Super-Fertile Darling: Forced to Marry the Heirless Tyrant

Chapter 267: Chapter 267: I Gave Birth to Yuan Heng; They Are Twins

"But for your sake, I am willing to be a mere subject who assists the young new emperor and bows to his commands."

Ji Qingwu asked coolly, "When?"

Wei Ting stood at her side, his voice low. "I am in a hurry, but tomorrow is too rushed. There wouldn’t be enough time to prepare anything."

’The longer this is delayed, the greater the chance for things to change,’ Ji Qingwu’s eyes shifted.

But Wei Ting gave her no time to recover, smiling as he said, "I think the day after tomorrow would be perfect."

After he left, Ji Qingwu looked up at the inky black night sky. Not a star was visible, only a sliver of a moon like a faint brow.

The day after tomorrow was the ninth day of the eighth month—Emperor Wu Su’s birthday.

Ji Qingwu stood guard at the entrance until her body grew cold. Glancing up, she saw a shadow flit past a pillar by the side hall’s corridor.

The deep blue fabric suggested a Palace Attendant from Zhaoyang Hall. ’He must be monitoring the hall. I wonder whose orders he’s following this time.’

Ji Qingwu didn’t even have the strength to scoff.

Not long after Wei Ting entered the side hall, the ceaseless arguments of the court ministers died down.

After a moment of silence, the Empress Dowager’s sharp voice rang out.

A moment later, the Empress Dowager and her entourage stormed out of the side hall.

As she passed Ji Qingwu, the Empress Dowager stopped short. In a biting tone, she said, "I have such a good niece. A master at seeing which way the wind blows. Now that you’ve found a more powerful backer, the Ji Family is too small to contain you."

’I wonder what Wei Ting said to infuriate her this much.’

Ji Qingwu knew exactly what was happening. The Empress Dowager’s plans had been thwarted, and now she was looking to take her anger out on someone.

Prince Yong wasn’t just angered by the failure to decide on an heir; his fury stemmed from what Wei Ting had just announced.

"Fifth Cousin, are you really going to marry Wei Ting? My Imperial Brother is lying inside on the brink of death, yet you’re already planning to marry someone else at a time like this."

Princess Qingyun, following behind them, said nothing, but her eyes were filled with condemnation.

Ji Qingwu lowered her gaze, masking her emotions with a faint smile.

"And why can’t I? I am a free woman. The Emperor himself previously granted me the freedom to marry whomever I choose outside the palace. It was Little Dongzi who delivered the decree to the Ji Mansion. You are free to summon him for questioning."

Prince Yong summoned Little Dongzi, who confirmed that Ji Qingwu’s words were true.

He frowned. "That was then, this is now."

Ji Qingwu’s eyes filled with derision.

"Before leaving the palace, the Emperor said he never wanted to see me again. I’m sure you’ve all heard about it."

Her gaze fell on the Wei siblings, who were just emerging from the side hall.

"It is for Princess Wei that the Emperor holds deep affection. He was even willing to risk his own sacred life for her. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be lying in there right now."

The facts were undeniable. With Emperor Wu Su lying insensate in the hall, Prince Yong was left speechless.

Seeing Ji Qingwu surrounded, Wei Ting strode over to her.

"Empress Dowager, Your Highness," Wei Ting began, "do you have some objection to the woman who is about to become my bride and join the Wei Family? If so, you should address this General directly."

His words infuriated the Empress Dowager, who cursed him for his shameless audacity.

Just as they were about to start arguing again, Princess Hua Chang’s cool voice cut in from behind.

"Let us proceed as we agreed in the hall. General Wei, you must notify your lieutenant at once to coordinate deployments with the Prince Consort. The situation at the border cannot be delayed."

Princess Hua Chang continued, "We cannot afford chaos at a time like this. First, we deal with the external threats, then we secure things internally."

The Empress Dowager led her retinue back to Cining Palace.

Wei Ting whispered a few words in Ji Qingwu’s ear, then departed as well.

Princess Hua Chang stepped forward and took Ji Qingwu’s hands in her own.

"Your hands are so cold. Have you been standing out here this whole time?" she asked, pulling Ji Qingwu inside Zhaoyang Hall.

Princess Hua Chang looked at the sorrow etched between her brows. "Qingwu, have you truly thought this through?"

Ji Qingwu replied softly, "The current situation doesn’t leave me much room for thought."

"I know you’re not doing this to grasp for power, and I understand the pain in your heart." Princess Hua Chang’s gaze shifted to the sculpted beasts on the palace eaves.

She continued, "Just now, in the hall, Wei Ting made a solemn vow. He swore that after marrying you, he will do everything in his power to support Yuan Heng, and that he will never have divided loyalties."

Princess Hua Chang’s tone turned grave. "As the Eldest Princess of this nation, I hope you will go through with the marriage."

"It’s not just for Yuan Heng’s sake. With you by Wei Ting’s side, there will be someone to keep him in check. That is a good thing for Beili."

Ji Qingwu nodded slightly, showing she understood the reasoning.

Seeing her so calm and sensible, Princess Hua Chang’s eyes welled with unconcealable pity.

"But speaking from the heart, Qingwu, I hope you will think carefully for your own sake."

Princess Hua Chang hesitated for a long moment before finally speaking her mind.

"You shouldn’t have been dragged into this. None of it has anything to do with you. You could just walk away from it all."

Even Emperor Wu Su’s own sister was telling her this. She could have left.

Ji Qingwu shook her head, a bitter smile on her face.

In the past, whenever she faced difficulties, her first instinct was always to run away, or to make a clean break and leave all the unpleasantness behind.

But this time, she couldn’t.

Ji Qingwu looked back at her and said softly, "Eldest Princess, I once asked His Majesty what his greatest wish was. He first said peace throughout the land and security for all its people."

Princess Hua Chang froze.

At a time like this, Ji Qingwu was bringing up the Emperor’s wish.

Ji Qingwu said, "In truth, that is my wish as well. I want the people to be free from the scourges of illness and disaster, to live out their hard-won lives in happiness and peace."

Human life was often treated as worthless, yet it was these two—the ones most accustomed to matters of life and death—who valued the lives of the common people above all else.

Princess Hua Chang was deeply moved. Her gaze flickered, the frost in her eyes melting away completely.

"You foolish girl..."

She herself disliked dealing with people, and was even less willing to take on burdens. She had never once thought of doing something to ease the Emperor’s worries.

For Prince Yong and Qingyun, simply not causing trouble for Emperor Wu Su was a contribution in itself.

Princess Hua Chang suddenly understood why the Emperor had shown such unique favor to Ji Qingwu.

After a long silence, she sighed. "But this burden is too great. The Emperor himself couldn’t bear it and has already fallen. Why must you insist on shouldering it yourself?"

Now, Ji Qingwu had one more reason she could not run away.

She lifted her head, her chin held high. "Because I am the one who gave birth to Yuan Heng."

As Princess Hua Chang stared in utter astonishment, Ji Qingwu said with grave earnestness, "Before, His Majesty was here to protect him. But from now on..."

"I will protect him and make sure he grows up safely."

Princess Hua Chang struggled to process the news that the Emperor and Ji Qingwu had a son together.

She suddenly thought of something. "Then your daughter is...?"

Ji Qingwu replied, "They are twins."

Learning this secret under such circumstances, Princess Hua Chang didn’t know whether to be happy or sad. Neither felt right.

As an expectant mother herself, she understood Ji Qingwu’s feelings and could no longer find the words to persuade her otherwise.

But inwardly, she breathed a sigh of relief.

’Yuan Heng has the ultimate ace up his sleeve.’