Chapter 548: Finale

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio     Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Under the monitoring of Xie Heng, Xie Jun read the proceedings diligently until the latter felt like throwing up. Only then did Xie Heng leave him alone and go home.

Xie Jun heaved a sigh of relief. He summoned a servant and ordered, “Send someone immediately to Guangqing Province. The disaster relief has already ended. Heir Qiao should come back to Imperial City!’

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The servant went to do so right away. They knew that the Emperor feared the grand secretary. Xie Jun hoped his Sis would return to the capital soon to keep the latter occupied.

By the time Xie Heng left the palace, it was already curfew time. Aside from the patrolling soldiers, no one else was on the streets. The streets were as empty as his heart.

Once he recalled that his wife was not home, Xie Heng wanted to leave the capital and drag her home.

How could she have gone for so long?

The disaster relief had already ended. What was keeping her in Guangqing Province.

As Xie Heng pondered on this matter, he arrived home.

“Master, we have arrived at the residence,” his servant gently informed him.

Only then was Xie Heng pulled back to reality.

After he got off his palanquin, Xie Heng was momentarily stunned. He then strode into the main courtyard.

His heart was beating fast.

Before the servants could even greet him, Xie Heng had zoomed past them.

The main courtyard was lit.

“Master.”

“Is the Mistress back?”

“Yes. ”

“When did she return?

“This evening.”

“You are dismissed.”

Xie Heng waved off the servants and immediately entered the house.

Zhao Chuchu stood in the middle of the room. She smiled at Xie Heng and said) “You are back.”

Xie Heng stepped forward and pulled Zhao Chuchu into his arms, embracing her tightly. He said, “Chuchu, you are finally back. If you weren’t, I was about to go to Guangqing Province to find you.”

He did not say he missed her outright, but every word he uttered was heavily laced with his longing.

“Da Lang, you are hugging me too tightly. I might just throw up,” said Zhao Chuchu as she smiled and pushed him away.

Xie Heng felt his heart tighten as he hurriedly released her. He asked, “What is the matter? Are you unwell? Wait here. I will call for the imperial physicians.”

“The imperial physicians serve the palace. If you summon them, what will others think of you?

“Many treacherous officials already claim that I am abusing my power. If I do not do what they claim I am doing, I will disappoint them.”

As Xie Heng said this, he supported Zhao Chuchu to the bed to lie down and prepared to leave to summon the imperial physicians.

Zhao Chuchu could not help but laugh and say, “How could you forget I am also a physician? In truth, those imperial physicians’ medical skills are inferior to mine! Da Lang, I want to tell you something.”

“Are you really okay?” asked Xie Heng, still concerned.

“I am a little uncomfortable, but that is unavoidable. Da Lang, you are going to be a father.”

“Then, we’d better let the imperial physicians check you out… What did you say?”

It took a while for Xie Heng to respond to what Zhao Chuchu had said.

Stunned, he stared at Zhao Chuchu blankly. He stood still like a statue.

Zhao Chuchu repeated, “I said, ‘You are going to be a father.’ I’m not feeling well because I’m pregnant!”

Xie Heng suddenly stood up. He paced around the bed. The grand secretary, who was only second to the Emperor, could not keep calm.

For a moment, Zhao Chuchu did not understand what Xie Heng was thinking.

“Do you not like children?”

In dismissal, Xie Heng waved his hand and said, “Chuchu, hush. Give me a moment to calm down.”

How could he possibly not like his own child?

In his previous life, he had been alone. Up until his death, he had no children. Everyone admired him for having power and authority in court, but no one knew that he envied the family relationships of ordinary people. He also wished to have children whom he could play with.

After a while, Xie Heng returned to the bedside and sat down. He held Zhao Chuchu’s hands and said, “Do you have any cravings? I will make them for you right now. You just sit here and do not move. If you want water, just call a servant to serve you.”

Zhao Chuchu laughed out loud and said, “Da Lang, I am not a porcelain doll. I am not that fragile. I also do not have any cravings now. Quickly go bathe and come to bed. Since I learned I am pregnant, I have been especially fond of sleeping.

“Alright, I will go bathe now. Tuck yourself in first,” said Xie Heng as he helped Zhao Chuchu lie down. He immediately ordered for hot water to be prepared.

He cleansed himself quickly and then joined Zhao Chuchu in bed. He hugged her gingerly.

Before he managed to have a heart-to-heart talk with her, she was already sound asleep.

The grand secretary, overwhelmed by immense happiness, stayed awake the entire night.

The next day, he still had to go to the morning assembly.

Zhao Chuchu was still sleeping soundly. Xie Heng couldn’t bring himself to wake her up, so he got ready and went out quietly.

During the morning assembly, Xie Jun and all the imperial court members discovered that the grand secretary was exceptionally kind today. Even when the censor criticized him, he did not retort the former.

Everyone was puzzled. Could this be the grand secretary’s new strategy to torture them?

Xie Jun was also feeling uneasy. Sometimes, when Xie Heng got angry, even Xie Jun feared him.

Sigh. Why was Sis still away?

Everyone was on pins and needles. When the morning assembly ended, the court members could not believe it had ended without a hiccup.

Xie Heng approached the Minister of Personnel and asked, “Minister Zhao, you have many children. I would like to ask for your pointers.”

“Grand Secretary, ask away.” The Minister of Personnel was on the brink of tears. He believed that he was an honest man. He had no idea why the grand secretary targeted him.

When Xie Heng noticed that the other court members were furtively checking out the situation, he smiled and called out, “Everyone, gather around. I could use all your opinions.”

Everyone was at a loss for words.

They scolded themselves for not running away sooner. Why did they want to be rubbernecks? Now, they were being called over.

“When your wives were pregnant with your first child, what symptoms did they have? Did they show any signs of discomfort? How did you take care of them? Are there any taboos that I should avoid? Also, did they experience a change in appetite?”

Xie Heng asked almost ten questions in one breath.

The crowd was speechless.

What was happening? Could the grand secretary be meddling in even their family affairs?

The crowd held back their tears as they answered his questions one after another.

Xie Heng was unsatisfied with their responses.

He suggested. “How about this? In the afternoon. you can all tell me more in greater detail. For now, go on with your business.”

The ministers still could not understand what the grand secretary wanted to do. They exchanged glances as the latter left.

The court members were tormented by Xie Heng’s unending questions for a few days. Someone could not stand it and ranted about it back home to his wife. His wife rolled her eyes at him instead. She said, “No wonder you have not been promoted after so many years. You are so dumb. Mrs. Xie is

pregnant!”

Word got around, and the ministers finally realized that the grand secretary was bragging that he was about to be a father!

Because of the rampant rumors in the capital these years, everyone believed that Zhao Chuchu was sterile. After all, Zhao Chuchu herself was Doctor Miracle. Every woman would give birth and have children as soon as they married. However, Zhao Chuchu did not do so. Therefore, the court members did not immediately figure out Xie Heng’s intention in asking all those pregnancy questions.

Xie Jun also learned that Zhao Chuchu was pregnant. Gifts poured into the Xie residence like flowing water Xie Jun was delighted. His wish of having a little nephew was finally about to come true.

Hence, Xie Jun left the palace frequently to visit Zhao Chuchu. Xie Heng could not stand it. He took out the list of beauties that Xie Yan had chosen for Xie Jun and asked the latter to select a candidate for marriage.

Xie Jun was so scared that he rushed back to the palace instantly. He did not dare visit the Xie residence until after Zhao Chuchu gave birth to avoid being forced into marriage.

Nine months later, Zhao Chuchu gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. Xie Heng gave them the names Xie Huanzhang and Zhao Wanjun.

Xie Huanzhang’s temper was exactly like Zhao Chuchu’s, whereas Zhao Wanjun’s was like her father’s.

Xie Jun kept resisting getting married. However, when Xie Huanzhang was three years old, he found a true love for Xie Jun. Emperor Yongping, who had refused to marry, was finally wed. The imperial court members all cried tears of joy.

During the 18th year of Yongping, envoys from countless foreign countries came to establish diplomatic ties with the Wei Dynasty. The dynasty enjoyed a long period of peace and prosperity.

As for Grand Secretary Xie Heng, he resigned from his position and left the capital together with his wife, Zhao Chuchu, in secret.

By the time Xie Jun discovered this, they were long gone!

Xie Jun rejected the letter from the officials asking him to invite Xie Heng back.

His brother had spent half his life helping him govern the country well. Now that the country was in an era of peace, it was time for his brother to rest well.

Xie Jun thought to himself, “Bro, I’ll rule over the Wei Dynasty independently.

You can accompany Sis in peace and do whatever you want.”

Xie Huanzhang came running to the palace. He came to cry before Xie Jun, saying, “Uncle, I am an unwanted child from now on!”

Xie Jun’s forehead twitched as he said, “What a coincidence. Before your father left, he instructed me to arrange marriages for you and your sister. I now decree that you will be married. In the future, you can have your own…”

Xie Huanzhang ran off without a second glance. He returned home to warn Zhao Wanjun to frequent the palace less to avoid being sold off by Xie Jun.

“Do you think the kids will come after us?” Zhao Chuchu asked Xie Heng. “Are we really leaving them behind in Imperial City?”

“We spent half of our lives serving others. From now on, it is just the two of us. Our children have grown up. We also need to let go. With Junjun around, they can’t cause much trouble. Chuchu, the rest of my life is yours.”

Xie Heng embraced Zhao Chuchu as they watched the sun on the horizon. The rest of their lives would be spent traveling the world. They would keep each other company till the end of their days. What a life!

The End..