After the meal, they rested for a while. Fortunately, they had a house to stay in and didn't have to sleep in a tent.

Shu Chengfeng had left his guards outside, only keeping Yun Ji, Ding Min, and Wei Xiao by his side.

He is here, and the Second Prince and the Third Prince can only follow suit.

Even if they felt uneasy, they were too embarrassed to bring it in.

After all, if they wanted to outdo the Crown Prince, they couldn't perform worse than him.

When Yan Lingyun arrived, he politely asked the soldiers on the perimeter to announce his arrival first.

Yun Ji personally came out to greet them.

Inside the room, Shu Chengfeng laughed and said, "I was just about to send someone to invite the general. Come, general, please come in quickly."

"Your Highness is too kind. I've come with some small matters to discuss," Yan Lingyun said.

"It's the same for both small and big matters; we have to sit down and talk about them." Shu Chengfeng's attitude was excellent.

Even without the connection of Yan Nangui, the Crown Prince would still treat Yan Lingyun, who wields considerable military power, with the same respect.

He was a man with military achievements.

Yan Lingyun also behaved politely, offering herself before sitting down.

"General, are you perhaps wondering about Nan Gui? Nan Gui is a bit stubborn, but he cares about you," Shu Chengfeng said with a smile as he poured him tea.

“I was with her before I came. Although she didn’t say anything, she asked indirectly, which means she was thinking of the general.”

"I am sorry to Consort Yan," Yan Lingyun said in a deep voice.

"Out of curiosity, I inquired about some things from back then. It was a hardship for her. When I was selecting my concubines, she should have been among those chosen. Fate is cruel." Shu Chengfeng shook his head.

Yan Lingyun clenched his fist. He knew perfectly well...

“It’s all a misfortune for our family…” Yan Lingyun said with difficulty.

"If we're talking about family misfortunes, I don't know whether to say it's the Yan family or the Shu family," Shu Chengfeng sighed. "My aunt was strong-willed, and her birth mother died early when she returned south. Also, for various reasons, she was born with a bad temper. She never spoke properly. With her loved ones gone, who could think so deeply? Before long, things were delayed. Fortunately, it's all in the past now," Shu Chengfeng said.

These words, it must be said, greatly pleased Yan Lingyun.

For him to say something like "a misfortune for the family" is already an offense.

But Shu Chengfeng's words really made him feel good.

“Gui’er is stubborn, Your Highness is so tolerant, I am deeply grateful,” Yan Lingyun said.

"Hehe, she is a bit stubborn. But that's good, at least she won't be bullied. Although I am the Crown Prince, I must know that being a royal wife is not easy. Given her background, if she had no temper at all, wouldn't people be even more worried? It's good that she's like this now, at least she can protect herself when I'm not around," Shu Chengfeng said.

These words are a mix of truth and falsehood, reality and illusion.

But it did indeed make Yan Lingyun feel comfortable.

In truth, how could he not know that His Highness was merely trying to put his mind at ease?

But that's just how things are in this world.

Even if I'm being used, it's good if it's useful.

After a heart-to-heart talk, it seemed like everything had been said, yet nothing had been said at all. In any case, Yan Lingyun felt much more at ease when she left.

Back at their residence, Yan Nanxu stepped forward and asked, "Father, what did His Highness say?"

"He didn't say anything, just talked about your sister."

One reason was to tell the Crown Prince that he cared about his eldest daughter and hoped that she would be treated well.

One reason was to tell the general that he valued this virtuous woman and hoped that this would put the general at ease.

"You know about what happened in Chengzhou. The Seventh and Eighth Princes are crippled. Even if they could rise again, it would be in vain. The Twelfth Prince is still young. Who knows what will happen when he is old enough to do things? Now we'll see what the Second and Third Princes will do," Yan Lingyun said.

“If Your Majesty is still concerned… the Crown Prince’s path is still not easy. We can’t really resort to violence on that day, can we? That would be a very bad move.” Yan Nanxu also sat down.

“Let’s take it one step at a time. Right now, your brother is getting married. His marriage cannot be decided by the family. There’s no other way; your father can’t just return to the capital. When His Majesty returns, you should go back with him and resolve this matter. Tell him that if he doesn’t listen, he doesn’t need to call me father anymore,” Yan Lingyun said.

"Father..." Yan Nanxu thought for a moment, "For the sake of the family and my sister, I'd better not go back. Send an old man back instead."

He was also a young general, a person with an official position.

Although not as good as Yan Lingyun, that was at the border.

He's really gone back; so many people want to visit him.

His younger sister is already a concubine of the Crown Prince, and will become a palace consort in the future.

He, too, could no longer make many public appearances in the capital at this time.

So as not to arouse His Majesty's suspicion.

Yan Lingyun thought for a moment and said, "Alright, I'll write a letter and have someone send it back."

“Second brother will listen,” Yan Nanxu said.

Yan Lingyun nodded, without saying anything more.

"Since it's a letter, there's no need to wait. Let's send someone back now," Yan Lingyun said, and went to write it.

The letter will be sent back in just a few days.

The next morning, after a simple meal, the Crown Prince and the other princes went to inspect the defenses of Daiyang Pass.

To be honest, it's not easy for non-specialists to understand; it requires explanation throughout.

Yan Nanxu was the one who made this explanation.

Shu Chengfeng didn't offer any opinions, but simply listened attentively, asking questions whenever he didn't understand something.

His attitude made all the generals feel very comfortable; they were afraid of people who didn't understand and still wanted to give instructions.

These tasks can take up most of the day.

They couldn't stay any longer; they had to leave before they even had time to eat anything.

"I am not at ease with His Majesty in Chengzhou for even a day. It is the most important thing for me to go back and accompany him as soon as possible. After what happened before, it is not the capital after all." Shu Chengfeng said sincerely.

Everyone could only admire his filial piety and see them off.

The twelfth prince's carriages were already waiting on the road he was sure to pass.

He came all the way here but didn't show up. But it wouldn't have mattered anyway, he's just a seven-year-old child.

We set off at dusk and returned to Chengzhou just as dawn was breaking.

Shu Chengfeng went to report to His Majesty first.

Shu Zhongjing had just gotten up and only sent a message through a eunuch; he did not see the person in person.

He was indeed worried, but it's good that he's back.

The eunuch came out and said politely, "Your Highness, Second Prince, Third Prince, Twelfth Prince, His Majesty has something to say. He said that you have worked hard all this time, and that we can discuss the matter tomorrow. It is important for you to go back and rest now."

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your concern. I will take my leave now," Shu Chengfeng said loudly to the hall, then bowed and turned away.

The second and third princes followed suit.

The twelfth prince was so sleepy that he was carried away without making a sound.

Back at his residence, Shu Chengfeng simply sent a message to the family and went straight to sleep.

Although I slept in the carriage last night, I'm still a bit sleep-deprived. Since His Majesty says he's nowhere to be seen now, I might as well sleep. At least I'll sleep for the whole morning.

After hearing the Imperial Guard's reply, Shu Zhongjing waved his hand and told him to leave.

"The General and the Crown Prince had a private conversation? What were they talking about?" Shu Zhongjing asked, as if asking someone, but also as if talking to himself.