"In this way, you will no longer need to worry about your son, and your son will no longer need to force himself. Please, Father, spare your son."

Xiao Chengci was really exhausted.

Xiao Chengci forced himself to complete the wedding banquet.

Xiao Chengci also wanted to push himself further and sleep with those women.

All he needed to do was get them pregnant so that he could fulfill his father's expectations and give his ministers an explanation.

Xiao Chengci fled the Eastern Palace yesterday because he felt he couldn't breathe there.

Seeing the entire courtyard filled with red, he felt truly dizzy.

Emperor Xiao sighed deeply as he looked at Xiao Chengci in such a state.

Emperor Xiao knew that Xiao Chengci was not threatening him.

Emperor Xiao suddenly realized that he hadn't really paid close attention to Xiao Chengci for a long time.

Upon closer inspection, it became apparent that Xiao Chengci's court robes appeared somewhat loose on his body.

The Crown Prince seems to have lost a lot of weight in the past six months.

Emperor Xiao knelt down and helped Xiao Chengci up.

"Then don't force yourself anymore."

Emperor Xiao patted Xiao Chengci on the shoulder, "If you don't like them, then don't go to the backyard."

"In a few years, you can pick a few promising sons from the other princes and raise them by your side."

Emperor Xiao has now come to terms with it.

They forced Xiao Chengci to get married, but they couldn't force him to sleep with a woman he didn't want to sleep with.

Emperor Xiao did not want to drive his most beloved son insane.

Although he could not see Xiao Chengci's child, Emperor Xiao inevitably felt some regret.

"But in the future, once you ascend the throne, the women in your harem must not be given low ranks."

Xiao Chengci currently has only one Crown Princess and two concubines.

Presumably, no one will enter the backyard again in the future.

"Thank you, Father Emperor."

"You must not let your father down; you must become a wise ruler in the future!"

"I will heed my father's teachings."

Twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Shang Huai received a letter from the capital. Empress Shang was dying and wished to see Shang Huai one last time before she passed away.

Along with that came Xiao Chengci's letter.

Xiao Chengci did not issue an imperial decree, but instead wrote a letter inviting Shang Huai to return to the capital for a gathering.

After returning from the north, Shang Huai never went back to the capital.

Over the years, Shang Huai has driven back the Xiongnu.

Shang Huai was on the battlefield when his grandparents passed away.

The merchant's father died in the north.

The merchant's father had noticed that he was not feeling well, so he requested permission to personally transport military rations to the north.

Just two months after arriving in the north, Shang's father passed away.

From then on, Shang Huai became an orphan.

Empress Shang felt sorry for her nephew and had long wanted Shang Huai to return to the capital.

But this time, Empress Shang is about to pass away, and if Shang Huai doesn't go back, it would be too unfilial.

For Shang Huai, Empress Shang was like a mother to him.

The north is now stable, and Shang Huai has managed to retrieve some of his belongings so he can travel light.

Shang Huai rode his horse to the city gate of the capital and saw a familiar yet unfamiliar person from afar.

"Brother Minxue?" Shang Huai looked at the bearded middle-aged man in front of him, his tone somewhat uncertain.

Pei Minxue also called out, "Brother Huai."

Shang Huai dismounted and circled Pei Minxue, saying, "Brother Minxue, you've aged quite a bit."

Pei Minxue said helplessly, "Brother Huai, why haven't we met in so long? You're still as sharp-tongued as ever."

After speaking, Pei Minxue also looked at Shang Huai. Shang Huai seemed to be no different from twenty years ago.

He still has a handsome figure and his appearance hasn't changed much, but he has matured quite a bit.

"Let's go, His Majesty and the Empress Dowager are still waiting for us."

Having received the letter from the post station, Pei Minxue guessed that Shang Huai would arrive today, so he came to pick him up in person.

Pei Minxue led Shang Huai into the palace, and only then did Shang Huai realize that Pei Minxue had already entered the cabinet.

In a few years, Pei Minxue will undoubtedly become the Grand Secretary.

Pei Minxue greeted a young man, "Your Highness."

Shang Huai paused for a moment before bowing in greeting.

The eldest prince returned Pei Minxue's greeting, then exchanged a few pleasantries with Shang Huai, mentioning how hard General Shang had worked in the north.

After they parted, Shang Huai couldn't help but turn around and glance at the eldest prince a few more times.

What are you looking at?

Shang Huai hesitated for a moment, "I always feel that the eldest prince's eyes look a bit like... Zhizhi."

Pei Minxue couldn't remember how many years it had been since he had heard this name.

"The eldest prince is kind-hearted by nature, and among the princes, he is the one that His Majesty pays the most attention to."

Those in the know understand why Xiao Chengci is so kind to the eldest prince.

Shang Huai snorted coldly, "He's quite something, finding a woman who looks like Zhizhi and having a child who resembles Zhizhi."

They were almost at Changqiu Palace, and Pei Minxue didn't have time to explain to Shang Huai.

"Let's go in first and pay our respects to His Majesty and the Empress Dowager."

Upon entering the hall, Shang Huai smelled a strong medicinal odor, and his heart sank.

Even though it was springtime, charcoal was still burning inside the house.

When Empress Dowager Shang saw Shang Huai, she slapped him hard several times and angrily scolded him for being a scoundrel.

Decades have passed, and if they say they won't come back, they really won't.

After scolding herself to exhaustion, Empress Dowager Shang drank her medicine and went to sleep.

Xiao Chengci led Shang Huai out, and the group went to the Imperial Study.

Shang Huai then had a chance to look at Xiao Chengci. He wondered if it was just his imagination, but he felt that Xiao Chengci seemed to have aged considerably.

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