After finishing her errands at the silk shop, Yun Kui bought a small bellyband and tiger-head shoes for the child. Then she went to the goldsmith to pick out a little gold lock and bracelet. After half a day of shopping, her legs felt light as air, yet her heart was weighed down by a heavy stone—she felt the weight of responsibility pressing upon her.
Though she had never been anxious about having children before, she couldn’t deny that in her position—being the sole consort in the emperor’s harem—the matter of an heir was unavoidable. Night after night, during the emperor’s tender visits, she secretly hoped for the arrival of a child.
Now that it was truly happening, joy welled up inside her, but she also felt a bit lost and unprepared. She never imagined that she would become a mother so suddenly. It felt as if she was carrying a precious golden nugget in her belly. Everywhere she went, she tread carefully, avoiding loud voices, afraid to disturb the little life growing inside her.
Huai Qing and Huai Zhu were even more cautious than she was. The matter of the imperial heir was no trivial affair. The child in the consort’s womb was the future successor of the Great Zhao dynasty. The two watched the bustling streets with sharp eyes, wary of any potential danger that might befall her.
After just two shops, Huai Qing suggested, “Consort, are you tired? Why don’t we rest at a teahouse for a while?”
Yun Kui couldn’t help but smile wryly. Before she was pregnant, she was always full of energy, even being kept up at night by him. Now that she was expecting, she had suddenly become so precious and delicate.
But for the sake of the child, Yun Kui agreed to rest at their own teahouse. The snacks were all prepared by Huai Zhu, brought from the Sheng residence. She didn’t trust outside ingredients, and she couldn’t drink too much tea. Huai Qing had specially arranged for the kitchen to make honey milk, which was poured into bamboo tubes for her to drink while out.
Yun Kui bit into a date-filled pastry. Now, she could only eat light, sweet snacks to avoid nausea.
Huai Qing sighed softly. “It’s been several days now. Why hasn’t His Majesty come to fetch the consort yet?”
He exchanged a glance with Huai Zhu, who couldn’t help but advise, “His Majesty must be busy with affairs of state these past days. Consort, perhaps you should return to the palace earlier. It’s safer there, and you can share the good news with His Majesty sooner. The palace can also prepare accordingly.”
Yun Kui listened to the storyteller with a bored expression, sipping her milk. Her eyes dimmed slightly.
She had expected him to come for her yesterday, yet today there was still no sign of him. No matter how busy he was before, he would always spend the night at the Kunning Palace, even if he had to sneak in quietly at night and slip away quietly in the morning. He always stayed by her side.
“Could it be that just because I’m hiding at home for a couple of days, he’s upset?”
“If that’s true, then he really has quite the temper.”
From a distance, Xiao Qi’an stared at her retreating figure, clenching his teeth in silent frustration. With a sudden stride, he hurried forward and grabbed her wrist tightly. “You’ve been out playing around, and you’re blaming me for having a bad temper?”
Huai Qing and Huai Zhu had no idea the emperor had suddenly appeared behind them. They thought some wild ruffian had come to offend the empress and had already half-drawn their swords at their waists. When they realized who it was, they were startled and quickly stepped back, bowing respectfully.
Before Yun Kui could explain, Xiao Qi’an swept her up in a horizontal embrace without giving her a chance to speak, causing Huai Qing to fret anxiously behind them.
“Your Majesty, please be careful not to jostle the consort…”
Xiao Qi’an’s face darkened even further. His empress hadn’t returned to the palace for days, and now he wasn’t even allowed to touch her?
Yun Kui was so annoyed by his aggressive manner that she almost laughed. She tapped his arm, “Your Majesty, put me down.”
Xiao Qi'an didn’t want to listen. His grip tightened, and with long, decisive strides, he carried her into the carriage without a hint of doubt.
Yun Kui struggled with her legs, kicking twice. “Put me down right now. I have something to say to you.”
Xiao Qi'an snapped angrily, “If you have something to say, why not say it back at the palace? Or is it that you don’t want to go back at all? You’re so attached to the outside world, sneaking out every few days, and now you don’t even return to Kunning Palace. Might as well live out here! Do you still see me as your husband, your emperor…?”
“You’re going to be a father.”
Yun Kui cut him off softly before he could finish.
The fury on Xiao Qi'an’s face froze instantly, his expression stiffening. After a long moment, he regained his composure, his voice cooling and carrying a faint hoarseness, “What did you say?”
“I said,” Yun Kui blinked at him, “Your Majesty is going to be a dad, and I’m going to be a mom.”
Xiao Qi'an felt his blood freeze, and an electric current seemed to surge from somewhere deep in his chest. He lowered his gaze to her flat belly. “You… are pregnant?”
Yun Kui had waited three whole days just to see the shock on his face—it was far more entertaining than the palace guards reporting to the court.
Slowly, Xiao Qi'an set her down. The sharp light in his eyes was replaced by a mix of frustration and joy. “How long has it been? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
Even the servants had kept the secret!
No wonder when he had lifted her up earlier, Huai Qing had been careful not to touch her—he was protecting her belly.
He reached out to stroke her abdomen, feeling the warmth and softness beneath his palm. Inside, a tiny life had quietly taken root and begun to grow…
Xiao Qi'an’s heart was filled with complicated emotions, and he blamed himself for being reckless. “Earlier… that was my fault. If you had told me sooner, I wouldn’t have acted so impulsively. What if I hurt you or the baby…”
Yun Kui squeezed his hand, whispering softly, “You’re the last person who’d want to hurt me—except when you’re rough in bed…”
She leaned closer to study his expression. “I was waiting to tell you in person, but you didn’t come looking for me for three days after I left the palace. The baby’s already over a month old, and it hasn’t even met its father yet.”
Xiao Qi'an pulled her into his arms and sighed. “Alright, alright. It’s all my fault.”
Yun Kui snorted softly and looked up at him. “Your Majesty, why aren’t you smiling? We have a baby now. Aren’t you happy?”
Xiao Qi'an replied, “Of course I am.”
Yun Kui guessed, “Could it be that you’re unhappy because you think you won’t be able to do ‘it’ anymore?”
Xiao Qi'an covered her mouth with his hand.
Yun Kui immediately lowered her voice, “Don’t let the baby hear that.”
Xiao Qi'an sighed quietly.
He hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.
Though he had once been envious of Xie Huaichuan and Sheng Yu’s swift success in conceiving, despite his nightly efforts to sow seeds of love, Yun Kui’s belly had remained unchanged. But these thoughts were fleeting.
He never wanted their marriage to be shackled by the duty of producing heirs. They were still young, newlyweds, deeply in love, and they had both endured so much hardship over the years. Now that the bitterness had finally passed, he wanted her to enjoy a few more years of happiness—traveling incognito with him, exploring the beautiful rivers and mountains of the realm.
Since the child had come, perhaps it was destined by heaven. The continuation of their bloodline gave him ample reason to silence the murmurs of court officials and quell the restless ambitions stirring around them. For them, stepping into the next chapter of their lives ahead of time might well be another form of happiness.
He and Yun Kui shared similar backgrounds—both deprived of parental love from a young age. The arrival of this child was a divine gift and a source of comfort, allowing them to learn the roles of parents while also healing their own past regrets.
“I don’t mind at all, I really like it,” Xiao Qi’an said, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “It’s just that from now on, life will be harder on you.”
The pregnancy of the Empress was a matter of utmost importance for the stability of the empire. Upon her return to the palace, the Imperial Medical Bureau, the Internal Affairs Office, and the Imperial Kitchen were all urgently summoned to ensure that every aspect of the Empress’s life during pregnancy—her food, clothing, and daily comfort—was carefully tended to.
The Imperial Medical Bureau assigned two highly skilled imperial physicians, especially experts in women’s prenatal care and childbirth, to oversee all medical treatments from conception to delivery.
The Imperial Kitchen was responsible for preparing the Empress’s daily meals, including nourishing medicinal dishes to strengthen her body.
Meanwhile, the Internal Affairs Office thoroughly redecorated the Kunning Palace inside and out. The old incense was replaced with fresh fruits and bouquets of flowers, and the bedding was swapped out for softer, more comfortable brocade.
The Needlework Bureau regularly delivered clothes, shoes, and other items that the little prince or princess would need after birth, sending them to Kunning Palace every few days.
Even the palace guards stationed at Kunning Palace were doubled in number.
Empress Huigong had tragically died from premature birth after being harmed by malicious individuals, and Yun Kui’s own mother had suffered lingering health issues after childbirth, passing away prematurely. Now that Yun Kui was pregnant, Xiao Qi’an had to be extremely cautious.
Apart from a poor appetite in the early stages, Yun Kui’s days were peaceful and comfortable.
Every night, Xiao Qi’an would come to keep her company. Now that she was carrying their child, he too adopted a life of restraint and simplicity. Yet Yun Kui’s playful spirit remained unchanged. She delighted in teasing him during this time, and whenever she caught his intense, taut gaze, she felt a thrilling sense of vindication.
But truly, she did love him.
Every morning, Xiao Qi’an practiced his swordsmanship. His broad shoulders and narrow waist bore no trace of excess flesh. Even the old scars on his body now seemed incredibly alluring to Yun Kui. She loved to gently nibble on his Adam’s apple, trace the contours of his abdominal muscles inch by inch. Best of all, she could savor the beauty of his masculine form without any effort herself—why wouldn’t she indulge?
There were a few times when she pushed him to the edge, forcing him to bite her lips in warning: “You’ll regret this.”
Her reply was always earnest: “It’s a husband’s duty to keep his pregnant wife happy.”
She was often brazen, and when he sought revenge, it would be at least a year later. Was she really going to waste such a perfect opportunity without touching or teasing him?
She even sent Huai Qing out of the palace and secretly took the damaged gold chain that Xiao Qi’an had torn apart to a jeweler for repair.
It was only then that Huai Qing learned from the goldsmith about the chain’s significance. Though she dared not speak of it openly, the shock she felt was all conveyed to Xiao Qi’an’s ears.
Unable to tolerate it any longer, Xiao Qi’an sent her away to the outer court.
Before they knew it, another New Year’s Eve had arrived.
This was the first New Year since Xiao Qi'an ascended the throne. The ministers gathered in celebration, envoys from all corners of the realm came to pay tribute, presenting rare treasures, exotic beasts, and fine horses, all to express their reverence and submission to the great War God Emperor of Dazhao.
Xiao Qi'an had been busy for several days straight. On a few nights when he returned to the Kunning Palace, Yun Kui was already asleep.
On the evening of the eighth day of the first lunar month, the Fengtian Hall held a banquet that lasted deep into the night. After bathing, Xiao Qi'an found it was nearly the fourth watch. Thinking that Yun Kui had already gone to bed and not wanting to disturb her, he planned to rest in the Yangxin Hall. Unexpectedly, the little maid came looking for him in the middle of the night.
The air was bitterly cold. She carried a warming stove in her hands, wrapped tightly in a fluffy woolen cloak. Her exposed nose was flushed red from the cold.
Before she could come any closer, Xiao Qi'an stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, warming her. "So late at night, why have you come?"
Yun Kui pressed her lips together and said softly, "I woke up just now and saw Your Majesty was not there. I thought you were still busy, so I came to warm your bed. I didn’t expect you hadn’t planned to come to me."
Xiao Qi'an replied, "It’s too late. I was afraid I’d wake you."
He ordered someone to add red charcoal to the stove and placed several hot water bottles beneath the covers before helping her into bed.
Yun Kui slipped under his quilt, and when he joined her, she immediately clung to him.
Now that she was with child, she could no longer sleep on her stomach. She had to lie on her side, always needing support; otherwise, she would toss and turn, unable to find rest. Xiao Qi'an’s strong arms were just the right firmness, serving as the perfect warm pillow—far more comforting than any soft cushion.
The sweet, pure scent of the young woman drew close, and Xiao Qi'an’s body tensed. Her soft cheek pressed gently against him, warm breaths brushing his neck. Even a sage would be hard-pressed to remain unmoved.
He stared up at the canopy, hesitating for a moment before swallowing hard and asking, "Have you been feeling unwell lately?"
Yun Kui shook her head, smiling, "The imperial physicians and the palace attendants treat me like a goddess. Whenever I sigh, someone is there with a story or song to cheer me up. My appetite is much better than before. Don’t worry, I’m very healthy."
Xiao Qi'an was silent for a moment, then placed his palm on her small belly, where a faint curve was beginning to show. "The doctors said we must not be intimate during the first three months..."
Yun Kui blinked in surprise. "Oh?"
He swallowed again. "Today marks exactly three months."
Yun Kui looked up slightly, meeting his fathomless phoenix-like eyes. Suddenly understanding, she cautiously tried to pull away, but before she could retreat far, he caught the back of her head, and a burning kiss fell upon her lips.
Hearing her soft moan, the kiss, once fierce and urgent, gradually softened into tender, lingering caresses. They kissed for a long time, neither willing to let go.
Yun Kui leaned against him weakly, her long lashes fluttering gently, her limbs melting into a puddle of warmth.
Xiao Qi'an’s voice was hoarse as he asked, "I want to see the child. May I?"
Yun Kui had originally thought he was just going to check on her belly, but it wasn’t until things progressed further that she realized the “checking” he mentioned meant breaking through every barrier of her body, allowing the two little princes within to finally meet.
He was gentle, constantly soothing her trembling body caused by nervousness, and softly greeted the baby inside her womb.
Yun Kui had never seen him so considerate in this matter before—it was a completely different experience from the past. Her heart raced wildly as she felt the intimate friction pressed closely against her skin, accompanied by every unspoken sound within the serene curtain of silence.
He didn’t dare to try for too long, fearing he might actually hurt her. But Yun Kui was already very satisfied, much like a person who has been vegetarian for a hundred days finally tasting a bowl of fragrant roasted pork rice, or someone aching all over who suddenly receives a full-body massage—comfort beyond words.
During the first three months of spring, whenever she had a thought in her heart, Xiao Qi'an would do his best to fulfill it. Only, to avoid disturbing the baby, he kept all his movements gentle and light. Yun Kui felt as if she had returned to their secret hideout in the upstairs private room of the teahouse, reliving those sneaky, stolen moments with him.
In February, the two even went to Longzong Temple to pray for blessings and enjoy the blossoms.
Yun Kui asked him, “Your Majesty, do you wish for a little prince or a little princess?”
Xiao Qi'an smiled and said, “Either is fine.”
So Yun Kui prayed to the Buddha for both a son and a daughter. Her wish was simple: to endure the pains of childbirth once, and have two little ones—one to inherit the family throne, and the other to be pampered as the most cherished and happiest little princess in the world.
They had both tasted enough hardship in this life, and she prayed that their children would not suffer even the slightest bit.
By March, her belly slowly began to show. In April, it rounded out significantly, making movement more difficult. But for the sake of a smooth delivery, she insisted on taking a walk in the imperial garden every day while the weather was fine.
In May and June, her belly grew even heavier, making it hard to turn over at night. Xiao Qi'an accompanied her every time she got up.
One night, after leaving the palace chamber and unable to sleep, Yun Kui sat beside the bed and suddenly burst into tears.
Xiao Qi'an’s heart tightened as he gently wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes with his fingertip. “Why are you crying?”
Yun Kui sniffled, her entire being filled with pent-up tension and fear. “I’m a little scared…”
Afraid of the excruciating pain during childbirth, afraid of not being able to deliver, and even more afraid of what the book described—the agonizing labor lasting three days and three nights without success, where in the end, only mother or child could be saved.
Xiao Qi'an said softly, “I’ll protect you.”
Yun Kui shook her head. “That’s not what I meant…”
He pulled her into his arms, comforting her. “Nothing will happen. We’ll just have this one child, and no more, okay?”
Yun Kui asked, “What if it’s a daughter?”
Xiao Qi'an replied, “Then I’ll pass the throne to our daughter.”
Yun Kui stared at him in disbelief. “Won’t the ministers oppose that?”
Xiao Qi'an said firmly, “With me here, their opposition is useless.”
One night in June, Yun Kui’s labor pains began in the middle of the night.
Xiao Qi'an noticed her unusual condition immediately and summoned the imperial physicians and midwives. The entire Kun Ning Palace became bustling with activity. Sheng Yu, upon hearing the news, rushed to the palace that very night.
Xiao Qi'an stayed by her side in the delivery room and refused to leave, no matter who tried to persuade him.
Yun Kui was drenched in cold sweat from the pain, each breath feeling as if sharp blades were tearing through her flesh. She desperately pushed downward, using the method the midwife had taught her.
Xiao Qi'an held her hand tightly, his heart racing with anxiety, though his face remained calm. He whispered encouragement softly into her ear, “Once you’ve given birth, I’ll reward you with a fortune in gold. Then I’ll take you to the northern frontier to watch the snow, and to Jiangnan to admire the blossoms. Whatever style of gold chain you like, I’ll wear it for you to see. Whatever flowers you want, you’ll have them…”
Torn between urgency and emotion, Yun Kui summoned all her strength. At last, she felt a sudden movement beneath her, accompanied by intense pain, and then her body suddenly emptied. A sharp, clear cry pierced the air.
The midwife beamed with joy, “Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Highness! It’s a baby prince!”
Xiao Qi'an rose to look, and Yun Kui then heard another midwife’s voice, “There’s another one! Your Highness, push again! Harder!”
The unexpected surprise left Yun Kui’s head spinning. Gathering herself, she took a deep breath, gripped the handrail fiercely, and pushed once more. Moments later, another crisp cry rang out.
Exhausted, she lay back on the bed, hearing the midwife announce it was a baby princess. Her pale face immediately blossomed into a smile.
Surely the Bodhisattva had heard her wish, granting her the perfect blessing of both a son and a daughter.
Both little treasures were born fair and delicate, wrapped carefully in swaddling cloths by the midwives. Xiao Qi'an had never seen such tiny, fragile babies—their eyes still closed, looking like two fuzzy peaches, their arms and legs so slender he dared not touch them roughly.
He gently placed the babies beside her pillow. Yun Kui glanced from one to the other, satisfied, “The son looks as handsome as I do, and the daughter as beautiful as you.”
Xiao Qi'an smiled softly, “Mmm.”
