After the battle in the northern frontier, the Western Regions retreated unscathed, and everyone thought that the Emperor of Qi had died at the Beiwu River. However, not two days later, news came back that the Emperor of Qi had returned to Jiankang.
Upon learning of this, Helian Ye immediately dispatched troops to Tuling Pass. The north was already plagued by constant warfare, surrounded by numerous small states, with frequent changes of imperial power, and the barbarian tribes of the Western Regions launching attacks and constant incursions, making the Central Plains unstable and turbulent.
The Emperor of Qi wanted to launch a northern expedition to expand his territory, so he sent Wang Hezhan to Longcheng. By the time Wang Hezhan returned to Jiankang, it was already half a month later.
For the past few days, Chu Changning has been living in the palace, preparing for the ceremony to establish an empress.
She secretly stole the pills Yan Beimo was taking and went to the Imperial Hospital to see him. Only then did she learn that he had been seriously injured in the snow cave during the battle of Beiliang, and his health had been poor ever since he woke up, requiring medication to suppress his condition.
"Mother~"
Suddenly, Ayu's voice came from outside.
Chu Changning snapped out of her daze and saw the chubby little dumpling kicking its little legs and running towards her, then jumping into her arms.
She laughed and picked him up, then hissed and frowned, "Your father is right, you've gotten fatter, and your mother can hardly carry you anymore."
Ayu pouted and climbed onto her shoulder with her little hands.
Chu Changning chuckled and patted his back, then picked up the baby and prepared to leave.
"Let's go find your father."
It has been raining in Jiankang recently. The rainwater slanted into the corridor and fell down along the eaves, wetting the lamp niches on both sides, and the air was filled with a dampness.
Ayu left the main hall, glanced at her mother who was slightly out of breath, thought of her father's threats last night, pouted, kissed her on the cheek, and then started to crawl down.
"What's wrong?"
"I want to walk by myself."
His father always threatened him, saying that he was bothering his mother and that he would be sent to the army camp right now.
Chu Changning saw him blinking his round eyes at her, and her heart softened terribly, so she put him down.
"No need to follow."
She said something to the maids behind her, then took a bamboo-green umbrella, took her son's hand, and headed towards the Imperial Study.
Xuanming Hall is very close to the Imperial Study. After walking through the winding flower path paved with jade, you can look up and see the pavilion with upturned eaves, which is magnificent and towers into the clouds.
Yan Beimo, dressed in a black robe with gilded dragon patterns and an overcoat, stood outside the palace and saw the mother and son strolling towards him from afar.
The wind was biting cold, and the rain was falling obliquely. She was tall and slender, wearing a light blue dress, and walking in the rain with a bamboo umbrella. Her beauty was understated, and she seemed to be part of a painting.
Perhaps sensing the intense gaze, she slightly raised the edge of the umbrella, revealing her captivating willow-leaf eyes. In the instant their eyes met, her brows and eyes shone with dazzling brilliance.
Cui Linyuan, who was standing to the side, glanced at his expression, followed his gaze down the stone steps, saw the person who had come, and chuckled.
"It seems His Majesty is too busy to play chess with me. Then it's settled. I will go to Qudu tonight."
Yan Beimo hummed in agreement and then walked towards the mother and son.
"Father."
Ayu exclaimed excitedly and ran over to tug at his long legs with her little hands.
Yan Beimo ignored him, took off his cloak and wrapped it around Chu Changning, who was walking towards him, covering her completely.
"Why didn't you wear more clothes when you went out?"
Chu Changning scolded him, "Your son called you, didn't His Majesty hear him?"
"---"
Ayu looked up at her mother holding the umbrella on the left and her father with a displeased expression on the right, then stood obediently between the two of them.
Yan Beimo raised an eyebrow, and with a sudden pull, he drew her into his arms.
"ah---"
Chu Changning exclaimed in surprise, pounced on him, and stared at him with wide eyes.
"What are you doing?"
He lowered his head and bit her lip, whispering.
"I told you to come by yourself, but you brought along a burden. What's the meaning of this?"
"---"
She was about to scold him when he took advantage of her vulnerability, his tongue entwining with hers in his mouth for a passionate kiss.
Chu Changning's face instantly turned bright red. He glanced at his son, who was already used to it, and quickly reached out to punch him in the chest.
Yan Beimo pulled her into his arms with a strong grip, kissed her deeply, and then released her.
"Color embryo".
She blushed and scolded him. Seeing that he was about to get angry, she immediately took her son's hand, held the umbrella, and walked into the palace.
Yan Beimo strode after her, picked up his son, put his arm around her waist, and led her into the hall.
The hall was warm. Chu Changning took off his cloak and led Ayu to the bookshelf, where he knew the way well. He took out a book and began to teach his son while holding him.
After returning to the palace, it was always the same: he would handle memorials on the side while she and Ayu would read books and drink tea on the couch.
"Put him to sleep."
Suddenly, a warm, firm chest pressed against my back, and his low voice sounded in my ear.
Chu Changning felt a tickle in her ear from his tickling, turned her head away slightly, and whispered, "It's not dark yet, he's not sleepy."
Ayu nestled in her arms, flipping through the book with her little hands. Hearing her parents' voices, she peeked out and stared at the two of them suspiciously.
Yan Beimo simply pulled him out and put him inside.
Whether Ayu was deliberately going against him or not, she grabbed her mother's clothes and climbed into her arms again.
The father and son stared at each other, leaving Chu Changning speechless.
She hugged her son and pushed him away, saying, "Isn't Your Majesty going to deal with memorials today? Go and get busy."
Yan Beimo remained motionless, glaring at his bewildered son.
Ayu wasn't afraid. She tilted her head and nestled in her mother's arms, blinking at him.
"---"
Helpless, Chu Changning leaned back and kissed him, whispering, "I'll come find you after I've put him to sleep."
Yan Beimo's eyes darkened, and he pressed the back of her head and kissed her hard several times before stopping.
As soon as he left, Chu Changning held her son in her arms and began to teach him the words in the book by gesturing. The warm lamplight shone on her face, making her appear gentle and tender.
Ayu followed her and read for a while until it got dark outside, and she dozed off sleepily.
She was about to carry her son to the couch when she saw the child kick his little legs off the couch, wave at her, and signal her to follow.
Chu Changning stared in curiosity. Seeing that she didn't move, Ayu came back and took her hand, leading her to the bookshelf in the inner hall.
"What's wrong?"
"There's a secret agency involved."
As Ayu spoke, she climbed onto the stool and vigorously twisted a celadon porcelain bottle.
Seeing that he was struggling, Chu Changning reached out and twisted it for him.
With a loud bang, the secret chamber behind them burst open, revealing a dark passageway.
Ah Yu rolled off the stool and grabbed her hand, trying to pull her inside.
The mother and son walked along the passageway, which was lined with walls made of pepper. The bronze tripods and gilded pillars were burning with glazed fire. The passageway became wider and wider as they went in, winding and turning like a sheep's intestines.
Chu Changning followed Ayu and looked around, discovering that it was a privately built armory.
The shelves on all four sides were filled with all sorts of weapons, as well as research blueprints.
Excitedly, Ayu leaned over the shelf and took out a musket to play with.
Chu Changning didn't notice as he walked inside. He arrived at a secret room, pushed open the door, and saw a small sleeping chamber.
She looked at the layout of the room in surprise and found that it was exactly the same as the room in the west alley.
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