Yun did not continue to ask, suddenly having a feeling that a storm was coming.

Consort Qing had been in a bad mood for several days, irritable and restless, often driving people away. At this moment, the doors of Qingfeng Palace were tightly shut again. Everyone said that Consort Qing's temper was becoming increasingly strange, but in reality, the scene inside the room was quite different.

Ruyi held a towel, gently wiping the sweat from Qingfeng's forehead, and urged, "My Lady, how are you?"

"It hurts so much!" The hand gripping the bedsheet turned white at the knuckles from the force. Qingfeng dared not scream too loudly, biting her lips tightly. Her pale lips were bitten until they broke, and the fresh red blood mixed with her pearly white teeth, which was heartbreaking to see. Ruyi thought of the way Qingfeng looked when she had a premature birth last time, which was similar to now, but at that time there was a group of Imperial Physicians nearby, and the situation was very critical. At this moment, there was only herself and a midwife in the room. Ruyi was so scared that her hands were shaking, and her voice carried a sobbing tone. "My Lady, let this servant go and summon an Imperial Physician."

"No!" Qingfeng grabbed Ruyi's hand fiercely, hurting Ruyi so much that the towel in her hand fell. Ruyi had tears in the corners of her eyes and hurriedly said, "My Lady, this servant won't go, please don't be anxious!"

Her hand loosened its grip slightly. Qingfeng was in so much pain that her consciousness was becoming blurred, and she kept asking, "Qing Mo... has Qing Mo arrived yet?"

Ruyi wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes forcefully and replied, "I went to notify her early this morning."

"Good, wait a little longer..." She trusted them. They had already agreed; if they said they would help her, they would not break their promise! The frequency of contractions was getting faster and faster. Qingfeng held on, but suddenly, her abdomen felt a sharp pain, and Qingfeng could no longer help but scream, "Ah—"

The midwife who had been guarding the side hurriedly lifted the quilt, took one look, and immediately shouted, "My Lady, this cannot wait, you must give birth immediately."

"Bang, bang, bang!"

The steady and rhythmic knocking on the door made everyone in the room freeze. Qingfeng half-propped herself up and urged, "Go... go and see quickly... is it her."

"Yes." Ruyi ran out and ran back in a short while. Qingfeng saw clearly that the person following behind her was indeed Gu Yun. The heart she had been holding for a day was finally put down. Enduring the almost unbearable pain, Qingfeng asked weakly, "The girl... did you bring the girl in."

"Yes." Gu Yun carefully placed the basket on the table by the window and walked to the bed. Seeing Qingfeng lying on the bed with a face pale and tinged with blue, she couldn't help but ask, "How are you?"

Qingfeng shook her head; the torturous pain had already made her unable to speak. Gu Yun was squeezed to the side by the midwife and Ruyi. She really couldn't help much, only waiting outside the screen. Gu Yun's mood was actually very conflicted. Zhuo Qing and Lou Xiyan had both agreed to Qingfeng's request, which she had not expected. She always felt that this was not the best way, but she was helpless.

Fortunately, Gu Yun only waited for half an hour before hearing the midwife's joyful voice from inside: "Congratulations, My Lady, it is a Prince!"

It really was a son. Gu Yun smiled. When she walked into the inner chamber, Qingfeng was lying on the bed, her eyes staring infatuatedly at the midwife cleaning the child, her eyes full of reluctance. Gu Yun walked over, helped Qingfeng lean on the bed, and said, "Bring the child over."

The midwife tidied up the child and brought him to Qingfeng. Regardless of her weak body, Qingfeng immediately reached out to take the child into her arms. Looking at the soft little fellow lying obediently in her arms, Qingfeng's heart was both warm and bitter. She was very clear about the separation she would have to face next. Her heart was twitching with pain, but it did not change her decision. Her eyes could not leave the child for a moment. Qingfeng asked in a low voice, "What about that girl?"

Gu Yun helped Qingfeng, who was having trouble moving, and pointed to the bamboo basket on the window for Ruyi. Ruyi nodded, opened it gently, and saw the tiny baby inside. Her eyes lit up, and she praised, "What a beautiful child." The baby girl also looked very small, white and tender, sleeping quietly. Most eye-catching was the cinnabar mole between her eyebrows, which was bright red and dazzling against her snow-white skin. No one would doubt that such a beautiful baby girl was the Lady's child.

Ruyi brought the baby girl over for Qingfeng to see. Qingfeng took a look; she also liked such a beautiful and well-behaved girl in her heart. From now on, this would be... her daughter.

Winter days got dark early. Gu Yun whispered a reminder, "It is getting late."

Qingfeng's body trembled. What should come would come. Hardening her heart, Qingfeng handed the baby boy in her arms to Gu Yun and took the girl from Ruyi's hands. The movement was done in one go; she knew that if she didn't do this, she wouldn't be able to let go the next moment.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 363 =====