Chapter 126 Using Both Kindness and Strictness
When Yuwen Che finished dealing with government affairs and returned to Guanju Palace, the palace was warmly lit, and the wet nurse was holding the child for Su Luoxue to see.
He walked over, sat down on the edge of the bed, gently pulled Su Luoxue into his arms, rested his chin on the top of her head, and said softly, "Alright, you've been watching for so long, let the wet nurses take the baby away to rest. The most important thing for you right now is to recover and not overexert yourself. Once you're better, you can hold the baby for as long as you want, okay?"
Su Luoxue leaned against him obediently and nodded gently: "Okay."
She looked up, her eyes still filled with a dreamlike joy, and whispered, "Ache, we really have our own children, two of them..."
Yuwen Che lowered his head and kissed her hair, his voice full of doting and gratitude: "Yes, my Xue'er, you have given me a son and a daughter, which is my greatest blessing."
He gestured to the wet nurse to take the children to the side hall to rest.
Silence returned to the hall. Yuwen Che embraced Su Luoxue and said softly, "Xue'er, look... who's outside?"
Su Luoxue looked towards the door in the direction he indicated, but saw nothing. She turned her head in confusion and asked, "Who is it?"
Yuwen Che smiled and called out to the outside of the hall, "Li Dehai, please invite him in."
Su Luoxue looked curiously towards the doorway again. She saw Li Dehai leading three people in—her father Su Wenyuan, her mother Liu, and her brother Su Jingxing!
“Father…Mother…Brother…” Su Luoxue was stunned for a moment, then her eyes quickly reddened, and her voice choked with sobs.
Upon seeing Su Luoxue, who lay pale yet unable to conceal her joy on the bed, Su Wenyuan, Madam Liu, and Su Jingxing were filled with both excitement and heartache. They immediately prepared to kneel and pay their respects: "Greetings..."
Yuwen Che raised his hand to stop them and gestured to Li Dehai. Li Dehai quickly stepped forward to support the three of them.
Yuwen Che said gently, "Today there are no rulers and subjects, only family. Father-in-law, mother-in-law, Jingxing, no need for formalities."
Looking at her daughter, tears were already falling. She couldn't help but step forward and say, "Luoxue... my child, you have suffered so much..."
Su Luoxue reached out her hand, and her mother walked a few steps to the bedside. She took Su Luoxue's hand with heartache, looked her up and down carefully, and couldn't stop the tears from flowing: "Luoxue, I heard... I heard that your childbirth was so dangerous, I was almost scared to death at home! How are you feeling now? Are you still in pain?"
Seeing her mother's worried expression, Su Luoxue felt a warmth in her heart and quickly reassured her, "Mother, I'm alright, don't worry. Look, I'm perfectly fine, aren't I?"
Seeing this, Yuwen Che considerately stood up and said to Su Wenyuan and Su Jingxing, "Father-in-law, Jingxing, let the mother and daughter have a private chat. You two come with me to the side hall for a talk."
Su Wenyuan bowed immediately: "Yes, Your Majesty."
Su Jingxing also respectfully replied, "Yes."
Yuwen Che gently told Su Luoxue, "Xue'er, I have a word with your father and brothers. I'll be back soon."
Su Luoxue nodded: "Mm."
Yuwen Che then led Su Wenyuan and Su Jingxing to the side hall.
Inside the room, Madam Liu held her daughter's hand, asking her in detail about her postpartum condition. She couldn't help but look at her grandson and granddaughter, who were being held by the wet nurse, her heart filled with affection.
Upon entering the side hall, Yuwen Che dismissed his attendants and went straight to the point, saying to Su Wenyuan and Su Jingxing, "You must have already heard that I have issued an edict to establish Cheng'an as the Crown Prince."
Su Wenyuan and Su Jingxing's expressions tightened, and they respectfully replied, "Yes, we understand."
Yuwen Che looked at them sharply: "I want your Su family to do your utmost to assist the Crown Prince in the future."
He directly pointed out the previous arrangements: "This is why I promoted the Su family to the status of imperial merchants and granted them many conveniences."
His gaze turned to Su Jingxing: "As for Jingxing, you are talented and learned. After the imperial examination next spring, I will arrange for you to enter the court as an official. I need you to gain a foothold in the court and become the Crown Prince's future assistant."
His tone suddenly turned cold, carrying a warning: "However, you must remember. I bestow honor and power upon the Su family so that you may assist my son and protect the Great Zhou dynasty."
He paused, then spoke each word clearly and coldly: "If any of you, or any member of the Su family, harbors rebellious intentions in the future, and dares to rely on your status as a maternal relative to commit any transgressions, or even threaten the Crown Prince..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but the undisguised killing intent in his eyes sent chills down the spines of Su Wenyuan and Su Jingxing.
Su Wenyuan immediately pulled his son down to kneel on the ground, his voice solemn and fearful: "Your Majesty's grace is beyond our gratitude! We, your subjects, have no disloyalty to Your Majesty or His Highness the Crown Prince! We will do our utmost to uphold our duties as subjects and assist the Crown Prince. If we harbor any disloyalty, may we be struck down by heaven and earth!"
Yuwen Che looked at them, his tone softening slightly: "Get up. Remember what you said today. The Su family and the Crown Prince share the same fate. Alright, go back and spend more time talking with the Empress."
When Yuwen Che, Su's father, and Su Jingxing returned to the inner room, Su's mother was leaning over the cradle, lovingly teasing her two grandsons: "Oh my, our little prince and little princess are just so adorable."
Su Jingxing also walked to the bedside and asked Su Luoxue with concern, "Sister, can your body still hold up?"
"Brother, I'm alright now."
Looking at his daughter's pale face, Su's father said earnestly, "Luoxue, you have suffered a great deal this time. Now that you are a mother yourself, you should take better care of your health and prioritize rest."
Su Luoxue nodded obediently: "Father, I understand."
At this moment, Yuwen Che instructed the palace servants: "Serve the meal and set it in the main hall of Guanju Palace."
He turned to the three members of the Su family: "Father-in-law, mother-in-law, and Jingxing, please stay in the palace today and have a simple meal with the Empress."
After the three members of the Su family went to the main hall first, Yuwen Che walked to the bedside, carefully helped Su Luoxue up, gently put his arm around her waist, and whispered, "I know you must want to have a good meal with your family."
Su Luoxue nestled against him, her eyes filled with gratitude: "Yes, thank you, A-Che."
Yuwen Che helped her slowly walk to the main hall, personally directing the palace servants to lay thick cushions on her chair and carefully adjust her position before helping her sit down. He asked softly, "Is it comfortable sitting like this? If not, tell me immediately."
"It's very comfortable." Su Luoxue felt a warm glow in her heart as she looked at his thoughtful and considerate manner.
The family sat around the table for a simple family dinner at Guanju Palace, filled with rare warmth and affection.
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