Chapter 498: Extra 13: Reunion at Xishan, Yuan Heng's Return

Chapter 498: Chapter 494: Extra 13: Reunion at Xishan, Yuan Heng’s Return

After reading the letter from Prince Yu, Ji Qingwu hurried to the hot spring to find Zhao Mingyan.

‘Yuan Heng is coming to Xishan!’

She clutched the letter and hurried through the bamboo grove.

The story of how the couple came to settle in Xishan began after Chenzhao ascended the throne and they set off on their travels.

Ji Qingwu had only gained a healthy body after arriving in this world and completing her mission to bear a child. She had always longed to explore the vast landscapes with her own two feet.

In the early years, traveling with a child during wartime was inconvenient, so they had put it off.

Now, with Zhao Mingyan by her side, Ji Qingwu had nothing to worry about, and they set off immediately. But within two years, Ji Qingwu grew weary. It was novel for the first month or two, but after a while, every landscape started to look the same. She realized the most beautiful sight was the man right beside her.

The most important reason, however, was Ji Qingwu’s concern for Zhao Mingyan’s health.

He carried the burden of chronic ailments from his years at war. Even though he could still suppress them with his Inner Strength, they were bound to flare up one day.

Throughout history, many Emperors who worked themselves to the bone died young.

Ji Qingwu truly didn’t want to return to the palace. After specifically consulting her travel-loving grand-uncle Le Xi, she moved to Xishan, over a hundred li from Lin’an.

The place had mountains and rivers, offering a leisurely and carefree life in a pleasantly restorative environment.

Every morning, Zhao Mingyan would be in the hot spring.

Ji Qingwu made him soak for an hour every day, using the medicinal herb pouches she and Le Xi had painstakingly concocted.

The hot spring was hidden in a mountain hollow, with white mist drifting across the water’s surface. The bluestone at the edge of the pool, polished bright by the spring water, had a few clusters of wild orchids sprouting from its crevices.

Zhao Mingyan sat upright in the center of the pool, his black hair fanned out over his shoulders, resting with his eyes closed.

Even from dozens of feet away, he could clearly make out Ji Qingwu’s footsteps. Without turning his head, he said, “Ah Wu, the pebbles are wet and slippery. Slow down.”

Ji Qingwu waved the letter in her hand, calling out, “Yuan Heng is coming!”

Yuan Heng had already set out and would arrive in two days.

Ji Qingwu had trotted all the way here. Though her steps were steady, it still made Zhao Mingyan frown.

“Let him come. What’s all the excitement about?”

Ji Qingwu said, “The last time I saw Yuan Heng was during the New Year’s Eve vigil with the whole family. I haven’t seen him in over half a year, so of course I’m excited.”

She stopped at the edge of the pool, her eyes sparkling as she said, “I wonder if Baocheng will come too. Knowing how clingy she is, she most likely will.”

Ever since she was a child, Baocheng had loved to cling to her Imperial Brother, even to the point of ignoring her own parents.

Zhao Mingyan rose from the pool with a great SPLASH, and beads of water, veiled in mist, rolled down his shoulders.

Ji Qingwu, lost in her joy over her children’s upcoming visit, didn’t notice him. She didn’t hand him a towel or help him dress as she usually would.

Zhao Mingyan grabbed a plain linen towel from a nearby rock to wipe his face, asking casually, “It’s not a festival or holiday. Why would Yuan Heng come now?”

Ji Qingwu glanced at the letter again. “Our son can come visit whenever he wants. Does he need a reason?”

Zhao Mingyan’s gaze fell upon the rippling surface of the water, where the reflections of the trees swayed.

“Something major must be going on.”

‘Ji Qingwu didn’t care what “major” thing was going on with Yuan Heng. Whatever was happening, he was still her precious son.’

Although Prince Yu had yet to arrive, Ji Qingwu was already in a flurry of preparations, making sure to have everything Yuan Heng and Baocheng liked to eat and use.

She muttered to herself, “Baocheng’s favorite is steamed chestnut-flour cake with osmanthus sugar.”

Xiu Ningchuan entered, carrying freshly picked herbs. He saw Ji Qingwu writing a list and asked with a smile, “The Princess also loves dried apricots. Should we prepare some?”

Ji Qingwu nodded. With Xiu Ningchuan’s help, she didn’t have to worry about a thing.

‘The more she saw of her son-in-law, the more she liked him. She was growing reluctant to let him leave.’

Ji Qingwu’s brush paused. “Ning Chuan, if Zhaozhao won’t come to you, then you shouldn’t go back to her. I’ll support you. You can’t always be the one to give in. It’s time to give her space to reflect properly.”

‘She could see how much Xiu Ningchuan loved Zhaozhao. He wasn’t truly happy staying here in Xishan.’

Xiu Ningchuan lowered his head to arrange the medicine cabinet, asking as if it were an afterthought, “Mother Empress, have you and Father Emperor ever argued? Have you had misunderstandings?”

Holding the shopping list, Ji Qingwu froze for a moment at his words.

Xiu Ningchuan said, “Forgive me, I spoke out of turn.”

Ji Qingwu gazed at a mountain finch flitting past the window. “It’s nothing,” she said. “I was just thinking… we’ve had our arguments, but it seems…”

She smiled. “The misunderstandings… they were never actually cleared up.”

‘For example, Zhao Mingyan still hadn’t told her exactly when he’d fallen in love with her.’

‘And she had never told him that her past “infatuation” with Wei Ting, including storming into his army tent, had all been just to complete a mission for the System.’

This time, it was Xiu Ningchuan who was stunned.

‘He had thought Ji Qingwu was the type of person who couldn’t tolerate the slightest imperfection in a relationship; otherwise, Emperor Wu Su would never have dismissed his entire harem for her.’

‘The more he thought about it, the more incomprehensible it seemed.’

‘After all, Emperor Wu Su didn’t seem like the kind of man who would allow a misunderstanding to linger.’

Ji Qingwu picked up her brush and continued with her list. “Misunderstandings don’t have to get in the way of love,” she said gently. “What does it matter?”

‘What does it matter…’

The phrase echoed in Xiu Ningchuan’s mind.

‘As long as the love is there, as long as he could still feel it, what did it matter whether the Empress said it out loud or not?’

‘Every day they spent together was a testament to their love. They were too young to waste time on pointless games and conflicts.’

Xiu Ningchuan suddenly stood up. “Mother Empress,” he said decisively, “I want to return to the palace.”

Ji Qingwu asked, surprised, “Why the sudden rush?”

Xiu Ningchuan said, “I… I miss Zhenzhen.”

Ji Qingwu knew why he was in such a hurry and smiled. “Of course. And I’m sure Zhenzhen misses you, too. However, Prince Yu arrives tomorrow, and Zhaozhao is coming for a visit as well.”

Xiu Ningchuan’s eyes lit up. “It’s already late today, so it would be a rush to head back. I’ll go and pack. Leaving tomorrow will be perfect.”

Ji Qingwu watched his suddenly energized figure retreat, and she smiled and shook her head.

「The next day.」

Nearing dusk, as twilight painted the mountain path red, Prince Yu’s carriage finally arrived.

It was not the formal carriage of a Prince, but an ordinary one, indicating this was a private visit.

Zhao Yuanheng jumped down from the carriage.

He had his mother’s eyes, with irises of pure black and a gentle, limpid light in their depths.

His bone structure, however, was his father’s—Emperor Wu Su’s. Beneath the dark hair neatly bound by a white jade coronet, his jaw was sharply defined. Yet, the severity of his features was softened by a small, pale red mole at the corner of his eye.

It was like an accidental fleck of vermilion seal paste, softening his heroic aura into a silent, hesitant elegance.

Hearing the carriage, Ji Qingwu emerged from the main gate of their mountain home. An evening breeze had picked up, and she had a shawl wrapped around her.

She spotted Yuan Heng at once. Smiling, she started down the stone steps to greet him, but then she saw another young woman alight from the carriage.

But it wasn’t Princess Baocheng.

Ji Qingwu slowed her pace, her eyes flickering with curiosity. ‘Whose daughter is this…?’

As the young woman in the goose-yellow dress touched her toes to the ground, the jade bracelet on her wrist chimed with a clear, crisp sound.

“Wait for me!”