Chapter 431 One by One, They Leave

It was also after this Mid-Autumn Festival, when Ye Wan was reorganizing palace affairs, that Hui Gu passed away.

Upon receiving the news, Ye Wan sent all her children to the imperial palace, except for Sanya, who was away fighting and unable to come.

However, Wei Ye arrived with two chubby boys.

Wei Ye worked as a support staff member for San Ya, but San Ya kicked him out to take care of her son.

"Gu."

"Auntie."

Everyone surrounded Huigu.

Hui Gu was dressed neatly and sat in a chair. When she saw Lin Anyuan and Ye Wan, she was about to get up to greet them, but Ye Wan pressed her down to sit down.

Hui Gu no longer had the stern and mean look she used to have; instead, she looked very kind with a smile on her face.

His gaze swept over all these people, and he thought, "This old woman can say that I have a house full of children and grandchildren in my life."

She was already in bad shape yesterday, but yesterday was a day of family reunion. She took a medicine given to her by Ye Wan and managed to hold on until today.

Ye Wan told the children and grandchildren to go out first, leaving only herself and Lin Anyuan.

"Your Majesty," Huigu called out.

Ye Wan grasped Hui Gu's hand, "Even at this point, why are you still calling me Your Majesty?"

"Wanwan," Huigu called out.

"I originally came because of the master, but I stayed because of you. Luckily I stayed, otherwise I would never have lived a better life than I do now."

"I'm leaving now. I need to serve my former master. You mustn't be angry or sad."

She walked with her old friend, who went down the mountain before her.

She's alright; she only leaves after seeing the people she wants to see one last time.

Then, for the rest of her life, every extra day she lived was a blessing from God.

Ye Wan felt sad inside, but smiled and said, "Okay, be my aunt in the next life."

"good."

Huigu smiled and closed her eyes.

Ye Wan felt her hands gradually stiffen.

"Wanwan, don't be sad. Aunt Hui passed away with a smile on her face."

Lin Anyuan put his arm around Ye Wan's shoulder.

She didn't say it, but the person she cared about was gone, and that was the saddest thing in her heart.

Ye Wan sighed, "We two are really old, our children have grown up, and the people around us are leaving one after another."

I don't know if it's because I'm getting older, but I seem to be very afraid of separation and death.

"She doesn't age at all, she hasn't even developed a single wrinkle, she's still so young and beautiful." Lin Anyuan looked at Ye Wan.

"Alright, stop praising me. Inform the Ministry of Rites to arrange the funeral. Bury him next to Father and Mother."

The Ministry of Rites handled these matters very quickly.

Ye Wan and Lin Anyuan ate vegetarian food for three days and changed into plain-colored clothes.

After a hundred days, good news finally arrived.

Sanya has already occupied the largest city on the Jin Kingdom's coast.

"good!"

Ye Wan was deeply moved by what she heard, as if all her previous emotions had been swept away.

“Silly girl wrote too.”

In her letter, she said she wanted to go and lead the army into battle together.

"She holds an important position guarding the frontier, so there's no need to let her join in this excitement, that silly girl," Ye Wan muttered.

Lin Anyuan said with a hint of resentment, "She's not stupid at all. Back when I was fighting, she tried her best to outsmart me."

"Haha, when it comes to playing mind games, who can outsmart you? I've discovered that you're incredibly vengeful, even more so than I am."

Ye Wan tugged at Lin Anyuan,

The person on the other end immediately denied it, saying, "I didn't."

"I don't know what to say to you. The children are growing up day by day. Sometimes you should tone it down a bit."

Lin Anyuan nodded, "We'll soon be at the age where we're grandparents."

Upon hearing this, Ye Wan rolled her eyes so hard they almost reached the sky. "Lin Anyuan, aren't you already a grandfather? What, you don't acknowledge your three daughters anymore? Then I'll tell them to change their surname to Ye and take my surname from now on."

"Either way, I have no objection to Mingqian taking your surname Ye as well."

"Ye Mingqian?"

Ye Wan pondered for a moment, "That sounds like a good idea."

"..."

...

While the couple worked and chatted, people were also talking about the Shen family.

Because another matchmaker came to the Shen family's door today.

"In the end, it's because they value your daughter's virginity. It will be beneficial to their career if she stands in the court in the future. Not to mention her appearance. That's why they are willing to offer such a large dowry. Madam Shen, aren't you tempted at all?"

"They say most men in the world are fickle, but money is the only thing that cannot be swayed..."

Chen Sixu refused decisively, "I will not get married."

The matchmaker chuckled, "You silly girl, what woman doesn't get married? You're talking nonsense."

"As long as my parents don't pressure me, what can others question? The matchmaker speaks so highly of people, is she crazy? Otherwise, how could it be my turn?"

Silently sitting in the chair, she didn't look at the matchmaker's expression.

"Alright, alright, I hope you never get married in your life."

The matchmaker, seeing that she was unyielding, got angry and stormed off.

Mother Shen spoke earnestly, "Xu'er, what are you really thinking? Now that you have achieved fame and success, there are quite a few talented young men who have come to propose marriage. Why not choose one of them with a noble character to marry?"

What woman doesn't get married? How can she have her own offspring if she doesn't get married? That won't do.

Chen Sixu sat down and said softly, "Mother, Her Majesty the Empress has fought for countless women, why should we lock ourselves away?"

She tried to shut herself away, but as she read more and more books, she realized that it was useless.

“But… if you don’t get married and have children, who will take care of you when you get old?” Mother Shen felt this wouldn’t do.

Chen Sixu chuckled, "If I become a female official, I can buy a house with maids and servants to serve me. Why would I be afraid of not having anyone to serve me?"

Mother Shen was taken aback, "But..."

"No buts, Mother."

Shen's mother grew up in an environment where men were superior to women, so it's normal that she couldn't react to what her daughter said.

She ultimately cared for the child she was raising and didn't pressure her.

The crown prince arrived the very next day.