After learning that the Empress Dowager had left the palace, the Emperor seemed to be in low spirits for several days.

But it gradually recovered.

Time heals many low spirits, and that's certainly true.

A few months later, Gu Jiangli's child was born smoothly.

On that day, the Empress Dowager returned and named the child Yunwen.

She did not stay in the palace for long; a few days later, she left again.

After the child turned one month old, the emperor made Gu Jiangli his empress.

She was a princess sent for a political marriage, yet she suddenly became the head of the harem, which indeed caused some dissatisfaction among the court officials.

However, the emperor did not change his mind and handed the empress's seal to her.

After the coronation ceremony, no one raised any further questions.

Because the matter is already settled.

Yunwen grew up quickly. He was innocent and carefree, with a pure and genuine heart. He had the liveliness unique to children and was curious about everything.

I especially love a tree planted in the courtyard of Jing'an Palace.

Even when he was still learning to speak, he liked to run around that tree, and he would always stare at it with his big, round, grape-like eyes.

Only when he was able to speak a complete sentence did he express his doubts to the emperor.

"Father, why is this tree different from the other trees in the palace?"

The emperor was always exceptionally patient with Yunwen, and would patiently guide him through his questions.

"Yunwen, what do you think makes this tree different from the others?"

“Other trees bloom, grow green leaves, and some even bear small fruits, but this one is bare and not even as tall as Father. It’s very different. Why is that?”

The emperor smiled and explained, "This tree is not from Tianyuan. It is a purple orchid tree unique to your mother's hometown, and it can only bloom in Tianyuan."

"Will it never bloom? Then why did Father plant this tree here?"

"Hmm... Mother lives far from her hometown and sometimes misses home. If she could see the flowers unique to her hometown, she might not miss home so much."

"Oh, I see. The hairpin that Father gave to Mother must have the same meaning."

"Yunwen is really smart."

Yunwen smiled, then quickly pouted and said, "But if these flowers don't bloom, how can we ease Mother's homesickness?"

The emperor also looked worried. "Perhaps? Maybe one day, the sincerity between you and me, father and son, will make this flower bloom."

Will it?

"Probably."

"What? So even Father Emperor wasn't confident?"

Gu Jiangli, her belly protruding, came out of the house and asked with a smile, "What are you talking about?"

Upon seeing her, Yunwen immediately ran to Gu Jiangli's side, took her hand, and led her to sit down on a chair in the courtyard.

The emperor walked over with a gentle smile and gently stroked Gu Jiangli's belly.

She is five months pregnant again.

The emperor asked her, "He wasn't causing any trouble in your belly, was he?"

Gu Jiangli shook her head, "No, I'm being good." Then she asked, "What were you two talking about just now?"

Before the emperor could speak, Yunwen excitedly pointed to the purple orchid tree and said:

"Mother, Father and I were talking about when we'll see that tree sprout and bloom."

Gu Jiangli chuckled: "Don't listen to your father. All things grow according to their own laws. Flowers grow where the soil is. Flowers that are native to Yunjiang will not bloom in Tianyuan."

"Ah?" Yunwen seemed a little disappointed. "Then if Mother wants to see these flowers, wouldn't she have to go to Yunjiang to see them?"

"yes."

"I want to see it too, but I'll have to go to Yunjiang to do that?"

Gu Jiangli laughed even harder, "Of course."

"Is Yunjiang very far away? Is it troublesome to go there?"

"Hmm... it is a bit troublesome, but it's not a distant problem. After all, Yunjiang is another country, and it's not easy for people from Tianyuan to go in and out of there."

Yunwen stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, and then said:

"In that case, can't Yunjiang become part of Tianyuan?"

Gu Jiangli's smile froze, and he was somewhat dumbfounded. "...Huh?"

"Didn't Mother say that because Yunjiang is another country, it's a bit troublesome to come and go? But if Yunjiang belongs to Tianyuan, it shouldn't be so troublesome to move around within one's own territory, right?"

"Uh..." Gu Jiangli was momentarily speechless and turned to look at the emperor.

The emperor slowly recovered from his astonishment, coughed lightly, and said, "Yunwen, turning Yunjiang into Tianyuan's territory is not such a simple matter."

"Is it complicated? Can't Father do it? Will I be able to do it in the future?"

"This... isn't a question of whether it's possible or not. Rather, if we were to make one territory belong to another, it would involve war. Do you understand war? There will be injuries and bloodshed, and countless lives lost. For ordinary people, the last thing they want to see is war. Therefore, we cannot do this proactively."

"War?" Yunwen frowned, falling into deep thought once again.

Just when Gu Jiangli and the Emperor thought they had explained everything and persuaded Yunwen, Yunwen suddenly spoke again:

"But if the outcome of war is a better life for those people, would they be willing to go to war?"

The emperor could barely contain his astonishment. “Yunwen, you are still young and don’t understand what war is. So, as you grow older, you will gradually understand.”

"Father, I just want to know, if there really is a war, would the people of Yunjiang be willing to live a better life? Mother once said that Yunjiang is a dangerous place, surrounded by mountains. It is not as rich as our Tianyuan. They can only rely on the mountains for their livelihood and live a very poor life."

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