Chapter 404: Extra: What Does One Think About When They Have Enough Food and Warmth?

For the first twenty-six years of his life, Li Qihuan lived in fear, swallowed his pride, and exhausted himself with anxieties.

Now, in one fell swoop, he had turned his life around, sitting on the emperor’s throne, ushering in the highlight of his life.

His father had retired cleanly and completely, spending his days with Yibai and Lanzhou, his mood good, his health stable.

His Empress had borne him a legitimate eldest son, ensuring the continuation of his lineage. Especially this Empress, no matter what the situation, she always acted appropriately…much to his liking.

In the court, whether it was the old ministers or those who had followed him on his rise to power, they were all very useful.

With Song Shang’s brain helping him manage the private treasury, his coffers were full.

The surrounding areas were pacified, the people were peaceful, and he himself had the aura of a wise ruler destined for the history books!

Everything was so perfect! But what does one think about when they have enough food and warmth?

Half a year after the late emperor’s passing, the veteran ministers in the court began to suggest that the Emperor should hold a selection for concubines.

Indeed!

Before, Xue Ying and his mother had kept him under tight control, so there weren’t many people around him. Those who were, at best, could be considered not ugly, but as for being pleasing to the eye, there was really none!

At that time, life was too difficult, he didn’t have the mood to think about these things.

Now it was different!

He pretended to refuse for a few days, but the veteran ministers were very persistent, so he reluctantly agreed…

When Wen Yu heard the news, she immediately entered the palace.

Li Cheng, born to Consort Jiang, was almost eight months old. He was currently sound asleep. Jiang Pinting and Wen Yu by the crib and watched for a long time. Wen Yu shook her head: “His cheeks are so chubby, they’re about to burst!”

Jiang Pinting said: “When he starts crawling and walking, he’ll slim down.”

Wen Yu looked at the selection-related items piled up on Jiang Pinting’s table and said indignantly: “He’s only had a few days of peace, and he’s already doing this?”

Consort Jiang smiled faintly, not minding: “Isn’t it just a matter of time?”

Wen Yu stared wide-eyed: “What do you mean, just a matter of time? Has he forgotten all the hardships he endured? Does he want our Huanlang to experience it all over again?”

“Silly girl, why are you more agitated than me? As the saying goes, different times call for different measures. This is just the beginning.”

Wen Yu leaned closer and said: “His butt just warmed the throne, and he’s already thinking about…”

“Alright!” Consort Jiang flicked her forehead.

“Hmph! I’m going to complain to the Retired Emperor!” Wen Yu rubbed her forehead, unconvinced.

“Ah Yu!” Jiang Pinting dismissed everyone around them and her face turned serious: “Since we’re on this topic, let me tell you a few more things. In this world, there is no one nobler or wiser than the Retired Emperor. To be able to sit on that throne and then readily step down, it’s not an ordinary mindset. Li Qihuan can’t compare!

His words still carry weight with Li Qihuan. But, there’s a limit! If he says too much…” Jiang Pinting shook her head.

Wen Yu found it hard to understand, “He dares not listen?”

Jiang Pinting looked solemn: “No matter who it is, once they sit on that throne, it’s not easy to keep their original intentions. Let alone him, even me! You have no idea how these people have been flattering me lately. Even my mother, aunts, and uncles treat me with utmost respect, holding back half of what they want to say. Not to mention those… If I wasn’t the type of person I am, I would have long lost my head!”

“Sister!” Wen Yu looked at her helplessly.

“Don’t give me that look, from now on, every step I take has to be more cautious than before, because, I have Huanlang.”

Wen Yu suddenly felt a heat rising in her heart, that anger swirling around and refusing to subside, “Hmph! The worst that can happen is that I’ll go to the Northwest with Qi Wu. I won’t even look at him!”

Jiang Pinting laughed: “You’d leave me?”

Wen Yu reached out her small hand towards Huanlang’s chubby cheeks: “Yes! But I wouldn’t leave Huanlang.”

“Then you should hurry up and have a daughter, and we’ll have Huanlang as your son-in-law!”

Wen Yu looked at Jiang Pinting, then thought about Li Qihuan, and shook her head: “No way, with you two as parents, Huanlang will definitely be smart, but handsome… probably not so much. I have to choose a handsome son-in-law! Just like our Wulang! Huanlang, you better try harder! Don’t end up like your father!”

Just then, Li Qihuan strode in: “Wen Yu! What are you saying? What about Huanlang shouldn’t be like me?”

Li Qihuan remembered everything Wen Yu had done for him, but for some reason, he just wanted to give her a sour face!

Caught red-handed, Wen Yu didn’t care. Although Jiang Pinting had talked to her for a long time, she also understood that she couldn’t indulge him from the start. Once he started, there would be no end to it.

“Your Majesty! Sister Jiang said that we should have Huanlang as my son-in-law… uh… I mean, your humble subject’s son-in-law! So, your humble subject thought that it would be better if Huanlang looked more like Sister Jiang, to be more handsome. I like handsome sons-in-law!”

“You wish! My son being your son-in-law, and you’re still being picky? Qi Wu, come in quickly and take this crazy woman away!”

Qi Wu entered from outside.

Wen Yu said: “Your Majesty, see? He has to be like my husband! Smart and capable, and most importantly… he has to be devoted to my daughter!”

“Bah! What man in this world is devoted to one woman?” He sneakily glanced at Jiang Pinting.

Jiang Pinting watched them bicker with a smile on her face.

✿✿✿

Wen Yu wasn’t annoyed: “My husband is!”

“Him?” Li Qihuan was about to say something but swallowed it back, looking at Huanlang with a huff, “Son, don’t listen to this crazy woman! A man is a woman’s heaven! Whatever he says goes! A disobedient woman, even if she’s as beautiful as a celestial fairy…”

Jiang Pinting softly called out: “Your Majesty…” and then pointed.

Li Qihuan turned his head and saw that Qi Wu had already run to Wen Yu’s side and was asking: “You look a little pale, are you feeling unwell?”

Li Qihuan was furious, this woman had rouge and powder on her face, where did he see any paleness?

Wen Yu was indeed feeling a little unwell, so she said softly: “I am feeling a bit under the weather. Your Majesty’s dragon aura also frightened me and made my heart race.”

Li Qihuan jumped up and shouted: “You’re talking nonsense!”

Huanlang was startled awake, opened his two big black eyes, and started crying loudly.

His loud cries startled the Emperor, “Pinting, what’s wrong with him?”

Jiang Pinting said: “It’s nothing. He’s slept enough, maybe he’s hungry.”

Huanlang cried loudly but without tears.

“Hurry up and soothe him, don’t let him cry anymore!” Li Qihuan pointed and said.

“It’s alright to let him cry for a while, let him practice his voice and expel some bad air.”

“You!” Li Qihuan was exasperated, “Is this how you act as a mother?” He glared at Wen Yu: “I don’t know what’s wrong with you two women… Huanlang, Huanlang?” He actually reached out and picked him up, skillfully.

This surprised Wen Yu. She glanced at Jiang Pinting, who was frowning at the father and son. When she turned her head to look at Wen Yu, she smiled faintly.

And indeed, Huanlang was quite cooperative, once Li Qihuan held him, he stopped crying.

“Are you hungry, Huanlang?” Li Qihuan teased his little mouth, and Huanlang grabbed his finger and held on tight.

“Ha! See? This reaction!” Li Qihuan was smug.

Qi Wu nodded in agreement: “He takes after Your Majesty.”

Wen Yu, however, said: “Your Majesty, the old saying goes: Hold your grandson, not your son.”

Li Qihuan rolled his eyes: “Mind your own business!? Wen Yu, why do you have to comment on everything?! Qi Wu has been married to you for so long, and you haven’t given him a son or a daughter.”

Everyone was speechless, was this something an Emperor should be concerned about?

But as Li Qihuan said this, a brilliant idea struck him! Wasn’t he about to hold a selection for concubines? Perfect, he could choose a good one for Qi Wu.

I’ve been thinking about matters of the court every day and neglected this, hmm… this is a really good idea. Killing two birds with one stone!

His smile sweetened, but he wouldn’t say anything… He couldn’t say it in advance, otherwise, that woman would be prepared and it would make things difficult for Qi Wu. Yes, that was the plan.

Wen Yu really felt uncomfortable all over, and whispered: “Let’s go home, I’m tired.”

“Okay! Your Majesty, we, your humble subjects, will take our leave.” He supported Wen Yu.

As Wen Yu stood up, a wave of nausea suddenly hit her. She started dry heaving.

Qi Wu was startled, “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Pinting, however, understood, “Quickly, call the doctor!”

Not long after, the imperial physician arrived and took her pulse: “Congratulations Duke, Duchess, this is a joyful pulse!”

Qi Wu looked at his little wife in a daze, “Joyful pulse? Ah Yu, are we going to have a child?”

Wen Yu was also in a daze, her hand unconsciously stroking her belly, was she really pregnant?

Jiang Pinting clapped her hands and laughed, “This is wonderful news! We agreed, if it’s a girl, she’s betrothed to our Huanlang!”

Li Qihuan, holding his son, was furious: What do you mean betrothed to Huanlang?! Did you ask me, her father? My son, being Wen Yu’s son-in-law?

He instinctively wanted to shake his head, but then he looked at Qi Wu, then at Wen Yu, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, their daughter probably wouldn’t be ugly either, it would be alright…

Then he thought, I was just about to find a good one for Qi Wu, and she’s pregnant!

It was truly a case of wishes coming true!