Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved-Chapter 576 Time Favors Her

Murong Jiu gave birth very quickly this time.

From entering the birthing room to hearing the cries of the babies, it took less than half a shichen.

The siblings were born one after the other, as smoothly as if there were no obstacles, just like their lives were recorded in history books—utterly seamless.

Jun Yuyan’s heart, which had just been lifted with worry, was quickly covered by joy.

He carried the cleaned-up twins to Murong Jiu’s side, happily saying, "They look a lot like Zhijin and Zhiyu, but the sister seems to look more like me."

Murong Jiu, not tired from the childbirth and no longer in much pain, carefully examined the two little ones and nodded, saying:

"Xiao Si indeed looks more like you, now you should be happy,"

"I am happy no matter who they resemble, it’s just that you’ve been through so much. I can’t let you get pregnant again."

Ever since Murong Jiu had become pregnant, he had been constantly worried. Now, everything had finally come to a perfect conclusion.

Murong Jiu laughed, "You should go to meet the Monarch who has traveled from afar, deal with the official business first."

"Staying with you and the children is the most important official business."

Jun Yuyan held a child in each arm and gently soothed them. The two little ones were extremely cute. In a few days, when they grew a little, they would certainly be even more endearing.

...

Jun Yuyan was the most loving father to his children that Murong Jiu had ever seen.

He always carved out plenty of his time to accompany the children.

Zhijin and Zhiyu go without saying, he personally tutored them from the beginning, teaching them how to write with a brush, to shoot arrows and ride horses.

Under his example and instruction, the young children took on responsibilities early on, looking after their younger siblings, teaching them to talk, to walk, and to have their first bite of food.

Because Jun Yuyan always told the children how much their mother suffered and struggled to bring them into this world, they were very filial and considerate, Murong Jiu’s little cotton-padded jackets.

Murong Jiu never favored any child, but deep down, because of her past life, she felt she owed Zhijin and Zhiyu more. She was a kind mother, and Jun Yuyan was both a kind and a strict father.

In matters of the children’s education, he never allowed Murong Jiu to worry.

In the blink of an eye, Zhijin and Zhiyu grew up, turning into fine young men.

Zhijin looked very much like Jun Yuyan. Having been the Crown Prince from a young age, over the years, he had developed the ability to hide his emotions, presenting a commanding presence before the ministers, and only showing his youthful side with his family.

"Our Zhijin will surely be a great Monarch in the future."

Murong Jiu said this to Jun Yuyan in private.

She admired her eldest son, yet did not want to pressurize him, to make him feel shackled, thus never saying these words in front of Zhijin.

Fortunately, Zhijin loved the land and citizens of Great Yan.

In the past two years, their family of six had traveled incognito, and Zhijin personally experienced the gratitude and reverence the citizens of Great Yan had for the Imperial Family, which made him realize that Great Yan could become even better.

He carried a heavy burden on his shoulders, but like his father, he was a man of great ability and never shied away from a challenge.

Zhiyu was now a boldly spirited and beautiful young woman. She had inherited Murong Jiu’s mantle, and having studied with Divine Doctor Miao and Divine Doctor Zhai from a young age, coupled with her own natural talent for medicine, she now also loved to go around saving lives and helping the sick.

Thinking of her masters, Murong Jiu only felt a moment of sadness.

Divine Doctor Miao had poor health and passed away early, while her master had only ascended to the heavens two years prior.

He died a peaceful death of old age, without suffering from any physical ailments.

Birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural course of life.

Everyone must go through this.

She and Jun Yuyan were no longer young.

Fortunately, Great Yan had now become the largest country in the world, with all the surrounding small countries as vassal states. A few years ago, the Xiongnu, having recuperated, invaded once again, but they were ultimately defeated, and Great Yan’s territory expanded significantly. Further north, many small countries became vassal states of Tsarist Russia as well.

Governing such a vast dynasty was not an easy task, but with Lou Zixi at the helm along with many other talented ministers, supporting a wise Monarch, they built this powerful and prosperous era together.

"It’s time to be a hands-off shopkeeper," she thought.

Jun Yuyan still held Murong Jiu as tenderly as before.

It seemed that time had especially favored the two of them; their faces showed no traces of the years, only their temperament had grown more settled.

"Ah Jiu, where do you want to go?"

Murong Jiu thought about it and said, "I want to go to Southern Dian. Xiao Wen has become the General guarding the southwest, and I heard that Noble Consort Yun, no, she has changed her name to Yun Miao, is also in Southern Dian. I really want to go see some old friends."

Whenever they had the chance over the years, Jun Yuyan would take her and their children out of the Capital City, but they could never go too far. This time, since they decided to be hands-off shopkeepers and let the Crown Prince oversee state affairs, they might as well go somewhere far away.

Great Yan was so vast, yet their footsteps hadn’t covered it completely.

Isn’t that a pity?

It was also time to see for themselves what this country looked like after years of their governance.

The journey was far.

Murong Jiu was looking forward to it, but as the time to leave the palace drew near, she felt a thousand kinds of reluctance.

The children had all grown up, but they had never been apart for so long and so far away. She started to miss them even before they had left.

"Shall we take the third and fourth with us?" she changed her mind.

Jun Yuyan objected, "It’s time for the two of us to experience a world of our own. We can’t always bring the children with us. Ah Jiu, I always feel that I owe you so much. They say you can’t have your cake and eat it too, but it seems like I’ve got it all. Yet ruling a country and maintaining peace always takes a lot of time. We’ve never traveled far just by ourselves. This time, we won’t take anyone with us. Just the two of us, and a few Hidden Guards, that’s all."

Approaching middle age, Jun Yuyan felt the brevity of life more keenly than ever. As the Monarch, he had too many responsibilities to let go of, but there was always a time to let go, and now it had finally come for him and Ah Jiu to travel alone.

The mountains and rivers of Great Yan, he wanted to traverse with the woman he loved most deeply.

Murong Jiu looked tenderly into his eyes and nodded, "Okay, just you and me."

...

The Capital City had become the most prosperous city in the world, bustling with merchants from all nations, with people lining up day and night to enter and leave the city gates.

As they traveled farther and farther from the Capital City, the roads gradually widened, and an inconspicuous carriage slowly made its way down the road. Inside the carriage, the occupants lifted the curtain and gazed at the vast sunset.

They traveled by carriage, rode on horseback, took boat trips, witnessed sunrises, watched clouds roll by, occasionally administering justice, toppling corrupt officials they encountered, and, encountering poor citizens, would change local policies on the spot.

Proceeding at such a leisurely pace, it took half a year before the two of them finally reached the South of Colorful Clouds.

Another unique landscape of Great Yan.

They met Yun Miao and her son Yun Hao, with a middle-aged man beside them, the very guard who had protected Yun Miao and her child, and who was Yun Hao’s biological father.

Their family of three ran a small store, living a simple yet affluent life.

After so many years, Yun Miao was still as beautiful as ever, just a bit more sun-tanned, but her smile was genuinely gentle and contented.

Life, despite its grand waves, will eventually return to tranquility.

The End