Xiao Lingzhao looked up in surprise.
He hadn’t expected the Emperor to come.
He had been ill for a year and unable to go to the battlefield, and his father had grown old. Their Xiao family had long faded from the Emperor’s sight. Who would have thought that now, with just a minor event in the Xiao family, the Emperor would immediately come to show his support?
This was an immense honor for their Xiao family.
Xiao Lingzhao handed the red silk flower he was holding to a maid and spoke through the door to Shen Yuanwei inside the room, “Yuan Wei, I originally intended to wait here for you, but the Emperor has arrived. I must go to the front hall to receive him. You can calmly dress and prepare in the room—no need to rush. I will handle everything in the front.”
Shen Yuanwei responded.
“Alright, you may go.”
Listening to the footsteps fading away, Shen Yuanwei gazed at her reflection in the mirror, lost in thought.
Why had the Emperor come?
Was it for Xiao Lingzhao, or for her?
Others didn’t know the secret about her, but she was well aware—she had been blessed by heaven with a good pregnancy constitution, the only one capable of bearing children for the heirless Emperor—
What if the Emperor could sense her constitution and came to seize her now? What should she do then?
She still wanted to spend a few good years with her pure, handsome, and adorable God of War. She had no desire to bother with that Emperor.
After all, the Emperor only wanted a child to inherit the throne—not a wife or love. As long as he could have a child, what did it matter how old he was when he had one?
Let that Emperor wait another ten years or so. There was no need to worry about the Emperor’s age; she and the God of War were still young. If the Emperor met his demise, she could have the God of War serve as regent to assist the crown prince…
Shen Yuanwei’s lips curved into a slight smile.
She knew this thought was unfair to the Emperor, but who could blame her for favoring this handsome, chaste, pure, and easily bullied God of War?
As for that Emperor who had favored countless imperial concubines—tsk, ancient women might admire and yearn for him, but how many modern women accustomed to monogamy could truly fall in love with an emperor?
…
In the front hall of the General’s Residence, Xie Junlin, who was about to reach for a teacup, suddenly sneezed.
Eunuch Chen Hai quickly draped a cloak over him, but Xie Junlin paid it no mind.
He knew he hadn’t caught a chill—it was likely someone cursing him in secret.
As emperors, they were the most hated of all.
At this moment, the Emperor, dressed in a blue casual robe and wearing a golden crown, appeared less imposing and more gentle and youthful compared to when he wore his black imperial robes in the palace. He looked up at the Old General, a smile in his eyes, and spoke in a low voice.
“When your second son served as my study companion, Old General, you were still in your prime. In the blink of an eye, your hair has turned white, and I am now thirty-six—no longer the little imperial son of seven or eight years old.”
The Old General couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow.
Yes, thirty years had passed in the blink of an eye. The Emperor was no longer the little imperial son of those days. If the Emperor were able to have children, he would likely have several little imperial sons by now, wouldn’t he?
Ah, if his own son hadn’t died in battle, he would have had many children by now as well.
What a pity.
Such a pity.
The Old General cupped his hands and replied, “Your servant has grown old. It is Your Majesty who is now in your prime. This old minister wishes he could remain young and strong forever, to guard the borders for Your Majesty for several more decades. Alas, heaven does not always grant our wishes—this old minister now struggles even to mount a horse.”
Xie Junlin smiled faintly.He said softly, “Everyone grows old, including me, but you are more fortunate than I am, Old General. You have successors, while I do not.”
The smile on the Old General’s face stiffened slightly.
This…
How could he dare respond to such a remark?
Xie Junlin continued with a self-deprecating smile, “Look at you, Old General. Your Ling Zhao is getting married today. Perhaps soon, a new little general star will be reborn into your Xiao family. Your family has served with unwavering loyalty for generations—Heaven will surely bless you with flourishing descendants and capable talents in every era. You should take comfort in that.”
The Old General gazed at this elegant and composed Emperor.
His heart ached for him.
With what kind of heart did this infertile Emperor speak these words to console an old man like him?
This was a child he had watched grow up. Over the years, he had witnessed firsthand the immense pressure and hardships the Emperor endured without an heir.
He said quietly, “This old subject has heard that some court officials have already advised Your Majesty to adopt a child from the imperial clan as Crown Prince?”
Xie Junlin acknowledged with a hum, “Someone submitted a memorial hinting at it as early as last year.”
His dark eyes flashed with unwillingness, but it ultimately settled into calm resignation. “Since I cannot bear children, I naturally have no choice but to adopt another’s child. We cannot let this kingdom lack an heir.”
The Old General fell silent.
He spoke slowly, “Perhaps the right time simply hasn’t come yet. Your Majesty must not give up hope. You should still visit the rear palace—who knows, one day an Imperial Concubine might conceive.”
The Old General sighed again, “Thinking back to those days, when the Late Emperor grew senile and obsessed with seeking immortality, imposing harsh taxes that sparked rebellions everywhere—it was you, at sixteen, who took command in crisis, leading troops to reclaim the kingdom. You were shot by arrows multiple times, narrowly escaping death each time. This old subject witnessed all the suffering you endured. This kingdom was hard-won by you. To let an outsider inherit it… how utterly disheartening!”
Xie Junlin lowered his gaze.
Everyone felt indignation on his behalf.
His mother felt this way, Chen Hai felt this way, the Old General felt this way, many ministers felt this way. Even commoners he met on the road would cheerfully say they’d pass their few thousand copper coins to their own children, never to outsiders…
Everyone knew not to let outsiders benefit from their family wealth. But if Heaven would not grant him this, what could he do?
He simply could not conceive.
He was thirty-six now. He had been trying since he married at eighteen—eighteen years of effort, with nothing to show for it.
Everyone urged him not to lose hope, but who understood his eighteen years of persistence? Who understood his eighteen years of disappointment? No matter how stubborn he was, repeated blows had stripped him of all hope.
He feared there was no hope left.
In the midst of the heavy silence, footsteps echoed from outside the hall.
Xie Junlin composed himself and smiled as he looked toward the entrance.
He watched Xiao Lingzhao, radiant in red and exceptionally youthful and handsome, stride toward him with steady, powerful steps.
“Your humble subject pays respects to Your Majesty.”
“Rise, you may dispense with formalities.”
Xie Junlin gestured for Xiao Lingzhao to rise and stood up, walking over to him.
The handsome Emperor circled his dashing Great General, examining him with a pleased smile. “Excellent. My Great General has indeed recovered. Look at you—glowing with health, footsteps firm and strong, eyes bright and spirited. Seeing you in such good condition puts my mind at ease.”Xiao Lingzhao immediately cupped his hands in salute. “I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty’s concern, having repeatedly dispatched Imperial Physicians from the palace to treat me. Now that I have recovered, I can return to court to serve Your Majesty once more.”
Xie Junlin chuckled lightly. “There’s no rush to serve me immediately. Just report for duty tomorrow morning. How could I let you neglect your new bride during these early days of marriage? I grant you half a month at home before returning to court.”
Xiao Lingzhao’s cheeks flushed slightly. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Xie Junlin teased him further, “Well, no need to report too early tomorrow either. I fear you might not be able to rise too early—showing up by noon will suffice.”
Xiao Lingzhao glanced silently at Xie Junlin, his cheeks growing even redder.
Noticing Xiao Lingzhao’s embarrassment, Xie Junlin gave a soft laugh and kindly refrained from further teasing the young man.
He patted Xiao Lingzhao’s shoulder. “In the blink of an eye, you’re already married. I remember when your second brother and I came to visit your family—it happened to be the day you were born. You were such a tiny bundle, yet you cried louder than anyone. Your second brother proudly carried you over and placed you in my arms for me to hold. You’re practically a child I’ve watched grow up—”
He turned to Chen Hai. “Bring my wedding gift.”