Chapter 263

Chapter 263

After attending the new emperor's coronation ceremony, on the seventh day of the eleventh month of the lunar calendar, ten border generals were set to depart from the capital.

Following their mutual encouragement, Emperor Xiao Zhen said, "The Empress is concerned about the border. You should go and bid her farewell as well."

Feng Ji replied, "If we hadn’t already been in the capital for some time, we would have waited until the Empress gives birth to the imperial prince before leaving, so we could share in the joy of the emperor and empress."

Xiao Zhen smiled and said, "I’ve been looking forward to this child for a long time. He’s very steady."

The generals offered their well-wishes one after another and then left the palace together, heading straight for the former imperial residence.

Tong Sui was taking a walk in the garden of the Marquis’s residence. The women from both families, as well as her mother and aunt, were there.

Tong Sui said, "I’m used to walking every day. You really don’t need to come over."

Her aunt mentioned that even when taking care of the pregnancy, one couldn’t stay indoors all day. One had to move to build strength for when it was needed.

Tong Sui had always been active, running on the mountains behind Taohuagou and later on the battlefields. As a result, her physique and strength were far superior to those of ordinary men. These past few months, aside from not being able to draw a bow and shoot arrows, she didn’t feel much different from usual. She just had to be careful not to fall or bump into anything.

Xiao Yuchan said, "The Empress will soon move into the palace. We should spend as much time with you as we can while we still can."

Before her second brother’s ascension, the third sister-in-law gathered the family and solemnly explained the etiquette of sovereign and minister, warning them not to be as unrestrained in front of the second brother and sister-in-law as before. The respectful title "Emperor Empress" must become a habit soon.

Xiao Yuchan didn’t know how her father and brothers interacted with her second brother outside, but she and her mother remembered it well.

Across the world, among so many sisters-in-law and aunts, only they, the mother and daughter, were blessed to be made princesses by the second brother and sister-in-law!

Therefore, Xiao Yuchan’s respect for the second brother and sister-in-law was not just verbal but heartfelt.

Madam He said, "Yes, in the future, if we want to see the Empress, we’ll have to submit a request first."

Tong Sui looked at the circle of relatives and friends around her and realized she was going to miss this lively company.

At that moment, a maid sent by the gatekeeper came to deliver a message that Feng Ji and ten other generals were coming to bid farewell to the Empress.

If Tong Sui were to receive the generals, she would need to go to the second courtyard. Normally, it wouldn’t matter, but with her condition now, walking slowly would take too much time.

There happened to be a pavilion ahead, and Tong Sui instructed the young maid, "Bring the generals here to meet me."

"Yes."

When male officials were coming, the women should avoid them, but not all could leave. Someone had to stay to look after Tong Sui and be ready to assist her at any time.

Jiangshi, who knew medical skills, had to stay. As for another...

Xiao Yuchan said, "I’ll stay. I have great strength."

The last time she accompanied her second sister-in-law to meet Fan Zhao, it was because of her strength, so she could support her second sister-in-law in case of an emergency.

Madam He said, "I’ll stay this time. You’re still too young for this."

Fan Zhao was like a living Yama, and she wasn’t as bold as her daughter. This time it was peaceful, just meeting a few generals. She wasn’t afraid!

So, the two elders remained behind to keep her company.

Tong Sui moved into the pavilion, with Jiangshi and Madam He standing behind her on the left and right.

Soon, the head steward of the Marquis’s residence personally led the generals over. They arrived in pairs, a total of ten men.

Madam He, excited, placed a hand on Tong Sui's shoulder and whispered to her, "The one on the left in the second row is quite handsome."

Jiang Shi subtly nodded.

Tong Sui said, "That's Zhao Liangchen, the general from Da Tong, also known as Duke Zhao."

Given how Zhao Jin looked, it was no surprise that Zhao Liangchen was also handsome.

Madam He continued, "The one next to him is not bad either."

Tong Sui replied, "That's Xie Jian, the commander of Jingzhou, also known as Duke Xie."

Madam He said, "The one on the right in the fourth row, though not very handsome, is tall and slim, and quite fair. So delicate."

Tong Sui responded, "That's Pei Pingyuan, the commander of Hezhou, also known as Marquis Pei."

Pei Pingyuan was originally one of Xie Jian's deputies. Previously, the Xianqing Emperor insisted on appointing someone from the Wang family to defend Hezhou. Later, after listening to Xiao Zhen's advice, Xie Jian recommended Pei Pingyuan to defend Huainan. After repelling the Ling army, the Xianqing Emperor fell "seriously ill," and Wei Qi promoted Pei Pingyuan to command Hezhou.

Tong Sui had met Pei Pingyuan a few times in Jingzhou and was impressed by his distinguished demeanor.

As for the newly appointed commanders of Qingzhou, Hanzhou, and Jiangzhou, Tong Sui had only heard their names and was meeting them for the first time today.

The ten generals arrived outside the pavilion and bowed together.

Tong Sui smiled and said, "Generals, please rise. I was taking a walk and didn't want to keep you waiting, so I had you come over. Unfortunately, there are no chairs here; please forgive this oversight."

Feng Ji said, "Your Highness, it's an honor to see you before we leave."

Tong Sui wasn't very familiar with Feng Ji. The only time they interacted was in Shuozhou when Xiao Zhen accompanied the Xingping Emperor to Da Tong, and the right wing of the army was in disarray. She needed to restore military discipline and borrowed a contingent of Jizhou troops from Feng Ji for a training exercise.

However, she knew that Feng Ji was the most trusted general of the Xingping Emperor and was even better at leading troops than Lu Gong.

She then spoke with the generals in the order of Jizhou, Da Tong, Liangzhou, Chang'an, Jingzhou, Hanzhou, Jiangzhou, Hezhou, Qingzhou, and Liaozhou, asking about the situation at the borders and the troops' training and equipment.

Yuan Loushan, Luo Xiao, and Xie Jian were familiar faces. Xie Jian even brought a small boat as a gift. "This is a small boat I carved for my third son when he turned one. It can float on water. As he grew older, I repaired the boat and kept it in my study. This time, I came to the capital in a hurry and didn't have time to prepare other gifts for Your Highness. If you don't mind, you can keep this boat for the little prince or princess to play with."

A Fu stepped forward to receive the boat and handed it to Tong Sui.

Tong Sui examined the boat carefully and found engravings on the inside of both sides of the hull. They read: "May you live a long and prosperous life" and "May you have longevity and eternal blessings."

She said appreciatively, "Marquis, you are very thoughtful. I like this gift very much."

Xie Jian replied, "When I get back, I'll carve a new one and send it to you."

Feng Ji and the others exchanged glances.

The last general was Qiao Changshun of Liaozhou. Besides discussing military affairs, Tong Sui also mentioned Qiao Changshun's sister-in-law, whom she hadn't met. "When you return to the capital for your next duty report, bring your sister-in-law and family over. Let's have a good reunion."

Qiao Changshun said, "If she knew that you are thinking of her, she might come to the capital with the children as soon as I return home, just to spend the New Year in the capital."

Madam He couldn't help but interject, "Even as a general, you haven't lost your quick wit."

Qiao Changshun replied, "Your Highness is right to reprimand me. I will definitely change."

After the chat, the ten generals prepared to take their leave. Tong Sui wanted to stand up to see them off, but a sudden pain in her abdomen stopped her.

She rested one hand on her abdomen and the other on the stone table for support.

All ten generals, who were already fathers, felt their hearts race with concern. Feng Ji even reached out, calling out, "Empress, be careful!"

Tong Sui shook her head, lowering her gaze to focus on the pain, and then told her aunt, "I think it’s time."

Compared to the flustered Madam He, Lady Jiang remained calm, quietly asking a few questions to confirm that Tong Sui was only in pain. She immediately asked A Fu to arrange for a soft sedan chair and send word to the palace. She also took the opportunity to prepare the birthing room.

Qiao Changshun said, "I'll go get people! I run fast!"

Before he even finished speaking, he had already run off.

Tong Sui found it more comfortable to stand, so she began pacing around the pavilion, stopping when the pain hit and moving again when it subsided.

Outside the pavilion, whenever Tong Sui frowned, the nine generals would frown along with her, and when she relaxed, they would sigh in relief.

The soft sedan chair arrived, carried by four servants who, though strong and sturdy, could not compare to the nine generals.

Feng Ji said, "I will carry the sedan chair for Your Highness!"

The other generals also requested to help, and eventually, Zhao Liangchen, Yuan Loushan, and Xie Jian secured the remaining three "sedan chair carrier" positions.

The four dukes first practiced carrying the empty chair to ensure smooth coordination before lifting Tong Sui.

Tong Sui said, "I trouble the dukes."

All four said it was an honor. Once they lifted the chair, they walked steadily, and Tong Sui could hardly feel the sedan chair swaying.

In the palace, Xiao Zhen was reviewing the accumulated reports from various regions, with Wei Qi and Prime Minister Song nearby.

A servant from the Marquis’s residence rushed to the palace with the news. Normally, it would be passed layer by layer, but Xiao She, who was there, shouted towards the imperial study in a panic, "Brother! Your Empress is about to give birth!"

The thunderous shout echoed clearly into the imperial study.

For a moment, Song Lan was transported back to the village of Taohuagou, where parents would call their children home for dinner from wherever they were playing.

The second chancellor was still stunned when he saw their new emperor drop the report and dash out like an arrow.

Regaining his composure, Song Lan also started to follow.

Wei Qi said, "Where are you going?"

Song Lan replied, "If I don’t go and check, I won’t be able to put my mind at ease."

——

Xiao Zhen raced back to Qinghua Lane, and in the second courtyard, he saw the ten generals. Just as the generals were about to bow to the emperor, he rushed past them like the wind and disappeared.

The older generals exchanged knowing smiles. As a founding emperor, Xiao Zhen was quite young, but at 31, it was rather late to become a father. Of course, he would be anxious.

Xiao Zhen rushed to the Xianhe Manor, stopping Madam He and the other women from performing their courtesies. He looked towards the birthing room and asked, "Is Xiaoman inside? How is she doing now?"

Madam He replied, "She's still pacing around. Ningfang said there are too many people inside, making it stuffy. She told us to wait outside."

Xiao Zhen headed inside.

The birthing room was the eastern wing room, divided into an outer and inner room. When Xiao Zhen arrived, he saw Liu Chu and Lin Ningfang gently supporting Tong Sui as she slowly walked in the outer room, while Zhou Jingchun sat at the northern table with a large medicine chest on it.

Tong Sui smiled at him and said, "That fast?"

Xiao Zhen took her arm, and only after the three of them had separately gone outside or into the inner room did he ask, breathing heavily, "How is it?"

He remembered how his second aunt had yelled at the heavens before giving birth to Fifth Younger Brother, and also how Liu Chu had cried out when giving birth to his niece.

Tong Sui looked up and saw that his face had turned pale, as if he were the one about to give birth.

Just as a contraction hit, she leaned into Xiao Zhen's arms and, after a moment of relief, said, "It's fine, more comfortable than getting shot by an arrow."

Xiao Zhen instinctively looked at her shoulder, where there was a scar that might never fade in his lifetime.

Tong Sui said, "I don't feel like talking. Tell me about the memorials you reviewed this morning, and speak as we walk."

Xiao Zhen knew that any words of comfort would feel empty, so it was better to talk about something fresh to distract her.

The couple slowly paced around the small outer room, and every two intervals, Jiang Shi helped Tong Sui into the inner room for a check-up.

When Tong Sui was ready to give birth, Xiao Zhen was kept outside.

At noon, the two households of the Xiao Family prepared over twenty extra meals because, in addition to Song Lan and the ten generals, Xiao Yan, Sun Dian, Zhao Jin, and other young men on duty in the third battalion had all rushed back. Without enough tables and chairs, the generals each took a bowl and scattered around the courtyard, standing or sitting on chairs in the corridors.

Xiao Yan said, "I really want to go to the back and see how anxious the Emperor... our brother is right now."

Xiao Ye said, "When you think about it in comparison, Third Brother had it easy. He came home and directly held Huai Zu."

Xiao Yan glared at him. He scoffed, 'Easy for him.' He would rather be anxious and able to wait outside the birthing room with his wife.

Qiao Changshun said, "Thanks to the Empress's blessing, I can stay at home for another night."

Sun Dian nodded toward the generals and said, "Why are they all here?"

Qiao Changshun said, "They came to bid farewell to the Empress before she left for the palace. It just so happened that the four dukes helped carry her from the garden."

Xiao She snorted and said, "If I had been home, I would have done it myself!"

Zhao Jin came over with his bowl and said, "Don't say that. When I was born, my father was still fighting in a war outside. I wanted him to carry me, but I couldn't find him. No matter what, these are four generals. When the little prince or princess grows up and hears about this, they'll be thrilled."

Xiao Yan said, "Duke Zhao just got lucky. What are you doing joining in?"

Zhao Jin said proudly, "My life was saved by the Empress on the battlefield. Have any of you been saved by her?"

The brothers who hadn't had a chance to fight alongside Tong Sui since the battle of Jinzhou: ...

---

After lunch, everyone continued to wait. Fortunately, with so many people, time seemed to pass quickly as they chatted.

The red sun slowly set in the west, casting a golden-red glow across the sky.

Qiao Changshun leaned against a pillar on the eastern corridor and, after gazing at the horizon for a while, suddenly brightened and pointed, saying, "Come look! That cloud looks just like a dragon!"

His shout drew the old and young generals over, all staring westward.

Qiao Changshun gestured and said, "That's the dragon's head, its mouth open. Behind it is the dragon's body, and the fork in the cloud is the tail!"

Xiao Yan found it a bit far-fetched and was about to say something when Feng Ji, standing in front, said, "What a majestic dragon! This is a good omen!"

Xiao Yan: "..."

The other generals chimed in, and Vice Premier Song Lan even improvised a poem praising the virtue of the emperor and empress.

He had just finished reciting his poem when a loud infant cry came from Xianhe Manor behind them, startling everyone, but then they were filled with joy and relief.

The generals were initially taken aback, but then their faces lit up with joy as they heard a lady announce, "It's a prince!"

In that moment, Xiao Yan and Xiao Ye remembered what their wives had said, that their second sister-in-law, Xiao Yan's wife, had already decided on a name—if it’s a boy, he would be called Chengzu.

In that moment, Feng Ji gazed at the sky, tears welling up in his eyes.

This is truly the will of heaven!