When our love was strong and we had a child

At night, Li Xingyi sat in a chair and quietly watched the carrier pigeons in front of him.

They must have come back a long time ago; they haven't returned for a whole day, so they must have been waiting for a long time.

She then took the envelope and said, "Qingyi, take the carrier pigeon down to rest."

Qingyi replied, "Yes."

Li Xingyi opened the envelope and read: "Xingyi, your father knows. You must take good care of yourself. Your parents and Yanzhang will be waiting for you to come back. — Li Fengtan"

Looking at the letter in his hand, Li Xingyi unconsciously recalled some things. Li Xingyi's father, Li Fengtan, was from the main family of Chang'an Li family, while Li Xingyi's mother, Li Yunsheng, was from the branch family of Luoyi Li family. The two first met at the family marriage ceremony.

The Li family of Chang'an had been officials of the imperial court for generations, while the Li family of Luoyi was formed by poor children adopted by the Li family of Chang'an over the years. They took in displaced people and abandoned children, and adopted the surname Li. The emperor of that generation felt that this was no big deal and allowed them to participate in the imperial examinations.

Li Yunsheng was a beautiful and graceful young woman with a reputation for dignified and composed manners. Many men were interested in marrying her, but Li Yunsheng had no interest in them.

At the Li family's matchmaking event, many men surrounded Li Yunsheng, each recommending themselves. Li Yunsheng felt somewhat awkward, but Li Fengtan stepped in to help her out.

"Marriage cannot be forced. Instead of recommending yourselves here, you should each show your strengths. If the young lady takes a liking to you, she will personally hand you her handkerchief."

The Li family matchmaking event is specially organized for the younger generation of the Li families of Chang'an and Luoyi. People from other families can also participate. At the event, women's wishes are flattered. If a woman takes a fancy to a man, she must personally hand him her handkerchief. If the man is willing, he will accept it. If he is not willing, he will pick a flower and hand it to the woman, meaning "the falling flower is willing, but the flowing water is heartless".

After this incident, Li Yunsheng began to pay attention to Li Fengtan. After spending more time together, the two fell in love and got married immediately.

Some people felt it was a bit hasty, but Li Fengtan said, "People who love each other will only feel that it is too slow. Moreover, if we already know each other's feelings but do not get married, wouldn't that leave her without a name or status, and make ourselves irresponsible? Only by getting married can we stay together for a lifetime."

Then, less than a year after their marriage, Li Yunsheng became pregnant.

Li Yanzhang was born on April 11th of the following year. His name was derived from "a distinguished scholar and a renowned Confucian scholar, complementing each other perfectly," hence the name Li Yanzhang.

As the days passed, Li Yunsheng unexpectedly became pregnant again in October of that year. It had only been a few months since she gave birth to Li Yanzhang, and her body had not fully recovered.

Li Fengtan wanted to terminate the pregnancy first and then recover later. However, Li Yunsheng looked at the little Li Yanzhang and then at her own belly. She felt that the child in her womb was the same as Li Yanzhang, both of her own flesh and blood, a life.

Li Yun was moved with compassion. She couldn't bear to give up the child, and with tears in her eyes, she said to Li Fengtan, "Master, I... want to keep this child."

After hearing this, Li Fengtan advised, "Yunsheng, your body hasn't fully recovered yet. We'll have more children in the future. This child came at an inopportune time. You should think more about yourself."

Li Yunsheng said with tears in her eyes, "Master, I can feel that this child will definitely be a good child in the future. I know that he/she wants to live, and I also know that my body has not recovered well, but I know that this child is destined to be with us."

Seeing her cry, Li Fengtan's heart softened a little. He reached out to wipe away Li Yunsheng's tears and said softly, "If you want to stay, then stay. But you must promise me that you will be safe and sound, or I will follow you..."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Yunsheng immediately covered his mouth and said, "Master, you can't say such unlucky things. We still have children, and we will definitely stay together for life."

Li Fengtan nodded and said, "Okay."

After ten months of pregnancy, Li Xingyi was born on the seventh day of the seventh month of the following year. However, Li Yunsheng's body was damaged by this pregnancy and she could no longer conceive. Li Fengtan only said, "It's good that everything is alright. It's good that Yunsheng was spared the pain of childbirth. A son and a daughter would be a perfect match."

The twilight outside carried a slight chill. Li Yunsheng looked tenderly at the little girl in his arms and said, "The clouds drift lazily across the pond, and the seasons change. From now on, you will be called Li Xingyi."

Little Li Xingyi just blinked in confusion.

Li Fengtan carried Li Yanzhang to the bed and sat down, saying, "Yanzhang and Xingyi are both good names. You are both your parents' good children."

The family of four was enjoying a happy time together.

Her home was always warm and loving, with kind parents and an elder brother. But Li Xingyi was different. She was aloof by nature, rarely smiled, and didn't know what love was. She was surrounded by love, yet she never understood it. She was always as kind to people as her parents, but for some reason, she just didn't understand love.

Li Xingyi first realized this when he overheard a maid saying to a servant in the mansion, "I love you."

The servant also said, "I love you too."

The two embraced happily, and Li Xingyi asked Li Yunsheng, puzzled, "Mother, what is love?"

Li Yunsheng paused for a moment and said, "Love is like the love your parents have for you..."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Xingyi interrupted, "Then is our love for the people also?"

Li Yunsheng thought for a moment and said, "That's true, but there are many kinds of love, like the love between parents, the love parents have for you and your siblings, Yanzhang's love for you as an older brother, and Qingyi's love for you as a mistress and servant..."

Li Xingyi said, "There are many, Xingyi doesn't understand."

Li Yunsheng smiled and said, "It's alright, you'll gradually understand as the stars shift in the future."

Li Xingyi replied, "Mm."

Now, Li Xingyi sat in a chair with his eyes lowered.

You'll understand later...

At this moment, Gongsun Dou took the envelope. The envelope read: "A Dou, you send a letter and immediately ask about matters, without even inquiring about your mother's well-being. This has saddened your mother. However, some things have indeed happened. A few days ago in Chang'an, your father discovered that a concubine was having an affair with Shi Fa at a banquet. Both of them were executed, and the Shi family has been exiled to the frontier. That concubine was named Li Hehua, and she was a favored concubine. It's truly heartbreaking. Furthermore, the eldest daughter of the Li family fell ill because of this incident and sought medical treatment everywhere. In the end, she was sent to a manor to recuperate. She is truly pitiful. — Liang Qu"

Gongsun Dou looked at the envelope in his hand and said, "I see. They are determined to get Li Xingyi. This makes me even more curious about the Frost Cold Sect."

Hongxing asked, puzzled, "Miss Li, I wonder what it is about you that attracts them?"

Gongsun Dou thought for a moment and said, "Who knows? Anyway, she... will be fine."

Hongxing asked, puzzled, "Why?"

Gongsun Dou glanced at him and said, "You... you really haven't improved at all, you still don't understand me."

Hongxing's real name is Zhao Hongxing. He was forced to become a eunuch in the palace because his family fell into poverty. When he first entered the palace, he ran away in fear when he saw others being drawn by lot. By chance, he bumped into Qi Dou.

Zhao Hongxing begged Qi Dou to spare him, because he hadn't married or had children yet and didn't want to be a eunuch for life. Qi Dou initially didn't want to care, since many people said the same thing, but he still asked, "If you don't want to be a eunuch, why did you enter the palace?"

Zhao Hongxing said sadly, "It's all for money, but I can't not get married and have children."

Qi Dou asked, "Why?"

Zhao Hongxing looked at him and said, "Because I hope to spend my life with the person I love. Life is dull and tasteless. If you have someone who understands you and accompanies you for a lifetime, then the dull and tasteless life will have something to look forward to."

Qi Dou looked at him and said, "Enjoy life while you can, for tomorrow you will not have a chance to enjoy it. You are destined to be with me, so from now on you will serve me."

Zhao Hongxing happily replied, "Yes."

Qi Dou didn't know why he saved him. There was nothing special about him. If he had to give a reason, it would probably be that emperors never stayed with one person for life. Qi Dou wanted to see if this young man would change his mind and become a greedy person if he stayed by his side for a long time.

As a prince, and the most favored one at that, this matter was no challenge for him at all. From then on, Zhao Hongxing officially stayed by Qi Dou's side, and he showed unexpected loyalty.

One day, Qi Dou suddenly said, "Your subject wants to go elsewhere to experience the lives of ordinary people."

Liang Qu said worriedly, "You are a prince, still young, it's too early for you to experience the lives of ordinary people."

Qi Dou looked at her and said, "Mother, Father said he hopes that I can share the burden of state affairs with him. I have learned everything I should, but I still don't know what the situation is like for the people outside the palace. I hope to know the true thoughts of the people."

Liang Qu was taken aback for a moment, then said, "But a prince's tour will attract attention."

Qi Dou said, "I would like to trouble Mother Consort to worry about this for me. I will speak to Father Emperor."

After hearing this, Liang Qu sighed and said, "Alright, A Dou should go out for a walk, but you should bring someone to protect you."

Qi Dou thought for a moment and said, "Let's go with Zhao Hongxing."

Liang Qu was stunned and said, "That little eunuch doesn't know anything. I don't know who's protecting whom by following you."

Qi Dou said, "That's precisely why he wants to go with me to gain experience, so that others won't say that the people around me are useless in the future."

Liang Qu sighed and said, "Alright, Mother will send people to protect you."

So Qi Dou and Zhao Hongxing arrived at Frostbite Gate. Zhao Hongxing looked at the three large characters "Frostbite Gate" in front of him and asked in confusion, "Young Master, weren't we supposed to be going to experience the lives of ordinary people? Why is it Frostbite Gate?"

Qi Dou calmly replied, "Yes, they came to Frostbite Gate to experience the lives of ordinary people; they are also commoners."

Zhao Hongxing asked uncertainly, "Young Master, did you lie to Madam? And to me too?"

Qi Dou looked at him and said, "No, going anywhere is about experiencing the local customs. I just chose a place."

In January of the fourth year of Dewei, seven-year-old Qi Dou and Zhao Hongxing entered Shuanghan Sect.