Chapter 544 Yun Ting's Maturity

Zhang Heyao held Xiaoman in his arms and walked to the docile chestnut horse.

He held Xiaoman steadily with one hand and grabbed the saddle with the other. With a step of his long legs, he jumped onto the horse with a swift and graceful posture, his movements smooth and agile.

After sitting firmly, he adjusted his posture and let Xiaoman sit sideways in front of him. He used his wide court robe sleeves and strong chest to hold his little son tightly in his arms, blocking the cold wind.

He held the reins tightly with one hand and circled Xiaoman's waist with the other. He lowered his head and said softly, "Hold on tight, Daddy. Sit tight."

The guard pulled the reins, and the chestnut horse pranced forward slowly on the smooth bluestone road in front of the palace gate.

Yun Ting stood there, motionless, watching them slowly leave.

He felt sorry for Xiao Yan and Qi Niang, but he had to admit that Zhang Heyao was sincere to Xiao Man.

On the horse, Zhang Heyao was still asking Xiaoman about his homework.

Whose child starts reading at the age of three and a half?

But listening to Xiaoman's fluent answers, Yun Ting knew that Zhang Heyao might have started taking care of him since he was in swaddling clothes.

It is not easy to find such a famous teacher who is both civil and military.

It’s a pity... this guy’s intention is to forcibly take someone else’s son.

This was probably the first time that Yun Ting vaguely understood the world's obsession with "one's own flesh and blood."

Personally participating in raising a child and watching a little life grow and respond in your hands, this bond can indeed give people an indescribable satisfaction.

The voices of the ministers who had not yet dispersed drifted faintly over from behind:

"This, isn't Minister Zhang's flesh and blood?"

"I heard it's not true. Minister Zhang is also pitiful. He is successful in the officialdom, but unfortunately, he has a tigress at home who is suppressing him."

"That's right. She can't have children, and she doesn't allow others to have children, which is harmful to the offspring. If it weren't for the Zhenbei Palace, I guess Minister Zhang would have given up on it long ago."

"In my opinion, it must be Minister Zhang's flesh and blood. Who would be so devoted to raising someone else's child?"

Yun Ting got into his own carriage.

Although these ministers appear to be decent people, when it comes to gossip, they are no different from gossipers.

At the same time, he was also keenly aware that Zhang Heyao's allowing or even secretly promoting these family rumors might be a means of self-protection - showing others his weakness of "a fire in the backyard" is better than letting people see an impeccable and powerful Minister Zhang.

The driver asked cautiously, "Sir, are we going back to the mansion or to Tan'er Hutong?"

In the alley is Yun Ting’s private residence, where the pregnant woman lives.

Yun Ting withdrew his thoughts and pinched his eyebrows, "Let's go back home first."

Although my grandmother would nag me if I went back, I couldn't stay away from home forever.

As a result, before the carriage left, a young eunuch ran out of the palace, panting.

"My lord, please stay. My lord, please stay."

It turned out that it was the Empress Dowager who wanted to see Yun Ting.

Yun Ting did not delay and followed the eunuch directly to the Cining Palace.

As you step into the Cining Palace, you are greeted by a heavy atmosphere of dusk and the smell of medicine.

The once graceful and elegant Empress Dowager was now leaning on the soft couch by the window, as if all her energy had been drained away overnight.

Her gray hair was no longer carefully combed, but was casually tied up, revealing large patches of dazzling silver hair, hanging loosely on her temples.

The heart-wrenching pain of losing her son in old age almost broke her down completely.

"Yun Ting, sit down." The Empress Dowager said in a hoarse voice, patted the seat next to her, and waved her hand to dismiss the people around her.

The palace ladies filed out.

Yun Ting knelt on the footstool, held her hand, and said in a choked voice: "Grandma, please take good care of yourself."

The Empress Dowager was a strong woman. She sighed and said, "I've been prepared for this, but I still can't accept it. What's the point of letting me live so long? I'm robbing my children of their lives."

"Grandmother, please don't think like that. Everyone has a fixed lifespan. Whether it's my uncle or my mother, they would be very sad if they knew you thought like that."

The Empress Dowager took a moment to process her emotions.

"Ting'er, bring the child into the palace for me to see." She said, "I think I can finally see the child being born and put my worries to rest."

When she goes down to see her daughter, she can tell her that her son was raised by me and has become a father now.

Yun Ting knew exactly who the "person" was referring to, but he bowed his head respectfully: "Grandmother, you should rest and recuperate. Such an insignificant person is not worth your concern."

The Queen Mother's cloudy eyes became sharper.

She had already grasped Yun Ting's hidden meaning.

But she wasn't sure.

So she asked, "Isn't it worth it?"

"Yes, it's not worth it. It was just an accident. I will get married and have children in the future. Then I will bring my real great-grandson to you to see."

A real great-grandson...

The Queen Mother has experienced many ups and downs in her life and has seen everything.

Hearing this, the tiny glimmer of hope in her heart finally died, and she murmured, "Actually, I know there might be something else going on. You're your mother's son, how could you not look like her?"

Back then, the daughter was so obsessed with love that she disregarded her own health, flew into the fire like a moth, and died young.

Yun Ting came to tell me so happily that he had a girl he liked, his eyes were shining.

However, this marriage was disrupted by the late emperor.

"Ting'er, do you still have Xiao Yan's second daughter in your heart?"

"Yes." Yun Ting admitted frankly.

There are no outsiders here, and he trusts his grandmother.

"As expected." The Queen Mother sighed, "I should have known that you wouldn't compromise so easily."

"Grandma, even though I'm a bastard, I always know what I want."

"So, do you blame your uncle?"

"No wonder." Yun Ting smiled. "Really. Some things, I only figured out in the past two years."

He and Arya are still too young.

Being together day and night, it is inevitable that feelings will arise.

But he actually just wanted to marry Erya on impulse, without even asking her, and he thought this marriage would be good for her.

Because he will definitely treat her well.

She will never meet a better man than herself in the future.

What a wishful thinking.

A young man should be reckless and frivolous.

But how long can the youthful impulse last in the face of reality?

If he hasn't made any progress, why does he think he can bring happiness to Arya?

If Yun Ting today saw himself from a few years ago, he would probably raise his hand and slap him.

——Wake up and do what you should do.

It's different now.

He still can't let go, but he has learned how to love.

Love is long-term understanding and support.

Love can only make the union meaningful if it makes both parties better.

He is working hard, and Zhuozhuo is also working hard.

After the initial enthusiasm faded, his love stood the test of time.

"If we had hastily gotten married, there might not have been a good outcome," Yun Ting said.

So now, it’s pretty good.