We had just finished talking when someone brought in our meal from outside.

It was Su Wanyan's favorite steamed bun, along with fresh and fragrant winter bamboo shoots and nourishing ginseng soup.

However, perhaps because she was too tired, Su Wanyan stopped eating after a few bites.

Su Wanyan felt it was a waste to throw away the rest, so she asked Yu Nanqing to have someone keep it warm so she could eat it after she woke up.

Yu Nanqing naturally complied.

On December 20th, news suddenly spread from the Xia family that the patriarch of the Xia family had fallen seriously ill and was bedridden. The imperial physicians from the palace had all visited him, and they all returned looking dejected.

Empress Xia Yunshang lost a lot of weight in just a few days after hearing the news.

They initially thought it was just a minor illness, but when the palace maid sent to the Xia family returned, she silently shook her head.

Xia Yunshang nearly fainted upon seeing this, and immediately stopped enduring it, requesting permission from Emperor Yuanhe to return to the General's Mansion.

Xia Yunshang's father was instrumental in helping Emperor Yuanhe ascend the throne and was awarded the title of Kaiyuan General in the first year of the founding of the dynasty. Now he is seriously ill and bedridden, so it is only natural for Xia Yunshang to go back and visit her father.

After careful consideration, he granted Xia Yunshang's request.

On the morning of December 23rd, Xia Yunshang dressed up and left the palace to return to the Kaiyuan General's Mansion.

Knowing that Xia Yunshang was coming, the entire Xia family dared not be negligent. From Xia Yunshang's mother to a three-year-old child, everyone waited outside the General's Mansion to welcome Xia Yunshang back home.

Xia Yunshang was concerned about her father's illness, and after only a few words of conversation, she had to go and check on her father's condition.

Xia Yunshang's mother, Wen Yuxian, was an elderly noblewoman in her sixties with gray hair. Although she was not young, she wore silk and brocade clothes and behaved in a very gentle and graceful manner.

At first glance, her eyebrows and eyes are very similar to Xia Yunshang's.

Mentioning Xia Yunshang's father, Madam Wen looked worried and pulled Xia Yunshang aside, whispering, "Your Highness, your father's illness..."

She pursed her lips, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopped herself.

Xia Yunshang's heart leaped into her throat, and she grabbed Wen Shi's hand tightly: "Mother, could it be that Father..."

Madam Wen quickly shook her head: "Your Highness has misunderstood. Never mind, go in and take a look in a moment."

After saying that, she led Xia Yunshang to the backyard.

The backyard was empty and deserted; all the maids and servants had been sent away.

“Your father is seriously ill, and we don’t know what’s wrong with him. All the servants in this courtyard have been sent outside.”

As they were talking, Madam Wen had already brought Xia Yunshang to the front of the main house. She suddenly took Xia Yunshang's hand and said, "Your father is old, so please don't upset him when you go inside."

Xia Yunshang found it strange. She hadn't returned to the manor for a long time and had been staying in the palace. This was her first time back, so why would she have angered her father?

What happened these past few days that made my father so upset?

With doubts and worries in her heart, Xia Yunshang didn't think too much about it and nodded: "Mother, don't worry, Yunshang knows what she's doing."

Upon hearing this, Madam Wen opened the door and let Xia Yunshang in.

As soon as Xia Yunshang entered, Madam Wen hesitated and sighed, her hands clasped awkwardly as she personally stood guard at the door.

Inside the room, an incense burner emitted a delicate and pleasant fragrance.

There was no one else in the room. Xia Yunshang looked over the screen at the bed and saw an old man who looked very old lying on the bed with his eyes closed.

Xia Yunshang's heart skipped a beat. She quickly stepped forward and called out, "Father?"

Xia Yunshang's father, Xia Zhisheng, is currently still the head of General Xia's mansion.

Although many things have gradually been handed over to his son, Xia Zhisheng still holds the power to manage any major events in the household.

Xia Zhisheng wasn't actually asleep; he had already heard the noise when Xia Yunshang came in.

Xia Zhisheng slowly opened his eyes: "Her Majesty the Empress has arrived."

As he spoke, he was about to get up and bow to Xia Yunshang.

Xia Yunshang quickly stepped forward to stop him: "Father, please lie down. Today, I have requested permission to come and visit you. Now, it is just the two of us in the room, so there is no need for formalities between ruler and subject."

Xia Zhisheng ignored her words, brushed away Xia Yunshang's hand that was helping him up, and insisted on giving her a courtier's salute.

Xia Yunshang frowned slightly: "Father..."

However, as soon as she opened her mouth, she realized that her father's bowing movements were smooth and natural, showing no signs of being terminally ill. Xia Yunshang's heart skipped a beat. Looking at his complexion, she saw that he was full of energy and vitality, not at all like someone who was ill.

Xia Yunshang was completely baffled. While she was still in a daze, Xia Zhisheng had already stood up: "Your Majesty, I have something to discuss with you today."

Judging from her father's appearance, he didn't seem to intend to continue pretending to be sick. Xia Yunshang pursed her lips, unsure of how to react.

She had only managed to persuade Emperor Yuanhe to allow her to leave the palace and visit her father, who was bedridden, because she thought he was ill. But now that her father was like this, how was it any different from deceiving the emperor?

After a long silence, she finally asked worriedly, "Father, what is it... that you need to keep from the Emperor?"

Xia Zhisheng frowned slightly. His daughter had been married into the palace for so long, she should be used to the intrigue and backstabbing in the palace, so why was she still so naive?

Then, thinking of her being a woman, Xia Zhisheng finally stopped dwelling on the issue.

As the two remained silent, a clear, melodious female voice rang out from inside the room: "If one is physically ill, a doctor's treatment will cure it. But General Xia's illness is of the heart. A heart ailment can only be cured by a heart remedy. I wonder if Your Majesty the Empress understands General Xia's heart ailment?"

Upon hearing the sound, Xia Yunshang's heart tightened, and she stared back in disbelief with her beautiful eyes wide open.

Su Wanyan slowly emerged from behind the curtain in the room, followed by a maid with a cold and aloof demeanor.

Xia Yunshang couldn't believe it and hurriedly took a step back, her brows furrowed: "Su Wanyan? How did you get here! Aren't you...aren't you missing?"

The news of Su Wanyan's disappearance caused a great stir in the capital. There was no news even on the day Yu Nanqing went to war, but now she suddenly appeared in her father's house. How could she not be shocked?

Su Wanyan stared at her intently, a slight smile on her lips.

Xia Yunshang stared wide-eyed, then suddenly realized what was happening and turned back to Xia Zhisheng in shock: "Father?"

This is the Kaiyuan General's Mansion. If it weren't for her father's authorization and concealment, how could Su Wanyan have entered?

Xia Zhisheng remained calm and bowed to Su Wanyan: "Your humble servant greets Princess Gong."

"Father, what are you doing?" Xia Yunshang asked, frowning.

Xia Zhisheng looked at Xia Yunshang: "The reason I used a trick to summon the Empress today is also for this matter."

Su Wanyan stepped forward and bowed to Xia Yunshang: "Your subject Su Wanyan greets Your Majesty the Empress."

For some reason, Xia Yunshang felt that Su Wanyan's appearance here could not be anything good. Not to mention that she had been missing for several months, if Emperor Yuanhe found out that she was here, the entire Xia General's Mansion would be implicated.

She took a step back warily: "What do you want?"