"Long live the emperor! Long live the emperor! Long, long live the emperor!" Wherever Nalan Yunzhi passed, the palace people all knelt on the ground and shouted "Long live the emperor" with their voices shaking the sky.

However, she did not look around, as if these palace servants did not exist like air, and ran towards the hall of Lingkun Courtyard like the wind.

Feng Cailan had taken leave today and did not attend the morning court. After the court session, Nalan Yunzhi learned that the Feng family had gathered at the Eastern Palace. Her emotions were so complicated that she didn't even bother returning to Zichen Hall to change clothes or have breakfast. She donned the emperor's phoenix robe and rushed to the Eastern Palace like an arrow. She was afraid that if she was a step late, she would miss Feng Lingqian, who resembled Feng Lingyan yet wasn't.

Inside the Lingkun Courtyard hall, everyone, previously immersed in a joyful and peaceful atmosphere, suddenly began breathing rapidly, as if an invisible hand were strangling their throats. The reason was simple: they were terrified, fearing that Nalan Yunzhi, upon seeing Feng Lingyan again, would desperately try to keep her. As subjects, they feared it would be difficult to refuse such a request...

"Why panic?" Feng Jingyun's voice was as loud as a bell. "Ling Yan is already dead. With me here, can the Emperor really disregard etiquette and forcibly take my youngest son, Ling Qian, away from me?"

Since they dared to enter the palace openly to visit Mu Lige and the two children, they naturally anticipated all possible situations and prepared a foolproof plan in advance.

Soon, Nalan Yunzhi arrived at the hall of Lingkunyuan, and everyone saluted her.

"This isn't the imperial court, so there's no need for formalities." Nalan Yunzhi's eyes were sharp, staring directly at Feng Jingyun and Mulan Jin like a hawk. "Mother-in-law, father-in-law, I'm here today simply to visit the two imperial grandchildren as the imperial grandmother, and I have no other intentions."

After a brief greeting between Nalan Yunzhi and the Feng family, he hugged the two imperial grandchildren affectionately, and then turned his gaze to Feng Lingyan who was sitting next to Mu Lige.

"Second Master Feng, I have something I would like to consult you about. Please follow me to the garden to discuss it."

After he finished speaking, everyone in the hall looked at Feng Lingyan worriedly.

"Ling Qian obeys your command." Feng Lingyan shook his head gently at the crowd. He knew that some things could not be avoided and must be faced bravely. So, he resolutely followed Nalan Yunzhi's footsteps to the pavilion in the garden.

Nalan Yunzhi slowly turned around and looked at Feng Lingyan with a deep gaze, his eyes filled with pity, as if they were an endless ocean. "These years... you have suffered."

Facing Nalan Yunzhi's concern, Feng Lingyan remained calm and composed. He responded calmly, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern. Ling Qian is doing well."

Nalan Yunzhi sighed softly in her heart. She stared at Feng Lingyan with infatuated eyes, which were filled with endless longing and lingering affection, like a deep pool that made people fall into it.

With An Zihao being banished to the cold palace and Ouyang Yuming's death, the truth that was buried deep in the past gradually surfaced like an iceberg.

Ouyang Yuming planted spies in the "Bixia Feiying" and carefully planned the "Civet Cat Substituted for the Princess" incident, instructing Kang Fulai to assassinate the infant princess and other events; even a few months ago, the noble prince Situ Mingting and the ten-year-old fifth prince Nalan Qiufeng died in the Youlan Palace at the hands of Ouyang Yuming; he also tried to make the princess Zhengjun miscarry by using problematic food during her pregnancy... Every one of them is outrageous.

An Zihao even tampered with Feng Lingyan's carriage, causing her to fall off the Cliff of Oblivion on her way to the imperial mausoleum. Furthermore, he colluded with court officials to frame loyal officials, forcing the former Minister of the Imperial Household, who had sought to redress Feng Lingyan's innocence, to suffer an unjustifiable crime, be exiled, and then be silenced...

As more and more evidence emerged, Nalan Yunzhi was now extremely certain that the person in front of her was her legal husband, Feng Lingyan.

However, when she thought of the persecution and suffering Feng Lingyan had endured over the past seventeen years, Nalan Yunzhi suddenly lost her confidence. She... couldn't bring herself to say she wanted to keep this man.

If she hadn't failed to protect Feng Lingyan, she wouldn't have been killed and nearly lost two lives during childbirth, or nearly perished on the Cliff of Oblivion, and been forced to be separated from her biological daughter for sixteen years...

Feng Lingyan looked at Nalan Yunzhi with a firm gaze and said softly, "Your Majesty, let the past be the past. I am no longer the Feng Lingyan of the past. I am... just Feng Lingqian, the second son of the Feng family."

Nalan Yunzhi's heart ached, tears welling up in her eyes. She bit her lip, trying her best to control her emotions.

"Lingyan..." Nalan Yunzhi called out the name he had called countless times in his dreams, "You still won't forgive me?" Nalan Yunzhi's voice was filled with bitterness and regret.

Feng Lingyan sighed softly: "Your Majesty, I don't blame you, but we can't go back. This is perhaps the best ending."

"Okay, since you have made up your mind, I... won't force you. I just hope you can be happy in the future..." Nalan Yunzhi looked at Feng Lingyan silently, his heart full of helplessness and reluctance.

Feeling Nalan Yunzhi's burning gaze, Feng Lingyan politely bowed to Nalan Yunzhi and said, "Ling Qian, thank you, Your Majesty, for your assistance."

"If Second Young Master Feng feels bored in the General's Mansion, he can come to the East Palace to chat with Li Ge at any time, and by the way, see me... my two imperial grandchildren..." There was a hint of expectation in Nalan Yunzhi's voice, as if he was extending a sincere invitation to Feng Lingyan.

"Okay." Feng Lingyan nodded slightly.

Everything has its limits. Feng Lingyan, understanding Nalan Yunzhi, knew that it was truly remarkable for this woman to yield to this for him; it was the limit. Feng Lingyan was already quite content with her current status as a bastard of the Feng family.

Because not only could he legitimately accompany his mother and father in the General's Mansion, but he could also be close to his daughter. Living a life like this, Feng Lingyan already felt no regrets...

"Lingyan..." Nalan Yunzhi pulled Feng Lingyan over and hugged him tightly.

She had longed for this warm embrace for seventeen years, but from now on, it no longer belonged to her...

"If I were to abandon my vast territory, give up my position of power, and give up everything for you, Lingyan, would you be willing to return to my side..."

Nalan Yunzhi leaned his head lightly on Feng Lingyan's shoulder, but she narrowed her eyes slightly, and two lines of hot tears flowed from the corners of her eyes unconsciously.

"Your Majesty..." Feng Lingyan's heart trembled slightly when she heard this, and her starry eyes were filled with tears.

He had indeed loved this woman deeply, but some pains were irreparable. Even if the wounds healed, they would still leave hideous scars that would follow him everywhere.

"I...I should go to the Imperial Study to review the memorials..."

Nalan Yunzhi gently let go of Feng Lingyan, then turned and left, his back looking a little embarrassed and lonely.

"Yunzhi..." Feng Lingyan looked quietly at Nalan Yunzhi's gradually receding figure, with mixed feelings in her heart.

Feng Lingyan knew that their fate might really have come to an end...