The Emperor Reads Storybooks Hidden in His Official Reports 53

Chapter 53: Premature Birth

That night, without any warning, the North-South army and the Ghost-Faced Army stormed the Great Xi’s camp, beating the war drums that resounded through the western sky.

This, on the contrary, caught the Great Xi and Rong Qing off guard. After all, the Great Gong’s dispatch of troops was too sudden, without any planning or preparation. The commanders had simply set off after discussing their countermeasures. The spies could not pass on the message, and there was no news of it.

And the North-South army was ultimately more familiar with the border, and the Ghost-Faced Army was a hard-to-deal-with suicide squad. Coupled with the Hundred Flowers Sect’s mid-air silk and formations to restrain the goblins, the Great Gong temporarily had the upper hand.

“Your Highness… the General sent this subordinate here to escort Your Highness to the battle to boost morale! Please give your instructions, Your Highness!”

In the main tent, Rong Qing’s deputy general was kneeling before Feng Juheng, waiting for his command.

But Feng Juheng didn’t even glance at him, as if there was no one else in the tent besides him and Feng Juhua.

At this moment, Feng Juheng was sitting by the bed, his eyes red, staring fixedly at the man lying motionless on the bed.

Qing Luo was nowhere to be found, and Yi Miaosuan was serving as Rong Qing’s military advisor. At this moment, only Red Snake and the doctor were trying their best to save him.

There was a long gash on Feng Juhua’s neck, and blood had stained his entire body red, but his face was bloodless.

If Rong Qing hadn’t rushed forward to stop him in time, Feng Juhua would have died long ago, but Rong Qing’s arm was also crippled. Feng Juheng’s eyes and heart were now completely filled with Feng Juhua, and he had no energy to think about why Rong Qing had been so desperate.

“Your Highness…”

The doctor knelt down with a thud and shouted, “His Majesty… he… he has lost too much blood…”

Feng Juheng drew the longsword from his waist and pointed it at the old man, saying in a low voice, “If you can’t save him, you don’t have to live either.”

“Your Highness—” Looking at Feng Juheng’s terrifying expression, as if a storm were in his eyes, ready to swallow people whole at any moment, the doctor kowtowed and trembled. “Now that the medicinal materials have all been burned, this commoner… is also powerless…”

“Your Highness!”

The deputy general came again, this time with a small team of men.

“Your Highness! General Rong has sent us to escort His Majesty to a safe place!”

Feng Juheng looked around. The sky was filled with firelight, and the enemy was about to attack the main camp. He either had to go out and fight, or retreat to the rear first.

Looking at the dying man on the bed, Feng Juheng took a deep breath. “Tell Rong Qing to retreat! We will temporarily withdraw!”

The deputy general was stunned.

“What are you waiting for!”

“Yes!”

“Is this really appropriate?” Red Snake raised an eyebrow.

Feng Juheng went forward and gently lifted Feng Juhua, his face dark. “I did all this for my brother. If my brother is gone, what is the point?”

Feng Juheng nuzzled Feng Juhua’s cheek.

“Brother…”

“I… live for you.”

Outside the camp was a chaotic scene.

Zhao Linxu held Li Jianyu and led the charge, leading the army to cut down monsters and the Great Xi’s soldiers. The Great Xi’s soldiers were in a mess at first, but they quickly got into a state of battle.

The two sides were in a stalemate, and just as the war was becoming more and more heated, the Great Xi suddenly retreated without any warning.

Just like that, they retreated.

The two sides were evenly matched, and the Great Gong was also not well-prepared. It was naturally not appropriate to pursue them relentlessly here, so the first battle came to an abrupt end.

“The enemy was beaten by us and fled with their tails between their legs!” Zhao Zhanqi raised the longsword in his hand and pointed it at the sky, shouting, “The Great Gong is invincible in a hundred battles!”

“The Great Gong is invincible in a hundred battles!”

“The North-South is brave and skilled in battle, and the Ghost-Faced is invincible!”

Zhao Linxu held Li Jianyu and smiled. “It’s over.”

His beauty had returned to his side.

“Mm.” Li Jianyu smiled, closed his eyes, and fainted.

XXXXXX

When he opened his eyes again, Li Jianyu found himself lying on a soft and comfortable bed, his hand held tightly.

“Little Carp.”

Li Jianyu turned his head at the sound and saw Zhao Linxu sitting by the bed, his broad palm gently stroking the top of his head.

Li Jianyu blinked. He was still a little dazed, but a sharp pain from his abdomen startled him into full consciousness.

“It’s alright, it’s alright.”

Zhao Linxu immediately held Li Jianyu in his arms and gently patted his back.

Li Jianyu’s eyes looked around. He was in the main tent. It seemed that the final battle had subsided, and both sides were now recuperating.

Besides Zhao Linxu, Wan Yunliu, Chong Xi, and another young man he had never seen before were also in the tent.

The man had delicate features and clear eyes. Paired with a white robe, he looked like a noble fairy who did not eat the food of the mortal world.

“Greetings, City Lord. I am the Imperial Preceptor, Dan Xi.”

Li Jianyu remembered now. Zhao Linxu had said before that Dan Xi had been on the border, appeasing the people, stabilizing their hearts, and ensuring the smooth running of logistics. He was in charge of transporting the grain and supplies. Although Li Jianyu had never seen him, Zhao Linxu and Dan Xi had been in correspondence.

“Dan Xi is known as a divine doctor. With him here, you will be fine,” Zhao Linxu said, kissing the top of Li Jianyu’s head.

“What’s wrong?” Li Jianyu frowned slightly.

“The City Lord has been too active. I’m afraid you will have a premature birth now,” Dan Xi said, his hand on his chest, bowing slightly. “Dan Xi will do his best to ensure the City Lord’s safety and bring out the little prince.”

Ah…?

Premature birth?

Li Jianyu was a little stunned.

And Zhao Linxu behind him was obviously very nervous. He held Li Jianyu and repeated, “Little Carp, don’t be afraid.”

Li Jianyu pressed on his stomach.

No way?

Was he… was he… was he… was he… going to give birth?

Looking at Li Jianyu’s expression of utter despair, Zhao Linxu’s heart ached even more. He kept kissing his cheek. “Don’t worry, I’ll be with you.”

At the side, Chong Xi raised an eyebrow. “A little prince? Is the Imperial Preceptor so sure?”

“I have seen it. The little prince will be a great monarch in the future.”

Chong Xi was stunned, then remembered that the Imperial Preceptor was rumored to be a messenger of heaven and possessed magical powers. It was not strange that he could see something.

Having never thought about a premature birth, Li Jianyu, who was completely unprepared, now wished he could just faint and wake up with a flat stomach and the child out.

But this piece of flesh had been in his body for so long, and it would occasionally kick him. Over time, Li Jianyu had also developed a strange feeling for it. Now, hearing what Dan Xi had said, it meant that although it was a premature birth, the child would still grow up safely and healthily. Li Jianyu was also relieved and turned to think of another matter.

Li Jianyu asked cautiously, “Will it… hurt a lot?”

“It will pass if you just bear with it. It will be over in a moment,” Dan Xi said, his face so gentle it seemed to be glowing.

Li Jianyu wanted to cry but had no tears.

Men are all big pig’s trotters.

He wasn’t a fool. How could he not hear it!

Why the hell does a man like me have to give birth!

Why!

Li Jianyu had thought he had already accepted it, but now that the arrow was on the bowstring, he found…

To hell with being prepared. I’m not f-ing okay with this!

“Zhao Linxu.”

“Hmm?”

“Can you knock me out?”

Zhao Linxu was stunned, then said in a bit of a panic, “Does it hurt a lot?”

Li Jianyu buried his head in Zhao Linxu’s chest and whimpered.

Dan Xi smiled and said to Chong Xi and Wan Yunliu, “Let’s go out first and let the City Lord rest well? It’s just contractions now. The actual birth will be a while later.”

“Alright, I’ll go see if the midwife and hot water are ready,” Chong Xi said, nodding. He pulled Wan Yunliu out.

Wan Yunliu saw that Li Jianyu had no eyes for him at all. He could only suppress his disappointment and go with Chong Xi to prepare, thinking of making Li Jianyu a little more comfortable.

Only the two of them were left in the tent. Zhao Linxu gently patted Li Jianyu’s back.

“Don’t be afraid.”

“Afraid of what! Am I afraid? Don’t look down on me like that,” Li Jianyu said fiercely, looking up. “I’m just nervous.”

Zhao Linxu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“Zhao Linxu, I’m so nervous, so f-ing nervous.”

“Zhao Linxu, can you give birth for me?”

“Alright,” Zhao Linxu said, resting his head on Li Jianyu’s shoulder with a smile. “I’m not afraid. It will be over in a moment. It will just pop out.”

…Easy for you to say.

His stomach was constantly in a dull ache, and there was also a hard feeling. Li Jianyu didn’t know how long this would last. He shrank back and, to distract himself, asked, “How is Xu Zheng?”

I wonder what happened to Feng Juhua after he held off the enemy for me. Was he captured by Feng Juheng? Li Jianyu thought, a sour feeling in his heart.

Zhao Linxu paused.

“What’s wrong?”

“Feng Juhua committed suicide.”

Li Jianyu’s body stiffened.

“It’s not your fault. He… was so tormented, he had long since lost the will to live.”

“Then… how is Xu Zheng?”

“We don’t know if Feng Juhua is alive or not, and Xu Zheng fought a bloody battle that day, only for it to be in vain. He is naturally upset. Brother Qianli will comfort him well.”

After Zhao Linxu had rescued Li Jianyu, he and Xu Zheng had fought their way to the main camp with all their might. But the enemy was not a soft persimmon and could not be easily dealt with.

And then the Great Xi had suddenly retreated. They were currently resting and recuperating in Huanyue City. Only then did Zhao Linxu realize that the lord of Huanyue City had colluded with the Great Xi. Otherwise, how could the city gates have been opened to welcome them in?

Talking with Zhao Linxu, Li Jianyu suddenly felt a sense of lingering fear and relief.

He turned to look at Zhao Linxu. The man before him was tall and burly, his tiger-skin cloak casually draped over his shoulders.

It was Zhao Linxu who, regardless of his own safety, had charged into the enemy’s camp like a madman to save him. Now his body was covered in bandages, but he was still holding him and coaxing him as if nothing had happened.

Zhao Linxu was a madman.

“What’s wrong?”

Li Jianyu hugged Zhao Linxu and said in a low voice, “I’m sorry.”

Zhao Linxu was stunned.

“I didn’t fully trust you before.”

Zhao Linxu smiled. “Isn’t that normal? We’re both trying.”

“Mm,” Li Jianyu said in a low voice. “You know, right? Chong Xi told you… I…”

How should he tell Zhao Linxu?

Zhao Linxu sighed and pinched Li Jianyu’s chin. “I know. None of that matters. I like you. As long as it’s you, it’s fine. Where you come from, who you are, none of it matters.”

“Don’t hide it from me next time, hmm?”

Li Jianyu nodded.

“So good.” Zhao Linxu was so fond of him that he pulled him into his arms and nuzzled him, like a dog-skin plaster.

“Hiss…”

Li Jianyu pushed Zhao Linxu away, his face pale. “My stomach hurts. Don’t nuzzle.”

Oh my god, he was still so nervous!

Li Jianyu resentfully bit Zhao Linxu’s shoulder.

This day was so f-ing hard