74
Inside Kaifeng Prefecture, the gloom of the past few days had been largely dispelled by Zhan Zhao's recovery, but a lingering heaviness was cast over it by Xuan Yuan Tianyi's deep sleep.
Zhan Zhao was moved to Xiaoyou Villa, where he was personally cared for by the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, with Jiang Yuan assisting him. He remained unconscious, but his pulse gradually became steady and strong, and his complexion gradually returned to normal. However, there seemed to be an unyielding weariness and pain between his brows, as if he could sense the great changes happening in the outside world even in his sleep.
Zhao Zhen would visit Zhan Zhao almost every day after court. Seeing Zhan Zhao's gradual improvement, he was gratified, but his heart was always heavy with worry as he thought of Xuan Yuan Tianyi, who had paid a heavy price for him. He ordered that all the precious medicinal herbs in the palace storehouse be taken at will, in order to ensure Zhan Zhao's speedy recovery.
Bao Zheng, Gongsun Ce, and others also frequently visited him, and were only slightly relieved to see that Zhan Zhao's condition was stable. Only Bai Yutang, apart from necessary visits, mostly just sat silently in the courtyard, staring blankly at the sky. The tragic battle of Guanyin Pavilion and the resolute figure of Xuan Yuan Tianyi going to his death lingered in his mind like a nightmare.
At this moment, what is both heartbreaking and comforting is the little life that has just been born into this world—Zhan Nianchen.
Although the child was less than a month old, he was exceptionally well-behaved, mostly sleeping peacefully except for a few weak cries when hungry or uncomfortable. He inherited Zhan Zhao's handsome features and also subtly carried some of Xuan Yuan Tianyi's charm, especially his pair of dark, glassy eyes, which were clear and bright when open, as if they could reflect people's hearts.
Yin'er was personally assigned by Zhao Zhen to take care of Nianchen along with two experienced nannies. They lived next to the courtyard where Zhan Zhao was recuperating, making it convenient for them to look after him. The child seemed to know that his father was recovering with difficulty, and never made a fuss. He just lay quietly in the cradle, waving his little hands and babbling happily to himself.
Seven days later, at dusk.
Zhan Zhao's eyelashes fluttered a few times, and in a hazy halo of light, he slowly opened his eyes.
Consciousness returned like a tide, carrying with it the horrific scenes of the bloody battle at Guanyin Pavilion, the excruciating pain that gnawed at the heart and bones, and the coldness and despair of falling into boundless darkness... Finally, it froze on a resolute red figure and a mournful phoenix cry that seemed to come from the depths of the soul.
Tianyi!
He tried to sit up abruptly, but the movement aggravated the injury in his chest. A violent cough caused him to fall back onto the pillow, his forehead instantly covered in cold sweat.
"Guard Zhan! You're awake!" Gongsun Ce, who was guarding the bedside, was overjoyed and quickly stepped forward to support him. "Don't move! Your injuries are very serious, you need to rest!"
“Mr…Mr. Sun…” Zhan Zhao’s voice was hoarse and dry, like a broken bellows, “Tianyi…she…”
He looked anxiously at Gongsun Ce, his eyes filled with fear and pleading, terrified of hearing the worst possible news.
Gongsun Ce looked at the deep worry in his eyes and felt a pang of sorrow in his heart. He opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know how to speak. Should he tell him directly that Xuanyuan Tianyi had defied fate to save him and was now in an endless slumber?
Just then, the faint sound of a baby crying came from the next room, breaking the tense atmosphere in the room.
Zhan Zhao was startled, his gaze instinctively turning towards the direction from which the sound came. That crying... carried a throbbing emotion of blood ties.
“That is…” Confusion appeared in his eyes.
Gongsun Ce looked at his expression and sighed inwardly, knowing that he could not hide it in the end. He carefully chose his words and slowly said, "Guard Zhan, while you were unconscious... Tianyi, she has returned."
A startling light flashed in Zhan Zhao's eyes as he struggled to get up again: "Where is she?!"
“She…” Gongsun Ce pressed down on his shoulder, his tone heavy, “To save you, she used forbidden techniques to forcibly pull you back from the brink of death. But… her own soul essence was severely damaged, and she suffered a backlash from the Heavenly Dao. Now… she has fallen into a deep slumber and has been taken back to the spiritual veins of Xiaoyao Tower by Leng Moyan for nurturing.”
Sleeping... Xiaoyao Tower...
The light in Zhan Zhao's eyes dimmed instantly, like extinguished stars. He lay there blankly, seemingly unable to process the information. Defying fate...slumber... He didn't know the specifics, but just hearing those words, he knew the danger and the price involved!
No wonder…no wonder he seemed to hear her cries of anguish and feel that heart-wrenching pain before he completely lost consciousness…
It's all for him! It's all for him!
Overwhelmed by immense guilt and heartache, he was nearly suffocated. He abruptly closed his eyes, and two streams of hot tears silently slid down his cheeks and into his hair.
Gongsun Ce felt a pang of pity seeing his pained expression, but he had no choice but to continue, "Also... before Tianyi performed the procedure, she asked Mr. Jiang to induce labor, and she gave birth to a boy."
Boy... induce labor...
Zhan Zhao suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with even more intense pain! Their child! Their child! Born under such circumstances! Tianyi… how resolute she must have been back then!
"Where is the child?" His voice trembled uncontrollably.
“It’s right next door, being looked after by Yin’er and the nanny,” Gongsun Ce quickly said. “Although the baby is premature, he is very healthy. Mr. Jiang examined him and said there’s nothing wrong with him.”
"I want to see him..." Zhan Zhao struggled, ignoring the pain in his chest, and insisted on getting up.
Knowing his feelings, Gongsun Ce stopped stopping him and carefully helped him move step by step to the next room.
The door was gently pushed open. Beside the cradle, Yin'er was gently rocking, humming a soft Jiangnan tune. Hearing the noise, she turned around and saw Zhan Zhao, supported by Gongsun Ce, his face pale but his eyes anxious. She was startled at first, then her eyes reddened, and she quickly stood up and bowed: "Young Master..."
Zhan Zhao's gaze, however, had already passed over her and landed directly on that small cradle.
He approached step by step, as if using all his strength. In the cradle, the tiny baby seemed to have just finished eating, its big, dark eyes wide open, curiously watching the toy swaying above its head, its pink lips slightly pouting, occasionally making babbling sounds.
Looking at that little face that resembled his own yet faintly bore the shadow of Tianyi, Zhan Zhao felt as if his heart had been struck by the softest thing. All his grief, guilt, and longing transformed into a torrent of paternal love at that moment.
He slowly and very carefully reached out his hand, his fingertips trembling slightly, and gently touched the child's warm and tender cheek.
The real touch, the throbbing of blood ties, finally brought a touch of warmth to his cold and desperate heart.
The child seemed to sense his father's touch, turned his head, looked at him with his clear and innocent eyes, and then, surprisingly, grinned with his toothless little mouth, revealing a blurry yet incredibly pure smile.
At this moment, Zhan Zhao's tears flowed again.
He bent down and carefully, with utmost tenderness and care, cradled that soft, tiny body in his arms. The child was light, yet felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, pressing down on his heart and supporting his world as it crumbled.
"Nianchen..." he whispered the name, gently pressing his face against the child's milky cheek, his voice choked with emotion, "Daddy is here... From now on, Daddy will stay with you, and we'll wait together... for Mommy to come back."
From this moment on, he was not only Zhan Zhao, but also the Southern Hero and the Imperial Guard.
He is also a father.
A father who must live on strongly for his children and for his sleeping wife.
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