Wei Shuxuan seemed to sense the guilt in Xin Zizhao's tone. She took his hand and spoke to him in an unusually gentle voice, "I've never meant to blame you. Why do you have to blame yourself?"
Looking at Wei Shuxuan's pale and frail face, Xin Zizhao felt even more self - reproachful. "If I had taken better care of you, you wouldn't have ended up like this. Fortunately, the baby is okay. Otherwise, I would have been living in self - blame forever."
Hearing Xin Zizhao's emotional words, Wei Shuxuan thought this wasn't quite like the Xin Zizhao she used to know. Was it because of the baby in her belly?
The ambiguous interaction between the two of them seemed rather eye - catching to the others present. They suddenly felt out of place.
"We have something to attend to, so we'll leave first, Your Majesty. Please take good care of Shuxuan here."
It was Wei Tu who took the initiative to break the ambiguous and awkward atmosphere.
Then Wei Shuxuan picked up where Wei Tu left off. "Yes, you can leave first. I'll be fine with Xin Zizhao taking care of me. Xin Zizhao, can you stay here with me today? Just for one day."
Looking at Wei Shuxuan's pleading eyes, Xin Zizhao sighed helplessly. Thinking that there weren't many memorials to deal with today and considering the baby in Wei Shuxuan's belly, he had no choice but to agree. "Alright, I'll stay with you today."
"Great!" Wei Shuxuan happily got up from the bed. "I'm hungry now. Go and ask the kitchen to make some snacks for me."
Relying on the baby in her belly, Wei Shuxuan unreservedly ordered Xin Zizhao around. Xin Zizhao walked out of the room. Just as he reached the kitchen door, he saw Chief Eunuch Li coming. "Your Majesty, may I ask what brings you here?"
"Chief Eunuch Li, please make some snacks suitable for pregnant women. Shuxuan is hungry."
"Pregnant woman?" A look of surprise flashed across Chief Eunuch Li's face. "Could it be..."
"Yes, Shuxuan is pregnant. Please."
Hearing the news of Wei Shuxuan's pregnancy, a look of joy involuntarily appeared on Chief Eunuch Li's weather - beaten face. "Really? That's wonderful! I'll immediately prepare healthy and nutritious snacks for the Empress!"
Xin Zizhao could tell that Chief Eunuch Li was genuinely happy for him and Wei Shuxuan. He showed a rare smile. "Thank you, Chief Eunuch Li."
"Your Majesty, you're too kind. It makes this humble servant feel unworthy."
After instructing Chief Eunuch Li to make the snacks, Xin Zizhao went back to the room to check on Wei Shuxuan. Wei Shuxuan was already sitting at the table eating peanuts. In fact, there was nothing seriously wrong with her. She just fainted from hunger and would be fine after eating something.
"Are you up? Are you feeling okay?" Xin Zizhao sat down beside Wei Shuxuan and started to feel her pulse. The pulse was steady. There was really nothing wrong. "I'll feel your pulse every day from now on."
"Hey, isn't that too much trouble? Aren't you very busy recently? Go and attend to your business. Don't worry about me."
Wei Shuxuan was a bit reluctant and urged Xin Zizhao to go and deal with his memorials. But Xin Zizhao said, "I've almost finished dealing with the memorials. The riot caused by Sima Tianhai has almost been quelled. However, Qiangfeng Kingdom will send envoys to negotiate peace with us and sign a peace agreement soon. So, for the time being, we just need to wait for the envoys to arrive."
"Envoys? Don't tell me they'll send a pervert like Qiha'er again. After the negotiation, they'll act as if nothing happened?" Wei Shuxuan couldn't help but sneer at Qiangfeng Kingdom's peace - making move this time.
"The peace negotiation last time was Sima Tianhai's unilateral attempt to make peace with us. Qiha'er was his subordinate, so Qiha'er was sent here. In fact, the emperor of Qiangfeng Kingdom hadn't made up his mind whether to negotiate peace with us. After all, we've been at war for more than a decade, and victory or defeat could be decided in an instant."
"Then who made Qiangfeng Kingdom make up its mind?" Wei Shuxuan turned her head.
"You can figure it out if you think about it. And I don't like to mention this person."
Saying this, Xin Zizhao's face turned cold. Wei Shuxuan thought for a while and knew who he was talking about. But he didn't mention the name. He just curled his lips slightly, feeling an indescribable sweetness in his heart.
A few days later, Qiangfeng Kingdom sent its envoys. Xin Zizhao and several important court officials came out in person to receive the envoy from Qiangfeng Kingdom. As soon as Xin Zizhao saw the white figure walking in front, he couldn't help but pout.
Sure enough, it was him.
The envoy sent by Qiangfeng Kingdom was none other than Bai Yue, who had had an encounter with them before. Xin Zizhao didn't like seeing Bai Yue at all.
"Bai Yue, the envoy from Qiangfeng Kingdom, pays homage to the Emperor of Yulong Kingdom."
Bai Yue's expression was as cold as ever, yet there was a hint of frivolity. But Xin Zizhao didn't think this was the real side of this man.
But in front of so many people, Xin Zizhao didn't say anything. He just smiled slightly. "Rise. Please come here, envoys from Qiangfeng Kingdom."
They came to the Golden Palace. Xin Zizhao sat on the dragon throne and looked at Bai Yue below. "I wonder how much sincerity the envoy from Qiangfeng Kingdom has brought for this peace negotiation? I remember that in the last peace negotiation, it was you who unilaterally broke the agreement first. How can I and all the people of Yulong Kingdom trust you this time?"
"Your Majesty, our Qiangfeng Kingdom is serious this time. The last peace negotiation was just Sima Tianhai's unilateral act and didn't represent our emperor's opinion. Please forgive us, Your Majesty. This time, we've come with full sincerity. As long as your peace - making requirements are within our capabilities, we'll agree to them."
"Fine," Xin Zizhao didn't hesitate. "First, Qiangfeng Kingdom is not allowed to invade the territory of Yulong Kingdom at will. Second, if you unilaterally tear up the peace treaty again, our Yulong Kingdom will not hesitate to defeat your Qiangfeng Kingdom. I wonder if the envoy can accept these two conditions?"
"Of course I can," Bai Yue replied with a polite smile. "Since the emperor has given me the privilege as an envoy, I can make the decision on this, and the emperor will have no objections."
"That's the best."
After reaching an agreement with Bai Yue, Xin Zizhao immediately ordered someone to draw up the peace treaty. In the presence of many ministers, Xin Zizhao and Bai Yue, representing Qiangfeng Kingdom, signed the peace agreement.
To celebrate the renewed friendship between Qiangfeng Kingdom and Yulong Kingdom, Xin Zizhao kept Bai Yue in the palace and held a grand welcome banquet and celebration banquet for him.
Amid the sweet music, the banquet began.