My Beloved Concubine Only Wants to Eat Melons

The truth of the matter had finally come to light. Yanshu, remembering her promise to the Empress Dowager, came to the Palace of Benevolent Peace first thing the next morning to share the full story with her.

After hearing Yanshu recite the contents of the novel, the Empress Dowager was naturally furious.

"No wonder the Shao family had to come begging to me about this matter. It turns out that Nephew Han was the one who started all this trouble! Hmph, what a heartless scoundrel! This is the result of that old lady forcing her son to adopt an heir back then!"

Yanshu quickly nodded in agreement, "Exactly, that's what I thought too. Old lady Xing forced her own son into such a situation back then. If she knew about this now in the afterlife, I wonder if she would regret it?"

The Empress Dowager let out a cold laugh, "Even if she regrets it, she can only do so in the underworld. It's fortunate she died early, otherwise who knows what state the general's household would be in now?"

Yanshu nodded vigorously again.

The Empress Dowager was right - it was lucky that Old lady Xing had died seven or eight years ago. Otherwise, with her ways, Madam Shao and her three children probably wouldn't have survived until now.

But now things were better. That ungrateful wolf of a nephew, Han Xing'an, who dared to falsely claim imperial orders and slander the emperor, would likely not escape death.

After he dies, he can be reunited with his biased grandmother. Tsk.

Sure enough, a few days later, the court sentenced Han Xing'an to beheading on charges of slandering the emperor's name, falsely transmitting imperial orders, moral corruption, and being unfilial. It was personally approved by the emperor, and no one dared object. On the day the imperial edict was issued, the man was taken out to Wumen Gate and beheaded.

Thinking back to the Carefree Young Master's novel, that ungrateful nephew had met the same beheading fate. No one expected reality to mirror fiction so quickly. While the common people cheered with satisfaction, they also reached a consensus on their guesses about the Carefree Young Master's identity.

— Who else but someone close to the emperor could know such details about court officials and major events, and predict the outcome so accurately?

So in the future, no one should be foolish enough to try to oppose him, like that fake heir Wei Jingshi from the Eight Corners Bookstore did.

After all, opposing him is the same as opposing the emperor, and there's absolutely no chance of winning.

Thanks to Doctor Jiang's superb medical skills, General Wu An finally recovered after more than half a month.

The first thing he did after recovering was to enter the palace with his beloved concubine Madam Shao to thank the emperor and Empress Dowager for their grace.

Having learned of this news in advance, Yanshu was very excited. She insisted on accompanying the emperor to the Palace of Benevolent Peace, intending to see the heroic figure of this devoted man with her own eyes.

Fortunately, both the emperor and Empress Dowager doted on her, so they indulged her wishes.

Of course, the male and female protagonists of her novel were now in their forties or fifties. General Wu An no longer possessed the youthful vigor of his younger days, and having just recovered from illness, his frame appeared somewhat weak.

However, as a man who had weathered many battles, he still carried an air of heroism about him. Standing next to the slightly frail Madam Shao, they still made a handsome and well-matched couple.

As soon as they entered the hall, the two knelt down in greeting. General Wu An said, "Your subject Han Gaochu and his concubine pay respects to Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager, and Consort Yi. We are deeply grateful for Your Majesty's and the Empress Dowager's vast imperial grace in saving this old subject's life. This old subject fears he has no way to repay such kindness and feels extremely ashamed."

Yuwen Lan said, "General, you have just recovered from a serious illness. There's no need for such formalities. You have spent half your life bravely serving the country, and the court will not mistreat you. Please rise."

General Wu An complied and stood up with Madam Shao's assistance.

The Empress Dowager looked the two over and said, "Speaking of which, the General should properly thank Madam Shao this time... If it weren't for her coming to plead before me, neither I nor the emperor would have known about the situation in your household."

As soon as these words were spoken, Yanshu nodded inwardly in agreement. The Empress Dowager was indeed her number one supporter, saying exactly what she wanted to say!

— Come to think of it, when Madam Shao entered the palace to request the Empress Dowager's decree, she had faced quite a bit of obstruction from that nephew. It was fortunate that the servants were loyal and managed to send her to the palace gates.

Although they had gone through hardships, General Wu An had finally recovered. From now on, the two of them would become even more inseparable, spending the rest of their lives together hand in hand.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but tear up —

[Wuwu, back then he gave up a fortune just for one person, and now she's risked everything to save him. What a touching love story! It makes one believe in love all over again!]

Yuwen Lan, who silently overheard this, thought: "???"

Why would she think this way?

Was his own affection not enough to make her believe in love?

However, just as he was secretly frowning, General Wu An suddenly knelt down again and said, "The Empress Dowager speaks truly. This old subject has been considering this matter for days. Today, I boldly request Your Majesty's permission to resign from my official post and return to my hometown, so that I may give her the status of a proper wife."

What, resign?

When these words were spoken, everyone present was stunned at first, and then they couldn't help but sigh in sympathy.

— As everyone knew, Madam Shao came from a humble background, and current etiquette laws did not allow General Wu An to give her the status of a proper wife. But if General Wu An resigned from his official position and became an ordinary citizen, there would be no obstacles.

However, wouldn't this waste all the battle scars on his body and the merits he had earned through decades of risking his life?

Amidst the shock, before the emperor could speak, General Wu An continued, "The person this old subject has wronged the most in this life is her. Now that I'm in my twilight years, I only wish to give her proper recognition. Although I will no longer be able to serve Your Majesty loyally in the future, which fills my heart with shame, at least my son will continue to serve the country loyally, to make up for this regret in my heart."

As his words fell, everyone inwardly nodded in agreement —

Indeed, General Wu An had risked his life protecting the country throughout his life, living up to his duty to the emperor and the world, and even to his family. After all, the Han family's glory and wealth were earned by him alone, and he had even compromised by accepting his nephew as an adopted heir.

The only ones he seemed to have shortchanged were Madam Shao and their children.

If things continued this way, his son and daughter would still bear the status of illegitimate children, and his daughter might never find a good match. Even after death, the couple might not be able to be buried together...

Perhaps after experiencing this brush with death, General Wu An had finally made the decision he truly wanted.

Thinking this through, everyone more or less understood General Wu An's intentions.

However, Yanshu was very anxious and couldn't help but speak up, "I can understand that the General is thinking of his wife, but isn't the price of such a decision too high? Isn't there any other way?"

As she spoke, she glanced secretly at the emperor, urgently thinking, [Hey, can't you see how touching this love story is? Why can't you just bestow a marriage upon them? After all, Madam Shao bravely saved her husband this time, which deserves to be rewarded! Don't be so cold-blooded, please!!!]

Yuwen Lan: "..."

The situation had developed so suddenly that he really hadn't expected General Wu An to make such a request today. How had he become cold-blooded?

He pondered for a moment and was about to speak when the Empress Dowager unexpectedly beat him to it.

"The General's consideration for his beloved concubine is touching, but if His Majesty were to approve your resignation, wouldn't it make the outside world think that the court deems you too old and is mistreating you? I think there might be another way to handle this matter. Why rush to resign?"

Upon hearing this, Yanshu immediately looked at the Empress Dowager and nodded, saying, "The Empress Dowager speaks wisely. Who doesn't know that General Wu An has risked his life for the country numerous times in the past, achieving countless merits, and now... has even sent his own son to the battlefield? Such dedication deserves to be well-treated by the court. In my humble opinion, Madam Shao's efforts to save her husband this time are also very praiseworthy."

As her words fell, the Empress Dowager inwardly praised her cleverness, then addressed General Wu An, "Consort Yi speaks correctly. Your nephew falsely transmitted imperial orders, and if it weren't for Madam Shao personally coming to plead with me, if your nephew had succeeded this time, wouldn't it have tarnished His Majesty's reputation? Madam Shao's actions have greatly pleased me. Today, I shall bestow upon you two the right to formally marry as husband and wife."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was stunned.

Only Yanshu reacted first, quickly saying, "The Empress Dowager is most wise!"

Inwardly, she was so excited she could almost cry, [Aww, my number one supporter is indeed reliable! Empress Dowager, I love you!!!]

Yuwen Lan: "..."

Wait a moment...

He could have said that too...

He just hadn't had the chance yet...

But at this moment, everyone in the hall had already followed Yanshu's lead, saying, "The Empress Dowager is most wise!"

Everyone's faces were filled with excitement.

The General Wu An and Madam Shao finally reacted, and in their joyful surprise, both knelt down again with teary eyes, kowtowing to the Empress Dowager, "We thank the Empress Dowager for her great kindness!"

The Empress Dowager nodded with a smile and said to General Wu An, "General, there's no need for such formality. You should also abandon any thoughts of resigning. Your battlefield experience is valuable, and the court may need you again in the future. Even if you can't go to the battlefield, it would be good to train a few disciples for the court."

General Wu An responded emotionally once more, "Please rest assured, Empress Dowager. As long as the court has use for me, even if it means exhausting these old bones, I will spare no effort and face any danger without hesitation."

As his words fell, everyone wished they could applaud.

The Empress Dowager is wise! The Empress Dowager is truly wise!!!

Yuwen Lan: "..."

The Empress Dowager was indeed very wise.

Of course, the most crucial thing was—

The speed was fast.

The Empress Dowager's marriage decree was sent to the General's mansion on the same day with General Wu An and Madam Shao.

To receive a marriage decree personally from the Empress Dowager was indeed a great joy.

However, as General Wu An and Madam Shao were both over fifty years old and the household had just experienced some turbulence, they didn't want to hold a grand ceremony. So they chose an auspicious date, held a simple ceremony at home, and submitted their marriage certificate to the government office.

It seemed simple and peaceful, but it was something they had waited for more than half their lives.

From then on, a beloved concubine became a beloved wife, and the status of their children changed from illegitimate to legitimate. The couple could finally fulfill their wish to share the same bed in life and the same grave in death.

Due to the groundwork laid by the Carefree Young Master's story, many people had already sympathized with Madam Shao's background. Now, seeing the protagonists of the story finally achieve a happy ending in reality, everyone felt quite gratified.

Although there might still be some gossip behind their backs, after experiencing a life-and-death separation, this meant nothing to General Wu An and his wife.

For the rest of their days, being able to spend time together with a clear conscience was enough.

Having witnessed the happy ending of this story, Yanshu, as a key behind-the-scenes contributor, felt very gratified.

Lying on the bed at night, she stroked her belly while giving prenatal education to the baby inside—

"As they say, 'Where there's a will, there's a way.' So, my dear, always remember to keep hope in your heart. Although there are still many restrictions in this world, as long as you work hard in the right direction, you can definitely achieve your wishes."

As her words fell, Yuwen Lan, who had just finished washing up, also got onto the bed. He embraced her and commented, "'Where there's a will, there's a way' is indeed true, but in this case, it was mainly your... achievement. If you hadn't discovered the truth in time, those two might not have ended up with such a perfect outcome."

He glanced at her swollen belly, his heart filled with longing.

He also wanted to touch it so badly...

Maybe, just a little?

As long as he didn't think about anything inappropriate, it should be fine, right?

However, while he was struggling with this internal dilemma, Yanshu nodded and said, "Your Majesty is right, I was referring to myself! At that time, I thought I could do something meaningful by writing stories. Now that I've saved one unfortunate family after another and cleared up one tarnished truth after another, haven't I achieved my wish?"

Yuwen Lan raised an eyebrow, "...That's indeed well said. But are you sure you didn't write stories for money initially?"

Yanshu choked, "...Money was one aspect, but I'm also a person with grand aspirations!"

Then she suddenly looked at him and pouted, "Speaking of which, the reason I wanted to write stories to earn money in the first place was because I was too poor."

[Hmph, since you mentioned money, I won't hold back.]

She raised her eyebrows at him and said, "I've done quite a bit of meritorious service for Your Majesty lately. Hasn't Your Majesty thought about rewarding me?"

Yuwen Lan: "..."

Such skill at seizing opportunities was truly rare in this world.

So he smiled and said, "How should I reward you? Do you still lack money now?"

Suddenly struck by inspiration, he casually placed his hand on her belly, gently stroking it while thinking to himself, [Silly girl, I've given you my whole heart, isn't that enough?]

As he spoke, he secretly watched her.

He saw her indeed pause, [Huh? How come I heard it again?]

[Is he saying he's given me his heart???]

Yuwen Lan nodded inwardly, desperately wanting to tell her that she hadn't misheard, that this was exactly what he meant.

However, fearing he might give himself away, he quickly removed his hand, pretending it was unintentional.

He cleared his throat inwardly—

Silly girl, do you finally understand his feelings now?

However, her thoughts were not on his recent confession.

Yanshu was now trying hard to solve a problem—why could she suddenly hear his thoughts again?

She kept pondering in her mind, [What happened just now? Is it because he's hugging me?]

[No, that's not it! He's still hugging me now, but why can't I hear anything?]

[Oh right! He was touching my belly just now, could it be... is this belly a signal receiver?]

Yuwen Lan jolted.

Although he didn't know what this so-called "signal receiver" was, he could see she was about to figure it out.

Tsk, how did she suddenly become so clever?

To be on the safe side, he immediately said, "By the way, the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching. I'll be hosting a banquet for the officials and their families. Do you think it would be better to hold the banquet in the palace, or at Jinming Pool, or perhaps at Jinbo Garden?"

Oh? A chance to go out of the palace?

Yanshu's attention was finally diverted. She thought for a moment and said, "I think both Jinbo Garden and Jinming Pool are nice, but Jinbo Garden seems to have a broader water surface? I imagine the atmosphere would be better for the emperor and his officials to enjoy the moon together."

—Hehe, actually, moon-gazing was secondary. The main thing was that the roast pig and roast lamb she ate at Jinbo Garden last time were unforgettable. Just thinking about it now made her mouth water!

Yuwen Lan listened silently, then nodded, "Alright, then let's choose Jinbo Garden. I'll have them prepare more roasted dishes, which I'm sure you'll like."

Yanshu, whose thoughts had been completely diverted without realizing it, brightened up and quickly nodded, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I do really like the roast lamb there. Since there will be many people at the Mid-Autumn night banquet, why not roast a few more?"

Yuwen Lan hurriedly nodded, "Roasting five wouldn't be a problem."

He then asked, "What else would you like to eat? Think about it carefully over the next few days so they can prepare early."

Yanshu indeed started to consider seriously, "Besides roast lamb, roast fish is also good. Crabs are at their fattest during Mid-Autumn, so why not let everyone try some crabs? Oh, and crabs are not only good steamed, they're also delicious when stir-fried with spicy sauce or cooked in a meat crab pot..."

Yuwen Lan nodded repeatedly, "Whatever you wish."

...

Phew, that was close.