Li Haotian's expression instantly darkened. "Where did you hear such news, Uncle Wang?"
"The royal palace of Great Qian is the axis upon which the realm turns. Its every move draws countless eyes. Your Majesty, no wall in this world can keep out the Wind Dao."
Li Haotian looked at Prince Qing. "If you have something to say, Uncle Wang, speak plainly!"
"Your Majesty, it is time for Establishing the Heir Apparent. This realm belongs to Your Majesty, but it also belongs to the Li Family. It is the foundation our ancestors built for their descendants. As this old servant suggested before, choosing a distant relative from the Li Family's legitimate line to wed Her Highness the Princess would preserve the purity of our imperial bloodline. But now the Princess secretly carries a child, bringing shame upon our Imperial Family. She is no longer fit to be Heir Apparent. Besides, she is a woman, after all!"
Bang! Li Haotian slammed his palm onto the tea table, shattering it. The teacups fell and smashed to pieces.
"Uncle Wang, you have overstepped."
"As head of the Imperial Clan Court, this old servant must speak a few unwelcome words. If Your Majesty believes I have overstepped, please punish me!" Prince Qing rose, then dropped to his knees.
Li Haotian said coldly, "I am still far from death. We shall discuss the matter of the Heir Apparent another time."
"Your Majesty, with the empress's seat vacant and no Heir Apparent appointed, the court cannot rest easy!"
In North Spring Mountain, Gu Yuanqing wielded the Kunwu Sword, his body moving like a Wandering Dragon, his blade like a silver serpent.
Sword light crisscrossed as gang qi surged and receded, sometimes racing like the Wind Dao and Thunder Dao, sometimes nourishing all things like the Rain Dao, dreamlike and illusory.
A short while later, he stopped and flicked the blade with a finger. The sword rang clear.
"What a pleasure! A treasured blade really is different from a wooden sword. I can unleash my moves freely without worrying about damaging it. My swordsmanship is at least fifty percent more powerful! Without that concern, I can immerse myself even more deeply in comprehending the sword!"
By now, Gu Yuanqing had stopped pondering what the emperor truly intended. As Eunuch Xu had said, cultivation was the foundation. Once he became a Grandmaster, why would he need to care what the emperor thought?
Life in the mountains settled back into peace. When supplies arrived again fifteen days later, they indeed included two jars of fine wine.
That night, Gu Yuanqing ate meat in hearty mouthfuls and drank deeply, utterly at ease.
Several more days passed. While practicing Mountain Observation, he suddenly sensed something and looked toward the Imperial Palace. At that moment, his heart began pounding. He did not know why, only vaguely feeling that something important had happened over there!
Within the palace of Great Qian, an infant's cries rang through Qingyun Garden.
"Your Majesty, it is a boy."
The wet nurse carried the swaddled infant into the outer room.
"Let me see him!"
Li Haotian hurriedly took him from the wet nurse. All his majesty vanished, replaced by a beaming smile. Looking at the tiny, wrinkled face, he laughed aloud. "He looks very much like me."
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations!"
All the servants fell to their knees.
Li Haotian asked, "And Miaoxuan?"
"The Princess is well, merely a little tired."
Li Haotian nodded slightly, his expression gradually returning to calm. He handed the infant back to the wet nurse and said mildly, "Take him back inside." Then he turned and walked out.
Xu Lianying hurried after him and asked quietly, "Will Your Majesty not go in to see Her Highness?"
"Prepare my procession to Fengtian Hall."
The wet nurse carried the child back into the inner room.
Li Miaoxuan lay weakly on the bed. She reached out. "Give him to me."
The wet nurse handed her the child. Li Miaoxuan carefully took him, a faint smile appearing on her face.
The maid beside her said softly, "Your Highness, His Majesty has left."
"Mm." Li Miaoxuan gave a mild response, glancing toward the outer courtyard before turning all her attention to the child in her arms.
"Don't cry, don't cry. I know you're hungry..."
Gu Yuanqing came back to himself in a daze. For some reason, his heart simply would not settle.
He rose and stepped into the Courtyard. Gazing at the bright moonlight above, he suddenly found memories flooding his heart: his parents from his previous life, his life in the Prince's Manor in this one, and that hazy, graceful figure.
His heart was in turmoil, leaving him unable to cultivate.
Gu Yuanqing fetched his last jar of clear wine and drank alone beneath the moon. Before he knew it, he had become drunk.
The sun and moon flew like a weaver's shuttle. In the blink of an eye, three months had passed.
Nothing happened on the mountain. In the end, few people would remember this secluded place.
That day, another delivery came up from the foot of the mountain. He had paid it little mind, until he suddenly "saw" a young woman among the approaching party, her face covered with a sheer veil and a pale red cloak draped over her shoulders.
The veil could not obscure Gu Yuanqing's sight. Her brows were like willow leaves and her eyes like stars, as though she were a Fairy who had stepped out of a landscape painting.
Neither the young eunuch leading the party nor any of the Soldiers dared look directly at her. They only dared follow at a distance behind her.
Who is this woman? Could she be some noble family's daughter visiting the mountain?
As usual, Gu Yuanqing judged the timing and went to the entrance of North Spring Peak.
The two Old Servants were taking the supplies from the Soldiers who had come up.
The young woman stood to one side, surveying her surroundings.
"Young eunuch." Gu Yuanqing approached to greet him.
Then he saw the young eunuch bring out a stack of books and set them aside. After stealing a glance at the young woman, the eunuch hurriedly turned and left with the Soldiers, as though seeing Gu Yuanqing were like seeing a god of pestilence.
Gu Yuanqing turned toward the woman, who was leisurely admiring the mountain scenery. She had not left with them, and he did not know what business had brought her here.
"How should I address you, miss?" Gu Yuanqing hesitated briefly before asking.
The young woman pointed to a courtyard residence in the distant mountains. "Is that where you live?"
Her voice was somewhat cool, but to Gu Yuanqing, who had not conversed with anyone for months, it sounded like celestial music.
"Yes, that is my humble courtyard."
The woman nodded and said mildly, "Good. I intend to spend the night on North Spring Mountain. Do you have an empty room?"
"Hm?" Gu Yuanqing froze for a moment. She wants to stay in my Courtyard as soon as she arrives? This world may not keep men and women as strictly apart as the ancient world of my previous life, but we've only just met. Isn't that a little improper?
"If you wish to stay here, miss, I can have someone tidy up the Courtyard next door. We lack all sorts of things here, but houses are not among them."
The woman glanced back at Gu Yuanqing, her tone unruffled. "No need. A courtyard left uninhabited for too long has no warmth of human presence."
Gu Yuanqing smiled. Since she had said as much, he did not insist. He also wanted to see just what she intended to do.
"If you have nothing to attend to, walk with me," the woman said, looking back again.
"What business could there be deep in the mountains? I would be delighted. My name is Gu Yuanqing. You still haven't told me how to address you, miss," Gu Yuanqing said with a smile.
"You may call me Miaoxuan." Li Miaoxuan's expression was calm.
"Miaoxuan? That name sounds rather familiar. Ah, yes, the princess of our Great Qian Dynasty has that very name. Surely you aren't..."
"She is not me."
"Of course. Why would a princess come here? I heard she was still cultivating in the Lingxu Sect." Gu Yuanqing chuckled despite himself, then extended a hand in invitation. "This way, Miss Miaoxuan. Just ahead, we can see Hongyan Mountain Waterfall across from us."
Before you continue