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Xiao Yan was well aware of how that child had perished in his previous life.

How could he possibly allow her to return to the capital this time, only to have Qi Heng take their Xiao Lie's life once more?

After the Lantern Festival, Xiao Yan left Taiyuan Prefecture with a group of covert guards.

His departure was secretive; apart from his trusted aide at An Wang's residence and Qi Zhen, no one knew that An Wang had quietly slipped into the capital.

Upon Xiao Yan's exit, Qi Zhen spread the news of his illness. It was common knowledge that the former Seventh Prince, now An Wang, had been born with a frail constitution. Thus, nobody doubted Qi Zhen's announcement.

After Xiao Yan left, Qi Zhen received several letters from Qi Heng urging her to hasten back to the capital.

Qi Heng's urgency likely stemmed from Crown Prince Qiyuan.

Qi Zhen had initially planned to clarify everything with Crown Prince Qiyuan during her mother's memorial. However, she had promised Xiao Yan to guard Taiyuan Prefecture for him, and she intended to keep that promise.

Xiao Yan was gone for over three months. By the time he returned, Qi Zhen was already eight months pregnant.

When he left, she had just begun to show her pregnancy. Now, upon his return, her slender waist had swollen like it had been inflated, rounded and full.

Despite her increased weight, her spirits were excellent.

Xiao Yan wrote her a letter every ten days, assuring her of his safety and detailing his whereabouts. Qi Zhen had learned two days prior that he would be coming back today, so she had instructed the servants to prepare a table of his favorite dishes in advance.

They had been married for nearly two years, but this was their first prolonged separation.

However, due to their frequent correspondence, the time apart didn't seem unbearable.

After dinner, Xiao Yan examined her from head to toe for a while and asked, "Has Zhuo Zhuo been causing you trouble?"

"No, Zhuo Zhuo is very well-behaved."

The child had never given Qi Zhen any trouble, so much so that even Aunt Gui was astonished by his obedience.

Only in the past couple of months had Qi Zhen's belly suddenly expanded like a balloon, making her feel the weight of her pregnancy more acutely.

Taking Xiao Yan's hand, she placed it on her belly and said, "He can play with you now. He'll kick your hand with his tiny feet."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Yan felt a gentle tap on his palm. It wasn't forceful, but it conveyed a clear message of "I'm here."

All his exhaustion from the past few days vanished in an instant. He smiled and allowed Qi Zhen's little one to kick his palm curiously, saying, "Zhuo Zhuo, do you remember your father's voice?"

The rhythmic kicks in his hand grew more frequent, as if responding to Xiao Yan that he did indeed remember.

Xiao Yan chuckled softly and continued chatting with Xiao Lie for a while until Qi Zhen prompted him to get on the bed.

Turning to face him, Qi Zhen asked, "I heard that the Crown Prince secretly moved a portion of the relief funds to build a alchemy room. Is that true?"

Xiao Yan nodded. "The Crown Prince trusts a fraudulent Taoist too much. Not only does he want to build an alchemy room to refine pills, but he also plans to use the blood of young children to practice demonic arts. Currently, the vassal kings all over the country are sharpening their knives, waiting for an opportunity to enter the capital under the pretense of cleansing the emperor's court."

Qi Zhen's heart pounded. She had only heard about Xiao Qiyuan refining pills, but she was unaware that he had gone so far as to kill innocent toddlers. She also didn't know that the vassal kings were using this chance to launch an attack on the capital.

All this talk about cleansing the emperor's court was just an excuse to seize the throne.

"Is Great Yin going to be in chaos then?" Qi Zhen frowned.

"Even if my royal brothers plan to invade the capital, they need sufficient troops and supplies. Preparing for such an endeavor would take at least a year or two. Great Yin won't descend into chaos in the next couple of years," Xiao Yan reassured her.

Xiao Yan gently stroked Qi Zhen's brow with a casual air, saying, "Even if all the vassal kings were to besiege the capital, I wouldn't let Taiyuan fall into chaos or expose you to danger."

Qi Zhen remained silent.

After a moment, she looked up at Xiao Yan and asked softly, "Xiao Yan, will you also strive for that throne?"

Xiao Yan gazed back at her. "I will. Only by sitting on that throne can I protect you and our child."

From the moment he secretly left Taiyuan, Qi Zhen had guessed his intentions.

Seeing his honesty, she couldn't help but curve her lips in a smile. "Alright, I'll stand by your side through thick and thin. I'll convince my brother to support you, and the Qi family, along with its former allies, will aid you as well."

She knew he would be a great emperor, one who would surpass Xiao Qiyuan.

But what she didn't know was that Xiao Yan had already met with Qi Heng the day before returning to Taiyuan.

Qi Heng, the eldest son of the Qi family, who was determined to restore his family's former glory, had fallen into Xiao Yan's trap and incurred the wrath of the influential Qingping Daoist in the capital.

Now, due to Qingping Daoist and Qi Zhen, Xiao Yan wasn't favored by Prince Qiyuan. Weighing his options, Qi Heng chose to collaborate with Xiao Yan.

"On the day I left the capital, I had a drink with your elder brother," Xiao Yan said nonchalantly. "He promised that as long as I honor you as Empress and make your child the crown prince, the Qi family will lead all its former subordinates to aid me."

This time, he wouldn't let her be caught between her family and him, nor would he let her personally kill Prince Qiyuan, living in constant anxiety day and night.

Qi Zhen had claimed she could persuade Qi Heng, but in truth, she wasn't entirely confident. Now, hearing Xiao Yan's words, she was both surprised and relieved.

Excellent. If her brother could willingly assist Xiao Yan, it would be more beneficial for the Qi family than being coerced into doing so.

In the summer of the 35th year of Jian De, Qi Zhen gave birth to a baby boy smoothly in An Wang's residence.

When news reached the capital that An Wang's consort had given birth to a son, Prince Qiyuan flew into a rage and hastily summoned Daoist Qingping.

By the end of the year, Prince Qiyuan suddenly summoned all the vassal kings, along with their wives and children, to the capital, citing the ailing health of Emperor Jian De and the need to pray for his recovery.

In her previous life, Prince Qiyuan had summoned the vassal kings the following autumn, but in this life, he had done it a full half-year earlier.

Qi Zhen received the imperial edict alongside Xiao Yan and Xiao Lie.

She couldn't help but worry. How could they not guess what Prince Qiyuan intended by doing this?

Xiao Yan, however, remained composed as he reassured her, "Don't worry. Come next spring, someone won't be able to contain their impatience."

Xiao Yan's words proved true. In the thirty-sixth year of Jiande, shortly after the New Year celebrations in the Great Yin, the former Second Prince, now known as the Honorable King, led his troops northward, citing the chaos caused by the Qingsheng Daoist's upheaval as his reason.