Zhan Beiyuan looked at the woman who had spoken, his expression darkening. They had agreed there would be no wedding ceremony. Then he turned to Jiang Yunxi. “You said earlier that I would regret not coming to see you. What did you mean by that?”
“I heard that Prince Han is without heirs. Suddenly having a pair of dragon and phoenix twins—if you don’t acknowledge them, wouldn’t you regret it?” Jiang Yunxi blinked at him.
She knew he would definitely claim the children.
“Come with me to the palace now,” Zhan Beiyuan said, his expression easing as he thought of something. With children, his father naturally wouldn’t force him to marry.
“Alright,” Jiang Yunxi agreed readily.
“Your Highness…” Lin Weiwei hurried toward him. If not for the matron supporting her, she would have nearly stumbled.
Zhan Beiyuan glanced at her, his voice cold. “The wedding is canceled.”
After speaking,
he looked at Qi Yan beside him, signaling him to prepare the carriage.
“Your Highness, please don’t cancel it. I’ve come to the prince’s residence. Even without the ceremony, all of the capital knows I’m yours.” Lin Weiwei’s voice trembled with tears, the red bridal veil still covering her head.
She had liked him for so long.
Being able to marry him today had kept her awake all last night with excitement. Even if it was only in name as Han Wangfei, she was willing.
“No ceremony means we are not husband and wife. I will explain the reason for canceling the wedding publicly. What I promised the Lin family will still be honored,” Zhan Beiyuan said coldly.
Today’s sham wedding was merely a transaction, with all conditions agreed upon in advance.
“Your Highness, could you wait until after you see the Retired Emperor to decide? What if the Retired Emperor still wishes for us to marry?” Lin Weiwei persisted, unwilling to give up easily.
Where did this Jiang Yunxi come from, this wretched woman?
How dare she try to steal Prince Han from her!
And those two children—could they really be Prince Han’s?
“Very well,” Zhan Beiyuan said after a moment’s consideration.
Qi Yan quickly brought the carriage over.
Zhan Beiyuan took Jiang Yunxi and the two children into the carriage.
The others: “…”
Should they leave or stay?
Eunuch Qin swiftly boarded his own carriage. He had watched Prince Han grow up, and that little boy looked exactly like Prince Han did as a child.
Heavens, Prince Han has an heir!
…
Defu Palace.
“Retired Emperor, this old servant has returned, and Prince Han is here as well,” Eunuch Qin hurried into the inner hall.
“Have they performed the ceremony? Nonsense! What are they doing here? Send them back quickly to consummate the marriage…” the Retired Emperor’s displeased voice rang out. This brat—even on his deathbed, he had to worry himself sick over him.
“Consummate what? Don’t you know your son has a hidden ailment and can’t get it up?” Zhan Beiyuan said coldly, his face dark.
Jiang Yunxi was speechless: “…”
Fortunately, the two little ones were in the outer hall.
Can’t get it up?
Wasn’t he quite hard that night six years ago?
The Retired Emperor opened his eyes and cursed, “You scoundrel! I’m about to depart, and you can’t even hurry up and consummate the marriage so I can die without regrets. What are you doing bringing a female Taoist here? I’m not dead yet.”
“Retired Emperor, you are surrounded by dragon qi. You have at least five more years of life,” Jiang Yunxi said after just one glance at him, knowing his yang lifespan was not yet exhausted. She had also divined for him.
“Nonsense! The imperial physicians say my illness is incurable, and I can feel my time is near,” the Retired Emperor said weakly. How could he not wish to live a few more years? At least long enough to see the brat’s children.
“I say you can live, so you can live,” Jiang Yunxi declared with full confidence.
The Retired Emperor looked at her sharply. “Who are you?”
“My name is Jiang Yunxi, a disciple of Qingxu Temple and the legitimate daughter of Yingguo Gongfu. I was switched at birth and have been living outside the family ever since. Today, I’ve returned to the capital to reunite with my relatives,” Jiang Yunxi introduced herself.
Over a month ago, her grandmother came to Qingxu Temple to confirm her identity.
She hadn’t originally intended to return to the capital.
But considering she only had a few months left to live, she had no choice but to come back.
She had to secure a future for Dabao and Erbao.
She had long inquired about Zhan Beiyuan—he wouldn’t take responsibility for her, but he would absolutely take responsibility for the children. Entrusting Momo and Mianmian to him gave her peace of mind.
The Retired Emperor scrutinized her. The young woman was neither submissive nor arrogant, with delicate features—she seemed like a good girl. “Can you tell fortunes?”
“Yes, and accurately,” Jiang Yunxi said spiritedly. She had understood Xuanxue even before, and after returning to this body, she had entered Qingxu Temple.
“Then tell me, will he have children?” the Retired Emperor asked, pointing at Zhan Beiyuan beside him.
“I’ve already given birth to two children for him,” Jiang Yunxi said with a deep smile.
“Two? Where are the children?” The Retired Emperor’s eyes widened like bronze bells.
Jiang Yunxi glanced at Eunuch Qin.
Eunuch Qin quickly went to the outer hall and returned beaming, leading two little ones inside.
The Retired Emperor stared at the children, first stunned, then sat up abruptly like a carp leaping from water. “They look alike, they really do! The little girl’s eyes and brows resemble Beiyuan’s mother, and the little boy looks exactly like he did as a child.”
Heavens, that rascal has an heir!
“Grandfather Emperor,” Momo called obediently.
“Grandfather Emperor,” Mianmian chirped in her sweet, childish voice.
The Retired Emperor felt his heart melt, wishing he could give them all the beauty in the world. He was so moved he nearly shed tears. “Good children, good children. From now on, Grandfather Emperor will protect you.”
“I’ll protect Grandfather Emperor too,” Momo said earnestly.
“Me too,” Mianmian added with a smile, her eyes curving like crescent moons.
The Retired Emperor could no longer hold back his tears, which streamed down his face. How could there be such sensible and thoughtful children? He no longer wanted to die. “Miss Jiang, can I live another ten years? No, I want to live even longer!”
Jiang Yunxi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
You still have at least five years, while I only have a little over three months left.
She, too, wished to live longer, to see Momo and Mianmian grow up happy and carefree.
“At least five years. To live longer depends on your own destiny,” Jiang Yunxi said seriously. Not everyone can live as long as they wish.
Having lived most of his life, the Retired Emperor naturally understood this principle.
“Father, does that mean I don’t need to marry?” Zhan Beiyuan knew his father had already acknowledged the two children. Now that he had heirs, he naturally had no regrets.
“Why wouldn’t you marry? Miss Jiang has given birth to two children for you. You should marry her,” the Retired Emperor said disapprovingly, glaring at him.
“I will take responsibility for the children, but I will not marry her,” Zhan Beiyuan said expressionlessly. He hadn’t yet figured everything out—how could he marry a woman of unknown origins? Who knew if the children were even hers?
“You…” The Retired Emperor was so angry he wanted to hit someone.
“I have no intention of marrying him,” Jiang Yunxi raised an eyebrow. The man certainly had a handsome appearance, but with only a little over three months left to live, she didn’t want to get emotionally entangled with him.
The Retired Emperor laughed heartily, looking at Zhan Beiyuan with disdain as he said, “You thought you were a hot commodity, but it turns out there are people who don’t like you either.”
Zhan Beiyuan’s expression was cold and proud. “This prince doesn’t care for her affection.”
Jiang Yunxi glanced at him, her heart trembling slightly.
If he remembered that night six years ago, he would definitely deal with her!
But by the time he remembered, she might no longer be here.
Scanning the grand hall, she quickly noticed something amiss. “Retired Emperor, someone is trying to harm you.”
He was the child’s grandfather, the child’s pillar of support—she couldn’t just stand by.