PMM - 53

After Ling Jiuyao escaped from the palace, he drew away most of the troops. He had brought many men with him, and soon Liang Zhen didn’t dare to act rashly.

He returned to Huan Shui before Lian Sheng and the others but fretted for two days—

He had done such a stupid thing; would his precious daughter blame him? What did Ah Sheng like? He hadn’t had time to investigate or prepare anything. He had been a father for over twenty years, but never had a daughter, and he didn’t know what kind of attitude towards her would be appropriate.

When Ling Jiuyao couldn’t sit still any longer, Ling Feng and his group finally returned. Ling Jiuyao went out to greet them, feeling so awkward that he didn’t know what to do with his hands and feet. Lian Sheng was carried off the carriage by Yi Qiancheng and immediately saw Ling Jiuyao.

She lowered her eyes and didn’t look at him. Facts and emotions are hard to synchronize; even though she knew he was her father, she couldn’t treat him as one overnight.

Ling Jiuyao felt a sense of loss. On the way to the city lord’s residence, he finally spoke softly, “Ah Sheng, would you be willing to talk to me alone?”

Lian Sheng raised her eyes. Her almond-shaped eyes were lively and beautiful, resembling Fei Yu’e more and more the longer one looked. With three parts hesitation, seeing the nervous and careful expression of City Lord Ling, she eventually nodded.

City Lord Ling took her to the study and unfolded a painting for her to see. It depicted a young woman smiling while holding a flower.

Miraculously, upon seeing this painting, she immediately felt a sense of closeness and familiarity.

“This is your mother, Fei Yu’e, but she should have originally been surnamed Xu, called Xu Yu’e, the eldest legitimate daughter of the Xu family in Huan Shui.”

Lian Sheng’s fingers brushed over the painting. The painting was imbued with emotion, making it seem as if the person in the painting came alive. The figure in the painting was very young, exuding a touch of girlish charm. She turned her head and smiled, possessing a beauty that could rival the finest flowers. There was a resemblance between her eyebrows and eyes and Lian Sheng’s.

“When I first met Yu’e, she was seventeen, playing chess on a pleasure boat with someone. That person was a notorious thug in Huan Shui who had taken a fancy to Yu’e’s beauty and wanted to forcibly marry her. Yu’e said that if he won, she would agree to him, but if he lost, he must never bother her again.”

“In the end, Yu’e won, but that thug suddenly reneged. I thought that such a delicate girl would be helpless and in a difficult situation, but unexpectedly, she overturned the chessboard on the spot, throwing all the pieces at the thug’s face. Everyone present was stunned, and when the thug realized what happened, he became furious and immediately retaliated.”

Recalling the past, Ling Jiuyao’s lips curved into a slight smile, as if recalling something very pleasant.

“Yu’e ran out and bumped into me. Seeing my fine attire, she told me that someone behind her wanted to abduct a civilian girl. Having witnessed the entire process, I found her interesting and stepped in to save her. I knew she was from the Xu family, but she didn’t know I was the city lord of Huan Shui. Falling in love with someone for the first time, I was afraid of losing her and thus never revealed my identity to her.”

“It wasn’t until half a year later during the selection for the imperial harem that the Xu family submitted her name. At that time, I was preoccupied and unaware of this matter. By the time I found out, it was already too late.”

Lian Sheng’s round black eyes gazed at him intently, listening attentively.

“I was delayed by something. My mother was still alive then, your grandmother. After your grandfather passed away, I inherited the title, but my position was unstable. Long ago, your grandmother had arranged for me to marry the eldest daughter of the Fang family, Fang Yuan. Fang Yuan is Ling Feng and Ling Chu’s mother. I thought my life would be like this forever, never expecting to meet your mother later. Unfortunately, we met too late, and I concealed too much.”

“My mother then pressured me to take Fei Mi as a concubine. Loving Yu’e, I naturally refused. When I finally managed to leave the city lord’s residence, I learned that Yu’e, unable to find me after searching for several days, had been registered by her father and brother.”

Fei Mi… Xu Yu’e, Lian Sheng suddenly thought of something and widened her eyes in surprise, “Fei Mi, is she Noble Consort Mi?”

“Yes, at that time, I had no other options. Unwilling to lose the woman I loved, I went to discuss with Fei Mi, allowing her to enter the palace as a consort, with Huan Shui agreeing to help her with one thing in the future. The register recorded the eldest legitimate daughter of the Xu family. As long as they didn’t say anything, no one would discover the switch of the candidates. Fei Mi agreed, and I joyfully told Yu’e the truth—that she could exchange identities with Fei Mi and marry me. She was dazed for a long time but left Huan Shui the day before the wedding.”

“The rest of the story, you already know. I have regretted it my whole life, wronging your mother and you.”

Lian Sheng’s lips trembled slightly, but she didn’t speak. She understood her mother’s actions. Xu Yu’e didn’t want to break up another family and quietly left Huan Shui. However, she had feelings for City Lord Ling and missed her hometown deeply, which led to her melancholy death in Ying Dong.

After City Lord Ling finished speaking, his eyes reddened slightly. He had made mistakes in his youth, thinking everything was under his control. In his old age, he almost harmed his own daughter. His life had been a failure, but fortunately, Ah Sheng had returned safely now. From now on, he would have the chance to make it up to her.

That evening, Lian Sheng told Yi Qiancheng about her mother and Ling Jiuyao’s past. Yi Qiancheng listened to her soft voice and cooperatively nodded: “Hmm, City Lord Ling really wasn’t a good man.”

It was one thing to wrong Xu Yu’e, but why marry Fang Yuan if he didn’t love her, only to waste her life.

After Lian Sheng finished, she suddenly frowned and looked at Yi Qiancheng: “Husband, you didn’t love me back then either, so why did you marry me? Wasn’t marrying me also wasting both my life and yours?”

Yi Qiancheng smiled: “You insisted on me marrying you back then. I thought it was rare to encounter such an assertive woman, so I decided to indulge her.”

Lian Sheng found it amusing but deliberately kept a straight face. His smile disappeared, and he looked somewhat nervous: “Are you angry?”

He seemed troubled, hesitating for a long time before finally revealing the truth to her: “You may not believe this, but the moment I lifted your veil, I already…”

He gritted his teeth and finished, “I already liked you.”

Finally unable to hold back, she laughed heartily in his arms, her eyes crinkling with joy. Mr. Fu Yi’s words couldn’t be trusted; it turned out that from the very beginning, he had been fond of her, otherwise, he wouldn’t have agreed to marry her.

Lian Sheng held Yi Qiancheng’s hand, interlocking their fingers: “So this is our destined fate, right? If there is a next life, I will come to find you again and be with you.”

He was amused by this childlike statement and said to her: “If there is a next life or even a life after that, just stay still and wait for me to find you.”

The one who searches always has it much harder.

Yi Qiancheng was afraid of bumping into Lian Sheng’s belly. He had been away on military campaigns and abstained for a long time. Fearing he might lose control and hurt her, he voluntarily went to sleep on the small couch outside.

The flickering candlelight cast shadows on him, and his broad back gave an especially reassuring feeling. Lian Sheng watched without blinking until his figure disappeared from her sight.

That night, she had a dream that she hadn’t had in a year, continuing where it left off.

— The gates of Yingdong were breached, and she couldn’t move. A Western Qiang soldier raised his curved sword and swung it down at her. Suddenly, Lian Sheng was pulled into someone’s embrace, and all the sounds of shouting and weeping vanished.

She looked up. The sunlight shone on his dark battle armor. His features were gentle, and he gazed at her with a tender smile.

Everything had finally come to an end. So this was the true conclusion—they were each other’s salvation.

Lian Sheng and Yi Qiancheng stayed together in Huan Shui until mid-May. Grass grew lush and orioles flew about; May’s Huan Shui no longer felt cold but was full of vitality, and the scenery was beautiful.

Lian Sheng’s belly grew larger and larger. Her pregnancy was six and a half months along, and the baby’s movements became increasingly frequent. Even before it was born, she could already feel how healthy and lively the child was.

Ling Jiuyao no longer visited the pleasure boats, and his brows were filled with happiness as he thoughtfully tried to please his daughter. Ling Feng was considerate and found several experienced matrons to attend to his sister, teaching her how to make baby bibs. Ling Chu was the most excited; not only did he have a sister now, but soon he would also become an uncle. Previously the youngest in the family, he now finally understood the joy of being an older brother.

Liang Zhen was furious and reached an agreement with Xiang Han, even agreeing to let Xiang Han bring over troops to deal with Yi Qiancheng.

Yi Qiancheng couldn’t wait for them to attack, but looking at Lian Sheng’s increasingly prominent belly, he couldn’t bear to leave, nor did he dare to. He feared that if he left, he would lose her. When Lian Sheng was pregnant, he hadn’t been by her side. Now, with the child due in just over three months, if he couldn’t be with her, it would be a lifelong regret.

Lian Sheng more or less guessed that Liang Zhen and Xiang Han wouldn’t remain idle. She asked Ling Jiuyao about the situation, and he didn’t dare to hide anything from her. Delighted that his daughter was finally willing to talk to him, he told her everything truthfully. Then, fearing she would worry, he quickly added: “Liang Zhen doesn’t have many troops in the capital city, and Xiang Han is also running out of steam. Ah Sheng, there’s no need to worry.”

After much deliberation, Lian Sheng decided to persuade Yi Qiancheng. She hugged his waist: “Husband, you can go ahead and leave. I and the child will wait here for your return. No matter how long it takes, I will wait. Last time, I never got the chance to tell you. When you asked me what I would do if you lost, I believe you won’t lose. But even if that day ever comes, there’s nothing to fear. When I married you, I swore to the whole world that we would live and die together, never parting ways.”

He stroked her hair, remained silent for a long time, and his voice was somewhat hoarse: “Don’t say such things anymore. If something really happens to me, you and the child must live well. Don’t… don’t end up like my mother.”

Her heart ached deeply, and she softly reassured him: “I will. We’ve made an agreement. Whoever dies at ninety-seven, we’ll meet on the bridge of奈何桥(Naihe Bridge) and wait for three years.”

You give me the right to be fragile, and you also give me the courage to be strong.

Lian Sheng stayed in Huan Shui. There was no safer place than Huan Shui now. With its strong walls, it provided the best protection.

She still missed him every day, but fortunately, this time she had the company of the Ling family. Ling Ershao naturally brought a sense of humor, which helped her relax a lot.

Now there was another advantageous aspect: Liang Zhen and Xiang Han didn’t know about the underground palace in the imperial city. If they planned well and launched a surprise attack, they would surely catch them off guard.

Lian Sheng felt that time passed particularly slowly, but as she waited and waited, it was suddenly August. Her belly had grown very large, and she had to support her back while walking. Yi Qiancheng still hadn’t returned, indicating how tough this battle was.

The Ling family kept her in the dark, fearing that knowing the battle situation would worry her. However, Lian Sheng was calmer and stronger than they imagined, asking nothing. Only she knew that her heart was with Yi Qiancheng. Having made the decision to wait for him, she was no longer afraid of anything.

She believed he would come back.

Both she and the child were here; he would definitely not abandon them.

In the afternoon, the matrons accompanied Lian Sheng in doing needlework. Her skills had improved significantly, and a red carp came to life under her hands. The matron squinted, then praised her repeatedly: “Madam’s hands are truly skillful, and your embroidery is so lively.”

She smiled but didn’t take it seriously. Yet, she couldn’t help feeling a bit wistful, remembering when she did needlework with Yi Huan. Yi Huan always patiently taught her. Such a wonderful and kind girl, yet now she refused to contact anyone. Yi Qiancheng still didn’t know about Yi Huan’s situation, and Lian Sheng really wanted to know how Yi Huan was doing now.

Thinking it over and over, she still believed that Yi Huan’s retreat to the mountains was related to Fu Qingtan. Lovers shouldn’t suffer like this…

Lost in thought, she accidentally pricked her finger with the needle. The matron exclaimed and hurriedly bandaged it for her. Turning around, she saw that Lian Sheng’s expression was off. Lian Sheng frowned and said: “I… I think I’m going into labor…”

Her water broke, and the baby was coming a month early.

This statement caused an uproar in the City Lord’s residence. City Lord Ling had previously arranged for several midwives to stay in the residence. Upon hearing that Lian Sheng was going into labor, they rushed over with great urgency.

Lian Sheng lay on the bed. It was her first childbirth, and she was still a bit scared, her face pale.

The midwife consoled her: “Madam, don’t be afraid. The labor has just started. Are you hungry? Eat something so you’ll have strength later.”

Lian Sheng nodded. The kitchen had prepared some porridge, which was brought over. After drinking the porridge and eating a few pieces of cake, she stared blankly towards the screen. But this was the inner room; besides the screen, there was also a door separating them from the outside—how could she possibly see anything?

The midwife followed her gaze and asked, “Madam, do you need something? Shall I have a servant fetch it for you?”

Ling Sheng snapped out of her daze, shook her head, and said nothing.

The people outside were also tense. Ling Feng, who had been handling matters outside, hurried over upon hearing that his sister was in labor. Ling Chu paced back and forth in the outer room, muttering, “Blessings, blessings.” Ling Jiuyao was nervous and, irritated by Ling Chu’s pacing, shouted, “Sit down, stop moving around!”

A cry of pain came from inside, quickly fading away and gradually becoming silent.

Ling Chu’s eyes widened: “What’s going on?”

Ling Jiuyao, having witnessed the birth of two children, feared Ling Chu might act rashly and whispered, “It’s fine, just behave yourself.”

The midwife said, “Madam, don’t shout for now. It’s just the beginning; save your strength for later when you’ll need to push.”

Lian Sheng dared not cry out again and followed her instructions. Her belly began to ache in waves, and she gripped the quilt tightly, telling herself not to be afraid.

Night gradually fell.