Category: The Tyrant’s Beloved Empress

TTBE 73

~ TN4L3 ~ 7 Comments

Chapter 73

Edited and Proofread by KitKat

The girls’ school was a proposal by An Chang Qing. Because it was located at the border, Yanzhou had been constantly at war with the Beidi people. As a result, its people had been nurtured into strong and brutish people, including the womenfolk. In times of crisis, the women were able to take up arms and march into the battlefield. In fact, there were heroines in the past whose battles against the Beidi people were not in any way inferior to the men.

Being influenced by An Xian Yu and his mother, An Chang Qing never felt that women were any less capable than men. Take An Xian Yu for example. He believed that with her talents, it would’ve been more beneficial were she to be able to take part in the imperial exams. As such, he wanted to promote literacy for the women in Yanzhou so that everyone will be able to read and write.

When he first proposed this idea, he had expected fierce opposition from the older and obstinate officials but strangely, they had all come to agreement after a short deliberation. To the venerable families that populated Yejing, Yanzhou seemed to be the land of lawful negligence and illiteracy. However, it’s with these traits that allowed it to be free from the established normalcy created by the upper classes in Yejing.

After the proposal was put into practice, many women had begun attending classes. Eventually, it reached a point where there were not enough teachers and hence, the government had been trying to recruit female teachers. 

An Chang Qing saw that she was getting nervous, he patted her head and said gently, “The schools have only been established recently, if you go, it won’t be an easy job. Have you given it careful thought?”

An Xian Yu firmly nodded, “Yes.”

Judging from the determination in her eyes, he knew she had given it serious thought and only had the courage now to speak her mind. In his previous life, he couldn’t protect his sister. In this life, he wasn’t going to be obsessed with her marriage, as long as she could live a life of happiness and comfort, he was satisfied. With Xiao Zhige’s influence, even if An Xian Yu does not get married, no one would dare to ridicule her.

“I will personally send you there tomorrow.” An Chang Qing’s tone was with warm encouragement, “It’s great that you know what you want.”

An Xian Yu had assumed that her decision would be met with strong resistance from her brother and mother but surprisingly, her brother had easily agreed. Even her mother did not try to dissuade her and looked at her with eyes filled with joy and pride.

…..

An Chang Qing kept his word and the next day, had personally escorted An Xian Yu to the girls’ school.

The dean of the school was a female teacher in her forties who had been a talented academician in her youth. After the passing of her husband, she had remained widowed with no children. Now, with the establishment of the girls’ school, she was invited out of her retirement to teach. If Xian Yu wanted to enter the girls’ school, she would’ve to pass her test.

An Chang Qing only came to show his support, he had no intention of helping her using the back door. Therefore, he waited in the front while An Xian Yu followed the dean to the back.

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Before he could even finish his cup of tea, he saw Qi Wei swaggering over with Xie Ling being dragged along.

“What are you doing here?” An Chang Qing asked, looking straight at Qi Wei.

Qi Wei gave a dubious smile and said, “We heard that Miss An had decided to become a teacher at the girls’ school. We deeply admire her nobleness and so we came to take a look.”

Xie Ling gave him a sideway glance, indicating that he was clearly coerced to come.

An Chang Qing then glared at Qi Wei and beckoned him to sit down.

And, before he could continue to sip his tea, he saw another familiar figure approaching. This time it was Zhou He Lan. There was a slight twitch in his usually straight expression when saw Qi Wei and Xie Ling. He then bowed and said, “I heard that a girls’ school had recently been established. Just nice that I have in stock some brushes, ink, and paper that I wish to donate to the students to express my support.”

Zhou He Lan still had his head lowered and did not notice An Chang Qing’s look of curiosity towards him. After which, An Chang Qing simply nodded and told him to take a seat as well.

The group waited for half an hour before An Xian Yu and the dean returned. The two women were quite surprised to see the additional males in the room.

An Chang Qing explained that Zhou He Lan was there to donate writing materials to the school, causing the dean’s expression to soften and she thanked him sincerely.

An Xian Yu’s eyes were shining bright as she stood next to the dean, bowing at Zhou He Lan to express her appreciation.

Zhou He Lan told her to think nothing of it and then retreated behind An Chang Qing.

At the side, Qi Wei was brimming with annoyance. He stepped forward and expressed that he also wanted to donate some silver to the school. The dean, unaware of the situation, thanked him for his charity.

Qi Wei smugly looked at An Xian Yu but found that she didn’t pay him any heed. She simply walked over and stood beside An Chang Qing.

Qi Wei, “…”

When the group parted ways, Qi Wei tugged at Xie Ling’s sleeve and asked sourly, “Am I not handsome today? Why didn’t Miss An spare me a glance?”

Xie Ling looked at him with some pity and said, “Perhaps she already has someone else in her heart.”

Qi Wei’s eyes widened, “Hey, don’t jinx it!”

Not wanting to bicker with him, Xie Ling rolled his eyes and said, “Just don’t ask me to drink with you when that happens.”

…..

In mid-september, An Xian Yu officially joined the girls’ school. Other than her duties of teaching, she was also helping the dean with managerial tasks and had become incredibly busy. 

Zhou He Lan stayed in Yanzhou for a couple more days before embarking for Liangzhou. He had to deliver the second batch of jade stones southwards.

During his trip to Yanzhou this time, he had brought back 60% of the profit from the sales of the jade stones; the amount was so large that it left An Chang Qing flabbergasted. With this money, it could easily support tens of thousands of Yanzhou’s soldiers.

As such, it was clear that there was wealth to be made in the South.

This was all relayed to An Chang Qing from Xiao Zhige. However, he also expressed that the South would not be peaceful for long.

An Chang Qing could not understand so Xiao Zhige deciphered the reports he had received to him.

All this time, the southern provinces were mainly ruled by local magnates. Even the government’s troops were under their thumb. They had absolute ownership over the entirety of the crop fields in their territories. The common folk could only rent the field and had to relinquish half of their harvest to the landlords, the remaining half was left to them to earn their livelihood. 

The South was indeed prosperous but prosperity was only in the hands of these landlords. They were also the reason why they were able to make a huge profit in such a short time with the jade stones. 

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However, as Zhou He Lan ventured North, he had heard that the South had been experiencing a prolonged drought this year. It was foreseeable that the harvest would have low yield on top of it being delayed, causing the commoners to have a hard time paying their dues and sustaining their livelihood. Once the landlords refused to accept the arrears, there was cause for concern that another riot would break out.

An Chang Qing did not hear of any riots breaking out in the South in his previous life. However, it was quite plausible that the riot in the North had some effect on the South after all.

Only, what he did not expect was that Xiao Zhige’s prognosis would come true so soon.

At the end of September, in the news delivered by Zhou He Lan, it stated that the people of Guan Ping, Qin He, and Ding An counties had revolted and things were worse than the Sishui rebellion.

These people had endured being exploited and oppressed by the landlords for many years. Now that the fields could not provide adequate yield, it was hard enough for them to feed themselves, much less able to pay their rent. And instead of showing compassion, the land owners imposed heavy fines called the ‘lamb penalty’ for those unable to pay on time. This penalty forced the debtor to pay double of what they owed as interest for late payments. With no way to pay back such debts, the people were pushed against the wall.

But unlike the Sishui rebellion in which the rioters only killed corrupted magistrates and officers, the rioters in the South targeted all wealthy families and killed with indiscrimination. After massacring an entire family, they would split the loot and divide the food.

By the time the news reached Yejing, September had already passed. Emperor An Qing’s body had deteriorated considerably. After reading the report, he coughed up blood due to anger. Naturally, It was the Crown Prince that led the court in discussing this matter.

The newly appointed minister of Taifu Temple, who was still naive, suggested that the Crown Prince send someone to confirm the root cause of this uprising and annul the power of the abusive landlords. At the same time, they should also exempt the people from taxes and establish shelters for disaster relief. The uprising this time was due to the people’s discontent with the rich and powerful. If the court could resolve this conflict peacefully, it would help to demonstrate the Crown Prince’s goodwill.

The Taifu Temple minister was only recently promoted in haste due to the sudden vacancy of the post. Originally the governor of Chang Yang country, he was still unfamiliar with the situation of the Imperial Court. What he did not know was that the reason the landlords in the South dared to act so outlandish was that they had backing from the Imperial Court. Even the two princes had ties to the South.

With all the riches they could earn from the South, how could they not dip their hand into the honey pot?

The Crown Prince sneered and derisively rejected the proposal. “These lowlives dared to rebel, how could we let them off this easily?!”

On that day, an imperial decree was hastily sent to the South. The southern militia received their order and marched forth, killing everyone on their path. The civilians who had stayed on the sidelines were waiting for assistance from the court but what awaited them was total annihilation from the Imperial Army.

This fueled the people’s anger. Instead of trying to minimize the suffering, the Crown Prince had ordered for indiscriminate bloodshed. With nowhere to turn, more people joined the rebellion and willingly gave their life to fight the army.

The soldiers of Qing Zhou, Yong Zhou, Ruan Zhou, and nearby provinces had always been lax in their training and lived leisure lives. Fighting against these infuriate and driven farmers, the soldiers eventually lost heart and had to retreat. 

First it was Qing Zhou that fell followed by Yong Zhou and consequently, Ruan Zhou was also faltering.

Ruan Zhou’s position was meant to guard the Imperial Capital. If it falls, the rioters can directly advance into Yejing. The Crown Prince was now in a panic. 

Supported by servants, a startled Emperor An Qing dragged his ailing body into court, demanding the courtiers to come up with a solution.

Shu Guifei, who had been cast aside all this time, took the chance to publicly condemn the Crown Prince and his faction. The courtiers who used to stay on the fence simply argued back and forth with each other and provided nothing constructive.

Emperor An Qing coughed angrily and pointed at Shen Tu Bei, “What does General Shen Tu think we should do?”

Shen Tu Bei had strongly opposed the use of military force in this matter but the Crown Prince was too stubborn to listen which had led to such a catastrophe. Even at this point, the court was still divided and courtiers continued to try and step on each other’s toes instead of trying to find a solution. There was an indescribable turbulence in his heart.

When the Emperor called for him, he fell silent and finally suggested the only solution he knew of, “Why not send the Northern Warlord to suppress the rebellion?”

As soon as he spoke, an immediate silence followed. But as things have come to this, no one dared to oppose it. The rioters were gaining momentum and if they opposed this idea, should the rioters manage to break through and attack Yejing, no one will be able to stop them. 

Emperor An Qing gave Shen Tu Bei a long stare. But as his exhaustion took over, he finally said, “Send my order to the Northern Warlord! He has to immediately send troops to Ruan Zhou to cull the rebellion!”

TTBE 72

~ TN4L3 ~ 11 Comments

Chapter 72

Edited and Proofread by KitKat

There weren’t many servants in the manor and the few that were there had been hired by An Chang Qing after his arrival. As such, the pair did not see many people on their way back to the main room. 

An Chang Qing laid on Xiao Zhige’s back, feeling the man’s powerful pulse as his cheek touched his neck. It was calm and powerful, just like the man himself. An Chang Qing shifted his face and the long eyelashes swept over Xiao Zhige’s neck which caused his heart to itch like feathers brushing by. Before he could react, he felt a soft kiss touching the side of his neck.

Xiao Zhige lost his breath and almost stumbled. After stabilizing his footing, he reprimanded, “Stay still.” Although it was a scolding, there was no anger in his tone. 

An Chang Qing giggled, seemingly unafraid of him. Instead, his hands around his neck tightened as he rubbed his cheek against his neck. The warm sensation of his touch was addictive and gave Xiao Zhige a strange sense of peacefulness.

Seeing that Xiao Zhige had calmed down, An Chang Qing nestled on his shoulder and whispered lightly in his ears, “Don’t be afraid. I’m not going to die.”

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Xiao Zhige’s footsteps came to a stop. This time, he was truly upset. “Don’t speak nonsense.”

An Chang Qing smiled and told him to put him down. The two happened to stop right at the garden in front of the main room. The surroundings were quiet with occasional chirpings coming from the trees. 

Xiao Zhige used the hem of his robe to wipe a stool and gently put An Chang Qing on it. 

An Chang Qing looked at him and found that he still angry with vivid “川” lines on his forehead. But even so, the man was still attentive to wipe the stool before letting him sit on it. In fact, the stools were always cleaned by the servants everyday, it couldn’t possibly have been dusty. An Chang Qing knew that this was all Xiao Zhige’s thoughtfulness towards him. He knew that as long as it was related to him, Xiao Zhige would always show his care in his own quiet ways and he finally understood his stand on the matter.

They had once made a pact to be together till death. Xiao Zhige had unceasingly kept his promise but as for An Chang Qing, he had wanted more when the baby came into existence. 

The pact that had only included the two of them was now shaken because he was willing to put his life at risk for the baby without considering that if something were to go wrong, he would’ve left Xiao Zhige all by himself.

Looking at the man staying silent, An Chang Qing finally made a choice. He stood up and held Xiao Zhige’s hand, speaking softly, “I haven’t forgotten the wish I made the night of the Lantern Festival.”

An Chang Qing looked into Xiao Zhige’s eyes and said wholeheartedly, “I can’t bear to part with this child but I promise you, as long as Dr. Hu ascertaines that my life is in danger in keeping him, we will give him up. I will not put my life at risk. Please believe me.”

Xiao Zhige’s throat rolled several times as he looked at An Chang Qing. Only after a while did he respond by hugging An Chang Qing and said in a hoarse voice, “Alright, I believe you.”

An Chang Qing smiled as he wrapped his arms around Xiao Zhige’s waist to reciprocate.

Afterwards, the two walked back to their room hand in hand. Xiao Zhige then called for Hu Shifei again to ask about the operation. Although Hu Shifei has a quirky personality, when it comes to medicine, he was highly reliable. He had reread the notes several times and had even gone to Lady Guo to get more information. By now, he already had a good grasp of the procedure and was affirmative to succeed. 

These details he had explained to Xiao Zhige but he was so intimidated by the words “cutting open to retrieve the baby” that he refused to listen any further. Now that Hu Shifei could explain to him the whole process again, there was some relief in his eyes though, his expression remained gloomy. But, at least, he did not object to the procedure.

After pacifying Xiao Zhige’s worries, he went on to check An Chang Qing’s pulse. Seeing that everything was fine, he spoke with them in detail about the things to pay attention to before leaving the manor.

An Chang Qing was now over four months pregnant and although it was not physically obvious, his symptoms were. He had a huge appetite and was often drowsy. His belly wasn’t showing but the once boney cheeks were now more bouncy.

“Dr. Hu said that it’s not a dangerous operation. Only, after the delivery, the cut will be quite large and has to be treated carefully for a while. Wangye can stop worrying.” An Chang Qing leaned in and pinched Xiao Zhige’s cheeks, forcing his lips to curl into a smile.

Because there was no one else in the room, An Chang Qing had taken off his coat, shoes and socks and was wearing a thin silk robe. His long hair spreaded over his back and at this point, he was kneeling over Xiao Zhige on the bed, giving off an alluring charm that he was not even aware of.

Xiao Zhige gave a smile in accordance with An Chang Qing’s wishes and quickly closed up his loosened collar. He straightened up his tone and said, “I’ll go get some fish bladder from Hu Shifei another day.” (TN: Correct me if I’m wrong but, based on context, I think fish bladder can be used as a condom)

An Chang Qing was fuddled at his sudden remark. His cheeks turned red and he immediately let go of Xiao Zhige’s face. “Do what you want, why’re you telling me?” An Chang Qing said in a feeble voice before putting on his shoes and went to read a book by the window.

Xiao Zhige’s eyes followed his figure through the curtain and his expression only got gentler.

…..

In his return, Zhou He Lan’s group did not travel straight to Yanzhou. He passed through Qing Zhou’s Guan Yang City, Yu Zhou’s Ding An City, and then Suzhou before finally arriving back at Yanzhou. Apart from the sweet potatoes, he had also bought many curious looking gadgets and some exquisite jewelry, rouge, etc. along the way. By buying and reselling, he was able to earn a copious amount of silver. On top of that, he had also brought back many souvenirs and gifts for An Chang Qing and the others.

At the moment, Zhou He Lan had brought in the troves of trinkets he had brought back, allowing An Chang Qing to have the first pick. 

An Chang Qing had never been to the South and was intrigued by every little thing. He was now studying a small little wooden bird which was able to fly a short distance. At the same time, Zhou He Lan held up a small wooden box and said, “These are women’s perfumes and makeup, all of which were bought from the largest stores in the South. I’ve specially left them aside as gifts for Lady Yu and the young miss.” He pointed to a large trove and continued, “Those are fabrics that are in trend in the south, also for the misses.”

An Chang Qing was touched. He put aside the wooden bird he was playing with and said, “That is very thoughtful of you. Your mother’s health was still weak and unsuitable for this long-distance journey, that was why we couldn’t bring her to Yanzhou this time.”

Zhou He Lan nodded, “I understand. Mother mentioned it in her letter.”

“Did she also mention your marriage?” An Chang Qing said with a smile, “When mother came to Yanzhou, your mother asked her to send you a message that if there’s a girl that you fancy, you can ask Lady Yu to propose to her in her (Zhou He Lan’s mother) place.”

“There’s none.” Zhou He Lan lowered his head and said, “A man should thrive in his career before starting a family. I haven’t accomplished anything yet, how can I think about getting married? Even if she doesn’t mind, I still do not want to be unworthy.”

An Chang Qing couldn’t tell much from his expression. Assuming that he had misread something, he did not probe further and simply said, “In the future, if you like someone and your mother is not in Yanzhou, you can ask Lady Yu for help with the marriage proposal.”

Zhou He Lan thanked him before proceeding to report to Xiao Zhige on the operation of the jade mine. An Chang Qing decided to excuse himself and went to visit Lady Yu with the troves of gifts carried by the servants.

Lady Yu and An Xian Yu lived in the same courtyard. During their freetime, they would take a walk outside accompanied by guards but most of their time was spent indoors reading or doing needle crafts.

When An Chang Qing arrived, the ladies tracing the outline of a flower.

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An Xian Yu quickly put away her needle and thread when she saw. She went over and relieved the wooden box in his hand, “You can’t afford to wear yourself out at this point.”

An Chang Qing patted her on the head and said, “It’s not heavy.” He then instructed the servants to carry the items into their rooms before sitting down to speak with his mother and sister.

“He Lan brought back a lot of textiles and makeup to Yanzhou especially for you and Xian Yu. I had nothing else to do so I brought them over for you.” An Chang Qing pointed to the wooden chests being placed inside.

Lady Yu opened one of the chests to have a look. Inside were various high grade porcelain jars containing expensive rouge and fragrances. From looking alone, she could tell they had been carefully selected.

An Xian Yu was excited seeing the assortment of make up she had never seen before. She took a whiff of a bottle of perfume and seemed happy with it. An Chang Qing saw her cheerful appearance and had a sudden thought, “Yu’er already old enough. Should we discuss marriage for her?”

Lady Yu looked at her daughter and sighed, “There were people back in Yejing who had come to propose marriage but they were vying for the support they can get from you and Wangye, I have rejected them all. But for a truly noble family, I’m afraid they might find my background unworthy.”

An Chang Qing on the other hand did not want An Xian Yu to marry into any prestigious family. In their previous life, An Xian Yu was married into what everyone had considered a prestigious family and suffered tragically. This time, he only hoped to find her someone who could love and protect her for a lifetime. 

“Actually it doesn’t have to be someone from Yejing,” An Chang Qing said, “The Vice General Qi who had visited the manor previously is quite decent…”

Lady Yu remembered Qi Wei. After some thought, she nodded, “He’s quite handsome. His words and actions are steady, quite appropriate as a candidate.”

An Chang Qing turned to An Xian Yu and asked, “ What does Yu’er think?”

An Xian Yu lowered her eyes and looked at the rouge in her hand. She then muttered, “He was just pretending.” During dinner that day, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Clearly, he was not a gentleman.

She hesitated before picking up her courage and said, “I don’t want to marry this early. The other day on the street, I saw an official announcement stating that they are establishing a girls’ school. I want to become a teacher there.”

TN: We’re finally back! And sorry for the long break. You see, I’ve just adopted these two below a few months back. One is still a kitten Bengal and she was riddled with illnesses when I brought her back. She’s healthy now and incredibly mischievous. The ragdoll is the total opposite, super lazy and chill.
So yea, just wanted to introduce my two new family members and use them as an excuse for the delayed chapters 😏.

PS
We have a new translator who will be working with us so hopefully this’ll help us get back on track and we can dish out more chapters per week for you guys. 😉

Chapter 71

TOC

Chapter 73

TTBE 71

~ TN4L3 ~ 18 Comments

Chapter 71

Edited and Proofread by KitKat

By the end of August, all the sweet potato fields had been harvested. The yield was two to three buckets more than expected. After allocating a portion to be sowed the following year, the remaining were distributed to each district for local officials to promote the benefits of sweet potatoes, encouraging more farmers to plant and stock up on them.

Although the people of Yanzhou were unfamiliar with this new crop, they have unshakable faith in the General and Wangfei. When they knew that the General and Wangfei were encouraging the people to stock up on the sweet potatoes, everyone who could afford it took their food reserves or silver to exchange for the sweet potatoes. 

As such, An Chang Qing was faced with another issue. Although the sweet potato yield was better than they had expected, it was still not enough to supply to every household in Yanzhou. Just as he was trying to figure out a way, Zhou He Lan, who was given an assignment in the South, had returned with several wagons, currently waiting at the gate. 

Previously, Zhou He Lan was tasked with establishing a trade route for the jadite within the areas such as Qing Zhou and Yong Zhou. An Chang Qing did not involve himself with this matter. It was Xiao Zhige who had been exchanging letters with Zhou He Lan. Suddenly seeing Zhou He Lan back at the manor, An Chang Qing couldn’t help but be surprised. His tone was slightly raised when he asked, “He Lan?”

Zhou He Lan was a bit more tanned than when he left. His height had also increased and his facial features were a lot more pronounced. After the few months of  toughening in the South, he had gained an air that An Chang Qing had only seen in his previous life.

Zhou He Lan bent and saluted, “Wangfei, He Lan has lived up to your expectation.”

An Chang Qing smiled and asked the guards to open the gates and welcomed him in along with the wagons.

After entering, Zhou He Lan counted the goods before presenting them to An Chang Qing. Only then did he realize that the whole caravan was transporting sweet potatoes.

Seeing An Chang Qing’s pleasantly surprised expression, Zhou He Lan explained, “In a previous letter from Wangye, it stated that Yanzhou had started to cultivate sweet potatoes from Yuze but there was going to be a shortage. And so I had someone find a way and brought back more from Yuze.”

Sweet potatoes in Yuze were abundant and worth little. Yuze’s citizens only used them as feed for livestock and food reserves. As such, Zhou He Lan was able to procure over ten wagons cheaply and brought them back with him to Yanzhou.

An Chang Qing looked at the sweet potatoes and couldn’t hide the big smile on his face, “Just as I was getting worried that we will not have enough.”

An Chang Qing had the servants line the wagons in the yard while he invited Zhou He Lan for tea in the main hall. Xiao Zhige had already been notified and not long after, he arrived at the manor on horseback.

When Xiao Zhige entered, upon seeing Zhou He Lan, his first words were: “Do you have any news?”

Zhou He Lan nodded then told the guards to withdraw, leaving only a middle-aged woman behind. “Yes, but it’s not convenient to speak here.”

As the four headed for the study, An Chang Qing looked at Xiao Zhige and Zhou He Lan with questioning eyes. Xiao Zhige then explained to him unpromptedly, “I’d previously sent a letter to Zhou He Lan, asking him to find information on the mermaid tribe.”

Da Ye’s southern counties shared a border with the Yu Ze Empire. It just happened that Zhou He Lan had been sent to the south to do business and, with his loyalty to An Chang Qing, Xiao Zhige was willing to divulge An Chang Qing’s pregnancy to him, prompting him to conduct an investigation on the mermaid tribe in Yu Ze.

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Zhou He Lan had received the task but up until now, there hadn’t been any progress. On the other hand, the jade business was booming day by day. And yet, this time, Zhou He Lan had left it behind to return to Yanzhou. Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhige knew that he must’ve found something. 

And Zhou He Lan had indeed managed to dig up something. “Some time ago, I found a way to disguise myself and snuck past Yu Ze’s border and into their capital. Along the way, I pretended to be a traveling merchant and continuously sought out information on the mermaid tribe but to no avail…”

As it faces the ocean, many of the Yu Ze empire’s folk tales revolve around the sea. Even so, Zhou He Lan couldn’t find anything connected to the mermaid bloodline. He then changed routes and instead, searched for news on men who bore the red markings and the ability to give birth. As it turned out, he really did manage to find a woman with such knowledge.

“This is Lady Guo. Her family had been physicians for generations and her grandfather had once assisted a man in giving birth.”

Upon Zhou He Lan’s introduction, Lady Guo stepped forward and saluted with a slight awkwardness. She was a woman with a short build and plump body. She had a round and honest face. Seeing the the three people’s eyes on her, she responded nervously, “Yes, I used to follow my grandfather during his medical visits and have seen him helping a man give birth. That man has red markings on his neck which look like fish scales.”

Xiao Zhige tried to restrain his excitement and asked, “Does Lady Guo know midwifery? What’s the difference between men and women giving birth?”

But the lady shook her head and said, “I do not know. I was too young at the time, and my grandfather did not let me enter the room.”

Before Xiao Zhige could show his disappointment, the Lady Guo continued, “Although I did not witness the process back then, I happened to find within my grandfather’s belongings notes on the prenatal pulse analysis and the birthing procedures.” She then pulled out a letter and handed it to Xiao Zhige.

After some hesitation, she added, “The writings might seem illogical but it’s definitely authentic. Back then, my grandfather was a well known doctor in Fu Liang. It’s just that my skills were inadequate and I couldn’t inherit his talents.”

Xiao Zhige flipped over the notes and saw the several scrambled words: June 1st, the patient is about to give birth. The fetus is in the abdomen but men have no means of reproduction. Only through a cesarean section can the baby be retrieved.

Xiao Zhige’s gaze fixated on the words cesarean section for a long time before finally saying, “These notes are of great importance to me. Does Lady Guo have any requests? Whatever it is, I will offer it to you in exchange for the notes.”

Lady Guo turned to look at Zhou He Lan and stammered, “Zhou gongzi had promised me two thousand silver taels.”

Xiao Zhige thought that she would demand an exorbitant amount but unexpectedly, she only demanded two thousand silver taels. Xiao Zhige looked at Zhou He Lan to verify and saw that he nodded. “That’s correct. Lady Guo’s daughter is seriously ill and needs a large dosage of expensive medicine. For her to come with me, I had promised her two thousand silver taels.”

So that was the case. Xiao Zhige was somewhat relieved, “I’ll have the servants prepare the silver for Lady Guo. However, we still need to verify the authenticity of the notes. I would like to ask Lady Guo to stay in the manor for a few more days. After we have confirmed the notes’ accuracy, we’ll have someone escort you back home.”

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Lady Guo thought briefly and nodded.

After sending Lady Guo to her room, Xiao Zhige had sent someone to get Hu Shifei. He then sat down and handed the notes to An Chang Qing.

These notes, it clearly detailed the late doctor’s first encounter with the impregnated man till his passing after giving it to his daughter.

But the clearer the details, the more alarming the pregnancy process became. And perhaps there was an agreement with the patient, the late doctor did not mention the patient’s name or any other personal information. The only thing they could tell was that this patient was alone and his body was in a bad condition from the start.

When the patient first came into contact with the late doctor, he was already four months pregnant. It was not obvious looking at his body but the morning sickness was more extreme than a woman’s. The worst part was that he was not able to eat and could only take plain porridge every day. His feet were also severely swollen causing him much difficulty when walking. He was also highly sensitive to heat and had to stay in a dark room most of the day.

An Chang Qing frowned as he read on. Although he did not experience morning sickness or had his legs swell up, it was true that he did not do well in the heat. With this, he could partly tell that there is some truth to these notes.

Because of the solemn events recorded in the notes, the atmosphere in the room had turned somber. By the time Hu Shifei arrived, he was greeted with three gloomy faces.

He bowed and hurriedly accepted a stacks of papers from Xiao Zhige.

“Look through and see if it’s credible.” Xiao Zhige ordered.

Hu Shifei wasted no time and began flipping through the notes. For a long time, only the sound of pages flipping could be heard in the room. Finally, Hu Shifei spoke with excitement, “This doctor Guo is quite extraordinary.”

“So are the notes credible or not?”

“It should be,” Hu Shifei replied, “Many of the medical practices recorded in these notes can still be used today. Based on his account, his patient had a poor constitution, that’s why his pregnancy afflictions were different from Wangfei. Wangfei is in good health so there is no need to worry.”

However, this was not what Xiao Zhige was worried about. He closed his eyes and too a deep breath then asked, “If Wangfei were to give birth, is cesarean section necessary for the child to be born?”

Hu Shifei hesitated and spoke honestly, “Yes. Men are different from women physically. Women are born with reproductive organs that men do not have.”

Actually, if the records about the mermaid clan were true, mermaids were not divided by gender and those who bore the red marks could give birth, then by right, those with the red marks should be different from ordinary people. They should have another set of reproductive organs. But when Yu Xiao was given a check up, the boy was no different from from an ordinary boy. 

And now with these notes, he could comewhat confirm his theory: either the records of the mermaid tribe were incorrect or that through the years, the mermaid people had intermarried and slowly lost their special traits. Just like An Chang Qing’s mother, Lady Yu, who also carried mermaid blood but did not have any red markings on her and could still give birth to a son and daughter. There was absolutely no trace to connect her to the mermaid tribe. Even the youngest daughter, An Xian Yu, was the same.

Hu Shifei had speculated that the inheritance of this special trait could not be predicted and would mostly affect the male offspring.

Upon hearing his words, Xiao Zhige’s face darkened and long silence ensued. When he spoke again, it was in a bleak tone, “What if… we don’t want the child anymore? Can we have an abortion?”

The moment they heard this, everyone was dumbfounded. An Chang Qing was the first to object and looked at him gravely, “Wangye?!”

Xiao Zhige was firm with An Chang Qing this time and tried to explain, “It’s too dangerous to perform a cesarean section. If anything were to happen… I would rather not have this child!”

An Chang Qing grimaced. At the moment, he was not sure what to say. He wanted to accompany Xiao Zhige till their hair turned white but he couldn’t bear to give up the child that had just popped up. He had just finally accepted his arrival and now he had to let him go? He was not willing…

“There might be some other ways…” An Chang Qing said in a low voice, “I don’t want to give up on him.”

For the first time, Xiao Zhige refused to listen to An Chang Qing. He grabbed his shoulder and with some hesitance, he said, “If you like children, we can always adopt. You can choose how many you want but I can’t have you risk your life.” He looked firmly into An Chang Qing’s eyes and spoke with an astringent voice, “I can live without having children but I cannot lose you.”

An Chang Qing was at a loss. His hand unconsciously touched his abdomen, expressing his unwillingness.

Zhou He Lan interjected, trying to lighten up the situation, “The patient in the notes has poorer health compared to Wangfei and he still made it.”

Xiao Zhige shook his head and said firmly, “I refuse to take any risks.”

An Chang Qing was more important to him than his own life, how could he let him take this risk?

The room once again sunk into silence. In the end, it was Hu Shifei who spoke up and offered his opinion, “Actually, it’s not that dangerous. Wangfei is in good health and I’m eight parts confident that I can perform the cesarean section successfully.”

“On the other hand, if it’s an abortion…” Hu Shifei shook his head, “I do not have much insight to offer. An aborticide for a woman might not be effective on Wangfei. Using it recklessly could ensue unfavorable results.”

An Chang Qing heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing his words. He held Xiao Zhige’s hand which had now turned cold and squeezed lightly. 

He turned to Hu Shifei and Zhou He Lan and said, “I have to talk to Wangye. You can take your leave.”

Hu Shifei and Zhou He Lan bowed and retreated after thoughtfully closing the door.

An Chang Qing wasn’t keen on staying in the study. He shook Xiao Zhige’s sleeve and smiled, “I’m a little tired, can Wangye carry me back to the room?”

Xiao Zhige was still not speaking but his gaze had softened. He squatted down to allow An Chang Qing to grab his back.

An Chang Qing leaned his chest on Xiao Zhige’s back as his arms wrapped over his neck and his chin rested on his shoulder. Xiao Zhige gently lifted him up and began walking back to their room.

Chapter 70

TOC

Chapter 72

TTBE 70

~ TN4L3 ~ 5 Comments

Chapter 70

Edited and Proofread by KitKat

An Chang Qing had never been this embarrassed. He gulped down his tea cup by cup while his mother and sister, together with their guards, listened to the storyteller with great amusement. 

The group continued to listen as the storyteller raved about the love-hate triflings between the God of War and the Demon Fox King for half an hour. Afterwards, the storyteller hammered his gavel on the table, took a sip of tea and said, “If you want to know what happens next, come to the next session. Ladies and gentlemen, please come again tomorrow.”

Being served with a cliffhanger, the audience were left disappointed and began to leave. An Chang Qing was sitting in the back so no one seemed to notice him.

An Xian Yu then commented, “Yanzhou’s script is bolder and grittier compared to Yejing’s. It’s indeed a place where the people are more open.”

“What other scripts have you read?” An Chang Qing asked her in surprise. His little sister was always disciplined and reserved. Most of her time spent at home were either on reading or needlework, to think that even she had read these recreational scripts, An Chang Qing found it incredulous.

An Xian Yu realized that she had made a slip of the tongue and quickly diverted, “It’s getting late, shouldn’t we leave soon?”

An Chang Qing was indeed distracted by her urging. They had been outside for too long, it was almost time for dinner. As such, the group got back on the carriage and headed home.

Back at the manor, Xiao Zhige had already returned and was having tea with his subordinates. Upon seeing An Chang Qing’s arrival, Qi Wei and the others stood up and saluted.

Xiao Zhige and An Chang Qing simply exchanged greetings and did not say much, it was Qi Wei whose eyes lit up the moment he saw An Xian Yu and brazenly approached to introduce himself, “I’ve heard that Madame and the Young Miss have come to Yanzhou to stay. We are here to pay our respect. I’m Vice Lieutenant Qi Wei, from the Bo Ling Qi family and have yet to be…”

Before he could finish, Xie Ling gave him a hard kick on the leg. Qi Wei glared back at him disgruntled but he did not continue speaking. 

Seeing the several dignified-looking youngsters greet them with sincere courtesy in due respect towards An Chang Qing and Xiao Zhige, Lady Yu reciprocated with a smile and bowed humbly.

Since everyone took the time to visit, it was customary to invite them for dinner.

The kitchen had already prepared the meals. Traditionally, the ladies would be seated separately but since Lady Yu and An Xian Yu were the only ladies and the people of Yanzhou were always lax with social rules, the group dined together at one big table.

Because there were ladies present, the usually uncouth army men were more refined with their eating and speaking mannerisms. After the meal, Lady Yu and An Xian Yu excused themselves and left for the backyard. 

Qi Wei took a deep breath and slyly approchaced An Chang Qing. “Since we’re all acquaintances, I’ll be straightforward with Wangfei, has your sister already been betrothed?” 

An Chang Qing was taken aback. He squinted his eyes and said doubtfully, “Not yet. What’s wrong?”

Qi Wei rubbed his hands and snickered, “Isn’t that just perfect? Since both sides have not made any marital arrangements, why don’t we join our two families through this marriage…”

Xie Ling at the back gave him another hard kick, “Whoever has proposed his own marriage before? How improper.”

Qi Wei almost fell to the ground. He turned and stared angrily at Xie Ling and said, “A fake gentleman like you deserves to be single! I’m discussing this with Wangfei first. If Wangfei agrees, I’ll send a letter to my family and have them propose this marriage.”

An Chang Qing watched them argue for a while before clearing his throat and said, “Xian Yu is my only sister so, for her marriage, I’ll respect her decision.”

Speaking of which, An Xian Yu had indeed reached the age of marriage. If it wasn’t for the retracted betrothal, she would have already been engaged. Now that Qi Wei had taken the initiative to propose, An Chang Qing had also come to notice that Xiao Zhige’s subordinates were quite good candidates.

An Chang Qing gave it some thought but did not respond. He decided to discuss it first with Lady Yu and also ask for An Xian Yu’s opinion before making any decisions.

Qi Wei was not discouraged and continued to sell himself. Xie Ling got annoyed with his boasting and gave him another kick, “It’s time to get to business.”

“Oh,” Only then did Qi Wei stop talking and remembered the purpose of their visit.

Switching to a more serious expression, Qi Wei began his report, “The sweet potato fields are almost ready to harvest. The farmers tending the fields estimated the yield to be about twenty buckets.”

The sweet potatoes were planted in May; thanks to the efficient fertilizer and irrigation, the crops grew exceedingly well. As expected, they were ready to be harvested by late August. Although he only read in a book that they could harvest almost ten buckets of potatoes in the same acre of land as wheat, it was still unbelievable to see it with his own eyes. It was as though food was dropping from the sky. Even Qi Wei and the others were feeling unreal.

“How should we deal with this large amount of sweet potatoes?”

Xiao Zhige said, “Use one portion for military rations. For the rest, how does Nuo Nuo think we should handle it?”

“Let’s have the officials promote the benefits of sweet potatoes to the people. We can keep a portion to use as seeds. When the people are aware of its usefulness, they can use silver or food to exchange for the potato seeds and grow them on their own. This way, by next year, the people should be able to secure their food source.”

The sweet potato seeds provided a large yield, the plant itself could be eaten raw or cooked, and most importantly, it could stave off hunger. If the people could realize the benefits of preserving potatoes, Yanzhou could greatly reduce its yearly food shortage.

An Chang Qing’s decision coincided with Xiao Zhige’s. “Then I’ll let Nuo Nuo and the local magistrates handle this matter.”

The pair went to discuss it in detail. Their harmonious exchange left Qi Wei and the others speechless. Once outside, Qi Wei then spoke to Xie Ling, “Do you feel that Wangfei is becoming more and more like Wangye?”

Xie Ling gave him an unsurprised look and said, “You only realize that now?”

Qi Wei scratched his head and responded, “No, but the feeling wasn’t this strong before.”

At first, although they had the utmost respect for An Chang Qing, that was mostly because he had delivered the rations during their time of need and that he was Xiao Zhige’s Wangfei. But from some point, the Wangfei in their eyes had already held the same authority as their General. Any decisions made by Wangfei, they will not question it nor feel the need to seek confirmation from Xiao Zhige. Just like how they have accepted Xiao Zhige as their supreme leader, they have come to accept An Chang Qing with the same status.

“Dork,” Xie Ling couldn’t be bothered with Qi Wei. He shook his head and went ahead with big strides.

….

After everyone had left, only Xiao Zhige and An Chang Qing stayed behind. An Chang Qing was already filled with thoughts and ideas on the introduction of sweet potatoes to the people and immediately went straight to the study. He jotted down a rough draft and decided to further refine these ideas with the old officials another day.

Xiao Zhige did not disturb him either. He warmed a cup of tea for him and left it on the table. 

When he was done writing, An Chang Qing drank the tea and stretched his back, preparing to return to the bedroom.

Just as he was able to leave, the corner of his eye swept over a pile of books on Xiao Zhige’s desk. This pile contains the documents Xiao Zhige was currently reading and An Chang Qing rarely touched it. However, in today’s pile, there was a brightly colored booklet that caught his eyes. 

An Chang Qing sat back down and pulled out the eye-catching booklet. On the cover was an illustration of two handsome men, one was brave and dignified while the other beautiful and mesmerizing. On the left corner was the title of the book in striking letters: Fallen Demon.

On the next page were finely drawn pictures of the two, depicting their interactions in boldly intimate ways. A short exposition was written as follows: When the Fox Demon learned of his identity as the God of War, to save him from being implicated, he broke off their relationship and resolved to never seeing him again. The God of War refused and the two began tussling back and forth. Finally, the angered God of War subdued the Fox Demon…

An Chang Qing: …

Why is it that even Wangye’s study has such a book?

The only people allowed to enter the study were him and Xiao Zhige, so if he did not put it here, then it’s most likely…

An Chang Qing put the booklet into his sleeve and went back to the bedroom.

Xiao Zhige was free from work after dinner and was practicing archery in the courtyard. Seeing An Chang Qing’s return, he put away the weapon and wiped the sweat before facing An Chang Qing and said, “You’re done?”

An Chang Qing squinted at him and responded with an “en”.

Xiao Zhige was still not aware that his unhidden item had been discovered. They went back and after taking turns to wash up, cuddled on the couch and chatted. 

An Chang Qing focused his eyes on Xiao Zhige and willfully said, “Today, I accompanied mother and Yu’er to the teahouse to listen to stories. There happened to be an interesting one about the God of War and the Demon Fox King. Has Wangye heard of it?”

Xiao Zhige’s eyes twitched. He looked back at An Chang Qing who had no change in expression. It was as though he simply wanted to share the story. 

After some deliberation, Xiao Zhige replied, “No. How does the story go?”

An Chang Qing now had a big smile on his face, “What I heard this morning was only the words of the storyteller. Just nice that I found a physical copy in the study just now, why doesn’t Wangye read it with me?”

After speaking, he pulled the booklet from under the pillow and waved it in front of Xiao Zhige.

“…” Xiao Zhige’s eyes twitched again as he tried to cover up the truth, “Why is there such a book in the study?”

“Exactly. I’m confused as well. If I didn’t put it there, then who else could it be?” He raised his eyebrows and spoke teasingly, “Did Wangye secretly hide this behind my back?”

“…” Xiao Zhige was silent for quite a while before nodding awkwardly. However, he still maintained a straight tone and said, “I wasn’t secretly hiding it.”

An Chang Qing used his foot and lightly tugged Xiao Zhige’s leg, “How come I didn’t know that Wangye was interested in reading these scripts?”

Since the cat was out of the bag, Xiao Zhige responded promptly this time, “I heard that it was about our past lives so I wanted to have a look.”

An Chang Qing placed the booklet between them and pointed to one of the pages, “How’s this anything like us?” The illustrators were particularly bold that they dared to paint such a scene.

Xiao Zhige saw An Chang Qing flipping to the back pages and hurriedly grabbed the booklet away. He then nodded and agreed, “Um, it’s nothing like us but there is still something we can learn from it…” Xiao Zhige would never do anything to Nuo Nuo against his will… but there were several positions that they’ve never explored before.

When Xiao Zhige finally managed to coax the person to sleep, his conclusion was that he had to find a way to stop these stories from spreading. Although the stories were fictitious and did not resemble his Nuo Nuo, he still did not want anyone else to see him in an intimate pose. He should be the only one to see his Nuo Nuo this way.

Chapter 69

TOC

Chapter 71

TTBE 69

~ TN4L3 ~ 2 Comments

Chapter 69

Edited and Proofread by KitKat

When An Chang Qing was little, he had always wondered why his father would treat him differently from all his brothers. Whether it was the An family’s New Year banquet or an acquaintance’s invitation, he would always be left out and ignored. To make things worse, the servants would occasionally mock him by reminding him of the old days when he and Lady Yu were still the apple of An Zhi Ke’s eyes. But the more he listened and hoped, the more far-fetched those glorious days felt. Gradually, he only felt helplessness and disappointment in his father and learned to not expect anything from him.

But the question still lingered and as he dared not ask Lady Yu for fear it would bring up unpleasant memories for her, he could only keep them buried in his heart.

Later, after being with Xiao Zhige and learning to let go of his grievances regarding An Zhi Ke, he no longer felt any attachment to his father.

Unexpectedly, after he had finally let go, the knot he had always felt since childhood had been unraveled. 

Such a reason to hate his son, although seemingly ridiculously, did suit An Zhi Ke’s small minded nature.

With this, the remaining dissonance in his heart dissipated. 

An Chang Qing saw Lady Yu’s listless expression and held her hand to comfort her. “The red mark is not a big deal. What I wanted to ask you is something else.”

At this point, An Chang Qing found it hard to continue. He looked towards Xiao Zhige for support and encouragement. He then took a deep breath and spoke to Lady Yu, “Do you remember me asking you about the mermaid tribe? For the mermaid tribe, there is no distinction in gender and those who bare the red marks are able to conceive…”

“I probably have mermaid blood and… I can give birth.” The nervous An Chang Qing subconsciously touched his abdomen and finally disclosed his secret, “I’m almost four months pregnant. Mother, you’re about to become a grandmother.”

Lady Yu seemed to partly understand what she heard but also partly couldn’t understand it. She looked at An Chang Qing with a blank expression on her face.

An Chang Qing thought she needed time to digest the information so he kept quiet and waited. After a long while, Lady Yu let out a deep breath and said, “Is that true? Will it affect your health?”

She then beckoned him to stand up and carefully looked at his belly. “It’s already been four months but you don’t seem to show any symptoms. Is it possible the physician has made a mistake? How’s it possible that our family carries the mermaid bloodline…”

Lady Yu suddenly remembered that she did not know anything about her birth parents nor her bloodline. She thought deeply and finally sighed with guilt, “This is my fault, I brought this upon you.” Because she came from the brothel, her children were frequently ostracized for it and now, due to her unknown bloodline, her eldest son was clearly a man but had gotten pregnant…

“How is it your fault? I won’t be here if you didn’t give birth to me.” An Chang Qing saw her guilt stricken look and tried to comfort her, “Although it was too sudden and unbelievable at first, I’ve come to believe that this child is a blessing.”

“Wangye also feels the same, isn’t it right?” An Chang Qing looked towards Xiao Zhige and gave him a wink.

Xiao Zhige immediately responded positively, “That’s right. This child carries Nuo Nuo’s and my blood, we are really looking forward to having him. It’s just that a man conceiving is unheard of so we are only checking if mother has any knowledge of this.”

Lady Yu earnestly tried to recall her past but she really couldn’t remember anything about her birth parents. Her earliest memories were of her being sold to the brothel where she was taught poetry, calligraphy, and music. As she got older, her reputation spread and she began serving more esteemed guests. It was then that she met and fell in love with An Zhi Ke and eventually married him.

“I really have no recollection. The only item that could provide any clue is the twin fish jade pendant that was left together with my baby swaddle. Because there is a letter ‘yu’ carved on it, I’ve taken it as my surname.”

The couple had thought that if anyone should know about the mermaid tribe, it would be Lady Yu but it seemed she was not in the know either. They could only sigh inwardly and to avoid making Lady Yu blame herself, An Chang Qing comforted, “It’s alright if mother doesn’t know, Wangye will have someone investigate this. You’ve been on the road these few days and should be tired by now. I have told An Fu to prepare the courtyard, why don’t you go have a rest first?”

Lady Yu sighed and could only agree to follow them to the courtyard to settle down.

Seeing that everything in the courtyard had been in place, An Chang Qing and Xiao Zhige returned to their room after making sure that Lady Yu and An Xian Yu had comfortably moved in.

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Lately, An Chang Qing had been feeling drowsy and needed to rest early. Xiao Zhige was well aware of this new habit. After bathing, he brought out a small wooden basin filled with warm water for An Chang Qing to soak his feet.

August was a month of hot weather. An Chang Qing was wearing a loose and short robe, exposing his ivory white calves. Xiao Zhige did not mind if it was a menial task for the servants; he bent down to help An Chang Qing take off his shoes and soaked his feet in the warm water. 

The man knelt on one knee and placed An Chang Qing’s foot on his other knee. He then began kneading An Chang Qing’s sole. The usually cold and expressionless face was only ever gentle when facing An Chang Qing. It was an affectionate expression no one else had seen.

An Chang Qing pursed his lips and showed a smiled, “If people were to find out that the Northern Warlord washes his Wangfei’s feet, I’m afraid you won’t be able to maintain your authority.”

“Authority is only used to treat outsiders. Nuo Nuo is naturally different.” Xiao Zhige responded while keeping his focus on massaging for An Chang Qing. 

An Chang Qing was thinking about teasing him but Xiao Zhige’s words unexpectedly pierced his heart. An Chang Qing stretched his foot and touched Xiao Zhige’s chest with the tip of his toe and said, “Wangye is also different.”

Xiao Zhige raised his head and looked at him, his eyes filled with affection.

An Chang Qing smiled back at him and said the words he had been keeping in his heart, “I’m only willing to give birth to Wangye’s child.” If it had been someone else, and even if he knew he could give birth, regardless whether it was safe or not, as a man, he  would still not agree to conceive a child. 

But since this person was Xiao Zhige, all feelings of uneasiness and unacceptance were replaced with joy. Just like Xiao Zhige refusing to take in a concubine and cutting off his own bloodline, proving his devotion towards him, he could also overcome the psychological discomfort of having a child within him. As long as he thought of how this child would carry Xiao Zhige’s blood, all his anxieties were turned into conviction.

And Xiao Zhige’s every word and action only strengthened this conviction.

Now that he looked back at their previous lives, apart from feeling regret over his cowardice and passivity, he was also grateful for this life. Grateful that the heavens had given him a chance to start over, grateful that on the day of their wedding, he had reached out to hold his hands.

That was the start of their life together. From then on, despite any storms and hardship, they will get through it together.

Xiao Zhige dried his feet with a towel and then planted a soft kiss on the top of his foot and said lovingly, “It’s been hard on Nuo Nuo.”

An Chang Qing rolled himself into the blanket with some embarrassment. He peeked out from the blanket, smiled and said, “Not as bad as Wangye.”

Xiao Zhige saw his smile and his Adam’s apple moved, “It’s nothing worth mentioning. I’m going to pour out the water.”

After speaking, he picked up the water bucket and walked out. Although his pace was steady, there was a slight panic in his step. 

An Chang Qing waited for him to get into bed and snuggled into his arms.

Ever since they have confirmed An Chang Qing’s pregnancy, Xiao Zhige had been strictly following the do’s and don’ts. So when things got overwhelming for him, he would simply go out to train and drain his energy before coming back.

An Chang Qing had been feeling a little itchy himself and began touching Xiao Zhige with some bad intentions.

Xiao Zhige took a deep breath and tried to control his urge. He hugged An Chang Qing’s shoulder to keep him from moving. 

An Chang Qing pouted and complained, “Dr. Hu said it’s fine after the first trimester…”

Xiao Zhige was slightly tempted by his insistence but considering the unusual nature of An Chang Qing’s pregnancy, he dared not take any risks. He straightened his resolve by holding An Chang Qing tight to restrict his wandering hands and ordered, “Stop talking. Go to sleep.”

Since his scheme fell through, An Chang Qing sulked and obediently rested his head against Xiao Zhige’s chest to sleep.

…

The next day, An Chang Qing went out with Lady Yu and An Xian Yu. Back in Yejing, strict customs restricted the ladies of noble families from leaving the house but these rules did not apply to Yanzhou. They could leave the manor anytime they wanted.

The streets of Yanzhou had become livelier compared to when An Chang Qing had first arrived. Without having to worry about the Beidi’s invasion, the people had set up shops and stalls and the bustling sound of the marketplace could be heard.

Initially, the stores did not do very well but with the arrival of the Common Man’s Army, the populace skyrocketed and with the money they earned from working on the farms and construction, they could turn to the local stores to procure items that they needed. This had, in turn, made the streets increasingly crowded.

Lady Yu and An Xian Yu, who for years had believed that Yanzhou was a desolate wasteland, were surprised at the sight. Yanzhou was a much livelier and prosperous place than they had imagined.

An Chang Qing introduced  them to the customs and cultures of Yanzhou as they strolled the street, enjoying the freedom they had never had back in Yejing. 

After a while, Lady Yu was a bit tired and An Chang Qing led her to a teahouse to rest.

The three and their two bodyguards had just sat down when they heard a storyteller slam the table and say in a resounding voice, “This time, let me tell you the story about the past lives of the Northern Warlord and his Wangfei. One was the God of War from the Heavenly Realm while the other was the Demon Fox King of the Demonic Realm…”

The teahouse patrons all cheered with oomph, obviously eager for the new stories.

“!!!” An Chang Qing almost spit out his tea. It took him some effort to swallow it down but it caused him to choke instead. 

He looked at the guards who seemed to know something with wide eyes and tried to ask calmly, “What’s going on?”

Lady Yu was also surprised. An Xian Yu was stretching out her neck enthusiastically, trying to catch the story teller’s words as they had arrived late and were sitting at the back of the room.

The two guards then proudly explained, “The people of Yejing have great admiration for Wangye and Wangfei. Many scripts singing your praises have been written and spread all the way to Yanzhou. When our scholars saw that, we naturally refused to fall behind. Wangye had been fighting for Yanzhou for so many years and Wangfei has given great effort in improving the people’s lives; how can we lose to Yejing in paying homage to you and Wangye? Therefore, the scholars have been writing poems and other literature about you two!”

But poems weren’t popular amongst the common folks, storytellers preferred to weave fictitious scripts to tout the Northern Warlord and his Wangfei’s popularity. At the moment, the most popular scripts were about Wangye and Wangfei’s previous lives. Wherever this story was being told, the venue was sure to be packed!

Even the soldiers in the camps had become the envy of the people simply because they get to meet Wangye and Wangfei everyday!

Chapter 68

TOC

Chapter 70

TTBE 68

~ TN4L3 ~ 1 Comment

Chapter 68

Edited and proofread by KitKat

TN: Sorry for the long wait. Both KitKat and I were kinda caught up with some stuff. To make it up, here’s a batch release of 4 chapters! Enjoy 😉

The carriage stopped in front of the crafting workshop. Without waiting for Xiao Zhige to help him alight, An Chang Qing got off the carriage and walked in briskly. Xiao Zhige could only shake his head helplessly and follow behind closely.

The crafting workshop was erected next to the Ordinance Office. In the front was the entrance hall, behind which was the craftsman’s lodgings, and at the innermost area was the backyard where the craftsmen worked. It was also where the waterwheel was placed.

An Chang Qing entered together with the foreman and saw the ten-foot tall water wheel attached to wooden tubes for water intake and a trough at the bottom for diverting the water. There was almost no difference with what he had seen from his previous life.

“Have you tried this in the water?” An Chang Qing asked.

The foreman replied respectfully, “Not yet. But previously, we created a smaller version and tested it in water. However, due to the small size, there was not enough water for it to work. We adjusted and created a bigger one instead.”

An Chang Qing looked up and thought of the water wheel he saw in his previous life. A single wheel could irrigate two acres of farmland, if he could develop this technology in advance…

“When can you test this in water?”

“We’ll be conducting the test today. I’ve especially invited Wangfei to come and observe and let us know if there’s room for improvement.”

An Chang Qing was highly satisfied with the remarkable working speed of the craftsmen. He nodded and said, “Go ahead. If this succeeds, you will be handsomely rewarded.”

The foreman heard his words and was even more enthusiastic. He quickly called for people to proceed transporting the water wheel.

The craftsmen were only specialized in their fields and could barely make a living. With Wangfei’s creation of the workshop, not only were they receiving decent salaries, they were also appreciated for their profession. Most importantly, Wangfei had suggested many new innovations, making the craftsmens highly respectful towards him.

The craftsmen disassembled the water wheel and had it transported by ox carts to the pre-excavated site. There, they will re-install the waterwheel and immerse it in the river. As the water current passed through, the wheel slowly turned, trapping water in the attached wooden tubes. As the wheel continued to turn, the water in the tubes overflowed and poured into the basin which then distributed the water downhill through the ditches that were dug beforehand.

An Chang Qing exhaled the breath that he had been holding and exclaimed, “It really worked!”

Seeing the water wheel operating, Xiao Zhige who was disapproving of An Chang Qing following him here was nonetheless touched by the sight. No one knew better than him the importance that this water wheel would bring to the people of Yanzhou and even to the whole of Da Ye.

In the future, they only needed to excavate the rivers and install the waterwheel and the irrigation work that required heavy manpower could be done effortlessly. Efficient irrigation would also lead to healthy crop growth and increase in crop yield. With the people freed from the time consuming and laborious work, they would in turn have more time to work on other things.

Perhaps, in the years to come, Yanzhou might no longer be a barren city, rife with poverty.

Xiao Zhige’s eyes were filled with affection as he looked at the person by his side, “The water wheel has been developed successfully. It is of great benefit to the people. The craftsmen will receive monetary rewards, what does Nuo Nuo want?”

“Me?” An Chang Qing thought for a second and smiled playfully, “I want Wangye to stop nagging me.”

“…” Xiao Zhige stayed silent for a while but he still compromised in the end, “I’ll stop nagging you but you have to be careful. Although things are still unconfirmed, we still can’t act as though nothing’s happened.”

An Chang Qing’s eyes smiled. He took Xiao Zhige’s hand and swayed, “I know my limits. You, on the other hand, how long have you not had a full night’s sleep?” He stroked the dark patch under Xiao Zhige’s eyes.

Xiao Zhige had always been tough. During battles, he could forgo sleep and rest without showing any signs of fatigue. However, after knowing that An Chang Qing was pregnant, he hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep since. He would stay up through the night to watch over An Chang Qing and in the morning, he would stay close to protect him. Even the many affairs of the military had been brought back to the manor to handle so he could stay close to An Chang Qing.

An Chang Qing could more or less understand his concerns but there wasn’t much he could do to reassure Xiao Zhige except to show him that he was physically healthy. At least this way, he could relieve some of his worries.

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“Seeing you this way, others might think that there’s a spirit sucking demon at home,” An Chang Qing added jokingly.

Xiao Zhige chuckled. He nodded with a slightly serious expression and said, “There is indeed a demon at home. It’s just that he hasn’t been sucking away my spirit for quite some time now.”

Of course An Chang Qing could tell what he was insinuating. He gave him a glare and snorted, “I’m not talking to you anymore. I’m going to check on the water wheel.”

Xiao Zhige’s hand was pushed away but he still followed closely behind An Chang Qing, guarding him as he walked along the slippery riverside.

…..

The first water wheel was on a trial run for 5 days before it was officially introduced to the public.

The water wheel was crafted by the craftsmen and paid for by the magistrate. Now, the farmers only had to dig and plant. And to demonstrate its usefulness, three water wheels had been erected and put to use.

The people were surprised at the waterwheel’s efficiency. The farmers told to help with excavating the river and digging trenches no longer complained about the work. Now that they knew the importance of the water wheel, and since the magistrate had prepared the water wheel, they were more than happy to provide the labor.

And so, that summer, in addition to farming, the people of Yanzhou also heartily built trenches to prepare for the water wheel.

By August, the construction of the outer city had proceeded past the midway mark. Along with that, the installation of the water wheel had also been completed. The trenches carrying water now flowed through the thousands of acres of farmland, cultivating the fields. 

Although there was still much to improve, Yanzhou was already showing signs that it would prosper in the future.

…

In the beginning of August, several carriages escorted by guards entered Yanzhou and made their way towards the General’s mansion.

An Chang Qing had already received the news and was waiting at the gate. When he saw the approaching carriage, he couldn’t help but take a few big steps forward. Lady Yu was looking out the window at the same time and met An Chang Qing’s eyes. With a slightly trembling voice, An Chang Qing called out, “Mother.”

After their farewell in Yejing, the mother and child had not seen each other for six months. 

Without waiting for the servants to bring the stool, Lady Yu lifted the curtain and eagerly alighted the carriage. She carefully observed An Chang Qing and after seeing that he had a healthy complexion and a rounder face, she smiled and said, “You’ve gained some weight and have even gotten taller.”

An Xian Yu got off the carriage after Lady Yu and said, “Mother has been worrying that life in Yanzhou was too hard on you. I kept telling her that she’s being worried for nothing.”

Lady Yu gave An Xian Yu a disapproving look. As her concerns had not been relieved, she turned back to An Chang Qing and asked, “The last letter you sent, could it be that you’ve encountered a problem?”

Seeing the anxiety in her expression, An Chang Qing knew that Lady You must’ve known something. As this was not an appropriate place to talk, An Chang Qing led her into the manor first.

Since An Chang Qing had informed them that they would be living in Yanzhou for some time, the two ladies had brought  all their belongings with them. The maids they brought along followed the servants of the manor to help move and unpack their luggages while An Chang Qing and Xiao Zhige led Lady Yu and An Xian Yu to the main hall for dinner.

After eating, Xiao Zhige saw that Lady Yu was still listless and suggested that they go to the study.

Lady Yu could already guess that there must be something wrong with An Chang Qing’s body. She sighed and followed behind them. As for An Xian Yu, she was clueless and initially, Lady Yu did not want her to come along but Xiao Zhige said that they were all family and she was bound to know sooner or later. And hence, the four people entered the study together.

Although An Xian Yu did not know what was happening, she understood from their somber expression that it was something serious. She sat quietly and listened to her elders talk.

Xiao Zhige ordered the guards outside to keep watch of the door and then went on to close all the doors and windows before sitting down next to An Chang Qing.

For a minute, the atmosphere had turned heavy. Nonetheless, it was Lady Yu who spoke first, “Is something wrong with Nuo Nuo’s body?”

An Chang Qing’s eyes moved as he said, “Mother, are you hiding something from me?”

Lady Yu remained silent for a long time before she finally nodded, “I planned to tell no one and bring it to the grave with me.” Unfortunately, from An Chang Qing’s letters asking her about the mermaid tribe and the red marking, her worries were justified. She organized her words and slowly asked, “Are scales and red markings appearing on your body?”

“Scales?” An Chang Qing’s eyes widened and he asked with some confusion, “What scales? I only have red scaled-like spots behind my ear.”

After speaking, he turned his head and pulled his head aside, revealing a patch of red fish scale pattern on his skin.

Lady Yu’s eyes trembled as she ran her fingers over the red marking. “That’s it… Why is it showing up again…”. She then frantically checked An Chang Qing’s face and neck and was relieved that it was normal. 

“Does mother know what these red markings are?” Xiao Zhige asked.

“I do not know.” Unexpectedly, Lady Yu shook her head and said, “But when he was four, Nuo Nuo was stricken with this anomaly before and it was much more serious. The red scales appeared all over his face, neck, and chest. On both his feet, the scale patches were bigger and more prominent.”

An Chang Qing was taken aback. He had never known that this had happened when he was young. 

Lady Yu smiled bitterly and continued, “You were too young. And at the time, you also had a high fever, so you probably don’t remember. Haven’t you always wondered why your father suddenly started hating us? This was the reason…”

She no longer felt the pain as she calmly began to recount the past. 

It happened when An Chang Qing was only four and An Xian Yu had just turned one. Lady Yu and An Zhi Ke were still a loving couple. Although she was only a concubine, she was not greedy for more. All she wanted was a peaceful life for her and her two children. Alas, even such a simple wish was shattered when An Chang Qing fell into a coma after developing a high fever. Lady Yu had invited a physician to check on her son and An Zhi Ke, being worried for An Chang Qing, had followed along. As soon as the physician lifted the bed curtain and saw the red marks on An Chang Qing, he was badly frightened and called him an ill-omen demon.

An Zhi Ke went through great lengths to make sure that the physician kept what he saw a secret. Lady Yu was grief stricken when she found that the scale-like spots had spread to An Chang Qing’s leg. She intuitively asked her husband to save their son but it was as though An Zhi Ke had turned into another person. With stone cold eyes, he wanted to take An Chang Qing out and kill him. 

Although he did not say it, he had agreed with the physician and thought of An Chang Qing as a demon. At that time, he was about to be promoted to Prime Minister. He couldn’t allow this scourge to ruin everything. 

The son that he had once doted on was nothing compared to his future.

In the end, it was Lady Yu’s threat to end her life that saved An Chang Qing. But since then, An Zhi Ke had come to hate the mother and son. As he believed that An Chang Qing was indeed a demon, he made them stay at the farthest and remotest courtyard. They were not allowed to ever leave the An Manor and An Zhi Ke never looked for them again.

“Your father forbade me from calling for a physician so I could only wipe your body with clean water and feed you porridge…” 

Luckily, heaven did not forsake a mother’s love. An Chang Qing’s fever gradually subsided and so did the red markings. After six months, the red markings on his face had disappeared and the scales on his legs were slowly shed off.

Lady Yu did not speak of the incident again. What had happened that day, the only other people who knew were the physician and An Zhi Ke. And even after An Chang Qing had recovered from his illness, An Zhi Ke had lost all his love for him and Lady Yu. As Lady Yu was also not an ambitious woman, and after witnessing An Zhi Ke’s heartless rejection of their son, she willingly moved to the remote courtyard and lived her life discreetly with her two children.

As time flew by, her children grew up and she had eventually put the matter behind her. It wasn’t until An Chang Qing married to Xiao Zhige that she recalled the occurrence of the strange marks and became worried.

But alas, there was no avoiding the inevitable. Ladu Yu looked at her quiet son and forced a smile, “Luckily it’s only a small patch. It shouldn’t be visible with hair covering it.”

She then turned to Xiao Zhige and said with a gentle expression, “It’s a good thing that Wangye does not mind.”

Ever since she received An Chang Qing’s letter asking her about the mermaid tribe, she couldn’t stop worrying that An Chang Qing’s strange illness had resurfaced and because of that, he might be alienated and treated badly in Yanzhou. However, the moment she saw her son, she knew that a coward like An Zhi Ke could never be compared to the magnanimous Northern Warlord.

His love for An Chang Qing was unconcealable. Instead of being afraid of An Chang Qing’s strange body and treating him as a demon, he was actually concerned for his well being.

Chapter 67

TOC

Chapter 69

TTBE 67

~ TN4L3 ~ 7 Comments

Chapter 67

Edited and Proofread by KitKat

The letters were sent out one after the other but investigating century old events like this was bound to take some time. On the contrary, it was Lady Yu who sent a reply to An Chang Qing first.

After arriving in Yanzhou, An Chang Qing would write a letter to his mother back in Yejing at the end of each month. But since he needed more information on the child in his womb, he had sent out the letter earlier. Worried that the contents might be not secured, he did not explicitly explain the situation and only asked if she knew anything about the mermaid tribe. If she did, she definitely would mention it in the letter.

An Chang Qing opened the letter. Lady Yu’s reply was as usual. First, she let him know that she and Xian Yu were all doing fine back at the house followed by a few sentences of small talk. Finally, she asked him in subtlety where he had heard of the mermaid tribe and if he was doing alright.

After delivering the letter, An Chang Qing remembered a particular moment. It was right after he had brought Lady Yu and An Xian Yu back to the Wang Manor. His mother had once asked him with great concern if there was anything out of the ordinary after spending the night with Xiao Zhige. He had thought that her question was quite odd and attributed it to her being overly worried about him. But now that he thought about it, there must’ve been something that his mother had not told him.

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He showed Xiao Zhige the letter and said, “It’s impossible to get a clear explanation from a letter. It’s better to talk to mother in person.”

Xiao Zhige agreed. He thought over briefly and said, “You are currently with child, it’s inconvenient for you to travel. I’ll have someone escort mother and Xian Yu to Yanzhou. And once they’re here, we’ll have them stay in Yanzhou for the time being.”

An Chang Qing seemed to have understood his intention immediately, “So His Majesty is…”

Xiao Zhige nodded, “I’ve received news that His Majesty had recently fallen seriously ill. Even after he was cured, his health continued to deteriorate.”

To be precise, it was the ‘Youth Restoring Pill’ from Master Liao that had gone wrong. Ever since Master Liao had offered the pills to him, Emperor An Qing had held him in high regard. 

Consequently, his favoritism in Master Liao also increased his trust in Shu Guifei and the Third Prince. This time, the Third Prince was sent to stomp out the rebellion and although he did not contribute much to the current outcome, Emperor An Qing still rewarded him handsomely upon his return. Even officials from Shu Guifei’s party were promoted, causing a great shift in power within the court. 

Needless to say, the Empress and Crown Prince couldn’t possibly sit still.

Xiao Zhige only needed to have someone leak a subtle hint and the both of them were able to easily understand the song by just listening to the tune1 and used it to pull Master Liao through the mud.

Emperor An Qing was distraught upon learning the harmful side effects of the Youth Restoring Pill. After coughing up a mouthful of blood, he laid bedridden for six days before waking up. But by then, his spirit had weakened significantly. He now looked ten years older than before he took the pills.

Luckily for him, there were still some talents among the royal physicians and with the precious herbs readily available, they had managed to keep him alive.

At this point, Shu Guifei and the Third Prince who had been implicated by Master Liao had fallen out of grace and were under confinement. The Empress’s party took advantage of this situation and regained power. With the ailing Emperor too weak to pay heed to the affairs of the court, the Crown Prince had smoothly established his position in ruling the country.

Xiao Zhige’s eyes turned cold thinking about how back in Yejing, the Crown Prince had repeatedly made advances towards An Chang Qing. It was lucky that he could safeguard An Chang Qing in his territory and keep the Crown Prince from having any chance in getting a hold of his Achilles’ heel. And with the current chaos in Yejing, secretly transporting two people from the city outskirts shouldn’t be too difficult.

An Chang Qing also agreed that during this period of unrest, two women living in the outskirts was too dangerous even with guards. Although the living standard in Yanzhou wasn’t as good as Yejing, it was still safer to keep them far away from the eye of the storm.

Since An Chang Qing had no objection, Xiao Zhige immediately sent someone to make the arrangements for Lady Yu and An Xian Yu to be escorted out of Yejing to Yanzhou.

After they had discussed the matter at hand, Xiao Zhige put the letter away. He freed his hand to hold An Chang Qing’s waist to support him while they slowly walked. “Anfu said you didn’t have much appetite this morning. Is it the kitchen’s cooking that’s not to your liking or you’re having some discomfort?”

These few days, Xiao Zhige seemed to have come to terms that he was about to become a father and treated An Chang Qing like he was fragile like porcelain. As long as they were in the mansion, he had to keep An Chang Qing within sight for concern that he would be knocked over by this and that. At night, he dared not move his limbs and would stay still as a log, only getting up at times to put the blanket back on for An Chang Qing for fear that he would get cold.

And just last night, An Chang Qing happened to wake up in a daze and found Xiao Zhige staring at him. If they hadn’t slept together for so long, An Chang Qing would’ve been quite disturbed by his behavior.

Seeing how nervous he had gotten, An Chang Qing smiled helplessly and tried to reassure him, “There’s nothing wrong with my appetite. I just couldn’t finish the whole bowl of porridge.”

Xiao Zhige frowned, “But before, you were eating two bowls of porridge accompanied by several side dishes. This morning, you only had half a bowl of porridge.”

It was true that An Chang Qing had been having a big appetite in recent days. In the morning, he could eat two bowls of porridge together with two or three side dishes. For lunch, he would gobble up at least two main dishes with vegetables and soup, sometimes even an additional serving of ba bao fan (eight treasure rice). As if that wasn’t enough, he could still stuff himself with snacks and pastries before dinner. 

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In the beginning, Xiao Zhige was worried that his voracious appetite would cause distress to his stomach. But after Hu Shifei explained that it was natural to have an increased appetite during pregnancy, he was in turn worried that An Chang Qing was not eating enough whenever he could not finish his food. 

An Chang Qing was about to have a headache. He grabbed Xiao Zhige’s hand on his waist, placed it over his belly, and told him to have a touch, “My stomach is not even showing, isn’t Wangye’s concern a little too premature?”

Xiao Zhige frowned while gently touching An Chang Qing’s abdomen, “But Hu Shifei said to be extra careful during the first few months.” 

An Chang Qing corrected him, “What Dr. Hu said is to be careful during the first three months because the fetus is still unstable.” And they had already passed this critical period by the time they discovered that An Chang Qing was pregnant. In any case, Hu Shifei had been taking his pulse regularly and said that his pulse was strong and his body was healthy. It was still early to detect the fetus’s progress but seeing that An Chang Qing was in good health, the baby should also be in good condition. 

Clearly Xiao Zhige only heard half of it and since then, he only wished for An Chang Qing to stay in one place and do nothing. It’s just that during this time, there were many things waiting for An Chang Qing to do and he couldn’t stay idle.

The newcomers had been resettled outside the city and had also begun the construction work to develop this area. From the start, a judicial system had been meticulously drawn up but during the execution process, there were bound to be some issues. And since it was An Chang Qing who drafted the bills, the senior officials had naturally come to him whenever they couldn’t make a decision. An Chang Qing was very passionate and would visit the magistrate’s office to discuss with them and often, he would travel out to the city outskirts to check on the citizens and boost their morale. 

When Xiao Zhige returned to the manor and found out that An Chang Qing had left, his expression couldn’t be any more grim.

Because they could not let the public know that An Chang Qing was pregnant and he couldn’t keep An Chang Qing locked up in the manor all the time, Xiao Zhige could only point his dagger-like glare at the old men that came knocking on their door. But much to his dismay, these weathered officials were ignorant in reading the mood. Or rather, even if they could tell, they would still feign ignorance. They were now highly reliant on An Chang Qing and would need to consult his opinion on everything. As for the Northern Warlord? Well, they thought he was a little useless now that there’s no more war.

Just as the two were talking, a report came from the front gate announcing that the foreman of the crafting workshop had requested to meet An Chang Qing.

The crafting workshop that was recently established was also one of An Chang Qing’s proposals. It worked in conjunction with the ordnance department of the military. While the ordnance department developed and distributed weaponry for the military, the crafting workshop gathered talented craftsmen to develop tools and equipment that benefited the people. This decision stemmed from An Chang Qing witnessing the people having a laborious time using the ox cart to transport water for irrigation due to the high terrain. He had then remembered during the years he spent wandering the earth as a ghost, he had once floated outside Yejing and witnessed a type of irrigation system which did not require any manpower, instead it used a large wheel and hydraulic power to irrigate the field.

Xiao Zhige listened to his proposal and also felt that this would be immensely beneficial to Yanzhou. He gave An Chang Qing his full support and from then onwards, the crafting workshop was established. They had also gathered seasoned artisans of different fields to work there.

An Chang Qing was particularly interested in the water wheel. After recruiting the craftsmen, he relayed his thoughts to them and had them construct a prototype as soon as possible. Luckily, the craftsmen were inventive enough and had created the first version of the water wheel after only a few meetings with An Chang Qing. The foreman had come today to invite An Chang Qing to the crating workshop to see the water wheel.

Once he heard that the water wheel was completed, in his excitement, An Chang Qing couldn’t be bothered about Xiao Zhige and left to follow the foreman. 

Xiao Zhige, who had been left behind, pulled a black face and objected, “Wangfei is not well today and will stay in the manor. He will go see it after he’s feeling better.”

The foreman heard this and looked at An Chang Qing with hesitance, not daring to take another step.

An Chang Qing knew Xiao Zhige was about to preach to him again. He had hoped to get away with it but was unsuccessful in the end. At this point, his only option was to coax the man. He turned and gave Xiao Zhige a sweet smile, “I’m perfectly fine, there’s no discomfort anywhere.”

After speaking, he even took a few brisk steps to show him. It wasn’t that An Chang Qing was being careless, it was just that his belly was still flat. Other than his improved appetite, he really did not have any discomfort. On the contrary, he felt that he had more energy than before. He believed he was about to grow mold if he continued to be cooped up in the manor all day.

Xiao Zhige, on the other hand, almost had a heart attack when he took those big fleeting steps. He did not want to argue with An Chang Qing in front of outsiders so after thinking it through, he calmed himself and said, “I’ll come along with Wangfei.”

1.  闻弦歌而知雅意(wén xiángē ér zhī yǎyi)-  An excerpt from Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The direct translation is when one hears a beautiful performance, they can understand its elegance. Meaning, the Empress and Crown Prince were able to figure out many things just based on the few hints that Xiao Zhige had revealed on purpose.

Chapter 66

TOC

Chapter 68

TTBE 66

~ TN4L3 ~ 6 Comments

Chapter 66

Edited and Proofread by KitKat

What Hu Shifei brought was a crumbling old book. It was unknown where he got it from but, its cover had long been torn off and the pages had turned yellow.

He pointed excitedly to one particular paragraph and read out loud, “Beyond the Southern sea, there lived a tribe of people of mermaid descent. They were not classified by genders and were all physically attractive. The ones who bore the red marks were fertile. Those people were also skilled in weaving mermaid silk. Mermaid silk is impenetrable by any weapons. One foot is worth a thousand gold.”

Physically attractive, red marks, fertility, these were all congruent with An Chang Qing’s current situation.

Xiao Zhige re-read the passage several times. “Southern Sea mermaid tribe? I have never heard of it?”

He had heard of mermaids in folk tales being passed down from ancient times but legend had it that these creatures had a fish tail and repulsive appearance. They were also violent creatures that fed on humans. Although the stories might have been distorted over thousands of years, there had never been a single mention of a tribe that carried mermaid blood. 

“I have never heard of it either,” Hu Shifei’s expression turned heavy, “Do you remember I once requested a portrait of Wangfei?”

At the time, An Chang Qing had gone to Hu Shifei’s clinic in search of a cure for his mother’s illness. Instead of monetary payment, Hu Shifei had demanded that he let him draw his portrait. Back then, he did not know that An Chang Qing was the Northern Warlord’s Wangfei.

“I remember.” Xiao Zhige nodded. He still had the portrait and was being properly stored.

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Hu Shifei stroked his beard and said, “Actually, I wanted Wangfei’s portrait because a friend in Yu Ze had asked me to find a person in a painting. That person has at least six to seven points similar to Wangfei. I did not know Wangfei’s identity at that time and wanted to draw his portrait and send it to him.”

Hu Shifei did not expect that An Chang Qing was the Northern Warlord’s Wangfei and the portrait had also been taken away by Xiao Zhige. Furthermore, his friend was from the Yu Ze Empire, so it was highly inappropriate to send him the portrait of Da Ye Empire’s Wangfei. Afraid of courting death, he just ignored the matter like it had never happened. 

He had eventually forgotten all that but the recent events had reignited his curiosity about his friend’s painting. He dug out the painting and upon close examination, found that the person in the painting also had a fish scale mark on their forehead.

“This is the painting. Wangye, please have a look.” Hu Shifei took out the small scroll and laid it flat on the table.

The painting depicted a roughly sketched male figure with features very similar to An Chang Qing’s, down to the mole under his eye.

The only difference was the position of the red marking. It was on the man’s forehead which was partially covered by his hair while An Chang Qing’s was behind his ear.

Xiao Zhige and An Chang Qing exchanged glances. They both thought of the portrait that Xue Wuyi had ordered his men to deliver to them. The person in the painting had hair covering his forehead and most likely, it was hiding the red mark as well. 

The Xi Wei Empire, and now followed by the Yu Zer Empire, they all seemed to be searching for the person in the painting. Xiao Zhige’s eyes darkened, “This absolutely has to stay a secret. I’ll send more people to investigate.”

Hu Shifei saw Xiao Zhige’s gloominess and quickly agreed. He added, “Would you like me to inquire about the identity of the person in the painting? That friend of mine is a traveling doctor and loves to collect strange tales from around the world. Perhaps he might know more about the mermaid tribe.”

“Go ahead. But you must not disclose anything about Wangfei.”

Hu Shifei agreed. He then looked at An Chang Qing’s belly and asked, “So Wangfei… about the pregnancy…”

As soon as this was spoken, a long silence followed.

An Chang Qing looked at his belly, partly wanting to touch and partly afraid to do so. It took him some time to find his voice, “There’s really… a baby?” 

At this moment, he wasn’t sure what to feel. Of course there was joy as this was a child that bore his and Xiao Zhige’s blood but he just could not calm down thinking that a child was to be born from him. After all, that meant that not only was he a man who could give birth, it also indicated that he might not be human.

“Prescribe something for Wangfei first. We’ll deal with the rest once we have more information on the mermaid tribe. If it’s dangerous to Wangfei’s health…” 

He did not have to finish his sentence for Hu Shifei to understand.

Since Xiao Zhige had decided to marry An Chang Qing, he had resolved that he would not have children of his own. Hearing that An Chang Qing might be pregnant, his first reaction was not of joy but deep concern. 

A man giving birth was unprecedented since times unknown. Moreover, childbirth had always been a matter of life and death even for women, not to mention someone with a weak constitution like An Chang Qing. 

And on top of that, the person in the painting was connected to both the Xi Wei and Yu Ze empires. He could not be sure if An Chang Qing’s similarity to him was a blessing or simply a curse.

Seeing Xiao Zhige’s concerns leaking from his expression, An Chang Qing grabbed his hand and comforted, “It’s no use worrying at this point. Let’s have nature take its course.”

After the initial shock and anxiety had passed, An Chang Qing was actually at ease. The child was already brought into existence by them, they would not give him up so easily. And since this child will carry Xiao Zhige’s bloodline, it’s actually a blessing.

In his previous life, Xiao Zhige did not take in a concubine. Later, to make him Empress, he had gone against the courtiers and until his death, he did not have an heir to carry his bloodline. In this life, Xiao Zhige will undoubtedly ascend to the throne once again. Although he could adopt a child from within the royal bloodline, having a child of his own would lessen the friction from his courtiers.

An Chang Qing subconsciously touched his belly which was still flat. It was quite hard to believe that it was nurturing a small life inside. In hindsight, An Chang Qing concluded that this was a godsend. He grabbed Xiao Zhige’s hand and placed it over his lower abdomen and said, “The arrival of a child is a joyous event, why is Wangye unhappy? What you said just now, don’t say it anymore in the future. If the baby were to hear it, he might get upset.”

Xiao Zhige broke into a smile at his words. “He’s at most three months old, what can he possibly understand?”

Seeing that they had reconciled with this matter, Hu Shifei cleared his throat and said, “Then I’ll first prescribe maternity pills for Wangfei and also note down foods to avoid, please tell the kitchen to pay attention,” he then added sternly, “Other than that… Please refrain from bedroom activities that are too intense.”

An Chang Qing: “…”

An Chang Qing blushed instantly. He withdrew his hand from Xiao Zhige’s and nodded. 

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After writing the prescription, Hu Shifei called for Yu Xiao. Yu Xiao had been learning from him for some time and was now able to recognize and decoct commonly used medicinal herbs. And since he said that his father had been pregnant before, it would be best if he looked after An Chang Qing at this point.

The next morning, Yu Xiao happily brought the medicine to An Chang Qing. He greeted him then stared at his belly with twinkling eyes.

Remembering that last time he had wanted to say hello to the baby, An Chang Qing told him to come closer and asked curiously, “You can really feel the child inside?”

“Yes!” Yu Xiao nodded and tried to describe the sensation to him, “It’s like a tiny fish swimming in your belly!”

An Chang Qing was stunned, “A fish?”

Yu Xiao tilted his head and contemplated, “Not entirely. Just a little similar. It’s small and very lively.” It was a mystical feeling he couldn’t fully describe with words.

Hearing that it was not a fish, An Chang Qing was quite relieved. He may have accepted that he might be from a non-human race that’s capable of giving birth but telling him that he’s carrying a fish in his tummy was simply too inconceivable.

Yu Xiao seemed really fond of his baby. He chirped away happily and after getting An Chang Qing’s approval, gently touched his stomach. 

An Chang Qing couldn’t help but smile as he watched him move with excitement. 

When Yu Xiao was done, An Chang Qing sat him by his side and asked about his parents in detail.

Because Yu Xiao’s fathers had passed away when he was only six, much of his memories had become foggy. According to him, his family had lived in the mountains. His big daddy was a hunter while his small daddy taught in a small village at the foot of the mountain. They were a family of three and despite being impoverished, they were happy.

It’s just that his small daddy had a weak body and after being pregnant, his health deteriorated. During that time, the family was always in a dreary mood. Later, when his small daddy was in labor, he was not allowed to see it. After that, he could only remember his big daddy coming out of the room and telling him that neither his small daddy or the baby could make it.

Since then, the father and son could only rely on each other to live on but two years later, his big daddy was suddenly afflicted with a fatal illness. Before his death, he told Yu Xiao to take all the silver and leave the mountain to seek refuge with an old acquaintance. Sadly, on his way to find this person, Yu Xiao was abducted and sold off.

“That’s all I remember.” Talking about the past had dampened Yu Xiao’s spirit but as children’s emotions come and go quickly, he was cheerful again in no time. He said to An Chang Qing, “The baby in Wangfei’s tummy is very powerful, I can feel it!”

An Chang Qing was appreciative of his praise. He touched his head and smiled. Speaking of which, Yu Xiao and his small daddy are probably the same race as him, that would explain how Yu Xiao was able to sense the child inside him.

He then thought of his own mother. From youth, Lady Yu had never mentioned anything of this sort. He wasn’t sure if she was unaware of it or she had known but was keeping it from him.

An Chang Qing considered for a moment before asking Anfu to bring him a brush and ink, he had decided to write a letter to Yejing to enquire.

By the time An Chang Qing was done with the letter, Xiao Zhige had returned. In his hand was An Chang Qing’s favorite pastry. Yu Xiao was still a little frightened by him. He excused himself under the pretext of preparing medicine and quickly ran away.

An Chang Qing saw that and teased Xiao Zhige, “If you keep having that black face, our child is going to be frightened by it.”

Xiao Zhige felt helpless and couldn’t argue with him. He unwrapped the paper bag and placed the pastry on the table. “How are you today? Do you feel discomfort anywhere?”

Xiao Zhige had been like this ever since Hu Shifei left yesterday. He was more anxious than An Chang Qing and had been asking about his body over twenty times a day.

An Chang Qing was tired of answering his questions and simply nodded. He quickly shifted the topic, “Did Wangye send the letter to Xi Wei?”

After their trip to Liangzhou, Xiao Zhige and Xue Wuyi had reached a tacit understanding. Xiao Zhige needed his help escorting the two leaders of the Common Men’s Army to Liangzhou and had been in touch with him ever since. Furthermore, since the portrait was originally from Xi Wei, Xiao Zhige had sent another letter trying to find out if Xue Wuyi knew anything about the mermaid tribe. At the same time, Xiao Zhige had also sent out his scouts to conduct a covert investigation in Yu Ze.

“I already had someone deliver the letter. It’ll probably take a few days to get a response.” Xiao Zhige replied, “I’ve also sent a letter back to Yejing to have someone look through the books in the palace. Let’s see if we can find any records related to the mermaids.”

If the person in the painting, together with Yu Xiao’s father and An Chang Qing, were really descendents of the mermaid tribe, it was improbable that after all these years, there was no information of their existence. Unless they never came into contact with outsiders, it was impossible for them to stay undiscovered.

Moreover, with the looks of the person in the painting and the involvement of Yu Ze and Xi Wei, he couldn’t possibly be an ordinary person. Such an eye-catching person with such an incredible connection, yet there were no records after centuries… 

There could only be one possibility – the relevant records had been deliberately destroyed.

What was certain for now was that the person in the painting was connected to Xi Wei’s founding Emperor, Xue Chang. Long ago, Xue Chang and Huai Shu An had decided to break off with Da Ye at the same time. Xiao Zhige had always thought that that was because the two were ambitious and had wanted to be kings with their own territories, but seeing how this portrait had nothing to do with Da Ye, Xiao Zhige couldn’t help but ponder if there was another connection.

Chapter 65

TOC

Chapter 67

TTBE 65

~ TN4L3 ~ 12 Comments

Chapter 65

Edited and Proofread by KitKat

During the mid-month of June, Shen Tu Xu had finally escorted the ten thousand “prisoners” to Yanzhou.

Although they managed to keep their lives, they were nevertheless convicted and exiled. The treatment they received along the way was largely cruel. By the time they reached Yanzhou, they were malnourished and dressed in rags.

After both sides had tallied the prisoner count and exchanged documents, Shen Tu Xu’s task was completed. And since there were matters to take care of back in Suzhou, he took his leave thereafter.

Xiao Zhige then assigned officers to make arrangements for these civilians.

Yanzhou’s expansion had not begun while the newcomers were fairly populous. They had not figured out where to allocate them and it was not advisable to abruptly introduce them into the city. It was a good thing that they had prepared a temporary shelter at the city outskirts with residents ready to guide them.

Although the exiled people were unhappy about leaving their home, they dared not step out of line in front of the Northern Warlord. Everyone had resigned to their fate. They complied with the soldiers’ instructions, leading them towards the city’s border.

They thought that they would have to live without a shelter over their heads and labor away day and night. But when they arrived, they saw that a massive stretch of land had been filled with rows of well-made thatched huts. Furthermore, over ninety giant pots of boiling porridge were spread evenly across the whole area.

The people’s despondent expression soon began to change. They looked eagerly at the thatched huts and hot porridge and wondered if those were prepared for them. 

Since this group of people consisted of civilians from different provinces around Kangyong County, Xiao Zhige believed that instead of appointing his men to take charge, it was best to let them manage themselves.

After the group had quietened down, the people at the front, who were mostly elderly men, cautiously stepped forward. They looked at Xiao Zhige with the eyes of a prisoner waiting to be executed.

It was at this point that An Chang Qing’s role became prominent. He gathered the village chiefs and others who had gained considerable reputation during the rebellion and discussed the arrangements with them. After which, they would return and relay to their respective groups.

Having heard An Chang Qing’s speech, these people were all surprised. They had thought that after being exiled, they would just have to wait for their death and there was little hope for a better future. They had never thought that when they reached Yanzhou, not only had they not been treated as criminals, they were also given a path to continue their livelihood!

The village chiefs and leaders were so touched that they were speechless. They bowed appreciatively and said, “Thank you Wangye and Wangfei for your benevolence. We will never forget your kindness!”

An Chang Qing let them leave to relay the details to their people which they did so with enthusiasm. 

Upon hearing about the plans An Chang Qing had for them, the general masses were filled with joy. They had thought that they were doomed, having turned into convicts and exiled, but after arriving at Yanzhou, their hopeless situation had turned for the better.

An Chang Qing and Xiao Zhige stood side by side watching the people queuing up for food with smiles on their faces. They couldn’t help but feel deeply moved. It had taken An Chang Qing many days to formulate and organize the arrangements for these civilians. But the happiness he felt having convinced the senior officials to accept his proposals was nowhere as satisfying as witnessing this scene.

Seeing the plans he worked so hard to develop being carried out to serve the people and filling their eyes with hope again, no amount of praise could give a higher sense of achievement.

Although An Chang Qing was silent, Xiao Zhige could see the shine in his eyes. He looked at the civilians receiving their food and patted him on the shoulder, “Nuo Nuo did great this time. In the future, I’ll leave them in your hands.”

An Chang Qing regained his composure and turned to look at him. He raised his lips and said, “I’ll do my best.”

…..

When the newcomers had settled down, and taken a few days’ rest, they commenced work on building Yanzhou’s outer city and reinforcing the city walls.

The reinforcement of the city walls had been put on hold for many years due to the shortage of manpower. Now that many young and robust individuals had come to Yanzhou, they could provide the labor and in turn, receive pay and food.

And because the outer city would provide settlement for them in the future, this gave them even more motivation than the apportioned food and wages. The earlier they could complete the construction, the sooner they would have a stable home. As such, everyone was diligent in their work. And even if someone dared to misbehave, they would be put in place by the others.

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As the construction of the outer city progressed without a hitch, they also received news from Chang Zai Cang that the first batch of raw jade had been mined and was ready to be delivered to the south. This first shipment was meant to open up a path for them to do business with the southern merchants, therefore, it was imperative to send someone proficient. Xiao Zhige had many talented individuals under his command but their talents were for leading troops into battles. The only probable candidate was Xie Ling. However, Xie Ling was a high commanding officer, it would draw too much attention to send him all the way from the North to the South.

Xiao Zhige, who was now accustomed to discussing Yanzhou’s affairs with An Chang Qing, would naturally tell him about this predicament. An Chang Qing pondered briefly and said with a little hesitation, “Actually, there is someone suitable for this job.”

“Who?” Xiao Zhige raised his eyebrows, not expecting An Chang Qing to have someone suitable in mind.

“Zhou He Lan.” An Chang Qing replied.

Zhou He Lan had come to Yanzhou with him but An Chang Qing had no businesses to run in Yanzhou. There was nothing for him to do and hence, he had been taking care of the general management of the manor.

An Chang Qing felt that keeping Zhou He Lan by his side was a waste of his talents. After coming to Yanzhou, An Chang Qing had asked if he wanted a position in the government or the army. After all, in his previous life, Zhou He Lan was honored by Yu Ze’s Emperor as the national teacher. Rather than being a caretaker for the General’s manor, his ability would be put to better use working under Xiao Zhige.

However, Zhou He Lan refused.

In the past few months, Zhou He Lan had grown up considerably. Although he was younger than An Chang Qing, his tall build and lack of expression caused him to seem rather mature. He was still skinny and quiet but a lot more composed, certainly a big difference compared to when An Chang Qing had seen him in his previous life.

Since he did not want to, An Chang Qing did not force him either. The Zhou He Lan of this life was different and although he was leading another path, he still should have the right to choose. An Chang Qing also believed that with Zhou He Lan’s personality, he would not lay low forever. 

And now the opportunity had come.

Xiao Zhige listened to An Chang Qing’s proposal and carefully considered it. Zhou He Lan was still young but he was serious in his work. The General’s Manor had been well-maintained under his supervision. He had also assisted An Chang Qing with managing the shops back in Yejing. And most importantly, he was undoubtedly loyal to An Chang Qing.

After some deliberation, Xiao Zhige made his choice and said, “Let’s pick him.”

An Chang Qing called Zhou He Lan and the three of them discussed the matters that would follow in secret. This time, Zhou He Lan did not refuse.

Other than picking the person in charge, they would also need a few helpers. Since it was nothing urgent, Xiao Zhige let Zhou He Lan evaluate and pick out his team.

When preparations were done, it was the beginning of July. Zhou He Lan gathered his team and bid farewell to An Chang Qing and Xiao Zhige, departing for Liangzhou with a seal from Xiao Zhige.

Having sent Zhou He Lan off, An Chang Qing dragged Xiao Zhige to the fields outside the city for a walk. The weather in July was hot and sunny, allowing the sweet potato vines to grow rapidly. The greenery spreading across the fields and the half-built outer city were pleasant sights to behold. The smile on An Chang Qing’s face could not be erased.

By the time they returned to the manor, it was already noon. An Chang Qing only had two bowls of rice before he left and his stomach was now growling.

Anfu was asked to bring snacks to the pavilion where An Chang Qing was resting. Xiao Zhige was free this afternoon and was accompanying him. He observed An Chang Qing gulping down two plates of snacks and frowned, “Eat less, careful not to get indigestion.”

An Chang Qing did not seem to realize how much he had eaten and mumbled, “I didn’t eat that much. I’m still a little hungry.”

Xiao Zhige had been with him for so long, naturally he would know of An Chang Qing’s regular appetite. His frown deepened and he said, “Have you not noticed that lately your appetite has increased considerably? And also your sleep.”

An Chang Qing thought back and agreed. He hesitated and said, “It does seem like I’m eating a little more than before. I also don’t feel restless and could sleep a lot better.”

Isn’t this a good thing though?

An Chang Qing looked at Xiao Zhige with a confused look, not knowing what he was worried about.

Xiao Zhige sighed inwardly. After Hu Shifei’s diagnosis back in May, he had dug up mountains of medical records but could not find any clues. When they went to speak to  Yu Xiao, he was not able to explain many things due to his age. He insisted that he could feel the baby inside Wangfei because his father was also pregnant before. But when they asked about his father’s origin and how he could become pregnant, Yu Xiao was unable to give a clear explanation.

A man being pregnant was simply inconceivable. Hu Shifei had since taken An Chang Qing’s pulse many times and they all turned out to be smooth pulses. However, it had been two months and An Chang Qing’s belly did not grow any bigger and hence, they were at a loss again.

Because they have not found out the root cause yet, Xiao Zhige still had not told An Chang Qing about the red mark behind his ear. Telling him would just make him worry. Xiao Zhige wanted to wait till they had more information before letting him know.

Xiao Zhige was still in deep thought when he heard someone calling him. 

“Wangye! I’ve found it!” Hu Shifei’s voice had reached them before the man himself could be seen.

Chapter 64

TOC

Chapter 66

TTBE 64

~ TN4L3 ~ 9 Comments

Chapter 64

Edited and Proofread by KitKat

After having dinner, the couple went for a stroll to digest the food before turning in.

It was already June and the weather was getting warmer. Although this heat was nowhere as strong as the summer’s, An Chang Qing was still incredibly uncomfortable with it. Wearing a light gown and covering himself with a thin quilt was not enough to alleviate his body heat. As such, Xiao Zhige was banned from hugging him at night due to his high body temperature. 

Feeling frustrated, Xiao Zhige ordered a set of silk short sleeves gown and pants to be made especially for An Chang Qing. With the light fabric and his skin exposed, An Chang Qing finally stopped complaining about the heat.

This night, after washing up, An Chang Qing was sitting by the bed, contemplating over how to improve the land legislation. When Xiao Zhige entered the room and saw him dressed in skimpy clothes, he felt a fire ignited from within.

He came forward and released the bed curtain, then kissed An Chang Qing lightly on the mouth. He nimbly pulled out a jar of ointment from the bedside cabinet and said, “Should we try this tonight? Hu Shifei said that it can enhance pleasure and also help your body…” 

An Chang Qing was not too eager as he had been feeling listless lately. On top of that, he was badly affected by the temperature. Simply lying down was enough to accumulate heat, not to mention doing it. However, Xiao Zhige’s scorching gaze caused his heart to tremble and several parts of his body to itch. 

After the times that they have bonded, Xiao Zhige was now familiar with all the pleasure points on his body. Before An Chang Qing was able to say no, a powerful palm was already pressing against his behind and a soft kiss was planted on his ear.

Xiao Zhige was always fond of kissing An Chang Qing’s white and soft earlobes but this time, he felt a peculiar sensation after kissing him for a while. He pulled back and lifted the curtain to get some light. Turning back to take a closer look, he saw that behind his ears was a red patch of what seemed to be fish scales. The area of redness was small and had around four pieces of scales glowing red, looking quite enchanting. 

Xiao Zhige gently rubbed the red spot but there was no change. If he weren’t kissing An Chang Qing this frequently, he would’ve thought it was a birthmark. 

An Chang Qing was a little itchy and aroused as Xiao Zhige touched his ear. He shyly looked at him with some anticipation. 

However, Xiao Zhige’s desires had died down. Instead, he was more concerned about the appearance of the strange spot. Seeing that An Chang Qing was unaware of this as well, he kept it to himself and decided to summon Hu Shifei early tomorrow.

An Chang Qing: “???”

An Chang Qing was coaxed to sleep with his head full of questions. He was a little disappointed but seeing that Xiao Zhige had no intention of continuing and him being too embarrassed to ask, he slumped back and let himself fall asleep.

On the other hand, Xiao Zhige was getting worried the more he thought about the appearance of the red mark and An Chang Qing’s incongruent mood of late. 

Before dawn the next day, Xiao Zhige left to find Hu Shifei without even having breakfast with An Chang Qing.

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Hu Shifei was already practicing Wu Qin Xi (five-animals exercises). Yu Xiao whom An Chang Qing had brought back with him to Yanzhou had been following Hu Shifei around in the beginning as his helper. Now, he was studying under him as his student.

Xiao Zhige entered the yard and saw the pair of teacher and student. He looked at Yu Xiao briefly and said to Hu Shifei, “I need to talk to you in private. Let’s go somewhere else.”

Hu Shifei sensed the gloom in his tone and had to stop and immediately led him to the study. Yu Xiao brought them tea and sensibly retreated.

Xiao Zhige then told Hu Shifei his discovery and also of An Chang Qing’s abnormal mood in recent days.

Hu Shifei pondered over and confirmed, “But I checked Wangfei’s pulse just a few days ago. Wangfei’s health is perfectly fine and there’s definitely not underlying illness.”

“Then what about the red mark behind his ear?”

Hu Shifei touched his mustache and said after some thinking, “I can’t tell. I have to see it with my own eyes.”

“Then do it now,” Xiao Zhige said, but he added after, “I haven’t told him. If… if it’s really some strange illness, don’t tell him first.”

Hu Shifei had never seen Xiao Zhige with such a nervous and hesitant expression before. He shook his head and told Yu Xiao to come with them to the General’s Manor with his medicine case.

Recently, An Chang Qing had become accustomed to seeing Hu Shifei. He smiled helplessly as he saw the two people behind Xiao Zhige walk in. “Why did you invite Dr Hu here again? I told you I’m fine.”

Ever since the time he was losing sleep to vomiting after drinking some soup, Xiao Zhige had been asking Hu Shifei to give him a checkup every few days.

Before Xiao Zhige could respond, Hu Shifei helped him out by saying, “It’s no problem. I’m just checking your pulse.”

Yu Xiao stepped up to greet An Chang Qing before aptly opening the medicine box and placing it in a convenient position for Hu Shifei. He then stepped back for Hu Shifei to do his work.

First, Hu Shifei checked An Chang Qing’s pulse which was steady and spry without any abnormalities. He frowned and went on to check his eyes, tongue, and eventually behind his ears; there was indeed a small scarlet scale shaped mark.

Hu Shifei rubbed the mark with his fingers but it did not seem like it was a stain, more like a birthmark. Momentarily, he was not able to discern what it was. He withdrew his hand and reported, “There is nothing wrong with Wangfei’s health. Only a slight elevation in temperature which requires a light diet.”

An Chang Qing gave Xiao Zhige a ‘I told you so’ look at which Xiao Zhige could only return with a smile. He sent Hu Shifei out and took the opportunity to inquire further.

Hu Shifei really did not find anything out of the ordinary and could only reply, “Wangfei’s pulse is healthy. I cannot explain the mark behind his ear but I’ve also never heard of any illness with such symptoms. I’d have to do some more research but Wangfei is doing fine, Wangye does not have to worry.”

Xiao Zhige did not want to worry too much but when it came to An Chang Qing, he simply could not afford to be careless.

Inside, Yu Xiao had finished packing up the medicinal box when he was held back by An Chang Qing to ask about his tutelage with Hu Shifei.

After he brought Yu Xiao back from Liangzhou, due to his small age, An Chang Qing did not give him any work. Later, when Hu Shifei happened to be short of a medicine boy, seeing how bright Yu Xiao was and how he could learn something from Hu Shifei, An Chang Qing had sent him over.

Since then, Yu Xiao had grown quite a bit. Previously, due to the lack of food and clothes, he had been like a malnourished little girl. Now that he had a stable life and Hu Shifei had taught him a few exercise routines, he was now showing a lot more flesh. Although the birthmark on his face was still prominent, his appearance had become sturdy and he was no longer mistaken for a girl.

Other than his teacher, Hu Shifei, the person Yu Xiao trusted the most was An Chang Qing. He smiled and zealously talked about his studies and life with Hu Shifei. An Chang Qing happily chatted with him for a while before ordering Anfu to share with Yu Xiao some pine nut candies and snacks that Xiao Zhige had bought for him.

Yu Xiao received the snacks with glee. Upon leaving, he glanced back at An Chang Qing’s stomach. After some hesitation, approached and asked softly, “Can I touch the baby in your tummy?”

An Chang Qing’s smile was frozen on his face. He asked as though he could not ask the question, “What?”

Yu Xiao noticed the change in his expression. He thought he was unwilling and whispered timidly, “I, I just want to say hello to the baby… Before, I almost had a baby brother or sister.”

After speaking, Yu Xiao seemed to realize something and his face turned pale with anxiety.

An Chang Qing clearly heard his words this time. He was befuddled as he asked in a daze, “Where’s the baby?”

As Yu Xiao was still a child, he did not understand the complicated affairs of the adults. He innocently answered, “Inside Wangfei’s belly. I can feel it.”

“It was the same for father…” Yu Xiao remembered something and did not continue. His flustered face turned to look at An Chang Qing.

Before, his father had always taught him not to tell anyone. If the wrong people knew about this, it would bring disaster to the family. Yu Xiao looked at An Chang Qing and felt that he was not a bad person. He was also someone close to him so it should be alright to tell him…

An Chang Qing was still confused with what he heard. He looked at his belly and then back at Yu Xiao but could only conclude that it was just a silly misunderstanding of a child. He smiled and said, “I’m a man, I can’t have a baby. If you let Dr. Hu hear this, he’s going to laugh at you.”

Yu Xiao bit his lips. He was sure that what he felt was a baby inside Wangfei’s belly. Back when his father was pregnant, he could also sense it. He had hoped to see his brother or sister, but then…

His eyes turned gloomy as he persisted, “It’s really there.”

An Chang Qing saw his dejected look and couldn’t bear to upset a child. He coaxed him and agreed, “Alright, alright, I have a baby.”

Yu Xiao really thought that An Chang Qing had believed him and was happy again. His eyes lit up and he asked again, “So can I touch it?”

Xiao Zhige sent Hu Shifei out but after the two had finished speaking, they waited and did not see Yu Xiao coming out. They returned to find him and as soon as they reached the door, Xiao Zhige could hear An Chang Qing say something about a baby. He casually asked, “What baby?”

Hu Shifei was there so An Chang Qing did not want to reveal what Yu Xiao had said to spare him from embarrassment but who knew the jolly child naively spilled everything, “We’re talking about the baby inside of Wangfei.”

An Chang Qing: “…”

Xiao Zhige: “…”

Hu Shifei: “Hm?”

An Chang Qing and Xiao Zhige were at a loss but Hu Shifei had turned pensive. He was lost in thought for a long time before facing Yu Xiao and asked, “Why would you say so?”

Yu Xiao retold everything that he had said to An Chang Qing. He really liked the baby inside of Wangfei.

Hu Shifei contemplated even longer. He shook his head but still turned to An Chang Qing and said, “Let me check Wangfei’s pulse again.”

An Chang Qing was all the more baffled. He thought that it was just some childish words of a kid but who knew Hu Shifei would follow up with his claim. Even so, he did not object and put his hand on the table once again.

Hu Shifei closed his eyes and carefully felt his pulse. 

“Wangfei’s pulse is slippery, like beads on a jade plate.”

This type of pulse usually means the body is having excess heat and water retention. An Chang Qing was recently exposed to a different climate so Hu Shifei had assumed that that was the case. However, just now, Yu Xiao’s words reminded him of another possibility.

This pulse is also associated with pregnancy. Combined with the appearance of the red mark…

Hu Shifei’s face went through many changes in expression. He scanned An Chang Qing up and down, shocked to learn that a man can be pregnant. He was unsure and also at a loss.

Xiao Zhige on the other hand was getting impatient. He urged Hu Shifei to explain, “Just tell us what you learned!”

An Chang Qing had some knowledge in medicine and knew about the slippery pulse. It did not necessarily point to pregnancy but after hearing what Yu Xiao said, he also had some doubts.

His eyes were particularly tense as he looked at Hu Shifei.

Hu Shifei was still in disbelief and did not report his guess. “Wangfei is afflicted by the heat and simply needs to take more cooling foods.” After a pause, he added, “Please restrict the bedroom activities as much as possible.”

For now, things’ll have to wait till he does more research.

An Chang Qing sighed with relief. He was also a bit embarrassed and laughed at himself for taking Yu Xiao’s childish talk seriously.

In the end, Yu Xiao was not able to touch the baby and was dragged away by Hu Shifei.

Chapter 63

TOC

Chapter 65