Jiang Tian did not answer him.
A month later, with the poison completely gone from his body, Zhao Jing personally led an expedition, his sword aimed at the barbarian tribes.
Five years have passed in the blink of an eye.
Zhao Yuan is already fifteen years old. Now, everyone in the court has accepted her as the Crown Princess and is willing to serve her as their master.
She knew perfectly well that without her mother and father, who was away on campaigns, paving the way for her, how could a woman so easily seize power?
She not only had her parents as support, but her two teachers, Pei Ziye and Jiang Yuqin, also devoted themselves to her.
They never married and treated her like their own daughter.
Surrounded by so many people, Zhao Yuan successfully grew into the future emperor.
Today is the day her father, the emperor, returns to the capital in triumph.
Zhao Jing, who has been fighting abroad for many years, is finally coming back.
She thought she would see her loving father who used to hold her around his neck when she was a child, but when the palace gates opened, she found her father riddled with arrows.
In order to completely annihilate the enemy, Zhao Jing did not hesitate to use himself as bait.
After a bumpy journey back to the capital, all the imperial physicians shook their heads after examining the patient.
They dared not conceal anything from the powerful Empress and Crown Princess.
The chances of saving him are slim.
Zhao Jing already had some deep-seated injuries from his early battles, and now these arrows have struck vital points, taking away his life every moment.
It's a testament to Zhao Jing's strong will that he managed to come back alive.
His injuries are too severe; if we want to save him, we'll have to pray to the gods.
After hearing this, Zhao Yuan burst into tears.
She could sense the subtle atmosphere between her father and mother, but Jiang Tian did not direct her hatred toward her child; both husband and wife loved her wholeheartedly.
To leave her with a peaceful and prosperous era, Zhao Jing did not hesitate to personally lead an expedition to clear away obstacles for her. How could Zhao Yuan not be grateful?
Compared to her daughter's heartbreak, Jiang Tian appeared much calmer.
Having been in power for many years, Jiang Tian's authority has grown increasingly profound.
She patted Zhao Yuan on the shoulder: "Trust your mother, your father will wake up. He can't bear to leave us."
Zhao Yuan's eyes were blurry with tears, but she trusted her mother and nodded emphatically.
From that day on, Jiang Tian no longer attended court every day; instead, she would occasionally go to look after Zhao Jing.
Zhao Yuan took the highest position.
The officials were also secretly preparing for Zhao Yuan's ascension to the throne.
Sunlight streamed into the bedchamber, making Zhao Jing's face appear almost transparently pale.
The slight rise and fall of his chest proved that the man was still alive.
The imperial physicians examined his pulse multiple times, but dared not say much.
Zhao Jing is practically a living dead. I don't know what the Empress was thinking, making them treat him.
There's no way to cure him unless the King of Hell spares him.
During the period when Zhao Jing was in a coma, he was twice nearly killed by ghost messengers.
Every time the imperial physician came, he implied that preparations for his death should be made.
But Zhao Jing always pulled through.
Zhao Jing's will to live was so strong that the imperial physicians dared not make any further pronouncements.
On Zhao Yuan's sixteenth birthday, Zhao Jing almost lost his breath again.
Zhao Yuan's face turned pale with fright.
Jiang Tian remained calm and composed. She looked at Zhao Jing quietly and whispered a few words in his ear.
The first sentence: "If you wake up, I will live with you as an ordinary couple from now on."
The second sentence: "If you die, Pei Ziye and Jiang Yuqin will enter the palace tomorrow. With them serving me, my remaining life will not be boring."
After she finished speaking, Zhao Jing's fingertips twitched slightly.
The faint breathing returned.
Another month passed, and Zhao Jing woke up.
Three months later, Zhao Jing recovered to be no different from an ordinary person.
In the fourth month, Zhao Jing issued an abdication edict, passing the throne to Zhao Yuan.
During the years he spent fighting on the battlefield, Zhao Jing wiped out all the forces that were secretly plotting against him, ensuring the safety of the country for hundreds of years.
This is true wealth.
He and Jiang Tian also passed on their political strategies to Zhao Yuan.
Zhao Yuan was a man who was both capable of maintaining the status quo and making progress; he was truly a student who surpassed his teacher.
Her parents had paved the way for her; all she had to do was stand tall and walk straight down the avenue.
Pei Ziye and Jiang Yuqin, as two capable ministers, became Zhao Yuan's right-hand men, assisting her in governing the country.
Having arranged everything, Zhao Jing and Jiang Tian retired to the countryside.
After so many years of military campaigns, even though his health had improved, Zhao Jing's hair had turned completely white.
He and Jiang Tian walked together in the mountains and forests, as if they were from two different generations.
In fact, he knew very well that the reason Jiang Tian was willing to retire with him was because she was afraid that he and Yuan'er would compete for the throne.
He was the founding emperor, and many people followed him loyally. As long as he showed the slightest intention, others would rush to serve him.
He saw through these things but wouldn't say it; the two of them just kept quiet about it.
He has now gotten what he wanted.
Jiang Tian stayed by his side, and the two only had each other.
She wanted to control him, and he was happy to be locked in a cage by her.
They lived in a small mountain village, working at sunrise and resting at sunset. When they had nothing to do, they would farm; when they were free, they would go hunting. After so many years of ups and downs, Zhao Jing's heart finally found peace.
Fortunately, neither of them is old. Even though Zhao Jing has many hidden injuries, he is much better off than when he was weak before.
At least at night, he would no longer be like a scholar who couldn't carry anything on his shoulders or lift anything with his hands.
Having let go of his inner constraints and knowing that Jiang Tian would never leave him again, Zhao Jing became more open and decisive.
The clouds stop and the rain ceases, and it always happens around midnight.
The sticky sweat mingled together, and Zhao Jing listened to Jiang Tian's heartbeat, feeling incredibly at ease.
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