On the day of the campaign, Xiao Linye woke up early.
The bed in the military tent wasn’t as spacious as the one in the Imperial Retreat. Dark curtains enveloped the small space, and Pei Lanqing was sleeping soundly in his arms, his head resting on Xiao Linye’s arm.
Their hair was tangled together on the pillow, making it difficult to distinguish whose belonged to whom at first glance.
Without realizing it, so many years had passed. Xiao Linye still remembered the scene when they had first revealed the truth and shared a bed for the first time.
Back then, he had desperately wanted to get closer to the Grand Tutor, but an undeniable awkwardness still lingered between them, like a thin sheet of paper that they hadn’t yet torn apart.
Now, they were completely accustomed to each other’s embrace, to falling asleep in each other’s arms, and to seeing each other’s faces first thing in the morning.
“Mmm…” In his sleep, Pei Lanqing seemed to be disturbed by the child in his womb. He only furrowed his brow slightly, but Xiao Linye’s hand was already resting on his belly, gently rubbing it to soothe the baby inside and coax it to sleep a little longer.
Unfortunately, Pei Lanqing woke up anyway, slowly opening his eyes. “Ye’er…”
“Shouldn’t you be leaving?”
Xiao Linye had one arm wrapped around Pei Lanqing’s waist. He lowered his head and kissed his forehead, his voice deep and filled with boundless affection. “It’s still early. I’ll stay and sleep with the Grand Tutor a little longer.”
Pei Lanqing looked up at Xiao Linye, reached out to caress his face, and gently covered his eyes. “If you’re going to sleep with me, why don’t you close your eyes?”
Xiao Linye’s lips curved into a smile. He obediently lay down beside Pei Lanqing, pulling him even closer. “Alright, I’ll do as the Grand Tutor says. I’ll close my eyes and sleep soundly.”
Pei Lanqing finally withdrew his hand. Their foreheads pressed together, their warm breaths mingling in a long, peaceful rhythm.
After a long while, the old eunuch Tian Rui approached the curtain and whispered, “Your Majesty, it’s time to get up.”
Xiao Linye had been sleeping lightly, so he immediately opened his eyes, his gaze clear and alert. He hadn’t wanted to disturb Pei Lanqing, but the Grand Tutor had woken up anyway.
“The Grand Tutor doesn’t need to get up. I—” Xiao Linye started to press Pei Lanqing’s shoulder, but Pei Lanqing grasped his hand. “Ye’er, I want to armor you myself.”
Xiao Linye stared into Pei Lanqing’s eyes, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. In the end, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse. “Alright.”
“I’ll go wash up first. Grand Tutor, please wait a moment.”
Xiao Linye lifted the bed curtains and rose. Several Junior Eunuchs immediately swarmed around him to help him dress. Pei Lanqing leaned back against the bed, watching Xiao Linye’s back, his hand pressed tightly against his swollen belly.
He stifled a groan, enduring a wave of cramping pain. By the time Xiao Linye turned back to look at him, Pei Lanqing had already regained his calm, expectant demeanor.
Thus, Xiao Linye changed his clothes, and the eunuchs brought the heavy, dark-gold battle armor to the side of the bed.
Pei Lanqing finally managed to rise with some difficulty. Fortunately, Xiao Linye’s strong arm immediately supported his waist, helping him stand beside him.
Between them, no words were needed. Xiao Linye steadied Pei Lanqing’s body as Pei Lanqing draped the dark-gold armor over him, fastening each hidden clasp with slender fingers.
In his eyes, he saw Great Qi’s most promising young emperor, the dashing lover he adored.
Only after every piece of armor was in place did Pei Lanqing lean weakly against Xiao Linye’s chest, exhausted.
Xiao Linye carried Pei Lanqing back to the bed, knelt beside him, and leaned down to kiss his lips. The coldness of the armor mingled with the warmth of their lips, making their parting even more difficult.
“Whenever I went to war before, I always dreamed of the day the Grand Tutor would armor me. Now, that dream has finally come true.”
“Ye’er…” Pei Lanqing held Xiao Linye’s hand against his cheek, whispering his name.
But his voice was soon drowned out by Xiao Linye’s kiss. Xiao Linye kissed Pei Lanqing deeply again, until the sound of generals’ footsteps echoed outside the tent.
“Grand Tutor, I must go,” Xiao Linye said, his lips still pressed against Pei Lanqing’s. He slowly released his hand.
Pei Lanqing’s breath still lingered on his lips. He nodded at Xiao Linye, but as Xiao Linye turned to leave, he wrapped his arms around him from behind.
“Ye’er, return soon. The children and I will be waiting for you.”
Xiao Linye gripped Pei Lanqing’s hand, answering with a firm “Yes.” But he dared not look back, fearing that one more glance would only deepen their bond. He finally turned and strode out of the tent.
As sunlight bathed him the moment he stepped outside, he buried the warmth and love in his heart. His eyes narrowed into the sharp gaze of an eagle. He gripped his long spear in one hand and swung himself onto his warhorse.
The dark gold armor, radiating blinding brilliance, enveloped the war god emperor. Though he hadn’t seen battle in years, the bloodthirsty killing intent within him had returned.
“Let’s go.”
Pei Lanqing sat on the bed, his back straightening only after Xiao Linye had completely left the military tent. He pressed his hands tightly against his abdomen, his forehead already drenched in cold sweat from the pain.
“Grand Tutor!” Old Eunuch Tian Rui rushed over, his voice choked with alarm. Pei Lanqing raised his head with difficulty, his voice hoarse as he said, “Go… fetch Imperial Physician Feng… and tell him not to leak a word.”
“Go, quickly… I think… I’m about to give birth…”
With that, he could no longer support himself and collapsed weakly onto the bed. His swollen belly contracted in waves, the pain washing over him like a tidal wave.
Tian Rui dared not delay. He immediately summoned two of the fastest Junior Eunuchs to fetch Imperial Physician Feng.
Imperial Physician Feng wasn’t surprised. Pei Lanqing, carrying twins, was highly susceptible to premature labor. During his recent checkups, he had already anticipated that it would happen within the next day or two.
So when the Junior Eunuch came to fetch him, Imperial Physician Feng was already prepared. He went straight to Pei Lanqing’s bedside and began palpating his abdomen.
“Ugh…” The moment Imperial Physician Feng’s hand pressed down, Pei Lanqing’s vision nearly blacked out from the pain. But Xiao Linye wasn’t here, so he forced himself to stay conscious and asked, “Imperial Physician Feng… How are the children?”
“Grand Tutor, rest assured. Both babies are positioned well, and a natural birth is likely. However, it’s still early, so you’ll likely endure some more pain.”
Hearing this, Pei Lanqing felt a slight relief knowing the children were safe. He closed his eyes, enduring a wave of pain, and said, “Then I must trouble you… to ensure the safety of both father and sons…”
Xiao Linye was unaware of what was happening in the military tent. Over the past few days, as the Zhaojiang people retreated, their camp had been established less than thirty miles outside the Zhao Jiang Royal Capital.
Now, mounted on his steed, he led his army at a gallop, the city walls of the Royal Capital faintly visible in the distance.
Suddenly, he heard the distant thunder of hooves approaching from the south. Alarm bells rang out immediately. Xiao Linye tightened his grip on his spear, his obsidian eyes awaiting the coming bloodshed.
Unexpectedly, the approaching figure was Prince Li Xiao Huanyan.
Leading his fief’s troops, he dismounted before Xiao Linye and knelt before the army. “This subject, along with my personal guard of three thousand, offers our assistance to Your Majesty in quelling the Zhaojiang rebellion!”
Xiao Linye, mounted on his horse, scrutinized the usually timid and docile Prince Li, realizing that Pei Lanqing’s words from that night had taken effect.
With a wave of his spear, his voice boomed like a great bell, piercing the air: “Excellent! Since you’ve come, you are all loyal soldiers of Great Qi!”
“Follow me into battle and seize Zhaojiang Royal City!”
A thunderous roar erupted from the army in response. Xiao Linye spurred his warhorse once more, leading tens of thousands of troops toward the Zhaojiang Royal Capital in a majestic procession.
He descended like a god of war, unleashing his overwhelming might to shatter Zhaojiang’s already crumbling defenses.
After half a month of desperate defense, the city gates finally crashed open at noon that day. The Zhaojiang defenders within the city plunged into utter panic, scattering in all directions.
Xiao Linye granted them no respite. His iron cavalry surged forward like a swarm of bees, trampling countless soldiers beneath their hooves.
Their severed heads rolled onto the ground, their bloodshot eyes still reflecting Xiao Linye’s asura-like figure.
No one dared to fight, no one dared to block his path. Xiao Linye rode his warhorse straight into the Zhaojiang Royal Palace, stopping just outside the main hall.
He reined in his horse, halting his advance. Before him stood Prince Zhaojiang, brandishing a longsword, his eyes blazing with hatred as he glared at Xiao Linye.
“From the moment you first invaded Zhaojiang, I knew this kingdom would one day fall at your hands!”
Xiao Linye had no patience for idle chatter. He pointed his blood-stained spear at the prince’s throat from across the distance. “So, you tacitly approved Dao Buge’s assassination attempt on me?”
Prince Zhaojiang was intimidated by Xiao Linye’s aura, but he fought to conceal his fear. “So what if I did!”
“Too bad he was a fool, tricked by your Great Qi people and ultimately losing his life.”
“Today! I will personally end you!”
With a roar, Prince Zhaojiang mounted his own warhorse, gripped his longsword tightly, and charged at Xiao Linye.
Xiao Linye charged forward with his long spear. The two men, their eyes burning with a bestial bloodlust, clashed in a brutal dance of death. The impact of their weapons sent a terrifying tremor through the air, as cold steel met steel and blood splattered in all directions.
Inside the military tent, Pei Lanqing remained trapped in the agonizingly slow torment of labor. His abdomen remained distended, the fetus within pushing downward with each wave of pain, as if determined to tear his body apart.
This experience was completely different from when he had given birth to Quan’er. He strained and pushed with all his might, desperate to escape the pain, only to be repeatedly thrown back onto the bed by the relentless agony.
“Aah—!”
Tian Rui rushed into the tent from outside, hearing Pei Lanqing’s desperate cries of pain. He hurried to his bedside.
Pei Lanqing struggled to open his eyes. Seeing Tian Rui, he gasped and raised a trembling hand toward him. “Is… is there any news of… Ye’er?”
Tian Rui knelt beside him, nodding vigorously. “Yes! Your Majesty has led the army into the Royal City!”
“Grand Tutor, just one more push! Your Majesty will be able to hold his Little Prince when he returns!”
Pei Lanqing listened to Xiao Linye’s news word by word. Though his body was already nearing exhaustion, a surge of strength coursed through him. Following Imperial Physician Feng’s pressing hand on his abdomen, he pushed down again—
*BANG!* The blood sword shattered mid-air, falling limply to the ground. The spear pierced Prince Zhaojiang’s heart, and with Xiao Linye’s roar of fury, he lifted the prince high into the air before crashing him back down into the pool of blood and dust.
The Great Qi soldiers erupted in triumphant cheers. Xiao Linye, mounted on his horse amidst the crowd, gazed at the Zhaojiang Royal Palace engulfed in flames and raised his spear.
This was another victory for him, another victory for Great Qi!
Xiao Linye rode through the kneeling crowd, their clamorous and fervent cheers ringing in his ears. They revered him as a deity, yet amidst the din, he thought he heard Pei Lanqing’s voice.
“Ye’er…”
“Come back, Ye’er…”
“Come back to me…”
The soaring eagle, its wings spread wide, fiercely whipped its horse, shattering the fallen palace gates and galloping toward the Royal City’s outer reaches.
