Gu Jiangli was once again startled.

She realized that the "home" Chen'er was referring to was the home in her original world.

How did Ke Chen'er know all this?

Could it be that Chen'er sensed the incident when I was almost sent back to my original world when I was born?

Gu Jiangli spoke with a trembling voice, asking uncertainly, "Why do you say that, Chen'er? Does Chen'er think Mother still has any family?"

Chen'er tapped his head with one finger and said:

"A home that is very far away, a place that my mother has always longed for deeply."

"Your Majesty, I often see your back as you return home in my dreams. One day, you will return."

“Once Mother goes back, she will never come back.”

The emperor was on his way to the Yunguang Palace when he overheard Chen'er's words.

He hurriedly ran to the swing, his voice becoming much more urgent.

"Chen'er, what do you mean by that? What do you mean that your mother will never come back?"

The emperor looked nervous.

He had already lost Gu Jiangli once, and he was unwilling to lose her a second time.

The words "never to come back" were undoubtedly a needle piercing his heart.

He didn't want to hear a single word.

Seeing the emperor's anxious eyes, Gu Jiangli quickly comforted him:

"Your Majesty, it was Chen'er's words that caused you to misunderstand. You won't be unable to see Chen'er and me. I've always been here. Where would I go back to?"

The emperor's anxious eyes held a hint of anger as he immediately looked at Chen'er beside him.

Chen'er was somewhat bewildered by his father's sudden anger, and he stood up from the swing.

"Father, I was just talking to Mother about going home... I think Mother misses home."

After Chen'er finished speaking, the emperor's tense shoulders relaxed.

He exhaled a breath of stale air and said to Gu Jiangli:

"So you were talking about going home. I misunderstood."

The emperor's expression relaxed somewhat.

He took out a yellow envelope from his chest. "Li'er, there's a letter for you."

"This letter was sent to the palace a long time ago, but it was lost when the palace staff were cleaning. It was only found today."

"Keep this letter for now. I will arrange a time later to send you back to your hometown for a visit."

Seeing his father's expression for the first time, Chen'er was somewhat frightened and stopped talking about it.

Gu Jiangli also breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, the emperor was slow to react this time.

She took the letter from the Gu family and unfolded it to find her father's steady and powerful handwriting.

As with any ordinary letter home, her father inquired about her health and asked about her pregnancy. He assured her that he was fine and told her not to worry.

His words also express his longing for his daughter.

A warm feeling washed over Gu Jiangli.

Although Gu's father was not her real father, she still inherited the original owner's memories.

Throughout Gu Jiangli's life, she remembered all the kindness her father had shown her.

Now I can truly empathize with this kind of family affection.

My father is old and has lost his wife, concubine, and daughter in succession. His only remaining relative is now in the palace and we cannot see each other for many years.

Exhausted both physically and mentally, he was no longer able to fulfill his official duties and resigned a year ago. He is now enjoying his retirement at home.

He lived in the Gu family mansion like a lonely man, and it was only natural for him to miss his daughter.

"Your Majesty, my father misses me. Please allow me to go back and see him."

The emperor pondered for a moment, "Li'er, you are now five months pregnant, and it is inconvenient for you to go out. Why don't you have your father come to the palace to see you?"

“Your Majesty, my father is old and has difficulty walking. This is the inner palace. If I were to ask him to come here to see me again, firstly, outsiders would think I am unfilial, and secondly, the ministers would submit endless memorials to complain. Why go through all that trouble?”

Gu Jiangli gave the emperor a reassuring look. "Your Majesty, please assign me a few more reliable people. I will carefully return home once, without making a scene to avoid extravagance. I will be back in a few days."

"I'm worried about leaving you alone."

"Your Majesty can simply arrange for reliable guards and palace maids to follow me."

The emperor lowered his eyes, pondered deeply, gritted his teeth, and made up his mind, "I will go with you."

"Your Majesty? You're coming home with me? Then... what about the affairs of the court?"

"It's only a few days; it won't interfere with state affairs. I feel at ease only when I'm with you."

Gu Jiangli thought for a moment and realized that the emperor probably hadn't left the palace in a long time, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to take this opportunity to get some fresh air.

"Alright, Your Majesty, but you must keep it a secret when you go out, otherwise there will definitely be a huge commotion wherever you go."

She was just going home to see her father and didn't want to attract so much attention.

The emperor smiled helplessly, "Of course, I'll do whatever Li'er says."

Just as they made up their minds, they both felt their clothes being tugged at at the same time.

The two looked down at the same time and saw Chen'er looking up at them with her big, watery eyes.

"Father, Mother, what about your son?"

Gu Jiangli then looked at the Emperor, "We can't just leave Chen'er alone in the palace, otherwise..."

Her tentative words immediately made the emperor understand her meaning.

"Since I have already left the palace, let Chen'er come along."

"Yay!" Chen'er jumped for joy and happily swayed back on the swing.

Gu Jiangli could tell that Chen'er was also looking forward to leaving the palace.

After all, no matter how large the palace is, it can't compare to the vastness of the outside world.

The next day, the three of them packed their things and told the Empress Dowager and the prime minister of the previous dynasty about their plan to leave the palace.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!