Chapter 504: Dreaming of wearing a phoenix coronet and rosy cape, acting as the mother of the world

The next day.

Early morning.

The snow from last night shimmered with a pale, clear white in the morning light.

Inside the main bedroom of the Duke of Wei's mansion, the warm stove burned with high-quality silver-thread charcoal, exuding a gentle warmth that dispelled the chill of the winter morning.

The bed was spread with thick brocade mattresses, and the quilt, embroidered with intertwined lotus patterns, was soft and fluffy. Pei Suiwan lay on her side, her complexion still bearing a trace of the pallor that follows childbirth, yet her clear, beautiful features remained undiminished.

Since giving birth yesterday, she had fallen into a deep, heavy sleep. At this moment, her eyelashes fluttered slightly, and her brows were knitted, as if she were trapped in a chaotic dream.

She murmured intermittently, her voice thin and faint but clear, calling out over and over: "Husband... Husband... Husband!"

When she called the final "Husband," Pei Suiwan opened her eyes abruptly. Her gaze still held the bewilderment and lingering fear of someone just waking, and she sat up instinctively.

She looked around: the carved bed beams, the familiar bed curtains, the celadon vase placed on the side table—everything was both familiar and strange.

The exhaustion and pain from childbirth still lingered in her body, leaving Pei Suiwan momentarily dazed, and she couldn't help but ask softly: "Where am I?"

Chen Yan, who had been guarding the bedside while quietly reading a book, immediately put the scroll down upon hearing her. A gentle smile bloomed on his face as he rose, walked to the bedside, reached out to gently support her shoulders, and said softly: "Suiwan, you're awake?"

Seeing the lingering confusion in her eyes, he responded patiently, his tone full of doting: "We are in our own mansion!"

Hearing the familiar voice and feeling the warmth from his palms, the panic in Pei Suiwan's heart dissipated by more than half.

She did not hesitate, throwing herself directly into Chen Yan's arms, burying her head deep into his broad chest, clutching his lapels tightly. Her voice was hoarse from sleep and filled with reliance: "Husband!"

Chen Yan hurriedly caught her steadily, fearing she might strain her body after childbirth. He gently pulled her into his embrace, his other hand patting her back with a slow, soothing rhythm to comfort her: "It's alright, it's alright! I'm here!"

He could feel the slight trembling of her body in his arms and asked softly: "Did you have a nightmare?"

Pei Suiwan gave a soft "Mm" in Chen Yan's arms, her cheek pressed against his warm lapel.

Feeling her man's steady heartbeat and the warmth of his palms, the exhaustion of childbirth and the bewilderment of waking slowly faded, leaving only a heart full of peace.

Actually, it wasn't exactly a nightmare.

It was just that she had dreamed of herself wearing a phoenix coronet and rosy cape, acting as the mother of the world...

She nestled there for a moment, the familiar scent lingering at the tip of her nose, when she was suddenly struck by a thought. She pushed herself up abruptly, her eyes full of urgency, and grabbed Chen Yan's arm to ask: "By the way, Husband! Where are our children?"

Before Pei Suiwan had fallen asleep, Sister Yun had told her they were twins—a boy and a girl...

Seeing her eager and somewhat naive appearance, Chen Yan couldn't help but laugh. He reached out to tuck the stray hair at her temples and said in a gentle tone: "Don't be anxious. The wet nurse just finished feeding them and has already lulled the two little ones to sleep. They are sleeping very soundly."

Having said that, he turned his head to look at Dantai Mingyue, who was standing behind the screen, and ordered: "Mingyue, hurry and bring the two little ones over for the Madam to see."

"Yes."

Dantai Mingyue nodded in acknowledgment and turned to leave with light steps.

Pei Suiwan sat on the bed, her hands unconsciously gripping the quilt, her eyes fixed on the doorway, filled with anticipation.

After only a moment, she saw Mingyue walking slowly toward her, carrying a swaddled infant.

Following behind her was Cui Yuanrong, who was equally cautious, also carrying a swaddled infant of the same size.

Seeing her mother's familiar figure, Pei Suiwan's eyes grew hot, and she blurted out: "Mother!"

Cui Yuanrong immediately raised a finger to her lips in a gesture for silence. Her lips moved slightly, and she lowered her voice to say softly: "Shh! Suiwan, be quiet!"

She walked with extremely light steps to the bedside and handed the swaddled infant in her arms to Pei Suiwan, her tone full of pity: "They just fell asleep; don't wake them up again..."

Pei Suiwan gave a soft "Okay" and carefully took Chen Ji'an into her arms.

The little one seemed to sense a familiar scent; he rubbed his little head slightly against the crook of her arm and continued to sleep soundly.

She turned her head to look at Chen Shuying beside her, her fingertips gently brushing over her daughter's soft, newborn hair.

Her eyes were filled with an unfathomable tenderness, and she seemed to be enveloped in a warm, gentle halo, fully displaying the radiance of motherhood.

Pei Suiwan gazed at the two sleeping little faces, her voice so soft it could almost melt: "They are sleeping so soundly!"

Chen Yan sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze falling on his wife and children, his eyes full of doting. He nodded with a smile: "That's for sure! These two little ones tossed and turned for half the night; now they are finally behaving."

As he spoke, he sighed lightly, his tone carrying a touch of helplessness but unable to hide his love: "Suiwan, you don't know, these two little ones made quite a fuss last night."

"Zhiqing came to soothe them for a long time before they finally fell asleep. They said that as soon as they landed, they were separated from their mother—they were missing you!"

Hearing this, Pei Suiwan felt a warmth in her heart. She lowered her head and gently pressed a kiss to Chen Ji'an's smooth forehead, a gentle smile blooming at the corners of her mouth as she replied softly: "Mm."

She tightened her arms around her son, her gaze lingering back and forth on the two children's faces. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she looked up at Chen Yan and Cui Yuanrong, asking with full anticipation: "By the way, Husband, Mother, have you given the two children names yet?"

Hearing this, Cui Yuanrong immediately showed a smile and hurriedly took over the conversation: "We have, we have!"

"Yesterday, just after they were brought out of the warm pavilion, a Daoist priest named Ji came to the courtyard. He is no ordinary person!"

She lowered her voice, her tone carrying a touch of mystery and pride: "That Daoist said that when he arrived, he saw the mansion surrounded by five-colored auspicious clouds, calling it a sign of good fortune. He even took a special look at the child, praising him for his appearance of a Qilin and Phoenix, and his bearing of the heavens and sun. He even predicted that by the age of eighteen, he would surely be able to save the world and bring peace to the people!"

"Save the world and bring peace to the people?"

Pei Suiwan repeated softly, a flash of surprise and joy crossing her eyes.

"Exactly!"

Cui Yuanrong nodded repeatedly: "A Yan heard these words and immediately chose the two characters 'Ji'an' for his grandson—Chen Ji'an!"

Pei Suiwan looked down at the sleeping Chen Ji'an in her arms, her fingertips gently tracing her son's tiny nose, murmuring the repetition: "Save the world and bring peace to the people... Chen Ji'an..."

Her eyes brightened again and again, and she sighed: "What a good name!"

As she spoke, her gaze shifted to the swaddled infant in Cui Yuanrong's arms. Remembering she hadn't heard her daughter's name yet, she hurriedly asked: "And the daughter? What is the daughter's name?"

Chen Yan sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out to brush the stray hair from her cheek, his eyes full of smiles as he responded softly: "The daughter's name was chosen by your father himself. She is called Shuying—Chen Shuying."

"Shuying?"

Pei Suiwan repeated softly, her brows slightly knitted as if in deep thought.

She gazed at her daughter's peaceful sleeping face, and suddenly a dusty memory flashed through her mind. Her eyes instantly filled with a brilliant, surprised radiance. She looked up at Chen Yan and asked: "Is it taken from your poem from back then, the 'Shuying' from 'Sparse shadows slanted across the clear, shallow water, a hidden fragrance drifting in the moonlit dusk'?"

Chen Yan nodded with a smile, his tone full of approval: "Exactly! Suiwan is indeed intelligent; you guessed it on the first try."

Hearing this, a brilliant smile instantly bloomed on Pei Suiwan's face, her eyes seeming to hold starlight. She smiled beautifully: "That's wonderful! When I first heard this poem at the poetry gathering back then, I loved it dearly!"

She turned to look at Chen Yan, her eyes full of admiration and pride: "Moreover, this poem also carries the glory of you defeating the Wang and Xie clans single-handedly back then!"

"Thinking back, the descendants of the Wang and Xie clans relied on their noble status and made things difficult in every way at the poetry gathering, but they were stunned by your poem, which left them with no face left..."

As she spoke, she reached out to gently touch her daughter Chen Shuying's soft little hand, her tone becoming even gentler: "Using such a name with backbone and a story for our daughter is just perfect!"

"Ji'an aspires to save the world and bring peace to the people; Shuying is as elegant as the sparse shadows of plum branches. One firm and one soft, one literary and one martial—our pair of children will surely be able to shine in their own ways, just like their names."

The warmth of the stove still lingered in the room when suddenly a fresh fragrance drifted in through the door crack, mixed with the gentle scent of medicinal herbs, becoming even more enticing.

Everyone followed the scent and saw Qingyu walking slowly toward them, carrying a gold-traced white porcelain bowl. The rim of the bowl was wreathed in curling steam, which flushed her cheeks slightly red.

She walked with extremely light steps to the bedside, carefully placed the soup bowl on the small table at the head of the bed, and said with a smile: "Sister Suiwan, the soup is ready. Try it while it's hot."

Pei Suiwan's nose twitched, her appetite piqued by the rich yet refreshing fragrance. She asked with full curiosity: "What kind of soup is this? It smells so good!"

"It's crucian carp soup," Qingyu leaned over to reply. "It was prepared according to the postpartum nourishing recipe specifically provided by Sister Yun. It contains medicinal herbs that replenish Qi and blood, such as red dates, longan, angelica, and codonopsis. It was simmered over a slow fire for three hours until the fish meat became soft and melted into the soup. It's both fresh and nourishing."

As she spoke, she thoughtfully pointed to the bowl: "Look, the soup has been boiled to a milky white color, and there's not a hint of fishiness. Drink some while it's hot to nourish your body."

Pei Suiwan smiled and replied: "Mm, thank you and Sister Yun for your hard work."

Chen Yan picked up the soup bowl, took the silver spoon from the side, scooped up a spoonful of soup, and blew on it gently. Only after the temperature was appropriate did he pass it to Pei Suiwan's lips: "Drink slowly, don't burn yourself."

Pei Suiwan opened her mouth and drank it. The warm fish soup slid down her throat, carrying the freshness of the fish and the gentleness of the herbs. The taste was mellow but not greasy.

The warmth spread along her esophagus, flowing all the way into her stomach, and soon turned into a warm current that spread throughout her body.

The exhaustion and weakness after childbirth seemed to have been dispelled by a few points.

Her eyes brightened, and she couldn't help but nod: "It's really delicious; it warms the stomach very well."

Hearing this, the smile in Chen Yan's eyes deepened. He continued to feed her one spoonful at a time, blowing on each one carefully, fearing he might burn her.

Cui Yuanrong, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, watched her daughter drinking the soup, her face full of concern. She urged softly: "A woman's postpartum month is the most important; you cannot be careless."

"You have just given birth, and your Qi and blood are deficient. From now on, you must drink this soup on time; nourishing your body is the foundation."

Just then, Hongye walked in quickly. Her expression carried a touch of urgency, yet she maintained her composure. She walked to the bedside, bowed, and said to Chen Yan: "Duke, someone from the Heavenly Office has arrived!"

Chen Yan was in the middle of feeding Pei Suiwan soup. Upon hearing this, his movements paused, and his brows knitted slightly. He put down the silver spoon and asked: "Did they say what it's about?"

"They said the Grand Tutor wants you to go over immediately!" Hongye replied truthfully.

A look of hesitation appeared on Chen Yan's face. His gaze fell on Pei Suiwan, his tone carrying a touch of hesitation: "This..."

His wife had just woken up, and this was exactly the time she needed companionship...

Seeing this, Pei Suiwan understood in her heart. She hurriedly patted the back of his hand and said softly: "Husband, hurry and go! If the Grand Tutor is calling for you at this time, it must be a matter of great importance. Official business at court cannot be delayed."

Cui Yuanrong also hurriedly echoed: "Yes, A Yan, hurry and go!"

"I will watch over Suiwan in the mansion, and with Mingyue, Qingyu, and the others serving, we will surely take care of Suiwan and the children properly. You can go handle your official business with peace of mind."

Chen Yan nodded solemnly: "Then I will trouble you, Mother-in-law. Once I have handled the official business, I will surely return as quickly as possible."

Immediately, he stood up, straightened his robes, and walked quickly toward the outside with Hongye.

The sound of footsteps grew distant and soon disappeared in the courtyard.

Early morning.

The chill had permeated the skin and flesh.

A layer of thin frost had condensed on the blue tiles of the Heavenly Office, shimmering with a cold white in the daylight.

On the corridor outside the side hall, several withered trees with sparse branches slanted across. The cold wind swept past with fragments of frost, causing the fallen leaves on the ground to rustle.

The personal guards were dressed in dark military uniforms, with curved sabers at their waists and their shoulders and backs held straight, showing no sign of relaxation even in the bitter cold.

Seeing the Duke of Wei walking over with steady steps, a flash of respect crossed the personal guard's eyes. He hurriedly took a step forward, folded his hands in front of his chest, and respectfully gestured to the side: "Zhuguo, please this way!"

"The Grand Tutor is waiting for you inside!"

Chen Yan nodded in acknowledgment, his steps not stopping, and he pushed the door open to enter.

Inside the side hall, it was warm and cozy. A copper stove on the ground burned with high-quality silver-bone charcoal, and blue smoke rose in curling wisps, dispelling the bitter cold from outside.

The furnishings in the hall were simple and solemn; only the side tables and chairs were made of rosewood.

Yuwen Hu sat alone at the desk, dressed in a purple python robe with a jade belt at his waist. He held a memorial in his hands, his brows slightly knitted as if in deep thought.

Chen Yan dared not disturb him. He slowed his steps, walked forward, stood still three feet from the desk, straightened his robes, and then bowed, his voice respectful and steady: "Your subordinate greets the Grand Tutor!"

Only then did Yuwen Hu lift his eyes. He pointed to the rosewood chair opposite and said peacefully: "A Yan, sit!"

"Yes." The Duke of Wei replied and sat down as instructed.

Just as he sat down, Yuwen Hu put away the memorial, placed his hands on the desk, and his expression suddenly became solemn. He said in a deep voice: "The reason I called you here in such a hurry is because there is a very urgent and critical matter!"

Before he finished speaking, he reached under the desk and took out a brocade box the size of a palm. He opened the box, and inside was a piece of plain silk cloth.

Immediately, he took out the object wrapped in the silk cloth, pushed it gently toward Chen Yan, and continued: "You look at this object first..."

Chen Yan felt a chill in his heart. He reached out to take the silk cloth and unfolded it slowly, only to see a few copper coins wrapped inside.

He picked up one and brought it close to examine it carefully. A sense of familiarity rushed toward him, his pupils shrank, and he looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with unbelievable shock, exclaiming: "This is... a fake copper coin?!" ===== CHAPTER 505 =====