TFSRITA Chapter 186

Yan Qing yawned, then asked, “Did you take a concubine while you were away?”

“No!” Ji Jiaxun immediately shook his head, squeezing her hand gently. “I only want you!”

With his wife pregnant at home and still held as a hostage, if he were to find another woman, he would truly be heartless.

Yan Qing chuckled lightly. As long as he hadn’t taken anyone, she didn’t have any more questions. She knew the journey had been difficult, but it was all behind them now. She said, “You’ve been back for a while, the baby will be here soon.”

“Mm.”

As she got her answer, the sleepiness overwhelmed her, and she closed her eyes.

In the darkness, a figure sat motionless at the head of the bed, watching her.

Listening to his heavy breathing and watching his strong features, the gentleness in his eyes grew.

It wasn’t until the sky began to lighten that the man reluctantly rose, bending down to kiss her forehead before he left.

Yan Qing wasn’t sure what Ji Jiaxun was doing, but sometimes he would come to see her at night. Most of the time, though, she would sleep straight through until morning.

She wondered, maybe it was just that she was asleep and didn’t notice?

But Yan Qing always had a feeling that Ji Jiaxun was doing something.

It wasn’t until more news came in—until reports of the Third Prince secretly reaping huge profits, ignoring the suffering of the people, and the resulting impeachment petitions flooded in—that people began to fear the Third Prince even more. His name alone was enough to scare children to tears.

As the Third Prince’s power waned, the Eldest Prince slowly started to make his move. But the Eldest Prince seemed somewhat arrogant, seeing the Third Prince, once his tormentor, now isolated and vulnerable. Without hesitation, he ruthlessly suppressed him.

Meanwhile, at this time, Yan Yue got engaged to a man carefully selected by her father, a scholar from a reputable family.

This plotline also existed in the original story, but the unfortunate fiancé was directly dealt with by the Third Prince. The couple fought, and reconciled, but that was a much earlier event. Now, with Yan Qing’s intervention, Yan Yue was getting engaged?

Yan Qing simply watched the drama unfold as she waited.

Half a month later, Ji Jiaxun finally returned.

Perhaps it was because the baby was waiting for his father, but when Yan Qing saw him for the first time, she felt a sharp pain in her stomach—it was time… she was going into labor.

The young man, whose face was full of determination and weariness, was taken aback when he saw her, dropping the dagger he had been holding and rushing to her side.

A month after the baby’s birth, Yan Qing returned to Pingwu Hou’s residence.

The full moon celebration was held there, but Yan Qing didn’t get involved. She left everything to the people at the Hou’s residence and simply cooperated.

However, not long after the baby’s full moon, an official at court who had impeached the Third Prince was so enraged by the emperor that he had a stroke and collapsed, which was later discovered to be a result of a stroke.

Soon after, the Eldest Prince took control of the court. The Third Prince attempted a palace coup, but the Fourth Prince and Ji Jiaxun swiftly worked together to capture him. Everything happened so quickly that no one had time to react.

Yan Qing felt detached from the situation.

Until… she attended Yan Yue’s wedding.

She had married the man she had been engaged to, and with the Third Prince preoccupied with his power struggle, he didn’t have time to focus on her. By the time everything settled, Yan Yue had successfully married.

Yan Qing didn’t know whether to congratulate her or not. She had thought Yan Yue was acting out of impulse, but now she had to go through with it.

When she went to meet Yan Yue in her bridal room, she found her wearing a bright smile, looking genuinely happy.

Seeing that they were sisters, everyone else tactfully made room for Yan Qing.

Only the two of them were left in the room.

Maybe it was the look on her face that gave it away, but Yan Yue smiled and said, “Are you surprised?”

Yan Qing had always liked Xu Chengxiao and was the first to notice the subtle affection between them, so she wasn’t exactly shocked, just curious.

Yan Qing nodded honestly. “Why did you suddenly… get engaged?”

After all this time, Yan Yue had become less resentful toward Yan Qing, and now she spoke calmly, “Because of you. What I want is a husband—an equal partner, not a ruler, not someone who can control my life and death.”

Yan Qing was stunned.

Yan Yue continued, “This husband, I chose him myself. Once, I disguised myself as a man to go out and was attacked by some thugs. He saved me and scolded me, but when I cried, he became silly. He even put his face in front of me so I could hit him, just to make me happy. But he could never truly do it…”

Yan Qing listened, understanding dawning. She gently touched her chest, feeling a mix of emotions, as if her heart were too full and it made her uncomfortable.

But when she returned home and saw Ji Jiaxun with the baby, she quickly pushed aside those feelings, putting on a soft smile.

Ji Jiaxun saw her, put down the child, and came to greet her, massaging her shoulders. “You’re tired, right? I’ll have the maid prepare some hot water for you to take a bath.”

“Mm.” Yan Qing leaned against him, her heart softening.

Two tasks were completed.

In this life, she lived well. Her husband was loving and loyal, and her child was respectful and thoughtful.

When she died, it was peaceful—so peaceful that she didn’t want to wake up.

Perhaps sensing her thoughts, a voice echoed in her ears: [Do you wish to continue traveling through time? If not, your binding will be released, and you will be sent to reincarnate.]

[No.] Without hesitation, Yan Qing answered.

Soon, the world around her darkened, and she lost consciousness.

[The end.]