The impromptu speech at the hundredth birthday banquet had cemented Lu Qingwan's position as Empress.
With Si Fengwu and a team of talented individuals personally selected by her assistance, Tianfeng had enjoyed over a decade of tranquil peace.
Heaven had also been kind, with no natural disasters or man-made calamities in fifteen years, granting Lu Qingwan and the court ample opportunity for recovery and growth.
In a mere fifteen years, Tianfeng was subtly showing signs of catching up to Nanqi and Daqin, forming a quartet of powerful nations alongside Daqin and Tujue.
This was, undoubtedly, a good thing. However, the faster the nation developed, the busier the Emperor Lu Qingwan became.
Although Si Fengwu could still help her handle much of the state affairs, he was focused on military reform. Over fifteen years, for every step the court took forward, Si Fengwu's army advanced three.
It could be said that all of Tianfeng's progress was achieved on the foundation of military advancement.
The result was that although Si Fengwu and Lu Qingwan were both in the palace, they often felt like they were in a long-distance relationship.
Both enjoyed this situation, but some people were not pleased.
One evening, Lu Qingwan was working late in the imperial study. She expected Si Fengwu to be waiting for her in the dark, as usual.
However, upon arriving, she found the entire Weiyang Palace illuminated, as bright as day.
Before she could even enter, Lu Qingwan heard the sound of a courtyard staff and a woman's shrill cries.
As she reached the doorway, she heard the woman's voice, surprisingly reasonable, say, "Your Highness, I beg you, spare this servant!
This servant does not seek a title, nor does she wish to contend with Her Majesty.
This servant merely pities Your Highness, who is nearing the age of destiny without a child of his own. This servant only wishes to bear Your Highness a child who can bear Your Highness's surname!"
Someone had dared to climb into Si Fengwu's bed with such an absurd excuse. Lu Qingwan, who had been about to enter, froze. She exchanged a look with the guards at the door.
However, she did not receive a response from Si Fengwu. Instead, she heard Liyang's indignant shout, "Bah!
It's one thing to be greedy for wealth and status yourself, but to use a child for status is another.
Why does Your Highness have no children? Are the four princes and three princesses not Your Highness's children? Your Highness has said for years, and you still dare to bring up the surnames of the princes and princesses. With your demeanor, if your child were to bear Your Highness's surname, it would be an insult to Your Highness's lineage..."
Before he could finish, two more sharp cracks echoed, accompanied by the woman's cries. It seemed Liyang had lost his temper and resorted to physical action.
Lu Qingwan, as Emperor, possessed both the commanding presence of a male ruler and the delicate sensibilities of a woman.
Furthermore, she had no harem, and her rewards and punishments were clear. There were few in the palace who dared to overstep their bounds.
It was unclear where Liyang had procured the courtyard staff.
Liyang was now a fervent supporter of the Lu Qingwan and Si Fengwu ship. For a palace maid to dare climb into Si Fengwu's bed was akin to dancing on his last nerve.
Liyang had joined the army in his youth. Later, after Lu Qingwan ascended the throne, his old comrades were either posted to govern or promoted to generals.
Only he, with shameless persistence, refused to leave. He forcefully displaced Duanyue and claimed the position of the Imperial Guard Commander, firmly becoming the eldest personal bodyguard.
Though he was no longer young, his extensive experience was invaluable. After a few strikes with the courtyard staff, the palace maid was rendered speechless.
Liyang proudly reported to Si Fengwu, "Your Highness, your subordinate has made her shut up. What should we do now?
Should we send her to the Shence Camp for those greenhorns to practice on, or have the Ministry of Justice execute her?
We can't let her disgust Her Majesty..."
Lu Qingwan smirked and pushed the door open. "She's not important. Only one like this has appeared in fifteen years, which is quite novel.
As for you, didn't Manchun say you were showing off yesterday, wanting to kick the icicles under the eaves and accidentally fell? You're still hopping around. Do you want another bowl of Manchun's bitter medicine again?"
The latter flinched. "Your Majesty, spare me! Your subordinate wouldn't dare to provoke that lady again. Your subordinate will hand this person over to those young men outside and go back to recover from his injuries!"
With that said, he grabbed the palace maid, who was wrapped in black cloth, and scurried away, ensuring Lu Qingwan didn't see the maid's face, as if Lu Qingwan would truly be disgusted by the sight.
Si Fengwu reached out from afar. "Why did it take so long to finish?
Did those ignorant ones seek you out for tutoring again during the day, wasting your time?"
"We didn't! Father, please don't wrongly accuse us!"
A soft, childlike voice chimed in, and two chubby little heads peeked through the door. "Our elder brother has been teaching us our lessons these past few days.
Even our martial arts are taught by our third sister. We didn't disturb Mother Emperor.
It's that fellow named Yan Jiuling who pesters Mother Emperor every day, asking her to teach him this and that, making Mother Emperor work so hard."
Yan Jiuling, the nephew of the Empress Dowager of Daqin, was appointed the Crown Prince's Junior Tutor.
Daqin's new Emperor, without even having children of his own, had already prepared a Crown Prince's Junior Tutor who had been studying the ways of emperorship with Si Fengwu and Lu Qingwan for several months.
Si Fengwu's expression darkened upon hearing the little one's complaint. "Tomorrow, I'll write to that brat and summon Yan Jiuling back. He really thinks of us as his extended fieldwork..."
Lu Qingwan chuckled. "Alright, don't get all riled up just yet. Your Imperial Brother abdicated the throne willingly.
Although he intended to personally stabilize the borders and clear obstacles for Yuan'er, being an Emperor is not that easy.
As soon as your Imperial Brother left, he stopped caring about everything. If we don't care, wouldn't that child be wronged to death?
Give it some more time. That Yan Jiuling is clever; he won't bother me all the time."
Knowing that Si Fengwu was merely venting and not truly intending to send Yan Jiuling away, Lu Qingwan comforted him and changed the subject. "Is there anything to eat? I'm hungry..."
Li Su, who was attending to them, waved his hand, and the young palace maids immediately responded and departed.
Lu Qingwan leaned out the door. "Don't hide anymore. Come in, finish your late-night snack, and go back to your rooms obediently. Tomorrow, you all report to the Imperial Academy. Anyone who shirks will have their chance to enter Tianxuan City this year completely canceled!"
Due to the previous confusion before her ascension, the existence of Tianxuan City had been revealed. Si Fengwu and Lu Qingwan decided to play along and made it Tianfeng's most mysterious location.
As long as one applied, Tianxuan Academy would provide the best teachers and resources to cultivate students' literary and martial arts skills. Although official positions in Tianfeng were not considered particularly noble, being admitted to Tianxuan City was a source of pride.
Even Si Fengwu and Lu Qingwan's children were no exception.
As soon as she finished speaking, the door creaked open, and a string of small figures, big and small, tumbled in.
Seven children, four boys and three girls, lined up in order.
Si Fengwu sneered, "Collective truancy, you've gotten quite bold!"
Lu Qingwan worried that her children, confined to the deep palace, would have no playmates, so she sent them all to the Imperial Academy.
For convenience, they all lived at the Lu mansion, only returning to the palace on holidays.
Her intimidating gaze swept over them equally. The four younger ones scurried behind the three older ones.
The eldest boy, already fifteen, looked like a miniature version of Si Fengwu. He protectively shielded the younger ones behind him.
"The Grand Tutor said today is the anniversary of Mother Emperor and Father King's wedding. We also wanted to celebrate with Mother Emperor and Father King, so we were specifically given half a day off."
"That's right! The Grand Tutor told us to come!"
The speaker was the daughter from Lu Qingwan's dragon-phoenix twins, born four years ago.
It was unclear whose genes were responsible, but whenever Lu Qingwan gave birth, it was always multiples. The first pregnancy yielded three, the second a dragon-phoenix set, and the third another set of twins.
Naturally, their children were good-looking. This third daughter resembled a miniature Lu Qingwan, making Si Fengwu dote on her.
He had originally intended to maintain a stern demeanor and send the little ones away, to have some private time with Lu Qingwan.
However, the moment this girl spoke, he couldn't help himself.
But this time, someone was quicker than him.
The eldest son, Lu Yuanting, held the youngest sister in his arms. "Little sister is tired and won't be eating late.
Your son and his siblings have come to pay their respects to Mother Emperor and Father King. After paying our respects, we will be leaving!"
With that said, the seven children, as if stepping out of a painting, bowed in unison. "Your son wishes Father King and Mother Emperor a happy Silver Wedding!"
Seven voices, but all filled with sincerity.
Lu Qingwan's eyes instantly welled up. "This Chi Jingchuan, he must have too much free time these days..."
Si Fengwu embraced his shy wife. "Father King and Mother Emperor have received your well wishes. You may all go back.
After the holiday, Father King will take you to Tianxuan City..."
The elder children exchanged knowing glances, their smiles carrying unspoken meanings.
They shouted "Thank you, Father King!" and whisked their younger siblings away.
The room quickly returned to silence, and the servants discreetly withdrew.
Si Fengwu then fully embraced her. "Why do you seem a bit tired? Are you exhausted?"
Lu Qingwan looked up slowly. "All seven children have my surname. Are you truly not bothered by it at all?"
Lu Qingwan did not possess an absolute matriarchal ideology. She knew that even in the enlightened Tianchao, having all children bear the mother's surname would cause considerable controversy.
Moreover, in this backward era, she was not unaware of the criticism Si Fengwu had endured over the years, but he had chosen not to let it bother her, so she feigned ignorance.
Seeing the palace maid's hysterical state today, her disbelieving expression as she was dragged away, Lu Qingwan realized she had underestimated the implications of all her children bearing her surname.
Her body was suddenly lifted, and she was flipped over. Lu Qingwan instinctively clutched Si Fengwu's shoulders in surprise. "What are you doing?"
Though over forty years old, he held her with the same ease as he had in his youth.
Lu Qingwan could easily discern the demeanor of the great Great Qian war god from his face, and she felt his current presence was even more commanding than before.
Si Fengwu loosely supported her waist. "You've been in control of the world for nearly twenty years. If you wanted to return to your original world, you would have done so by now.
Do you mind staying here with me?"
Lu Qingwan decisively shook her head. "What is there to mind? Staying here was my own choice.
For me, living in any time period is not important. What matters is that you and the children are by my side. With that, I am content.
Truly, if it were before, I wouldn't have even dared to dream of having such a happy day."
"Then that's that."
Si Fengwu smiled. "You feel this way, and so do I.
However, I am more possessive than you. It's natural for those extra burdens to be here.
But if they weren't, I wouldn't be particularly disappointed. As long as I have you, I am immensely satisfied.
As for those who gossip outside, how can they possibly empathize with my happiness?
So, a little foolishness is understandable, wouldn't you say?"
Because those people had never experienced his happiness, they were fixated on the children's surnames.
Lu Qingwan understood Si Fengwu's unspoken words and couldn't help but laugh and cry, yet she was also helpless.
After much thought, perhaps only a loving embrace could reward her understanding and exceptionally good husband.
Thus, Si Fengwu unexpectedly received a big hug, which lasted for a long time.