"Perrin, it's getting windy, aren't you going inside to rest?"
Li An's gentle yet heavy voice made Xin Peilin slowly open her eyes.
"The prince is back."
"How was your day? Were you busy with official duties?"
Xin Peilin sat up from the recliner and took Li An's hand.
Empress Dowager Xin is now forty-seven or forty-eight years old, and Li An is forty-three or forty-four years old. Xin Peilin is three years older than him.
As the saying goes, "A woman three years older than her husband is like holding a gold brick," and Li An has definitely held a very big gold brick in her arms.
"It's alright. As always, Ji'er's administrative abilities are better than Qi Shang's!"
Li An praised him.
Xin Peilin said with a smile, "Your Highness, have you forgotten that Qi Ji has been studying the art of rulership since childhood?"
Although he spent most of his time in the military, his abilities were indeed superior to Qi Shang's.
However, Qi Shang is not bad either.
"In terms of interpersonal skills and gathering information, he's even better than Qi Ji!"
Li An reached out and pulled Xin Peilin back, nodded and said, "Yes! Peilin sees things clearly."
Xin Peilin reached out and slapped Li An, then said, "They were all children I carried for ten months."
Children who have gone through so much hardship to be born naturally understand them.
Upon hearing this, Li An smiled wryly and squeezed Xin Peilin's hand before saying, "If it were back then..."
"If that damned devil hadn't taken you away, our children would be about the same age as Qi Shang and Qi Ji by now, wouldn't they?"
Upon hearing this, Xin Peilin's tightly clenched hands trembled slightly.
She didn't know how to respond; this topic was between the two of them.
There's always an insurmountable chasm, as if if it weren't for that person, this whole affair wouldn't have happened.
They should have a happy and fulfilling life, with many children and grandchildren.
Instead of what it is now, they have no children of their own, no warmth of their own.
"Your Highness, do you also want a child that belongs to us?" Xin Peilin's voice was somewhat indifferent, even carrying a hint of nervousness and anticipation.
Li An felt it; the hand he was holding trembled involuntarily. He understood.
"Perrin, you've misunderstood. When I'm with you, all I want is to be with you."
"I don't want to think about anything else you've mentioned. Just the two of us, nestled together, until we grow old, is enough."
"Although we've missed so many years, although we weren't able to be young,
We had a good time together, and even during those years on the border, I often missed you, but all I ever missed was you.
Li An led Xin Peilin back to the bedroom and sat down at the round table.
She said softly, "I'm already very satisfied that we can get back together. I can't ask for anything more."
"Back when we were at the border, the current emperor was still as arrogant as ever, intolerant of any dissent."
At that time, I was thinking about how I could win you back. I'm also very fortunate that you survived in the previous harem.
Xin Peilin said with a smile, "Your Highness, do you know why?"
Li An shook his head, not quite understanding. Back then, he was driven to the border region because he wasn't very capable.
He couldn't leave anyone in the palace to protect her; after all, he himself had been in dire need of protection back then.
Who would wholeheartedly follow him and become his eyes and ears?
In places far from the emperor's reach, who can promptly detect whether this informant has changed their mind or remains loyal?
If they left spies around, would it help her or harm her? Li An back then...
It can be said that all the interests and stakes have been rearranged.
He kept calculating in his mind: if he didn't stay, and if he did stay, in the end he still didn't stay.
However, once he reached the border, he focused on developing his own capabilities, and gradually infiltrated the area.
It belongs to him, to his loyal followers.
"I don't know, please enlighten me, Peilin," Li An said humbly.
Xin Peilin smiled and said, "It's because of fate! Because my fate with the prince has not been severed!"
Li An affectionately patted Xin Peilin's head before saying, "I see. Then my wife and I are truly destined for each other across three lifetimes!"
"It's more than three lifetimes!"
Li An realized what was happening, slapped his own mouth, and then said, "Hahaha, it's all my fault. I was talking nonsense. It was clearly eternity."
Xin Peilin smiled and playfully scolded him.
Night had fallen, and the two walked hand in hand toward the bed, where another night would begin...
----
"Your Majesty, the Empress has sent someone with gifts," said Granny Jin as she entered from outside, smiling.
Xin Peilin sat up in bed, playing with her hair in her hands, before saying, "Oh, what did Yue'er bring?"
Granny Jin had the gifts brought in, and there were two large boxes full of things.
"Oh my, what's all this stuff? Didn't they say that Yue'er is still in bed resting during her pregnancy?"
Why are you still bothering with sending gifts? Xin Peilin didn't quite understand.
Granny Jin whispered, "Isn't Her Highness just missing you, Princess Consort? She hasn't been back to the palace for so long."
Moreover, these were all things Her Majesty encountered while traveling, things that were fun and beautiful, and I bought them as a gift for you.
"Who delivered it?"
"That girl, Bilian."
Xin Peilin quickly ushered the person in, "Quickly let her in, that's Yue'er's head maid, I have to ask her properly."
After Granny Jin left, Bilian followed her in respectfully, first bowing.
Only then did he dismiss the Empress Dowager's attendants, and quietly hand her a white porcelain bottle.
"Your Majesty, these are tonics that my lady instructed me to send to you."
Bilian said respectfully.
Xin Peilin looked at Bilian with a puzzled expression and asked suspiciously, "Bilian, what does your mistress mean by this? And what is this thing?"
"Your Majesty, Her Majesty says this is a tonic that can grant your wishes. Please take it as soon as possible, and hopefully it will help you achieve your goals!"
Xin Peilin was still puzzled and looked at Bilian with a suspicious expression.
Bilian then cautiously said, "Her Majesty said that this is a tonic that will make the Empress Dowager feel like spring again."
Xin Peilin was shocked and looked at Bilian with a shy expression, saying, "Is Yue'er teasing me?"
Bilian quickly kowtowed before saying, "Your Majesty, my lady had no intention of joking with you."
Instead, she was thinking that you and the Prince should also have a child of your own. The Empress said this was during her travels...
A Taoist priest gave her a medicine that could revive withered trees. The Empress Dowager presented this to the Empress Dowager to fulfill her wish, not as a joke. We humbly request Your Majesty's understanding!
After hearing Bilian's words, Xin Peilin tightly gripped the porcelain bottle, unsure of what to say. At her age, could she still have children?
"At my age, how could I possibly..."
"Your Majesty, my lady said that now that Your Majesty is of a certain age..."
Pregnancy is indeed risky, but if you can manage it properly, it's still possible.
Xin Peilin felt a flutter in her heart, and she looked at Bilian excitedly, "Is it really possible?"
"Why not give it a try!"
Xin Peilin nodded and then said, "Get up. Go back and tell Yue'er that I'll give it a try!"
"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty."
After putting her things down, Bilian bowed and took her leave, then she could return to the palace to report back.
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