At the city gates of the capital, Gu Lin personally led the officials to welcome the returning army.
Following behind Gu Lin, Jiang He kept his eyes fixed on the person in front of the group. But as the group drew closer, Jiang He realized that the person riding the horse was Chang Qing.
Chang Qing dismounted and said, "Your subject Chang Qing pays respects to Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!"
Almost simultaneously, Bai Qian and Zhong Yi stepped down from the carriage and knelt down to pay their respects.
"Get up, all of you."
Gu Qingyan deliberately raised his voice, "You are all fine sons of my Great Qing. Today you have returned in triumph, and I will personally toast you!"
After saying that, Yingzhi brought Gu Qingyan a wine cup, which Gu Qingyan drank in one gulp. "Don't worry, I remember all the contributions you have made to Daqing. Go home now and reunite with your parents, wives and children."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
A deafening sound rang out, and Zhong Yi's expression shifted repeatedly.
Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Gu Qingyan subconsciously glanced at Bai Qian's stomach, then looked at Jiang He, who was completely unaware of what was happening, and couldn't help but grin.
"Uncle, Aunt, I have some things I'd like to discuss with Marquis Yongyi alone. You and Aunt should also head back soon."
Jiang He was still a little confused as to why he had to be sent away at this time. Didn't he see that the Marquis of Yongyi of Da Ning was still here? He had to stay and keep Ayan in check!
"Your Majesty, Ah Qian and I can also..."
"Go back quickly." Gu Qingyan emphasized again. Seeing this, Bai Qian silently lowered her head and let the bewildered Jiang He pull her towards the Dingyuan Marquis's residence.
Only Gu Qingyan and Zhong Yi remained in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
"It hasn't been that long since we last met, but His Majesty has lost weight and gotten quite slender."
Gu Qingyan pursed his lips. "The Marquis of Yongyi is still as energetic as ever."
"Hahahaha!" All the unease in Zhong Yi's heart vanished the moment he saw Gu Qingyan, and a look of affection appeared in his eyes. "Your Majesty must already know the purpose of my visit."
From the way he was treated, Zhong Yi guessed Gu Qingyan's thoughts.
"Come."
Zhong Yi subconsciously waved at Gu Qingyan before realizing that he was no longer at the Yongyi Marquis's residence, and the Emperor was no longer the child who used to follow him around tending the fire in the Marquis's residence.
But Gu Qingyan got up and walked to Zhong Yi.
Zhong Yi was over sixty years old. When his wrinkled hands gripped Gu Qingyan's, Gu Qingyan was incredibly shrewd.
“His Majesty only wants to unify Daqing and Daning, but he will leave Daning to languish for now.” Zhong Yi’s eyes were full of smiles. “This is good for both His Majesty and both countries.”
"His Majesty has grown up."
Zhong Yi sighed and patted Gu Qingyan's hand. "It's just that growing up isn't a pleasant experience."
"Well enough."
Gu Qingyan forced a smile.
"I'm getting old. If I take off my shoes and socks today, I might not be able to wear them again tomorrow. If I had to say something else, I would only have one wish," Zhong Yi said with a slight smile. "I hope to see the day when the world is unified."
"I've heard you mention this wish many times before."
Gu Qingyan just kept smiling, but Zhong Yi felt increasingly uncomfortable.
After all, he's still just a twelve-year-old kid.
My mother fell off a cliff and her fate is unknown. My father's hair turned white overnight, and I don't know how much of his lifespan he has lost.
"Being an emperor isn't so easy. I see that the generals of Daqing all listen to Marquis Dingyuan. If any general from Da Ning disobeys me in the future, I'll go and beat him up."
"You said it yourself, I've got it in mind!"
It wasn't until Zhong Yi was taken away by Yingzhi to rest, leaving only Gu Qingyan in the Taihe Hall, that Gu Qingyan let out a soft sigh. Growing up was truly a bitter experience.
Gu Qingyan slowly walked to the table, picked up a brush, and wrote a large character on a blank sheet of Xuan paper.
Chongqing.
The character "渝" (Yu) signifies keeping one's promises and never changing them.
He disliked Daqing because the Gu surname in Daqing contained too much filth, and his father and mother had been harmed and suffered greatly.
He also disliked Da Ning.
Therefore, the merged country is neither called Daqing nor Daning.
He named him Da Yu, a homophone of his mother's childhood name. Most importantly, he secretly consulted ancient texts and found that the character Yu (渝) leans towards the water element in the Five Elements theory, representing vitality.
He hoped that the name of the country would protect his mother and help her escape danger.
Looking at the large characters on the paper, Gu Qingyan slowly put down his pen: Da Yu.
From now on, the whole world will be called Da Yu.
......
At the same time, at the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence.
Jiang He stared blankly at Bai Qian's stomach, unable to react for a long time.
"You mean you're pregnant?" Jiang He's voice trembled slightly. "How old are you? How... how come I can't tell?"
"It hasn't even been three months yet!" Bai Qian waved her hand in front of Jiang He's eyes. "Wake up, why are you so happy?"
"I...I'm naturally happy!" Jiang He couldn't help but stand up, hug Bai Qian and spin her around several times before carefully placing her on the bed.
"You still went to the battlefield during this time, Axi, you're being foolish! What if something happens to you? What if something happens to Daqing?"
After realizing what had happened, Jiang He felt a chill of fear. He didn't even dare to think about those things, especially how he had almost lost his life...
"Axi, we can't take such risks anymore."
Bai Qian nodded firmly, "I understand."
All the harrowing events seem to have passed now; Jiang He is fine, and the child is fine too.
But Ah Yu...
"Does Your Highness know about this?" Jiang He couldn't help but ask, thinking of Jiang Yu.
“Her Majesty knows.” Bai Qian’s face also turned somber. “At that time, you had already been in an accident. Her Majesty told me to decide for myself whether to keep the child.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang He squatted down, a slow smile playing on his lips, and placed his hand on Bai Qian's stomach. It's good that A Yu also knows about this child's existence.
Everyone says that my niece is Xiao Gu. If she is pregnant with a girl, will she look like A Yu?
He also missed Ayu very much.
......
Gu Qingyan ignored Da Ning for three whole days, until Da Ning was about to send more people to Da Qing, at which point Gu Qingyan brought up Da Ning's matter again during the morning court session.
"I can accept the abdication edict, but I have one condition."
Upon hearing this, Marquis Yongyi, standing in the Daqing court, immediately spoke up, "I would like to hear the details."
"The country's name cannot continue to be called Great Ning. I will decide what it should be called."
Zhong Yi paused, then continued, "So, what does the Emperor intend to name the country...?"
"I haven't decided on a specific name yet."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will follow Your Majesty's arrangements." Zhong Yi knelt down. He understood the implication in Gu Qingyan's words: the country's name would not be Da Ning, but it would also not be Da Qing.
That's enough.
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