Although Kyoto is not as cold as the north, it is still quite cold at night, and the palace is heated by an underfloor heating system.
When Yan Beimo returned, he saw a figure curled up on the couch in the inner hall.
He came in from outside, his body covered in cold.
Chu Changning shivered from the cold as soon as he was picked up.
Why do you look so pale?
She didn't say anything, twisted her waist, and curled up in the blanket to sleep.
Yan Beimo didn't force her. After taking a bath in the inner room, he came out and got into bed, holding her in his arms.
Chu Changning pushed him away, "It's not comfortable to sleep while being held."
He frowned and snapped at her.
"You'd be more comfortable if I just threw you on the floor to sleep."
In this freezing weather, just say you want her to freeze to death.
Chu Changning glared at him and closed her eyes.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, casting its glow into the dimly lit tent, where her pale and weak complexion could be faintly seen.
Yan Beimo called out, "Someone come here."
A figure moved outside the door.
"My Lord".
"Go and summon the imperial physician."
Chu Changning's expression changed slightly, and she raised her eyes, "Why do you need the imperial physician?"
"Didn't you see how awful you look?"
"That's all because you did something beastly and caused all this trouble."
He didn't speak, but lifted the gauze curtain, put on his robe, got off the bed, and lit the palace lanterns.
The imperial physician arrived quickly and, after taking the patient's pulse, spoke tactfully.
"The lady's body is naturally cold, and strenuous exercise may cause signs of miscarriage. She needs to rest more."
Yan Beimo's expression remained unchanged, as steady as an old dog.
"Go and prepare the medicine."
The imperial physician respectfully withdrew, carrying his mahogany medicine chest.
Chu Changning sarcastically remarked that he had to drink that bitter juice in the middle of the night.
"Your Excellency has heard what the imperial physician said; it is not advisable to engage in sexual intercourse."
Yan Beimo lifted the gauze curtain, sat on the edge of the couch, and glanced at her sideways.
"Then behave yourself and don't seduce me."
"---"
Chu Changning retorted, "A gentleman should be able to remain unmoved even with a woman in his lap."
Besides, who seduced him? It was his own madness that drove him crazy.
Yan Beimo raised an eyebrow. "Did I say I was a gentleman?"
"---"
Chu Changning turned to his side, lay down, and ignored everyone.
Yan Beimo chuckled lightly, "So easily amused?"
His tone was gentle and pleasant, with a hint of playfulness, and lingering in the ear.
Chu Changning covered herself with the blanket and ignored him.
Yan Beimo directly lifted the blanket and pulled her into his arms.
He moved incredibly fast; in the blink of an eye, she was completely encircled in his arms, instinctively grabbing his collar.
The room was warm, and the lights from all sides illuminated his bright and clear face, with his black hair hanging down halfway, giving him the appearance of a gentle and refined noble young man.
Are you angry?
Chu Changning pouted, "No."
"Her little mouth is big enough to hold an oil bottle."
The atmosphere between the two was rarely so warm, and Chu Changning felt somewhat uncomfortable, so he lowered his eyelids and remained silent.
At this moment, a palace maid respectfully entered, carrying the medicine.
Chu Changning tried to sit back on the couch, but he held her tightly in his arms.
"Let go, I need to take my medicine."
Yan Beimo held her close with one arm, while taking the medicine bowl from the plate with the other and bringing it to her lips.
Chu Changning, "---"
She looked numb as she sipped her medicine.
After taking the medicine and rinsing her mouth, she immediately rolled up in the blanket and went to sleep on the inside.
The palace maid left through the door, and the lights were extinguished.
Yan Beimo got into bed and held her in his arms.
"It's hot."
Chu Changning didn't want to be hugged by him, so she arched her body slightly.
Yan Bei Mo did not comply with her wishes, saying, "If you're hot, take off all your clothes."
In the darkness, Chu Changning looked down at the thin, gossamer-like veil covering her body and rolled her eyes.
The princes' troops were stationed outside the capital. The following night, during the interrogation, Prince An led his troops into the capital under the pretext of protecting His Majesty and clearing away corrupt officials, saying that he feared other countries might harm His Majesty.
However, since ancient times, without an imperial edict, princes were not allowed to bring their troops back to the capital.
Therefore, Shen Yan used this pretext to trap Prince An in the capital.
King Qi was seriously injured and fell into a coma. That night, the palace was suddenly attacked by thieves who attempted to assassinate him. His fate was unknown.
An assassination attempt made so brazenly within the Forbidden City shows utter disregard for the Emperor.
Shen Yan was furious and ordered a thorough investigation.
The King of Qi monopolized Taiyuan. If he were to die, Taiyuan would surely revolt. This was the work of someone with ulterior motives.
Shen Yan suspected that Yan Bei Mo was behind it, but he couldn't find any evidence for a long time.
The fate of the King of Qi remains unknown, and his subordinates are eyeing the capital with predatory intent. While the capital appears calm on the surface, undercurrents are surging beneath.
Chu Changning overheard Yan Beimo and the others talking in the study and knew that the capital was about to fall into chaos and that they were heading north to Youzhou.
That night, she went to see Chu Chang Le.
"Sister, are you leaving?"
Chu Chang Le, dressed in a thin white robe, sat on the swing, looking up at the moon.
Chu Changning draped the cloak over her and softly hummed in agreement.
"Have a safe journey, and don't go back to Kyoto again."
Chu Changning glanced at her sideways, a bittersweet feeling welling up inside him.
She tried her best to suppress it, then pursed her lips, remembering what she had just heard in the study.
"peaceful---"
"Your Majesty, there's no need to worry about me. Let's go."
Chu Changle reached out and hugged her, burying her head in her arms.
Take care on your journey.
Chu Changning paused slightly, remained silent for a long while, and finally said nothing more.
Beiyou is located in Dingyuan, surrounded by small states. Yan Beimo took Dingyuan and sent troops to garrison it. However, the people of the Western Regions seized the Jiaqing Pass area and made contact with the Rouran. In order to take Beiyou, he attacked Jiaqing overnight.
Chu Changning stayed in the military camp, secretly reading battle reports from various places and memorizing the routes of advance.
Before long, she heard a sound coming from outside. She quickly gathered all her things and put them back in their original places. Then, she lifted her skirt, ran to the small couch, lay down, and pretended to sleep.
Meanwhile, in Kyoto, the princes were detained, and things appeared calm on the surface. However, Chen Yan's drastic measures to reduce the power of the princes and consolidate their authority aroused dissatisfaction among the princes in the north.
However, Shen Yan was ruthless and cunning. He sensed that Prince Ding was planning a rebellion and secretly sent someone to bring Prince Ding's most beloved eldest son back to the capital. The other princes dared not make any rash moves.
The troops outside Kyoto quietly retreated to the Qiguan area.
Your Majesty has been on the throne for so long, and there is only the deceased Empress Xiao in the harem, as well as the princesses of the former dynasty. The former court is afraid that the princes will rebel, so they all request to establish an empress, expand the harem, and increase the number of offspring.
Shen Yan delayed making a statement, using the pretext of rebellions in various regions to silence his ministers.
As October approached, the sky over Kyoto was gloomy and ominous.
Outside the imperial study, a group of remonstrating officials knelt on the ground, demanding that an empress be established and that a legitimate son be born.
A fierce wind howled and raged. Shen Yan, dressed in a dragon robe, stood under the eaves of the palace, speaking in a deep voice.
Are you forcing me into this situation?
"Your Majesty, I dare not, but the world is in turmoil and Your Majesty has no son, which threatens the very foundation of our Great Jin. I beg Your Majesty to reconsider."
Shen Yan said coldly, "Then I will tell you today that I will make Chu Chang Le my empress. The Imperial Observatory shall begin preparations immediately."
The head of the cabinet ministers, Lin, was shocked. He slammed his head on the ground with a thud, and tears streamed down his face.
"Your Majesty, you must not! Princess Anning is an orphan of the old dynasty. Her survival is already an honor. If she were to give birth to a legitimate son, it would shake the foundation of our Great Jin. I beg Your Majesty to rescind your decree."
"I second that proposal."
"I second that proposal."
"I second that opinion."
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