Chapter 411 Parting and Reunion Are Inevitable

When you're young, you don't realize it, but after having children, time seems to fly by, as if it's been put on fast-forward and slips away without you even noticing.

It's Lunar New Year's Eve again, and this year it's still a palace banquet.

After Lunar New Year's Eve, the Lantern Festival is just around the corner, a day for family reunions.

On this auspicious day, the retired Emperor Murong Jingyi was not doing so well.

Since before the Lunar New Year, the Emperor Emeritus has been spending more time in a coma. He looks alright, but he is very lethargic.

Although he himself didn't say anything, Lin Anyuan, Ye Wan, and the Crown Prince went to Chaoyang Palace frequently, and occasionally they would bring the children with them.

Ye Wan sent all sorts of food, in various styles, into the Chaoyuan Hall in a continuous stream, but the effect was minimal.

When he woke up in the first month of the lunar calendar, Murong Jingyi felt unwell and summoned all the people he wanted to see to the palace, meeting them one by one.

Lin Suyi stayed with him the whole time.

The fifteenth day is the Lantern Festival.

When Ye Wan and Lin Anyuan arrived, Murong Jingyi was just about to have some tea.

"Greetings, Father Emperor and Mother Empress."

Ye Wan carried a small food box. "Father, these are glutinous rice balls that your daughter-in-law made by hand. Try them. Are they too sweet? Lin Anyuan insisted they were too sweet after I made them."

She prepared this in the small kitchen of Chaoyang Palace, and it's still steaming hot when you open it now.

Murong Jingyi didn't actually want to eat it; he had no appetite at all right now. But he still gave me face and tried one. "It's not sweet. I think it's just right. Tangyuan should be eaten sweetly, so that life can be sweet too."

Actually, he couldn't taste anything at all, and it wasn't that sweet, but it tasted pretty good anyway.

"See? I told you it was just right, but you insisted it was too sweet." Ye Wan said to Murong Jingyi, "Then Father, you should eat the whole bowl. May your life with Mother be even sweeter."

Now that he had said it, Murong Jingyi, who had originally intended to have the bowl put away, picked up the soup spoon again.

Fortunately, there weren't many glutinous rice balls in the bowl, only six in total, and Murong Jingyi drank them all, including the soup.

After drinking it, he felt a warm feeling in his stomach. "This bowl of glutinous rice balls is so good."

"You two, you're making such a fuss over such delicious food. In the future, when your daughter-in-law makes something herself, you must remember to bring it over for your mother and me to try."

Ye Wan smiled and agreed.

Lin Suyi was also eating glutinous rice balls on the side; her bowl contained the same amount as Murong Jingyi's.

Lin Anyuan looked at Murong Jingyi, who seemed much more energetic, and said, "Father, the craftsmen I've gathered have built the best ship we have yet. Would you like to go take a look?"

Murong Jingyi's eyes lit up. "I want to go."

Emperor Emeritus Murong Jingyi, who had not left the palace for many days, went to the Ministry of Works with Lin Anyuan and Crown Prince Murong Yuanzhou.

Ye Wan didn't go; she stayed with Lin Suyi in the Chaoyang Palace, talking to her.

Even though she is over fifty, Lin Suying is still beautiful. At this age, she is more like an ancient jade that has been cherished by time, warm and beautiful.

She is a woman who can amaze people over time, regardless of age.

Lin Suyi looked at Ye Wan and said, "Wanwan, your cooking skills have always been good. It's a pity that I've always wanted to learn but haven't been able to."

"Mother doesn't need to learn. Whenever you want to eat, I'll cook for you." Ye Wan held Lin Suyi's hand, feeling a little flustered.

She had a premonition but dared not tell Lin Anyuan.

Her premonitions were always accurate.

Lin Suyi spoke gently as she told Ye Wan about the interesting things they had encountered when they went out over the years, and Ye Wan listened very attentively.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law continued talking inside the Chaoyang Palace.

The retired emperor Murong Jingyi personally visited the Ministry of Works, and when he returned, the flame in his eyes had not been extinguished.

The Lantern Festival passed just like that, and Lin Anyuan and Ye Wan spent the night in Chaoyang Palace.

The couple chatted casually, and when they got sleepy, they would sit in their chairs and take a nap.

The next day, the two were driven away by Murong Jingyi, and the Crown Prince was also driven away.

However, the Crown Prince returned and stayed in Chaoyang Palace.

The two came every day, and after five consecutive days, Murong Jingyi's energy and spirit finally came to an end.

"Father."

Ye Wan looked at Murong Jingyi, at the white hair that had appeared overnight and his ashen face, and felt an indescribable sadness in her heart, her nose stinging with tears.

This was a towering hero, a wise ruler, who is now approaching his twilight years.

Murong Jingyi, dressed in casual clothes, sat up and said, "I'm not going to make it. I might have to go first."

As soon as he said this, fourteen-year-old Murong Yuanzhou burst into tears.

"Father, Father."

Murong Jingyi patted his youngest son's head and said, "Why are you crying, you brat? My health was already failing when I was conquering the world. It's a miracle that I've lived this long."

He had felt his health was failing years ago, so he abdicated without hesitation and went traveling with Lin Suyi. It's a miracle that he's managed to hold on until now.

"Life is a journey, and all relationships must eventually come to an end. Our father-son bond is coming to a close. You brat, from now on you'd better listen to your brother and sister-in-law, understand?"

"Father, I understand."

Murong Yuanzhou cried loudly, like an old duck. Murong Jingyi found him annoying and gently tapped him on the head twice, telling him to go sit down to the side.

Then I called Lin Anyuan over.

"Father."

Lin Anyuan called out, but seeing that Murong Jingyi was still looking at him, he had no choice but to speak up.

"father."

"Haha, this 'father' sounds much better." Murong Jingyi laughed twice.

Lin Anyuan said with a serious expression, "Live well, and I will call you Dad every day from now on."

Murong Jingyi clicked his tongue, "I wish I could, but unfortunately God didn't give me that chance. To be fair, he was kind to me, giving you and me a father-son relationship. In my heart, you are my son, my eldest son."

At this point, Murong Jingyi looked at him carefully and reached out to pat Lin Anyuan's head as if he were patting his youngest son.

"My dear Yuan'er, my son."

Lin Anyuan's body stiffened.

"Yuan'er, you've had a tough time all these years. Now that I'm leaving, you'll have to suffer from now on."

"You must be tired with this vast empire on your shoulders. When you are tired, take a rest. You are a better emperor than I was."

Lin Anyuan lowered his eyes, making it impossible to see the expression in them. "If you know I'm suffering, then be my father in your next life and spoil me unconditionally. I'll be an unfilial descendant."

"Haha, good, my son."

Murong Jingyi laughed again, and after laughing for a while, he took a breath and then looked at Ye Wan.

“Good daughter-in-law, after I’m gone, I will entrust my two sons to you.”

Ye Wan's eyes stung with tears as she smiled. "Okay, Dad, don't worry, I will take good care of them, just like I would my own sons."

Lin Anyuan and Murong Yuanzhou, who was crying, both looked at her.