Luo Yuncheng walked to the side alone.

"Grinding," Luo Yuncheng said indifferently.

Upon hearing this, his bodyguard Jiu Lin immediately stepped forward to grind the ink. Luo Yuncheng picked up a brush from the side and began to work his brush across the Xuan paper.

The room was eerily quiet, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The previously chaotic and cold atmosphere around Luo Yuncheng gradually subsided, becoming calm and gentle.

The ink marks on the paper became increasingly clear, clearly depicting Nan Zhiyun's appearance at the entrance of He'an Palace today. Seeing that the painting was complete, Luo Yuncheng put down his brush, picked up the paper, and examined it closely.

"I didn't have time in the end..." Luo Yuncheng said in a distant tone.

“Your Highness…” Jiu Lin was somewhat worried.

"Let's put it in the warehouse, and also put in the things I brought back from the border this time." Luo Yuncheng put the painting away.

“Your Highness, the storeroom is locked up, and... it’s been too full for a while,” Jiu Lin said.

“Oh…right, the betrothal gifts in the storeroom are what I prepared for her. I’ve been preparing for so long, and I’ve put in everything she likes. I’ve been waiting, waiting until after I return to the capital, until I relinquish my position as heir apparent, until I achieve fame and success and can protect her with my own abilities, until she comes of age…I’m thinking…a ten-mile-long street, adorned with red bridal makeup, to welcome her…” Luo Yuncheng spoke slowly.

Jiu Lin watched from below, not daring to speak.

He'an Hall

With the help of the palace servants, Nan Su removed his armor. After removing the armor, Nan Zhiyun could no longer hold back and threw herself into his arms.

"Father, I miss you so much, so much..." Nan Zhiyun's voice had lost the girlish naiveté of the past and gained more composure.

How could Nan Su not understand? He hugged Nan Zhiyun back: "Father missed his daughter too... It's all Father's fault for not protecting you well."

He has his own responsibilities, so he lacks companionship and care for his only daughter, and he can't even protect her properly. Therefore, he blames himself and feels truly guilty.

Nan Zhiyun also felt a pang of sadness. After taking off his military uniform, he was simply a father who loved his daughter dearly. How could she not understand her father's feelings? She never felt that her father owed her anything; in her heart, her father was the greatest person, the closest person to her.

"Father, your daughter is fine..." Nan Zhiyun closed her eyes and leaned against Nan Su's chest, feeling at ease.

“Why are you still trying to be strong in front of your father? Do you think I don’t know what you were like before? This time you’ve come back with more worries on your mind and fewer smiles. You’re not doing well at all. I’m your father. I know you don’t want me to worry, but do you know that it’s the way you are now that really worries me and breaks my heart…” Nan Su’s mood also sombered. The great general who had been riding his horse was now somewhat powerless.

"Father, I'm sorry," Nan Zhiyun said with remorse.

“You’re just too young to understand anything, and that’s my fault and the Empress Dowager’s fault for not teaching you anything. But, Yun’er, no matter what happens, your father is always here. Don’t feel guilty; you’ve never done anything wrong. My daughter from Nan Su should be the proudest, and no matter what, she shouldn’t be so humble,” Nan Su comforted her.

He and the Empress Dowager were worried that she was too naive and kind, and that she would be easily deceived when she grew up, especially because she might be hurt by trivial matters between men and women. After all, she was of high status, and there were too many unscrupulous people around her.

Therefore, the two of them gave Nan Zhiyun the best of everything from a young age, whether it was food, daily necessities, or endless meticulous care and pampering, so as to prevent Nan Zhiyun from being coaxed into falling in love by some people.

Yu Jingchen is not a good candidate based on his personal qualities alone. He is an emperor, and moreover, an emperor who is wary of the Nan family. No matter what, he is not someone who can be entrusted with important responsibilities.

Therefore, like the Empress Dowager, he never intended for Nan Zhiyun to enter the palace, nor did he want her to.

"Father knows what has happened these past few days. My precious daughter has been wronged." Nan Su felt bad too.

He had initially thought that even if Yu Jingchen disliked his daughter and loathed the Nan family, he wouldn't go so far as to target Nan Zhiyun like this. But… his precious daughter was now covered in wounds…

Nan Su had considered returning to the capital, but without an imperial decree, abandoning his post would be a serious crime. His Majesty already suspected the Nan family, and this would give him a reason to do so.

Moreover... he has hundreds of thousands of soldiers behind him, as well as the long-standing reputation of the Nan family. General Nan was his mentor, and since he has inherited General Nan's position, he naturally cannot tarnish the Nan family's reputation.

Moreover, his daughter Nan Zhiyun and the Empress Dowager are still in the palace. If he does something that displeases Yu Jingchen, what will happen to the Empress Dowager and Nan Zhiyun?

So he endured it all, even though hearing these reports tore at his heart, but there was nothing he could do. Sometimes he even wondered if it was all worth it, that he could protect the entire Heavenly Saint, but couldn't protect the people he cared about.

He had felt disheartened before, but he couldn't bear to part with the country he had protected for so many years, the people he had protected for so many years, and the soldiers who had risked their lives for him. Such a belief was not easy for a general who had served for decades.

However... he always had to make a choice. Tian Sheng had more than one general leading troops into battle, but his daughter only had him as her father.

He protected the safety of Tiansheng, but the emperor of Tiansheng could not tolerate his only daughter. What was the point of all he did? And how was it worth it?

so……

“This time, Father doesn’t plan to leave again…” Nan Su suddenly said.

Nan Zhiyun was stunned by these words. She straightened up, looked at Nan Su, and asked, "What did Father say? Why?"

"If your father can't even protect you, what's the point of protecting the world? Your father is old, and all I want is to watch you grow up, and then we can all be happy and have a good family." Nan Su said affectionately.

"After the Empress Dowager returns, Father will resign from his post and ask His Majesty for mercy so that we can be reunited, is that alright?" Nan Su's tone was gentle, and just by listening to his tone, he didn't sound like a military general at all.

Nan Zhiyun was inevitably shocked upon hearing this. She knew what her father had given up, and how important those things had been to him. Now, if he were to give them up for her sake…

Before Nan Zhiyun could even organize her thoughts, Xing Lai's voice rang out from outside the door, shouting, "His Majesty has arrived!"

The father and daughter both looked towards the door at the same time.