Chapter 177 Extra
After the Ming Dynasty defeated the White Lotus Rebellion, the country finally returned to peace and was able to recuperate. (From the novel "The Princess's Party")
At this time, the Ming emperor was the newly enthroned Crown Prince Zhu Yuluo, and in the Ming cabinet, Song Yue served as the chief minister, while Qing Chen was also a cabinet member. Both of them were exceptionally intelligent, and being teacher and student, their cooperation was tacit and efficient, quickly bringing about a new era for the entire Ming Dynasty.
However, none of the officials knew that the young, handsome, and exceptionally talented Grand Secretary Shen in the cabinet was actually a woman.
After more than half a year of rectifying the court, reforming the bureaucracy, and carrying out reforms, the Ming Dynasty finally recovered its vitality. The people lived in peace and prosperity, and the army was strong and well-equipped. Song Yue and Qing Chen could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
The teacher and student had always had a harmonious relationship, and now that they had more free time, they naturally visited each other more often. They frequently visited each other, usually with other people present, such as Zhao Qiran, Lan Tan, and Gu Shaoheng.
When they were alone, the two mostly discussed official business.
Occasionally, when they got tired of their work, they would put down their books and look at each other. As they looked at each other, they would inevitably embrace and share a sweet kiss.
Time flows gently, life is peaceful, but such kisses cannot always be brief. Song Yue is a normal man, thirty years old and full of vigor, while Qing Chen is an ordinary woman, often unable to control her emotions when facing someone she likes.
Her first time as a woman occurred after such a political discussion. In his study.
It was a cold winter day, and the house was warm with an underfloor heating system and charcoal fire burning.
He kissed her, carried her to the bed, intending to soothe his restless desire as usual, and stop there. They lingered on the bed for a long time, both of them undressing. He slowly admired her body from various angles, kissing her every inch of it. She felt a tingling sensation all over her body, trembling and shaking.
Seeing the obvious change in her body, he stopped, rested his head on her lap, and admired her from a new perspective.
Qingchen was incredibly embarrassed by him, bending over to push his shoulder and lightly kicking his bare chest. He, however, took the opportunity to lick the back of her knee. She shuddered, her foot accidentally reaching for something she shouldn't. Her cool toes touched that burning spot, and she was startled, quickly pulling her foot back.
He was so aroused by her that he could no longer restrain himself. After taking a deep breath, he covered her body with his.
Qingchen knew what was about to happen, and looked nervously at his face buried in front of her: "I...I...I'm afraid of pain."
They had been intimately entwined for over a year, and he had been remarkably restrained. Yet, experiencing it for the first time, she couldn't help but feel nervous and shy.
He didn't speak, but lowered his head to kiss her lips and the hollow of her shoulder, then tried to lower his head again. Knowing what he was going to do, she quickly and shyly stopped him, "Enough, enough..." If he kept doing that, this thick mattress would definitely have to be changed tonight.
He smiled and kissed her cheeks and ears, speaking to her in a slightly hoarse voice, "The child you have will definitely be exceptionally intelligent and beautiful."
"Really?" She thought for a moment, then asked somewhat shyly, "Then, who do you think our child will look like?"
"Like you," he said between kisses.
Her body relaxed, and she asked blankly, "Why?"
He didn't answer, but suddenly straightened up and broke through the barrier between them.
Four months later.
Qingchen's belly was already slightly protruding, making it unsuitable for her to attend court. She discussed it with Song Yue and decided to ask Zhu Yuluo for a few months' leave to give birth to the child.
The fifteen-year-old emperor was shocked to hear that the two Grand Secretaries had a child.
The emperor was still a young man after all. He tried to keep his composure but couldn't quite manage it. He couldn't help but glance at her stomach and asked with some concern, "Master Chen, I know childbirth is very painful... Are you afraid of pain?"
Zhu Yuluo always harbored feelings for Qingchen, but due to the constraints of their relationship as ruler and subject, and teacher and student, he forced himself to let go of that youthful affection. Although he had put aside his romantic feelings for her, he still felt grateful to her, wishing he could even take away her pain of childbirth.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. This humble subject... is not afraid."
Zhu Yuluo was still somewhat worried and even wanted her to live in the inner palace so that the imperial physicians could take care of her at any time. However, after thinking about it, he couldn't find a suitable excuse, so he could only say, "Master Chen, I will send a few trustworthy imperial physicians to your residence to take care of you."
Qingchen shook his head, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I appreciate your kindness. However, during my pregnancy, it is inconvenient for me to stay in the mansion or have so many people take care of me."
"Where are you going?"
“The teacher has already made arrangements. He owns a house that has never been lived in and is quiet. I will go there first and give birth to the child.”
"Oh," Zhu Yulu replied somewhat dejectedly.
He almost forgot that she was naturally being taken care of. Song Yue was mature, steady, and considerate; he should be able to take good care of her. It was just that her situation was too special. Although she was pregnant, she and Song Yue were not yet husband and wife in name. He always felt that this was somewhat unfair to her.
"Are you aggrieved?" Zhu Yulu asked, "Because you couldn't marry as a woman, you ended up having a child."
Qingchen smiled slightly and shook his head, "I am not wronged."
Song Yue had long ago said he wanted to resign from his official post and marry her, so she could live the life an ordinary woman should have, but she hadn't agreed. The Ming Dynasty had just gone through a great calamity and was in dire need of capable people. If she and Song Yue both resigned, Zhu Yuluo would inevitably have a very difficult time.
Now that she was pregnant, she naturally wanted to give birth. She planned to find a secluded place to deliver the child and raise it secretly. After three to five years, when the Ming Dynasty had stabilized and more promising young talents had emerged, she and Song Yue could leave the court and return to a simple and peaceful life.
After taking leave, Qingchen moved to the new house.
Although the mansion was large, there weren't many people to take care of her. Because of her status, Song Yue only chose a few of the most trusted servants to look after her. However, although there weren't many servants, there was no shortage of other tonics and supplements. With the care of both the Grand Secretary and the Emperor, Qingchen's pregnancy care was no less elaborate than that of the empresses in the palace.
As her belly grew larger, Qingchen changed back into women's clothing.
The weather in May was just right, neither too hot nor too cold. That day, she wore a loose-fitting, plain-colored dress and sat at a small table, reading a book and occasionally taking notes. On a small table beside her sat a small dish of dried plums and a bowl of hot tea.
After finishing his shift, Song Yue returned to the house. Pushing open the door, he saw her dressed in a light green dress, the hem of which fluttered in the breeze, her black hair cascading over her shoulders. She was elegant and refined, radiantly beautiful. He was momentarily stunned. His student, his wife, was truly breathtakingly beautiful. And because she was a mother, she exuded a serene, gentle, and loving aura, making her even more captivating.
Seeing him staring intently at her, Qingchen put down her pen, smiled at him, and said, "You're back."
"Hmm." He took off his outer robe, walked over and gently embraced her, closing her book. "You've changed back into women's clothes today."
Qingchen touched her skirt. "My belly is getting bigger, and I can't fit into men's clothes anymore. I also feel a bit uncomfortable wearing this. How about I have someone alter the men's clothes so I can change back into them..."
He didn't speak, just shook his head, then leaned close to her cheek and kissed her passionately.
Those pupils were unfathomable, like a whirlpool swirling with intense passion, instantly drawing one in. Qingchen felt his hot breath spraying on her cheeks, and the kisses that landed on her lips, ears, and neck were delicate and lingering.
After kissing for a while, she sensed a change in his body. She was six months pregnant, and they hadn't been intimate for the past six months. Was he craving...?
After hesitating for a moment, she said somewhat embarrassedly, "It's been six months now, if I'm careful, it should be..."
He stopped, smiled as he gazed at her, and shook his head. "No. A kiss is enough."
"...Aren't you feeling uncomfortable?" she asked, blushing.
"I feel terrible." His voice was a little hoarse. "Help me."
...
Several months later, Qingchen finally gave birth to a boy.
The day after the child was born, Zhu Yuluo left the palace incognito and excitedly came to their residence to see them. Although he was the emperor, he was still only fifteen years old, and he had a strange sense of novelty about Master Shen giving birth.
Zhu Yulu brought many rare medicinal herbs and tonics, and also bestowed many treasures upon Qingchen's son. He held the baby in his arms, gazing at his rosy little face, still somewhat bewildered.
Is this Master Shen and Grand Secretary Song's son?
Was she born just like that?
This kid seems like his younger brother to him, he's so cute, I really want to take him back to the palace to play with.
Zhu Yulu thought for a moment, then glanced at Song Yue, who had just become a father, and handed the child back to him, saying, "Lord Song, please take good care of this child."
Forget it, let him grow up a bit more, and when I have my own children, I'll bring this little guy into the palace as a study companion.
A month later, Qingchen finished her postpartum confinement and immediately changed back into men's clothing to return to court.
Zhu Yuluo hadn't expected her to return so quickly. When she saw her kneeling and bowing to him, he was worried that she couldn't handle it, so he quickly offered her a seat. Just then, the imperial kitchen delivered some red date and white fungus soup, and he immediately served Qingchen a bowl himself.
“Red dates are good for replenishing blood,” Zhu Yuluo whispered in her ear. “How is the baby?”
She nodded. "Very good. Your Majesty, I thank you for your concern."
"You need to eat more...it'll be more fun to feed him until he's fat."
"..."
Qingchen quickly threw herself into court affairs. Because she wanted to breastfeed herself, she had to travel back and forth between the palace and her residence several times a day. Song Yue felt sorry for her and wanted her to rest for a few more days before returning to court, but she insisted on staying.
Days passed, and their son grew up. As the son of two Grand Secretaries of the Ming Dynasty, little Song Ying showed remarkable intelligence from a young age. He could speak before he was a year old, and by the age of four, he could almost recite the entire Book of Poetry. Little Song Ying was clever and precocious, with bright, dark eyes, especially large and clear pupils, just like his father.
Qingchen was quite strict with his upbringing, partly because of his parents' special status, and partly because she hoped he would be successful when he grew up. Due to her own status, she didn't allow him to call her "mother," but only "teacher."
The little boy was naturally aggrieved, but he always kept his mother's teachings in mind and was always exceptionally well-behaved and sensible in front of her. However, he relaxed a lot when he was with Song Yue, often climbing on his father to play and giggling.
Song Yue doted on his son, almost always indulging his every whim, his eyes filled with tenderness that could melt hearts. Qingchen observed this, thinking to herself that this usually aloof and dignified Grand Secretary was like a completely different person in front of her son. She often argued with him about it.
"Teacher Song isn't afraid of spoiling him at all."
"Your child will never go bad no matter how much you spoil him."
At this moment, the little dumpling looked like she had done something wrong, and could only look at Qingchen pitifully, "Mother..."
"Have you forgotten what to call me again?"
Tuanzi: "Teacher..."
To be honest, four-year-old Song Ying didn't quite understand the relationship between the three of them, but he didn't dare to ask his mother.
His mother calls his father "teacher," and he calls his mother "teacher," so shouldn't he call his father "grandmaster"?
Oh well, whatever, he'll call her whatever his mother tells him to. Although his mother is very strict with him, he still loves her the most, even more than his father.
Twelve years later, the results of the imperial examination in the Ming Dynasty were announced.
On the streets of the capital, amidst colorful flags and the clamor of drums and music, the successful candidates in the imperial examinations rode through the streets on horseback. Leading the procession was a strikingly handsome young man, his demeanor exceptional, his expression serene and composed, a half-smile playing on his lips. He quickly captured the hearts of countless young women in the capital.
He was the top scholar in the imperial examination, the Zhuangyuan, Song Ying.
That day, Qingchen finished her shift early and went home, wanting to cook a meal for her son herself.
Over the years, she has been quite strict with her son and rarely showed her gentle motherly side. Today, her son has finally lived up to her expectations.
Halfway through cooking, Song Yue returned. He put his arm around her waist as soon as they entered the kitchen, looking very happy. Although both of them were middle-aged, their charm hadn't diminished much, and their little kitchen antics remained unchanged.
She quickly pecked his lips. "You go out first, I need to cook. Our son will be back soon."
He refused to let go, saying, "When I came back just now, I saw that the parade wasn't over yet."
However, at this moment, Song Ying had just returned to his residence. Hearing that his mother, the current second-in-command, was going to cook for him herself, he excitedly rushed to the kitchen.
To everyone's surprise, when the door was pushed open, the two Grand Secretaries were seen embracing each other...
"Excuse me!" He immediately closed the door, turned around and left, rubbing his brow bone as he went.
From today onwards, those two people inside are no longer just his parents and teachers. He has become the top scholar in the imperial examination and is about to enter the court as an official. The two Grand Secretaries will be his superiors...
We can't afford to mess with them.
I'd better go play with my little sister. (The End)
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