Chapter 40 Pregnant Again, Back to Modern Times
The atmosphere at Qixia Garden seems unusually different these days. Wang Yi, the "Guardian of the Nation," who has always been aloof and even somewhat distant, has recently shown a rare, almost soft, "sticky" side.
She no longer always stayed in her study or quiet room, but often "coincidentally" appeared under the corridor of the side hall of the Liangyi Hall when Li Shimin had finished dealing with some government affairs and was a little tired. She would hold a cup of calming tea at just the right temperature or a book of travelogues and miscellaneous writings that she found interesting, and gently invite him: "Your Majesty has been busy for a long time. Would you like to take a walk in the garden to see the newly blooming wisteria? Or just have a cup of tea and rest for a while?"
If Li Shimin came over in the evening, she would sit down next to him less often than usual for quiet conversation, sometimes gently resting her head on his shoulder as he recounted anecdotes or worries from court, occasionally reaching out to massage his tense temples. Her touch was natural and gentle, carrying a faint medicinal fragrance and her body warmth, like a feather brushing against Li Shimin's weary nerves.
Most noticeably, her acceptance and response to physical intimacy seemed to have become much more proactive. She no longer merely passively accepted it; occasionally, she would reveal just the right amount of dependence and longing, and even, in moments of passion, unconsciously trace her fingertips across his back or chest, evoking even deeper emotions. At night, she would often curl up in his arms, finding a comfortable position to sleep, as if his embrace was the safest place in the world.
This change was subtle and continuous, like spring rain nourishing all things, quietly permeating Li Shimin's life.
Li Shimin was initially somewhat surprised, and could even be described as flattered.
Wang Yi always held a special place in his heart. She was exceptionally intelligent, calm and composed, and possessed an independent and untamed soul. He loved her, respected her, and depended on her, but he had also long accepted the "distance" she exuded, unlike any other woman in the harem. That distance was part of her charm, but it also often made him feel a sense of unease that he couldn't fully control.
Now, that sense of distance seemed to be melting away. She became... more "like" an ordinary woman who was attached to him. This change gently touched the softest part of his heart, even giving rise to an indescribable sense of satisfaction and... a faint sense of pride.
See, even such an extraordinary woman, whose wisdom borders on the supernatural, will eventually set aside some of her aloofness for him, revealing a warmth and dependence that belongs to humanity. This feeling satisfies his vanity and emotional needs as a man more than conquering a territory or achieving a great victory.
After a tender moment, Li Shimin couldn't help but hold her in his arms and whispered to her why she seemed unusually different lately. Wang Yi's reaction stirred his heart even more.
She didn't evade the question, nor did she use those mystical reasons like "master" or "heavenly way" to evade it. She simply raised her face, and in the dim candlelight, her always clear and calm eyes reflected a clear and undisguised tenderness.
"I have noticed that Your Majesty seems to be particularly troubled lately." Her voice was soft, her fingers unconsciously twirling a strand of his hair. "The Emperor Emeritus requires your attention, and there are many affairs in the court. I have seen the weariness in Your Majesty's eyes."
She paused, buried her face in his neck, and said in a muffled voice, yet with a tenderness that struck the heart: "I am not very capable. I cannot share the burden of state affairs with Your Majesty like Prime Minister Fang and Prime Minister Du, nor can I manage the harem like the Empress. I can only... think that if Your Majesty can temporarily forget your worries here with me and relax a little, even if it is only for a moment... that would be good."
She raised her eyes and looked at him earnestly, her gaze clear and unwavering: "Your Majesty is the ruler of the world, the person to whom all people depend, but Your Majesty is also made of flesh and blood, and you will get tired and annoyed. I... feel sorry for you."
The word "heartache" is like the gentlest arrow, precisely piercing the deepest, most vulnerable corner of Li Shimin's heart, a corner he himself might not often touch.
He was the emperor, the Heavenly Khan, a wise and omnipotent monarch in the eyes of his subjects. Everyone depended on him, looked up to him, and demanded that he make the right decisions to lead the empire to glory. Even he himself had long been accustomed to showing an iron will, deeply concealing all his fatigue, pressure, and even loneliness.
No one had ever said to him so directly and so purely, "I feel sorry for you."
It wasn't out of awe for his power, greed for his rewards, or fear of his authority. It was simply because he was Li Shimin, capable of getting tired and troubled, and therefore... I felt sorry for him.
In that instant, an overwhelming wave of emotion washed over Li Shimin. He held the person in his arms tightly, as if holding the most precious treasure in the world, his throat tightening. All imperial restraint and monarchical majesty seemed insignificant at that moment. He was simply a man being genuinely cherished by the one he loved.
"Wang Yi..." he called her name softly, his voice hoarse, filled with an intense and unyielding emotion, "With you by my side, I don't feel tired at all."
He was now completely convinced that her recent clinginess and initiative stemmed from this genuine tenderness. This moved him more than any deliberate flattery or coquetry, and made him even more devoted to her. He felt he had truly touched the soft heart beneath her hard exterior, a heart that was tender for him.
At this moment, nestled in his arms and feeling his excited heartbeat, Wang Yi felt a crystal-clear and calm mind.
She certainly felt sorry for him, but this "sorrow" was far less pure and emotional than she made it out to be. It was more of a strategic concern based on achieving a goal, a precise calculation wrapped in sweet words.
According to the miniature monitoring device she hid in her jewelry or personal belongings, her ovulation period was within these few days. This is the golden window for conception, where the probability of conception is highest. She had to ensure a sufficiently frequent and high-quality intimate contact during this time. Therefore, she adjusted her behavior, increasing physical contact and emotional expression, creating an atmosphere of "more dependence due to tenderness."
"I was worried he was under a lot of pressure and wanted to help him relieve it"—this reason was flawless. It explained her initiative, catered to Li Shimin's genuine fatigue at the moment, and portrayed her as a considerate and understanding partner. This made her "clinginess" not only not arouse suspicion, but also become a catalyst for deepening their relationship.
Every seemingly casual approach, every dependent glance, every gentle "I feel sorry for you," is a meticulously planned step to ensure she achieves her core goal of "conception" at the optimal physiological time. She is like the most skilled hunter, using the softest feathers as bait, patiently waiting for her prey to step into the most ingenious trap.
Li Shimin was immersed in immense emotion and satisfaction, completely unaware that he was being gently guided by this "heartache" into a "chance" concerning the inheritance of life, a "chance" with a predetermined time and probability.
The moonlight outside the window remained unchanged, while within Qixia Garden, a tender atmosphere prevailed. One was moved by her lover's tenderness, falling deeper into the throes of love; the other calmly executed her plan, proceeding step by step with meticulous care. The fog of emotion and the calculations of reality intertwined on this early summer night, creating a scene that was both harmonious and subtly fraught with hidden dangers. Wang Yi knew that if she could successfully navigate these next few days, her second core objective would be highly likely to be achieved. And Li Shimin's love, which grew stronger with "heartache," would become the strongest shield for her future plans.
The meticulous monitoring and careful planning did not disappoint Wang Yi's expectations. Shortly after the frequent intimate contact during her fertile period, the early pregnancy test she carried (disguised) gave a clear result—she was pregnant again.
This time, the sensation was much clearer. Perhaps it was because her body had fully recovered to its peak condition from her first pregnancy, or perhaps it was because her mindset was more composed and confident, but she could more keenly perceive the subtle changes within her body as a new life began to develop. A secret joy, mixed with a sense of accomplishment and a desire for control, welled up in her heart. The second top-tier gene sample from the First Emperor of All Time was now firmly implanting within her.
With this child, he could temporarily return to the modern world. However, before that, she needed to find a suitable opportunity to "reserve" a name for this unborn child. This was not only an emotional bond, but also a secret contract between her and Li Shimin, known only to them.
The opportunity arose during a casual afternoon conversation. Li Shimin, enjoying a rare moment of leisure, was having tea and playing chess with her at Qixia Garden. The atmosphere was relaxed and harmonious. After Wang Yi placed a piece, she casually glanced at Li Shimin, a rare, almost playful smile playing on her lips:
"Your Majesty, I suddenly remembered something interesting. I've heard that there's a custom among the people where parents think of a name for their child before the child is born, to express their blessings and hopes." She paused, her eyes curving slightly. "I wonder if Your Majesty has ever thought about... if we were to... um, I mean, if fate were to bring us together, what name would Your Majesty give our child?"
Her question was subtle and tentative, as if it were just a young woman's unintentional fantasy, immersed in a sweet future.
Upon hearing this, Li Shimin paused slightly, his gaze falling on her smiling face, as if a feather had gently brushed against the softest part of his heart. He rarely saw Wang Yi display such a girlish demeanor, tinged with dependence and longing, which deepened his affection. Naming the child? This thought seemed to soothe some of the lingering pain in his heart caused by the loss of his first child, a pain that still lingered there.
He put down the chess piece almost without hesitation and began to think seriously. He had always found it difficult to refuse Wang Yi's requests, especially those that concerned their future possibilities and carried an intimate connotation, and he was always happy to fulfill them.
After a moment's hesitation, he spoke slowly, his voice gentle yet solemn:
“If Heaven is merciful and bestows upon you and my son,” he spoke slowly, his voice steady and full of expectation, “how about we name him ‘Li Huaijin’? ‘Huaijin Woyu’ comes from the Chu Ci, where Jin and Yu both refer to beautiful jade. Huaijin implies a heart that possesses the noble virtues and talents of beautiful jade, gentle yet steadfast, with inner brilliance. I hope this son will be like a gentleman of jade, possessing both virtue and talent, and upholding his true self.”
He paused briefly, his eyes warming even more, and continued, "If it were a daughter... I wish her to be 'Li Shuyao.' 'Shu' means relaxed and at ease; 'yao' is taken from the poem 'Yaotiao Shunu' in the Book of Songs, which describes a woman's beautiful and serene demeanor. Shuyao means that she will live a life of peace and tranquility, with a graceful bearing, a gentle nature, and a profound inner world. I do not ask that she be as dazzling as the bright moon, but that she be like a secluded orchid, freely fragrant, and enjoying peaceful years."
Li Huaijin and Li Shuyao.
These two names not only carry beautiful and elegant connotations, aligning with Li Shimin's expectations for his children to be "virtuous and serene," but their allusions and imagery also echo the names of Empress Zhangsun's children (such as Li Chengqian, Li Tai, and Li Lizhi), emphasizing refined origins and profound hopes, conforming to royal naming conventions, and avoiding any sense of abruptness or excessive unusualness. At the same time, the gentle and steadfast nature of "Huaijin" and the tranquil ease of "Shuyao" subtly resonate with the unique "inner brilliance" and "transcendental freedom" of Wang Yi in Li Shimin's eyes, as if entrusting some of her qualities to his expectations for his children.
Upon hearing this, Wang Yi's eyes revealed a deep sense of being moved. She softly repeated, "Li Huaijin... Li Shuyao... Your Majesty has gone to great lengths; the names are excellent." She lowered her eyes, concealing her thoughts. These two names, along with Li Shimin's sincere expression at this moment, had been firmly etched into her memory, serving as another hidden yet solid connection between herself and this unborn child, and also between herself and Li Shimin.
The two names Li Shimin chose were clearly the result of careful consideration. The boy's name expressed his expectations for character and responsibility, while the girl's name was filled with love and blessings. This reflects both his emphasis on potential "future offspring" and his deep affection for Wang Yi—only in the future he envisioned, which he shared with her, would he so seriously consider the children's names.
Li Shimin looked at her slightly flushed earlobes, his heart filled with tenderness and contentment. He reached out and took her hand, feeling that the moment was peaceful and the future was promising.
Having obtained the crucial name, Wang Yi knew it was time to evacuate.
The early stages of pregnancy are the easiest to conceal and also the most crucial for a stable environment. In the Tang Dynasty, even with Emperor Taizong's protection, the harem was teeming with spies, making oversights inevitable. Furthermore, the meticulous nutrition, regular prenatal checkups, and absolutely safe delivery environment required during pregnancy can only be guaranteed to be 100% in modern times. More importantly, she needed to ensure that this child, like Xiao Lizhi, would be born safely in modern times, possessing a legal identity and receiving the highest quality early care.
She didn't delay any longer. A few days later, she asked Li Shimin for a temporary "seclusion," citing as her reason that "recently, while studying the classics of her teacher, I have suddenly gained some insights and need to retreat into seclusion for a period of time to further my understanding of the methods for treating the retired emperor." The reason was plausible and related to the care of Li Yuan (something Li Shimin currently valued highly), so he naturally agreed. However, he couldn't help feeling a little reluctant and urged her to take good care of herself and not overexert herself.
On an ordinary night, Wang Yi initiated the return procedure in the inner palace of Qixia Garden. In the instant her consciousness left her body, she took one last look at this palace that had held countless schemes and tender moments, her heart utterly calm. The goal had been partially achieved; there was nothing left to cherish here for the time being.
Consciousness returned to her modern, high-class body, and the familiar urban atmosphere filled her nostrils. Wang Yi immediately contacted her private medical team and arranged for a comprehensive early pregnancy confirmation and physical examination. The results were satisfactory: an intrauterine pregnancy, good embryonic development, and all indicators were excellent.
She immediately began adjusting her schedule. Security measures were strengthened, and nutritionists and health managers developed new plans based on the needs of the pregnancy. Little Lizhi had become much more sensible, but she was still very attached to her mother. While spending time with her daughter, Wang Yi also began making material and psychological preparations for the upcoming new life.
She stroked her still-flat stomach, her eyes calm and firm. "Whether you are a boy or a girl, Mom has prepared the best starting point for you. Your name comes from the most outstanding man of that glorious era. And your life will have a broader and freer future than that of the princesses and princes of that era."
The turmoil of the Zhenguan era in the Tang Dynasty seemed to have subsided somewhat due to her temporary departure. But Wang Yi knew that her entanglement with that era and that emperor was far from over. She took with her a second child carrying Li Shimin's bloodline, and with her, deeper emotional bonds and potential future leverage. When this child was safely born, when she "returned," she would be more prepared and with a clearer goal. Now, she needed to focus on the present, ensuring this pregnancy would proceed without fail. The strings of history had been plucked once more by her, their lingering notes awaiting her next performance.
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