Chapter 105: Progressive Ideas

On the second day after the coup in Xiyuan Palace, Zhongli Yu had already received word that Liang Wei was in the Xiyuan Imperial Palace. He immediately told Zhou Lan to go there.

Zhou Lan left the Gu residence and traveled for three days before reaching the Xiyuan Imperial Palace. After nearly a month of recuperation at the Gu residence, his body had fully recovered. It was deep in the night, and he moved through the palace like the wind. The ordinary guards could not possibly detect him.

Before long, he found the palace where Liang Wei lived. The palace of Noble Consort Liang was the most splendid of all the residences occupied by the emperor’s consorts, so locating it was no difficult task.

Zhou Lan possessed exceptional hearing. From far away, he heard Liang Wei speaking with a man. He leaped onto the roof and gently lifted a roof tile, giving him a clear view of the room below. Liang Wei was seriously injured and had yet to recover her martial arts, so she naturally failed to notice Zhou Lan’s slight movement. With Yang Yuxiong’s meager martial abilities, there was even less chance that he would detect him.

When Zhou Lan looked into the room, the scene within stabbed at his eyes. The woman he had cherished for so many years was nestled tenderly in the arms of the man wearing a bright yellow imperial robe. Her face was filled with a soft, affectionate smile, while the man gazed at her indulgently.

Liang Wei said gently, “Your Majesty, have you finished dealing with everything? It is so late. Why are you still not resting? How can your body endure this?”

Yang Yuxiong laughed. “I missed you, my beloved consort. Even if I wanted to sleep, I would not be able to.”

A blush spread across Liang Wei’s face. Her shy expression was more beautiful than the peach blossoms of spring. She said coyly, “Your Majesty, I cannot serve you at the moment. Why say such things and torment me?”

As she spoke, she secretly summoned what little strength remained to her and made her cheeks even redder, until Yang Yuxiong’s heart began to itch with desire.

His voice hoarse, Yang Yuxiong said, “You really are a little enchantress.”

Liang Wei cast him a coquettish glance and called seductively, “Your Majesty.”

How could Yang Yuxiong resist such an invitation, half refusal and half entreaty? With one turn of his body, he pounced upon her.

The passionate scene cruelly pierced Zhou Lan’s heart. This was the woman he had loved for so many years. So all this time, she had been winning favor in precisely this manner. Even now, despite her injuries, she still insisted on pleasing a man while wounded. How could he continue believing that she loved him too?

Lies. Everything had been a lie.

Zhou Lan himself did not realize when two trails of tears had slipped from his eyes. At that moment, he was hurt beyond measure.

He silently wiped away the traces of tears and quietly waited for the passion in the room to subside. Only after a long while did Yang Yuxiong rise from Liang Wei. He dressed, kissed her gently, reminded her to rest well, and then turned to leave.

Liang Wei rose in silence. She did not summon anyone to attend her, but simply put on a night robe and lay back down to rest.

Only after seeing that she was properly dressed did Zhou Lan enter through the window. He did not want her to know that he had witnessed what had just happened.

Liang Wei immediately sat up, alert. “Who is it?”

When she saw who had come, delight flashed through her heart. The people stationed outside heard her cry and asked, “Your Highness, has something happened?”

Liang Wei answered calmly, “Nothing. You may all leave and rest. There is no need to stand guard. Do not allow anyone to disturb me.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Liang Wei looked at Zhou Lan and said happily, “Senior Brother, you escaped?”

Zhou Lan nodded. “I recovered my strength and escaped while they were not paying attention.”

Liang Wei said joyfully, “That is wonderful, Senior Brother. I was worried sick while you were gone these past few days.”

She was worried about getting the medicine, Zhou Lan thought. Outwardly, however, he remained calm. “Junior Sister, were you anxious because you needed the medicine? I knew it. That is why I specifically brought some for you this time.”

When Liang Wei heard this, she said delightedly, “Senior Brother, you are so good to me.” Then she leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.

Zhou Lan remembered that those very lips had just kissed another man. The room still held the lingering atmosphere of passion, and now she had used those lips to kiss him. His stomach churned, and he nearly retched. Yet he forcibly suppressed his discomfort and, as he had always done, smiled as he handed her a large bottle of antidote.

Only this time, the contents had been changed.

Liang Wei happily accepted the antidote. “Senior Brother, this is wonderful. If you had not brought me the antidote soon, I would not have been able to carry out my entire plan. Now everything is fine. I can proceed as scheduled. Once I have finished, we will be together forever. Do you think that would be good?”

A trace of mockery flickered through Zhou Lan’s eyes. She said the same thing every time. It seemed that all these years, he truly had been a fool, allowing her to manipulate him at will.

He did not reveal anything. Instead, he pretended to be as delighted as usual. “Junior Sister, is that really true? You must keep your word.”

Lost in her happiness, Liang Wei failed to notice anything unusual about him. As though soothing a child, she said, “Of course it is true. Senior Brother, wait for me. Wei’er loves you most of all.”

Looking at her hypocritical smile, Zhou Lan realized for the first time just how repulsive this woman was.

Liang Wei threw her arms around him and said innocently, “Senior Brother, I was injured a few days ago, and my body is still weak. Tonight, we cannot…”

She finished by kissing the corner of his mouth. Her meaning was unmistakable.

Zhou Lan said gently, “It does not matter. I understand. You should rest well.”

How could he still feel any desire for her? Even if she offered herself to him now, he no longer possessed that passion.

Liang Wei nodded and said sweetly, “My Senior Brother is still the one who cares for me most.”

Zhou Lan nodded. “You are the woman I love most. If I do not care for you, whom else could I care for?”

Liang Wei called out emotionally, “Senior Brother.”

Zhou Lan no longer wished to remain with her for even a moment. He said flatly, “Junior Sister, I will leave first. If someone discovers me, it will cause unnecessary trouble.”

Liang Wei nodded. “All right. Be careful.”

“Very well.”

Zhou Lan used all of his strength to leave the Xiyuan Imperial Palace at top speed. He needed a quiet place where he could lick his wounds in peace.

His mission was complete. He felt that he ought to return to the Thousand Poisons Sect and resume his ordinary life. For all these years, he had lived on a secluded mountain peak solely to make it convenient for her to visit him. Looking back now, everything he had done all these years seemed utterly ridiculous.

Gu Yan and the others traveled for three days before finally returning to the Gu residence. Gu Yan did not know that Liang Wei had gone there on the very day he departed, nor that she had nearly cost Zhongli Yu his life. Had he known, he would never have chosen to set out that day.

Zhongli Yu and the others, however, had learned of the coup in Xiyuan. They had sent people to inquire about Gu Yan’s group throughout the journey and had only relaxed after learning that everyone was safe. Their peaceful return was therefore hardly unexpected.

When Uncle Yang opened the gate and saw Gu Yan, he said happily, “Master, you have finally returned! The Princess Consort has been talking about you constantly these past few days.”

Gu Yan chuckled, though he said, “That troublesome girl? When has she ever thought about me? I should be grateful if she does not find my presence here irritating.”

“Master, I am telling the truth. When the Prince and Princess Consort heard about the coup in Xiyuan, they feared that something might have happened to you and sent many people to search for news. They only relaxed after learning that you were safe.”

“That girl makes such a fuss over nothing. What could possibly happen to an old man like me?” Gu Yan said this with his mouth, but inwardly he was quite pleased. With such a filial granddaughter, how could he not be delighted?

“Master, please come in. The Princess Consort will be overjoyed when she learns that you have returned so quickly.”

Gu Yan laughed. “She will be delighted? I have been standing here talking to you for half a day, and I still have not seen her.”

Zhan Yan, who had heard the news and was coming out to welcome them, had not yet reached the gate when she heard the unreasonable old man speaking about her. Pretending to be displeased, she said, “Grandfather, am I really such a person in your eyes? Look at you. You are already seventy or eighty years old, yet you still enjoy saying bad things about people behind their backs. I think that once the baby is born, I will have to keep him far away from you, lest you corrupt him.”

When Gu Yan heard that Zhan Yan would not let him care for the child, he grew anxious. “Girl, you cannot do that! The baby in your belly is my great-grandchild. How can you keep him from me? That would be against all reason, do you understand?”

Zhan Yan paid no attention to his anxiety and said coolly, “I am the one giving birth to the child. I will decide whom I let him stay with. What does it have to do with you?”

Seeing that Zhan Yan would not yield, Gu Yan immediately put on a flattering expression. “Hehe, Yan girl, Grandfather has always known that you are the most filial. I know you were worried about me. I was only joking just now, all right? I never meant to say anything bad about you.”

Everyone found his ingratiating manner amusing. Zhan Yan was entertained as well. This incorrigible old rascal had truly defeated her.

Seeing that the grandfather and granddaughter had begun bickering the moment they met, Zhongli Yu could only step in to mediate. Laughing, he said, “All right. Grandfather and the others have been traveling for days and must be tired. They should return to their own courtyards and rest before continuing this discussion.”

Gu Yan nodded. “Yes, that is right. Boy Yu understands filial devotion best. Girl, you should learn more from him.”

Zhan Yan shook her head helplessly and laughed. This old man had just claimed that she was the most filial person in the world, yet in the blink of an eye, Zhongli Yu had become the most filial one instead. She could not be bothered to argue with him any longer and turned to speak with Gu Qinghan and Birou.

None of them noticed Yang Rui, who had traveled back with them. While moving through Xiyuan, Yang Rui had disguised himself in clothing identical to that of the guards so that no one would recognize him. Thus, everyone had overlooked him. Gu Yan had been too busy quarreling with Zhan Yan before even entering the residence and had not had the chance to introduce him.

In the end, Zhongli Yu was the first to notice him. He looked at Yang Rui and said, “The King of Xiyuan has come as well.”

Yang Rui smiled. “Prince Chun is joking. I am no longer the King of Xiyuan. I have merely come to visit my relatives.”

Birou was his younger sister, and she had married Gu Qinghan. Since he had come with them, was he not simply visiting his relatives?

Zhongli Yu chuckled. “That is true. You are now my brother-in-law’s brother-in-law, so we are all family. Though what exactly should one call a brother-in-law’s brother-in-law? Even a great scholar like me finds the relationship confusing.”

Yang Rui smiled. “It is my honor to become family with Prince Chun.”

“It is my honor as well. Brother Rui, please come inside.”

Yang Rui nodded and followed him through the gate.

Looking at Zhan Yan’s round belly, Birou asked with concern, “Little Sister, your belly is so large now. Do you feel tired?”

Since marrying Gu Qinghan, she had begun calling Zhan Yan her younger sister as well.

Zhan Yan stroked her belly and smiled with maternal affection. “Hehe, I am only a little over six months along, so I am not too tired yet. It is just that this little fellow is very lively and keeps moving around.”

Birou asked in surprise, “The baby has already begun moving inside?”

“Yes. It began moving after a little more than four months.”

“How amazing. So having a baby is such an interesting experience.” Princess Birou sighed in wonder.

Zhan Yan smiled. “It is. So you should hurry up and have one too.”

Birou’s face reddened. As a newly married woman, she still possessed a maiden’s shy sweetness.

Seeing his beloved wife casually discussing childbirth in front of everyone, Zhongli Yu looked at her helplessly and shook his head. “Yan’er, you have not had your nourishing soup today. Come back with me and drink it.”

Zhan Yan immediately pulled a long face. “Husband, may I skip it just this once? Can I not simply eat more of something else?”

She had grown terrified of drinking soup. She was made to take tonics all day long, and who knew how fat she would become in the future?

Zhongli Yu said sternly, “No. How will you get enough nourishment if you do not drink it? Look at you. You have become so thin.”

The others stared at Zhan Yan in stunned silence. Her waist was already round, and her face had grown considerably fuller. Even her formerly pointed chin had become somewhat round. If this could still be called thin, then what exactly counted as fat?

Zhan Yan said helplessly, “Husband, look at me. In what way am I thin?”

“In any case, pregnancy is extremely hard on you. How can your body endure it if you do not take more nourishment?”

“But Husband, if I consume too many supplements and the baby grows too large, it may be difficult to give birth when the time comes.”

Zhan Yan could not help explaining this basic fact to him. In this ancient era, where cesarean sections did not exist, one had to be extremely careful. The fetus must not be allowed to grow too large.

Zhongli Yu’s face went pale.

Yes, how had he failed to think of that? When Yan’er said it would be difficult to give birth, did she mean obstructed labor?

His heart trembled. He could not imagine what he would do if Yan’er encountered complications during childbirth. If that was how things would be, he would rather they never had a child at all.

Seeing his face turn pale with fright, Zhan Yan felt a stab of guilt. She should not have told him this and caused him needless worry. If she was careful, everything would be fine, would it not?

She took his hand and said gently, “Husband, do not worry. We will be careful, and everything will be all right.”

Zhongli Yu looked at her seriously. “Yan’er, let us go find Grandfather Meng and ask whether there is any way to nourish only the mother without nourishing the child.”

Zhan Yan was so startled that she temporarily lost the power of speech.

What kind of advanced idea was this? Apart from her husband, who else could have thought of it?

She said weakly, “All right. Let us go ask him.”

In any case, Grandfather Meng would have no solution either, Zhan Yan thought wryly.

Postscript:

What exactly should one call a brother-in-law’s brother-in-law? Even Siyuan is confused.

First published by Xiaoxiang Academy. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.