Crying While Filling the Pit I Dug - Chapter 78

It had been several months since she last saw him. Xiao Chengqi appeared to have undergone a sudden transformation, exuding an air of calmness. In addition to executing a few rebel groups and negligent officials, Xiao Chengqi granted pardon to innocent individuals who were merely striving to make a living. Furthermore, he welcomed a cohort of talented individuals who had demonstrated their abilities.

Recruiting surrenders often involved offering official positions or financial rewards. By providing benefits, others were inclined to reconsider their allegiance and surrender. In other words, the resettlement fee for the group of people who once rebelled against them was another expense.

However, this approach also served as a pragmatic means to purchase peace through monetary means and pursue mutual development. It offered a temporary solution to the pressing issue at hand.

In a display of leadership, the Emperor reduced all his meals into four dishes and one soup, acknowledging the strain on the national treasury.

Every day, Song Miaomiao eagerly awaited news from Yi Qing at the palace, keeping his letters close to her at all times.

After about ten years in the capital, Xiao Chengqi received good news of the improved situation on the frontier. Yi Qing’s decisive actions in beheading Abul and General Li Yu elevated the army’s morale. Sensing an opportunity, the Emperor sent the Crown Prince to the front lines, recognizing that this moment could enhance the Crown Prince’s reputation and secure additional credit for him, thereby strengthening future governance.

As heavy snow covered the land, Yi Qing and the Crown Prince, bearing wounds and weathering sandstorms, returned to the capital with the captured Tartar King.

When Song Miaomiao heard the news, she was so excited that she couldn’t even hold her chopsticks steady and asked about the time when Yi Qing’s army would arrive. As usual, when Yi Qing returned to the court, he had to meet the Emperor first. State affairs came first and then family affairs. The Emperor made an exception and took Song Miaomiao out of Beijing ten miles to meet the army.

Song Miaomiao waited outside the city early. It was winter, and so cold. She brought along a cloak and the gloves she had made for him, as well as a pot of bone soup, carefully wrapping it with three layers inside and three layers outside, and covering it with a hot bag.

The Crown Prince was riding a high horse, while Yi Qing sat in the carriage. He struggled to get out of the carriage and knelt to meet the Emperor. Despite his efforts, he still coughed when the wind blew, his chin adorned with stubble, his once-handsome face now chapped and pale. It was evident he had endured much hardship.

The Emperor said, “No need for courtesy.” 

Song Miaomiao hurried up to support him. She immediately shed tears, and Yi Qing held her hand firmly.

The Emperor and the Crown Prince exchanged a few words of honor, and the officials also made some symbolic speeches. Afterwards, the Emperor sent the Imperial Physician to accompany Song Miaomiao and Yi Qing back to the Princess Mansion to aid in the Prince Consort’s recuperation.

Yi Qing was too weak. He forced himself until the Emperor left, then he got into the carriage and passed out. The wound on his shoulder was still oozing blood.

Song Miaomiao was terrified and shouted loudly for the physician. After the physician’s examination, he said that the Prince Consort was weak and too tired, and there was no danger to his life. Only then did Song Miaomiao calm down. She wrapped Yi Qing in a cloak, leaned him on her lap, and ordered to hurry back to the Princess Mansion.

The Emperor also rewarded a series of tonics, and Song Miaomiao made a decoction according to the doctor’s instructions, and fed him mouthfuls. Perhaps it was because the nerves that had been tense for a long time finally let go at that moment, and the vigilance of the strenuous body also relaxed. Yi Qing had a fever again that night.

The system Oppa couldn’t be contacted, and the emergency fever-reducing medicine couldn’t be found. Song Miaomiao called the physician overnight, and the physician prescribed some decoction and taught her some emergency measures to reduce fever.

People with fever would feel hot and cold at night in a daze. Song Miaomiao didn’t sleep all night, and she was so uncomfortable that she easily felt warm. She took the trouble to change his fever-reducing towel over and over again, and wiped his palms. Yi Qing shivered coldly, so she hugged him tightly and slept together.

On the way, the Crown Prince came to visit once, and seeing Yi Qing like that, he could only provide some medicinal materials and supplements.

It wasn’t until the third day that the fever subsided. Yi Qing opened his eyes slightly.

With a pale face, Yi Qing stretched out his hand to touch Song Miaomiao’s face.

Song Miaomiao held his hand, wept with joy, but for some reason, she blurted out the first sentence, saying in a hoarse voice, “The bone soup is still simmering on the stove.”

Yi Qing’s cheeks were thin, and his voice was low and weak, “Wife.”

Song Miao said eagerly, “Yes.”

Yi Qing seemed to feel that she wasn’t real, and called again, “Wife.”

Song Miaomiao nodded with tears in her eyes, “I’m here.”

Yi Qing had tears in his eyes, “Wife.”

Song Miaomiao nodded desperately, “I am here, I will always be with you.”

Yi Qing seemed to have finally confirmed the sense of reality and tried to smile at Song Miaomiao with the corners of his mouth pulled.

Song Miaomiao looked very sad. “Yi Qing, last time I said that sentence in the Imperial Garden, at that time… Now let me say it again with my heart—” Song Miaomiao kissed Yi Qing on the lips. After a while, she said, “I love you. Did you hear clearly?”

Yi Qing pressed against Song Miaomiao’s forehead and said softly, “Me too.”

At that moment, silence seemed better than sound. The two were silent for a while. Song Miaomiao remembered that Yi Qing hadn’t eaten anything other than medicine these days. So she hurriedly summoned the servants, one to have Physician Xuan come to take the pulse again, and the other to ask the kitchen to prepare meals

After the physician checked his pulse, he still insisted that Yi Qing needed to rest, and his diet should be light.

With the help of her servants, Song Miaomiao helped Yi Qing up and leaned him against the head of the bed. Carefully, she opened the buns and fed him the bone soup in small mouthfuls.

Yi Qing ate a bun slowly, gaining strength, and started to talk.

“Wife, do you know? I have dreamed about this scene, but it is slightly different.”

“Oh?” Song Miaomiao intentionally teased him, and then fed him a small piece of steamed stuffed bun. “Then tell me, what’s the difference?”

“It was a little blurry in my dream. We seemed to be in a weed shed, and it was not as big as this. We seemed to be about ten years old. You also fed me buns like this.” Yi Qing smiled. “It’s strange that the first time I saw you was when I entered the palace at the age of seventeen. I have never seen you at the age of ten, but I recognized you at first sight.”