Old Oyster Birthing a Pearl (1)
“After leaving Cang Jin, where else does Wan Wan want to go?”
Perhaps having grown old, or perhaps because there weren’t any troubles, becoming open-minded from traveling around, this temper naturally just curbed. In these years, a certain someone actually very rarely ‘acted up’.
“Let’s return to the capital. We’ve truly been out for many years, so should go back for a look, else in another two years, our grandsons and granddaughters will have already married, yet we still haven’t even seen them.”
“Not seeing is just not seeing, how big of a deal. They, these younger generation, could it be that they even need for us to specially go back to see? Are they not afraid of shortening their life?”
Alright, his temper curbing and whatnot, that was purely nonsense. It was still this ‘heavenly emperor’ stance.
“It’s me that feels a bit tired, wanting to go back and rest for a few years.” When it comes to dealing with this ‘old man’, Jing Wan right now was very skillful. In any case, nothing has changed over these years. As long as she was using herself to speak, then nothing was a problem, and nine times out of ten, he will always agree. As for the remaining times, it was most likely things that might not be very good for her.
Although they’ve decided on the route, there was also no need to rush, still playing around along the way, walking and stopping. Taking a year and a half to return to the capital was also considered normal.
When Li Tian Lin had received news, he immediately let his own empress tidy up Shouan Palace, arranging in the best way possible, both needing to be extravagant, yet also comfortable, refined and not tacky.
Xie-shi came from a large influential family clan, so her taste certainly won’t have any problems, practically going to see everyday. If there’s any place not appropriate, then it was just change, change, change, immediately change. And as for the servants, it was further selecting again and again. Can’t use new people, but also can’t use the people under them, else wouldn’t there be the suspicion of planting spies by the elders’ side?
And over these years, Li Tian Lin and Xie-shi gave birth to a total of five sons and two daughters, which was also quite incredible. On Li Hong Yuan’s side, the court officials didn’t dare to ‘press for marriage’, and having him, this precedent, if the current emperor doesn’t mention taking in consorts, then the court officials also won’t try to ‘meddle in his business’. In any case, compared to the Retired Emperor just having a sole son, his Majesty absolutely can be considered blessed with children, not needing to worry about there not being other princes to inherit the throne if the crown prince were to accidentally die prematurely one day.
The eldest imperial prince similarly got conferred as the crown prince at birth. Along with his six younger brothers and sisters, he watched their imperial mother being this solemn, having everything else all pushed aside. Even though they can be considered to have grown up hearing about their imperial grandfather and imperial grandmother, but they ultimately can only construct a rough image using their imagination. Now that they can finally meet, among the excitement, there was also a bit of nervousness.
In this way, they just waited, and waited, and waited. As time passed, alright, all the emotions were gone, continuing on as usual.
Three months passed. According to the information passed back, the total distance traveled was still less than one-fifth of the way. By the time they reach the capital, don’t even know what year it will be.
Afterwards, another four months passed. Eh, they actually returned to the capital? Li Tian Lin was also confused. They’d travelled that slowly in front, but afterwards, how come they suddenly just sped up?
Alright, calculating normally, this speed was actually also quite slow, just the temporary stops midway was probably just normal breaks, nothing more than just staying for a night and continuing on the way the next day.
Li Tian Lin brought along his wife and children, as well as the civil and military officials, to welcome outside the city gates.
Just, Li Hong Yuan and Jing Wan both didn’t show their faces, riding the carriage directly into the palace.
TN: All
Li Tian Lin pondered for a moment, things seemingly were a bit off. Later, it’s best to be careful. He seamlessly glanced at his eldest son, inwardly thinking to himself, if that doesn’t work, then just push his son out. What was a son used for? Having been taught by his old man, the son, that was just for screwing over.
Prior to visiting his imperial father and imperial mother, Li Tian Lin prepared to first inquire some information from the accompanying people. However, before he could ask, Li Hong Yuan just summoned the imperial physician first.
———-Gong Jiu, in the earlier years, already took in a few disciples, having all his medical skills passed down. In the first few years when Jing Wan and them were out, Gong Jiu still accompanied along, but afterwards, he returned to the capital and stayed in the Imperial Physicians Court to focus on studying medicine. The one following by Jing Wan and Li Hong Yuan’s side was the disciple he was the most proud of, receiving most of his true teachings.
Li Tian Lin and Xie-shi shared a glance, their heart also dyeing with worry. Was it imperial father or imperial mother that was unwell?
Unable to think of too much, he hurriedly went in.
And after entering, he discovered that the atmosphere was still pretty good. Moreover, his imperial father and imperial mother still appeared more or less the same when they’d left, still full of vitality, their spirit also pretty good. No matter how one looked, it all wasn’t like they were ill. Imperial father still carried a cold look, but hasn’t he always been like this? Pressing down the doubt inside, he took his wife and children to formally greet his parents.
“Quickly get up, all one family, no need to be this reserved.” Jing Wan gently said.
After standing up, the young ones finally began sizing up their grandfather and grandmother. S-so, so young, appearing not that different from their imperial father and imperial mother, were they really their grandparents?
Jing Wan looked at her son and daughter-in-law. They’d just become more mature and steady, having the majestic presence of an emperor and empress. Because they exchanged letters all year round, and all weren’t children anymore, they naturally won’t go as far as to ‘cry on each other’s shoulder’ and such.
Her gaze landed on the younger generation. She was already a grandmother to a bunch of grandchildren, but when formally meeting, she still felt a bit peculiar inside, especially when Jing Wan even seamlessly caressed her stomach. It’s been a few months already, so she’d already made the mental constructions. Yet, when facing her descendants, she still was a bit awkward.
Among the seven grandchildren, the eldest grandson was fourteen, while the youngest just learned to walk. Seeing the pink and tender little dumpling, Jing Wan was also fond inside, waving her hand, “Come here, let imperial grandmother see.”
“Coming over for what, just stand there. ——Do you not know your current condition?” Li Hong Yuan coldly opened his mouth.
It was still okay if he didn’t open his mouth, but once he opened his mouth, the intimidating might was still formidable. The slightly younger ones nearly got frightened into tears.
Xie-shi originally wanted to have her youngest son brought over, but upon hearing, she awkwardly and helplessly froze. Don’t look at how she has been the empress smoothly for more than a decade, when facing these two, no matter how strong of a presence, it can also weaken a little.
Jing Wan angrily glanced at him, “It was grandmother that lacked consideration. Your grandfather isn’t angry with you all.”
“Is imperial mother’s body unwell?” Li Tian Lin slightly furrowed his brow, carrying a bit of worry as he asked.
Jing Wan didn’t immediately respond, really having a hard time opening her mouth, “Actually, no, it’s just…….”
“Your imperial mother is pregnant, you’re going to be a big brother soon.” Li Hong Yuan said it quite bluntly, yet his voice was as cold as ice.
Embarrassment and whatnot, Li Hong Yuan never had any. Just, this child’s arrival made him quite unhappy.
When Jing Wan was giving birth at eighteen, he was already hanging on the edge of his nerve, let alone now, when she was already over fifty. Although the people below repeatedly ensured that her body was healthy, not the least bit lacking compared to those women in their twenties and thirties, he still felt irritable for no reason inside. Additionally, even though her body’s condition was pretty good, her age was ultimately placed there. It was best if she doesn’t give birth. Giving birth is extremely damaging to the mother’s body to begin with. However, Li Hong Yuan could only helplessly watch Jing Wan once again suffer through the hardships of pregnancy and suffer the pain of giving birth.
T/N: At this point of the story, Li Tian Lin is already over thirty. In a way, we also watched him grow up and grow old.
