Two months later.
The barbarian army was unstoppable and had already occupied most of the territory of the Celestial Empire.
Since the fall of the twelve border cities, the soldiers of the Celestial Empire have been beaten to pieces and are unable to resist. Given time, the enemy will surely break through the gates of the imperial capital.
Although the imperial capital now appears peaceful and prosperous on the surface, the people are actually secretly in a state of panic, worrying that the barbarian cavalry will suddenly break in one dark night and massacre the entire city.
The emperor's health worsened and even speaking became difficult for him. All the officials in the court had to work hard to keep the country running under the leadership of Pei Zheng.
The once great dynasty and great country has now fallen to such a shabby state.
Many ministers risked their lives to advise the emperor to decide on the position of crown prince as soon as possible, so that the court would not be leaderless in case the emperor suddenly fell ill. However, the emperor refused to issue an edict.
Pei Zheng seemed to take the heavy responsibility for granted, and often discussed matters with the ministers in the palace all night long. Even if he returned home, he could only stay with the little man for a short while, and then he had to deal with court affairs and military affairs again.
When Li Yu saw Pei Zheng's carriage stopped at the gate of the prime minister's residence, he hurried to the back garden to inform Qi Changyi.
Then a figure rushed out from the small building and ran straight towards the study.
Li Yu couldn't catch up with his speed, and shouted behind him, "Your Highness! Slow down! Slow down! Don't fall!"
Qi Changyi ran to the door of the study, pushed it open quietly, and poked his little head in to take a look. There was no one inside.
"Brother Pei"
No one answered.
Qi Changyi stepped into the door, closed it, and then walked in while calling softly, "Brother Pei, are you there? I came in by myself."
Still no one answered.
Qi Changyi muttered, "Xiao Yuzi, did you lie to me? Brother Pei didn't come back at all."
He turned around and was about to go out, when he suddenly saw mist rising from behind the screen in the inner room and a familiar official robe casually draped over the screen.
Is Brother Pei taking a bath
Qi Changyi tiptoed over and looked behind the screen. Sure enough, there was a large wooden barrel behind it, but unfortunately there was no one inside.
Qi Changyi felt strange. Where did the person go
Suddenly, a strong arm stretched out from his waist and lifted him up into the air. Then the world spun around him, and with a "ye la" sound, the little guy was carried into the wooden barrel.
The hot water instantly soaked through the robe, and the three thousand black hair that was half draped behind the back was also wet by the water, some of it was messy and stuck to the cheeks and neck.
Qi Changyi was startled and opened his mouth to scream, but a hand covered his mouth and rubbed his bright red lips.
Pei Zheng, who had no clothes on his upper body, also soaked in the wooden barrel.
The stern look between his eyebrows faded slightly, and he looked very tired, with his laziness and weariness obvious. He put his index finger to his lips and made a "hush" sound to the little guy.
The little guy blinked his eyes mistily and nodded obediently.
Pei Zheng released the hand that was covering his mouth.
The skin of the little person in front of me became whiter and more translucent under the steaming hot air, with an alluring and delicious peach pink color. His eyes blinked again and again, and a layer of light mist covered the clear eyes, making him look even more pure and harmless, but his whole face was bright and charming.
His collar was wet by the hot water and now clung tightly to the curve of his body, rising and falling with his light, shallow breathing.
Pei Zheng's eyes became more intense. He pulled the little guy over and rested his head on his slender shoulder. He was reluctant to use force and just leaned against him gently. When he smelled the milky scent on his body, his tense nerves relaxed a little.
Qi Changyi didn't dare to move. He also noticed that Brother Pei seemed very tired, so he reached out his hand to support Pei Zheng's cheek, wanting to make him more comfortable, and then touched his face twice as if he was touching Xiao Miaowu.
"Brother Pei, are you tired? You need to have a good rest and sleep well. Don't tire yourself out, otherwise I will be worried and distressed. Do you understand?"
Pei Zheng heard his tone, which was a bit of a scolding, a bit of a worry, and a bit of a coquettish tone, and raised the corners of his lips, "Okay, I'll listen to you."
Qi Changyi then smiled sweetly and patted Pei Zheng's hair, "Be good, Brother Pei."
Because he raised his arms, Qi Changyi's collar was slightly open, revealing a hint of red lotus petals under his fair collarbone.
Pei Zheng traced it with his fingers twice, then lifted the layer of clothing with his fingertips and peeked down.
A blooming enchanting red lotus was soaked in water, and its ghostly outstretched petals spread out on the water, swaying like a fairy.
Pei Zheng didn't know if it was his illusion, but he always felt that the little guy's skin seemed to become even whiter, tenderer and more delicate, and he became more and more charming. Once he got involved, he couldn't stop.
His hand continued to slide down along the collar, and the little man in his ear hummed twice like a kitten, then held down his restless hand.
"Brother Pei," the little guy said in a soft and sweet voice, "I, I feel a little uncomfortable."
Pei Zheng straightened up, his fatigue and sleepiness mostly disappeared, and he touched his forehead nervously, which was not hot.
"I don't have a fever. What's wrong? Where do you feel uncomfortable?"
Qi Changyi's eyelids began to twitch heavily, and he shook his head innocently, "I, I don't know, I feel a little dizzy."
Before he could finish his words, he collapsed into Pei Zheng's arms.
Pei Zheng quickly carried the person out of the wooden barrel, grabbed his official uniform and wrapped the little person tightly.
"Someone! Go find Doctor Jiang!"
Jiang Yubai felt Qi Changyi's pulse with an unfathomable look on his face. He turned around and looked at Pei Zheng with a strange look.
Pei Zheng was so focused on staring at the little guy that he didn't notice Jiang Yubai's little movements.
Li Yu asked anxiously, "Doctor Jiang, how is His Highness? Why did he faint again? His Highness has been in good health recently, how could he be sick again?"
"Your Highness is not ill."
"Huh? Why would you be so weak that you fainted if you're not sick?"
Jiang Yubai withdrew his hand and said, "If you are not sick, then you are not sick. You fainted because you did not get enough rest last night."
Li Yu secretly glanced at Pei Zheng. His Highness slept in the same room with the Lord last night.
Pei Zheng waved his hand to let everyone leave, then sat down beside the bed and tucked the quilt for the little guy who was breathing evenly.
"Tell me, what's going on."
Jiang Yubai snorted, "Don't you know what's going on? You know what you did yourself!"
Pei Zheng's eyes darkened, and his gaze moved down along the small figure and stopped at his abdomen.
"Yes?"
"It's been two months!" Jiang Yubai said earnestly, "I know you are very busy, and you need to relax and vent after working so hard, but you still have to exercise some restraint during this special period, so as not to hurt him and the baby in his belly."
Pei Zheng's eyes were filled with surprise and joy, but they were immediately covered by other emotions. "I'm sorry, I didn't know."
She reached out her hand and very lightly stroked the little guy's belly twice through the quilt, her fingertips trembling with guilt and love. If she had known his condition, she would not have been willing to hit him so hard.
"Is he okay? Is the child okay? Is he hurt?"
Jiang Yubai was very satisfied with Pei Zheng's nervousness. "Don't worry, both of them are fine, but you have to take good care of him. He has a special physique, and I have no experience in this area. I can only do my best to keep them both safe."
Jiang Yubai paused and said, "Besides, I heard that the war is urgent and the enemy will soon attack the imperial capital. Have you thought of a way out for them?"
Pei Zheng said nothing, but just looked at the little guy's sleeping face, his eyes wandering greedily over his face, and then whispered, "You go out first."
Jiang Yubai sighed, turned and walked out of the room.
When Qi Changyi woke up, it was already dark outside. He didn't feel any discomfort, just a little dizzy from sleeping too much.
"Brother Pei"
The room was empty, as if I was the only one there.
Feeling aggrieved, Qi Changyi curled up in the quilt and rubbed his eyes. If he hadn't suddenly felt unwell and fainted, he could have stayed with Brother Pei for a while longer. Now it seems that Brother Pei must have been busy again.
Just as I was feeling sad, I heard the door being pushed open.
Qi Changyi poked his head out from under the quilt and called out tentatively, "Brother Pei."
"Your Highness, it's me." Li Yu came in with medicine and food boxes and placed them on the table.
"I don't know what happened in the palace. My Lord has gone to the palace and I don't know when he will be back."
"Oh." Qi Changyi's face was full of disappointment and he buried his head back in the quilt.
"Your Highness, please get up and eat something, then drink the medicine."
Qi Changyi said sullenly, "I don't want to eat, nor do I want to take drugs."
Li Yu stepped forward to persuade him, "Your Highness, you can't be willful now. You haven't eaten much for a day. How can your body bear it? Even if you don't consider yourself, you have to think about whether the baby is hungry, right?"
The little body under the quilt suddenly stopped. Qi Changyi sat up straight while holding the quilt, and looked at Li Yu with his round eyes wide open.
"Xiao, Xiao Yuzi, what are you talking about?"
Li Yu smiled, "Your Highness, I just told you not to let the baby starve."
Qi Changyi blinked twice and asked ignorantly, "Baby? Where is the baby?"
He suddenly remembered something and pointed to his stomach, "Is it here?"
Li Yu smiled and nodded.
Everyone in the Prime Minister's Mansion knew about it, except this little fool who was in the situation himself.
Qi Changyi lifted the quilt and looked down at her flat belly, pouting, "Xiao Yuzi lied to me, it's too small to hide a baby."
The corners of Li Yu's mouth twitched. How was he going to explain this to His Highness
"Well, Your Highness, the baby hasn't grown up yet. It's only the size of a small bean, so it can be hidden."
"So, is the baby transformed from Xiaodouzi?" Qi Changyi asked.
"Um, this, this, I don't know either. Your Highness, why don't you wait until the master comes back and ask the master? You need to eat quickly now so that you can take good care of your body and let the baby grow up healthily."
"Okay! I want to eat two bowls of rice!"
Qi Changyi really ate a lot of food, and he did feel hungry. Fortunately, the little bean didn't torture him this time, and didn't make him feel nauseous or want to vomit.
Li Yu handed the hot medicine to Qi Changyi. Before he could even take a sip, he frowned at the bitter smell.
The door was pushed open and a tall figure walked in.
When Qi Changyi saw this, he put the medicine down with a "bang", then threw himself into the arms of that figure and hugged him tightly, rubbing his little head against his chest.
Li Yu smiled secretly with her hands covering her mouth, then packed up her lunch box and went out, closing the door considerately.
Pei Zheng patted the top of the head of the person in his arms, and smiled, "Do you miss me?"
"Think about Brother Pei." His tone was full of grievance and intimacy.
Pei Zheng held him and asked him to sit beside the bed. He then brought the medicine to him, scooped up a spoonful, blew it cool by his lips, and then brought it to his mouth.
Qi Changyi closed his eyes and opened his mouth wide to drink it up. Then his little face wrinkled up in bitterness and he huffed and stuck out his tongue.
Pei Zheng leaned over and kissed the corner of his lips, hooking his little tongue with the tip of his tongue and circling it.
“Is it still bitter?”
Qi Changyi opened his eyes, blushed and shook his head.
After drinking a bowl of medicine, Pei Zheng helped Qi Changyi lie down on the bed. Qi Changyi was worried that he was going to leave again, so he grabbed his hand in advance and held it to his chest.
"Brother Pei, please stay with me."
Pei Zheng leaned down, half-lying on the bed, holding the little guy in his arms, "Okay, I won't leave. I'll stay with you tonight."
The little girl smiled sweetly with her eyebrows curved, took Pei Zheng's hand and slowly placed it on her belly.
"Brother Pei, did you know there is a little bean planted here?"
"Little Bean?" Pei Zheng laughed, and gently drew circles on it with his fingertips. "Who told you?"
"Xiao Yuzi." Qi Changyi said seriously, "Xiao Yuzi also said that if I don't eat well, the baby will feel hungry, so I have to eat more so that the baby can grow up well and not always be a small bean."
"Well, you're good."
Pei Zheng lowered his voice, slid down, changed his position and embedded the little guy deeper into his arms.
The moonlight outside poured in, illuminating the warm room with its bright and clear light.
The night wind is warm and gentle, and the stars are shining.
Qi Changyi turned his head and saw the sky full of stars through the open window. Among them, there was a big and bright star hanging next to the moon, as if competing with the moonlight.
"Brother Pei, I understand. The baby is not Xiaodouzi."
Qi Changyi pointed to the star in the sky and said, "The baby is a star in the sky. He slipped away from my belly before and ran to play in the sky. Now he has had enough fun and said he missed me and Brother Pei, so he came back."
Pei Zheng's heart suddenly wrinkled. These were the words he said to comfort him when they lost their first child. Unexpectedly, he still remembered them.
His arms tightened a little more, and Pei Zheng bent down and kissed his hair.
The old guys in the court said that his little fool was a good-for-nothing idiot who couldn't help the Celestial Empire solve any problems at a time when the Celestial Empire was in such trouble. They said that he was not worthy of being the crown prince, or even the emperor of the Celestial Empire.
Pei Zheng just took advantage of the situation and said some treasonous words in front of all the officials. Not only did he declare that Prince Qi Changyi would never be made the Crown Prince, he also asked the Emperor to issue an imperial decree to revoke Qi Changyi's title of prince and demote him to a commoner.
In this way, Qi Changyi fell from the clouds to the mortal world and became an ordinary person.
"Now, he is not a prince," Pei Zheng said to the officials, "but a treasure of the Prime Minister's Mansion."