Chapter 1800 – Reactions from All Sides (Part 1)
“The Five Kingdoms are about to unite, and the Purple Micro Star descends from the heavens!”
These eight words reverberated in everyone’s hearts, stirring them up without ceasing.
“First joy, congratulations to our Lord for gaining a talented individual.”
“Second joy, congratulations to our Lord for receiving the Purple Micro Star.”
“Third joy, congratulations to our Lord for having a promising successor.”
An older minister stepped forward, his hands shaking with excitement, tears gathering in his eyes.
People of his age had endured the most suffering; the chaos of the world had tormented them for far too long. They had thought they would never again witness peace in their lifetime, but who would have imagined such wonderful news would arrive now? The Five Kingdoms are merging, and the heavens have finally shown mercy to mankind!
Jiang Pengji said, “You all are the pillars of the state. With you here, how could we not achieve a prosperous era? Heaven has listened to your voices and has sent the Purple Micro Star to my womb. With half of Zhong Zhao in hand and the internal strife in Xichang and Beiyuan wasting their national strength, they are not to be feared.”
Half of the world’s five kingdoms were under her control, and the remaining ones were utterly weak.
Who else could unify the lands if not her?
Even the heavens recognized her, specially sending the Purple Micro Star to her womb, heralding the dawn of an even more prosperous dynasty.
Thus, who could challenge her?
Uninformed bystanders were truly bamboozled by her words, wholeheartedly believing everything she uttered.
If it weren’t for the will of heaven, how could everything align so perfectly?
Zhong Zhao had remained steadfast, and prior to this, there had been no news of such events—no rumors of war, only tales of competing lords fighting amongst themselves. The troops stationed at Zhanjiang Pass had been completely inactive, not involving themselves in the internal conflicts of Zhong Zhao.
On a day with no forewarnings, the front lines reported a great victory, coinciding oddly with the day of the imperial examination finals!
Most astonishingly, the usually serene and spotless unmarried lady of the court suddenly announced her pregnancy, claiming that the day before, she dreamt of divine dragons entering her embrace—an unprecedented omen! Individually, these events might seem trivial, but three good tidings crashing together on the same day was anything but simple. Did you not see how everyone was so overjoyed they nearly forgot their decorum? Did you not see the older minister shedding tears right there?
Jiang Pengji had yet to bear children, and the void at her knees was a burden on many hearts.
Now, with heaven’s intervention bringing forth a Purple Micro Star, what did this prove?
It proved that the leader they followed was divinely chosen, and that the next generation of emperors would also be wise and enlightened, ensuring that peace and prosperity would last at least a century!
Those who had never experienced the ravages of chaos could never understand the suffering or the yearning for peace.
Now there was no need to pine for plums; an era of tranquility awaited them within arm’s reach.
Everyone bowed and congratulated, their voices resounding all the way to the dome of the great hall, wishing they could soar into the heavens.
While they called her “Our Lord,” in their hearts, they secretly proclaimed her “Your Majesty.”
She was the emperor!
Even if she had yet to ascend the throne, in everyone’s heart, she was already the supreme ruler, wielding authority over the realm.
In contrast, the reactions of a few in the know were far more intriguing.
Feng Zhen quietly gave Wei Ci a knowing glance, inquiring when the pregnancy had begun. He was more curious about whether Wei Ci’s head had somehow turned green.
From his calculations, the Lord and Wei Ci had been together for some time, and now she was pregnant—this timing was quite sensitive.
Ask Wei Ci?
He was equally puzzled.
Jiang Pengji’s public announcement of the final piece of news left Wei Ci just as bewildered and shocked as everyone else.
He had also been kept in the dark, but unlike the others, Wei Ci felt no disappointment. Reflecting on Jiang Pengji’s recent focus on the situation in Zhong Zhao, he understood that the outcome of today’s events was something she had meticulously plotted for a long time. It was meant to build momentum for both herself and the child growing within her.
With such heartfelt effort, did Wei Ci have any right to selfishly complain about her secrecy?
He felt no dissatisfaction, only an overwhelming sense of excitement and tenderness.
Wei Ci could finally fulfill the vow he had sworn upon his rebirth—to stay with her and watch her rise to supreme authority once more.
He also knew this child could not possibly be Jiang Yan.
Jiang Pengji had always thought that Wei Ci might be bothered by this, fearing he could not escape the shadows of his past. Little did she know, Wei Ci was not that fragile. He deeply loved the children from his previous life, feeling a heavy guilt towards them, and constantly dreamed of ways to make amends.
However, this life was different from the last.
He had clung to the past; how unfair would it be to Jiang Pengji and their future child? In Wei Ci’s heart, Jiang Yan would always be his eldest daughter, Wei Cong his forever son, and this newborn child was unique—neither a replacement nor a shadow of anyone else.
Jiang Pengji seemed to sense something, her resolute gaze sweeping over him, instantly softening.
What transpired in the great hall spread with unbelievable speed, stunning those loyal to their posts who hadn’t attended the imperial examination, and Wanzhou erupted in celebration.
“Is what you said true?”
Bai Yuexia, who had just given birth, tightly grasped the maidservant’s wrist, nearly scaring the nearby infant to tears.
The maidservant gritted her teeth against the pain but wore a genuinely joyful expression.
“Eldest Lady, it’s true, truly true!”
Bai Yuexia threw off the quilt and hurriedly said, “Quickly prepare my wash and makeup, I must go congratulate Our Lord.”
The maidservant and wet nurse were startled, promptly stopping Bai Yuexia, fearing she would catch a chill by rushing outside.
Women were supposed to rest in confinement after giving birth; if her recovery was not well attended, she would suffer later in life.
Bai Yuexia dismissed these worries; she felt perfectly fine.
If not for Zhang Ping holding her back and her father also writing to advise her to rest, she wouldn’t follow their nagging and stay in bed.
It was too hot; since giving birth, she hadn’t stepped outside, washed her hair, or bathed—her bedding was starting to smell foul.
“Half of the confinement period is over, I feel perfectly fine now; you don’t need to fuss,” Bai Yuexia proclaimed, her resolve steadfast, moving about energetically, unstoppable, “Hurry and prepare hot water for my wash; I can’t let Our Lord catch a whiff of anything unpleasant.”
Such a grand occasion! How could she not go to extend her congratulations?
Before, she hadn’t felt it, but now everything seemed pungent, her hair itching, and her nightgown had turned into a filthy yellow rag.
The maidservant and nurse could not stop her, and with Zhang Ping not present, they were left only to comply with a pained expression.
Just as Zhang Ping stepped through the door, Bai Yuexia nearly bumped right into him.
Zhang Ping: “…”
The news spread that fast?
Not only had Bai Yuexia learned of it, but even the commanding officer leading the troops stationed outside Xiangyang also knew.
Nong Qin confirmed the news with the bearer three times before daring to believe the good tidings she had heard.
“The Five Kingdoms are about to unite, and the Purple Micro Star descends from the heavens…”
Nong Qin murmured this phrase repeatedly, her eyes brimming with tears.
How fortunate she was, to witness her lord’s ascendance to power in her lifetime.
From the time Jiang Pengji was still a noble scholar in Hejian County, Nong Qin had followed her.
It was she who pulled Nong Qin out of the depths of despair, teaching her how to create her own life.
Now, even before ascending the throne, she was blessed with three auspicious events—her joy was not any less than that of an emperor.
But joy aside, she couldn’t abandon her post at such a critical moment. Instead, she suppressed her excitement and gazed longingly in the direction of Xiangyang.
