Repeatedly broken branches

Chapter 112 Personal Expedition

Ruan Cifeng has already prepared the antidote, which he adds to Xiao Mu's pregnancy-stabilizing medicine quietly every day, and no one notices.

His severed finger has almost healed, but he can no longer pick up a carving knife to carve beautiful jade. If Xiao Mu sees his terrible severed finger, will she feel disgusted?

Five days after taking the medicine, he took Xiao Mu's pulse again. Although he couldn't find anything, Ruan Cifeng was still somewhat confident.

Success or failure can only be determined at the moment of production.

There are still ten days until her due date, but labor could start at any time during those ten days, so Wei Lan and Rou Rou forbid her from going out anymore, lest she panic if labor suddenly starts on the road.

She sat listlessly in Zining Palace, clutching the plum blossom sachet she had embroidered for Yu Yanjing. For some reason, she felt a tightness in her chest, and she was often awakened by nightmares at night, but she could not remember what she dreamed about. She only felt extremely anxious.

The nanny who was taking care of her said that it was normal for pregnant women to have many dreams, because it was the baby in her belly that was afraid.

Xiao Mu touched her bulging belly. What was the baby afraid of? She was safe and sound inside, protected by herself. What was there to be afraid of?

I think she misses her father.

"It's terrible! It's terrible! General Zhou is trapped by the enemy at Silong Mountain. He's running out of water and food and he's about to collapse!"

A commotion broke out outside Zining Palace, the sound growing louder and louder as someone shouted outside the palace gates, attracting a crowd of onlookers.

Zhou Tingxi, isn't he very capable?

Xiao Mu was filled with anxiety. What would happen to Zhou Tingxi, Wei Hao, Jiang Qi, and the thousands of soldiers? She knew nothing and couldn't help them. At that moment, she felt utterly powerless.

She asked Rou Rou to take her to Zhongzigong to see Yu Yanjing, but as soon as she arrived at the door, she saw Ouyang Meixi and Jiao'er kneeling there. Her eyes were red from crying, and her hair was disheveled. She had lost the prestige of the general's wife.

At that moment, she was just a weak woman concerned about her husband's safety.

She was distressed that she could do nothing, and could only kneel outside the Zhongzi Palace and pray that the emperor inside would send troops to rescue her husband.

Xiao Mu suddenly felt sorry for her, so she asked Rou Rou to get a cloak to cover her up. It was windy here, and it wouldn't be worth it if she got sick because of it.

The gates of Zhongzi Palace slowly opened, and Shen Ruoxuan walked out with a gloomy face. When she saw her, she gave a slight bow and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, please persuade him."

Xiao Mu asked in confusion, "What's wrong with him?"

Shen Ruoxuan sighed and said, "His Majesty wants to lead the expedition in person."

These four words struck her like a bolt from the blue: "The Emperor personally leads the expedition." What could be so thorny that would make Yu Yanjing want to abandon his pregnant wife and personally lead the expedition?

Xiao Mu dragged her heavy body slowly into Zhongzi Palace. Yu Yanjing had his back to her, so she couldn't see anything—his expression, his face—but even so, she could feel his worries.

Without a second thought, she stepped forward, took Yu Yanjing's hand—that beautiful hand that she adored—and said, "Go if you want to."

Yu Yanjing was slightly taken aback and slowly turned around. Only then did Xiao Mu see how haggard his face looked. His once affectionate peach blossom eyes were now full of weariness. Seeing him like this, she felt a pain in her heart that left her speechless.

She simply held his hand tightly, letting him know that he was not alone, that he had her and the child.

Seeing how sensible she was, Yu Yanjing felt guilty and couldn't say a word. He already had the answer in his heart, so he hesitated to go to her, not knowing how to say such words.

She had told herself countless times that she was terrified.

But I'm leaving when she's most afraid. What will she think? Will she be even more afraid?

"I'll wait until the baby is born before I leave, I'll be with you during childbirth," he promised in a hoarse voice.

Xiao Mu shook her head. "The child can wait, but Zhou Tingxi and the others can't."

“But…” Yu Yanjing was still worried. Even if he knew that he was not there, Wei Lan, Rou Rou, Ruan Cifeng, and Xiao Shao would all take good care of her.

There were no other concubines in the palace, so he didn't have to worry about anyone framing her. But he didn't know if the poison in her body had been completely removed. What should he do when she was afraid and he wasn't around?

"It's nothing, really."

Xiao Mu tried her best to comfort Yu Yanjing, wanting him to feel that even if he wasn't there, she would still be able to give birth to the child safely.

She will wait for him to come back with the children.

Yu Yanjing's eyes were full of heartache. He held her in his arms, wanting to give her the softest spot in his heart. He hated that he was an emperor, hated that he couldn't belong to her alone, because he was still the hope of the entire Chaoyang Kingdom.

A royal decree leading an expedition will boost the morale of the people and give the soldiers more confidence to fight the enemy.

"She is very well-behaved."

Xiao Mu placed Yu Yanjing's hand on her pregnant belly, and the baby actually kicked her. This was the first time, the first time her father had truly felt her presence.

Yu Yanjing was filled with mixed emotions, more joy than sorrow. This was his child, his and her child. She was so tiny, nestled peacefully in her mother's womb. Just now, he had touched her small, soft body, and even through the pregnant belly, he felt incredibly happy.

"Ran'er, you must stay obediently in your mother's belly and not be naughty, do you understand?" Yu Yanjing leaned down, pressed her face against Xiao Mu's pregnant belly, and gently spoke to the child in her womb.

"Ran'er?"

He nodded slightly. "Yes, this is the nickname I gave my child. Whether it's a princess or a prince, it will be called Ran'er. If we're talking about generational names, a princess should start with the character 'Qing' and a prince with the character 'Zhi'."

Xiao Mu said calmly, "Let's name the child when you come back. I really like the character 'Ran'er, it can be used for princesses and princes."

Yu Yanjing smiled, raised his hand and gently pinched her chubby cheek, saying softly, "Why are you so well-behaved now? You weren't like this before."

"Isn't it good to be a good boy/girl?"

“Okay. Why not?” He pulled her into his arms again and whispered above her head, “Don’t come to see me off on the day I leave for war.”

Xiao Mu trembled slightly, but still smiled and said, "Okay."

She knew that Yu Yanjing didn't want to experience the scene of parting with her, and neither did she; she couldn't watch him leave with a stable emotional state.

They talked a lot that night, from their first meeting to their child's future.

Only after she fell into a deep sleep in his arms did Yu Yanjing carry her to the couch. He didn't lie down on the couch, but instead went to the window, lost in thought.

He thought Xiao Mu would cry and make a fuss if she knew he was going to personally lead the army, but she didn't. Her reaction was unusual; she was calm and composed.

……

"The spy has been found."

Wei Hao looked at Jiang Qi's back and slowly spoke.

Jiang Qi asked doubtfully, "Who is it?"

Wei Hao hesitated for a moment, but still said, "The Ah Chu beside you."

Jiang Qi clearly didn't believe it, but why would Wei Hao tell him if he wasn't absolutely certain?

Ah Chu, Ah Chu, you've kept it hidden so well.

Fortunately, Jiang Qi hadn't told him all the important things during these past few months, otherwise I would have really become his helper.

“I saw him exchanging messages with Yin Jun with my own eyes. Of course, he wasn’t the only one. Unfortunately, it was too late. We are now trapped in Silong Mountain.”

Wei Hao regretted not discovering sooner that the spy was one of Jiang Qi's men. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been trapped in Silong Mountain, surrounded by ambushes. They were hiding in the deepest, most secluded part of the forest, but once they went out, they might run into Yin's army.

Jiang Qi was both angry and disappointed. She had even suspected Lord Zhen Xun, but she had never suspected Ah Chu by her side. No wonder, no wonder Ah Chu's actions were so flawless.

He probably already knew he was a woman.

He's pretending to be naive and simple-minded to gain my trust. He probably planned this from the very beginning when he started talking to me.

Damn it, it's all because I'm stupid.

It was because I was foolish and didn't pay attention to the people around me that everyone ended up being surrounded here.

Zhou Tingxi had taken precautions against so many people, but he never expected that the spy would be such an insignificant little fry. It seems that his experience of more than ten years is not so useful here.

After repeated failures, he had already begun to doubt his own abilities.

After parting ways with Wei Hao, Jiang Qi returned to their tent, and sure enough! A Chu also returned from outside, probably having gone out to find Yin Jun. Did he tell Yin Jun where they were hiding?

"Bin, where did you go? I couldn't find you!" A Chu ran over anxiously and stuffed a bunch of wild fruits into Jiang Qi's hands.

Jiang Qi stared at the wild fruit in his arms. Ah Chu, do you think I would still dare to eat the things you give me now?

"I'm going to the restroom."

Jiang Qi put down the fruit, but thinking that if he acted out of character, Ah Chu would notice, he picked up another green fruit and took a bite. Hmm, it was quite sweet.

Ah Chu leaned closer and asked curiously, "Why hasn't General Wei come to talk to you lately? Weren't you two quite close a while ago?"

So all that talk about admiring Wei Hao was just a ploy to find out about him from me. How terrifying! Knowing his enemy so well—that's truly frightening.

Jiang Qi sighed softly and said helplessly, "How can people like us be so close to General Wei? We need to be clear about our own position!"

Ah Chu touched his nose and scoffed, "You think that way too? Aren't you supposed to be all high and mighty? General Wei isn't the kind of person who looks down on others."

"How do you know he isn't?" Jiang Qi asked him with a smile.

"How can I explain it to you? Anyway, he's not right." Ah Chu didn't know what to say.

Jiang Qi chuckled to himself, "I see you've run out of ideas on how to cover up your lie. Now that I know everything, let's see how you keep up the act."

She carefully sorted through Ah Chu's network of relationships. The only people he was on good terms with were those two short, dark-skinned men from Zhongzhou. Perhaps they were spies, or perhaps they weren't.

Now that I know Ah Chu's true identity, I can't let my guard down no matter what, at least I can't let Wei Hao worry about me.

Ah Chu took out the dried meat she had hidden on her person and gave it to Jiang Qi, chuckling as she said, "This is what I saved for you. Here, have some."

Haha, you're quite generous.

Jiang Qi felt a lump in her throat when she thought of the rabbit leg that Wei Hao had been reluctant to eat last time. In fact, apart from her parents and brother, no one else would treat her like that, giving her the things they were reluctant to eat without reservation.

Unfortunately, she and Wei Hao were not destined to be together.

Jiang Qi took the dried meat without ceremony and took a big bite, as if the meat were Ah Chu, and she bit it with extra force.

They gazed at the stars as they always had, sharing their innermost thoughts.

"If I go back, I want to make a new set of clothes for my mother. She hasn't worn new clothes in a long time." As she said this, Ah Chu lowered her head silently and sighed heavily.

Ah Chu, is your longing and filial piety towards your mother also fake?

“My mother is very beautiful. She loves azaleas the most. Although my family lives in the countryside, our yard is full of azaleas.”

Jiang Qi smiled slightly, "I can tell from her voice, she's a beauty."

Ah Chu said smugly, "Of course, you don't even know who I take after."

"Hahahaha!" Jiang Qi laughed without any restraint. Your face... I don't know who you take after, but it's definitely not the kind of face women like.

He's big and burly, just tall and strong, but there's really nothing else to praise about him.

Ah Chu trembled with anger, "What are you laughing at?"

Jiang Qi waved his hands repeatedly, "I didn't laugh. Who can prove I laughed?"

He stared at Jiang Qi speechlessly, his eyes flickering slightly.

……

The palace hadn't been this lively in a long time. Yesterday was Consort Kangyan's birthday, and there was singing and dancing from morning till night, along with the sound of musical instruments.

Does Yin Fu'an truly love Kang Yan, or is it because her father is the Duke of Xu?

Chen Lanhe no longer believes in love and affection, and is devoted to only one person. In the palace, such a thing is a luxury. Consort Kangyan is only seventeen years old, and she is so pitiful.

She gave a self-deprecating laugh. Did she really have the leisure to pity others? Perhaps Consort Kang Yan was truly in love with Yin Fu'an. Perhaps she was willingly becoming his plaything.

Yu'er brought over a plate of pastries, which were birthday cakes from Consort Kangyan's birthday banquet yesterday. Yin Fu'an instructed that a portion be sent to everyone in the palace, including palace maids, servants, and nannies.

Consort Kang Yan is very easy to get along with. Even Chen Lanhe thinks she is a lovable person. Yin Fu'an may also genuinely like her.

What about Consort Qing? Doesn't he like her?

"Your Majesty, you haven't visited me for a long time. Ever since you recovered from your typhoid fever, you've only been going to see Sister Kangyan. Is it because you prefer her?"

Sometimes Yin Fu'an really felt that Consort Qing was like a child.

She likes to compete, likes to act cute, and likes to make a fuss.

He replied dismissively, "How could that be? You're still my favorite."

If it weren't for the support of the Snow Region Kingdom, he might not have spoiled her like this, and he might not have taken her as his concubine.

As for Xu Kangyan, her family is wealthy. If the war continues, the national treasury will definitely be empty, and the help of the Xu family will be needed. If it weren't for the Xu family's wealth, I might not be so good to her.

Xia Yunxu was a very obedient and virtuous woman. He had a brief crush on her when he was young, but once she became his wife, she was just so-so, bland and tasteless. Therefore, she would never become an empress or a concubine.

Song Xinning and Liang Yuxue seem to enjoy going against me. Just when I get a little interested in them, they do things that make me angry and disgusted. But they are also kind of cute. The more they do this, the more I want to tease them.

What worries him most is Chen... his Hehe, who makes him hate her, love her, want to get close to her, want to stay away from her, want to be intimate with her every day. But he knows that she is a woman he can never have. She wants to make him fall for her, but he refuses. He insists on restraining himself, giving her hope and then disappointing her. He is an emperor, not an obedient man!

He could have many women, but none of them were enough to make him like Chen Lanhe. They seemed to have no soul. Apart from Song Xinning and Liang Yuxue, who had some personality, the others were all the same.

"Your Majesty, look, isn't that Consort Chen?" Consort Qing was pointing to the person he most wanted to see but also didn't want to see.

Compared to Xia Yunxu in her youth, Chen Lanhe now seems to be the one who has truly entered her heart.

Yin Fu'an deliberately stopped looking at her, and left the Imperial Garden with Consort Qing in his arms, saying affectionately, "Go back and wear your pink gauze dress for me to see."

Consort Qing lowered her head shyly, "Your Majesty, we are outside now, please don't do this!"

He smiled, but it wasn't from the heart; it was just to hide his emotions. From the moment he saw Chen Lanhe, his heart had been unable to find peace.

Every time I see her, it's like this; every time we make love, it's the same. It's as if my heart belongs to her.

He refused to let Chen Lanhe take the initiative. He wanted to be restrained and clear-headed. When he was in power, he wanted her to witness Deng Yi's death!