Chapter 187
**Chapter 185: As Long as I’m Alive, It’s Fine; If Not, Then I’ll Die**
...
The moon hung low over the willow treetops, and the lights of Kun Ning Palace shone brightly.
The Empress, known for her diligence and frugality, led by example, and this birthday banquet was no extravagant affair. It was simple, attended only by a few court ladies, princes, princesses, and consorts, who gathered to drink and enjoy the festivities.
The atmosphere was warm and cheerful, filled with song and dance.
Qian Guifei sat to the right of the Empress, her attire understated, yet her drinking never ceased; she had already finished two large jugs of fine grape wine.
Noticing this, the Empress gently chided her, “Qian Guifei, don’t be greedy with the wine.”
Qian Guifei flashed a smile, her beautiful face flushed with color. Tipsy, she slurred, “Empress, let me have just one more cup. If I get drunk, I’ll keep you company tonight.”
The Empress sighed, pressing her forehead. Ever since the Emperor fell gravely ill, Qian Guifei had become increasingly reckless, indulging in wine and gambling.
The Empress realized that the gentle and virtuous demeanor Qian Guifei had maintained for decades was merely a facade.
As the night deepened and the birthday banquet neared its end, an old matron burst in, her knees hitting the ground with a thud, exclaiming, “Your Majesty, great news!”
The commotion drew the attention of the guests, who set down their cups.
“What is it?” the Empress asked.
“The concubine Shen of the Yan Wangfu has given birth to twins—two boys!” the matron announced.
The wine cup in Yan Wang’s hand clattered to the ground.
Twins were a symbol of good fortune. In an era with limited medical resources, simply giving birth was a challenge; safely delivering two children was a tremendous blessing.
The Empress quickly stood, her voice trembling, “Blessings from our ancestors! Blessings from our ancestors! Blessings from our ancestors! Quickly, summon the palanquin! I must go to Yan Wangfu!”
Qian Mama, attending to the Empress, hurriedly advised, “Your Majesty, traveling at night may bring many inconveniences. It would be better to wait until tomorrow.”
The Empress calmed herself, pondering for a moment before instructing, “Send four old matrons to Yan Wangfu to care for Shen and the children. Childbirth is taxing; fetch the best nourishing medicine from the storeroom and send it to Shen.”
The palace attendants hurried to carry out her orders.
Yan Wang could no longer sit still; he bowed to the Empress to take his leave, arranging for Li Yao to stay in Kun Ning Palace tonight while he rushed back to the Wangfu with his Tiger Guards.
The moon hung high, the night as dark as ink, and the guests at the banquet had their own thoughts. The timing of Shen’s children’s birth was too fortuitous, coinciding with the Empress’s birthday, and they were both boys.
From now on, every time the Empress celebrated her birthday, she would remember her two little grandsons. These two children, born into the world, had already captured the Empress’s exclusive favor and attention, destined for a bright future.
Qian Guifei, still seated, took another hearty gulp of wine. She suppressed the corners of her mouth, but a fleeting glimmer of malice and resentment flickered in her eyes.
In high spirits, the Empress dismissed the banquet, and the guests bowed and departed. Qian Guifei leaned on her maid’s arm, being carried back to her palace.
Upon entering the hall, she had just finished a cup of sobering soup when Wang Heng arrived, having heard the news.
“Mother, why did you send assassins to Yan Wangfu?” Wang Heng questioned.
Qian Guifei set down her bowl, lazily lifting her head. “Of course, to kill Shen and her children. Unfortunately, it failed.”
Wang Heng replied, “Just kill Li Yuanjing.”
The room fell silent as Qian Guifei slowly straightened her posture, her sharp eyes scrutinizing Wang Heng.
She found it strange and said softly, “When did you develop such compassion? Yan Wang is your greatest enemy; we’ve turned his sons into useless fools. The Empress wants to support Shen’s children; if we kill Shen and her sons, we’ll cut off the Empress’s escape route.”
This was the best choice at the moment.
Wang Heng clenched the white jade fan in his hand, his gaze dark and murky. “Mother, we’re facing a life-or-death situation. Perhaps I should send you back to Nanchu first.”
A gust of wind blew outside, creaking the window frames; spring was nearing its end.
Qian Guifei rested her chin on her hand, revealing a relieved smile. “The Empress of Nanchu left behind a wise saying—‘As long as I’m alive, it’s fine; if not, then I’ll die.’ Yuan Li, if I die, take my ashes back to Nanchu.”
Life is short; one must live it to the fullest.
Even if one fails, there’s still a path to take—there’s always the option of death.
...
In the dark of night, the streets of Yanjing were deserted, shops closed. Yan Wang led a team of black-clad riders, galloping furiously, the sound of hooves echoing against the stone pavement.
The night wind howled, his cloak billowing behind him. As he turned a corner, a whistling sound sliced through the air.
Whoosh—
A cold arrow shot toward his horse.
Yan Wang drew his sword, deflecting the arrow, and reined in his horse. A group of black-clad assassins emerged from the shadows, their blades glinting coldly in the moonlight.
The Tiger Guards surrounded Yan Wang. He sat tall on his steed, his strong arm gripping the reins, his eyes flashing with murderous intent.
He coldly commanded, “Kill them all.”
The atmosphere turned tense, and soon the alley was filled with the sounds of clashing weapons, the thick scent of blood permeating the air.
The moon hung like a willow leaf in the sky as Yan Wang returned to Yan Wangfu with his Tiger Guards. He strode purposefully toward the Liuli Pavilion, but suddenly halted at the entrance of the courtyard.
He removed his bloodstained black cloak and tossed it to the Tiger Guards behind him.
“Your Highness, there was an assassination attempt at the Wangfu tonight, but the guards captured the intruders,” a Tiger Guard reported.
Yan Wang’s heart tightened.
He didn’t need to guess who had sent the assassins.
“Master, your arm hasn’t been treated yet,” the Tiger Guard said, looking worriedly at Yan Wang.
“It’s nothing,” Yan Wang replied.
He quickly entered the house, completely unaware of Liu Ruyan and Zhang Miaoyu at the door. Liu Qiaoer, upon hearing Yan Wang’s return, left immediately; she couldn’t face him, fearing he might rekindle old feelings.
Zhang Miaoyu, seeing Yan Wang enter, stretched and yawned. “The prince is back; I’ll head back to sleep then. Liu sister, shall we go back together?”
Turning around, Zhang Miaoyu noticed Liu Ruyan was crying.
Tears streamed down her face like rain on pear blossoms, silent and sorrowful.
Zhang Miaoyu was puzzled. “Why are you crying?”
Liu Ruyan closed her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks. “The prince passed right by me, as if he were blind.”
Once, they had been inseparable, but time had flown by, and now, when they met again, Yan Wang wouldn’t even spare her a glance.
Liu Ruyan’s heart ached, and tears fell freely.
Zhang Miaoyu wanted to bang her head against a wall, spreading her hands in explanation. “...Sister Shen just came back from the brink of death; the prince is worried about her, so it’s only natural he overlooked us. Oh, please stop crying.”
Shen Wei had just given birth, and here Liu Ruyan was, crying in her courtyard; it would be quite scandalous if word got out.
Zhang Miaoyu dragged the weeping Liu Ruyan away.
...
Inside the main house, the air was thick with the lingering scent of blood. Two maidservants attended to the bed, while the physician examined the medicine outside the screen.
The two old matrons hurried to Yan Wang, cradling the children. “Congratulations, Your Highness! The two little masters have been safely born.”
Yan Wang’s gaze fell upon the swaddled infants: one was chubby, the other thin, their wrinkled faces rather unattractive.
He and Shen Wei had another child, but Yan Wang felt no joy; instead, he was filled with dread.
“Take them away and care for them properly,” Yan Wang instructed.
Mama Rong placed the two newborns in the adjacent nursery, where wet nurses and maidservants would care for them through the night without any mistakes.
Yan Wang summoned the physician. “How is Concubine Shen?”
The old physician replied, “Your Highness, Concubine Shen’s delivery was relatively smooth, but she lost too much blood and is in a serious condition. She needs to be well taken care of; it will take at least two to three years to recover fully.”
Yan Wang’s emotions were complex, tinged with a hint of relief that Shen Wei was still alive.
He trudged back to his bedroom, weary. Shen Wei lay quietly on the bed, unconscious, her face pale. Her lips were cracked and scabbed, likely from biting them during the painful delivery.
Shen Wei’s eyes were tightly shut, a soft velvet headband keeping her forehead warm, her breathing steady.
She looked so fragile, as if a gust of wind could carry her away.
Yan Wang wearily sat by the bed, gently holding Shen Wei’s slightly cold hand. Her palm bore traces of blood, with nail marks embedded in her skin. Yan Wang retrieved some ointment, meticulously applying it to her palm.
When a maid entered with soup and medicine, she was startled to see blood streaming down Yan Wang’s right arm. “Your Highness, you’re bleeding! I’ll go fetch the physician!”
The physician hurried over with his medicine box, trembling as he cut open Yan Wang’s sleeve. A deep knife wound marred his right arm, nearly exposing the bone, blood gushing forth.
The physician rushed to stop the bleeding, apply medicine, and bandage the wound, working for nearly half an hour before finishing.
...
Shen Wei remained in a deep slumber for a full day before finally opening her eyes in the hazy morning light. Her first sensation was the heaviness of her eyelids, her entire body feeling weighed down, as if a heavy stone were pressing on her.
Then came the pain, especially in her lower abdomen, as if a meat grinder were churning inside her. Alongside the pain was an undeniable hunger, a gnawing emptiness that felt like her stomach was pressed against her back.
As her vision slowly cleared, she vaguely heard Cai Ping calling out, “The mistress is awake! Quickly, bring the soup and medicine!”
Her sight sharpened, and Shen Wei saw Yan Wang sitting by the bed. He was tall, like a mountain blocking her light. Two small green pouches hung from the light-colored bed curtains.
Seeing the two green pouches, Shen Wei understood she had given birth to two boys.
“Wei Wei.”
Shen Wei heard Yan Wang’s voice.
She opened her mouth slightly, her eyes reddening, sounding both petulant and complaining, “Your Highness, is there anything to eat? I’m starving to death...”
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