In the past, Yi Qing hated palace banquets the most. There were always all sorts of strange people she didn't know coming to pick on her.
Now, Yi Qing still detests palace banquets. There are always strange people she's never met trying to get close to her. They act as if they've known her for ages even though they've never crossed paths before.
After briefly dealing with them, Xiao Jinghan came over and took her away.
"Aren't we going home?" Yi Qing asked as she saw Xiao Jinghan walking deeper into the palace.
"I'm taking you somewhere," Xiao Jinghan said mysteriously.
The highest point in the palace was the Star - gazing Platform, from where one could overlook the entire capital. By the time they arrived, someone had already cleared the snow off the steps.
Xiao Jinghan took Yi Qing's hand and led her up the platform. Looking at the lights of countless households in the capital, it was the first time Yi Qing had stood so high to view the place she lived in.
"Is it beautiful?" Xiao Jinghan hugged Yi Qing from behind.
"Yeah," Yi Qing nodded. "How did you find this place?"
Xiao Jinghan smiled but didn't answer. There was no need to search for this place. Everyone knew it was the highest point in the capital, but not everyone was allowed to come up. Now, he had the ability to bring Yi Qing here.
"If you like it, you can come here often in the future," Xiao Jinghan whispered.
"Forget it. I don't like going into the palace," Yi Qing shook her head.
In this year, the emperor annexed the Ping family and effectively took control of northern Jin. Duke Mu donated all his family wealth. Since the emperor ascended the throne, the national treasury was full for the first time, and there was enough money to deal with floods and bandits. After Duke Xie, scholars from humble backgrounds entered the court, and those with lofty ideals flocked to pledge their loyalty to the court. For a while, the whole of the Jin Dynasty was united as one...
Xiao Jinghan's reputation as a war god was not as resounding as before, but Lady Xiao's reputation as a divine doctor grew.
Yi Qing promoted the use of patent medicines, enabling more people to receive timely treatment while reducing the cost of treatment, thus winning the hearts of the people. She also established a women's clinic and taught women medicine, so that it would no longer be so troublesome for women to see a doctor.
As for the Chen family, they were involved in many matters, mainly hoarding iron ingots privately. They were suspected of plotting rebellion, and the whole family was exiled. Chu Nan also became a direct territory under the court's jurisdiction.
This time, the other vassal states didn't say a word. Such a crime was too heavy for anyone to bear. The key was that they realized the emperor was no longer the one who had to rely on them.
At the turn of spring and summer, the southern empress of the Southern Border personally came to the capital, expressing her willingness to form an eternal alliance with the Jin Dynasty.
Prince Zhen now controlled southern Min. He forced the emperor to allow him to marry into the Southern Border with the territory of southern Min as leverage. The emperor had no choice but to deprive him of all his real power and send him to southern Min. Finally, Zisu and Prince Zhen could be together legitimately.
"What's the deal with the wanted order for Gan Ermei?" Zisu asked Yi Qing when they were chatting about this.
"She has a pitiful background, but what she did violated the law, so of course she has to be wanted," Yi Qing didn't show any favoritism in this matter. "How are they doing in the Southern Border?"
"Wu Peng now controls Wu Gorge. Who can do anything to them?" Zisu understood what Yi Qing meant. "You're about to give birth soon, aren't you?"
"About a month or so," Yi Qing stroked her belly. "I really hope this time it's a daughter."
Zisu knew that Yi Qing had always wanted a daughter. "I'm going back in a couple of days. After you give birth, you must come and stay with me for a while. It's not cold in winter in the Southern Border."
"Okay," Yi Qing readily agreed.
On the day the Southern Border's mission left, Yi Qing didn't go to see Zisu off. She and Zisu were already used to parting and reuniting. As long as they were capable, seeing each other again wouldn't be difficult. Why be sad about it?
Yi Qing giving birth was a big event for many people. The emperor had prepared rewards early on, and Duke Di had also prepared everything. Although there were already two young masters in the Xiao Mansion, this time it was especially grand.
Lu Tianxun wanted to take Wu Min back to the Lu Mansion, but Yi Qing didn't agree. Although Wu Min was quiet for the time being, in case something suddenly changed, she could take care of her in time.
It started to rain as summer began. Yi Qing was worried that it would be damp after giving birth, so she specifically had a room built for drying clothes just in case.
Yi Qing suddenly woke up in the middle of the night due to labor pains, which also woke Xiao Jinghan who was sleeping on the small couch.
"What's wrong?" Xiao Jinghan helped Yi Qing up.
"I think I'm about to give birth," Yi Qing got out of bed.
"Someone, go and call the midwife," Xiao Jinghan said in a hurry.
"Not yet," Yi Qing leaned on Xiao Jinghan. "I'll take a walk around the room."
Xiao Jinghan carefully supported Yi Qing as she slowly walked around the room. Giving birth was extremely dangerous for a woman, like walking through the gates of hell.
But it was also a normal thing for a woman to give birth. There was no need to be so scared. One just had to think that no matter how painful it was, it would pass.
Everyone outside was ready. The inside and outside were brightly lit, but they could only watch as Yi Qing walked around the room slowly with her hand on her waist.
The rain outside hadn't completely stopped. According to the time, it should be almost dawn, but it was still pitch - black because of the rain.
"Okay," Yi Qing quickly lay down on the delivery bed she had prepared. "Let the midwife come in."
Xiao Jinghan was a bit at a loss and had no choice but to let the midwife go in first.
This was Yi Qing's third child, so she was quite experienced.
Xiao Jinghan paced back and forth in the corridor, which made others extremely nervous.
The cry of the baby rang out, and a ray of golden sunlight shone through the clouds. The sun, which had been absent for many days, finally showed its face.
"A baby girl is born! A baby girl is born!" the midwife shouted excitedly.
Xiao Jinghan was so excited that he wanted to go in. As soon as Baozi, who was sitting at the end of the corridor, heard it was a younger sister, he ran even faster than his father, afraid that his father would snatch his sister.
Xiao Jinghan walked to Yi Qing's side and saw Baozi looking at his sister excitedly.
"Fortunately, it's a younger sister. Otherwise, he would have been disappointed," Yi Qing joked.
"Madam has suffered," Xiao Jinghan said lovingly to Yi Qing.
The Xiao Mansion's joy of having a daughter was like a celebration across the land. The emperor asked the Imperial Astronomical Observatory to give the baby a name. But seeing everyone so happy, Yi Qing directly decided on the nickname "Xi'er", making others' efforts in vain. However, those people began to think that when Xi'er came of age, they mustn't let Yi Qing be so willful.
This year, the empress was also pregnant and gave birth to a princess. Since then, no one talked about the Xie family anymore.
What was most unexpected was that Di Shi was pregnant. This time, Bai Chengyi married into the Di family, so the Di family finally had an heir.
Just thinking that they might have an uncle or aunt younger than themselves, Baozi and the others felt a bit headache.
In winter, Yi Qing discussed with Xiao Jinghan about going to the Southern Border to visit Zisu. Xiao Jinghan looked a bit embarrassed.
"What's wrong?" Yi Qing asked, looking at Xiao Jinghan's expression.
"The emperor wants to deprive the vassal states of their power," Xiao Jinghan whispered.
"Ah?" Yi Qing thought that dog - emperor just wouldn't let people live in peace. "He said we shouldn't go too far before. Why does he want to start so soon?"
"Those people didn't react strongly to the matters of Duke Mu and the Chen family. Moreover, the court is now stable and has the ability to do this."
Yi Qing nodded. "Is he asking you to do it again?"
Xiao Jinghan smiled helplessly.
"Alright," Yi Qing didn't stop him, just as Xiao Jinghan didn't stop her from practicing medicine and making drugs. "But now you have a family. You must remember to come home."
"Okay," Xiao Jinghan hugged Yi Qing in his arms.
There's no real end in life. It's just that a story belonging to us for a certain period of time has ended. There are still many things in the future. As long as a husband and wife are of one mind, they can overcome everything.
<The End>