Chapter 988 Little Guy

Tang Ning had just woken up and was hungry, but after eating half a bowl of porridge, he felt a little full.

Seeing Xiao Yan beside her drinking the rest of her porridge familiarly and picking out the snacks on the table and eating them, she asked softly, "Brother, have you seen the child?"

"I've seen it. It's ugly."

Xiao Yan was quite disgusted. "My aunt said she looks like me, even the eyebrows and eyes are similar, but I think my aunt and the others are lying. My face has changed a long time ago, how can she look like me? Maybe the little brat is too ugly, and my aunt said she looks like me because she is afraid of discrediting you..."

Tang Ning couldn't help but open her eyes wide when she heard this. She fell asleep after giving birth, and left the palace directly after waking up. At that time, she only took a quick glance and saw the red baby in the cradle, and she didn't even see the baby's appearance clearly. Now, hearing Xiao Yan say this, her heart suddenly sank.

Seeing Tang Ning, who was originally full of expectations, now doubting his life, Xiao Yan raised his eyebrows and smiled freely, while Tang Ning was stunned for a moment. Of course, he didn't understand.

"You lied to me?!" She grabbed something and tried to throw it away.

Xiao Yan quickly grabbed her hand and laughed out loud, his throat trembling. "I'm not lying to you. It's a little wrinkled, but her eyebrows and eyes are very beautiful. Xiao Haitang and I are both beautiful women in this world, so how can she be ugly?"

The child was so soft that he seemed to have no bones. When he was first held in his arms, his whole body was stiff and he didn't know where to put his hands and feet. But the little guy just leaned in his arms, and although he was obviously wrinkled and hadn't grown up yet, and his black eyes couldn't see clearly, it made him feel soft inside.

That was the blood of him and Xiao Haitang, the child born after Xiao Haitang went through life and death.

Xiao Yan put down what he was holding and pulled Tang Ning into his arms. "Besides, our daughter, whether she's beautiful or ugly doesn't matter. She's the most distinguished princess of the Great Wei, the most dazzling lady in the world. How can she be confined by a mere shell?"

Tang Ning patted him lightly: "But girls always have to be pretty."

She herself likes beautiful things, and it has nothing to do with superficial knowledge. People will always be more tolerant of good-looking people. However, what Xiao Yan said is right. No one dares to look down on their children no matter what they look like, and she doesn't need to please anyone with her appearance.

Tang Ning whispered, "I want to hug her."

Xiao Yan kissed her pale face and said, "The little one is a little weak. She has been kept in the side hall these days. It's not easy to move her around at this hour. I'll go with you to see her in the morning."

Tang Ning nodded: "Okay."

After Pan Xi and his men cleared the things off the table, Xiao Yan carried Tang Ning back to bed.

When leaning against the head of the bed and the candlelight shone on him, Tang Ning noticed the scabbed scars on Xiao Yan's face. Compared to when he left Beijing more than half a year ago, he had lost a lot of weight and his features looked more sharp. In addition to his still cold white skin, scars of varying sizes could be seen on his cheeks, neck, and even the wrists exposed by his sleeves.

It is not easy to win a great war.

Tang Ning's fingertips gently stroked the scars. She didn't ask him if it hurt. She just tilted her head up and kissed his jaw. Then she placed her fingertips under his eyes and said, "Didn't you get enough rest these past two days?"

Xiao Yan rested his chin against her and mumbled "hmm," "The news of you being taken out of the palace has spread, and I just got back. I have to appease the court, deal with the mess that Lu Zhinian and the others created, and there are also the government affairs that have accumulated in the court recently, so I've been quite busy."

Those old guys in the court have been beaten over and over again, but they never learn their lesson. They appear to be docile and humble on the surface, but they jump up and down as soon as there is a little unrest. He knew how difficult it was for Tang Ning to guard the court alone for most of the past six months when he heard the news from the court. Now he came back and saw those restless people, and Xiao Yan did not hold back at all.

Some were beaten, some were killed, and some were demoted.

Xiao Yan held Tang Ning in his arms and whispered about the past two days. After he finished, he said, "I brought back quite a few people this time, so I can fill those vacancies. I've also heard from Cao Dejiang and the others about the people you selected earlier. The last palace examination will be held in the next two days. Let's have them enter the court as soon as possible."

Tang Ning said softly, "There have been several purges this year, and there are many vacancies in the court. We need to bring in some fresh blood as soon as possible. However, with this experience, we will be able to be more thorough when we take the next exam next year. By then, all the students in the Great Wei will be able to participate, and we will be able to select the right people to fill the court."

Although Xiao Yan had only been back in the palace for two days, he already had a general idea of what had happened in the court over the past six months. Naturally, he also knew about the imperial examination. He listened to Tang Ning whispering to him about court affairs, responding from time to time, and then told her about the affairs of Beiling County.

Tang Ning mentioned the passing of the Empress Dowager and several changes in the court. Xiao Yan also talked about the crises he encountered after leaving Beijing. They had not seen each other for a long time, and they had not had many intimate private conversations, but their conversation was warm and romantic.

The room was dimly lit, and the flickering candlelight stretched the two people's shadows long.

Xiao Yan talked for a while but didn't hear the voice of the person in his arms. When he lowered his head, he saw that Tang Ning had fallen asleep against him again. Her long hair was loose, her cheeks were smaller, her face was pale and weak, and even her lips were bloodless, no longer as beautiful as when he left Beijing.

There was heartache in his eyes. He bent down and kissed her. When he looked up, he saw Pan Xi standing by the screen.

Pan Xi said in a very low voice: "Your Majesty, Lady Qin is here."

"Let her in."

Pan Xi retreated lightly, and when he came back a moment later, Madam Qin followed him. Seeing Tang Ning asleep on the bed, Madam Qin lowered her voice and said, "Your Majesty."

Xiao Yan said, "No need to be polite, just take a look at her."

Upon hearing this, Madam Qin walked over without hesitation. Xiao Yan moved aside to make room in front of the bed and watched from the side.

Madam Qin squatted beside the bed and took Tang Ning's pulse for a while. After checking her body, she frowned slightly and turned her head to speak when she heard Xiao Yan say, "Let's talk outside."

Outside the screen, Pan Xi brought hot tea.

Xiao Yan's previous leisurely mood disappeared. "After returning to the palace the day before yesterday, An Ning has been in a coma ever since. She even had a high fever. She just woke up with great difficulty, but her hands and feet are cold. She hasn't eaten in two days and can't eat anything. Her face is also very ugly. What happened to her body?"

Madam Qin whispered, "The Queen was injured on the day of childbirth."

"That difficult birth was already dangerous, and she was poisoned and her internal organs were damaged. Furthermore, she didn't recuperate promptly after giving birth, and was constantly frightened and rushed around, worried and overthinking. This led to a loss of Qi and blood, which damaged her foundation."

Xiao Yan frowned, "Is anything serious?"

Madam Qin said, "It's already difficult to raise a woman injured during childbirth, and the Empress's situation is even more troublesome. If we want to protect her future lifespan, we must take good care of her. Moreover, I examined the Empress before at Lingyun Temple. She had an evil spirit invading her uterus during childbirth. She must not give birth again for at least five years."