Chapter Seven, when the pear blossoms have fallen, it is the time of the willow catkins

At the moment when Xue Shaoheng was completely unprepared, a dagger was plunged into his abdomen. He didn't even have time to scream before Hua Yu drove the dagger all the way in

"Xue'er, I ... ..." Chu Shaoqin extended his hand, but paused in mid-air, afraid to touch the face that he had hurt.

Huayufeng smiled faintly: "You are the child's biological father, and in the future, you will naturally reap your benefits."

"Qiu Xue, are you there?" An Qing used his hands to discern the direction, but accidentally tripped over a chair beneath his feet. Had it not been for Li Qiu Xue rushing forward to support him, he would have already fallen to the ground

"Shao Qin, are you doubting me?"

"This is simply outrageous, who is spreading these rumors!" Chu Shaoqin, unable to vent his frustration, could only punch the wooden pillar in the corridor.

"How affectionate indeed." The moment Chu Shaoqin pushed open the door, Li Qiuxue quickly withdrew her hand. This subtle action did not escape his notice; although he felt displeased, it was only a slight furrow of his brow.

"Shall Qin, you cannot send An Qing to such a dangerous place. An Qing is not skilled enough; he will die." Li Qiuxue grasped Chu Shaoqin's sleeve, pleading with him. However, Chu Shaoqin remained unfazed, unhesitatingly pushing her hand away.

Li Qiuxue, do not underestimate me!" Chu Shaoqin shouted at that retreating figure, rising up.

"You, woman, are truly adept at exploiting others." Xue Shaoheng unfolded his folding fan, walked to the bedside, lifted the chin of the flower-feathered child, leaned down to place a kiss, and meaningfully glanced at Chu Shijie, "This child is indeed mine; once he becomes the crown prince, do not forget about his biological father."

Damn it! Chu Shaoqin furrowed his brows, stood up and slammed the table, frightening the imperial physician and the palace maids into trembling.

"Once we join forces to eliminate Chu Shaoqin, I will become the emperor, and you will still be the empress, my most cherished woman." Xue Shaoheng embraced Hua Yu, inhaling the scent of her sweat from her hair, kissing her shoulder

The days ahead are still long, and it is uncertain whom the Emperor will favor in the future. Hua Yu smiled faintly and turned to walk through the stone archway

Chu Shaoqin led Li Qiuxue out for a walk, while rumors were spreading in the palace for reasons unknown. Standing beside him, Li Qiuxue held his hand tightly, seemingly feeling quite distressed.

In this palace, Hua Yu is the one who holds the dominant position. She, Li Qiuxue, is merely a stumbling block that hinders them

"No!" Li Qiuxue suddenly woke up from a nightmare, sitting up with cold sweat on her forehead. Beside her bed, Chu Shaoqin looked down at her, his expression grim, his eyes cold and ruthless, resembling a heartless King of Hell.

"I am still here, Lian Zhu is still here, we are all still here, Shao Qin, you are not alone." Seemingly seeing through Chu Shao Qin's thoughts, Li Qiu Xue held his hand, pressing her ear against his chest, quietly listening to the heartbeat coming from there, "We are here with you..."

The night had fallen dark, and although they were walking with lanterns in hand, they could still feel the unsettling agitation behind them in the cold wind. Li Qiuxue, having practiced martial arts since childhood, naturally sensed that someone was following her. She remained composed because she could not ascertain whether the person behind her was sent by Chu Shaoqin to protect her or by Hua Yu to kill her

You are lying! That bracelet was bestowed upon Concubine Li by me, how could it be in your possession

A few palace maids were walking while discussing, but after only a few steps, they encountered Chu Shaoqin coming around the corner of the corridor

Is something wrong with Anqing

The snow fell continuously for three months, covering the eaves of the entire palace with a thick layer of snow, and as far as the eye could see, there was a bleak expanse of white. During these three months, Chu Shaoqin did not visit Li Qiuxue again; he would occasionally pass by Xiyang Palace but never entered. Inside the courtyard, Li Qiuxue would always hear the eunuchs outside say, "Your Majesty, why don't you go in and take a look at Concubine Li?"

Xue'er! Chu Shaoqin did not first go to look at the infant in the swaddling blanket, but instead walked to the bedside, keeping watch over the person he loved the most

He is the sovereign, and An Qing is the minister; the decisions he makes are ones that An Qing cannot oppose. Chu Shaoqin sneered coldly, without elaborating, and instead dragged Li Qiuxue away from the corridor.

In the letter, An Qing reassured her not to worry. Over the past few months in the borderlands, An Qing had significantly improved his martial skills, and he had no problem facing the enemy in battle. However, he still could not put his mind at ease regarding Li Qiuxue in the palace, so he bribed the messenger to deliver a letter to her, conveying his safety.

Are you deliberately provoking me

Autumn Snow, I respect your choice. However, please remember that in this palace, besides Chu Shaoqin, there is also me. I will always be by your side

In the corridor, he was the only one present, with no palace maids or servants around. For the past few days, he had been managing his daily affairs by himself. He was injured, making everything inconvenient, yet he never disturbed Li Qiuxue.

After the palace maid withdrew, Xue Shaoheng stepped out from behind the screen. He had been hiding behind the screen, observing their every word and action. Xue Shaoheng was a frequent visitor to the Dongxiang Palace, and he would have been the subject of scandal within the palace, but because Chu Shaoqin never paid attention to Hua Yu, he went unnoticed.

Li Qiuxue was supported by a palace maid as she left the Dongxiang Palace. She could no longer discern whether Chu Shaoqin was protecting her or despising her. She turned her head to look back, only to meet Huayu's gaze, which was cool and detached, yet her lips curled into a hint of a mocking smile

"No need for formalities." A hint of pride flickered at the corner of Chu Shaoqin's lips. Although he had agreed to let An Qing return to the palace, there remained a thorn in his heart. To remove this thorn, he allowed An Qing to return to the palace on the condition of leaving him blind. He had originally thought that An Qing would retreat in the face of difficulty, but unexpectedly, he truly blinded himself. Even if he had to spend his entire life in darkness, he still wanted to return to Li Qiuxue's side

Since when did they become so estranged? He clearly wanted to protect her well, assigning the best guards and imperial troops to the Xiyang Palace to protect her at all times. Yet she, would never show any gratitude.

One may feel loneliness and sadness in sudden memories, but also warmth and emotion in unguarded moments. Chu Shaoqin realized his loneliness and sadness because he discovered that he had nothing left except for Li Qiuxue. The warmth and emotion he felt were also due to Li Qiuxue always being by his side, giving him all her love. He embraced the person in his arms, a warm yet sorrowful smile gracing his lips.

Li Qiuxue shuddered all over, halted her steps, and after a moment, let out a sneer before continuing to walk forward

Yes, Your Highness

Um... Li Qiuxue nestled in Chu Shaoqin's embrace, gazing out at the white snowflakes drifting outside the window, quietly closing her eyes to rest. In her dreams, they returned to the valley where the snowstorm raged. They lost their way, and the people from the escort agency found them, singing songs in the heavy snow.

An Qing did not respond. From the moment he was injured, Chu Shaoqin forbade him from appearing in front of Li Qiuxue again, and also prohibited him from directly calling Li Qiuxue by her name, otherwise he would be expelled from the palace

A buzzing sound filled his ears, and at that moment, Chu Shaoqin seemed unable to hear anything. He stood outside in the heavy snow, his gaze distant, as if he could see no images in this icy world. It was not until a palace maid rushed in front of him, her face filled with anxiety, and asked, "Your Majesty, the Empress is having a difficult labor. The physician asks whether to save the mother or the child"

"Wait a moment." Li Qiuxue turned and walked back into the house. She wrote a letter and sent the most valuable bracelet from her jewelry box with the young eunuch who was delivering it, saying, "Please deliver this letter to An Qing, and this bracelet is for you."

Li Qiuxue stood in the courtyard, watching the snowflakes and listening to the footsteps outside, which came closer and then receded, only to come closer again. Since that incident, she had not stepped out of the Xiyang Palace even once. The palace was filled with guards and imperial troops, who seemed to be protecting her, yet also appeared to be imprisoning her

"Alright, Li Qiuxue, listen carefully. From today onwards, I shall confine you forever in the Xiyang Palace!" Chu Shaoqin released his hands, striving to maintain his composure. He turned and left, leaving behind a solitary and cold silhouette

"Chu Shijie, is a good name." Hua Yu smiled gently as she embraced the male infant handed to her by the palace maid. This was her greatest bargaining chip in the palace; with him, it did not matter even if Chu Shaoqin did not favor her.

Where did the bracelet around your waist come from

Hua Yu sat in the rocking chair, draped in a red fur coat, gazing at the abundance of gifts within the Dongxiang Palace, unable to help but lift the corners of her lips. The imperial physician stated that, based on her pulse, it was most likely a boy.

When the flowering period of the pear blossoms came to an end, news arrived in the palace of An Qing's return. Li Qiuxue knew that An Qing was about to come back, so she had early on collected many pear blossom petals, which she crafted into floral arrangements, waiting for An Qing to return and appreciate them

"It's just that I can no longer see it; it doesn't matter. It's just that I can no longer accompany you to watch the pear blossoms bloom in the future." An Qing let out a bitter laugh and quickly changed the subject, "I heard from someone in the palace that you have given birth to a little princess."

"I told you, even if you give birth to a boy, Chu Shaoqin won't spare you a glance." Shortly after Chu Shaoqin left, Huayu dismissed all the palace maids in the dormitory.

If you truly care that much, do not come to Xiyang Palace again in the future. Li Qiuxue touched her belly and turned to leave in the opposite direction

Ah

Anqing has saved me three times, and I owe him a debt of gratitude. One must know how to be grateful and repay kindness.

Thank you, Shaoqin

"Anqing, I am sorry for you, Anqing..." Li Qiuxue knelt by the city wall, tears streaming down her face. One by one, those who cared for her, loved her, and protected her left her, and this pain felt like being cut by a knife

Chu Shaoqin approached the palace maid holding the infant. He looked at the fair-skinned boy in the swaddling cloth and involuntarily raised the corners of his lips. The boy bore a striking resemblance to Huayu, yet he did not resemble him at all.

He smiled gently and walked around An Qing to the side of the cradle

"So what? You have obtained a beauty, and I have obtained a child. We have each gotten what we need, haven't we?" Huayu looked at Xue Shaoheng with disdain, as if she were looking at a dog. Such a gaze filled Xue Shaoheng with a profound sense of humiliation

You are burning bridges after crossing them

The sound of the baby's cries arose, and Hua Yu picked up Chu Shijie, positioning the child to face the direction of Xue Shaoheng

"Your Majesty, please spare my life. That bracelet was given to me by the Imperial Concubine. She instructed me to deliver a letter to General An. I am merely acting on orders, Your Majesty, please spare my life." The young eunuch, terrified, hurriedly kowtowed and pleaded for mercy, trembling all over as he quickly handed the letter hidden in his sleeve to Chu Shaoqin

I have never been fond of drinking tea, and now that I am with child, I have even less desire for it, so I had the palace maid take it away. Hua Yu stepped forward, her hands wrapping around Chu Shao Qin's waist, gently embracing him and leaning against his chest

An Qing, An Qing... In the dream of Li Qiuxue, An Qing had her arms severed and was pierced by countless arrows, while she could only watch helplessly as he died before her eyes.

Hua Yu stood on tiptoe and kissed the brow of Chu Shao Qin

The lady has now conceived the dragon's offspring, and the Emperor will surely shower her with even more affection. The palace maidservants attending to Hua Yu quickly offered their congratulations, and another maidservant joined in the commotion.

"Shao Qin, what brings you here?"

Xue'er, I will come to see you often in the future. Let's not argue anymore, shall we

An hour ago, Li Qiuxue was still sewing small clothes for the child in her womb, humming a tune, when suddenly the needle pricked her finger. Bright red blood oozed from her skin, staining the satin. A palace maid approached and handed her a letter sent by Hua Yu. Hua Yu invited her to gather at the Dongxiang Palace, warning that if she did not go, her An Qing would have no way back.

After a moment of contemplation, Chu Shaoqin nodded.

"Xue'er, you must survive for me; as long as you survive, I will promise you anything!"

A Bi! Li Qiuxue trembled, unable to accept the fact that A Bi had tragically died before her eyes. The guards escorting her back to the palace surrounded her, protecting her. Guards converging from other positions chased after the direction of the assassin.

The handkerchief inadvertently fell into the dust, and Li Qiuxue staggered back a few steps, being supported by the palace maid behind her

What is so good about Consort Li? She neither excels in music, chess, calligraphy, nor painting, nor does she possess the beauty of the Empress. What justifies her receiving the Emperor's favor?

I have also heard that Pear Concubine grew up with a group of men since childhood, and it is possible that her body has long been sullied.

"Your Highness, General An has arrived." A palace maid entered the room where Li Qiuxue usually drank tea, her head slightly bowed, as if there was something she dared not speak of

"I am the Emperor, so what is Anqing? In your heart, what is Anqing!" Chu Shaoqin grasped Li Qiuxue's shoulder, his grip seemingly capable of crushing her bones

"Hate me for a lifetime?" Chu Shao Qin took a deep breath, striving to suppress the anger within.

Your Majesty, this is absolutely unacceptable. Your Majesty, you are the ruler of a nation; how can you speak such words for the sake of a woman

Chu Shaoqin stepped into the courtyard and walked up to her, slapping her across the face in front of everyone. This was the first time he had ever hit her, and as he looked at the red mark left on her face, he quickly felt regret.

I will take a look at my lotus beads

"Speak!" Chu Shaoqin said impatiently, looking at the imperial physician who had been stammering in front of him for a long time.

"Shaoqin, I wish to see our child." Li Qiuxue gazed at the infant girl in the swaddling, as the palace maid was gently wiping her body.

What do you call me? The tightened fist seemed ready to unleash all the anger. Chu Shaoqin looked at Li Qiuxue, observing her cold smile, and then coldly repeated the two words "Your Majesty".

When Li Qiuxue went to the corridor room to visit An Qing, An Qing was changing his dressing. Although the wound on his abdomen had healed, a scar was still visible. He clumsily applied ointment to himself and unwrapped the gauze beside him, wrapping it around in circles.

Lao Qin, you said that as long as I survive, I would agree to anything. Is that true

Your Majesty, please forgive me

Get lost

An Qing withdrew his hand from stroking Chu Lian Zhu, using his ears to determine the direction of the sound, turned around, and knelt down

"Your Majesty, the Empress is suffering from liver qi stagnation, which has affected her lungs."

"Your Majesty, may I call you Shao Qin?" Huayu raised her head, her eyes shimmering with moisture like a pool of emerald water

Chu Shaoqin was taken aback, staring blankly at the flower feather that smiled like a hibiscus. If Li Qiuxue had half of the tenderness and delicacy of the flower feather, they would not have reached the point of not seeing each other. Chu Shaoqin couldn't help but let out a sigh and turned to leave Dongxiang Palace

You are being unreasonable again

Is that so, Xue'er

"Xue'er, Xue'er, what is wrong with you? Someone, quickly summon the imperial physician!" Chu Shaoqin tightly held onto Li Qiuxue's hand and hurriedly carried her back to the palace, calling for the physician.

An Qing was once a wealthy young master, but now, having abandoned her pen for the sword, she dons heavy armor and ventures far onto the battlefield. If An Qing cannot even defeat herself, how can she face thousands of troops? Chu Shaoqin seems intent on ensuring An Qing's demise, leaving her unable to return forever

They were all killed by Chu Ji... they are all gone... At that moment, Chu Shaoqin's heart felt as if a large hole had been opened. Inside the hole was an unfathomable darkness; it turned out that all along, he had been the loneliest person. It turned out that long ago, all the people he was familiar with, everything he was familiar with, had already disappeared.

I have given you tea, do you not like it

The baby's cry was accompanied by a scream, causing everyone to hold their breath and come to a halt in their actions

Your Highness!" The palace maid who rushed over quickly supported the suddenly fainted Li Qiuxue, "Quick, someone come! The princess has fainted.

Blood spilled from Xue Shaoheng's mouth as he staggered backward, looking down at his clothes stained red with blood. After taking a few more steps back, the sound of a chair falling could be heard. Tripped by the chair behind him, he lost his balance and fell to the ground, his body convulsing. He raised his hand to point at the charmingly sinister Hua Yu, wanting to speak, but his throat was blocked by the blood that surged up.

General An has returned safely, but...

Her name is Chu Lian Zhu, and she can only crawl on the ground for now

As Chu Shaoqin reached the doorway, he halted his knocking, standing quietly outside the door, listening to the conversation within

Li Qiuxue fell silent for a moment, not responding. She continued to caress her belly, smiling dreamily. Her greatest hope now was for the child in her womb; as long as her baby was born safely and grew up healthy, she would be completely satisfied

See the Emperor

If you want to kick me out, you need to think carefully about what will happen when Chu Shaoqin finds out that this child is mine. Xue Shaoheng laughed wildly, as if he was prepared to go down with the ship.

"Perhaps I should take one last look at my son before I die." Hua Yu laughed disdainfully, while Xue Shaoheng convulsed all over, and soon after, he fell completely silent

Chu Shaoqin disregarded the obstruction of the eunuchs and palace maids, and burst into the bedroom

"Child, you have already seen it, you may leave now." Hua Yu spoke in a cold tone while admiring the child in her arms

Lian Zhu is not supposed to call me father; she should call me the Emperor Father, hahahaha

The young eunuch who received the jade bracelet respectfully tucked the letter into his sleeve and withdrew. Just as he exited the Xiyang Palace and stepped onto the garden path, he unexpectedly encountered Chu Shaoqin.

Li Qiuxue gripped the blanket beneath her tightly with both hands, exerting all her strength, her body convulsing as it surged violently.

An Qing likes you, and everyone in this palace can see it! Can't you see it? The way he looks at you is filled with love. I am a man, and I cannot accept another man having intentions towards you. Xue'er, I tell you, if it weren't for the fact that he saved you, I would have killed him long ago

Your Majesty, the Empress has been injured; it is feared that she may give birth prematurely

Little Qin, we are clearly separated by just a wall, yet we never meet.

"Your Majesty, long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor!" The young eunuch hurriedly knelt down, but the jade bracelet hidden at his waist inadvertently revealed itself. He quickly tried to cover it with his sleeve, yet he could not escape the gaze of Chu Shaoqin.

Chu Shaoqin, forcibly pulled out of the dormitory, stood still, as if the smile of Li Qiuxue was bidding him farewell

"Shaoqin, as long as you believe me, I do not care what others say." Li Qiuxue leaned Chu Shaoqin's hand against her cheek, revealing a faint smile. Chu Shaoqin, with a doting expression, pinched her cheek, unable to suppress a smile.

"No, let's go." Chu Shaoqin glanced at the words "Xiyang Palace" and turned to leave

Hua Yu followed his gaze to Li Qiuxue, who was sitting there like a piece of wood, and continued, "Your Majesty, Sister Xue'er heard that I am with child, and specially came to visit me. I thought, since Sister Xue'er hasn't seen Your Majesty for quite some time, why not have a meal together and chat about everyday matters"

"What will happen to the child in my womb if I leave? I don't want my child to be born without a father." Li Qiuxue forced a smile, and as she thought of Chu Shaoqin's imposing demeanor, akin to that of an emperor, her heart grew a little colder.

"Anqing, there have been constant incursions by barbarian tribes beyond the borders recently. I intend to give you an opportunity to achieve merit." Chu Shaoqin coldly gazed at Anqing, who was kneeling on the ground.

Li Qiuxue in the Xiyang Palace was pacing back and forth in the courtyard, tightly clutching the silk handkerchief in her hand, feeling a growing sense of unease. The child in her womb was about to be born, and the number of people in the palace targeting her was increasing. She did not know if she would survive until the day the child was born. To protect her baby, she had to take action.

"Gratitude and Repayment? Many people in the palace are spreading rumors about you and An Qing having an affair. Is it true that you are so eager to see him because, as the palace says, you have other feelings for him?" A wave of jealousy surged in Chu Shaoqin's heart. Although he knew that Li Qiuxue would not betray him, he was a king, and he could not tolerate any grains of sand in his eyes.

"Shao Qin is just like this, childish. You can still call me Qiu Xue, as I am used to you calling me that." Li Qiu Xue sat beside An Qing, gently touching her protruding belly. Unknowingly, she had already been pregnant for four months.

"Your Highness, I always feel as if someone is following us," said A Bi, who was walking beside Li Qiu Xue on the way back to Xi Yang Palace

"Anqing is Anqing! It will always be just Anqing!" Li Qiuxue's howling left Chu Shaoqin momentarily stunned; her eyes were filled with tears, yet she bit her lip to prevent them from falling. "The Chu Shaoqin I once loved is no longer here. What stands before me now is the emperor, who is above all, the emperor who forcibly possesses and confines me."

As Li Qiuxue looked up, a snowflake fell from the sky and gently landed on her cheek. The snowflake melted into water and trickled down.

In the months following Li Qiuxue's giving birth to Chu Lianzhuz, Chu Shaoqin had not visited Dongxiang Palace, as if the person residing there had never been important. Although Li Qiuxue had advised Chu Shaoqin that he should take the time to visit Huayu, Chu Shaoqin always responded with a smile, asking, "Aren't you afraid that if I go, I won't come here anymore?"

Li Qiuxue, in a state of confusion, gazed towards the figure swaying outside the beaded curtain. Chu Shaoqin burst into the dormitory but was surrounded by dozens of eunuchs. They prevented him from approaching the bed behind the curtain, and the few palace maids who had been assisting her during childbirth hurriedly blocked the way at the curtain. Li Qiuxue heard Chu Shaoqin's voice and saw his reckless figure, a tear slipped from the corner of her eye

I want mother and child to be safe! Chu Shaoqin returned to reality from his daze, and he walked to the door of the dormitory, shouting to the imperial physician inside, "Listen carefully, my Xue'er cannot die!"

Just as he reached the main gate, a gasp from the palace maid came from behind him

I have also heard from the eunuchs in the palace that Concubine Li was previously a person of loose morals, fond of engaging in flirtations with multiple men

Although Anqing cannot see, he can tell that they are very happy now

On the second day after Lord Chu Shaoqin's departure, Hua Yu suddenly fainted while strolling in the Imperial Garden. After being examined by the imperial physician, it was revealed that she was with child. This news caused a sensation throughout the city overnight, permeating every breath of the people like the very air itself

Um. Li Qiuxue supported An Qing as they walked to the cradle. She picked up Chu Lianzhuz from inside the cradle and allowed An Qing to touch her face. An Qing's hand gently stroked down Chu Lianzhuz's hair, feeling her contours with her hand

Li Qiuxue looked up at Huayu, who had a cruel smile lingering at the corners of her lips, as if warning her of something. Li Qiuxue averted her gaze and nodded slightly: "Yes"

"Proceed to the Xiyang Palace!" Chu Shaoqin tore the letter in his hand into pieces and let the fragments scatter in the wind. Several palace attendants hurriedly followed Chu Shaoqin as they made their way towards the Xiyang Palace.

Chu Shaoqin trembled all over, turning and quickly running back to Li Qiuxue's side. Blood flowed profusely from the inner side of her thigh, and she shook uncontrollably, the intense pain and fear causing her to grip Chu Shaoqin's hand tightly.

Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace The palace maids quickly bowed their heads and hurriedly left

Huayu tilted her head and kissed his lips, responding to him

Fortunately, it is a girl, which means that her position will not threaten the fetus in Huayu's womb, and Huayu will not easily harm the mother and daughter.

"Shaoqin, I would like to go see Anqing." Since the incident with the assassin, Anqing has been placed in the corridor room north of Xiyang Palace to recuperate by Chu Shaoqin. A new batch of guards and palace maids has been assigned to Xiyang Palace, all personally selected by Chu Shaoqin. Li Qiuxue's pregnancy is now stable, and she wishes to check on Anqing's injuries, after all, Anqing was injured for her sake

"Be careful, Your Highness!" A Bi opened her arms to shield Li Qiuxue, and an arrow pierced through her chest. Li Qiuxue watched as A Bi fell before her, eyes wide open in death

Your Majesty, please give the child a name. Hua Yu smiled gently, seemingly not at all blaming him for never coming to visit her

In this palace, aside from the discussions among the palace maids, there are many mouths that Chu Shaoqin cannot control. For instance, the ministers in court, ever since the rumors spread, have made it a daily topic during morning assemblies to plead with Chu Shaoqin not to establish the child of Concubine Li as the crown prince, in order to avoid chaos in the court. Every time he hears these admonitions, Chu Shaoqin's heart swells with anger. They do not even know whether the child in Xue'er’s womb is male or female, yet they oppose him so vehemently, showing a complete lack of respect for him.

"Xue'er, I promise you, I will bring Anqing back"

This child is the crown prince, so naturally, he has nothing to do with you. " Hua Yu scoffed lightly, gently moving the infant boy from her arms and placing him beside herself. "In the future, if there is nothing important, do not appear again, lest the emperor misunderstand.

I have always been a rogue, and the other brothers in the palace used to..." Chu Shaoqin suddenly recalled his siblings from the palace, a faint sadness reflected in his eyes

The snow continued to fall, from the moment the last ray of light disappeared at the horizon until the candlelight illuminated the room. Inside the dormitory, intermittent sounds of painful moans could be heard. Chu Shaoqin stood in the snow, while the eunuch behind him draped a fur coat over his shoulders, urging him to return to the palace to rest

You all may leave now. By the way, take away the tea leaves sent by the Emperor; I do not enjoy drinking them

Hua Yu stood quietly on the corridor not far away, watching them. A faint smile passed over her lips as she continued on her way. A few palace maids trailing behind her began to speak up for her, expressing their dissatisfaction and murmuring among themselves

"Xue'er, you are now pregnant and should take good care of the fetus," Chu Shaoqin said displeased. "There are rumors everywhere, both inside and outside the palace, that slander you. Instead of staying properly in the Xiyang Palace, you want to see a mere guard. How do you expect others to view me?"

During the Double Ninth Festival, Hua Yu suddenly experienced abdominal pain. By the time Chu Shaoqin arrived, Hua Yu had already given birth to a son. Everyone in the Dongxiang Palace knelt down to congratulate the Emperor, while Chu Shaoqin's feelings were quite complex. He made his way through the crowd and pushed open the door to the chamber. Inside the chamber, the palace maid who assisted in the delivery was wiping the baby's body, and Hua Yu sat on the bed, looking at the infant with an expression that was neither sad nor happy, making it difficult to discern her feelings.

An Qing, Chu Shao Qin and I have gone through a lot to reach today. An Qing, I know you like me, but I am sorry ... ...

If I tell you that I want him dead

She has always been tender and affectionate towards him, never defying him, nor has she ever uttered a single "no". Chu Shaoqin sometimes feels guilty towards her, having married her to a man who does not love her, leaving her to live a lonely life in this cold harem. He does not allow her to conceive a child, due to the taboo surrounding Hua Shenghe. But now, it seems he can only accept the reality.

Liver Qi stagnation

"Qiu Xue, I truly regret bringing you back to Chu Shao Qin's side in the first place." An Qing suddenly grasped Li Qiu Xue's hand, preventing her from pulling away, "If you wish to leave the palace, I will take you away. I will take you to a place where you can live freely, far from disputes."

You are the Emperor, and no one dares to disregard you

The news of Hua Yu's joy filled Hua Shenghe's heart with delight. Before Chu Shaoqin visited Hua Yu, Hua Shenghe had already sent various precious medicinal herbs and rare treasures. In addition, he specifically instructed someone to pray for blessings, hoping that the child in Hua Yu's womb would be a boy

Your Highness previously experienced a disturbance in her pregnancy, nearly resulting in a miscarriage, and it is not advisable to continue feeling anger or sorrow. Your Majesty, I must speak frankly, it is not suitable for Her Highness to endure any further provocation or agitation; should she experience more distress, I fear that both Her Highness and the unborn child may not be able to be preserved.

"Your Majesty, may you stay tonight to accompany this humble servant? I have prepared fine wine and delicacies, as well as a small gift." As she mentioned the small gift, Huayu smiled, her laughter resembling the wind in the mountains, transforming into a stunning scene in the eyes of anyone who beheld it

In the evening, after finishing the memorials, Chu Shaoqin made his way alone to the Dongxiang Palace. Inside the Dongxiang Palace, Huayu had already prepared a feast. As Chu Shaoqin stepped over the threshold, he slightly parted his lips, his gaze having not left Li Qiuxue, who was sitting beside Huayu, since the moment he entered.

As the palace maid carried away the tea leaves sent by Chu Shaoqin, he happened to step into the East Xiang Palace. He gazed thoughtfully at the tea leaves being carried away by the maids. Hua Yu is a clever person; she likely sensed something. It seems that her pregnancy this time was also part of a plan.

In April and May, the heavy snow had already melted, and the coldness within the palace was gradually replaced by the breath of spring. Every day after the morning court, Chu Shaoqin would go to Xiyang Palace to accompany Li Qiuxue and her daughter. When the pear trees bloomed in April and May, the courtyard of Xiyang Palace was covered with white petals. The still unsteady Chu Lianzhuz was fussing in Chu Shaoqin's arms, seemingly teasing him.

How can the Pear Blossom Concubine compare to our Empress?

Abi is a newly arrived palace maid, and Li Qiuxue kept her by her side because she found her simple and kind-hearted

Is Chu Shao Qin making things difficult for you?

Rumor has spread without knowing its origin, as snowflakes fly freely in the sky. The scandalous rumors about Consort Li Guifei's lack of propriety and disregard for the duties of a wife have spread throughout Yanjing and even reached the palace.

I just miss you too much. Li Qiuxue smiled faintly, while Chu Shaoqin opened his lips but did not know what to say

Chu Shao carefully brought the baby girl to the edge of the bed and let her see.

At the cradle, singing to soothe Lianzhu to sleep, Li Qiuxue was pleasantly surprised. As she was about to get up to go out to greet, she found the maidservant at the door with an uncertain look in her eyes.

How could the emperor be interested in such a woman when the empress is clearly virtuous and noble, yet she is not favored?

If you are willing, I can be the child's father. Qiuxue, I like you. From the first time I saw you, I liked you. If you are willing to leave the palace, I can take you away. No matter whose child is in your belly, I will take care of you all.

Quick, someone come here, the lady is bleeding!

Liqiu Xue was informed of this matter by a palace maid on the day Anqing left the palace. She caressed her pregnant belly and disregarded the dissuasion of the maids behind her, running up the high city wall. She gazed at Anqing, who was clad in armor, riding ahead of the army on his horse. She called out his name, but Anqing, gradually moving further away, couldn't hear the shouts from the city wall. He disappeared with the troops at the end of the road, vanishing into the distance that Liqiu Xue could no longer see.

Liqiu Xue watched as An Qing walked in, feeling tears suddenly pouring down like rain. She tightly covered her mouth, preventing herself from crying out. She faintly heard a palace maid say, "General An has become blind..."

"Your Majesty, how have you been these past few months?" Li Qiuxue sneered and spoke coldly. During these months, he never came to see her, and when he did, it was only to interrogate her with an army."

After I finish dealing with some memorials, you should rest well. I will come to see you when I have time. After naming his child, Chu Shaoqin left Dongxiang Palace. His words of "coming when he has time" were just polite remarks. Huayu knew that he would not come to Dongxiang Palace unless there was something important.

If you don't come, I will make Lianzhu stop calling you father in the future.

Your Majesty, please spare my life. I will never dare to do it again. Your Grace, please spare my life...

"What is it?" Pear Qiu Xue asked persistently. Before the palace maid could answer, An Qing walked in and touched the door. His eyes were covered with white gauze, and there was a faint trace of red seeping through the gauze.

Chu Shao Qin opened the envelope, and there were only three words written in the letter - "Take me away."

Pear Qiuxue hugged Chu Lianzhu and said she was naughty, and then let the nanny take her to sleep for a nap.

Pear Qiuxue looked at the baby girl's pink and tender face, couldn't help but smile. She lowered her head and kissed the baby's little face, watching her little hands moving around, feeling very touched.

"Your Highness, I can handle it myself, there's no need to trouble you," An Qing took back the gauze from Li Qiuxue's hand, politely declining her kindness. Li Qiuxue was taken aback, seemingly catching a hint of change in his address.

The imperial physician's words lingered in his ears. He clenched his fists tightly, said nothing more, and turned to leave. Before walking out of the West Sun Palace gate, he instructed the guards and palace maids guarding the palace that no one except him was allowed to enter or leave the West Sun Palace.

Shao Qin, since my father and the people from the escort agency passed away, I have been left with no one to rely on. An Qing is like family to me. I know you don't like him, and you're afraid of losing me. But Shao Qin, I really don't want to see you hurting innocent people because you're afraid of losing me. Li Qiu Xue placed her hand on Chu Shao Qin's hand and gently held it. "Shao Qin, I intentionally wrote that letter because I knew you would receive it before An Qing. I knew you would come find me."

Xue'er, I'm sorry. What I said earlier was all just angry words. I... Chu Shaoqin choked up, "I was just too afraid of losing you..."

I heard that General An is in the Xiyang Palace, so I came here specifically to take a look.

How about naming her Lianzhu? Chu Lianzhu. Chu Shao Qin gently stroked the baby girl's face and named her Chu Lianzhu.

Chu Shao Qin froze for a moment, his smile solidified, as if he had already guessed what she wanted to say.

"Shao Qin, do you know why I am afraid of An Qing's death?" Li Qiu Xue said with a bitter smile, "Too many people have died because of me. I feel like a sinner, my hands stained with their blood. I am afraid of seeing those who died because of me in my dreams, I am afraid... afraid that all the people who are good to me will die one by one...".

Yes, Your Majesty, I heard that the Emperor is coming to see you.

Shao Qin, please give your child a name.

"Anqing, what happened to your eyes?" Li Qiuxue gently stroked the bandage on Anqing's eyes, her hands trembling, unable to accept this fact for a long time.

Shao Qin, why did you come?Liqiu Xue put Chu Lianzhu back in the cradle and walked towards Chu Shaoqin.

The Emperor has arrived! Outside the Xiyang Palace, the sound of the guards kneeling down can be heard. Long live the Emperor, long live, long live!

I originally wanted to come and see Anqing's injuries, but I didn't expect to hear such an emotional conversation. Chu Shaoqin smiled and walked up to Anqing, pulling Li Qiuxue into his arms.

Pear Qiuxue weakly breathes, her hair sticking to her face with sweat, looking particularly pale.

In the blink of an eye, all his loved ones were gone.

Your Majesty, the Empress is having difficulty giving birth.

See the Emperor.Upon seeing Chu Shaoyin and Qin Hou, Huayu respectfully stood up and knelt down. At the same time, Chu Shaoyin supported her as she half-knelt, afraid that she might harm the fetus in her belly.

You must be very similar to me.

In the desolate and solemn Xiyang Palace, the imperial physician who had just finished diagnosing Li Qiuxue walked out from behind the bead curtain. Sitting beside the tea table outside the curtain was Chu Shaoqin, who had a gloomy expression on his face. When he heard that his beloved woman had fainted on the city wall because of another man, he angrily smashed all the ornaments in his bedroom. He was so furious that he wanted to destroy everything. However, he couldn't bear to see Li Qiuxue in pain, so after venting his anger, he hurriedly rushed to Xiyang Palace to see her.

Next time if I hear those words again, be careful of your head!

Your translated result: "Your Majesty, are you Baoda or a child?"

If the Empress Dowager has no urgent matters, the servant will take his leave first...

Shao Qin, protect, protect the child! Lí Qiūxuě endured intense pain, gripping Chu Shao Qin's hand as cold sweat seeped from her palm. She watched as Chu Shao Qin was pulled away by palace maids and eunuchs, and as the wooden door slowly closed, leaving behind a faint smile.

Snow, I won't allow you to die. If you die, I will never live a wretched life!

Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you cannot go in.

I'll help you. Liqiuxue stood outside the half-closed door for a moment, and finally couldn't bear to push open the door. She walked to Anqing's side, took the gauze from his hand, and carefully bandaged his wound.

Shijie, let's just call him Shijie.

Untilーー.

The first snow of winter fell in this deep night, melting into the deathly silence. The hurried footsteps echoed in the palace, and the sound of weapons clashing lingered in the ears. Li Qiuxue smiled obsessively, looking up at the Milky Way and the snow melting in her fingertips. She opened her arms and embraced the snow, singing childhood songs with a smile. Everything in the palace seemed unrelated to her. She laughed, cried, and walked back to her bedroom alone, leaving chaos behind. She opened her arms and embraced the snow, singing childhood songs with a smile. Everything in the palace seemed unrelated to her. She laughed, cried, and walked back to her bedroom alone, leaving chaos behind.

I, the minister, pay my respects to the Emperor.

If you kill him, I will hate you for the rest of my life. The originally solemn atmosphere was broken by Li Qiuxue. She looked at Chu Shaoqin, who suddenly became unfamiliar, and said decisively.

Snow, look, our daughter looks so much like you.

Several palace maids, upon seeing the Emperor, turned pale with fear, trembling as they knelt on the ground, not daring to raise their heads

I hope that His Majesty can keep his promise. This is what An Qing said when she left with her eyes closed, without hesitation or reluctance. Chu Shaoqin was intimidated by such a strong attitude, and he kept his promise, allowing An Qing to return to the palace and continue serving as a guard in the Xi Yang Palace. He believed that An Qing was the only person in the palace who would not harm Li Qiuxue.

Lying on the bed, Li Qiuxue is already exhausted. She can no longer feel her own body temperature, only a tearing pain spreading throughout her body. Sweat soaks the pillow and bedding, and her consciousness gradually becomes blurred. Just when she is about to give up, someone kicks open the door of the dormitory from the outside.

When Abi died, Li Qiuxue felt both sorrow and fear. In this palace, everyone wished for her death. Hua Yu wanted her dead, Hua Shenghe wanted her dead, and those ministers who looked down on her said she bewitched the emperor, eagerly hoping for her demise. What should she do? She is powerless and without influence; how can she establish herself in this palace? How can she protect herself and the child in her womb?

What were you guys just talking about?

Empress, there is a letter that General An has ordered someone to deliver to you. A young eunuch came in from outside the Xiyang Palace and was searched by several guards when he entered. It had been a long time since Li Qiuxue had heard the name An Qing. When she saw the letter, it was as if she saw An Qing himself. A bitter smile appeared on her lips as she hurriedly opened the letter to see if An Qing was safe now.

"Shao Qin, what are you talking about? An Qing has saved me time and again..." Li Qiu Xue's words trailed off, as Chu Shao Qin was looking at her with a gaze filled with anger and murderous intent. She suddenly felt afraid of such eye contact, fearing that Chu Shao Qin would transform into a cruel monarch

Duke Shao Qin looked at him and scoffed, "How could my empress possibly have any interest in a lowly commoner?"

"I heard that you had an argument, is it because of me?" An Qing spoke again.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Congratulations to Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine has given birth to a princess, and both mother and daughter are safe. The imperial physician stepped out from behind the beaded curtain to offer his congratulations, and the palace attendants inside and outside the chamber all knelt down to express their felicitations

It is ... ... that the servant picked up on the road

How did Xue'er end up here? Just as Young Master Chu was astonished, Hua Yu approached him with a beaming smile and wrapped her arms around his neck, saying, "Your Majesty, you have arrived?"

The next day, An Qing received an imperial edict. Chu Shao Qin appointed him as a general, leading three thousand elite soldiers to guard the border. Without his permission, he was not allowed to step into the palace again in his lifetime.

Someone is here to escort the Noble Consort back to the palace. Chu Shaoqin gave the order and led Hua Yu towards the green gauze curtain. The guards and palace maids outside the door hurriedly came in to escort Li Qiuxue back to the palace. Chu Shaoqin turned his head and glanced at her, coldly saying, "Tonight, I only want to be with the Empress. In the future, Noble Consort Li should stay in the Xiyang Palace and behave herself! I don't want to see you again!"

You are pregnant. You don't need to bow to me when you see me in the future.

Have you heard? Before entering the palace, Concubine Li had an affair with a scholar, and it is said that the child in her belly is not the emperor's bloodline.

Pear Qiuxue smiled slightly and nodded.

You are the master of the harem, is it inappropriate to call me by my name? Chu Shao Qin chuckled lightly and gently pushed away Hua Yu's hand. Chu Shao Qin had never considered Hua Yu as his consort; she was merely a pawn for Hua Cheng He to help him, so he had never had any feelings for her.