Chapter 617

For access to a complete chapter, you can subscribe to my /caleredhair

“Your Highness, it’s been over a month.”

Fei Yuer lowered her head shyly, her eyes filled with gentle happiness.

The worry in his heart was swept away by the excitement of having a child. Xiao Ming took Fei Yuer’s hand and said, “Don’t do anything during this time. Just rest and take care of yourself. Xiao Huan, now that the Princess Consort is pregnant, you must take careful care of her.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Xiao Huan bowed.

Six days ago, Fei Yuer had morning sickness. The imperial physician diagnosed her and congratulated her on her pregnancy. Upon receiving the news, Fei Yuer and Xiao Huan were overjoyed.

It had been nearly two years since Fei Yuer entered the princely estate. Although Fei Yuer didn’t show it, she had always been anxious.

From the day she married Xiao Ming, she was no longer the carefree Fei Yuer, but the Princess Consort of Qi, and even destined to become the empress, reigning over all under heaven. In a harem where status depended on offspring, being childless was terrifying.

After all, she understood that Xiao Ming, as an emperor, could not possibly have only her in his harem. Even for political marriages, new women would be brought into the harem. Which emperor throughout history was not like this?

Xiao Ming didn’t understand what Fei Yuer was thinking. Now that the world was still unsettled, he didn’t have much time to waste on romantic affections.

But now that Fei Yuer was pregnant, as a father, he also needed to fulfill his responsibilities. Seeing that it was getting late, he directly accompanied Fei Yuer back to the bedchamber.

In the bedchamber, Xiao Ming and Fei Yuer chatted and laughed, and he recounted his experiences in the Sanmyo Kingdom. When he mentioned that the King of Sanmyo was interested in a marriage alliance, Fei Yuer clearly tensed up for a moment.

However, she only relaxed when he said he would marry her to the Ninth Prince Xiao Ziyan.

Fei Yuer’s reaction made Xiao Ming smile. In his opinion, no matter how male-dominated ancient times were, women still desired exclusive affection.

“Ziyan is sixteen this year; it’s time to choose a princess consort for him,” Fei Yuer said.

By seniority, Xiao Ziyan was supposed to call Fei Yuer “cousin sister,” but he was actually Xiao Ming’s younger brother. Among all the princes, Xiao Ming only trusted this one brother.

After all, Xiao Ziyan had both imperial and Fei Ji family blood. Having him marry the King of Sanmyo’s daughter as a secondary consort was fair to the King of Sanmyo. After all, the Sanmyo Kingdom was just a small place, and Xiao Ming only needed stability on the island for now.

Speaking of Xiao Ziyan, Xiao Ming asked, “By the way, what has Ziyan been doing lately?” Xiao Ming asked.

After the chaos in Chang’an last time, Xiao Ziyan and his imperial mother came to Qingzhou. After their first meeting, he rarely saw Xiao Ziyan.

“Your Highness is truly forgetful when it comes to important people. Didn’t Your Highness arrange for a group of Chang’an officials to study at Bowen Academy, and arrange for him too? He’s currently studying at Bowen Academy.”

“Studying what?” Xiao Ming asked habitually.

He hadn’t thought about it before, but ever since Xiao Wenxuan gave him the throne, he had instinctively started to pay attention to the Chang’an nobles in Qingzhou, among whom he was most concerned about these young princes.

After all, in a royal family where bloodline was paramount, any prince could be a rival for power.

However, fortunately, after the chaos in Chang’an, these princes lost their refuge and posed no great threat to him, as they had no army. But in another sense, he still needed these princes, for instance, in matters of marriage alliances.

Fei Yuer’s eyes flickered. She cautiously said, “Ziyan has no particular ambition. He only reads some nautical books.”

“Oh? Is he very interested in navigation?”

Xiao Ming said, and for some reason, he suddenly felt relieved. If Fei Yuer had said that Xiao Ziyan was studying government affairs and military matters, he would certainly have had some thoughts.

“He’s never been interested in anything for more than two or three days. Aunt says he probably won’t amount to much in the future,” Fei Yuer said.

Xiao Ming nodded. He understood the meaning in Fei Yuer’s words: they were protecting Xiao Ziyan, afraid that Xiao Ming would find a pretext to kill him.

After all, the current chaos in the Great Yu Empire was caused by princes vying for the throne. If it weren’t for the Crown Prince assassinating the emperor, the Great Yu Empire would not be in this situation. Now, with an adult prince right under Xiao Ming’s nose, according to the thinking of Great Yu Empire officials, they would certainly keep a close eye on this prince.

“Princess Consort, no need to be nervous. I merely asked casually,” Xiao Ming said. He understood that his every word and action would be scrutinized.

Fei Yuer felt relieved. Xiao Ziyan was, after all, her cousin, and their private relationship was very good. She couldn’t bear to see the two brothers fighting each other.

After a pause, Xiao Ming continued, “Tomorrow, I will go see him and discuss this marriage alliance. The King of Sanmyo’s daughter has already arrived in Qingzhou with me, and the wedding should be arranged as soon as possible, so that the King of Sanmyo’s envoy can return and report.”

“Hmm, if Your Highness finds it inconvenient, I can also persuade him,” Fei Yuer said.

“In that case, have him come to the princely estate for a meal tomorrow.”

…

As the two were speaking, Pang Yukun had already arranged for the three princes’ envoys to rest at the Wei Family Restaurant. Since it was a delaying tactic, they were to be treated well with good food and drink.

After three rounds of wine, the three princes’ envoys went upstairs. After Pang Yukun left, the other two came out of their rooms and went into the third person’s room.

“Assistant Minister Wang, please make up your mind. Our informants clearly said that Prince Qi has returned, but this Pang Yukun simply won’t admit it. Isn’t this clearly trying to stall us?”

This time, Prince Zhao had still sent Wang Xi. Prince Yan had still sent Zheng Hao. Prince Liang’s envoy also remained unchanged.

Wang Xi frowned tightly. He said, “You are right. This Pang Yukun intends to stall us. If so, Prince Qi is certainly unwilling to give up the thirteen prefectures of Wei.”

“Is that even a question? Do things that have been eaten come out of the mouth? Assistant Minister Wang, Crown Prince, I think we shouldn’t waste any more time. Let’s each return and prepare for war,” Prince Zhao’s envoy said.

Zheng Hao clapped his hands and said, “That’s what I think too. Wei is not yet stable, and Prince Qi’s army cannot be withdrawn from Wei in time. Attacking Yunzhou directly at this time couldn’t be more suitable.”

Wang Xi, however, was somewhat concerned. Prince Zhao’s army was still engaged in a fierce battle with the King of Shu’s army and could not be diverted at this time. Moreover, Prince Zhao knew very well that even if Xiao Ming were forced to withdraw from Wei, Prince Yan would be the one to gain the most benefit.

Most importantly, their scouts had learned that Prince Yan had also mastered the technology for manufacturing matchlock guns. Coupled with Prince Yan’s long-standing reputation as a wise prince in his fiefdom, Prince Zhao felt that Prince Yan’s threat was no less than Xiao Ming’s.

Furthermore, Prince Yan’s fiefdom was the closest to Chang’an. If Prince Yan were to stab them in the back, it would be troublesome.