Phi-Fic Chapter 478 Unlimited Potential (Bonus Chapter)
Chapter 478 Unlimited Potential (Bonus Chapter)
She slowly turned her head, her gaze passing over the Empress Dowager, and looked at the sleeping child in swaddling clothes not far away.
Her lips twitched, and she murmured almost inaudibly, "Mother...take good care of him."
The Empress Dowager's eyes reddened, and she said in a hoarse voice, "I promise you, I will protect him for the rest of his life."
After hearing this, Meng Wanqing wanted to nod, but found that she had no strength left.
His eyes slowly closed.
Upon seeing this, the imperial physician immediately stepped forward to check her pulse, and then, "The Empress's breath has ceased."
The hall was deathly silent; everyone bowed their heads and held their breath.
The Empress Dowager swayed, almost losing her balance, and the prayer beads in her hand broke, scattering the beads all over the ground.
After an incense stick had burned, the gates of Shou'an Palace were tightly closed, and the curtains inside the palace were lowered.
Meng Wanqing passed away at the age of eighteen.
The Empress Dowager was deeply saddened. Although the Emperor did not express his opinion, he issued an edict posthumously conferring upon her the title of Imperial Noble Consort, and the funeral was held at an extremely high level.
On the day of the funeral, bells and drums sounded in unison, white silk was everywhere, and hundreds of people dressed in mourning clothes stood in front of the Golden Palace.
Gao Che was also brought over by the wet nurse.
The baby, who had been quiet, seemed to sense something and suddenly started crying the moment the coffin was carried out.
The cries were loud, piercing, and heart-wrenching.
The wet nurse rushed forward to comfort him, but to no avail.
In the end, Xie Jing was invited.
But this time, Xie Jinglai's hugs were useless. No matter how gently he coaxed Gao Che, he just wouldn't stop.
The long, drawn-out cries tore through the gloomy palace walls.
It was also like bidding farewell to the mother who died for him.
Late at night, at Shou'an Palace.
The room was filled with calming incense and a faint scent of sandalwood.
Gao Che finally stopped crying as night fell completely.
He nestled in Xie Jing's arms, exhausted from crying, his body still trembling and hiccuping from sobbing.
Her cheeks were flushed, and tears still clung to her eyelashes.
Xie Jing held him on the couch, the little bundle of flesh in his arms was soft and cuddly, tightly gripping his clothes and refusing to let go.
Xie Jing looked down at him, and their eyes met.
The little guy, with red eyes, looked at him but stopped crying and instead gave a small yawn.
"You've been crying all day," Xie Jing sighed.
"Mmm..." Gao Che responded vaguely, as if he understood, or as if he was extremely sleepy.
He blinked, then suddenly reached out and nuzzled Xie Jing's chest.
I found the most comfortable spot, closed my eyes, and fell asleep.
Xie Jing looked down at him.
The baby's breathing was soft and even, and his little face still showed some grievances from crying for so long.
Xie Jing looked at him, and a thought struck her.
My restless heart softened for some reason.
Actually, it's not that bad.
The eldest princess's mansion.
The first snowflakes had melted, and the stone steps were still slightly damp.
Xie Jue looked up at the majestic gate, her small hands hidden in her sleeves, secretly clutching a tiny rattle drum.
He looked up at Qin Jiuwei beside him and asked softly, "Mother, do you think... little sister will like this?"
Qin Jiuwei looked down at what he was holding.
It was a wooden rattle drum that he picked up in the market today, with a smiling little cat painted on its surface.
Her heart softened, and she smiled, saying, "You'll like it."
Xie Jue's eyes lit up upon hearing this.
Inside the warm pavilion of the Princess's residence.
Gao Yunzhi, wearing a cloak embroidered with gold clouds and cranes, sat on the soft couch, smiling at Qin Jiuwei.
"I heard that Chun-ge'er has made great contributions in leading the troops this time, catching Li Wuyang off guard. He is so brave and valiant at such a young age!"
"Now, all the ladies in the capital want to learn from you how to raise their children, how you raise such outstanding children."
"First, Xie Jing was accepted as Master Gu's last disciple and became famous throughout the capital. Now Xie Jingchun is also so brave and martial. How old is he? He is already a fourth-rank Anyuan General!"
"Once the war is over, they will definitely reward you again! They might even grant you a noble title. Your future is truly limitless."
She changed the subject, saying with a hint of teasing, "Even the usually aloof Princess Jingzhao came to me personally, saying she wanted to marry Chun-ge. This boy has now become the most sought-after young man in our capital."
Upon hearing this, Qin Jiuwei chuckled, "Brother Chun has just gone to the battlefield, and his mind is still on the army. He's too busy with romance to think about these things."
Gao Yunzhi nodded with a smile, "That's true, now is the time when we need people. But your son will never have trouble finding someone to take care of him in the future."
"If you weren't so averse to socializing, the threshold of your Xie family would probably have been worn down by these ladies seeking your hand in marriage long ago!"
As she spoke, she leaned closer and smiled as she took Qin Jiuwei's hand.
“Teach me how to raise children. I only have one daughter, Wanzhi, and I don’t want her to become spoiled in the future.”
Qin Jiuwei chuckled when she heard her earnestness. "What can I do? I can only worry about things from behind the scenes. The main thing is that they know what they're doing."
"That's because you taught them well." Gao Yunzhi nodded and smiled. "It takes skill to teach children to be reasonable."
Qin Jiu smiled and agreed, but there was a hint of worry in his eyes.
“It’s a good thing that Chun Ge’er can make a contribution.”
She paused, then said softly, "As his mother, I don't ask for his success or fame; I only wish for his safe return."
Nothing is more important than peace and safety.
The sun outside the hall was warm and gentle.
Gao Wanzhi is only six months old now, just learning to speak and full of curiosity.
He was held by his wet nurse and sat on a soft cushion, waving his chubby little hands incessantly.
Xie Jue squatted opposite her, holding a rattle drum in his hand, shaking it and making a "ding-a-ling" sound.
"Look, little sister! This is a gift for you, isn't it nice?" Xie Jue said with a smile.
Gao Wanzhi's gaze was drawn to the rattle drum, and she reached out her little hand to grab it, actually managing to catch Xie Jue's finger.
"She arrested me!" Xie Jue exclaimed softly, his face beaming with excitement.
The wet nurse standing nearby smiled and nodded, "Young Master Jue is really amazing. The princess usually doesn't like anyone touching her."
Xie Jue blinked, leaned closer, and held the rattle drum even closer. "Little sister, you have to like me too, okay? I'm your brother!"
Gao Wanzhi giggled and babbled a few baby sounds.
Sunlight streamed into the room, and the two children, one big and one small, smiled at each other.
Late at night, Qinglan Courtyard was completely silent.
Only a dim lamp was lit in the main house.
Qin Jiuwei sat alone at her desk, a letter spread out on the table, the ink still wet.
She held the pen, pausing for a long time on the last sentence.
"Everything is fine at home, but every night when I look at the candlelight, I think of you."
With a pure heart, I only hope that when spring returns, I can see you again in peace.
After writing that sentence, she paused, then gently wrote another sentence at the end of the letter.
"I hope you take care and return home soon."
The moment I put pen to paper, tears unexpectedly streamed down my face, dripping onto the paper and spreading into a small blot of ink.
She quickly raised her hand to wipe it, but the more she wiped, the blurrier it became.
My fingers trembled slightly, and I could no longer write.
She pursed her lips, lowered her head and leaned against the letter, her shoulders rising and falling slightly.
A gentle breeze stirred the windowpanes, causing the candlelight to flicker.
Her shadow was cast on the wall, all alone.
At this moment, on the border thousands of miles away.
Xie Yanli was reviewing military reports in his tent when he suddenly sensed something.
His pen paused, and a sudden sharp pain shot through his chest.