Twenty-eighth year of the Shengyuan era, the fifteenth day of the twelfth month. The latest war report.
The Beining army was stationed outside Heshan Pass, making no move for a long time.
On the eighteenth day of the twelfth month, ten thousand enemy soldiers appeared outside Jiamen Pass and attacked the border towns.
It turned out that the army stationed outside Heshan Pass was a feint. In reality, the troops had secretly slipped away to various border towns and launched an attack on Yanbei.
Under the surprise attack, two towns inevitably fell.
The Marquis of Pingliang adjusted her tactics in time and managed to recapture the fallen towns.
On the twentieth day of the twelfth month, the so-called Dong family army under the Duke of Xin refused to follow orders, leading to the loss of a key strategic town.
The Shengyuan Emperor was furious over this matter, but still allowed the Duke of Xin to lead his personal guards to Yanbei.
On the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, a large-scale battle broke out between the two sides. The Marquis of Pingliang formed her troops to meet the enemy, only to find that Beining had deployed over a hundred thousand soldiers, targeting her with relentless waves of attacks.
The Marquis of Pingliang waved the battle flag in her hand, signaling for the army behind her to provide support, but no one moved.
The Marquis of Pingliang’s main forces were distributed among the various towns to prevent sneak attacks from Beining. She only had ten thousand of her own troops with her. The soldiers behind her were all from the Duke of Xin’s Dong family army. They intended for An Yizhi to die on the battlefield, so naturally, they would not come to her rescue.
In the end, An Yizhi managed to break through the encirclement under the protection of her personal guards. Fortunately, Li Bao was there to receive her, otherwise she would have been done for. Even so, An Yizhi had lost half her life and was still in a coma. To prevent any further harm, Li Bao made the decision to hide her in a village not far from the border to recuperate. They would decide what to do after her injuries had healed.
If anyone knew An Yizhi was still alive, they might not hesitate to strike a fatal blow.
When the villagers in this village heard that Beining was attacking, most of them had fled, leaving behind some elderly people. But they had left no food, and many had starved to death.
When Li Bao and his people arrived, only four old people remained. These four were so starved they were nothing but skin and bones, eating wild vegetables, grass, and even tree bark every day. They were just hoping they might survive.
Li Bao and his men didn’t have much food on them, only the standard military rations everyone carried for emergencies—two large flatbreads and a bit of pickled vegetables per person. The pickles contained only a few specks of minced meat, and each person had a waterskin.
These were the rations of the Imperial City Division guards. The rations of ordinary soldiers were even worse, possibly mixed with chaff.
This was why the men of the Capital Camps, while cursing Chi Wan with their mouths, were grateful to her in their hearts. Chi Wan not only fed them their fill but also treated them like human beings, not livestock destined to die in war.
The meals for the Great Zhou army, for the better-off ones, consisted of green vegetables and slightly thicker porridge. Otherwise, it was just chaff and wild greens.
Li Bao came from a poor background. His family truly couldn’t support him, so they sent him to the palace to be a eunuch, which at least offered a way to survive.
Therefore, he knew Chi Wan’s kindness, and he had never felt any disdain for eunuchs from her.
Li Bao was not inherently a kind-hearted person, but he still had his men give two flatbreads to each of the four elderly people.
But after only two days, two of the old people died. One had broken off a piece of the flatbread and soaked it in water. The other had carefully wrapped the flatbread and hidden it in her bosom. It was said she was waiting for her child to return to eat it; her child had never tasted white flour before.
Li Bao had his men find straw mats, wrap the deceased villagers, and bury them. He erected a stone tablet: 【Tomb of the Elders of Stone Village】.
He stood by the bed, looking at the still-unconscious An Yizhi, and asked, “Is there any news from the Fuma?”
“The Fuma sent a message, telling us to take good care of the Marquis of Pingliang. Once she has recovered, we are to rally the troops again. She fears that some of our own people may try to harm the Marquis.”
Li Bao nodded. “Tell the Fuma that even if this servant dies, the Marquis of Pingliang will not.”
The messenger was taken aback, then quickly said, “The Fuma also said to tell Lord Li to protect himself well. She will treat Lord Li to a meal upon his return.”
“A meal?” Li Bao was completely stunned. He asked in disbelief, “What did you say?”
The messenger repeated, “The Fuma said that when you return, she will treat you to a meal.”
Li Bao muttered to himself, “The Fuma wants to treat an incomplete person like me to a meal?”
How was one supposed to respond to that? The words “incomplete person” were difficult to address, so the messenger remained silent.
After a long moment, Li Bao wiped away his tears. “This servant will return in one piece, and I will ensure the Marquis of Pingliang does as well.”
When the news from Li Bao’s side arrived, Chi Wan and Yu Jiuzhou were standing by the sand table. It was obvious that this sand table was different from the previous one.
If they hadn’t replaced it, the two of them probably wouldn’t be able to discuss serious matters here.
Yu Jiuzhou frowned as she looked at the sand table. “After An Yizhi fell unconscious, the Great Zhou army has been retreating steadily. The dispatched relief army has just arrived in the capital. Little Aunt must march immediately. The journey will not be easy; these men are insubordinate.”
The Duke of Xin’s presence in Yanbei was useless; he was completely unable to stop the Beining army. Now, the Beining forces had already crossed Heshan Pass.
Once Heshan Pass was breached, the natural defenses were gone. If they couldn’t mount a timely defense and drive the Beining army back, it was likely the enemy would penetrate deep into Yanbei.
Yanbei was very close to the capital. If Yanbei was occupied, the capital would be next.
The Shengyuan Emperor was furious and terrified. He spent his days hunched over, pacing in his bedchamber, muttering something under his breath, not unlike a madman.
Faced with such an emperor, even Wang Hai dared not speak. He was even hesitant to deliver messages, fearing the emperor might fly into a rage and draw his sword to kill him.
To save his own skin, Wang Hai tried to stay away from the Shengyuan Emperor as much as possible each day.
All the attendants serving the Shengyuan Emperor felt that His Majesty’s temperament had changed drastically. He often couldn’t wake up after falling asleep, or couldn’t fall asleep at all. More often, he would suddenly doze off while sitting.
Perhaps because he slept too much during the day, he often caused trouble at night. At least half of the servants in Daming Palace had dark circles under their eyes because of it.
Fortunately, the Shengyuan Emperor hadn’t gone so mad as to summon Yu Jiuzhou to the palace. Her due date was in a few days, and no accidents could be allowed to happen.
Right now, they couldn’t count on the Shengyuan Emperor to contribute anything to the situation in Yanbei. It would be enough if he could just control himself.
As long as he didn’t cause trouble for Yanbei, or for them.
Chi Wan and Yu Jiuzhou received news from Yanbei every day. The Great Zhou army was in constant retreat, which, logically speaking, should have been impossible.
Even with the Marquis of Pingliang missing, the three-hundred-thousand-strong army was still there. Even if only half of them were effective fighters, Beining’s combat strength couldn’t be that much greater.
Even if they couldn’t drive Beining away, they shouldn’t have been so easily pushed into a disadvantageous position.
The Great Zhou army was not united, with each faction acting on its own, but the Beining army wasn’t under a single person’s command either.
In terms of logistical support, Great Zhou was clearly superior. The gap between the two sides wasn’t large; it was impossible for Great Zhou’s defense line to be constantly pushed back.
Chi Wan looked at the defense line on the sand table. At the current rate, if Beining broke through just one more line of defense, they could lead their army on a long, unimpeded drive straight to the capital’s defensive perimeter.
After all, the cities were not connected. Some were easy to attack, others difficult.
But Beining could choose to bypass them. Once they were past Yanbei’s defense line, there was no need for Beining to conquer every single place.
It would be better to directly attack the capital. After occupying the central hub, they could then expand their control outwards.
Once Yanbei’s defense line could no longer hold, Beining would arrive at the capital’s defenses.
First Dragon City, then the Capital Camps, and finally, the capital itself.
Chi Wan felt that something was wrong. “It’s only been a month, and the Yanbei defense line has almost completely collapsed. This isn’t right.”
Yu Jiuzhou nodded. “After An Yizhi disappeared, Yanbei began to collapse. It seems like the Duke of Xin is still resisting, but in reality, he’s retreating at every turn.”
“You suspect the Duke of Xin is collaborating with the enemy?”
“Has there been no news from the Embroidered-Robe Guard in Beining?”
“News just came in this morning. It says there’s a traitor within Great Zhou.”
At first, Chi Wan thought the Embroidered-Robe Guard was referring to the local gentry and powerful clans in Yanbei. But even if they colluded with Beining, they couldn’t have passed on so much information. It would never have caused the Yanbei defense line to be breached so frequently.
If it was a high-ranking official of Great Zhou, one who knew the specific details of the defense line, the candidates were the two chief military commissioners of the Five Army Commands, the Duke of Xin, and the high-level generals on the front lines.
Using the process of elimination, the Left Chief Military Commissioner of the Five Army Commands was on his deathbed, and the Right Chief Military Commissioner…
That left only the Duke of Xin and the high-ranking border officials. Between An Yizhi’s troops and the Duke of Xin’s troops, they had reason to suspect the problem lay with the Duke of Xin’s forces.
Moreover, An Yizhi had not yet returned, and her subordinates were scattered across various defense lines. It was precisely the Marquis of Pingliang’s troops who were holding the lines that hadn’t yet collapsed, but they were also surrounded by the Beining army.
If these men couldn’t find a way to break out, they would likely be trapped and annihilated in the towns.
Chi Wan took out the message from that morning. “In addition, the people we sent have reached the vicinity of the towns, but they can’t get in. The moment they appear, they are discovered by the Beining army.”
“They are the elites of the Imperial City Division. They will find a way to slip in at night.”
Yu Jiuzhou shook her head. “Even if they get in, they may not be able to break out.”
In a full-scale war, a few people couldn’t change the tide of battle. They still needed reinforcements.
Chi Wan shook her head. “The important thing is to get the news that the court is sending a relief army to them, to give them hope.”
That was the most crucial part. As long as they held on, there was a chance to break through.
Although Beining’s army of over two hundred thousand was large, as the battle lines stretched, they would inevitably have to consolidate their forces. That would be their opportunity.
Yu Jiuzhou leaned against the sand table, her heart heavy. From their distant position in the capital, all they saw were numbers and cold war reports. But for the common people on the Yanbei border, it was hell on earth. For the soldiers defending the nation, it was a battlefield stained red with blood.
There was so little she could do, all because the Shengyuan Emperor was still above her.
The Shengyuan Emperor’s condition was very unstable right now. He still held power in his hands, and if he were to misuse that power at this moment, it would be disastrous.
“I wish to bathe,” Yu Jiuzhou said in a low voice.
Chi Wan nodded. “Alright, I’ll help Your Highness wash.”
Yu Jiuzhou shot her a look. “Don’t mess around.”
Chi Wan: “? I’m being serious.” Of course she was being serious.
She just felt that it was inconvenient for Yu Jiuzhou right now, so she had to help.
Yu Jiuzhou coughed lightly, realizing she had been overthinking things, and walked towards the heated chamber with a blush on her face.
Today was the thirtieth day of the year, New Year’s Eve. Due to the war in Yanbei and the Shengyuan Emperor’s condition, no New Year’s Eve banquet had been prepared.
At times like this, holding a banquet would have stabilized public morale. Because the banquet was canceled, many people sent their families south.
The north was no longer safe, so they could only go south.
They would arrange for housing in the south and send their families ahead, while those with official posts remained. But at a time like this, they would try to persuade the monarch to move the capital.
Chi Wan carefully helped Yu Jiuzhou wash up. She even used her internal energy to dry Yu Jiuzhou’s hair before applying hair oil to condition the strands.
Her hands gently massaged Yu Jiuzhou’s head, bringing a rare sense of comfort.
Suddenly, Yu Jiuzhou frowned. She abruptly grabbed Chi Wan’s hand. “I… I think I’m about to give birth.”
Chi Wan froze for a second, then quickly bent down and lifted Yu Jiuzhou into her arms.
She walked towards the sterile operating room, quickly saying to Chun Gui as she passed, “Tell Qiu Lai and the others to wash up, change their clothes, and come over. Her Highness is going into labor.”
Outside the sterile room was a smaller room. Chi Wan quickly helped Yu Jiuzhou clean and disinfect herself.
Yu Jiuzhou was already wearing a loose nightgown, so there was no need to change.
Chi Wan carefully wiped her entire body, changed into clean clothes that had been prepared long ago, and only then carried Yu Jiuzhou into the sterile room.
“Your Highness, don’t be nervous. I will be with you the whole time.”
Though she said that, it was clearly Chi Wan who was nervous; her words were even stumbling.
Still, Yu Jiuzhou’s heart felt warm. “Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
Indeed, having Qiu Lai and the others prepare was the right decision. No wonder they say doctors shouldn’t operate on their own relatives. She was simply too nervous and couldn’t calm down.
A doctor’s mood cannot fluctuate too much during surgery.
Chi Wan cared too much about Yu Jiuzhou. Seeing her sweat made her heart clench.
“Hoo~” She took a deep breath.
“Your Highness, I studied traditional Chinese medicine. My main research area is ancient Chinese medicine. I’ve never been in an operating theater before.”
Chi Wan wanted to say something to ease her own mood.
Yu Jiuzhou raised an eyebrow and changed the subject. “I’ve been thinking, aren’t ‘Peanut’ and ‘Sunflower Seed’ a bit too unpleasant-sounding?”
“They are,” Chi Wan admitted without hesitation.
They really weren’t very nice. If the two little ones were called that in the future, they would probably be teased by their friends.
Chi Wan remembered when she was in school, there was a girl named Zhu Zhuxia. Her nickname inevitably came out, and she even got called “Piggy Hero.” Sometimes she felt helpless and would just cry in frustration, but there was nothing she could do.
If they were to give the two little ones names, even nicknames, they had to think carefully.
But besides things like Peanut, Sunflower Seed, Watermelon, and Mango, she couldn’t think of any better names.
Yu Jiuzhou looked at Chi Wan with some surprise. She had thought Chi Wan would disagree.
Chi Wan met her gaze and covered her eyes with her hand. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Am I not allowed to look?”
“You are~ I belong to Your Highness, of course you can look.”
Yu Jiuzhou smiled, enduring the pain in her body, and glanced around the sterile room Chi Wan had specially prepared for her. “Do people in your world give birth in a place like this?”
Chi Wan shook her head. “It’s much more technologically advanced. The doors are automatic, and there are electric lights, which are very bright.”
The conditions here were limited. They had lit many lamps to keep the room bright, but it certainly couldn’t compare to electric lights.
Yu Jiuzhou tried to imagine that world, but she found it difficult to picture the world Chi Wan described, with things like iron boxes and iron machines. Perhaps she would only be able to match the descriptions if she saw them herself.
She didn’t tell Chi Wan that she actually yearned for the world she spoke of.
A world where one could choose any profession. Like her, she wouldn’t be limited to the single path of political struggle; she could choose to do many other things.
For example, a lawyer. From Chi Wan’s description, she found that profession very interesting.
Yu Jiuzhou smiled and touched Chi Wan’s cheek, her brow furrowing even more tightly. There was no such thing as a painless childbirth; she was just enduring it.
In her past life, she had experienced the pain of having her glands dug out. Later, there were assassins and poisons. She had been injured countless times, had been on the brink of death, and had even lost half her life on occasion.
At those times, she thought she was about to die, especially when she was poisoned. Qiu Lai had scraped her bones to remove the poison without any anesthetic, just cutting open her flesh and scraping the toxins from her bones.
The pain she felt now, she could still endure.
However, Chi Wan had explained the process of childbirth to her several times, so she knew this was just the beginning.
After a while, Qiu Lai and the others arrived, and everything needed was prepared.
Chi Wan was so nervous that sweat dripped onto her eyelids, making her eyes sting.
Someone had told her that when a Kun Ze gives birth, a Qian Yuan shouldn’t be present, as it was bad for the Qian Yuan.
Something about their career, their luck, and so on. How could Chi Wan believe that?
No matter what, she had to stay by Yu Jiuzhou’s side. She was unwilling to let Yu Jiuzhou face this situation alone.
Time passed, second by second. Soon, it was midnight. This was, in a way, their own kind of New Year’s vigil.
The children didn’t want to be born on New Year’s Eve; they wanted to be born on the Spring Festival, to welcome the new year.
Chi Wan helped Yu Jiuzhou move around, which would speed up the birth.
Qiu Lai and the others didn’t think anything of it. In ancient times, some women even gave birth standing up. It was fine to engage in appropriate movement before the baby came out.
Another four hours passed. The sky was beginning to lighten. Chi Wan checked again and found that it was time.
“Get ready.”
Chi Wan forced a smile. “Your Highness, deep breaths. It’s about to start.”
Everything before was preparation; now was the official start.
Yu Jiuzhou lay on the bed, gripping her hand tightly.
Qiu Lai said from the side, “Your Highness, don’t be nervous. Only push when I tell you to.”
All preparations were complete. So far, everything was going well.
Chi Wan checked Yu Jiuzhou’s body and the babies’ positions. Everything was just right.
Just then, Xia Qu called from outside, “Fuma, someone from the palace is here.”
Chi Wan frowned and asked, “What is it?”
“His Majesty summons the Fuma to the palace.”
Chi Wan was speechless, a trace of anger rising in her heart. “Is he sick in the head? Calling for me at a time like this.”
Hearing her words, everyone was stunned. Wait, that was the emperor.
But no one dared to say anything. This was the Grand Princess’s Residence. Never mind the Fuma saying the emperor was sick; even if the Fuma wanted to kill the emperor, if they couldn’t stop her, they would have to hand her the knife.
This was the first time Chi Wan had lost her composure like this. Yu Jiuzhou’s eyes sparkled, a flash of surprise in them. So this one could get angry.
How could Chi Wan not get angry? It was just that no one had provoked her.
In her heart, Yu Jiuzhou was the most important person to her. Now that Yu Jiuzhou was in a critical moment, no one could make her leave. So what if it was the emperor? When it was time to be firm, she wouldn’t be the least bit cowardly.
In front of the emperor, she had always pretended to be obedient, but not because she truly was.
At a time like this, she would rather offend the emperor than leave Yu Jiuzhou’s side.
Yu Jiuzhou wanted to say something, but seeing her determined gaze, she said nothing.
Whatever the consequences, she would bear them for Chi Wan.
She would naturally protect her person. Not even the emperor could take her person away.
Chi Wan said to Xia Qu outside, “Tell the messenger to go back and say the Fuma is dead.”
Yu Jiuzhou: “…”
Then she slapped her on the head, a very natural motion. “Don’t say such nonsense.”
How could someone have the strength to hit people while giving birth?
Chi Wan was helpless, but her anger instantly subsided. “Then say Her Highness is about to give birth, and the Fuma fainted from excitement.”
A good reason…
When the Shengyuan Emperor heard this reason, his mind was full of question marks. “You’re saying Zhou’er is giving birth, and the Fuma fainted?”
“Yes, that is what the Grand Princess’s Residence reported.”
The Shengyuan Emperor was speechless. “A dignified Qian Yuan, so useless.”
What was there to be nervous about a Kun Ze giving birth? Utterly useless.
Then he had another thought. That was true, Zhou’er was carrying an imperial grandchild, perhaps even the future imperial great-grandchild. Of course she would be nervous.
The Shengyuan Emperor smiled with satisfaction. “Wang Hai, prepare the rewards. If Zhou’er gives birth to a Qian Yuan, increase the rewards tenfold.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Chi Wan had no idea the Shengyuan Emperor was having another fit of madness. Around six in the morning, a baby’s cry finally echoed through the Grand Princess’s Residence.
Time seemed to freeze at that moment. Chi Wan looked at the tiny person, couldn’t help but hold her breath, and tightly gripped Yu Jiuzhou’s hand. A sharp sting hit the tip of her nose, and tears streamed uncontrollably from her eyes.
She didn’t have time to look at the baby’s features, carefully wiping the sweat from Yu Jiuzhou’s forehead.
“It’s a little commandery mistress.” Everyone knew that the child of the Grand Princess, if a Qian Yuan, would not receive a title, but if a Kun Ze, would certainly be enfeoffed as a commandery mistress.
So it was a Kun Ze. The emperor’s man was still waiting outside. Hearing the voice from inside, he sat down in disappointment and took a sip of tea.
In fact, apart from Chi Wan, everyone was a little disappointed. They all knew that if it were a Qian Yuan, there was a high possibility of becoming emperor in the future. His Majesty’s attitude was known to the entire court.
That was the emperor. How wonderful it would be if their own little master became the emperor.
Chi Wan only cared about her wife and paid no mind to the child.
Yu Jiuzhou looked weakly at the child, a blissful smile on her face. At the same time, a trace of determination appeared in her eyes. So what if she was a Kun Ze? She could still inherit everything of hers.
The next second, Qiu Lai announced loudly, “It’s a pair of phoenixes!”
A female Qian Yuan was a Feng, and a female Kun Ze was a Huang.
Chi Wan calculated the time. The older sister was born at 6:06 in the morning, and the younger sister at 6:08, two minutes apart.
When the eunuch outside heard it was a pair of phoenixes, his face immediately lit up with joy. “This servant must go report the good news to His Majesty.”
With that, he ran out.
No one paid him any mind. Everyone’s focus was on Yu Jiuzhou and the two little masters.
Chi Wan, meanwhile, continuously channeled her internal energy. Under her infusion of energy, Yu Jiuzhou became much more spirited and not so weak.
Qiu Lai, at her side, remarked, “Your Highness is the person with the best spirit I’ve ever seen after giving birth.”
Yu Jiuzhou smiled and looked at Chi Wan. “Have you thought of their nicknames?”
Chi Wan gave a dry laugh. “What does Your Highness think they should be called?”
“Hmm…” Yu Jiuzhou hesitated for a moment. “Let’s call the older sister Chenchen, and the younger sister Guiyi.”
Jinzhao could also mean morning. Chenchen was named after Chi Jinzhao’s name. And since her own name contained the character for nine, she would take the meaning from the phrase jiujiu guiyi, nine times nine returns to one.
Chi Wan couldn’t help but smile, her eyes, filled with a hint of adoration, fixed on Yu Jiuzhou. There was also a bit of pride. “They’re beautiful names. Chenchen, Guiyi. But my Jinzhao is still the most beautiful.”
Yu Jiuzhou couldn’t help but roll her eyes at her. “Show-off.”
Chi Wan wiped the tears from her face and slowly leaned close to Yu Jiuzhou’s ear. “Sister, you’ve worked hard.”
The earnest look on her face stirred something in Yu Jiuzhou’s heart. She turned her head and lightly kissed her on the cheek. “You too.”
Footnotes:
- Feng (凤) and Huang (凰): In Chinese mythology, the Fenghuang is a mythical bird often called the Chinese phoenix. It is a compound creature, with Feng (凤) traditionally representing the male aspect and Huang (凰) the female. In the context of this story’s societal structure, these terms are repurposed: a female Qian Yuan is designated a Feng, and a female Kun Ze is designated a Huang, creating a symbolic hierarchy within the narrative’s gender system.
- Chenchen (晨晨): The name for the older sister, meaning “Morning Morning” or “Dawn.” It is derived from the character 晨 (chén), which is a homophone for and shares the meaning of the “Jin” (今) in Chi Jinzhao’s (迟今朝) name, both relating to the concept of the present day or morning. The reduplication is a common affectionate naming pattern for children.
- Guiyi (归一): The name for the younger sister, meaning “Return to One.” It is derived from the idiom jiǔjiǔ guīyī (九九归一), which translates to “ninety-nine return to one” and conveys the idea that all things, despite their complexity, ultimately return to a fundamental unity or origin. This name connects to the character 九 (jiǔ, meaning “nine”) in Yu Jiuzhou’s (虞九舟) name.
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