2. Zhi Yun

He spoke ambiguously, but how could I, who know his nature well, fail to discern the underlying meaning of his words? I couldn't help but feel a pang in my heart and retorted: "You speak nonsense; you are only forty-two this year, still in middle age, far from old age. Don't forget, it was you who wanted to marry me back then. Having married me, you must take responsibility for taking care of me for a lifetime"

Chen Min got out of the car, I leaned against the soft pillow, gently patting Yi Wang to lull her to sleep, while I closed my eyes to rest amidst the swaying of the vehicle

I was speechless, and he took the opportunity to lower his head and kiss me

In the past three to four years, Liu Xiu personally led an expedition to Shu, defeating the Cheng family emperor Gongsun Shu, while Guo Shengtong in the Luoyang imperial palace consecutively gave birth to the fifth prince Liu Kang and the seventh prince Liu Yan

"It would be better if you were a bit busier." He chuckled lightly, affectionately stroking my face, his pupils inadvertently revealing a hint of worry, "What I can leave you with, perhaps, are only these."

Go take a look again and come back to tell me what happened

When the jade chariot began to turn south, Chen Min returned, and I quickly pulled her onto the carriage, saying, "Come up and talk."

"It's alright." He continued to let his lips slide down ambiguously. Having been married for so long, he was very aware of where my sensitive spots were and where he could quickly ignite my desire

"Ha, interesting." I couldn't help but clap my hands and laugh, then lowered my voice to continue asking, "Do you know the background of this Zhi Yun?"

The late-returning emperor, ultimately took a detour southward and entered the city through the East Central Gate. By the time he returned to the imperial palace, it was already late in the evening. I hurriedly instructed the palace maids to carry the sleeping princes and princesses back to their rooms, while I rushed to my own sleeping quarters.

While dodging, I laughed and said: "Honestly confess, how many more do you intend for me to bear? Can't you see that I am currently so busy that I have no free time at all?"

What is going on? Why are we not entering the city?

When she gave birth to the fifth child, I gave birth to the sixth; when she had the seventh, I had the eighth. What appears to be a harmonious harem has, in this competition of childbirth, reached a certain absurd balance

How is the Eighth Prince today?" A person came rushing out to greet me. I had no intention of receiving the formalities; I was only anxiously inquiring.

We will be together forever

"What are you doing?" I alertly reached out to push him, but instead, he grabbed me by the sides.

The stars in the sky shed tears, the roses on the ground wither, the cold wind blows, the cold wind blows, as long as you are by my side

After a long time, I broke free from my confusion and desire, grabbing his mischievous hand and gasping: "Aren't you tired? I haven't even bathed yet"

In this way, you should inquire thoroughly and report back to me at dawn

If you do not believe in reincarnation, nor in the afterlife, then I am willing to accompany you in another world forever, until the end of time

He freed one hand to roam over my entire body, slowly unfastening my clothes: "Is your body feeling much better?"

Children are always the most likely to cause trouble; one is already enough to give people a headache, and if there is a group, the trouble is truly unimaginable. This time, during the hunt, Liu Xiu was in a whimsical mood and brought all his children along, including the Sixth Prince Liu Cang, the Seventh Prince Liu Yan, and the Eighth Prince Liu Jing. Although it was called a hunt, it could also be considered a large family gathering.

I laughed and said: "As one ages, naturally one cannot compare to one's younger days..."

I stared: "What, are you still planning to prevent me from being reborn?"

No

"Not yet, you can sleep peacefully." While patting her, he lifted the car curtain and quietly asked, "What happened?"

Chen Min, who was standing outside the car, immediately replied: "It seems that the gatekeeper guarding the city gate is unwilling to open the door"

So tired? A pair of hands pressed on my shoulders, kneading the stiff muscles on my back again and again

In the dim twilight, one could only faintly see the flickering light of the candles illuminating a small crack in the tightly shut East City Gate, while the imperial carriage of the Son of Heaven was mercilessly blocked outside the gate.

The hot breath sprayed onto my face, and I smiled as I turned my head: "You are so unrestrained."

As I listened and took notes, I soon arrived at the dormitory, only to find the dim light revealing the nurse cradling my little Liu Jing, pacing back and forth in the room, humming a disjointed tune in imitation. Liu Jing was nestled in her arms, his small eyes tightly shut, his little mouth latched onto the nipple, yet he continued to emit discontented whimpers and cries.

Chen Min swiftly left; her petite figure, combined with her agility, allowed her to approach unnoticed. After waiting on the cart for more than ten minutes, I noticed a commotion in the front cart. Shortly thereafter, the leader unexpectedly began to steer the horses, intending to head south

The first city gate on the shortcut is the Upper East Gate located on the north side of the East City. When the group arrived outside the Upper East Gate, several little girls had already fallen asleep early in the oil painting carriage due to exhaustion. Only Yi Wang remained, constantly rubbing her eyes, leaning on my knee and insisting that I tell her a story. In truth, she was already so tired that she could barely keep her eyes open, yet she stubbornly refused to give in to sleep.

What? I was astonished that a mere doorkeeper dared to block the emperor's carriage

No

Before I could finish speaking, he had already turned over and pinned me beneath him

The swaying vehicle suddenly came to a halt, and I hurriedly braced myself against the steering wheel to steady my body. Yi Wang mumbled in a daze, "Mother, have we arrived? I ... I want to see my eighth brother ..."

Grow old together until death

In the past, I once wished to give Liu Xiu many children, until the palace could no longer accommodate them. To my surprise, he truly took it to heart. Ever since the birth of Liu Yang, I have not had a moment's rest. By the time I returned from the campaign in Longxi in the eighth year of Jianwu, I was ordered to remain under house arrest, and I could only circle around this small area of the Western Palace, while children continued to emerge one after another.

As night began to fall, the wet nurse took the Sixth Prince to bed. However, just before falling asleep, he kept murmuring that he wanted to wait for the noble person to return to the palace to tell stories, and all day long he tugged at the maid's clothing, asking when the noble person would come back

I do not know, my lady.

"That Zhi Yun, claiming that it is too dark to see anyone, stubbornly refuses to open the door, no matter how many kind words are spoken, and threats are utterly useless..."

I approached quietly, signaling the wet nurse to stop singing, and smilingly placed one of my index fingers into the little one's small hand. He instinctively closed his five fingers together and held on tightly. I lowered my head and gently kissed his head, softly humming a song in his ear: "The dark sky hangs low, bright stars accompany, the insects fly, the insects fly, who are you missing...

When the song reached the second verse, the soft murmurs ceased, and Xiao Liu Jing released my hand. Her small mouth moved slightly, breaking into a charming smile in her sleep. I signaled the wet nurse to take her to sleep, softly reminding her: "In the future, when he falls asleep, do not let him suck on the nipple; such a habit is not beneficial for his teething."

I let out a long sigh and collapsed directly onto the bed: "It is good to sleep."

His eyes narrowed as he smiled, still retaining that childlike quality, despite the hardships of over a decade of warfare that had left him weathered. Since the passing of Feng Yi, many old friends had departed in recent years. First, Lai She and Cen Peng were successively assassinated by assassins sent by Gongsun Shu, followed by the deaths of Kou Xun, Wang Chang, Geng Kuang, and Geng Chun at the end of last year. By the first day of the new year this year, even the Grand Minister Hou Ba had passed away.

Her skin was as smooth as cream, and her charm was enchanting. He slowly adjusted his mood, attempting to arouse my interest as well

As he stepped forward, I tightly embraced his neck with my hands, overwhelmed with emotion, I let out a shuddering moan: "Do not be afraid, Xiuer... I will be with you, we... will grow old together... together..."

Your Highness is very well during the day, waking after every hour of sleep to play for two hours. At a quarter past the hour of You, he consumed nearly half a bowl of millet porridge, perhaps recalling the need to meet a noble person, and cried incessantly, causing him to vomit all the porridge he had just consumed. Afterward, the wet nurse coaxed him to sleep, but he remained quite restless

No matter how many palace maids there are, they cannot take care of so many mischievous princes and princesses. By the time they return to the palace, the sun has already set behind Mount Mang, and the city gates of Luoyang have long been closed, with the nighttime curfew already in effect.

Insects fly, flowers sleep, a pair is beautiful, not afraid of the dark but afraid of a broken heart, regardless of being tired or not, and regardless of east, south, west, or north

"The people of Runan - Zhi Yun"

"Oh?" I became intrigued, and my previously drowsy mind instantly regained its clarity. "Who is the person waiting at the East Gate?"

The wet nurse nodded in trepidation, holding Liu Jing as she withdrew. I hurriedly summoned the palace maid from earlier and inquired in detail, "Has Liu Cang fallen asleep?"

As soon as she sat down, still catching her breath, the carriage began to sway and set off.

I laid the already asleep Yi Wang flat, tucked in the blanket, and then got out of the car. Chen Min reached out to help me out of the car, but I waved my hand and instead stood on tiptoe on the edge of the car, gazing into the distance.

Lai She was assassinated and died, leaving behind a farewell letter at the end of his life. When the letter was delivered to Luoyang and Liu Xiu read it, he seemed to age ten years instantly. That year, he was exactly forty years old. After that, each day of his life felt like three days compared to others, as if a catalyst had been added; the wheel of time ruthlessly accelerated over him.

"It is not that we do not enter the city, but that the gatekeeper does not allow us to enter the city"

I spoke quickly and anxiously, and before I could finish, he had already leaned over me and started to laugh mischievously, saying, "You can't blame me; it was you who first complained that I was being too frivolous."