July of the second year of the Dongjing Restoration.
The land was parched and dry, and sandstorms from the west mingled with bloodshed.
General Wen Hu, the Pillar of the Western Pacification Army, destroyed the Jinran Kingdom and annexed several small kingdoms in southern Jinran, establishing the Jinran Prefecture.
The Emperor's grace was boundless. In order to reward the Wen family for their contributions to the court, Emperor Yuan Zhengzong of Xijing conferred titles upon Wen Tai as Prince of Jin, Wen Hu as Duke of Jinran, Wen Yong as Marquis of Yongliang, Imperial Preceptor Luo Wushan as Marquis of Qinhuang, and Military Advisor Yu Changsi and Luo Ying, among others, were all granted titles and rewards.
The Wen family's power in Xijing reached its peak.
Xijing already possesses Tianyong County, Qinhuang County, Yichuan County, Xinbei County, Jinran County, and half of Pingyou County. Although it only has five and a half counties, which is much smaller than Dongjing's territory, Xinbei County and Jinran County are natural horse breeding grounds, providing abundant resources for Xijing Army to train cavalry from the source.
On the fourteenth of the same month, Dong Hua gave birth to a daughter, named Zhao Chang Le.
On the fifteenth of the same month, Park Yoo-hee gave birth to a son, named Jo Jung-seok.
The Zhao family welcomed two new members in two days, a joyous occasion that drew a large influx of dignitaries and nobles who practically wore down the threshold of the Zhao residence.
Zhao Huan couldn't stand the commotion, so he hid behind Zhao Yan's yard and went fishing.
Zhao Cheng and Zhao Yang are the main characters today. Zhao Zhan now holds power in the court, and many people fawn over him. Zhao Yan, who doesn't like socializing, is the most peaceful.
After Yang Cai'e greeted the guests for Dong Hua, she led Zhao Changgong into Dong Hua's room. Besides Dong Hua and Zhao Changle, who were in confinement after childbirth, a woman dressed in fine clothes was standing by the bed.
This woman possessed an extraordinary air about her and held a very noble status; she was a Lady of Imperial Decree personally bestowed by Yuan Xiu.
Her husband was Luo Mingyi, the Minister of Works.
When Luo Mingyi built the Star Gazing Tower, Yuan Xiu bestowed an imperial title upon his wife. Later, when the Imperial New Hall was completed on schedule, Yuan Xiu also bestowed an imperial title upon his mother. It can be said that one family had two imperial titles, which was once a beautiful story.
At this moment, Luo Mingyi was drinking with Zhao Cheng, while his wife Gong Lihua was in Dong Hua's room.
Gong Lihua held an open box in her hands, inside which lay a bead that was clearly no ordinary object.
Dong Hua glanced at the box in Gong Lihua's hand and said to Yang Cai'e, "This gift is too valuable, I can't accept it."
Yang Cai'e walked up to Gong Lihua, stared at the bead, and asked in confusion, "What is this?"
Gong Lihua said, "The gilded luminous pearl is priceless; it is the finest luminous pearl in the Southern Zhou Dynasty."
Yang Cai'e exclaimed, "Madam Luo, this is indeed too precious; we cannot accept it."
Gong Lihua placed the box by the bedside and said, "This is a birth gift from Chang Le's uncle. If you don't want it, you can dispose of it as you see fit."
Donghua's eyes reddened as she said, "Brother is in a dangerous situation, yet he still risked his life to ask you, Madam, to deliver gifts to Chang Le. He has really gone to great lengths."
"So you should accept it on behalf of Chang Le even more."
Gong Lihua sighed and said, "Qingzhi said that it's not a bad thing that he and my cousin couldn't find you sooner. If you had returned to the Yang family before marrying into the Zhao family, you would be living a hard life like him now. He is relieved that you are doing well now, and if he has the opportunity in the future, he will personally see Chang Gong and Chang Le."
Dong Hua said, "Please thank him for me."
Before Zhao Changle was born, Yang Qingzhi arranged for someone to find Gong Lihua, and then Gong Lihua found Yang Cai'e and Dong Hua and revealed their identities.
They were all very surprised. First, they were surprised by their own identity—they were actually daughters of the Yang family of Nan Zhou. Second, they were surprised by Gong Lihua's identity—her husband was the Minister of Works of Dong Jing, and she was actually Yang Zhanbei's cousin and Yang Qingzhi's aunt!
By that calculation, Gong Lihua is also their cousin, but they haven't changed how they address her yet.
"Qingzhi also said that you can control your own identities. If you don't want to talk about it, then keep quiet. If you want to talk to Zhao Cheng, he won't object."
Dong Hua and Yang Cai'e exchanged a glance.
Gong Lihua then took out a gold bracelet from her pocket, squatted down, and put it on Zhao Changgong.
“Chang Gong, this bracelet was also given to you by your uncle. It’s not anything valuable. My cousin gave it to Qingzhi when he was born. Qingzhi originally intended to leave it to his own child, but the Yang family is now in trouble, and Qingzhi doesn’t want to harm other people’s daughters. He won’t be getting married and having children anytime soon. He gave this to you so that you would remember that you have half of the Yang family’s blood in your veins.”
As she spoke, Gong Lihua gently patted Zhao Changgong's face.
"Alright, Donghua, you should get some rest." Gong Lihua got up and walked out.
"Chang Gong, you stay with your aunt." Yang Cai'e saw Gong Lihua out.
After the two walked out the door, Yang Cai'e glanced around and said in a low voice, "Aunt, did you already know our identities?"
Gong Lihua said, "I just found out too."
Yang Cai'e asked doubtfully, "But my father and uncle served in the same court back then, how could you not know that?"
Gong Lihua shook her head and said, "Cai'e, don't think too much. When your father was a high-ranking official in Dajing, your uncle was just a minor official. Besides, my father's generation came to Dajing. The Yang family is only a distant relative of mine. I don't even know what your father looks like."
Seeing Yang Cai'e deep in thought, Gong Lihua said softly, "Child, I know what you're thinking. You were already grown up when your parents died, unlike Donghua. You're more thoughtful and think this whole thing is too coincidental, suspecting that you're a pawn planted by the Yang family in the Zhao family. But have you ever considered that your marriage to Zhao Cheng—could that have been arranged?"
"What about winter paintings?" Yang Cai'e asked in return.
Gong Lihua said, "I don't know. But I understand one thing: you are a mother now, so you should let go of what you should let go of. Let men worry about things like hatred and national affairs."
"Chang Gong is a good boy, don't ruin him."
Gong Lihua leaned closer to Yang Cai'e and whispered in her ear, "Changli and Changxin have a good mother and are legitimate sons, so they have an advantage over Changgong. If Changgong wants to make something of himself when he grows up, the Yang family might be his biggest support. Your uncle and your cousin won't fall so easily."
After saying that, Gong Lihua gave Yang Cai'e a deep look, then turned and left.
"Sister, Chang Le is crying. Does she want to nurse?" Dong Hua's voice came from inside the house.
"They're here!"
The three brothers, Zhao Cheng, Zhao Yan, and Zhao Zhan, helped Zhao Yang fend off the drinks and had a great time drinking with the guests, while Zhao Huan fished by the lake and fell asleep.
Just as he was feeling dazed, He Zhi came over and said, "Prime Minister, someone wants to see you."
"I don't want to see you!"
Zhao Huan lay half-reclined in the chair, his eyes closed, and said, "I get a headache from all that noise from those brats every day. It's rare to find some peace and quiet here with Lao San. I don't want to see anyone."
He Zhi said, "You'll probably need to meet this person."
"What? Has the Emperor himself come?" Zhao Huan opened one eye.
"This person isn't someone you absolutely must see, but someone you definitely want to see!"
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