Chapter 494 Extra 13: Reunion in the Streams and Mountains, Yuan Heng Returns
After reading Yu Wang's letter, Ji Qingwu hurriedly went to the hot spring to find Zhao Mingyan.
Yuan Heng is coming to Xishan!
She clutched the letter and hurried through the bamboo grove.
The reason why the two settled down in Xishan can be traced back to when Chen Zhao ascended the throne and they began their travels.
Ji Qingwu only gained a healthy body after completing her mission of giving birth in this world, and she has always longed to measure the vast mountains and rivers with her own two feet.
In earlier years, due to the war, it was inconvenient to travel with children, so it was delayed.
With Zhao Mingyan by her side, Ji Qingwu had nothing to worry about, and they set off immediately. But in less than two years, Ji Qingwu grew tired of it. A month or two was still novel, but after a while, all the scenery looked the same. The real scenery was right beside her.
The most important reason was that Ji Qingwu was worried about Zhao Mingyan's health.
He carries the chronic illnesses accumulated from years of battles, and even if he can suppress them with his internal energy now, they will eventually erupt.
Throughout history, many emperors who devoted themselves to their studies and achieved great things died young.
Ji Qingwu really didn't want to return to the palace, so she specifically asked Uncle Lexi, who loved traveling and sightseeing, before moving to Xishan, which was more than a hundred miles away from Lin'an.
This place has mountains and water, is leisurely and comfortable, and is also gentle and pleasant.
Every morning, Zhao Mingyan would be in the hot spring pool.
Ji Qingwu forced him to soak in the bath for an hour every day, using the herbal soup packets that she and Lexi had carefully prepared.
The hot spring pool is hidden in the mountain valley, with white mist floating on the water's surface. The blue stones by the pool are made shiny by the spring water, and a few clusters of wild orchids sprout from the cracks in the stones.
Zhao Mingyan sat upright in the center of the pool, his black hair cascading over his shoulders, his eyes closed in meditation.
Even from several feet away, he could clearly hear Ji Qingwu's footsteps. Without turning his head, he said, "Awu, the pebbles are slippery, walk slowly."
Ji Qingwu shook the letter in his hand and called out, "Yuan Heng is coming!"
Yuan Heng has already set off and will arrive in two days.
Ji Qingwu jogged all the way here. Although he was steady on his feet, it still made Zhao Mingyan frown.
"He's coming, so why are you getting so worked up?"
Ji Qingwu said, "The last time I saw Yuan Heng was on New Year's Eve when the whole family was staying up together. It had been more than half a year since I last saw him, so of course I was excited."
She stopped by the pool, her eyes bright, and said, "I wonder if Bao Cheng will come along. Knowing how clingy he is, he'll most likely come."
From a young age, Bao Cheng loved to stick to his elder brother, the Emperor, and was even willing to abandon his father and mother.
Zhao Mingyan rose from the pool, causing a splashing sound, and water droplets wrapped in mist rolled down his shoulders.
Ji Qingwu was so caught up in the joy of the children coming that she neglected him, not offering him a handkerchief or helping him get dressed as usual.
Zhao Mingyan grabbed a plain linen towel from the stone to wipe his face and said indifferently, "Why would Yuan Heng come at this time, neither a holiday nor a festival?"
Ji Qingwu read the letter again and said, "The child can come whenever he wants; what reason is needed?"
Zhao Mingyan's gaze fell on the swaying water, where the reflections of the trees were bobbing.
"Something important must have happened to him."
Ji Qingwu didn't care what major events happened to Yuan Heng; no matter what happened, he was still her precious child.
Before Prince Yu even arrived, Ji Qingwu began making preparations in earnest, preparing everything that Yuan Heng and Bao Cheng liked to eat and needed.
She was muttering to herself, "Baocheng loves steamed chestnut flour cake with osmanthus sugar the most."
Xiu Ningchuan carried the freshly picked herbs into the house and saw Ji Qingwu writing a list. He smiled and asked, "My royal sister also likes dried apricots. Should we prepare some?"
Ji Qingwu nodded. With Xiu Ningchuan helping out, she didn't need to worry too much.
She grew increasingly satisfied with her son-in-law and was even more unwilling to let him leave.
Ji Qingwu paused for a moment, then said, "Ningchuan, if Zhaozhao doesn't come, you shouldn't go back. Your mother is backing you up, and you can't always bow your head and give in. You should give her time to reflect on her actions."
She could see Xiu Ningchuan's love for Zhaozhao; he wasn't actually very happy staying in Xishan.
Xiu Ningchuan lowered his head to organize the medicine cabinet, and asked casually, "Mother, have you and Father ever argued? Have there been misunderstandings?"
Ji Qingwu, holding the purchase list, paused for a moment upon hearing this.
Xiu Ningchuan said, "I misspoke."
Ji Qingwu looked at the tits flying past the window and said, "It's nothing. I was just thinking that we've had our arguments before, but it seems..."
She smiled and said, "The misunderstanding has never been cleared up."
For example, Zhao Mingyan still hasn't said when exactly he fell in love with her.
She never mentioned that her previous "admiration" for Wei Ting and her intrusion into his military tent were merely to complete a system task.
This time it was Xiu Ningchuan's turn to be stunned.
He thought Ji Qingwu was intolerant of any wrongdoing; otherwise, Emperor Wusu wouldn't have given up his entire harem for her.
Upon closer examination, this matter becomes even more perplexing.
Because Emperor Wusu didn't seem like the kind of person who would tolerate misunderstandings.
Ji Qingwu picked up her pen and continued writing on the list, saying gently, "A misunderstanding won't stop us from being in love, so what?"
What's the big deal...?
Xiu Ningchuan kept repeating this sentence in his mind.
As long as love exists and can be felt, what does it matter whether the Queen speaks it aloud or not?
Every day two people spend together is proof of their love. Don't waste time on pointless entanglements and struggles just because you're young.
Xiu Ningchuan suddenly stood up and said decisively, "Mother, I want to return to the palace."
Ji Qingwu asked in surprise, "Why the rush?"
Xiu Ningchuan said, "I...I've decided to go back to Zhenzhen."
Ji Qingwu knew why he was in such a hurry, and smiled and said, "That's right, Zhenzhen must miss her father too. However, Prince Yu will arrive tomorrow, and Zhaozhao will also be coming over."
Xiu Ningchuan's eyes lit up immediately, and he said, "It's getting late, and it'll be a bit rushed to go back. I'll go pack up first, and we can go back tomorrow."
Ji Qingwu watched his suddenly invigorated figure and shook his head with a smile.
The next day.
As dusk approached and twilight painted the mountain road red, Prince Yu's carriage finally arrived.
It wasn't following the regulations for princes, but rather an ordinary carriage, indicating it was a private trip.
Zhao Yuanheng jumped off the carriage.
His features were inherited from Ji Qingwu, and his pupils were pure black, with a clear and gentle light in his eyes.
His bone structure resembled that of Emperor Wusu; beneath his neatly bound black hair, bound by a jade crown, his jawline was sharply defined, yet a faint red mole at the corner of his eye broke the austere look.
It's like a splash of vermilion ink accidentally spilled when stamping a seal, turning the heroic spirit into a blank space that seems to want to say something but doesn't.
Hearing the sound of a carriage, Ji Qingwu walked out of the gate in the mountains. A mountain breeze was blowing in the evening, and she was wrapped in a shawl.
Ji Qingwu spotted Yuan Heng at a glance. She smiled and walked down the stone steps, about to greet him, when she saw another girl step off the carriage.
But it was not Princess Baocheng.
Ji Qingwu slowed his pace, his eyes flickering. Whose daughter is this...?
The girl in the pale yellow dress touched the ground with her toes, and the jade bracelet on her wrist made a clear and melodious sound.
"Wait for me!"
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