Yan Wuneng was stunned and was led into the house in the courtyard by Yan Chaoxi in a daze.

The two children were sleeping soundly in bed.

Because they were twins and born prematurely, neither child was very big; they were even shorter than Yan Wu's arm, and their little faces were wrinkled and hadn't fully developed yet.

Yan Wu's pupils contracted sharply as he stared unblinkingly at the two children.

"After I stopped the Crown Princess, I found out that her water had broken. I didn't have time to rush back, so I found an empty courtyard nearby. Fortunately, there were a lot of things in the house, so I gave birth to the child."

She spoke lightly, but Yan Wu thought about what she said and remembered how she had endured the pain alone last night, helplessly searching for a place to stay, with no one around to help her.

Even with a midwife present, childbirth is a painful and dangerous experience for ordinary women. Yan Wu couldn't imagine how Yan Chaoxi endured it last night, or how desperate she must have felt!

If something unexpected happens, he might lose her forever!

Yan Wu couldn't help but pull her into his arms, covering her reddened eyes, his voice choked with emotion, "Princess, it's all my fault. I clearly said I would watch the child be born with my own eyes, but I broke my promise."

The throne is dispensable, but she is unique.

Yan Chaoxi gently pushed him away, cupped his face, stood on tiptoe, and softly kissed his lips.

Not wanting him to think of childbirth as too simple, she said in a sweet voice, "Childbirth is so painful. My stomach hurts in waves. I kept thinking about you in my heart to hold my breath and push hard. I finally gave birth to the baby just before dawn."

"Fortunately, I took good care of them, and the two children didn't cause me much trouble. They cried a few times after they were born and then went to sleep quietly."

Yan Wuye kissed her with red eyes, tasting the salty taste of his own tears.

He was still a little scared. "You must not do such dangerous things again. The Crown Princess ran away, but if something happens to you, where can I get you back?"

Yan Chaoxi could sense Yan Wu's feelings at that moment. Leaning against him, she obediently replied, "Okay, I'll let you know where I'm going from now on. Don't worry, I'll always be by your side."

After a while, she bent down, picked up one of the children, and placed it in Yan Wu's arms, telling him, "They are twins, a boy and a girl. Look, this is the older brother."

Yan Wu looked down and saw the little person wrapped in clothes. When he first picked him up, the little head moved slightly, but he quickly fell asleep again.

He glanced again at his daughter lying on the bed. The two children didn't look alike; his daughter hadn't fully grown in yet, but one could already vaguely discern some of the delicate features she shared with Yan Chaoxi.

Yan Wu's heart softened completely; this feeling of blood connection stirred his emotions and filled him with joy.

He looked at the child several times before putting him down.

"I'll tell them to bring a carriage over. You and the child shouldn't be exposed to the wind, so you wait inside."

The guards acted swiftly, buying a carriage from a nearby market and cushioning it with soft padding. The group returned from the small courtyard to the villa, taking the Crown Princess with them.

Yan Wu left some silver for the owner of the courtyard.

He had doubts in his mind, and couldn't help but ask again, "The villa and the Crown Prince's residence are in two different directions. How could you run into her when you went out for a walk? Why didn't you even bring Bichun with you? It's too dangerous."

Yan Chaoxi, “…” Why bring up this old topic again? She thought it was over and done with.

Yan Chaoxi pouted, looking unhappy and acting unreasonably, "I already said it was a coincidence. If you ask again, I won't talk to you anymore!"

"Alright, alright, I won't ask anymore," Yan Wu quickly replied.

Seeing that the little princess seemed unwilling to say more, they didn't ask any further. Perhaps she had already placed people around the Crown Princess, which was why she was able to know the Crown Princess's movements in a timely manner.

"Thanks to you for stopping her, otherwise she would have gone to the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion to complain, and the Prince of Zhenbei might have temporarily switched sides, which would have completely disrupted my plans. My good fortune all comes from the princess."

The little princess gave a haughty hum, but she was still very useful in a pinch!

Yan Wu chuckled; how could his princess be so adorable?

The group returned to the villa. When Bichun and the other palace maids saw Yan Wu and Yan Chaoxi coming out one after the other, each carrying a child, their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

No, the princess disappeared for one night and the baby was born!

"Princess, this...where did this child come from?"

Yan Chaoxi smiled and said, "It came from my belly."

Bichun was so shocked her mouth could have fit an egg. "!!!"

An experienced midwife quickly said, "Quickly, a few people come and take the baby to wash him clean and change him into a thicker swaddle, so he doesn't catch a cold."

"Princess, please go inside and lie down. You are in confinement after childbirth and should not go out in the wind."

Yan Chaoxi then began her postpartum confinement. The two children ate and slept without causing her much worry, and in just a few days they grew up and became fair and chubby.

Yan Wu named his children Yan Linchuan and Yan Qinghan.

Xiao Linchuan was especially attached to his father. Every morning, he would only settle down if Yan Wu held him. At first, Yan Wu enjoyed it, until Xiao Linchuan started to wet his back every morning...

Yan Wu felt that the kid was doing it on purpose.

After Xiao Qinghan grew up, her eyes resembled Yan Chaoxi's, fluttering like a sky full of stars, and her nose and mouth resembled Yan Wu's. She was simply a combination of the two. Every time she cried in a high-pitched voice, Yan Chaoxi's heart would melt, and Yan Wu would wish to give her everything.

...

After Emperor Kang of Liang was buried, Yan Wu ordered that the mourning period be shortened from three years to thirty-six days, and that the enthronement ceremony and the investiture ceremony be held thirty-six days later.

Crown Prince Yan Huainan was not allowed to be buried in the royal mausoleum after his death for treason. His children and his principal wife and concubines were all beheaded and their heads displayed to the public. All the other women in his household were exiled to the southern frontier.

The Prince of Zhenbei was executed, and his entire household was wiped out, while his concubines and female relatives were exiled.

At the same time, Yan Wu demoted several ministers from Yan Huainan's faction who were close to him, and promoted Ji Baichuan to the rank of First-Rank Assistant General, giving him control of half of the military power of Daliang.

The court officials then realized that this new emperor was not ignorant; rather, he was patient and reserved, but when he did lash out, he was decisive and not someone to be trifled with.

"Do any of my beloved ministers have any objections?"

The ministers all shook their heads.

"Very well, after I have completed my mourning period, I will hold the coronation ceremony, and the empress's investiture ceremony will also be held at the same time. This matter will be handled by the Ministry of Rites."

The coronation ceremony? Who will be crowned? For the first twenty-odd years of his life, no one knew where this new emperor was, or whether he was married. His ministers knew nothing about him.

The Minister of Rites asked, "I wonder which family's daughter His Majesty has taken a fancy to?"

"I already have a wife, Princess Roujia of Dongqi!"

"Huh?!" Everyone exclaimed in surprise!

“This… Princess Roujia has already disappeared? The Emperor may not know this because he wasn’t in the palace before. She came from Dongqi for a political marriage and has already married the traitor Yan Huainan.”

"Yes, yes, in my opinion, Princess Roujia should have been beheaded as well, but she is a princess of Dongqi. It would be better to send her back to Dongqi to show the magnanimity of our Great Liang."

Yan Wu chuckled. He had barely sat on the throne when some people were already ignoring his words.