That day, Yu Jingchen issued an imperial decree, which roughly stated that Nan Zhiyun's plot to harm the imperial heir was framed by Consort Yun, and that Nan Zhiyun had rendered meritorious service in saving the emperor, so she was granted the title of Imperial Noble Consort and allowed to be buried in the imperial mausoleum.

only……

Yu Jingchen looked at Nan Su kneeling below.

"This old minister is advanced in years and fears he is no longer fit to serve as the Protector of the Nation. Your Majesty's great favor has moved me to tears. I hereby request Your Majesty to withdraw this military tally, and I wish to retire and return to my hometown." Nan Su held up the military tally, his face looking as if he had aged decades.

"Besides that, this old minister has another request, and I beg Your Majesty's permission," Nan Su continued.

"What is it?" Yu Jingchen asked.

"Although my daughter has become one of Your Majesty's concubines, she has not received Your Majesty's favor for many years. Therefore, I wish to take her back to my hometown with me. Yun'er is my only daughter. For the rest of my life, I hope to be surrounded by my children and grandchildren and have Yun'er by my side."

The entire Golden Palace had fallen silent. After a long while, Yu Jingchen spoke, "Granted..."

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your great favor! Long live Your Majesty!" Nan Su kowtowed, then stood up and, under everyone's gaze, left the Golden Palace step by step. From then on, he was no longer the Grand Marshal of the Army or the Protector General of the Nation; he was simply Nan Zhiyun's father...

Nan Su spent half his life in the military, but in the end, he was only accompanied by his only daughter.

Cixi Palace

Yu Jingchen had been waiting here for a long time.

"Your Majesty... The Empress Dowager invites you in," the nanny beside the Empress Dowager stepped forward.

Yu Jingchen entered the hall.

The Empress Dowager was sitting at the head of the table, supporting her head with one hand. Her once well-maintained face now showed signs of aging.

Empress Dowager Yu Jingchen bowed slightly.

"The Emperor travels thousands of miles every day and rarely comes here. It is I who have been negligent," the Empress Dowager said in a cold tone.

"Your Majesty is too kind," Yu Jingchen said without changing his expression.

"I heard that A-Su has resigned from his post," the Empress Dowager asked.

“Yes,” Yu Jingchen replied.

"That's a good choice. A-Su has risked his life for most of his life, and now he can finally relax. He can spend time with Yun'er and enjoy family life..." The Empress Dowager's tone was distant.

"Your Majesty, do you know who Yun'er is?" the Empress Dowager suddenly asked.

Yu Jingchen frowned and looked at the Empress Dowager, only to hear her continue speaking to herself: "Yun'er is A Su's daughter. Her mother lost her life to save me. A Su was a man under my father. He was a good person with outstanding abilities and saved my life and the late Emperor's life many times. Yun'er was their only daughter. She was only three years old when her mother passed away."

"So I often bring Yun'er into the palace to raise her, but I feel ashamed towards the couple for not taking good care of their daughter. How can I face them in the future?" The Empress Dowager spoke calmly, but her words were heartbreaking.

"Your Majesty, Yun'er is just a silly girl. She wouldn't listen to advice and insisted on entering the palace. Look at her now, doesn't she regret it? Just a few days ago, I told her that once A-Su returns, our family will be alright." The Empress Dowager continued.

"Your Majesty, you should go back now. There are no more people you hate or fear. You can be a good emperor now. If you are heartless and loveless, there will be a lot of people who flatter you, but few will be truly sincere. Only when you stand high do you realize how lonely it is to be at the top..." After saying this, the Empress Dowager slowly closed her eyes and fell asleep.

The Empress Dowager also had a dream in which she held the newborn Yu Jingchen in her arms, his skin all wrinkled. Every day, she taught Yu Jingchen to call her "Mother."

That day, he finally called her "Mother Empress." Overjoyed, she kissed little Yu Jingchen's face again and again. Later... Yu Jingchen grew up, and he would only stand obediently in front of her, calling her "Mother Empress" in a cold voice. Later still, Yu Jingchen ascended the throne, and he called himself "Empress Dowager"...

Just then, her beloved Yun'er took her arm and said, "Your Majesty, you are like my mother. I will definitely take good care of you in the future."

"Yun'er, now we can really be a good family..."

One day later, in the third year of the Tiansheng era, the Empress Dowager passed away. She was not buried in the imperial mausoleum, but instead returned to the ancestral home of the Nan clan, a place said to be blessed with beautiful mountains and clear waters, and where birds sing and flowers bloom. It was said that the following spring, everyone there would be reborn.

Yu Jingchen stood on the city wall; it was already the dead of winter.

"Your Majesty, news has just arrived that General Nan Su has passed away, right in front of the Imperial Noble Consort's tomb," said Eunuch Xing.

Yu Jingchen didn't reply. It was snowing heavily outside. Perhaps the city wall was really too high, so Yu Jingchen really felt that... it was lonely at the top.

Suddenly, Yu Jingchen saw a woman below wearing a scarlet palace dress. He vaguely remembered that Nan Zhiyun had worn a scarlet palace dress when she first entered the palace.

“Your Majesty, that is Consort Shun,” Eunuch Xing replied.

"Let's bestow upon her the title of Consort Shu," Yu Jingchen said before leaving.

In the forty-eighth year of the Tiansheng era, the country was in mourning, and the entire nation wore white mourning clothes. The son of Consort Shu ascended the throne, but... Consort Shu was only a Dowager Consort, as ordered by Yu Jingchen.