Chapter 320 The Emperor's Responsibility

Inside the Cining Palace.

The candlelight is bright and the shadows of people are everywhere.

The night was deep, but everyone had not yet left. The heavy air made it hard to breathe.

Even the children did not go back, but were placed in a side hall of the Cining Palace, with a wet nurse to coax them to sleep.

Wen Li'er's heart felt like it was being roasted over a low fire, and she was anxiously waiting for the court meeting to end.

An ominous premonition, like a cold vine, wrapped around her heart, tightening more and more.

When the eunuch hurriedly came to report that the emperor had decided to lead the army in person and go to Zhennan Pass, she felt her heart instantly fall into a cold pond and every limb was cold.

The Empress Dowager was so frightened that her body staggered and her vision went dark.

If the palace maids on her left and right had not quickly supported her and helped her to breathe, she would have almost fainted.

When Yan Shixu stepped into the hall, the Empress Dowager stumbled forward and grabbed him.

Wen Li'er supported her arm and followed her to Yan Shixu.

"Xu'er!"

The Empress Dowager's voice was very hoarse.

"Xu'er, Zhennan Pass... you can't go! Yunzhen and Muyang... those two kids... have already suffered, their lives are uncertain! If anything happens to you again... how can I, an old man, survive?"

Yan Shixu looked at the old face of the Imperial Grandmother and met her eyes full of worry, and felt as if his heart was being cut by a knife.

He took a deep breath, suppressed the sob in his throat, and made his voice as gentle and steady as possible.

He analyzed to the Empress Dowager word by word what he had said in the court, about the current situation in Zhennan Pass, the plight of the soldiers on the front line who were fighting hard but were isolated and helpless, and the heavy responsibility he had to shoulder as an emperor and a descendant of the Yan family.

Finally, he said firmly: "Grandmother, Zhennan Pass needs my grandson, and I must go."

The Empress Dowager gazed at the determination and responsibility that belonged to an emperor in his eyes, and saw the stubbornness and firmness between his brows that were exactly the same as those of King Wu when he was young. All her dissuasion finally turned into a long and heavy sigh, full of helplessness and worry.

With trembling hands, she stroked Yan Shixu's already very smooth collar and neckline over and over again, almost stubbornly.

It was as if he wanted to soothe all the dangers he would encounter on this journey through this action.

"Good boy..."

The Empress Dowager's voice choked with sobs, and she finally uttered the simplest prayer: "You must return safely. Dayan cannot live without you."

Yan Shixu's Adam's apple rolled, he suppressed his surging emotions and nodded heavily.

"My grandson will remember the teachings of my grandmother and take good care of himself and return victoriously."

Wen Li'er held back her tears and stood silently beside the Empress Dowager.

At this moment, she bit her lower lip so hard that it almost bled.

She wanted to say no.

The 'National Protection and Fund Raising Office' has so many people that it is difficult to escape just by transporting supplies.

Those who managed to escape all described the place as dangerous and terrifying.

She wanted to cry out, if something happened to him, how would she and her three children survive?

However, looking at his straight back and listening to what he had just said to the Empress Dowager, he could not utter a single word to try to keep her.

Yan Shixu comforted the Empress Dowager and turned to look at Wen Li'er.

In the light of the candle, the sight of her trying hard to hold back her tears made his heart feel even more bitter.

He softened his voice and said, "Li'er, will you accompany me to see the children first?"

Wen Li'er's throat choked and she could only nod vigorously, letting his warm big hand hold her hand and walk to the side hall.

In the side hall, the candlelight was soft, and the children were still awake.

Miaomiao was held by her wet nurse. She seemed to sense her father's breath. She babbled and stretched out her white and tender little hands in the direction of Yan Shixu, with an innocent smile on her little face.

Yan Shixu strode forward and carefully took the soft little body.

Miaomiao stretched out her little hand and grabbed his chin.

Be carefree and don't laugh to yourself.

Yan Shixu took a deep sniff of the sweet milk scent on his daughter's body, then lowered his head and kissed her tender little face.

Miaomiao became even happier, rubbing her little head back and forth in his arms.

Xiaoxiao and Xiongxiong already had their eyes wide open, and when they saw them, they quickly climbed off the bed.

The two little guys raised their little faces and held the hem of Yan Shixu's robe tightly on the left and right.

“Daddy…”

"Uncle Emperor..."

Their big black and white eyes carry the innocence of children, as well as a hint of precocious worry.

"Are you... going to a very far place to fight some very bad, very bad villain?"

Xiongxiong, like a little animal seeking shelter, buried his entire face in Yan Shixu's robe and hugged his legs tightly.

Xiaoxiao tried to straighten his chest and patted Xiongxiong on the back like an adult.

"Xiongxiong, don't be afraid! My father is super super super powerful! He will definitely beat all the bad guys away."

His little face was full of trust in his father.

Yan Shixu's throat suddenly tightened and felt a little sore.

He handed Miaomiao to the wet nurse, bent down and rubbed Xiongxiong's soft head.

"The Imperial Uncle is going to a place called Zhennan Pass to fight the bad guys. Just like... just like your Imperial Uncle, he went to the border to fight the bad guys who bullied the people of Dayan and protected our home."

The two little guys seemed to understand, but the words "beat the bad guys" and "protect the home" were enough to ignite the flames of admiration in their hearts, and their big eyes were instantly filled with shining little stars.

Wen Li'er held back her tears and signaled the wet nurses to look after the child.

She gently pulled Yan Shixu's sleeve and led him out.

When the heavy screen blocked out the warmth and children's voices in the inner room, leaving only the two of them standing facing each other, Wen Li'er could no longer restrain herself and threw herself into Yan Shixu's broad and solid arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.

She seemed to be using all her strength, as if she wanted to merge herself into his bones and blood.

"emperor……"

Her voice trembled a little: "Do I have to go...?"

She knew the answer, but still couldn't help asking this futile question.

The words "Can you take me with you" rolled on the tip of her tongue several times before she finally swallowed them.

She knew that was unlikely.

Yan Shixu hugged her tightly. He could clearly feel how scared she was at the moment.

He also knew that this journey was extremely dangerous, and he wanted to stay in this peaceful palace, guarding his beloved woman and lovely children, and sharing the peaceful years together.

But he was the emperor of Dayan and the guardian of this vast land. His responsibilities did not allow him to indulge in pleasure.

"Pear."

He gently held up her little face, and with his fingertips, with great tenderness, he carefully wiped away the tears she was trying hard to hold back.

"I must go. Yun Zhen's life hangs by a thread, Mu Yang's whereabouts are unknown, tens of thousands of soldiers have fought bloody battles, and millions of border residents are suffering. Every moment of delay is a dereliction of duty on my part, a betrayal of my people."

He paused, emphasized his tone, and looked into her tearful eyes with burning eyes.

"For you and for our three children, I will definitely return safely. Don't worry."

Wen Li'er looked at the responsibility and commitment in his eyes that was as unshakable as a mountain, and all the words of dissuasion and retention lost their meaning.

She knew that her husband was not only the sky above her head, but also the sky for hundreds of millions of people in Dayan.

She couldn't, and shouldn't, use her sentimental feelings to hinder him from taking the path he should.

All the reluctance and worry finally turned into a whisper of trust.

"...Okay. Your servants and children will stay here and wait for the Emperor...to return safely."

Then, she stood on tiptoe and pressed her lips against his.

Yan Shixu was stunned for a moment, then quickly held the back of her head and deepened the light kiss.

The two kissed passionately, their breaths entwined with heavy gasps, and even the moon hanging by the window shyly hid itself.

…