Chapter 434
**Chapter 432: [Extra] Li Qingxun (10)**
Li Qingxun remained silent.
Having spent countless days and nights with Zhang He'an, she had long anticipated the day she might find herself pregnant.
The doctor, loyal and devoted, was well aware that the father of the child in Li Qingxun's womb was Zhang He'an. Kneeling on the ground, he asked, "Princess, we will soon be heading to the imperial city of Yelang. If news of your pregnancy gets out, it could lead to your demise at the hands of the Yelang Emperor... Princess, would you like some medicine to induce a miscarriage?"
In the doctor's eyes, getting rid of the child early would save a lot of trouble.
But Li Qingxun simply shook her head. "I want this child. Prepare some medicine to protect the pregnancy."
The doctor hesitated, his lips moving as if to argue, but ultimately complied with her request.
Before long, a warm concoction was ready, its bitter taste filling the air. Li Qingxun held the bowl, bracing herself to swallow the bitter brew, when Zhang He'an strode in, snatching the medicine from her hands.
Li Qingxun frowned. "What are you doing?"
Zhang He'an's face darkened. "Ah Xun, do you really not want this child?"
At dinner, Li Qingxun suddenly felt nauseous, and Zhang He'an sensed something was off. He watched as she summoned the doctor, who quickly brought in a bowl of medicine.
Zhang He'an felt a pang of distress.
He thought Li Qingxun didn’t want the child.
Li Qingxun snapped, "Who said I don’t want it? This is medicine to protect the pregnancy."
Zhang He'an was taken aback.
Li Qingxun playfully lifted his chin, smiling. "I dared to sleep with you, so of course I thought about the possibility of having a child."
Once the arrow is shot, there’s no turning back; Li Qingxun never regretted her decisions.
Zhang He'an suppressed his inner joy, a smile creeping onto his lips.
The medicine was incredibly bitter, and as Li Qingxun drank it, tears nearly spilled from her eyes. She took a gulp, then tugged at Zhang He'an's collar, pulling him close to share the bitter brew.
Zhang He'an tasted the bitterness.
He wrapped his arms around the back of Li Qingxun's head and kissed her back.
No matter how hard life became, no matter how difficult the road ahead, as long as they stood together, it was already a blessing in this world.
...
There’s no wall that doesn’t let the wind through; soon, news of Li Qingxun’s pregnancy reached the ears of the county magistrate.
The magistrate was taken aback!
He hurriedly reported the matter to the Emperor of Yelang.
The princess, who had yet to marry the Emperor, was already pregnant—this was a tremendous disgrace, a scandal that could not be tolerated. Before long, an envoy from the imperial capital of Yelang arrived in the county, seeking an audience with Li Qingxun.
The envoy first offered polite greetings and then looked Li Qingxun over.
Seated in the main chair, Li Qingxun was strikingly beautiful, her eyes slightly upturned, exuding a sharp elegance that made her a true beauty.
The envoy recalled the Emperor's instructions: if the princess of Taihua was ugly, she would be executed on the spot; if she was beautiful, she should be given medicine to induce a miscarriage and then sent to the imperial city as a concubine.
The old Emperor, being lecherous, would certainly not let a beauty from afar slip away.
Thus, the envoy respectfully informed Li Qingxun, "The Emperor is merciful and knows of your pregnancy. He will not hold it against you. As long as you take the medicine to rid yourself of the child, the Emperor is willing to marry you as a concubine."
With that, the envoy gestured for his attendants to bring forth the prepared medicine.
It was placed before Li Qingxun.
The medicine had cooled, and its bitterness was no longer detectable.
Li Qingxun lazily glanced at the bowl of medicine, setting it aside on the table. "I heard that the southern region of Yelang produces many precious stones and has unearthed a lot of black oil. Is that true?"
The envoy, taken aback, replied politely, "Indeed, that is the case."
Li Qingxun's mind whirled.
Black oil must be petroleum. In ancient times, it held little value, but in a technologically advanced modern world, it was an indispensable industrial material.
Li Qingxun had once researched petroleum, even boldly theorizing in a paper that the Earth was a massive mechanical sphere created by an alien civilization, with oil serving as the lubricant for its mechanical parts.
Unfortunately, her eccentric theory had been met with fierce criticism from traditionalists.
If she could obtain Yelang's oil resources, perhaps she could use it to create modern instruments. The thought flickered through Li Qingxun's mind.
She asked again, "How many soldiers are stationed within Yelang?"
The envoy was taken aback by the audacity of her question.
With a firm attitude, he pointed at the bowl of medicine. "Princess, please take the medicine soon. As for other matters, once you marry into the royal family, you may find the answers yourself."
Li Qingxun rested her chin on her hand. "What if I refuse to drink it?"
The envoy's face turned cold. "As a princess sent for marriage, you should understand the law of the jungle. Today, you must either take the medicine or face the consequences."
Li Qingxun smiled faintly.
She summoned the guards from her entourage and calmly pointed at the envoy. "Kill him."
The envoy never expected Li Qingxun would dare to order his death and attempted to fight back.
But the guard's blade fell swiftly, and the envoy's blood splattered everywhere.
The county office descended into chaos that day as Li Qingxun led her entourage through the turmoil, escaping to the wild outskirts.
The soldiers of Yelang pursued closely behind, but fortunately, the more than fifty members of her entourage were seasoned warriors, each skilled in combat, even the seemingly delicate maid, Yuan'er, wielded a composite bow with great skill.
They fled while being chased.
Eventually, Li Qingxun and her entourage reached a barbarian tribe, where, thanks to the goodwill she had accumulated along the way, they received the protection of the tribe's leader and settled down temporarily.
...
...
News of the pregnant princess from the Kingdom of Qing quickly spread back to both Qing and Yue, shocking the entire court.
The Emperor of Qing was furious, dispatching patrols along the borders, ordering that anyone who spotted Li Qingxun and her companions be executed on the spot.
Just one Li Qingxun had worsened the relationship between Qing and Yelang. The Emperor of Qing was so enraged he coughed up blood and fell ill, preparing to pass the throne to the second prince.
The second prince was the queen's son and was supposed to inherit the throne. However, the Emperor of Qing never expected that the usually gentle third prince, Li Ang, would surround the imperial city with troops.
It turned out that the third prince, Li Ang, had a remarkable background! His mother, the late Concubine Xie, was actually the consort of the deceased crown prince, who had been falsely accused and died. Pregnant, Concubine Xie fled to the south, where her beauty caught the attention of the Emperor of Qing, leading her to become a concubine.
The third prince, Li Ang, was, in fact, the son of the late crown prince.
In short, the political situation in the Kingdom of Qing was in disarray, with old and new forces clashing fiercely. With the fire burning close, no one had the time to think about Li Qingxun.
...
In the Kingdom of Yue.
The crown prince of Yue, Tuoba Yu, had married the sixth princess, and on their wedding night, when he lifted the red veil, he discovered that the bride was none other than Li Qingling.
Tuoba Yu felt a deep sense of regret.
He had preferred the clever Li Qingxun, the girl who could recite the beautiful lines of "If only I had a vast mansion." It showed her concern for the nation, and she would surely make a wise partner.
But fate is capricious.
Tuoba Yu sent someone to inquire about Li Qingxun's whereabouts and learned that she had been sent to the distant Yelang for marriage. He worried that the Emperor of Yelang was cruel and lecherous, and that Li Qingxun would eventually be tortured to death.
Before long, he heard the scandal that "the princess of Taihua became pregnant on her way to marriage."
Tuoba Yu was dumbfounded; he never expected Li Qingxun to be so reckless!
"What a pity, beauty and misfortune," Tuoba Yu sighed deeply. With the princess pregnant, neither Yelang nor Qing would take her in anymore.
Li Qingxun's future seemed destined to be one of wandering.
With mixed feelings, Tuoba Yu ascended to the throne of Yue, becoming the new emperor. Li Qingling, with her delicate beauty, had her temper smoothed by time, and Tuoba Yu favored her, bestowing upon her the title of noble consort.
In the palace of Yue, the newly appointed noble consort, Li Qingling, wore a frown. She had also learned of Li Qingxun's pregnancy.
Li Qingling felt a whirlwind of emotions.
She knew Li Qingxun had a unique personality but never imagined she would commit such a disgraceful act.
Whose child could it be?
Li Qingling's mind suddenly conjured the image of Zhang He'an, his face as cold and clear as the moon.
Li Qingling murmured, "It can't be... Minister Zhang is so noble and upright; he would never fall for Li Qingxun. Could it be that Li Qingxun forced herself on him?"
The more she thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
Li Qingling sighed softly, "Sixth sister, your path ahead will be difficult... The two nations cannot coexist, and you will have to spend the rest of your life in the wilderness."
Li Qingling felt sympathy for Li Qingxun but also a twinge of relief. If not for the change in age and identity, it would have been her, Li Qingling, marrying into Yelang.
After marrying the crown prince of Yue, Li Qingling discovered that he was an ambitious man, not the lecherous figure the rumors suggested. Tuoba Yu treated her well, granting her affection and status, and even made her a noble consort.
Though she was confined to the square confines of the harem for life, at least she was free from worries about food and clothing.
If she were to bear a son or daughter in the future, there was still hope.
Li Qingling sighed softly, gazing out the window at the sky, where a flock of wild geese flew across the azure expanse. Losing freedom but gaining wealth and status—wasn't it worth it?
...
...
Eight months later, in the Moon Tribe.
The moon hung low over the willow branches, and the tent flapped in the cold wind. Inside, Zhang He'an held Li Qingxun's sweaty hand, his handsome face filled with anxiety.
Until the sound of a baby's cry pierced the night.
Li Qingxun safely gave birth to a baby boy.
Ironically, just as the child was born, a rare lunar eclipse appeared in the night sky. The full moon gradually disappeared, then slowly reemerged, causing the tribespeople to gasp in awe, kneeling and bowing towards the tent, believing Li Qingxun had given birth to a celestial being.
The tribe's civilization was primitive; they thought Li Qingxun had birthed a god from the heavens.
The next day, Li Qingxun awoke and drank most of a bowl of nourishing medicine. Zhang He'an brought the child over, and Li Qingxun leaned in to take a look. The baby was wrinkled and rather unattractive.
She stared at her ugly little son for a while, feeling no maternal love just yet.
Zhang He'an, however, was quite fond of their child, taking great care of him. When the baby turned one month old, Li Qingxun began to ponder a name for him.
As a scientific genius, Li Qingxun wasn't particularly skilled at naming children.
After much thought, she called Zhang He'an over and said, "A boy should have ambitions that reach far and wide, with a strong spirit. How about naming him Li Tiegu?"
Zhang He'an: ...
Li Qingxun thought for a moment longer. "A real man should be a conqueror. Li Ba would work too."
Zhang He'an: ...
In the end, the knowledgeable former top scholar of the Kingdom of Qing, Zhang He'an, named their newborn son "Li Huaijin."
If Li Qingxun were to have a daughter in the future, she could be named "Li Yu."
Huaijin and Yu, representing beauty and virtue, were the perfect names for a child.
Li Qingxun wasn't too fond of "Huaijin," finding it overly literary and lacking in strength. Ultimately, under her strong insistence, the child's nickname became "Ba."
It would be fun to call out "Ba Ba" from time to time.
Li Qingxun settled in the tribe for the time being, getting along well with the tribespeople. Unfortunately, the Emperor of Yelang had not given up on hunting her down.
The news of the princess becoming pregnant during her journey had spread far and wide. The Emperor of Yelang, concerned about his reputation, felt insulted and constantly sent troops to pursue her.
The tribe frequently faced attacks from Yelang soldiers.
Li Qingxun was utterly exasperated.
Not perishing in silence but rather exploding in silence, offense was the best defense. Li Qingxun decided to fight back, taking her fate into her own hands.
She refused to be at the mercy of others.
She wanted to be her own master.
Everyone in her entourage was loyal to her; as long as Li Qingxun raised the banner of rebellion, they would follow her.
What worried Li Qingxun was Zhang He'an.
As night deepened, she entered the tent. The candle flickered, the child slept soundly in a cradle made of animal skins, and Zhang He'an, still in his red robe, had his black hair half-pinned with a wooden hairpin. He sat beside the cradle, using a fan made of leaves to swat away mosquitoes.
The candlelight was dim, casting a beautiful figure under its glow.
Li Qingxun watched him for a while.
What a handsome face, what a suitable man for a family. She felt a pang of reluctance at the thought of sending Zhang He'an away.
"Are you tired?" Noticing Li Qingxun's gaze, Zhang He'an looked up at her.
Li Qingxun plopped down beside him, not hesitating, and directly asked, "When are you going back to the Kingdom of Qing? I can send ten people to escort you. I heard the new emperor is the third prince, Li Ang, and you have a good relationship with him; he will surely value you."
Zhang He'an was a young genius, having achieved the highest honor at a young age and quickly rising to the position of chancellor.
His future was limitless.
He also had a family behind him.
Li Qingxun had pulled the high and mighty chancellor into her world for her own selfish reasons, bringing him to this wild land. Zhang He'an was exceptionally talented, yet now he spent his days caring for her and their child, wasting his potential.
Zhang He'an waved the fan, helping to dispel the summer heat for Li Qingxun.
He said, "Ah Xun, I won't return to the Kingdom of Qing."
Li Qingxun told him honestly, "I've decided to do something very dangerous. If you stay with me, you'll face even more danger, and you might not live long."
Zhang He'an replied, "It doesn't matter. Whether in the depths of the earth or the heights of the sky, I will accompany you."
Seeing Zhang He'an's resolute attitude, Li Qingxun's lips curled into a smile as she leaned in to kiss him twice.
Together, they watched over their sleeping child.
The little one, innocent and carefree, only needed to think about eating and sleeping, unaware of the terrifying storm that awaited the adults.
Li Qingxun gently stroked the baby's face and said, "In the torrent of the times, ordinary people cannot glimpse the secrets of fate; they can only drift along, letting destiny dictate their lives, becoming mere dust in history. Zhang He'an, I refuse to drift along."
Fate must be in her own hands; the future must be forged through her own efforts.
Zhang He'an looked up at her.
Li Qingxun's gaze was calm. "I want to be the torrent of the times."
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