Chapter 92 Farewell "Father, I truly hate you."...

Before returning to Beijing, she had already gone to Hangzhou to bury Lin Xian back in his hometown.

This trip to the capital was actually because there was someone she couldn't let go of.

If Pei Xiaoyun were still alive, he would manage everything perfectly. She doesn't interfere, not because she's heartless, but because she trusts him.

But he was gone. Even though she was just an ordinary citizen, she knew that a country cannot be without a ruler for a day, and that a storm was brewing both inside and outside the court.

Her daughter, Pei Xiaoyun's only child, how should she conduct herself in the deep palace surrounded by wolves?

On the way, she discussed with her brother about taking Pei Yu'an away so that their family could return to Jiangnan and live a good life. Presumably, this was also what Pei Xiaoyun wanted to see.

He struggled his whole life, sometimes getting bogged down in the mire, sometimes enjoying boundless glory, but all his successes and failures ultimately amounted to nothing, and he ended up like this.

He certainly wouldn't want to see his only child lose his protection and get caught up in court intrigues.

The death of the late emperor shocked the court. No one expected that the decisive young emperor would pass away after only two years on the throne.

No one denies his achievements, and at the same time, no one fails to covet that empty dragon throne.

The late emperor's harem was empty, and he only had one princess. Not to mention that the princess was young, how could a woman inherit the country?

As a result, powerful ministers were eager to make their move, and some even secretly sought out exiled members of the Xiao clan, intending to support a puppet ruler, overthrow the previous dynasty, and establish merit as a successor to the new emperor.

Shen Mingshu's return to the capital slightly intimidated those restless people, making them hesitant to act rashly for the time being.

Everyone knows that he had made great military achievements, and the princess's birth mother was his sister. Although he is dead, he and the princess are still uncle and niece, and this relationship will not change.

If he supports the princess to ascend the throne, following Pei Xiaoyun's old path, and becomes the regent, it would be more legitimate than any of them.

Therefore, as soon as he arrived at his residence in the capital, many officials came to pay him a visit with gifts.

He knew perfectly well what these people were up to, so he refused to see them and returned their belongings.

Now that the Northwest is at peace, he would rather resign and go into seclusion as long as he can take Pei Yu'an with him. It doesn't matter to him who sits on the throne.

This was also the purpose of his and Mingying's return to Beijing.

After entering the palace gates, he went directly to Weiyang Palace, where Pei Yu'an resided.

He was the princess's uncle, so it was only natural for him to visit her; no palace servant dared to stop him.

But Mingying is different. She faked her death and left the capital back then, so it's impossible for her to come back to life and enter and leave the palace.

Disguised as a palace maid, she covered her face with a hood and followed closely behind Shen Mingshu.

The Weiyang Palace was filled with the fragrance of incense.

Pei Yu'an was sitting at her desk, engrossed in sketching a painting. The court was in an uproar over the succession, but she remained calm and composed as always, as if the Weiyang Palace were an impenetrable wall.

"Your Highness, General Shen has come to visit you," a palace servant announced.

Pei Yu paused for a moment, his two dark pupils flickered slightly, and then he continued to paint with his head down.

"Please come in."

The personal maidservant bowed her head and left, not surprised by her reaction.

Since entering the palace, the princess has become increasingly calm and composed. She is not talkative and, despite her young age, her speech and manners are quite mature and impeccable.

Her temperament was also unlike that of her peers. Even when the news of the late emperor's death reached her, the princess did not shed a single tear, as if it were just a passing breeze. She continued to go to bed, eat, and read as usual every day.

If the relationship between father and daughter is so distant, it goes without saying that it's just between uncle and aunt.

Therefore, it is not surprising that the princess was so indifferent when she heard that General Shen had come to visit.

Shen Mingshu entered the hall first and saw a thin figure in front of the table. He felt a lump in his throat and his eyes reddened.

Even though she was sitting upright, he could tell that she had grown quite a bit taller.

He felt guilty towards her. She was a smart and intelligent girl. After the incident, she probably realized that they had all been lying to her.

Along the way, he kept thinking about what he should say to her when he saw her.

Hearing the footsteps, Pei Yu'an merely glanced at him before switching to a dark green colored pencil.

"Uncle, you've had a tough time in the battle in the Northwest. How have you been these past two years, Uncle?"

Her voice, devoid of any childishness, was like spring water striking jade, each word clear and melodious.

Shen Mingshu looked at her closely and found that she had changed a lot. Her facial features had become more defined, and her eyes and brows, which were very similar to Mingying's, now had a touch of aloofness and coldness.

"I'm doing very well." For some reason, he unconsciously stopped treating her like a child and asked her, "And you?"

Pei Yu'an finally put down his pen, walked over to him, and instantly smiled: "Very good."

Seeing her smiling face, Shen Mingshu frowned slightly, and a wave of guilt surged to his throat.

At this moment, Mingying, who was standing outside the hall, also reached out to wipe away her tears.

It was as if the brother and sister were saying to her together, "I lied to you, but back then, I had no choice."

Pei Yu'an remained silent; after that smile, he never smiled again.

"Where is my mother? Won't she come to see me?"

Shen Mingshu said in a hoarse voice, "She's here."

As soon as he finished speaking, Mingying slowly stepped into the hall, took off her hood, revealing a pale face, her eyes red from crying.

The mother and daughter stared at each other for a long time, the atmosphere frozen and still.

Looking at her calm face, her somewhat unfamiliar eyebrows and eyes, her upright posture and her elaborate and luxurious clothes, Mingying felt as if a needle had pierced her heart, and her breath caught in her throat.

The innocence, cheerfulness, and liveliness of the past are nowhere to be seen in her now.

It's unbelievable that she's still a child.

Back then, they planted flowers and grass together; she painted her nails, combed her hair, held her in her arms, and taught her to write by holding her hand...

People leave, time passes, and there's no going back.

She couldn't speak, so Pei Yu'an spoke first: "How has Mother's health been these past two years? Have you been happy in the Northwest?"

Just now, she asked Shen Mingshu the same question, as if it were just a simple, ordinary greeting after seeing a relative again.

Mingying's breathing became disordered, and for a moment she felt as if a fishbone was stuck in her throat.

These words hit her like a heavy stone.

How should she answer? Should she say that after being abandoned, she has a new life and is doing well?

Now that Pei Xiaoyun is dead, is she worried about her and wants to take her away?

Back then, it was Pei Yu'an who told Pei Xiaoyun a huge lie in exchange for two years of peaceful life in the Northwest.

The three-year-old watched her leave, feeling both reluctant and trying to cover it up for her.

Whenever she thinks about it, her heart aches as if it's being torn apart, and the pain feels like it's bleeding.

"sorry."

Even if I have a thousand words in my heart, I will still say this one.

“Mother, you don’t need to apologize to me.” Pei Yu’an shook his head. “As long as you’re happy.”

Two years is enough for her to grow up. She knows perfectly well that even if she could get what she desires now, she would have missed the best opportunity.

She can no longer be as carefree as she was two years ago.

She knew her mother and uncle's plans for returning to the capital this time.

She cut to the chase: "I will not go with you."

When Mingying saw her now, she was not surprised by her answer.

She didn't know how to answer her.

Two years ago, he simply left, and now he's back saying he wants to take her away. This belated concern is something she may not need, and she may harbor resentment.

Shen Mingshu stepped forward and advised, "The late emperor has passed away, and now the court is full of wolves with ulterior motives. It is very dangerous for you to stay in the palace."

"I'll be fine," Pei Yu'an insisted.

Shen Mingshu was naturally worried. Even if Pei Xiaoyun had really hidden a backup plan and left behind a capable minister to assist her in the future, he still couldn't feel at ease.

He opened his mouth, as if to say something more.

Pei Yu'an interrupted him, his dark eyes even blacker than ink: "I am a princess of a country. I do not wish to leave the palace. If you, my uncle, try to take me away by force, it would be no different from treason."

Mingying and Shen Mingshu were both speechless, looking at her with mixed expressions.

She was indeed a princess of a nation, the mistress of this palace, and of the most noble royal bloodline. It was only natural that she would not go with them.

"Have you thought it through?" Mingying looked at her, finally having the courage to be honest with her. "I was sorry for you before, but I had no choice at the time. I only wanted to escape him, so I had to leave you behind. I had no other choice. Now, I'm really worried about you and don't want to see you walk down that thorny and bumpy road."

She was afraid that she hadn't thought things through and was still holding a grudge or complaining.

"Of course I've thought it through." Pei Yu'an looked at her with a smile, but there was no childishness in his eyes, only a deep and unfathomable calmness.

After she said that, Mingying decided not to take her away.

They are mother and daughter. Even though they rarely see each other, she can tell her personality at a glance. She has really made up her mind.

Some things, once missed, are gone forever.

Even if it could be made up for, there would be no time left.

She didn't know who to blame, because the person she wanted to blame was no longer there.

Pei Yu'an said, "Mother and Uncle, you may leave if you have nothing else to do. I am doing well. The old ministers left behind by Father have been frequently visiting Weiyang Palace lately. If we run into them, it will be difficult to explain."

They could have easily taken the opportunity to leave without concerning themselves with court affairs.

“Mother wants to return to Jiangnan. Now that the world is vast, no one can hold her back.”

She was genuinely happy for her mother.

Shen Mingshu knew that this was the most opportune time to leave.

If he were to run into those powerful ministers, they might very well suspect that his entry into the palace at this time was an attempt to seize power and support the princess. Furthermore, once they discover Aying's true identity and drag them into the mess, it would be difficult to extricate himself from the situation.

Can……

He was worried.

He looked at Mingying, wanting to ask her about her decision.

Mingying twitched the corners of her mouth, her brows relaxed, and she said to Pei Yu'an, "Then take care of yourself, we'll be going now."

Once she made a decision, she wouldn't change it, and her personality gradually began to resemble Pei Xiaoyun's.

It's unclear whether she's simply grown accustomed to being in the palace or is simply enamored with that supreme power.

She is exceptionally intelligent, and Pei Xiaoyun must have paved the way for her future. The people who stayed behind to assist her are enough to protect and support her.

She turned around, her calm and composed face instantly shattered by grief.

"Mother, wait."

Pei Yu'an suddenly called out to her.

As soon as Mingying turned around, she was embraced by Pei Yu'an, who hugged her waist and buried his face in her chest.

She felt her heart swell with warmth, as if it were about to burst. She reached out her trembling wrist and hugged her tightly.

It feels like a lifetime ago that I last held her like this.

When they were together, she loved to laugh and talk to him.

Pei Yu'an looked down and saw the longevity lock hanging around her neck.

That was the prayer she prayed for at the White Horse Temple on the day she left her, hoping that she would grow up safely and healthily.

Mingying's eyes reddened again, and Shen Mingshu, who was standing next to her, also felt bad.

While in Mingying's arms, where no one else could see, Pei Yu'an shed a few tears. When he looked up, his nose was bright red.

She took out the painting she had made that morning and slowly unfolded it. It was a large, blooming camellia, thriving and beautiful.

"I remember this is my mother's favorite flower. Did I draw it well? I'm giving it to you."

Knowing that she would come looking for her, she kept painting this picture.

Mingying nodded, a blurry image appearing before her eyes. This was the best-blooming camellia she had ever seen in any painting.

Without rain or frost, it blooms alone on the branch.

"I really like it." She carefully rolled up the painting and put it away, reaching out to pat her head.

Pei Yu'an calmly withdrew from her embrace, leaving her hand momentarily suspended in mid-air.

Mingying withdrew her hand, her knuckles slightly tucked under her sleeve, and then gave a smile, indicating that she was about to leave.

Therefore, neither side tried to persuade the other to stay, nor did the other side express any reluctance to part.

Mingying walked with difficulty. She had never been to the palace before and found that the way back was much longer than the way she had come.

Pei Yu'an watched the two departing figures disappear behind the vermilion palace walls, his eyes welling up with a sharp sting, and large tears rolled down his face.

At this moment, both mother and daughter knew perfectly well that this parting today would mean the end of many more two-year periods.

Steady footsteps echoed through the hall. Pei Yu'an hurriedly wiped away his tears, his eyes filled with a dark, gloomy light.

With her back to the people in the hall, her voice was calm: "Father, ask yourself honestly, I really hate you."

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Author's Note: I updated two chapters today. Don't miss the first one~ because the next chapter is the final chapter, so reading them together will make it flow better [doge]. I will update the final chapter whenever I finish writing it, maybe early this morning, tomorrow during the day, or maybe tomorrow night. I will change the cover icon then, so remember to come and read the final chapter!