But reality slapped them hard in the face again. Emperor Qingyan, it's unclear what favorable wind or expert's guidance he received.
Not only did they reform and innovate in every aspect, but all sorts of things they had never seen before also emerged one after another, and a great number of talented people appeared!
As time went by, the Qingyan Dynasty became more and more prosperous and powerful, making it even more unattainable for them.
Southern Liang was one of these small states, and one of the more powerful ones among them.
Night, the bright moon hangs high in the sky.
The Southern Liang Imperial Palace.
Changsun Yanheng, dressed in a dragon robe, stood alone on the Zhaixing Tower with his hands behind his back, gazing in a daze in the direction of the Qingyan Dynasty.
He had heard about the changes in Qingyan, including how Emperor Qingyan had defied public opinion to give his elder sister, the eldest princess, real power.
And the efforts made by the eldest princess in the earth-shaking changes in Qingyan.
He sometimes wondered if, during that autumn hunt, he hadn't been prejudiced against her because of information his men had gathered, would things have been different...?
But it was too late to regret it; thinking about it any further was futile.
Time flies, winter goes and spring comes, spring goes and summer arrives.
In mid-June, during the sweltering summer heat.
Shang Changge conceived around the beginning of November last year, and the baby is expected to be born in early August this year.
With the delivery date fast approaching, Shang Changge was quite annoyed.
Lower back pain, fatigue, occasional shortness of breath, loss of appetite and insomnia...
She could tolerate all of that, but what really infuriated her was the constant running to the outhouse all day long!
Midsummer night, peaceful.
Shang Changge was very sleepy, yawning constantly but unable to fall asleep. She finally managed to be coaxed to sleep by Xiao Ji, but her sleep was restless, and she woke up shortly afterward.
Nothing more than going to the outhouse.
Xiao Ji followed and waited outside the door. The little rascal was heavily pregnant and it was nighttime; he wouldn't feel at ease leaving him alone without personally accompanying him.
Moreover, seeing the little rascal being tormented by the child like this makes him feel sorry for himself and guilty, so how could he possibly fall asleep?
This back-and-forth has to keep Shang Changge going back to sleep, which is very annoying.
You think that's the end of it? No, it takes at least three rounds of this every night!
Shang Changge kept falling asleep and waking up, but what was frustrating was that falling asleep each time was very difficult.
Because the baby in her belly was growing bigger, her belly was also getting bigger, and no matter how she lay down or slept, she felt uncomfortable, and her back ached and she was irritable!
Late at night.
"..."
After running to the toilet for the third time, Shang Changge couldn't fall asleep again. He lay on the big bed staring at the top of the curtains, feeling numb with anger and frustration.
Xiao Ji felt distressed seeing this, and he massaged the acupoints the female doctor had instructed him on, hoping to alleviate the suffering Shang Changge was enduring.
His high, straight nose gently brushed against the woman's cheek, his voice softening further and further:
"Don't be angry, don't be angry, relax. Or bite me or hit me to vent your anger, okay? If you're really upset, it's okay to cry..."
Xiao Ji muttered to himself, his words calm and steady. There was a strange soothing quality to it, and as Shang Changge gradually calmed down, he began to feel sleepy.
Finally, Shang Changge fell asleep again.
Xiao Ji tucked the thin blanket around himself, but didn't sleep. He stared at Shang Changge's weary face in the pale moonlight for a long time.
Finally, she gently pulled him into her arms, resting her chin on Shang Changge's head, her eyes quietly reddening in the night: "We shouldn't have had a child."
It's exhausting at night, but not so bad during the day.
Because of the heat, Shang Changge mostly stayed in the Kunlun Palace, except for necessary outings.
Occasionally, I would go to the cool pavilion in the garden for a while. The Princess's residence was very large, and the garden was also very large, so I would just take a walk around.
During the hottest part of the afternoon, the loud chirping of cicadas continued in waves.
Shang Changge had just finished a short nap and was full of energy. The baby in her belly was also unusually well-behaved, which lifted her spirits.
"Crunch."
The gates of Kunlun Palace opened, revealing Xiao Ji, who had finished his official duties early and was carrying freshly bought food from the street.
Shang Changge's annoyance at the sight of Xiao Ji had disappeared by spring, but now, seeing the man walking towards her...
Her red lips curved into a smile unconsciously, and on a sudden urge to act coquettishly arose. She reached out her hand, her voice languid and incredibly soft.
"General Xiao, hug me~"
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