Before the medicine was even taken, there was commotion in the palace. The Emperor and Empress sent their personal eunuchs to inquire, while the Empress rushed out of the palace, insisting on seeing it with her own eyes to put her mind at ease.

When the Empress herself visited the county princess's residence, how dare the gatekeepers stop her?

The master and two servants went straight into the front hall. Ning Yan quickly bowed, and Mu Yuan helped Ning Yan up and said, "Where is that child? He didn't mention a word to me when he came back yesterday, even though he was seriously injured. I was so worried about him."

"Your Majesty, don't worry. The imperial physician said there's nothing seriously wrong. He probably just didn't want you to worry, so he kept it from you."

The servants are applying medicine to his scars right now.

Mu Yuan went straight to the side hall. Chu Yu heard the noise and was about to get up, but Mu Yuan pressed him down, saying, "Let Mother take a look."

Chu Yu had no choice but to lift his clothes and show his injuries to his mother. "The wounds have really healed. I didn't tell you because I was afraid you would worry. It was Aunt Ning who insisted on having the imperial physician examine my son when she heard I was injured..."

Mu Yuan was heartbroken. The wound was more than two inches long, and even though it had scabbed over, she could still imagine how dangerous it had been.

Tears welled up in her eyes with heartache. "Please don't do anything so dangerous again next time."

Chu Yu replied perfunctorily, "I'll do my best, son."

As long as the world is not completely at peace, he may have to go to the battlefield at any time, and he may get injured on the battlefield.

Therefore, he can't guarantee anything.

After Mu Yuan finished crying, she remembered to thank Ning Yan. "Yan'er, thanks to you, arranging your county princess residence next to the crown prince's residence was the best decision I ever made."

From now on, I'll leave Yu'er in your care.

Ning Yan quickly replied, "Your Majesty is too kind. It's hardly an honor to offer such care. His Highness the Crown Prince might even think I'm being nosy."

Wooden Kite:

"He dares?!"

Chu Yu hurriedly said, "No, no, I really wouldn't dare! Aunt Ning, please speak freely. I'll be anxious if you don't."

Mu Yuan and Ning Yan both burst out laughing.

...

Wei Xiang investigated several corrupt officials, confiscated their property and obtained more than three million taels of silver. Military rations were also quickly transferred to the western front. General Tie soon won a great victory and recovered a lost city.

Tie Qiongrui was also promoted to Consort Yun due to her father's achievements, making her the most popular woman in the harem.

Chu Yu then requested permission to go to the southern front to suppress bandits. Chu Haoxuan had only recently become emperor and was not yet wary of his fifteen-year-old son, so he directly gave Chu Yu 50,000 Chu family troops.

So Chu Yu led 50,000 Chu family soldiers to fight in various places. When the Duke of Cheng took down the army of the former Prince An, he also took down another rebel army. It took him nearly two years to take down the Qing Kingdom in the south.

The captured gold and silver treasures were loaded onto carriage after carriage and transported to the capital. On the day the army entered the city, the people lined the streets to welcome them, and some even shouted that Chu Yu was "Your Highness the God of War".

For a time, the Crown Prince's popularity among the people even surpassed that of the Emperor.

...

On the day he returned to Beijing, Chu Yu sneaked into Ning Yan's courtyard in the middle of the night.

"What's wrong with you? Can't you come during the day?"

Chu Yu touched his nose guiltily, "It's been three years, doesn't Aunt Ning miss me?"

Ning Yan threw back the covers, got out of bed, and lit the candle on the table. The dark room slowly became brighter, and Ning Yan looked at the man opposite her.

"He's gotten darker, but taller and stronger, which is great." To say he's heroic and extraordinary is no exaggeration.

No wonder the people call the Crown Prince "Your Highness the God of War" when he enters the capital today; he deserves that title.

Chu Yu hurriedly touched his face, "Is it really dark? Aunt Ning doesn't like dark skin?"

He got darker, but why does Aunt Ning look younger and younger?

She was already beautiful, but after two years, she has become even more beautiful. It's as if she's grown backwards; she looks to be the same age as him now!

Ning Yan: ……

"Aunt Ning hasn't answered me yet. Has she missed me?"

"Of course I do. Lin'er talks about you all the time. I'm not deaf."

Chu Yu's joy lasted only a second before it was shattered by his dear Aunt Ning's repeated nagging.

He pretended not to understand Aunt Ning's meaning, took out a large box from his spatial storage, which was full of unique jewelry and jade from Qing Kingdom, as well as some very distinctive and expensive ornaments. "This is for you. Take a look and see if you like it."

Ning Yan actually took a look. Inside the box were small boxes, each containing a set of jewelry, a single gemstone, a priceless jade pendant, beautiful anklets and bracelets, and even rings.

"I like it, Your Highness. You've been thinking about it."

Chu Yu, emboldened, took out a beautiful bracelet with a gold bell and put it on her wrist. Seeing that she didn't flinch, he was secretly delighted.

"Indeed, it's beautiful." Even moonlight and pearls cannot compare to you!

Ning Yan shook her wrist, and a series of light, crisp bell sounds rang out. "It's pretty, but unfortunately it's not suitable for me. This is something only young girls like."

"Then how about you just wear it for me to see?"

Ning Yan looked up again. There was no way around it; the boy had grown a head in the past three years, and she couldn't see his face unless she looked up.

"Now that you're back, the Emperor will definitely bestow a marriage upon you."

Others may not know, but Ning Yan has her own channels; Chu Haoxuan is ill.

Not only is he not performing well in his male genitals, but he also fainted three months ago. After the imperial physician examined him, he concluded that the emperor's condition was caused by overwork and that the only way to improve his health was to rest.

But he's the emperor!

With so many affairs to handle in the court, endless memorials to review every day, having to get up at four in the morning and attend the morning court session promptly at five, and still having to exert himself in the inner palace, how could he possibly find time for rest and recuperation?

So he wrote to the Crown Prince, asking him to return to the capital as soon as possible, so that the Crown Prince could help him with government affairs.

"What are you afraid of? His health is already compromised. He won't even be able to take care of himself, let alone me."

The medicine back then was somewhat special; as long as Chu Haoxuan took care of his health and didn't indulge in women too much, his body wouldn't be affected.

If he indulges in unrestrained revelry day and night, his physical energy will be prematurely depleted, affecting his lifespan.

"What about the Empress?"

Chu Yu looked intently at Ning Yan: "I will persuade the Empress Dowager. As for the ministers, those who dare to oppose me will be killed!"

Sure enough, after spending more time on the battlefield, they developed a more murderous aura, and were quick to kill!

But she thinks it's great!

They're already second only to the emperor, so why should they have to put up with the attitudes of those in lower positions?

Ning Yan reached out and touched the jade pendant at his waist. In the past three years, this young man has not had a single woman by his side, nor has he ever had a romantic encounter with anyone, because his virginity is still intact.

Even when he was away on campaign, he would write her a letter every few days. Although they had been separated for three years, their relationship had not grown distant in the slightest.

If he was still young and unsettled three years ago, he is now eighteen, and in ancient times, eighteen was already considered capable of shouldering heavy responsibilities and supporting a family. (End of Chapter)