Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 506 Extra: Yi Huaiyan

On the fifteenth day of the first month of the second year of Yongjing, the celestial phenomena were somewhat unusual.

During the day, the sky was clear and blue, but as evening approached, layers of magnificent sunset clouds rose up, refracting a rainbow of colors and bathing the entire palace in a splendid glow, as if shimmering gold were flowing within it, creating a scene both real and dreamlike…

The Imperial Astronomical Bureau urgently reported to the emperor that this was an omen of auspicious celestial phenomena and national peace and prosperity.

The old palace servants whispered among themselves, saying that the last time they had seen such a strange phenomenon was the year the late emperor ascended the throne.

As Xue Sui's due date approached, Li Zhao visibly became serious.

He slept restlessly at night. At the slightest sound, he would subconsciously open his eyes to check the breathing of the person next to him, and only when he could feel her warm breath could he close his eyes again.

"Li Zhao..."

Just as I was drifting off to sleep, I heard Xue Sui's voice.

Li Zhao immediately woke up and reached out to touch her, only to find that her temples were wet with sweat.

"Ping An, what's wrong? Are you about to give birth...?"

Xue Sui couldn't help but groan, grabbing the hand of the man beside her. She felt the pain in her abdomen intensify, wave after wave.

"Hmm..." She pursed her lips, and after the pain subsided, she managed to raise her head and smile: "I suppose... the little one can't wait to see his father and mother."

Li Zhao suddenly stood up and put on his outer robe.

"Summon the imperial physician! Summon the female physician!"

His voice was deep and stern, with a hint of tension that was barely perceptible.

"Hurry! Be quick—"

With the Empress about to give birth, the Imperial Medical Bureau was already on high alert.

Midwives, wet nurses, and female physicians were all on standby in the Pifang Palace, but Li Zhao still felt it was not enough. Half a month in advance, he ordered that several of the most skilled gynecologists and pediatricians from the Imperial Medical Academy be stationed in the palace to be on duty at any time.

At the emperor's command, the entire Pifang Palace sprang into action.

Even late at night, the palace was brightly lit inside and out.

Hot water, ginseng soup, and clean cloths were continuously brought in.

People moved about, each performing their assigned tasks...

Li Zhao was kept outside by ancestral rules, and listening to the faint groans of pain coming from inside, he felt suffocated.

"Why haven't we heard anything yet? What's the situation inside?"

"Your Majesty, women often spend most of the night in labor, so there's no need to rush... Her Majesty is currently doing well, and the baby is in the correct position, so we just need to wait patiently..."

Li Zhao nodded, his face ashen as he paced back and forth, his hands clenched into fists behind his back.

Laifu was also very nervous.

I approached quietly and offered her a cup of calming tea.

"Your Majesty, please moisten your throat."

Li Zhao seemed not to hear, staring intently at the door that separated him from Xue Sui.

Every sound inside felt like it was tearing his heart out.

"Ah—" A short cry of pain suddenly came from Xue Sui.

The string in Li Zhao's mind snapped.

All ancestral rules and imperial majesty were thrown to the winds at this moment.

He rushed in without regard for anything else.

"Your Majesty, you mustn't! A woman giving birth is covered in blood, which may harm your health... You mustn't go in!" The old nanny knelt down to stop her.

"Get out of my way!" Li Zhao's eyes were bloodshot, and his whole body exuded a chilling aura.

The palace servants all knelt down.

Li Zhao barged in without hesitation.

A strong smell of blood wafted towards us.

Xue Sui lay on the delivery bed, her hair completely wet, as if she had been pulled out of the water.

"Your Majesty...I don't want to have children anymore..."

Li Zhao felt a chill run down his spine.

He rushed to the bedside, grabbed Xue Sui's sweaty hand, and said in a hoarse voice, "No more children, never again..."

Xue Sui's lips trembled, and his breathing was very unsteady.

Her eyes were fixed on Li Zhao's concerned face. She wanted to say something, but was overwhelmed by another wave of pain. She could only grip his hand tightly, her nails digging into his flesh.

"what……"

"Peace, peace... I'm here, I'm here with you..."

Li Zhao was sweating profusely.

"What's going on? Why can't Your Majesty give birth yet?"

"We can see the end, Your Majesty! Give it your all!" the female physician exclaimed with delight.

Li Zhao leaned down, gently brushed the wet hair from her forehead with his large hand, and whispered in her ear.

"Ping An... will be alright soon. I will never, ever let you suffer like this again..."

Xue Sui took a deep breath and suddenly exerted force downwards—

"Wow--"

A loud cry from a newborn broke the silence of the night.

Like a beam of light, it dispelled the tense atmosphere that enveloped the entire imperial city.

"She's given birth! Her Majesty the Empress has given birth..."

"It's a young prince... Mother and child are safe!"

The midwife beamed with joy as she announced the good news.

Li Zhao didn't bother to look at the newborn child; his gaze was fixed on Xue Sui's face. He watched her collapse as if all her strength had left her, and he tenderly wiped the sweat from her face, kissing her forehead again and again, feeling both pity and lingering fear.

"Ping An, thank you for your hard work..."

Xue Sui forced a weak smile and turned his gaze to the side.

"Is the child... alright?"

Li Zhao then remembered his son's existence.

He strode towards the female doctor.

The female doctor cleaned the child and wrapped him in swaddling clothes.

Xiao Zhao quickly stepped forward to take it, and happily hugged it to Li Zhao...

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, the young prince has regular features and a strong physique..."

Li Zhao took the tiny swaddled baby from Xiao Zhao's hands and looked down at it.

The child's skin was smooth and rosy. He was quietly closing his eyes, his little mouth moving slightly. His features were not fully developed, but his eyebrows and eyes already had a shape, and he looked very handsome.

Li Zhao's arms were stiff and his movements were extremely restrained, as if he were afraid of accidentally hurting the child, and he carefully brought the child close to Xue Sui.

"Look, it's like you."

Xue Sui looked at it carefully, then looked up at Li Zhao.

"looks like?"

“Yes.” Li Zhao said with certainty, looking at the palace maid and nanny beside him.

The palace maids quickly echoed their agreement.

"Yes, the little prince looks just like the empress."

"The bridge of their noses, their ears, they're exactly the same..."

"Especially those eyes, they're practically identical to the Empress's."

Xue Sui's smile deepened, and his gaze softened. "I actually hope he's more like His Majesty, more dashing."

Li Zhao chuckled softly, "Our child is fine no matter what."

Xue Sui had exhausted herself during childbirth, and as soon as she relaxed, she fell into a deep sleep after saying only a few words.

Li Zhao did not leave; he simply stayed there.

On one side was his sleeping wife, and on the other was his quiet son. The new father's heart was filled with ripples until the sky began to lighten.

The next morning, the news of the Empress giving birth to a son was announced to the world.

After consulting numerous historical records and deliberating repeatedly, Li Zhao bestowed the name "Huaiyan" upon his eldest son.

The meaning is simple yet sincere—Yan and Xue Sui's nickname is Ping An, and it also means "the river is clear and the sea is calm," representing peace and tranquility throughout the world.

This is his simplest and deepest expectation for his son as a father, and also his best wishes for the future of his country as a ruler.

Three days later, the child had his third-day bath.

A grand banquet was held in the palace for all the officials.

Emperor Yongjing, beaming with joy, could not hide his delight. He issued an edict in court, appointing his newborn eldest son, Li Huaiyan, as Crown Prince, and granting a general amnesty and tax reduction for the following year, celebrating with all the people.

The banquet lasted until late at night.

Yao Guang brought Yu Heng to offer their congratulations.

He remained as cheerful as ever, as if those misunderstandings and unpleasantness had never occurred. He first bowed to Xue Sui, and then presented a brocade box with a smile.

"This is a longevity lock crafted by the old craftsmen of the Old Mausoleum by my second and third masters. May the young prince be free from disasters and live a long and healthy life..."

Xue Sui leaned against the headboard, smiled, and had the palace servant accept the gift, thanking him gently.

The longevity lock is made of warm and lustrous jade, with exquisite goldwork and substantial weight.

She said, "Thank you, senior brother, and please convey my thanks to our two masters as well. You are very kind."

Yao Guang waved his hand, his tone natural, "Since winter began, both of you have been feeling a bit cold and rarely go out, so you haven't come to the capital. We want you to rest and recuperate properly."

Xue Sui responded softly, his eyes full of smiles.

Yao Guang paused for a moment and looked at Yu Heng.

Yuheng stood beside him, his expression still somewhat awkward, but no longer as tense as before. Yaoguang gave him a look, and he awkwardly said something to Xue Sui.

"Congratulations."

Xue Sui nodded slightly, and they understood each other without saying a word. The past grievances seemed to become insignificant in the joy of this new life.

If there's any regret...

Even if Tian Shu did not come.

As Yao Guang was leaving, he took out a small booklet from his pocket. "My senior brother practices medicine in the southern border region and was unable to come in person, so he asked me to give this to you."

That was a childcare prescription book personally written by Tian Shu.

The handwriting in the book is neat and elegant, and it records in detail how to deal with common childhood illnesses. Every stroke shows care.

Xue Sui took it, his fingertips touching the paper, as if he could see that person, bent over under the night lamp, writing with a pen, aloof and upright, like a pine tree on a cold peak...

She remained silent for a long time, then finally sighed softly, carefully tucked the booklet into her pillow, and whispered, "Please thank him for me too."

Yao Guang and Yu Heng exchanged a glance and nodded in tacit agreement.
-
Huaiyan's arrival brought countless moments of life and... chaos to the solemn and majestic palace.

The little one perfectly inherited the best features of his parents, with beautifully shaped eyebrows and delicate features, especially his eyes, which are bright, lively, and seem to hold the stars.

The wet nurses whispered among themselves that the little prince was born with an air of nobility and had the appearance of an emperor. Even at a young age, he showed a composure "different from ordinary babies." He didn't like to cry and fuss. Most of the time, he would just quietly open his eyes and observe, occasionally uttering a few meaningless syllables.

His intelligence, in particular, is extraordinary.

For example, when his father returned from court and the first thing he did was not to come to see him, but to hug his mother, little Huaiyan would frown and babble to express his dissatisfaction. Only when Li Zhao came over and carefully poked his soft cheek with the finger that had just finished reviewing the memorials would he grin with satisfaction and reveal a toothless smile.

For example, dining.

Xue Sui needed to recuperate after childbirth, and her milk supply was not sufficient. Li Zhao sent people to find three healthy wet nurses to feed her. However, Xue Sui insisted that her child should be close to her and breastfed him herself frequently.

Whenever this happened, Li Zhao would look at his son nestled in Xue Sui's arms, suckling earnestly, and his eyes would fill with resentment.

But little Huaiyan seemed to sense something. Whenever his father looked at him, he ate with extra gusto, making loud smacking noises as he ate. His little hands gripped his mother's clothes tightly, and his little feet would swing proudly, as if showing off to his father...

"Look at how greedy he is, like a starving ghost reincarnated."

Li Zhao reached out and wiped away the milk stains that had spilled from his son's mouth with his fingertips, his tone filled with dissatisfaction.

Xue Sui leaned against the soft pillow, looking down at the little one in her arms, her eyes crinkling with a smile.

"Isn't it just like you?"

"Nonsense, when did I..." Li Zhao looked up, his gaze pausing for a moment before he stared intently at her. He coughed lightly, "How could I be so greedy..."

Xue Sui couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The palace maid blushed and lowered her head.

Li Zhao's cheeks flushed slightly, but he remained defiant, "The Empress is mine, the Crown Prince is just a side thing. My son is still too green to try and steal her from me..."

Xue Sui gave him a reproachful look: "How can you hold a grudge against your own son?"

"I will take it into consideration." Li Zhao said confidently, and then pulled her and Huaiyan into his arms.

Xue Sui struggled slightly, "Be careful not to crush the child."

Li Zhao reluctantly loosened his grip, but still rested his chin on the top of her head, inhaling the scent mixed with milk, and felt all the fatigue from court life vanish.

With the country in my grasp, my beloved by my side, and my child in my arms...

This is the ultimate fulfillment in life.

Li Zhao pinched Huai Yan's soft cheeks, then suddenly smiled, "The Empress is right, I shouldn't have argued with the child. From now on, I should spend more time with him and teach him..."

……

With this promise, from the time Huaiyan was a month old, Li Zhao brought government affairs back to Pifang Pavilion.

An imperial desk was set up outside the palace for reviewing memorials and receiving important officials.

The inner room was covered with thick velvet carpets and surrounded by low railings, providing a space for Huaiyan to play.

Sometimes, when he got tired of reviewing memorials, he would get up and go to the inner room, and without saying a word, take Huaiyan from the wet nurse's or Xue Sui's arms, and slowly stroll around the hall.

Sometimes he would pace back and forth, deep in thought about government affairs; other times he would simply enjoy the warmth and satisfaction of being a father.

Little Huaiyan seemed to "know what was good for him," always unusually quiet in his father's arms, either staring curiously with wide eyes or sleeping peacefully.

Over time, Li Zhao even developed the unique skill of holding his son in one arm and writing annotations in the other, an awkward posture that he never tired of.

Thus, several close and trusted advisors often witnessed this peculiar scene.

The young emperor was handling state affairs in a solemn atmosphere when suddenly a loud cry or the crisp "thump-thump" of a rattle drum came from inside...

The ministers looked at each other, not daring to say anything.

Li Zhao remained expressionless and raised his voice to ask from inside the room, "What's wrong with Huaiyan?"

Then Xue Sui's smiling response would come from inside.

"It's nothing, I just caught a bell ball that I like, and I'm happy about it."

Or, "I don't know how I choked on my own saliva and coughed up tears."

Li Zhao nodded and said to his officials, "Continue."

After this happened many times, the old ministers went from being surprised to getting used to it, and even privately remarked that His Majesty was becoming more and more humane, just like an ordinary father.

No, he spoils his wife and children even more than the average father.
-
Time flows like water, slipping away silently.

After 100 days, Xiao Huaiyan's eyebrows and eyes have grown bigger, making her look even more delicate and cute, and her personality has become much more lively.

On this clear and refreshing day, Li Zhao had a rare moment of leisure. He ordered a thick brocade carpet to be laid out under the crabapple tree in the courtyard of Pifang Pavilion, along with soft cushions and several exquisite toys, so that he could play with his son.

Xue Sui sat to the side, watching Li Zhao try to teach Huai Yan, who was still too unsteady to sit, to identify a small jade horse.

He was very serious.

"Huaiyan, look, this is a horse. When you grow up, your father will take you riding a horse and galloping on the grasslands. That will be truly exhilarating..."

How could Huaiyan understand that?

His attention was entirely focused on his father's opening and closing lips. He reached out his chubby little hand, not to grab the jade horse, but to precisely pull the corner of Li Zhao's mouth, and then without hesitation, he took a bite.

Li Zhao was taken aback, then chuckled softly.

"This kid has pretty good teeth."

He lowered his head again, "Come on, bite Daddy again?"

Xue Sui wiped the corner of his mouth for him, her eyes full of smiles.

"Just keep spoiling him. Sooner or later he'll become completely unruly."

Li Zhao smiled, gently pulled his son's hand away, and used the handkerchief to vigorously wipe the drool from the corner of his mouth.

"It's alright. He gave his first kiss to his father, so he'll definitely grow up to be a loyal and devoted young man who won't harm young girls..."

"...Nonsense." Xue Sui chuckled, then suddenly became serious, as if thinking of something. "Being born into an imperial family, one is easily blinded by sensual pleasures. When he grows up, it's best if he finds a girl of good character to marry, and doesn't become like those dissolute playboys who frequent brothels, attracting a bunch of beauties and turning the inner court into a mess..."

"Don't worry, Your Majesty, I can do it, and so can my son." Li Zhaohun didn't care. He changed his position and placed Huaiyan steadily on his bent legs. He picked up a colorful cloth ball and waved it in front of Huaiyan like he was teasing a cat.

Huaiyan's gaze was immediately drawn to the rolling cloth ball, and she babbled and tried to reach for it with her little hands.

Li Zhao patiently dribbled the ball to a position where he could just touch it, but it would require a little effort to catch it, watching him clumsily but persistently try.

"Good son!"

The child became upset after being praised.

Huaiyan glanced at his father's mischievous face, seemed to understand something, and turned his head away without interest, no longer struggling with the swaying cloth ball.

Li Zhao was unwilling to give up, so he changed to another rattle drum and started shaking it.

The sound was abrupt, and Huaiyan's little mouth twitched. She turned around and hugged her mother, on the verge of crying.

Xue Sui quickly took the rattle drum from Li Zhao's hand and said reproachfully, "Is Your Majesty teasing him or scaring him?"

Li Zhao rubbed his nose and chuckled sheepishly, "Nobody would believe me if I said this kid did it on purpose... He's just competing with his father for his father's favor..."

Xue Sui responded with an "oh".

Li Zhao sighed, "Oh well, what can I do? He's my son..."

Sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled patterns of light.

Beneath the tree, the majestic emperor sheds his coldness from the court and transforms into a gentle father.

The beautiful and serene empress followed the two figures, one large and one small, her eyes smiling.

The exquisitely handsome young prince, under the doting gaze of his parents, explores a new and fascinating world.

At my feet, Black Eighteen lay sprawled out, fast asleep, its belly rising and falling with its breath, its glossy fur gleaming in the sunlight.

At this moment, it seemed to be dreaming of something delicious, occasionally smacking its lips.

On the bird perch, Lingyu preened its feathers smugly, its beady black eyes glancing at its "rival" on the ground, chirping defiantly.

Black Eighteen twitched its ears, but didn't even bother to open its eyes. It waited until Ling Yu relaxed her guard before suddenly leaping up and pouncing, startling Ling Yu into flight.

The courtyard suddenly became lively, filled with laughter and cheerful voices.

This scene of "dogs chasing birds" was performed several times a day, and the palace servants were already used to it...

After a brief commotion, Black Eighteen wagged its tail, lay back down at Xue Sui's feet, and continued to doze off.

Lingyu landed back on its perch triumphantly, letting out a clear chirp.

At this moment, time is incredibly gentle.

"Peace," Li Zhao whispered to her.

"Hmm?" Xue Sui responded lazily.

"Just like this, always like this, okay?" His voice was soft, but his tone was firm.

"You, me, our Huaiyan, and this peaceful country."

Xue Sui raised her head and met his eyes, in which her image was clearly reflected.

"I only hope that Huaiyan will be safe, happy, and free from illness and disaster."

This wasn't the first time she had said something like that.

Li Zhao knew that she was reminded of her unhappy childhood and the inevitable power struggles within the royal family, and therefore longed for ordinary happiness.

“With us watching over him, he will succeed.” Li Zhao held her hand and solemnly promised, “I guarantee that he will be the only prince. There will be no brothers fighting each other, no blood feuds, and no factional scheming. In my lifetime, I will clear all obstacles for him so that he can inherit the throne in peace.”

Xue Suihui grasped his hand, her eyes gleaming, and smiled without saying a word.

Li Zhao smiled slightly, his mind clear as a mirror.

She has always loved freedom and disliked the constraints of the palace. If it weren't for that affection between them, she wouldn't have bothered to be his empress.

He needs to coax his wife a bit.

Otherwise, given her personality, she would eventually abandon him and quietly go off to enjoy herself with her son, leaving him all alone...

Li Zhao leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead, then asked softly, "When Huaiyan is a little older, how about we take him to Jiangnan?"

Xue Sui's heart skipped a beat, "Alright."

Li Zhao smiled and put his arm around her waist.

The two looked at each other and smiled.

No matter how vast the land or how great the achievements, nothing can compare to the warmth of those around us.

Sorry for the wait. As you all know, I'm not very good at writing side stories... so please bear with me and don't scold me... (covers face). There might be a few random chapters later on; I'll write them when I feel like it. Don't get your hopes up, haha, it's better to wait for the new book...