Became a Dad

"My lord has returned!"

As Li Yi's carriage reached the courtyard gate, Dog Egg cried out joyfully.

In an instant, the entire Li household came alive.

Supported by a maid, Liu Fang emerged from the hall with her swollen belly.

"Fang'er, be careful of the baby!"

Seeing Liu Fang, Li Yi hurried forward and gathered her into his arms.

Li Yue and Liu Fang also made their way to the hall.

Looking at the women of the household, Li Yi raised a brow and asked, "Where's Li Xin? Where did he go?"

"Second Brother went to the academy. He won't be back for another half hour!"

Li Yue wiped the fine sweat from her forehead, then immediately latched onto Li Yi, asking him for advice on archery.

Ever since Li Yi had gradually gained a foothold in the army and amassed some money, he had hired several maids and servants for the household.

With more free time on his hands, Li Xin had returned to the academy to continue his studies.

As for the household's safety, Li Yi was not worried.

He had over twenty personal guards under his command. Liu Ye, as captain of the personal guards, remained at his side awaiting orders, while Li Tao handled important and secret matters.

Wang Hao, another personal guard who had followed Li Yi out of Blackstone Town, was responsible for leading men in guarding the Li residence and protecting Li Yi's family.

In terms of ties, Wang Hao was Li Yi's junior fellow disciple. His father had once studied Hunting under Li Yi's family, making him someone trustworthy as well.

By the time night had deepened, Li Xin had returned home.

The dinner table was laden with wine and meat, and Li Xin and the others had grown increasingly robust in both complexion and build.

By now, Li Xin's illness had long since been cured.

Looking at Li Xin with a sword at his waist, Li Yi said with a smile, "I'm now a Company Sima, with five hundred men under my command. I need a few clerks. Li Xin, would you be willing to work under me?"

Under Li Yi's guidance, seventeen-year-old Li Xin had already become a Body Tempering Realm First Layer martial artist. He had also cultivated a sword technique Li Yi had exchanged for in the army.

Hearing this, Li Xin pondered for a moment before saying, "I can't learn much more at the academy. Since Big Brother needs me, I'm willing to work in the army!"

"Good!"

Seeing this, Li Yi laughed heartily, raised his wine cup, and drained it in one gulp.

The affairs of the Wind Tiger Battalion had temporarily gotten on the right track. With Han Jia keeping watch, Li Yi could cultivate at home for a few days.

As early winter arrived, snow gradually began to fall over Wild Goose Pass.

Li Yi's playful mood was stirred. After having people make some ice blocks, he bought a live sheep and personally cooked a huge pot of ice-boiled lamb.

Eating this long-missed delicacy, Li Yi could not help feeling deeply moved.

"Some other day, I'll invite General Guan over to the house. Then I'll let him taste this ice-boiled lamb too."

This method of cooking lamb, utterly unlike that of the Chen Kingdom, left Li Xin and the others greatly amazed.

An entire ice-boiled lamb was completely devoured in less than one meal.

Early the next morning, while Li Yi was still deep in dreams, a knock on the door woke him.

"Big Brother, Big Brother, Sister-in-law is about to give birth!"

Li Yue shouted loudly outside the door.

"What? Liu Fang is giving birth!"

Li Yi instantly woke up. He got out of bed and dressed, while Liu Ru, lying on the bed, was also awakened by the commotion and hurriedly got up to make herself presentable.

With a creak, Li Yi opened the door.

Li Yue looked at him anxiously. "Second Brother has already gone to fetch the doctor. Hurry and check on Sister-in-law! She keeps crying out in pain!"

Li Yue was only a girl of thirteen or fourteen. Having never seen anything like this before, she was completely flustered.

Seeing this, Liu Fang hurriedly comforted Li Yue, then began directing the maids to boil water.

For a time, the entire Li residence plunged into a frenzy of activity.

Very soon, Li Xin brought back a doctor and a midwife.

Li Yi, who had been accompanying Liu Fang, was immediately driven out of the room.

"Everything will be fine!"

In an era where medical skills and medicine were underdeveloped, childbirth had always been an extremely dangerous matter!

Thus, women who had successfully given birth were, to a certain extent, more highly sought after.

That was precisely why there was the folk saying: women with big hips were good for bearing children.

Li Yi paced anxiously back and forth in the courtyard, glancing from time to time at the bedroom, where cries of pain kept ringing out.

Second by second, time passed. Basin after basin of bloody water was carried out by the maids, while the kitchen fires burned without pause, sending great quantities of hot water into the room.

After an unknown length of time, a baby's cry finally sounded from within.

"The baby's born!"

Li Yi froze for a moment, then rushed to the bedroom door.

With a creak, Liu Ru stood in the doorway, cradling a crying infant.

"Brother Yi, it's a boy!"

Looking at the child in Liu Ru's arms, an indescribable emotion welled up in Li Yi's heart.

"Where's Liu Fang?"

"She's resting in bed. She's fine!"

Warmth filled Liu Ru's heart, and she quickly told Li Yi about her younger sister's condition.

After receiving the physician's permission, Li Yi strode quickly into the bedroom.

Liu Fang lay on the bed, her face pale.

"Brother Yi."

Seeing the concern on Li Yi's face, Liu Fang forced out a smile.

"Don't talk. Get some proper rest."

As Li Yi comforted Liu Fang, he gestured for Liu Ru to bring the child over.

"Brother Yi, give the child a name."

At Liu Fang's words, Li Yi fell into thought.

"Let's call him Li Zhuang!"

"I hope he grows up strong and sturdy, becoming a towering tree that reaches the sky!"

"Li Zhuang? A good name. I hope he can grow up safe and sound too."

Liu Fang repeated the name several times, then fell asleep with a contented heart.

Watching Liu Fang drift into slumber, Li Yi and the others quietly left the bedroom, leaving only two maids behind to care for her.

Once outside, Li Yi teased the child for a moment, then said to everyone with a smile, "Everyone has worked hard this time!"

"Little sister, go to the accounts room and fetch some silver. I want to hand out celebratory money!"

After the child was born, Li Yi stayed home for a while longer, keeping Liu Fang and her son company.

But the Qing Kingdom's army had yet to withdraw. One afternoon, General Guan sent someone to summon Li Yi back from home.

"Greetings, General!"

Li Yi entered the main camp with his head held high. After saluting General Guan, he returned to his own place.

Once everyone had arrived, General Guan took out several documents and had them passed around.

"Ever since the Qing Kingdom's vanguard was wiped out more than a month ago, those Qing Kingdom scoundrels have refused to give up. Not long ago, they dispatched another twenty thousand troops, led by a deputy general, to invade our Wild Goose Pass once more!"

"As of today, three fortresses outside Wild Goose Pass have already fallen, while more than a dozen others have been attacked and harassed by the Qing Kingdom army. The situation along the entire border is extremely dire!"

"Everyone, do you have any ideas?"

General Guan looked over the crowd, his gaze full of scrutiny.

At once, the entire main camp fell silent.

The Qing Kingdom deputy general invading this time was a powerful martial artist who had entered the True Qi Realm!

Other than General Guan, everyone present was only a Body Tempering Realm martial artist. Not a single one could withstand even one exchange with that deputy general!

For a time, no one dared speak.

Seeing this, Li Yi pondered for a moment before rising and stepping before General Guan.

"Reporting to the General, I have a plan that may be able to resolve this crisis!"