The emperor would rather have a

Chapter 171 Distinguished guests arrive
As the sun sets, crimson clouds fill the sky.

The afterglow of the setting sun slanted across the palace walls, making the layered glazed tiles shimmer and shimmer, as if they were coated with a layer of flowing gold leaf.

After leaving the Palace Guard Office, Li Yi walked briskly on the bluestone pavement, his black leather boots casting long shadows on the ground as he stepped through the dappled light and shadow.

Four bodyguards followed closely behind, maintaining a perfect distance. The swords at their waists swayed slightly with each light step, producing a soft, metallic clanging sound.

Four or five days had passed since Xingzhou reported the death of Liu Chong, the ruler of Northern Han.

Han Tong has also returned from Hulao Pass. After some discussion among the four who remained behind, they officially decided to take soil from Hulao Pass to build the city wall of Tokyo.

However, Han Tong is in charge of all engineering construction, and Li Yi does not need to worry about the earthwork and city building for the time being. He only needs to provide assistance when necessary.

Turning the corner on one side of the city wall, the majestic outline of Xihua Gate can be seen in the distance.

Outside the palace gate, a blue-draped carriage stood quietly.

Li Yi spotted Fu Erniang standing beside the carriage shaft from afar, her lotus-colored silk dress swaying gently in the evening breeze.

Seeing her husband walking towards her, Fu Erniang's brows furrowed with worry.

"What's wrong?" Li Yi quickly stepped forward and gently supported his wife's arm.

"Husband," Fu Erniang said softly, "Today when I went to the palace to visit Xun Ge'er, I overheard Eunuch Qu mentioning my elder sister..."

At this point, Li Yi quickly raised his hand, signaling the maids and attendants to step back.

He then asked in a low voice, "Could it be that a message from the Empress has been sent back from Huainan?"

"My elder sister hasn't sent a message back..."

Fu Erniang shook her head gently, her fingertips unconsciously twisting the handkerchief. "But Eunuch Qu told me privately that my sister had already fallen ill in Chenzhou. The imperial physician originally said it was a cough due to spleen deficiency, nothing serious, and she would recover after a few days of recuperation."

Her voice trailed off, “Who knew that after my sister arrived in Yingzhou, she contracted typhoid fever again. Although she is recuperating in Yingzhou City, her condition has not improved for a long time.”

"My sister is such a delicate person, and with the weather getting colder day by day, I'm really worried..."

Upon hearing this, Li Yi frowned slightly. He was unaware of the Empress's health condition and had only just learned about it from Fu Erniang.

But then he thought again that such a matter was quite taboo and would certainly not be widely publicized back to Tokyo. As the Empress's trusted eunuch, Qu Tai would naturally find out through the palace's information channels.

"Husband." Fu Erniang gripped Li Yi's sleeve, her voice trembling slightly, "My sister... she won't be alright, will she?"

As dusk fell, Li Yi noticed a faint glimmer of tears in his wife's eyes. These days, even a common case of typhoid fever could be fatal.

Moreover, with current medical technology, the possibility of misdiagnosis is also very high. What if it is a more difficult disease? If the wrong medicine is used, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Please don't worry, Second Madam." Li Yi gently stroked his wife's hand and comforted her in a low voice, "His Majesty brought many imperial physicians with him on his campaign. The Empress may just be suffering from a temporary change in environment. With some rest and recuperation, she will surely be fine."

"As for you, now that you're pregnant, you should take good care of yourself. If you worry too much and it affects the fetus, it won't be a small matter."

Upon hearing this, Fu Erniang subconsciously touched her lower abdomen, her expression finally softening. She nodded and said, "My husband is right... I suppose my sister is blessed with good fortune and will surely be safe and sound this time."

"Alright, it's getting late, be careful not to catch a cold." Li Yi cupped his wife's slightly cool hand in his palm and helped her into the carriage.

A moment later, the carriage slowly started moving, rolling over the road covered with fallen leaves.

Looking out the car window at the darkening sky, Li Yi recalled the historical records about Empress Dafu's early death. He pondered to himself: In this life, Chai Rong's personal expedition was brought forward, changing from the hot summer to autumn and winter, so the risk of Empress Dafu contracting disease while accompanying him should be reduced.

After all, given the level of technology in ancient times, there were relatively diverse and practical ways to keep warm, while the means of cooling down were more limited... Keeping warm was always easier than cooling off.

Is it possible that the fate of the Great Fu Queen is ultimately predetermined?
"What are you thinking about, my husband?" Fu Erniang couldn't help but ask softly when she saw Li Yi lost in thought.

Li Yi pulled himself out of his thoughts and held his wife's soft hand tightly: "I just suddenly remembered that there are still some military affairs to be dealt with at the Palace Guard... I'll deal with them when I go on duty tomorrow."

He deliberately put on a relaxed tone, gently stroking his wife's hand with his thumb.

The fate of Empress Dafu was not something Li Yi could decide. And who could guarantee that the few lines of historical records would ultimately come true?
Li Yi didn't want his wife to worry too much about this... Fu Erniang and the child in her belly were definitely more important to Li Yi than Empress Da Fu.

Compared to the Empress Dowager who died young in history, the woman before him who was bearing his child was the one he wanted to protect with all his heart.

……

"Alang!"

As soon as the carriage came to a stop in front of the vermilion gate, the gatekeeper Zheng Ada hurried forward with a lantern in hand, saying, "Two distinguished guests have just come to visit..."

Li Yi jumped down from the carriage, the crisp sound of boots echoing on the bluestone slabs. He was about to turn around to help his wife down when he heard this, his brows furrowing slightly. He asked, "Do you know the name of the visitor, and what brings you here?"

"The two of them only said they were old friends of Ah Lang, and they brought many valuable gifts. This old servant did not dare to ask any more questions... but I did give them a door warrant."

Zheng Ada bowed and handed over two visiting cards. "One of them is wearing a purple robe and a fish-shaped pouch, while the other, though dressed in ordinary clothes, has an extraordinary air about him. This old servant believes he must be from some noble family."

Hearing this, Li Yi couldn't help but wonder who was looking for him so late at night. Could it be something very urgent?

He couldn't help but think of Empress Dafu, who was far away in Yingzhou... He had only just learned of her serious illness today, and yet someone came to visit him as soon as he got home; it was all too much of a coincidence.

Li Yi suppressed his inner thoughts, took the visiting card, unfolded it, and was immediately stunned. The three characters "Li Tinggui" were clearly visible.

He immediately unfolded another one—signed Han Jixun.

Zheng Ada rubbed his hands and said, "This old servant thought that our two distinguished guests must have something important to discuss with you, so I have taken the liberty of asking them to wait in the flower hall for a moment..."

“You did nothing wrong!” Li Yi nodded slightly.

Although Zheng Ada was just a gatekeeper, he had served in high-ranking households for decades and had seen a lot of people, so he was quite adept at dealing with people.

"Husband, have some acquaintances come to visit?" At this moment, Fu Erniang leaned out of the carriage, her face glowing in the lantern light.

Li Yi quickly reached out to help his wife out of the carriage, whispering in her ear, "Second Mother, do you still remember me mentioning those two Shu generals I captured during the Western Expedition..."

Fu Erniang immediately understood and said softly, "Then my husband should go quickly and not neglect the guests. I will go back to the backyard first."

Seeing Li Yi nod, Fu Erniang immediately let go of her husband's arm and, with the help of her maid, slowly walked into the room.

After his wife's figure disappeared behind the screen wall, Li Yi straightened his clothes and turned to Zheng Ada: "Have someone prepare some wine and dishes to be sent to the flower hall later."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Ada quickly responded and then bowed and withdrew to make the arrangements.

(End of this chapter)