Chapter Twenty-Five: Unexpected Fatherhood

Year six of King Zheng of Qin, the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth month.

After being away for over two months, Li Yu finally returned to Xianyang. Once home, having settled Jingni, he made his way straight to the Xianyang Palace.

He had not seen Ying Zheng for two months and found he missed him more than he had expected. To Li Yu’s surprise, Ying Zheng was waiting outside the gates of Qin Chuan Palace, evidently having received news of his arrival.

Inside the study, Li Yu gave a succinct account of his journey to Ying Zheng. At the end, he described the assassination attempt as he reentered Qin territory. Ying Zheng’s face became instantly grim. “Have you any leads, brother?”

Li Yu replied, “I have a suspect. One I can confirm is from the Peasant School.”

Ying Zheng frowned. “The Peasant School?”

Li Yu explained, “His technique was unique. In all the land, only Zhu of the Shennong Hall, famed for his Thousand Faces, could match it.”

Ying Zheng mused, “Even the Hall Master himself was dispatched?”

Li Yu went on, “Not just the Hall Master. I believe the one who fought Jingni was Tian Guang, the chivalric leader of the Peasant School.”

Ying Zheng’s eyes narrowed. “What are the Peasant School plotting?”

Li Yu shook his head. “I do not know. My movements were highly confidential. Without an informant, it would have been impossible for them to know. I suspect—”

“Whom?” Ying Zheng pressed.

“Lord Changping,” Li Yu said softly.

“Do you have proof?” Ying Zheng asked.

Li Yu answered, “Yixiang Courtyard was once a base of Lord Changping. My wife, Liu Feixu, told me someone often met with him there—always a man of the martial world.”

“This alone proves nothing,” Ying Zheng replied.

“I know. It is only suspicion.”

Ying Zheng changed the subject. “You spoke of a free trade zone—how would it be managed?”

Li Yu explained, “If we wish for true integration of peoples, we must offer mutual benefits. Not only must we make concessions, but so must they. I propose to build a town beyond the Great Wall, with neither side stationing troops there. It would belong to no one. The people in this area would pay no taxes; trade would be free. If there is intermarriage, we would grant land and houses as incentive.”

He continued, “Brother, this is a matter for generations. It is like boiling a frog in warm water—once they grow accustomed to the civilization of Huaxia, they will not wish to return to their harsh lives. With intermarriage and blood ties, if you ask them to rebel, their own people would not follow. The territory beyond the pass would become ours—without the need for war. Our armies could never hold the frontier for long; the only way is fusion, not slaughter.”

Ying Zheng listened in silence, deep in thought. Li Yu waited patiently for him to work through his considerations.

Finally, Ying Zheng said, “We shall do as you propose. You will be in charge.”

Li Yu asked, “May I request an official appointment for someone?”

Ying Zheng was curious. “Who is it?” Li Yu had never asked for such a favor.

Li Yu replied, “Li Si, who has long served by my side. He is talented and deserves promotion; he cannot remain a minor official forever.”

Ying Zheng recalled Li Si—he remembered his attitude at the Wusui camp, which had left him displeased. If not for Li Yu, he would have forgotten all about Li Si.

Ying Zheng said, “He shall be appointed Steward, responsible for the free trade zone.”

Li Yu bowed. “Thank you, brother.”

Ying Zheng added, “Go visit Mother. Since you left, she often speaks of you.” He looked at Li Yu with a peculiar expression.

Li Yu did not notice, and left for Ganquan Palace, his heart leaping with anticipation—Zhao Ji, it had been so long.

This time, Zhao Ji was not in the garden as usual, which was odd. Entering her chamber, he found her curled up beside the tea table, reading.

Growing more curious, Li Yu silently approached, gently covering her eyes from behind and whispered, “Guess who?”

She trembled slightly, then, sensing who it was, nestled back against him, letting his head nuzzle her neck.

“Oh, Yu’er, when did you return?”

“I just arrived in Xianyang and came to see you first, Mother.” Li Yu’s hands slid up to her bosom, kneading gently. “Did you miss me, Mother?”

“You little rascal, let me look at you.” She turned to face him, studying his features with care.

“Mother wants to see? Your Yu’er will undress for you.” With that, he stood and undressed.

Zhao Ji indeed scrutinized every inch of Li Yu’s skin, her gaze so tender it nearly melted him. Unable to restrain himself, he scooped her up and carried her to the bed.

After two months apart, Li Yu felt nearly deranged with longing for Zhao Ji, and after a month of abstinence, he was ravenous, lavishing kisses on every part of her body, breathing in her singular scent of roses. In that moment, nothing existed for him but her.

Yet, just as he was about to complete their union, Zhao Ji stopped him. Li Yu, eyes flushed, looked at her in confusion.

Zhao Ji said, “After New Year, I intend to move out of Ganquan Palace.”

Li Yu asked, puzzled, “Why?” Why move? It was close to Ying Zheng’s offices and convenient.

Zhao Ji stroked her belly. That single gesture stunned Li Yu.

“Mother! Is it true?” he asked uncertainly.

“I am not inexperienced. My courses have stopped for two months. I had Zhao Gao send someone to check,” Zhao Ji replied, her hand lingering on her belly, radiating a maternal glow.

Li Yu’s emotions soared as if on a roller coaster. Naked, he paced the edge of the bed, then bent down and kissed Zhao Ji fiercely.

They talked long about what to do next, finally deciding to take things one step at a time—she would move out of Ganquan Palace first.

He stayed with Zhao Ji until deep into the night, leaving only with great reluctance.

It was late, and Li Yu did not wish to disturb Feixu at Yixiang Courtyard; he went straight home.

Arriving, he noticed Jingni’s lamp was still lit. Li Yu quietly entered his own room, gathered his bedding, and went to Jingni’s chamber.

To his surprise, Jingni was still fully dressed, as if just returned. Li Yu’s gaze lingered on her long legs and fishnet stockings—irresistible after his long abstinence and a dinner of two pounds of beef for strength.

But recalling Jingni’s martial prowess, Li Yu sensibly spread his bedding on the floor.

Jingni, seeing Li Yu again making a habit of sleeping on her floor, seemed to accept it as a matter of course.

“You’re home. The house is surrounded by Net agents, you’re safe,” she said.

Li Yu replied calmly, “I don’t trust them. What if there’s a traitor? In this world, you’re the one I trust most, sister.” To prove it, he turned his back to her.

Jingni could only let him be, and soon extinguished the lamp.

The next day, Li Yu sketched something with a charcoal pencil, then handed it to Xiao He. “Have the carpenter make this. There will be a generous reward.”

“Good morning, Jingni. You should rest more. Rising early is not good for the baby,” Li Yu joked.

“I’m not pregnant,” Jingni denied sternly.

Had he remembered wrong? Li Yu wondered.

“Sister, why not check? If you’ve disturbed the fetus, there’ll be trouble later.”

Jingni said nothing, tossing her long hair as she left the courtyard.

After breakfast, Li Yu went to Yixiang Courtyard—not wanting to neglect anyone. He truly liked Liu Feixu; otherwise, he would not have drunk that cup of tea.

Arriving, he found Feixu still sleeping. He quietly undressed and slipped into bed, hugging her from behind.

She tensed, then relaxed. “Husband, you’re back from the frontier?”

“My love, I missed you terribly,” he whispered, nuzzling her ear, knowing how sensitive she was there.

“Don’t tease, I have something to tell you,” Feixu said, turning to face him.

As Li Yu reached to undress her, she stopped him. “Husband, I must tell you something.”

He was puzzled—she was usually the more forward one. Had the frontier changed her?

Feixu did not keep him guessing. “Husband, I’m pregnant.”

Li Yu sprang from the bed. “Really?”

Feixu, thinking he was unhappy, looked sorrowful. “Are you upset?”

Realizing he’d overreacted, Li Yu hurried to embrace her. “You scared me. You’re my treasure; how could I be angry?” Two months away, and twice a father-to-be—he found himself speechless at his own vitality. He would need to be more careful in the future, lest he fill the world with his children.

“My love, are you happy we have a child?” Li Yu asked gently.

“It’s our first, of course I’m happy. I only feared you wouldn’t be,” Feixu replied.

“Silly girl! I love you too much to be unhappy.”

Feixu felt something pressing against her. “Are you uncomfortable? Shall I ask another sister to help you?”

Li Yu gave her a playful slap. “What do you take me for? Don’t say such things again.”

She fell silent, simply hugging him, her face radiant with happiness.

It was noon before Feixu finally woke fully, seeing Li Yu still beside her. She felt truly fortunate to have met him.

At midday, Li Yu left for Xianyang Palace, intending to visit Zhao Ji.

He had barely walked a hundred meters from Yixiang Courtyard when a carriage drew up beside him. A voice sounded before the man appeared: “Young brother, you return to Qin and don’t even inform me so I can welcome you home?”

Li Yu turned. It was Lord Changping—the old fox. Was he lying in wait?

“Brother, where are you off to?” Li Yu asked.

“New Year is coming. I’m out to make some purchases,” Lord Changping replied.

“I won’t keep you, then,” Li Yu said, thinking, Who would believe that you, Lord Changping, do your own shopping? He turned to leave.

Changping quickly called out, “I would like to invite you to my residence tonight. Will you honor me?”

Li Yu bowed. “That’s kind, but you always host. Why not come to my house tonight instead?”

Changping laughed. “Agreed!” He ordered his attendants to drive on.

Li Yu narrowed his eyes, wondering what Changping was plotting. With no clue, he set that aside and headed for the palace.

At the same time, Jingni, after being examined by three physicians, was indeed confirmed to be pregnant. The news struck her like a thunderbolt, and she wandered the streets aimlessly.

Had Li Yu known, he would not have told her in advance. Influenced by the original story, he had always thought Jingni didn’t care about such things. How could he know that because of his arrival, many things had changed?

At the palace, Li Yu discussed next year’s visit to Han with King Zheng, then went to Ganquan Palace to spend time with Zhao Ji. To his surprise, she, like Liu Feixu, suggested he let a palace maid relieve his needs—an idea he firmly rejected.

Ah, this wretched old society.

Returning home, he found Jingni still absent, but thought nothing of it, instructing Xiao He to prepare for tonight’s guest, Lord Changping.

He retreated to his study to draft his plans for Han, but his mind was unsettled. Going outside, he learned no one had seen Jingni. Panic rising, he rushed into the streets, calling her name.

Finally, in desperation, he climbed the city wall and shouted, “Jingni, I know you’re near. If you don’t come out, I’ll jump!” He posed as if to leap, startling the crowd below.

A breeze stirred, and suddenly Jingni appeared at his side. Seeing her, Li Yu threw his arms around her, nearly in tears. “Sister, I thought you didn’t want me anymore. How could you scare me like that?”

Jingni stood stiffly in his embrace, at a loss, while the onlookers below, not understanding, broke into applause, making quite a scene.

After pouring out his feelings, Li Yu took her hand. “Don’t ever do that again. Come home with me.”

Jingni resisted. “I’m not suited—”

Li Yu grew angry. “That’s not for you to decide—it’s for me. I love you. I love everything about you, including her.” He pointed to her belly. “I told you before, I would give you a home, and I meant it.”

“You’ll regret it,” Jingni warned.

“I, Li Yu, never regret my choices,” he replied firmly. “Come home with me.” This time, Jingni did not resist and let herself be led back, hand in hand, toward home.