Side Story 2 (Si Yanmo's Birthday)
Another winter has come, and Zhou Yanqing only learned from Si Yunyun that Si Yanmo's birthday is in winter.
Last year was too busy for either of them to think about it, but this year he was determined to give his wife a proper birthday celebration.
So he started preparing early in the morning, and was absent-minded during court sessions, his mind always preoccupied with what he should prepare for his Amo.
He thought that since there was nothing going on in court today, everyone could leave early, but unexpectedly, Wu Guan next to him suddenly nudged him.
"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Rites has a memorial to present."
Zhou Yanqing snapped out of her reverie and gestured for the people below to speak.
The newly appointed official bowed and said, "Your Majesty and Queen have been married for two years, but have no heir. I wonder if my department should make an arrangement..."
Si Yanmo, who was standing next to her, also frowned.
She knew that the man was referring to a fertility ritual.
It's not unusual for ministers to care about the crown prince, but such matters usually need to be reported to her first.
This person dared to speak so casually in court, completely disregarding her.
And...whose family has the custom of pressuring couples to have children after only two years of marriage?
Zhou Yanqing, sitting on the throne, saw her alluring little face scrunched up in a frown. While finding it adorable, he also glanced coldly at the ceremony.
"Zhao Li is meddling a bit too much."
His gaze was so sharp that the man dared not utter another word after just one glance.
He glanced around again, but this time he didn't even ask any questions and simply announced the end of the court session.
After everyone left, he stepped down from the throne, took Si Yanmo's hand, and asked softly, "Are you unhappy?"
No wonder he asked; Si Yanmo's eyebrows were furrowed into a deep frown, as if she was extremely angry.
But she shook her head. "No. I just find them annoying."
"Then we won't listen. I'll tell them that anyone who dares to mention this again will lose their head."
Hearing the man coax her in a childlike manner, Si Yanmo's gloom vanished instantly, replaced by worry.
She knew that her blood condition meant they would never have a child together.
She still remembered that summer when Si Yunyun brought Yun'er, who could already crawl, to the palace to visit them.
Seeing how much Zhou Yanqing liked it, she knew that he loved children.
Perhaps because she had never experienced true fatherly or motherly love, Zhou Yanqing always hoped that after having children, she would treat them well.
When she asked him that night, he admitted it.
But when she tried to do it for him, Zhou Yanqing simply held her in his arms and whispered, "But I want you more than a child."
Before they began to have frequent sexual relations, he had asked the shaman whether Si Yanmo was infertile.
The witch doctor said it was possible, but childbirth there would be a near-certain death. Basically, the only option would be to sacrifice the mother and save the baby; there were no other choices.
“Amo, I admit I want children, and I’ve fantasized about how I would be a good father. But if it comes at the cost of you, I don’t want it.”
Zhou Yanqing always paid special attention to his sex life, mostly serving Si Yanmo alone, rather than himself.
Si Yanmo could sense this as well, but she hadn't expected that this person would start thinking about this so early.
"Actually... the Ministry of Revenue had submitted a memorial to me before, asking if I needed... to take a concubine for you."
Zhou Yanqing was furious. "I think these people are too idle. They should be sent to the frontier of Sak."
"Alright, alright, don't be angry." Si Yanmo patted his hand. "This is normal. Which of the previous kings didn't have children when they were teenagers? Besides, caring about the crown prince is their duty."
Zhou Yanqing snorted coldly, saying that they didn't need to worry about it, and then pulled her outside.
The falling snow, contrasting beautifully with the red palace walls, creates a unique and enchanting scene.
The two did not ride in sedan chairs, but instead walked hand in hand towards the palace, just as intimate as they had been in Sak.
"You don't need to worry about these things. I won't take a concubine, and these kinds of memorials will be burned from now on."
Zhou Yanqing's words were like the warm sun in winter, shining on her heart.
She knew he wouldn't lie to her.
But she wanted to tease him, "So you really don't want children?"
"What do you want a child for?" Zhou Yanqing gripped her hand tightly. "If something happens to you, can he compensate my wife?"
"Can't the King of Qin have a wife whenever he wants?"
"Hiss..." He finally realized that the woman in front of him was doing it on purpose, and picked her up in one go. "If you say it again, I'll lock you up and make you think about all sorts of nonsense!"
After saying that, he ignored Si Yanmo's shouts and carried her to the palace.
The cold wind swept away their laughter, carrying it towards the distant horizon.
——
Soon it was Si Yanmo's birthday. Zhou Yanqing invited Si Yunyun and her husband, Lin Niang and others, and even Lan Yuzhu was invited. It was quite a grand affair.
Someone who didn't know better might think it was some kind of large-scale sacrificial ceremony.
Inside Lin Garden, Si Yanmo sat with a group of female relatives, eating pastries and enjoying the snow scenery.
In front of her, on the pond where she and Zhou Yanqing had met for the second time, floated an out-of-season flower boat, its flowers in vibrant colors, unlike the lush blooms that should be present in winter.
Sitting next to her, Lanyu Zhu joked, "The King spent a lot of money."
Si Yanmo smiled and said, "I've tried to persuade her, but she won't listen."
When Zhou Yanqing said he wanted to hold a birthday celebration for her, Si Yanmo advised him not to make a big fuss and that it would be enough for the two of them to have a simple celebration.
To everyone's surprise, this guy completely disagreed. He hadn't given her any last year, so he was determined to make it up to her this year.
Zhou Yanqing, mindful of her love for flowers, insisted on having a craftsman make a flower boat in winter, using the same technique as when she made hairpins for her wedding.
The couple's courtyard was also adorned with winter plum blossoms, and even the snow in the courtyard was transformed into various bouquets and snow sculptures.
Lan Yuzhu heard her complaining, but her eyes were full of smiles. He knew that this was just the playful banter of young lovers, so he didn't continue to complain.
She said that she could tell from the beginning that the two had a good relationship, and she was willing to let Si Yanmo go because she didn't want to break them up. Otherwise, if she had seen even a hint of Zhou Yanqing's infidelity, she would never have let her go.
Mentioning this, Si Yanmo also recalled the danger of that time. On one hand, she was afraid that the medicine would not be delivered in time, and on the other hand, she was afraid that the Lord of Lanyu would not release her. But she seemed to have never doubted Zhou Yanqing's sincerity.
Zhou Yanqing gave her so much confidence. She might worry about the unrest in the court, or about the gossip of the world, but she would never worry that he would abandon her.
"Speaking of which, Lanyu now has waterways, making it convenient for merchants to travel. There are also fortune tellers going there to give lessons. I wonder if the island lord is satisfied?"
Lanyu Master raised an eyebrow. "Master Mo, please speak frankly."
Seeing that she noticed his hesitation, Si Yanmo simply said, "The Gu worm..."
The person next to him suddenly laughed, "Does the fortune teller really believe in such things? If there really were a Gu worm that could test whether a person would keep their word in the future, what need would Lanyu have for fortune tellers?"
"Back then..." Si Yanmo was a little confused.
"It's just a sugar pill."
Lanyu explained that he had seen from the beginning that the two were not people who would break their promises, but he wanted to make them more determined, so he caused this incident.
From beginning to end, she never intended to kill them.
Si Yanmo was relieved, then saw the Lord of Lanyu move closer to her, "But the love potion is real, and the medicine given to the King yesterday is also real."
"Yesterday?" Si Yanmo frowned.
Zhou Yanqing hadn't told her that she needed any medicine.
Lan Yu realized she had said something wrong and was about to explain when she heard the sound of footsteps crunching through the snow. She looked up and saw a man in simple casual clothes standing behind Si Yanmo.
She obediently sat back down.
Si Yanmo noticed the man's appearance and turned around. "Why did you take so long?"
As he spoke, he ordered someone to bring him a chair.
When Zhou Yanqing saw the chair brought by the official, he did not sit down immediately. Instead, he hugged his wife from behind, completely ignoring the stares of those around them.
Of course, the people around didn't dare to look either, and they all tacitly shifted their gaze elsewhere.
He lowered his head slightly, savoring the faint jasmine scent emanating from the woman with a touch of longing, as if he had returned to that palace banquet.
"What are you talking about?"
Si Yanmo gently patted his hand, signaling him to stop, before telling him to sit down obediently.
"Just chatting, where have you been?"
"Is Madam reporting this to the authorities?" He was pleased by the slight sourness in her words.
Si Yanmo was used to this person always changing the subject, so she simply hummed in agreement.
Upon hearing her admit that she cared about him, Zhou Yanqing could no longer hide the smile on her lips and obediently told her where she was going.
"Naturally, I'm going to prepare dinner for my birthday celebrant."
Si Yan was surprised by this. "I thought you were making such a big fuss that there would be a banquet."
“Yes, but that’s for them. For your birthday, I still hope it’s just the two of us.” As he spoke, he changed from holding Si Yanmo’s hand to stroking it. “Or, if you like a lively atmosphere, you can come along too.”
“Wouldn’t that be a waste? My husband has been cooking for so long.” Si Yanmo grasped his hand and noticed a thin layer of sweat on his palm. “It’s just the two of us, it’s fine.”
Before she could finish speaking, the man in front of her scooped up her bag and said, "Let's go then, my...madam."
"There are still so many people!"
"Didn't I prepare a dinner for them?"
The man ignored what the people present thought and picked up his wife, carrying her away.
The people present seemed to have gotten used to the young couple's tendency to abandon everyone at any time, and chose to ignore them.
Only Lan Yu, who was not often in Qin, glanced at it a few more times and chuckled softly: So all this fuss was just to show off their love. She'll have to do the same when she gets back!
Si Yanmo thought Zhou Yanqing would carry her back to her palace, but instead, he carried her onto a carriage.
She couldn't help but wonder, but Zhou Yanqing just smiled and didn't explain.
He met Si Yanmo's questioning gaze and ordered the driver to move forward.
The carriage traveled through the long palace road and out of the palace gate, which made Si Yanmo even more confused. She couldn't help but wonder if the man in front of her intended to lure her out and kill her.
Zhou Yanqing chuckled, "How could I bear to?"
It wasn't until the street scenes outside the carriage became increasingly familiar that she realized the destination of her journey—the small courtyard that had once "imprisoned" her.
"Is Your Majesty planning to relive the days I was imprisoned?"
"Yes, I should apologize to my wife."
The carriage stopped, and Zhou Yanqing got off first, then turned back to pick her up and carried her inside.
The furnishings here are the same as those in the Qin Palace. The snow has been sculpted into various flowers, and the withered trees are decorated with fabric flowers.
The room was filled with all kinds of flowers, much like the boudoir of Shi Siyanmo in Nandu.
"Are you satisfied with my little flower fairy?"
Seeing the man's smug look, Si Yanmo was about to say she was satisfied, but then she felt that it would be a waste not to tease him at this moment.
"Nothing new, just like in the palace."
The puppy's tail drooped instantly. He grabbed her waist and asked urgently, "Then what do you mean by something original?"
She shook her head, a mischievous idea forming in her mind: "At least... I should be allowed to tie you up once."
Unexpectedly, as soon as these words were spoken, the puppy's tail wagged again. It walked to the side, pulled back the curtain, and the familiar cage reappeared.
Zhou Yanqing walked in and sat down obediently. "That's what I think too."
Si Yanmo understood immediately and narrowed her eyes, then tied his hands with a ribbon.
They... always seem to be able to go crazy together.
She tied Zhou Yanqing's hands together, pulled hard, and made him look at her. "So, you'll listen to me from now on?"
"Hmm." Zhou Yanqing nodded.
"You'll answer any question I ask, and you'll do anything I ask you to do?"
"certainly."
"That……"
She wrapped the silk ribbon around her hand again, her lips almost touching the other person's lips.
Just as Zhou Yanqing was looking forward to it, she suddenly changed the subject, "Then please tell me honestly, what medicine did you ask Lan Yu for yesterday?"
The person in front of him was clearly taken aback for a moment, then sighed and muttered, "I already told her not to tell you."
"You still want to hide it from me?" Si Yanmo pretended to be angry and tightened the silk in her hand.
Although it wasn't painful, it still made Zhou Yanqing groan.
"Oh dear, Amo, I didn't!" he quickly explained.
It turns out that Zhou Yanqing had been holding a grudge against the minister's words all these days.
He wasn't afraid of not having children, but rather that Si Yanmo would be unhappy about it.
The fate of a nation depends on its offspring; for thousands of years, what king hasn't hoped for a large family with many children and grandchildren to ensure the continuation of the dynasty? But this is not the case for Zhou Yanqing.
He does like children, but compared to Si Yanmo, he's nothing.
If this small matter causes his Amo to feel uneasy in the future, he will hate himself.
Moreover, he knew Si Yanmo too well. She always prioritized the big picture. If those old men talked too much, she might actually bring in her concubines.
He doesn't want it.
All he ever wanted was his Amo.
Moreover, even without this incident, given how frequently the two of them engaged in sexual activity, something was bound to happen sooner or later.
Having an abortion also harms Si Yanmo's body.
So, in his invitation letter to the Lord of Lanyu, he added a sentence, hoping that the Lord of Lanyu could find him a medicine—a medicine to stop his fertility.
He wanted to give Si Yanmo the same peace of mind.
Hearing this, Si Yanmo tapped him on the head, "Are you stupid?"
That's what she said, but her slightly reddened eyes betrayed her emotion.
Zhou Yanqing clumsily wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with her bound hands. "How can this be considered stupid? I never planned to have a child with you anyway. This way, I can be safer in the future and won't have to worry about anything."
"So you went to take your medicine just now?" She suddenly realized the man's lie.
She said, "Since I'm here, how could I possibly cook for myself in the palace?"
Zhou Yanqing nodded honestly, "Yes, this medicine... has some side effects."
She remembered the thin layer of sweat on the man's palms, and cupped his face in her hands. "Does it hurt?"
"It's okay, don't worry." Zhou Yanqing rubbed her face against her palm to reassure her.
Seeing the man act as if nothing had happened, Si Yanmo was both angry and touched. She untied the restraints on his hands and said, "Giving me such a scary gift for my birthday, do you think I should punish you?"
The person opposite her, relieved, quickly hugged her. "What was so scary? Shouldn't you have been moved to tears and said you'd never be separated from me for the rest of your life?"
"You have the nerve to say that! If you keep taking those random medications, I...I'll divorce you...um..."
The moment Si Yanmo uttered the word "separation," her lips were sealed by a warm kiss, which then intensified into a more powerful attack.
A moist tongue pried open her teeth, swallowing all her words and leaving only sobs.
After a long while, Zhou Yanqing finally let go of her, but his hand was still holding the back of her head, his forehead pressed against hers.
He said in a hoarse voice, "Don't mention divorce! Don't abandon me!"
Si Yanmo was mesmerized by his kisses, her voice becoming soft and sweet, with a hint of coquetry, "Then you have to tell me about these things first in the future."
"Okay, I'll tell you everything." He moved his hand down and pulled the person into his arms. "Are you hungry?"
Si Yanmo nodded and looked around. "I'll lock you up again next time."
The two got up together, and as soon as they went outside, they found that Wu Guan had already prepared a hot pot to warm them up.
Outside, snowflakes drifted down, and the slightly chilly moonlight shone through the window into the warm candlelight inside, allowing the two to hear each other's laughter.
Many years later, when Zhou Yanqing issued a decree to make the girl, who had no blood relation to him or Si Yanmo, the queen, someone asked him if he regretted not having a child of his own.
He recalled the conversation he had with the owner of Lanyu Island when he got his medicine that day:
Lord Lanyu: "Your Majesty, have you thought this through? Once you take this medicine, there's no turning back. Are you sure you won't regret it?"
Zhou Yanqing: "Do I look like that kind of person?"
Lanyu Master: "People's hearts change. You're using a love potion on yourself now and risking having no offspring. You might not think the same way in the future. You won't love her forever."
At that time, Zhou Yanqing calmly accepted the medicine and said before leaving, "If that's the case, then this is my punishment for that fickle person."
Lanyu is right. No one can guarantee what will happen in the future. He is making a solemn vow now, but if Si Yanmo is really wronged in the future, then all of this will be empty talk.
But he knew that he wanted to do this now, and that he loved Si Yanmo so much that he wouldn't leave himself any way out in the future.
As it turns out, Zhou Yanqing loved Si Yanmo so much that even if he were to go to the underworld and be reincarnated, he would only love Si Yanmo...
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