TERTSGTGBFC Chapter 30

Xiao Linye raced back to the camp, finally arriving just in time to hear the child’s first cry.

 

“Your Majesty, you’re back!”

 

“Congratulations, Your Majesty! Another little prince!” Tian Rui knelt, holding the baby and offering his congratulations. But Xiao Linye barely glanced at them. He immediately stripped off his armor and rushed to Pei Lanqing’s bedside. “Grand Tutor!”

 

Pei Lanqing was drenched in sweat. Though his belly wasn’t as large as before, it still curved gently, rising and falling with his labored breaths.

 

“Ye… Ye’er…” Pei Lanqing gazed at Xiao Linye, the weight finally lifting from his heart. He struggled to reach for Xiao Linye’s hand, desperate to prove this wasn’t a hallucination.

 

Xiao Linye grasped Pei Lanqing’s hand, kissing it repeatedly and carefully cradling his body. “Grand Tutor, it’s me!”

 

“I’m back! I’m back!”

 

Pei Lanqing tried to speak, but the pain that had just subsided surged back with renewed intensity. In Xiao Linye’s arms, he finally allowed himself to cry out in agony. “Ah—it hurts so much!”

 

Xiao Linye was immediately thrown into a panic, unsure what to do. He could only hold Pei Lanqing close and turn to Imperial Physician Feng. “How is the Grand Tutor doing? Is he in danger?”

 

Imperial Physician Feng immediately bowed. “Your Majesty, the Grand Tutor’s fetal position is normal. However, having just delivered his first child, he is now near exhaustion. We must hurry to deliver the child still in his womb.”

 

“What must we do?” Xiao Linye looked at Pei Lanqing, whose face was pale and covered in cold sweat. His heart ached with concern. He kept kissing him, but didn’t know how to share his pain.

 

“Your Majesty, I beg you to lend the Grand Tutor some strength. Please press down on the fetus to help him deliver it,” Imperial Physician Feng said nervously, his voice trembling.

 

Xiao Linye looked at Pei Lanqing, who was nearly unconscious from the pain. How could he bring himself to do it? Yet the situation was dire, as if a red-hot knife were being used to carve his heart.

 

Just then, Pei Lanqing weakly grasped his hand and guided it to his still-swollen belly. His eyes, filled with tenderness and trust, met Xiao Linye’s.

 

“Ye’er… help me… help our child…”

 

Xiao Linye’s hands, fresh from slaying dozens or even hundreds of enemies on the battlefield, were now trembling. As the pain intensified, Pei Lanqing’s hand unconsciously clawed at Xiao Linye’s, drawing blood. His gaze turned pleading.

 

Xiao Linye finally gritted his teeth and, following Imperial Physician Feng’s instructions, pressed down firmly on Pei Lanqing’s abdomen.

 

“Ah—!”

 

Pei Lanqing’s body writhed in agony, yet instinctively sought refuge in Xiao Linye’s embrace. Even though Xiao Linye was the source of his pain, Pei Lanqing curled trustingly into his arms, drawing warmth and strength.

 

“Almost there! Almost there!”

 

“Your Majesty, press down harder!”

 

Imperial Physician Feng urged frantically. Xiao Linye held Pei Lanqing tightly, desperate to end his suffering as quickly as possible. His trembling hands pressed down again.

 

Pei Lanqing was too consumed by pain to cry out. But as the searing agony subsided, he finally felt something detach from his body. Before he could draw another breath, darkness enveloped him…

 

A baby’s cry echoed through the military tent, but Xiao Linye was too preoccupied to look. He could only hold the unconscious Pei Lanqing close, his voice hoarse with desperation as he called out, “Grand Tutor! Grand Tutor!”

 

Xiao Linye was terrified that Pei Lanqing might never wake up, and he couldn’t bear to see the blood-soaked sheets again. His eyes bloodshot, he roared at Imperial Physician Feng, “Come quickly! What’s wrong with the Grand Tutor?”

 

Hearing this, Imperial Physician Feng rushed forward to take Pei Lanqing’s pulse. Fearing another mishap, he examined him carefully before finally exhaling a sigh of relief. “Your Majesty, the Grand Tutor has merely fainted from exhaustion. He just needs rest and recuperation.”

 

Xiao Linye, still cradling Pei Lanqing in his arms, struggled to calm his racing heart before speaking in a hoarse voice, “Truly just exhaustion?”

 

“This subject would never deceive Your Majesty,” Imperial Physician Feng assured him repeatedly.

 

Only then did Xiao Linye gently lay Pei Lanqing back on the bed. The God of War Emperor, decisive and ruthless on the battlefield, now stood before him, almost bewildered and helpless. He stared at Pei Lanqing’s pale face for a long moment, holding his hand before finally leaning down to press his lips against the Grand Tutor’s cool ones. “Rest well, Grand Tutor. Ye’er will stay here with you…”

 

++++++

 

Pei Lanqing felt as if he had slept for an eternity. When he finally awoke, the tent was plunged in darkness, illuminated only by a few dim oil lamps that cast blurry shadows.

 

But this didn’t frighten him, because in the darkness, a strong, warm embrace held him tightly, never letting go.

 

Pei Lanqing tilted his head slightly and saw Xiao Linye’s face inches from his own.

 

After a day of fierce fighting on the battlefield and three days of vigil at Pei Lanqing’s bedside, the God of War Emperor finally succumbed to exhaustion and fell into a deep sleep.

 

Pei Lanqing weakly raised his hand and gently stroked Xiao Linye’s slightly weathered eyebrows and eyes. But Xiao Linye didn’t wake; instead, he followed the direction of Pei Lanqing’s fingertips, nuzzling his hand.

 

Pei Lanqing smiled faintly, resting his forehead against Xiao Linye’s neck. They embraced like that, and both drifted back to sleep.

 

They woke and slept in turns—sometimes one alone, sometimes together. They would exchange a few intimate words before falling back into a deep slumber.

 

It wasn’t until the evening of the third day that Pei Lanqing truly woke up. But this time, the Emperor wasn’t by his side.

 

Hearing his voice, Tian Rui, who had been waiting outside, immediately brought in the medicinal broth. Several Junior Eunuchs swiftly helped him sit up against the bed.

 

“Where’s Ye’er?” Pei Lanqing’s voice was still hoarse. After drinking a few mouthfuls of the broth, it improved slightly.

 

Who knew that upon hearing his question, the old eunuch’s face would light up with joy as he replied, “Your Majesty has been with the Grand Tutor all along. He only went to preside over the surrender of the remaining Zhaojiang nobles today.”

 

“Today, Your Majesty announced three great joys to the world.”

 

“Oh?” Pei Lanqing finished his medicine and, though still weak, leaning against the bed, his eyes already held a spark of vitality. “The first must be the great victory over Zhaojiang.”

 

“Indeed,” Eunuch Tianrui helped Pei Lanqing wash and continued chatting idly. “Why don’t the Grand Tutor guess the other two?”

 

Pei Lanqing smiled faintly and said to Tianrui, “The second is likely my birth of twin sons, a propitious omen for Great Qi.”

 

“As for the third…”

 

He paused, unable to think of anything, and lowered his gaze in thought. “Could it be related to rewarding the generals? Father and Son Song both performed outstandingly in this battle and deserve generous rewards.”

 

“Or perhaps Ye’er intends to use this opportunity to grant a general amnesty?”

 

Eunuch Tianrui shook his head. “Your Majesty has already rewarded the two Song generals and the other generals. That hardly counts as a great joy. Grand Tutor, you should consider something closer to home.”

 

Pei Lanqing paused, then shook his head with a smile. “You mean something related to me?”

 

Now, he and Xiao Linye shared every meal and every night. In fact, the emperor cared more for Pei Lanqing’s daily needs than his own. Even the greatest treasures were as useless as dust to Pei Lanqing.

 

In terms of career and rank, he was the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor, nominally still serving in the Hanlin Academy, but in reality, Xiao Linye never concealed matters of state from him. Sometimes, a single word from Pei Lanqing carried more weight than the pronouncements of the most senior officials. The entire Pei Clan had been elevated to positions of great importance.

 

As for offspring, Quan’er had been born the Crown Prince of Great Qi, and the births of their two new children had already been announced to the world.

 

Pei Lanqing truly couldn’t imagine what other good fortune could possibly befall him.

 

Eunuch Tianrui had only dropped this hint before refusing to elaborate, no matter how Pei Lanqing pressed him. He insisted that Pei Lanqing wait for the emperor’s return to hear the news directly from him.

 

Pei Lanqing wasn’t impatient. He simply called for the wet nurses to bring the two babies, cradling and comforting them himself. He also soothed Quan’er, who had been terrified by recent events.

 

As dusk deepened, Pei Lanqing finally received word of the emperor’s return.

 

***

 

After handling the backlog of postwar affairs, Xiao Linye, holding the third imperial decree issued that afternoon, walked slowly back to his tent under the cool autumn night sky, illuminated by the rising stars and moon.

 

He lifted the tent flap to find Pei Lanqing leaning against the bed, soothing the two children in a wooden basket. Quan’er was curled up in a soft ball, sleeping beside him.

 

Xiao Linye paused, as if afraid to disturb the peaceful scene. He moved carefully, lightening his steps. When he raised his eyes, he met Pei Lanqing’s smiling gaze.

 

Finally, he shed his exhaustion and the anxiety of the past few days. He returned to Pei Lanqing’s side and pulled him deeply into his embrace.

 

“Grand Tutor, you’re awake… That’s wonderful.”

 

Pei Lanqing leaned against Xiao Linye, his palm resting lightly on his chest, his head pillowed on his sturdy shoulder. He murmured softly, “Did I scare Ye’er again?”

 

Xiao Linye shook his head, his arms tightening around Pei Lanqing. He swallowed the anxiety and worry of the past few days, saying, “No, as long as you’re alright, Grand Tutor, that’s all that matters.”

 

Pei Lanqing let Xiao Linye hold him like that, his arms wrapped around Xiao Linye’s neck as he took the initiative to soothe his agitation with kisses.

 

Xiao Linye soon took control. Mindful of Pei Lanqing’s weakened postpartum body, he didn’t dare be too forceful. Instead, he cupped Pei Lanqing’s waist and back with his warm, large hands, trapping him in his embrace as he repeatedly kissed him with lingering tenderness.

 

After a long while, they finally parted slightly. Xiao Linye carefully and reverently placed the third imperial edict into Pei Lanqing’s hands, his expression a mixture of reverence and trepidation.

 

“Grand Tutor, I…”

 

In that instant, Pei Lanqing gazed into Xiao Linye’s eyes. Without even opening the edict, he already knew its contents.

 

“Ye’er wants to marry me?”

 

Xiao Linye’s eyes widened in surprise as he stared at Pei Lanqing. “…Did Tian Rui tell you?”

 

Pei Lanqing shook his head, his gaze fixed on Xiao Linye. His expression was serious as he asked again, “Is that true?”

 

The God of War Emperor, who had never known fear on the battlefield, hesitated for the first time. He had considered countless reasons before issuing this decree, but now, facing Pei Lanqing’s gaze, he found himself speechless.

 

Xiao Linye had assumed Pei Lanqing would agree. The Grand Tutor had no reason to refuse him. Yet, facing this simple question, he felt more nervous than facing an army of a thousand men.

 

Xiao Linye opened his mouth several times, but in the end, he could only nod decisively, as if delivering the final, desperate kiss before a long journey, staking everything on a single gamble: “Yes! I want to marry the Grand Tutor! I want the entire world to know that the Grand Tutor is my Imperial Consort! From this day forward, whether in the annals of history or beneath the yellow earth, we will be inseparable for ten thousand years!”

 

“Grand Tutor, do you… consent?”

 

Listening to Xiao Linye’s heartfelt words, Pei Lanqing sighed softly.

 

Meeting the emperor’s anxious gaze, he raised his hand to caress Xiao Linye’s face, his eyes filled with the same gentle smile he had worn when they first met in the Hall of Literary Glory.

 

“Ye’er…”

 

“How could I possibly refuse?”

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