Chapter 16: I Will Do It!

One day, Shijie was with his mother alone in their chambers. He had fallen sick just recently. He had a bit of a cough and his nose was runny. The physician had checked and diagnosed that it was nothing serious, but Li Yan was still worried.

Li Yan had become rather paranoid about Li Shuyi's well-being as she had lost a child once during delivery and once after birth due to illness. She didn't want to lose Shijie and so she was taking vigorous care of him.

The room was dim as the curtains were closed, the candles were glittering and the moonlight passed through the curtains, mixing with the glow of the torches and candles.

Li Yan was sitting on her bed patting her son's head tenderly while Shijie was laying on her lap comfortably in leisure.

It was silent in the room as only the sound of the burning candles sounded mildly along with a sweet tone of a lullaby. Shijie was not able to sleep and only looked at his mother's melancholic face as she sang the lullaby.

"Mother, are you sad? I won't be sick anymore, I promise! Don't be sad!" Shijie said lowly as he clasped to Li Yan's dress.

"Oh my sweet child, mother is not sad." Li Yan said as she forced a smile.

"Lie! Ma, you are sad. See? There's a tear!" Shijie said as he reached out his hand to wipe away tears from her cheek.

Li Yan's eyes widened as she realized that a tear truly had escaped her eyes. Quickly wiping her tears, Li Yan tried to force a smile again.

"Ma, do you miss father again? Why isn't he with us? I hate him! How could he make you sad!" Shijie yelled with a resentful expression.

"My sweet child, don't be angry with your father. He not only has one family, but many families." Li Yan said with a bitter smile as she tried to console her son. Perhaps, she was also controlling herself.

"Many families? How come?" Shijie asked in bafflement.

"You see… Your father is someone greatly admired by his people. He is a Lord who presides over and protects the common, weak, and helpless people. This is why, all the families in the Li Province are his families as well."

"So he must protect them from the fighting?" Shijie muttered thoughtfully.

Surprised that Shijie had understood so fast, Li Yan couldn't help but feel proud. She leaned down and kissed her son on his forehead with motherly love and said, "My son, if you want to hate something, then hate the circumstances. If not for the war, we would be home with your father."

"mmm… Why are they fighting, Ma?" Shijie asked in bewilderment.

"Shijie, they want to capture more land and conquer more kingdoms. This is why people fight for more power. They want to become the most powerful. When the land is divided with many, conflict is sure to arise." Li Yan said solemnly.

"Why can't they just live together happily? Why must they want more land?" Shijie asked in confusion.

"Silly boy, that is naìve. As long as there is more land to capture, someone will want to have it. We humans always desire for more. This is the root of all conflict."

Shijie was dismayed hearing this. He drooped his head and began thinking deeply. Then suddenly raising his head and looking at Li Yan he said, "I don't want more! I only want mother!"

Laughing heartily, Li Yan pinched Shijie's nose and said, "Oh, you little rascal! Who was it that wanted more sweets and got sick?"

Suddenly realizing that he was also the same, Shijie hung his head in embarrassment.

Patting his head gently with a smile, Li Yan spoke, "It is okay to desire for more. As long as you are aware of your desires. Always remember my son, you control the desires and don't let the desires control you."

Shijie looked at his mother with dazed eyes as if he was processing what Li Yan had said. Then his eyes regained the light and he said with fervor, "I don't understand, but I will remember your teachings!"

Li Yan was yet again surprised by such a clever response and her heart swelled with pride and love. Kissing her son's forehead again, she said, "Good child! You should sleep now."

"But I can't."

Li Yan knitted her brows and didn't know what to do. Then she suddenly got an idea.

"Do you want to hear a tale?" Asked Li Yan with an enigmatic tone.

"Yes!" Shijie blurted with excitement.

Giggling, Li Yan began, "Once upon a time, there was a great emperor. He was chosen by the heavens to lead the people to prosperity and peace. He went on a journey to bring peace to the land. With immense determination, the support of his trusted subordinates, and his wise advisers, he began uniting all the kingdoms and empires. And do you know what the most amazing thing about this is?"

Ethan shook his head.

"The great emperor was from the land that is blessed by the heavens. The land of Tianze, also known as The Middle Kingdom. We are his descendants." Li Yan said proudly.

"Then why isn't the country united now?" Shijie asked.

"Because… Long ago, when the great emperor and his sons died, the bad people coveted what he had built. And the country was divided once again. Eventually, the prosperous region of Tianze which was the center of prosperity was only left to be burned in the flames of wars and chaos. Now Tianze is used by the Empires as a bridge to attack each other. Leaving only pain and misery for the common people." Li Yan lamented with a sorrowful expression.

Her face looked even more sorrowful than when she was missing her husband. Seeing this, Shijie clenched his little fists and said, "I will do it!"

Baffled, Li Yan asked, "Do what?"

"I will unite the country!" Shijie said with determination, his gaze firm.

Li Yan did not take his words seriously and chuckled lightly as she jokingly asked, "Oh? Why will you?"

Shijie answered without any hesitation, "So that mother will not be sad anymore! If the world was united, there would have been no war. And mother would have been with father, so you wouldn't be sad!"

Hearing this, Li Yan embraced her son tightly as she sobbed uncontrollably while constantly trying to calm herself.

Fearing that he might have made his mother cry by saying something wrong, Shijie panicked and also began crying.

Embracing each other, both mother and son cried basking in each other's lovely warmth. Li Yan then soon calmed down and patted Shijie's back gently trying to console him.

Suddenly, a commotion rang from outside as the door opened abruptly with a thud.

Lady Wang entered hurriedly and saw the bizarre crying scene in front of her. But ignoring that, she opened her mouth to deliver the very important news.

Li Yan was startled and embarrassed at the same time when the door had suddenly slammed open. Even so that her hand had moved to grab her sword instinctively. But seeing Lady Wang, she was only left embarrassed.

As she quickly scrambled to get herself together, Li Yan heard the words that were no less than honey for her.

"Li Yan! The War Is Over!"

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