The atmosphere in the hall was quite lively, with Du Yiyi holding one child in her left arm and another in her right.
The two children lay obediently in her embrace, not crying or fussing, occasionally pursing their little mouths, looking particularly adorable.
She doted on them, reluctant to let them go.
It was Yu Rong, worried that her arms would ache from holding them for too long or that she might jostle the children, who finally persuaded her to put them down.
"It's just bad timing. Our Xiao Qi had her babies, and Third Sister is in her eighth or ninth month, so she couldn't make it. She wrote to me recently, asking me to keep a close eye on Xiao Qi, fearing you might not be well." Yu Rong said, teasing with a smile.
"Between her and me, Xiao Qi is her daughter, and she's my daughter too. Do you think I wouldn't take good care of her?"
Her words made everyone laugh.
They gathered together, chatting and laughing, happier than words could express.
As darkness fell, everyone returned to their respective homes.
Seeing that Zhao Xiaozhu seemed a bit down, Su Xiaoqi specially asked her to stay over.
She had a good relationship with Shen Mingzhu, and the two of them could chat together.
Zhao Xiaozhu, touched by Su Xiaoqi's thoughtfulness, quietly told her that He Qiulei intended to propose to her.
However, she had refused.
It hadn't been fully resolved yet, and if he came looking for her, she asked Xiaoqi sister not to help him.
"Oh, He Qiulei, he's quite a good person. Although he comes from a merchant family, he's hardworking and ambitious, having already become a royal merchant in Bashu, with a promising future."
Yet, He Qiulei, who usually couldn't hide anything from her, had shown no sign of his intentions.
His clandestine efforts were remarkably thorough.
"I, Xiaoqi sister, I know my own situation. I am… no longer a virgin. How could I possibly tarnish his reputation…"
"Silly girl, He Qiulei knows about that. Since he's proposing, it means he doesn't mind. He often travels to places like Northern Chu and Northern Di, where the local customs are open. The issue you mentioned doesn't exist there."
The concept of chastity was never judged that way.
Zhao Xiaozhu's eyes welled up with tears. In truth, she had always harbored feelings for someone else.
In the past, she thought they had a chance.
But now, unknowingly, that person had grown increasingly distant, as far away as a star in the sky.
Thinking of him was once a solace; now, it was a delusion.
Perhaps she should listen to Xiaoqi sister's advice!
She bowed to Su Xiaoqi, wiped away her tears, and went to find Shen Mingzhu.
Su Xiaoqi raised her hand and called for Zhang Yu, asking her to go ahead and greet Mingzhu, to comfort her well when they slept together that night.
Recently, the court situation had been peaceful. The Emperor was willing to relinquish some power and intended to groom the newly appointed Crown Prince. The Crown Prince was capable and diligent, handling state affairs extremely well.
He had earned much praise from Emperor Yongxing.
After half a year, Shen Yun, while interrogating Zhao Xiaohua and Su Yuru in the Imperial Prison, had indeed unearthed some information and found a jade pendant.
Shen Yun knew that his wife had been trying to collect four jade pendants.
He immediately took it back and presented it to Su Xiaoqi.
Su Xiaoqi looked at the three identical white jade pendants on the table, feeling a sense of unease.
These three jade pendants could be produced.
Yet, her own pendant, she could only sense its presence but could not retrieve it with her consciousness.
So, what was the secret of these jade pendants?
Su Xiaoqi held one in her hand and studied it. She held it up to the light, then soaked it in water.
She even considered smashing it open to see.
But she ultimately restrained herself.
If smashing it would reveal the secret, that would be fine.
But if it didn't, and instead destroyed a key element in uncovering the secret, that would be unfortunate.
Su Xiaoqi hesitated, but then Xiao Bao, held by Shen Yun, clapped his hand down. The three jade pendants placed on it all fell from the table.
With a "bang," they shattered on the floor…
Uh, Su Xiaoqi frowned.
Xiao Bao looked at her with his big, dark eyes, appearing cute and innocent.
Su Xiaoqi lay on the ground, looking at the shattered pieces of the three jade pendants.
She discovered they were made of ordinary white jade.
Except for the beautiful craftsmanship, they had no other distinguishing features.
Nor were there any treasure maps hidden inside, as she had speculated.
It made sense; such thin jade pendants wouldn't be able to hold anything inside even if she tried.
But there must be some secret, perhaps related to the origin of her space.
But now, they were broken.
She spread her hands. Well, there was nothing more to research.
At this moment, Su Xiaoqi's consciousness was pulled into the space.
She was forcibly locked inside for a few moments before she retreated, her eyes filled with surprise and realization.
She understood.
Xiao Bao's accidental action, by smashing the three jade pendants, seemed to have unlocked her space.
It allowed her to understand the origin of her space.
This was something from a celestial body. All its fundamental power was concentrated in the jade pendant within her space.
The subsequent three were made by Ning Wang and Su Baiwan, who had first discovered the jade pendants.
It was a pity that neither of them was the fated person.
The space automatically recognized its master.
Su Xiaoqi, who had traveled through time and space, became its host.
After clarifying this, Su Xiaoqi felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her heart.
Two months later, Su Xiaoqi, along with Zhang Yu and others, made a trip to Northern Chu.
She personally assisted Yu Jing in childbirth.
Mother and child were safe and sound.
Northern Chu finally had a legitimate heir.
Yu Jing and Chu Yu temporarily put aside their thoughts of retirement and focused on nurturing their own child.
Additionally, Su Xiaoqi visited the experimental fields south of Northern Chu.
She had previously sent them special rice and wheat.
After adapting to the black soil, they had achieved a bumper harvest in the first year.
The yield was around three *shi* per mu.
The people of Northern Chu were overjoyed.
Su Xiaoqi thought that, in fact, given the power of the black soil, the yield could be doubled twice.
Before leaving, she left behind some improved seeds.
This time, it would bring them even greater harvests.
Everyone expressed their gratitude.
Su Xiaoqi quickly told them there was no need for thanks.
The Northern Chu palace attendants, who were by their side, informed everyone that she was not only Princess An Qi of Da Liang but also the eldest princess of Northern Chu.
During her trip to Northern Chu, Su Xiaoqi's reputation spread throughout the region.
Everyone learned that their King and Queen had an eldest legitimate daughter who had married into Da Liang.
But she still cared for the people of Northern Chu and brought them grain seeds that could be grown in the black soil, leading to their abundant harvests.
For many years after, Su Xiaoqi would send people back with new grain and vegetable seeds she had developed using her space, assisting Northern Chu in cultivation and gradually helping them move away from their precarious sole reliance on pastoralism.
Northern Chu and Da Liang slowly integrated with each other. Later, when individual local authorities instigated soldiers to attack each other, the people had already intermarried and become relatives.
They were unwilling to fight anymore.
This was the best way to achieve peace.
Of course, Su Xiaoqi did not favor one over the other, providing grain seeds only to the people of Northern Chu.
As she passed through some barren lands along the border of Da Liang, she also left behind grain seeds suitable for those lands.
In her later years, Su Xiaoqi was dedicated to researching and promoting grain seeds, genuinely working for the welfare of the common people.
Meanwhile, Shen Yun, in charge of Da Liang's national treasury in the Ministry of Revenue, created wealth unprecedented in any era.
The people lived in peace and contentment, their lives prosperous, ushering in the "Yongxing Flourishing Era."
When Su Xiaoqi returned to the capital of Da Liang, it was the ninth day of the ninth month.
Shen Yun rode his horse thirty *li* out to meet her at the foot of the southern mountains.
After sending everyone else away, he pulled Su Xiaoqi onto his horse and they galloped away.
To their long-awaited cave hot spring, Shen Yun said nothing, gloomily first discarding his clothes, then coming to help Su Xiaoqi.
The two soon immersed themselves in the hot spring.
Su Xiaoqi sighed in comfort. The warm spring not only cleansed her body but also washed away half of her fatigue.
She leaned against Shen Yun, closing her eyes slightly, wishing for time to stand still and for the years to be peaceful!