Chapter 202

"Daddy, Xiaoqing, let's play together next time!" Little Shenxi's smile was as sweet as honey.

Xiao Yanqing nodded in agreement.

Song Xuan took out a stack of things from his bosom and stuffed them into Shen Qingnian's arms, saying somewhat stiffly, "I will return to the capital soon, and you will return to the palace to atone for your sins then."

After saying that, he took Xiao Yanqing's hand and turned to leave.

By the light of the lantern on the porch, Shen Qingnian looked at the object in her hand—a thick stack of silver notes...

"Mother, what did Father give you? Why did Father say to go back to the palace to atone for your sins? What does it mean to go back to the palace to atone for your sins?" Little Shen Xi asked with curiosity.

She sensed that something was wrong just now.

Shen Qingnian patted Xiao Shenxi's head and said calmly, "It's nothing. Xiaoxi, think about what you want to buy when you go shopping tomorrow."

After saying that, she led the little maid into the courtyard.

The little girl's thoughts were diverted, and she immediately started thinking about tomorrow's affairs, forgetting her earlier doubts.

***

On the other side, the father and son walked back to the inn. Little Yan Qing's expression was a mixture of joy and worry. He couldn't help but ask cautiously, "Father, will Mother be imprisoned after she returns to the palace?"

Just now, he saw his father give his mother a stack of silver coins, and he immediately guessed that his father was soft-hearted. At the same time, he was also very worried. What if his father was persuaded by the court officials to imprison his mother after returning to the palace?

Those old fogies in the court are very eloquent and adept at using rules and current laws to intimidate people.

Song Xuan looked at the little one he was holding in his hand, his thin lips curving slightly, and said in a calm voice, "No, Yan Qing, there's no need to worry."

Yan Qing was precocious and thought more than other children from a young age.

Xiao Yanqing visibly breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, and a smile immediately appeared on her face.

That's wonderful! Father won't make things difficult for Mother!

The father and son walked hand in hand into the night...

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In the days that followed, Song Xuan did not appear again, but Xiao Yanqing still came to play at the Shen family. The more she played at the Shen family, the happier and more worried Liu Yurou felt.

After getting to know Xiao Yanqing, she felt that the child was very sensible and considerate, and was a very good child.

She naturally noticed Xiao Yanqing's dependence on Qingnian and felt a pang of sympathy for the young prince. She also realized that no matter how noble one's status, at such a young age, one would still yearn for a mother's care.

Every time Qing Nian was with Xiao Yanqing, she could clearly see the tenderness and maternal love in her eyes.

She is also a mother; she has children...

Life seemed to have returned to normal.

But the sorrow weighing on Liu Yurou's heart grew heavier and heavier. Finally, one day when she personally escorted Xiao Yanqing back to the inn, she couldn't hold back any longer. After Shen Qingnian finished school, the mother and daughter had a good talk.

Inside the room, Liu Yurou held Shen Qingnian's hand, her expression gentle yet firm: "Qingnian, you have already given so much over the past three years, you don't need to worry about your mother anymore."

Qing Nian's affection for His Majesty was evident to her; she had seen the wooden carving on the table many times, and the fact that Qing Nian returned unharmed on His Majesty's Flower Festival day was enough to demonstrate His Majesty's affection...

She didn't want to restrict Qingnian, and she didn't want to separate Qingnian from the person she loved because of her.

Shen Qingnian was taken aback upon hearing this, but then she understood her mother's meaning and grasped her hand in return—

[Little Shenxi: Today Daddy lets me sit on his shoulders, tomorrow I can ride a big horse! (#^.^#)]