TERTSGTGBFC Chapter 27

Ever since the imperial carriage arrived in Yicheng, the situation in Zhaojiang had grown increasingly dire.

Within a few days, both sides had deployed troops on either side of the Wuduo Valley, closely monitoring each other. War seemed imminent.

Xiao Linye was also busy, meeting with his generals for hours each day to discuss military affairs. He personally oversaw intelligence gathering, troop deployment, and logistical planning, leaving no detail unchecked.

He was determined to conquer Zhaojiang completely this time, eliminating this threat from Great Qi’s southwestern border once and for all.

One day, after finishing his official duties and military preparations, Xiao Linye found himself with some rare free time. Deciding to spend more time with Pei Lanqing, he left his study and returned directly to the Imperial Retreat’s sleeping quarters.

The autumn evening in the southwest was still warm. As Xiao Linye passed through the palace garden, he saw Pei Lanqing and Quan’er asleep under a red maple tree, covered by a thin blanket.

Quan’er, soft and white, was curled up in Pei Lanqing’s arms. One arm cradled his son, while the other rested on his own increasingly prominent belly. A few fallen leaves had caught in their clothes, creating a scene so tender that Xiao Linye’s heart softened.

Song Liechi, his face drawn into a serious frown, stood guard beside them, his eyes fixed on the sleeping Quan’er. Yet his thoughts remained hidden.

Xiao Linye lightened his steps as he approached them. Song Liechi immediately bowed to pay his respects, but Xiao Linye stopped him, pressing a hand to his arm and gesturing for him to follow.

As the man and boy walked through the garden, Song Liechi remained impeccably disciplined, respectfully trailing behind Xiao Linye. Yet even at a glance, Xiao Linye could see the child was troubled.

“The upcoming war with Zhaojiang has designated your father to lead the first wave of troops. Are you worried about him?” Xiao Linye asked, knowing the boy wouldn’t speak first.

“Your Majesty,” Song Liechi knelt on one knee behind Xiao Linye, as if he’d made a firm decision. “This subject is not worried about my father. I wish to join the battlefield!”

Xiao Linye was rather impressed by the boy’s courage. Smiling, he said, “Truly, like father, like son. Wanting to fight is a good thing, but you’re only eleven. There’s no need to rush.”

But Song Liechi shook his head, his expression earnest. “Eleven is no longer young.”

“This subject wishes to fight on the front lines, to hone my skills, to earn military merit, so that in the future—”

Song Liechi didn’t finish his sentence, but Xiao Linye understood everything from the way he had just looked at Quan’er.

“You’re quite ambitious,” Xiao Linye said, softening his expression. He looked down at Song Liechi kneeling before him, but the gaze that struck fear into the hearts of Great Qi’s officials failed to intimidate the young boy.

After a moment of contemplation, Xiao Linye patted Song Liechi’s shoulder. “Very well. Since you have this ambition, then pursue it.”

“Quan’er is the most precious treasure of both the Emperor and the Grand Tutor, and he is destined to become the future ruler of Great Qi. You must prove yourself worthy of him—that won’t be easy.”

Song Liechi raised his head, his gaze unwavering as he met Xiao Linye’s. “This subject will give his utmost effort, and this resolve will never waver!”

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When the two men returned, Pei Lanqing and Quan’er were already awake.

Quan’er immediately reached out his arms to be held when he saw Xiao Linye. Xiao Linye, aware that he had been too busy lately and had spent too little time with his son, joined Pei Lanqing and Quan’er for dinner before Quan’er and Song Liechi returned to their quarters.

“The sixty thousand troops transferred from the Western Front and Lingnan two days ago have already taken up positions along the border. The commanders for the first battle have been decided: the Song father and son.”

After dinner, Xiao Linye supported Pei Lanqing as they strolled through the garden. Pei Lanqing’s body had grown increasingly heavy, and they had to stop for a rest after walking only a short distance.

Xiao Linye showed no sign of impatience. He simply steadied Pei Lanqing’s waist with his strong arm, walking slowly alongside him while discussing political and military matters.

“The Song Family father and son?” Pei Lanqing asked, surprised. Then he remembered, “When you came this evening, you went out with Song Liechi to discuss this matter, didn’t you?”

“So the Grand Tutor was awake then,” Xiao Linye chuckled, recounting his afternoon conversation with Song Liechi in detail. “Originally, we only sent Song Pingming, but Song Liechi turned out to have some interesting ideas.”

After listening, Pei Lanqing lowered his head in thought for a moment before sighing softly. “This is good. I’ve seen how Liechi has treated Quan’er over the years.”

“But ultimately, their future depends entirely on their own wishes.”

“Of course. No matter how well the Song boy performs, it won’t work if Quan’er doesn’t want it,” Xiao Linye said, embracing Pei Lanqing to comfort him.

They walked a little longer, and seeing Pei Lanqing’s weary expression, Xiao Linye carried him back to their bedroom.

Pei Lanqing was a fastidious man. Even while heavily pregnant, he insisted on bathing daily. In the past, Xiao Linye had always bathed with him, but lately, Xiao Linye had been working late into the night, arriving home long after Pei Lanqing had already finished.

Xiao Linye found this situation rather less enjoyable.

Today, Xiao Linye had returned home early for once. He had hoped to bathe with Pei Lanqing, but as he prepared for bed, he found Pei Lanqing leaning against a soft couch, engrossed in a book and showing no intention of getting up.

Xiao Linye, feeling a bit puzzled, walked over to him. “Grand Tutor, are you tired? Let me carry you to the bath.”

Pei Lanqing’s hand holding the book paused slightly, his gaze flickering away almost imperceptibly. He simply smiled and said, “I got a bit sweaty during my afternoon walk today. I’ve already bathed.”

“Ye’er, you go ahead.”

“You’ve already bathed?” Xiao Linye sensed something amiss but couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He held Pei Lanqing close for a moment, nuzzling his hair and confirming the lingering scent of bathwater. With a touch of disappointment, he said, “I’ve been so busy these past few days, I don’t know when I’ll get to bathe with the Grand Tutor again.”

“It’s alright,” Pei Lanqing turned and kissed Xiao Linye’s cheek, coaxing him. “Ye’er, go ahead now. You’ve been working hard these past few days. Let’s go to bed early tonight.”

Xiao Linye, though still slightly puzzled, didn’t dwell on the matter. He allowed the eunuchs to attend to him as he went to the bath in the sleeping quarters.

Watching him leave, Pei Lanqing finally exhaled a sigh of relief. He reached through his loose robes to press against his swollen abdomen, a hint of worry in his eyes.

After a long moment, he turned to the palace attendant beside him and said, “Help me change my clothes. Then fetch the medicine Imperial Physician Feng prescribed…”

After a quick wash, Xiao Linye couldn’t shake his concern about Pei Lanqing’s strange behavior. He hurried back to the sleeping quarters.

In the short time he’d been gone, the hall had fallen eerily silent. Most of the palace lanterns had been extinguished. His unease deepened. He shook his head at the eunuchs who noticed him, signaling them to remain silent, and entered the inner chamber.

“Grand Tutor, there’s no need to worry. Imperial Physician Feng said this is perfectly normal.”

“Once you take the medicine, it will fade after childbirth…”

The words “take the medicine” immediately raised Xiao Linye’s alarm. He quickened his pace and entered the chamber, where he saw two young eunuchs gathered around Pei Lanqing. Pei Lanqing, clad in his sleeping robes, lay on the couch, gently stroking his abdomen and speaking to them in hushed tones.

Seeing Xiao Linye enter, the young eunuchs immediately panicked and knelt to pay their respects. Pei Lanqing was also surprised. “Ye’er, why are you back so soon?”

“If I hadn’t returned now, who knows what else the Grand Tutor would have kept from me,” Xiao Linye said, his face darkening. He walked over to Pei Lanqing, wrapped his arms around him, and glared at the eunuchs. “Didn’t I say that if the Grand Tutor felt unwell, you were to report it immediately? How dare you hide it from me until he needed medicine!”

The two eunuchs kowtowed repeatedly, begging for forgiveness. Pei Lanqing sighed helplessly and tugged at Xiao Linye’s sleeve. “It’s alright, Ye’er. Don’t blame them… I told them not to say anything.”

Xiao Linye was torn between anger and worry. He carefully cradled Pei Lanqing in his arms. “What’s wrong, Grand Tutor? Why did you need medicine and yet refuse to tell me?”

Pei Lanqing pressed his hand against his sleeping robe, hesitated for a moment, then gestured for the eunuchs to leave. He slowly explained to Xiao Linye, “It’s nothing serious. You’ve been so busy these past few days, I didn’t want to bother you.”

The more Pei Lanqing tried to avoid the subject, the more anxious Xiao Linye became. He noticed Pei Lanqing’s hand still resting on his sleeping robe. “Is it your health that’s failing, or is something wrong with the child again?”

“Grand Tutor, tell me quickly! Otherwise, I’ll have Imperial Physician Feng and his team come here to explain it to me personally.”

“No, no, don’t bother so many people so late at night. I’ll tell you,” Pei Lanqing said, finally giving in to Xiao Linye’s relentless questioning. With slender, white fingers, he slowly began to unbutton his sleeping robes.

Xiao Linye had meticulously cared for Pei Lanqing’s body over the years, leaving his skin exceptionally fair and soft, showing no signs of aging. His belly, swollen with twins, protruded noticeably.

Xiao Linye examined him inch by inch. At first, he saw nothing amiss, but then he noticed several bright red streaks suddenly appearing on the otherwise smooth, flawless skin of Pei Lanqing’s lower abdomen. They were jarringly conspicuous.

“What’s this!” Xiao Linye grew increasingly anxious. He gently caressed the red marks with utmost tenderness, immediately preparing to summon Imperial Physician Feng. Pei Lanqing stopped him.

“Ye’er, I already had Imperial Physician Feng examine me the day before yesterday. He said it’s because I’m carrying twins this time, causing my belly to grow faster, which inevitably leads to these marks. It’s common among many pregnant women and isn’t a disease.”

“Not a disease?” Xiao Linye’s brow remained furrowed, but he continued to stroke Pei Lanqing’s belly with concern. “Does it hurt? Does it make you uncomfortable? I heard them say they prescribed an ointment. Is it helping?”

“Ye’er, I’m really fine,” Pei Lanqing said, propping himself up slightly. He took Xiao Linye’s hand and gently kissed his cheek. “It was just a little itchy at first, but the ointment has helped a lot.”

Xiao Linye remained unconvinced, secretly resolving to summon Imperial Physician Feng tomorrow for a thorough examination. He repeatedly examined the red marks, then retrieved the ointment the eunuchs had used earlier and carefully applied it to Pei Lanqing’s skin.

“Didn’t we agree never to hide anything from each other again? The Grand Tutor has broken his promise this time, and I’m keeping track.”

Pei Lanqing had known Xiao Linye would eventually discover the truth, but he’d hoped a few more days might bring improvement. He hadn’t expected to be caught so quickly. “I didn’t mean to deceive you, but I was worried you’d be distracted by this… Besides, the red marks are rather unsightly, and I didn’t want you to see them.”

“The Grand Tutor is overthinking things again,” Xiao Linye said, finishing the ointment. He leaned down and covered Pei Lanqing’s abdomen with a series of delicate kisses. “I love every part of the Grand Tutor’s body, no matter what it looks like.”

“So, will you promise never to hide anything from me again?”

Pei Lanqing looked into Xiao Linye’s eyes, which held no trace of disgust, and finally nodded. “Yes…”

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