Chapter 115
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In front of the grand and solemn General’s Residence, the guards stood solemnly. Zhou Dawu waited at the entrance, after a while, a sturdy guard rushed out and announced hurriedly. Zhou Dawu was then ushered inside.
The General’s Residence was vast, but its construction was simple and unadorned. Despite that, the solemn guards added an invisible air of authority to the mansion.
Zhou Dawu became more alert as he followed the guard through layers of security and entered the residence.
Inside the spacious council hall, a group of generals had already filled the seats closely together. The person seated at the head lifted his head, completely shedding the youthful appearance he had in Lingnan. His gaze was as sharp as a hawk, his presence exuding an imposing aura. Compared to his demeanor in Lingnan, he now radiated an indescribable aura of authority. Zhou Dawu’s heart tightened, and he hastily saluted, “Zhou Dawu arrives late.”
Ni Lie gestured for him to take a seat and briefly introduced his identity to the surrounding generals before diving into the day’s agenda.
After the reorganization of military and political affairs in Bei’an’s territory, Ni Lie assumed the position of the Grand Marshal of the Armed Forces of the Realm, leading all the military forces. His first priority was to assemble strong troops and reclaim the sixteen provinces of Nantai from the Southern Zhao Kingdom.
With the reorganization underway, Ni Lie promoted several talented individuals from the poor people. These officers and soldiers had achieved great feats but were previously limited by their social status. Now, they had a chance to realize their ambitions, and the military underwent a transformation, emanating an unprecedented vitality.
Zhou Dawu keenly felt this vibrancy and the deep respect and trust the generals in the council hall had for their commander. He couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions, remembering the first time he encountered this young man, a silent child of merely ten years old. Never did he imagine that in a span of ten years, this young man had risen to a position beyond his reach, no matter how hard he tried.
He carried within him the innate dissatisfaction of a man, but more so, a genuine admiration.
After finalizing the decisions, everyone left the council hall. Zhou Dawu approached Ni Lie, “His Majesty… Are all things well?”
His eyes grew slightly warm as he continued, “The people at Lingnan’s hidden residence greatly miss His Majesty.”
Ni Lie’s expression softened, “Everything is well.”
He cleared his throat, “After some time has passed, His Majesty will set a date to meet with them.”
Zhou Dawu’s excitement couldn’t be contained. Reflecting on the twists and turns of their journey, he couldn’t help but feel deeply moved.
Truly, the unpredictability of the world was remarkable. In the past, Ni Lie had betrayed King Guang’an’s Residence, only feigning loyalty to the Crown Prince to lay low and prepare for the future. Now, fate had rewarded him, allowing a humble prince from the borderlands to ascend to the highest throne.
What he couldn’t anticipate was the realization that a subtle affection had already formed between Ni Lie and their Emperor.
Zhou Dawu couldn’t help but recall the eighteen-year-old young man who asked him about matters of intimacy. Now, looking back, that person he referred to as the “girl” was none other than their Emperor. Just the thought of it made Zhou Dawu’s face flush.
Note: you might remember when Zhou Dawu mistook Ni Lie as having a crush on some girls back then.
He understood Ni Lie’s personality and refrained from saying anything unnecessary. He bid farewell and left.
As he stepped outside, a tall figure of a swordsman leaned against the door. Zhou Dawu hadn’t paid much attention at first, but upon hearing the exclamation, “Big Brother Zhou!”
Zhou Dawu looked up in surprise and recognized the person’s appearance. He couldn’t help but exclaim with joy, “A Ying!”
As the words slipped out of his mouth, he suddenly choked and quickly corrected himself, “Your Highness, the Princess!”
With a click of her tongue, Ni Ying approached while holding her sword, she spoke in a carefree manner, “Alright, alright. It’s not easy for me to come out of the palace and take a breather. Why are you using that formality too?”
Zhou Dawu smiled sheepishly, noticing that she had grown taller and her childish demeanor had gradually faded, replaced by a more confident air. He knew that Ni Ying had become the right-hand woman of the Emperor in the palace, which brought him a sense of relief.
“Our precious gem from King Guang’an’s Mansion has grown so much!”
Ni Ying, exuding a lively and confident charm, laughed, “Let’s go and have a little drink, and while we’re at it, let’s go see Sister-in-law too. I wonder what those two little troublemakers look like now.”
She beckoned with her hand and walked towards a nearby tavern on her own.
Zhou Dawu stood still for a moment, then suddenly smiled. Over the past two years, many things had undergone drastic changes, yet it seemed that nothing had really changed.
He caught up with Ni Ying, the two of them walked side by side towards the tavern by the street.
The winter sun was just right.
After the birth of the first prince of Emperor Chao Yuan, he was secretly raised within the deep palace, awaiting the right moment to be revealed to the public.
Li Yuanmin had taken a few days off using illness as pretext to, but he returned to court soon after.
As the end of the year approached, the first imperial examination under the new reforms was about to take place. Li Yuanmin attached great importance to it and personally selected the chief examiner. Combined with various affairs of the new dynasty, the busy months flew by. His time spent with Ni Lie was also shortening.
Ni Lie had finally settled the preparations for the upcoming war. After three days, he returned to the palace. As he stepped into the Qianyuan Hall, the twilight had already settled in.
A group of palace attendants and court ladies knelt down one after another.
Ni Lie took off his wrist guard and hurriedly walked towards the inner hall. Annoyed, he waved his hand, signaling for them all to leave.
Li Yuanmin was engrossed in reviewing memorials at his desk when he heard footsteps. He looked up and saw Ni Lie, whom he hadn’t seen for a few days. A pleased expression appeared on his face. “Why are you here?”
He happened to have some military-related matters to discuss with him, but Ni Lie suddenly slipped under his robe, eagerly snuggling close and inhaling with enthusiasm.
Ni Lie’s actions left Li Yuanmin flustered, and he struggled to lift his head. “The wet nurse will bring Jing’er over later… Let’s continue this later…”
His voice unintentionally carried a coaxing tone as he looked at Ni Lie’s eyes, which were shining with excitement. Li Yuanmin gave him a comforting kiss.
Ni Lie wasn’t deterred. He seized Li Yuanmin’s lips, his voice filled with longing and teasing, “I’ve made arrangements. They won’t come over tonight.”
Impatiently, he bit Li Yuanmin’s lip. “I’ll be leaving for the southern border in a couple of days to serve the Emperor. Your Majesty must properly reward me.”
With the urgency of a hungry tiger, he pulled Li Yuanmin up and strode decisively towards the inner chamber.
The sky had darkened. Ni Lie, shirtless, wearing only shorts, jumped down from the bed. He instructed a palace maid to fetch hot water.
Returning to the bed, he opened the bright yellow canopy, and a cold fragrance wafted through the air. The figure on the bed couldn’t conceal its allure.
Li Yuanmin’s eyes were half closed, his full red lips slightly parted as he breathed heavily. His forehead was damp with sweat, his snow-white face tinged with a rosy flush, like a vivid and enchanting orchid.
At this moment, he opened his eyes, his damp and slightly irritated gaze fixed on Ni Lie, who had already brought him to the pinnacle of desire.
Ni Lie’s heart raced as he watched, feeling like it might jump out of his chest. A single glance, just one glance, and his mind became a whirlwind, rendering him unable to think clearly.
He desperately thought that Li Yuanmin must truly cherish him to let himself drive him to such heights of passion. The intensity of their passion could only be shared between the two of them.
Ni Lie’s throat felt dry and scratchy. He quickly jumped onto the bed again, embracing Li Yuanmin in his arms. His voice was husky as he nuzzled Li Yuanmin’s face. “You must love me deeply.”
Such words, such an expression, if seen by his group of comrades, would surely shock them beyond measure. However, Li Yuanmin displayed no surprise.
He held onto Ni Lie’s chest, propping himself up, and gazed down with an affectionate look. “Of course.”
Ni Lie was practically ecstatic, close to going insane. He looked at Li Yuanmin’s expression of tenderness and pity, his heart melting. He lowered his head gently to kiss the man he deeply loved.
“Of course, I love my A Lie deeply.”
Li Yuanmin didn’t know how love appeared to others, but the person before him could easily transform into a beast, with straightforward expressions and passionate advances. Despite Ni Lie’s fierce demeanor, he still managed to make Li Yuanmin’s heart skip a beat.
So, how could he not love him?
How could he not love this wild yet earnest beast in the realm of love?
Li Yuanmin held Ni Lie’s hands, interlocking their fingers, and kissed him gently, treating him like a cherished treasure.
Three days later, Marquis Wuwei, Ni Lie, personally led an army to the south, marching with a force of one million, their momentum overwhelming.
In less than half a year, the battle in the south was a resounding success, and the King of Nan Zhao personally delivered a letter of surrender to the capital.
Meanwhile, good news also emerged from the palace: the Emperor was expecting a child.
Carrying the dragon seed within him, Emperor Chao Yuan personally accepted the surrender. With the southern campaign settled, the Southern Tai Sixteen Provinces were restored to the Northern Peace, ending over a decade of separation.
Late at night, Li Yuanmin removed the fake belly from his waist and set it aside. He unfolded a memorial hastily and noticed a line of small characters at the end: “My beloved Jiaojiao: Missing you deeply, longing for you greatly, looking forward to my return.”
Li Yuanmin read the lines of vigorous and powerful writing, feeling a wave of bitterness in his heart. They carried too many burdens on their shoulders, and naturally, they couldn’t enjoy the simple pleasures of ordinary people. He had personally sent them into battle numerous times, and fortunately, the Southern Frontier War was finally coming to an end. In the foreseeable future, they would finally be able to be together for a long time.
The day after tomorrow would be the grand day of the Heavenly Rite, he hoped that his beloved “wild beast” would return in time.
The wet nurse led in a wobbly figure, and as soon as the child saw Li Yuanmin, his eyes lit up. He immediately let go of the wet nurse’s hand and rushed towards Li Yuanmin.
“Imperial father… hug…”
Li Yuanmin’s face was filled with warmth as he quickly picked up the child, gauging his weight. He seemed a bit heavier, which brought him some comfort.
The child, Jing’er, had grown a bit. His chubby face was no longer the wrinkled, reddish appearance he had when he was born. The more Li Yuanmin looked, the softer his heart became.
After giving a few instructions to the wet nurse, he arranged for Jing’er to spend the night in his sleeping quarters.
As the night deepened, the candles in the grand hall gradually extinguished, leaving only a dim and hazy lantern. Li Yuanmin gently patted his child, humming some gentle tunes. His heart felt tranquil.
Soon, Jing’er fell asleep, but Li Yuanmin’s mind was busy with thoughts. He remembered the time when Jing’er was in his womb and how close he came to losing him. Now that Jing’er was born, circumstances had confined him to the deep palace, awaiting the right time to be revealed to the world. This situation was far from the treatment a legitimate heir of the royal family should receive.
His heart ached with tenderness as he leaned down and kissed Jing’er’s plump cheek.
Finally, everything would soon be over. The world would soon meet the legitimate heir born from his ten-month pregnancy.
Li Yuanmin laid down and gently held his child in his arms.
The day of the Heavenly Rite was blessed with sunny weather. Under the care of several palace attendants, Li Yuanmin donned a heavy and solemn crown robe.
A palace attendant hurried in, saying, “Your Majesty, the Former Empress is causing trouble in the harem again. She claims…”
Pausing for a moment, the attendant observed Li Yuanmin’s expression and continued speaking.
Li Yuanmin rubbed his temples. The former empress, known for her virtue and grace, had finally dropped the facade that she had worn for over a decade. Only now did Li Yuanmin realize how many lives were stained by her hands, and even his mother’s death was somehow linked to her.
Li Yuanmin’s eyes glinted with a cold light. “Since she finds the service unsatisfactory, then dismiss all the palace attendants in the Ronghua Palace. Apart from providing a daily meal, they are not to give anything else, and she is not allowed to step out of the palace doors.”
The attendants quickly departed to fulfill the orders.
Perhaps due to this incident involving Sima Yi, it triggered many memories. As the imperial carriage passed by the Kaiyuan Temple, Li Yuanmin ordered a halt.
He saw the grand Buddha statue. In his childhood, he often lay at the foot of the Buddha to rest. It was a rare moment of tranquility for him.
With a thought, Li Yuanmin, accompanied by two palace attendants, proceeded to the Western Hall.
The Western Hall, which had become deserted, was originally the cold palace. However, laughter emanated from within. The palace attendants around Li Yuanmin became tense, unsure of how to respond. They exchanged glances with the imperial guards behind them, and more than ten guards encircled Li Yuanmin to protect him.
After listening for a while, Li Yuanmin fell silent for a moment, then waved his hand, indicating for the guards to leave.
He approached slowly, pushed open the door, and saw two men with vacant expressions playing around inside. Their hair was disheveled, and the palace attendants accompanying them were probably slacking off somewhere.
It was Li Yuanlang and Li Yuanxu.
Li Yuanlang eagerly approached, his face full of excitement. “If you bring down that ominous person, I can become the Emperor!”
Before Li Yuanxu could respond, his expression turned sour. “Nonsense! You were born from a concubine. How could you be Emperor? I am the true Emperor!”
The two of them exchanged words that didn’t make sense and immediately started fighting, tumbling in the weeds and getting covered in mud.
The palace attendants around them looked anxious, caught between wanting to intervene and fearing the consequences. However, Li Yuanmin showed no signs of anger. His face remained calm, and he ordered the door to be closed before leaving.
Li Yuanmin had no idea how Ni Lie managed to influence the two of them like this. He didn’t want to dwell on it either. This might be the last time they met as supposed brothers.
Strangely, Li Yuanmin had no emotions about this. There was no resentment or pity, as if they were merely part of the scenery in the Western Hall, unworthy of being remembered.
He looked at the clear blue sky and the compassionate Buddha statue, thinking that after the Heavenly Rite ended, he might be able to see Ni Lie again.
With this thought, Li Yuanmin felt a sudden clarity. The elaborate and lengthy Heavenly Rite didn’t seem as tiring as before.
However, what Li Yuanmin didn’t expect was that trouble would arise precisely during this routine Heavenly Rite.
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Always new trouble! ><
Thank You for the new chapter (ฅ’ω’ฅ)♥