The little prince or princess in your belly?
Zhao Yan is pregnant?
She is already pregnant with Gu Xu’s child?
When did this happen?
Shi Xiaohan felt that his mind was in chaos.
At this moment, her mood was like participating in a fierce race. She thought she had caught up with her opponent, but unexpectedly, the opponent was already far ahead and left her behind by a full circle.
In a daze, the small spoon she just picked up accidentally slipped and fell into the fish fillet porridge in front of her, and quickly sank to the bottom of the bowl.
"Sister Xiaohan?" Zhao Yan noticed her absent-minded look and called softly.
Following Zhao Yan's thoughts, a stream of true energy quietly condensed, turning into an invisible hand, gently holding the spoon, and slowly rising from the scalding porridge.
The spoon is as clean as ever, with no trace of porridge stained on it.
Only then did Shi Xiaohan come to his senses.
"Ah, thank you, Sister Zhao. I'm so sorry. I was so surprised just now that I was distracted..." She reached out to catch the spoon hanging in the air and said somewhat incoherently.
"It's okay." Zhao Yan smiled slightly and said lightly.
She paused, then stroked her flat belly with one hand, and whispered to herself: "I wonder if this child will inherit half of his father's spiritual talent in the future..."
At this moment, Shi Xiaohan noticed that Zhao Yan's eyes revealed a loving, gentle and expectant look, as if her vision traveled through a long time and space and saw the hand that would hold her tightly in the future. A child who calls her "mother" in a childish voice.
Shi Xiaohan felt a sour feeling in his heart.
She couldn't help but fell into deep thought. If her father had not terminated the engagement between her and Gu Xu, or if she had mustered up the courage to resolutely follow Gu Xu on the road to escape, then what would happen now? Perhaps she is the one who is pregnant with the child.
It’s just that the past can no longer be undone.
Looking back on the past, Shi Xiaohan asked herself that even if she could turn back time, she would still be in a dilemma between her family and her lover. What's more, she knew that she was not strong enough. If she fled with Gu Xu, she would probably become a burden to him.
"By the way, has Gu Xu ever told you about his experience on the run?" Zhao Yan asked as she took a sip of fish fillet porridge and savored it carefully.
Shi Xiaohan nodded and replied honestly: "I heard him say that you rescued him at a critical moment when he was outnumbered and took him to escape to the territory of Dayan."
"It seems that you "He did not elaborate on his original experience in front of me," Zhao Yan continued in a calm tone, "A few months ago, Gu Xu fled to Jingxing in the Taihang Mountains. Because his whereabouts were leaked, the Daqi court sent a group of fifth and sixth realms. The monk went to hunt him down.
"When I arrived, he had been hit hard on the back by a meteor hammer embedded with iron nails, and his flesh and blood were bruised. His left shoulder was stabbed by a poison-laced sleeve arrow, and his body was paralyzed. Unable to move.
"And Zhu Qiuyi, the commander-in-chief of Hedong in the sixth realm, was holding a halberd and pointed it directly at his throat."
Zhao Yan's few words made Shi Xiaohan's heart go up and down. , mixed flavors.
She seemed to have witnessed with her own eyes the thrilling experience of Gu Xu's life hanging by a thread. Every scar he suffered hurt her heart deeply like a knife.
Although Zhao Yan did not say it explicitly, Shi Xiaohan knew that the culprit who "leaked the whereabouts" to the Da Qi court was her father.
She couldn't help but feel a sore nose, and her eyes sparkled with tears.
After a brief hesitation, she waved her sleeves gently, took out a delicate and compact steamer from the space magic weapon, held it carefully, and trotted to Zhao Yan.
"Sister Zhao, thank you very much for saving him," Shi Xiaohan's words seemed a little clumsy, "It was my fault that I failed to stop my father and put him in danger. If not If you come to the rescue, maybe I will never see him again...
"In this steamer, there are dumplings that Senior Sister Chang Xiao from Jiange taught me to make. Originally, I planned to give them to Gu Xu, because dumplings mean attracting wealth, and Gu Xu really likes money... Now, I want to give them to Gu Xu Give it to you.
"Sister Zhao, with your advanced cultivation and strong strength, you will be able to protect him better than me.
"Before, I once told Gu Xu that I would become a martial arts heroine and protect him for the rest of my life...but now, I'm afraid I will never be able to do it..."
Before Shi Xiaohan finished speaking, his eyes were already red, and crystal tears fell quietly, like dewdrops in the morning.
She gently opened the lid of the steamer.
Zhao Yan saw eight dumplings placed in the steamer with a preservation spell. They were in various shapes and were staggeringly ugly.
Some have thick skin and little stuffing, looking like a flat stone; some have thin skin and lots of stuffing, as if they will break apart at the slightest touch; and some have extremely irregular shapes, like Is it a bun that has been squashed, or an aniseed pancake that has been stepped on...
Obviously, the girl’s dumpling-making skills are really disappointing.
Zhao Yan frowned slightly.
However, when she met Shi Xiaohan's sincere and guilty eyes, she still couldn't help but feel a little touched in her heart. She knew that although the dumplings in the steamer were ugly in appearance, Shi Xiaohan must have spent a lot of time and energy making them, and they were considered a very thoughtful and precious gift.
Zhao Yan silently sighed: This girl is really too simple, without any sense of government or scheming.
However, it was precisely because of Shi Xiaohan's unreserved sincerity that Zhao Yan had a premonition that she would become an extremely difficult "opponent" in the future.
"No need, you should give it to Gu Xu personally," Zhao Yan sighed softly and responded, "Now, I no longer have the ability to protect him, I can only pray that he can I wish you luck..."
…………
Luo Jing, the residence of the Shi family.
This is a spacious and elegant courtyard with tall walls made of blue-gray bricks and stones.
The trees in the courtyard grow tall and lush, and their branches and leaves cover the sky and the sun, making the entire courtyard shrouded in shadow.
Shi Lei has not stepped out of the house for many days.
Since Gu Xu captured Luo Jing, he has been living in seclusion in this courtyard. Every day, he wandered in the shade of the trees, feeling restless and restless, unable to calm down.
With the spiritual consciousness of a fourth-level monk, Shi Lei was able to keenly sense that his house was closely guarded by Xia Jun.
Although the people guarding him were just a few ordinary mortal soldiers and monks from the first realm, for Shi Lei, he could easily subdue them with just a few random spells.
But Shi Lei did not dare to act rashly.
Because he knew that these watchers represented the face and majesty of the young man who almost became his son-in-law.
He has no provocation at all.
Occasionally, Shi Lei would walk into the house inadvertently, staring blankly at the burning stove. In his mind, the marriage certificate that gradually turned to ashes in the flames, and the betrothal gifts that disappeared with the flames, kept replaying like a revolving lantern, making his mood heavier.
Sometimes he couldn't help but think, if he had mustered up the courage to insist on fulfilling the engagement; or let his daughter follow Gu Xu; or resolutely led the entire family to join Gu Xu's rebellion, then now, the new dynasty would The position of queen may already belong to his daughter, and the Jiaodong family will become a famous family in the country. But in a second thought, he thought of the common saying - "Wealth can be found in danger".
With his conservative character who seeks stability and loves his daughter deeply, how could he place the safety of the entire family on a young man who only has the fourth realm when Emperor Tianxing is at the height of his power?
What's more, it is simply unimaginable for him to let the apple of his eye follow a down-and-out young man who is wanted across the country, endure hardships, and even face life-and-death crises several times.
Just when Shi Lei was anxiously wandering, there was a sudden "squeak" sound, and the gate of the courtyard slowly and automatically opened to both sides.
He immediately turned his head.
A familiar yet unfamiliar young figure crossed the threshold and walked straight towards him.
This man wears a leather bean decorated with jade and gold, and a black swallow bean crown embroidered with dragon patterns. He looks rich and majestic.
When Shi Lei caught a glimpse of the man's face, he immediately lowered his head to avoid his sight, then knelt down respectfully, kowtowed and said:
"Shi Lei, the guilty minister, come to see the emperor!"
Seeing that the man was still standing there and did not respond, Shi Lei felt uneasy and continued to say respectfully: "Emperor, when I disclosed your information To the Qi court, it was actually the fault of the guilty minister.
“The guilty minister is willing to accept any punishment from the emperor, even if it means losing his life. However, the guilty minister begs the emperor not to vent his anger on Xiaohan. She knows nothing about this matter and is innocent..."
Seeing the dust on Shi Lei's forehead, hearing his sincerity Seeing the words of pleading for his daughter, Gu Xu sighed softly and said: "Get up...father-in-law. ”
My father-in-law!
He was actually willing to call me that!
Shi Lei felt an indescribable shock in his heart. When he stood up, he felt his whole body shaking slightly.
Before Shi Lei came to his senses, Gu Xu continued: "I came here today to re-deliver the betrothal gift."
As he spoke, he walked toward the door. He waved his hand.
Han Shunxi, the eunuch waiting at the door, immediately understood and led a group of servants into the courtyard carrying several heavy boxes. They quickly placed the boxes neatly on the ground and waited for the next instructions.
Among the betrothal gifts was an exquisitely made cage containing a pair of wild geese.
According to the ancient customs of Dahuang, people often use the wild goose, the crown of birds and a spiritual creature that symbolizes the "five constants", as a betrothal gift, which means that the combination of yin and yang between men and women complies with the way of heaven.
When Shi Lei saw this rather generous betrothal gift, he couldn't believe his eyes.
"Emperor, you..."
"I gave these betrothal gifts for Xiaohan," Gu Xu interrupted him and said calmly, "Last night, I picked her up from Jiange. Enter the palace and marry her. From now on, she will be my wife.
"The betrothal gift includes the betrothal money, betrothal cakes, three animals, note boxes, etc. I hope this can bring good luck to our future lives."
Shi Lei was still immersed in astonishment. He stammered: "But...but, the engagement was already..."
Hearing his words, Gu Xu smiled, and with a thought, he took out a piece of paper from "Xianyunju". A piece of bright red paper was gently unfolded for Shi Lei to see.
“At that time, the matchmaker wrote down the marriage contract in two copies, one for you and one for me.” He explained, “Your copy was burned, but mine is still kept. Intact.
“In my opinion, the validity of this engagement really depends on whether anyone is willing to recognize it.
"In the past, the Daqi court had the final say.
"But now I have the final say in Daxia. As long as I believe that this engagement is still valid, no one can interrupt the marriage between Xiaohan and me. ”
Shi Lei took a deep breath, with mixed feelings in his heart.
On the one hand, he couldn’t help but sigh at the deep love and meaning of this young man. Even now he is about to ascend the throne of the Great Wilderness. However, he still misses his lover in those poor and humble days.
On the other hand, he feels incredible about Gu Xu's brilliant achievements today. Looking back on the past, he also worries about whether Gu Xu can survive. Promoted to the fourth level within one year. However, things were unpredictable. Gu Xu not only became a strong saint, but also personally ended the rule of Emperor Tianxing, who used to whip the world.
"Emperor...you really don't plan to punish me?"
"Shi Qianhu," Gu Xu suddenly changed his name to him, "a few months ago, you almost killed me in Li Jingxing. If it were anyone else, I would definitely retaliate against him.
"But you are Xiaohan's father, her closest elder relative in the world. If I kill you, it will definitely make her sad and painful.
“In the past few months, she has been suffering from tension, anxiety, and dilemma, and she has lost a lot of weight.
“I don’t want to see her suffer like this again in the future. torture.
"I hope she can be a carefree, happy and happy heroine like she was in Yishui in the past."
Shi Lei was silent for a moment, adjusted his clothes, knelt down and kowtowed again: "Sinner Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!”
“Don’t thank me in a hurry,” Gu Xu waved his hand gently and used his true energy to pull him up from the ground, “I will spare your life today, but that doesn’t mean that I will spare your life today. The matter is settled, you still have to pay the price.
“From today on, all the elixir workshops under your Shi family’s name will be owned by the imperial court.
"I know that your Shi family is different from those Xiangyang Chen family and Jinling Shen family who wantonly oppressed the people and embezzled people's wealth. But you also have to admit that as the head of the family, you do lack sufficient skills, which resulted in There are many omissions in the management of its own industry
"The managers under you tampered with the books, enriched themselves, and slacked off at work, but you were kept in the dark.
"This undoubtedly led to a large waste of resources-the pills you produced were used by those managers. They are misappropriated privately for their own benefit and cannot be sent to the people who really need them in time.
“You may think that these are just trivial things.
“But in fact, behind this may mean hundreds of ordinary monks who lack a vital The elixir was unable to enter the country smoothly, and was even corroded by Yin Qi during the cultivation process, and eventually became possessed and lost his life. "
Speaking of this, Gu Xu paused slightly and softened his tone slightly: "My father-in-law, from today on, you can take this betrothal gift and become a wealthy and idle man with peace of mind! I will take good care of your workshop and your daughter for you. ”
After finishing his words, he waved his hand, motioning for the servants to follow, then turned and left.
Shi Lei stood firmly on the spot, watching the young king walk out of the gate of the courtyard and fade away.
Beyond the gate is the bustling Luojing City. Girls wearing moths and snow willows walked in groups of two and a half, laughing and walking through the streets, while vendors selling candied haws on the roadside shouted loudly.
The autumn wind is rustling, the smoke is curling up, and the red flag of the new dynasty is particularly bright against the blue sky. (End of this chapter)