"Ah...Ayan?"

Jiang Yu practically jumped up from her chair, exclaiming that she had forgotten something! It turned out she had forgotten about her Ayan.

Immediately, a wave of guilt washed over Jiang Yu. She walked to Gu Qingyan's side and looked at the dark circles under his eyes with heartache. "It's my fault for leaving you alone in the palace. You must have been busy with state affairs these past few days and haven't had a proper rest."

"Mother, I miss you so much."

Gu Qingyan reached out and hugged Jiang Yu's waist. In an instant, he felt an extremely sharp gaze fixed on his hand. Without a doubt, it was his unscrupulous father.

With this in mind, Gu Qingyan put on an even more energetic performance.

With a touch of genuine emotion in her expression, Jiang Yu soon forgot all about Gu Lin.

"Ayu." Jiang He couldn't help but walk in from outside the courtyard, fearing that a father-son battle was about to break out in the yard.

Hearing the familiar voice, Jiang Yu trembled and looked up at the courtyard gate in disbelief, "Brother?"

[Wasn't my brother supposed to stay in Lingzhou? Why is he in the capital?]

"As soon as I got back, I saw that you had left Ayan in the palace, so I had no choice but to bring Ayan here." Jiang He could tell that Jiang Yu had a lot of questions to ask, and his eyes glanced at Gu Qingyan. "I will stay in the capital for a while."

The implication was that Jiang Yu should first deal with the two troublesome father and son around her.

Jiang Yu led Gu Qingyan on a tour of the courtyard, chatting and laughing, leaving Gu Lin and Jiang He staring blankly at each other.

"Why bring that kid here?" Gu Lin's tone was sinister. He shouldn't have let Jiang He know what he was doing; he was practically a traitor who could turn against him at any moment!

"You secretly abducted my sister, leaving my nephew alone in the palace." Jiang He didn't tolerate Gu Lin's behavior and instead began to dislike him just like Gu Qingyan. "You still have the nerve to talk back?"

Gu Lin gritted his teeth, but since the person in front of him was his brother-in-law, he could only sulk in silence.

Seeing this, Jiang He smirked, "By the way, my nephew has also prepared a big gift for you."

"What kind of big gift?" Gu Lin immediately became alert; that kid wouldn't go easy on him now.

You'll find out then.

......

Because Gu Qingyan personally came to "catch them in the act," Jiang Yu naturally followed Gu Qingyan back to the palace. Gu Lin's face was as black as charcoal as he followed behind the group.

The moment he stepped through the palace gates, Gu Qingyan's eyes lit up and he began to play tricks.

"Mother, do you know? I'm going to have an aunt soon!" Gu Qingyan said innocently, surprising and delighting Jiang Yu. She quickly turned to Jiang He, "Brother, is what Ayan said true?"

Did Ah-Xi really get married to her brother?

This news was incredibly good news for Jiang Yu.

But Gu Lin behind him had lifeless eyes, looking like the sky was about to fall.

Bai Qian and Jiang He... his life is about to end.

"Of course it's true!" Gu Qingyan glanced silently at Gu Lin behind him, the corners of his mouth widening. "Uncle came back with Aunt! I thought Aunt wasn't an outsider, so I accidentally revealed that Father is still alive!"

"Gu Qingyan!"

A roar came from Gu Lin. Was this the big gift given to him?

"Father, you won't blame your son, will you?" Gu Qingyan looked very scared and kept clinging to Jiang Yu. Jiang Yu couldn't stand Gu Qingyan's appearance and immediately put on a stern face towards Gu Lin, "How can you treat the child like this? Ayan is only twelve years old, how can you be so harsh to him?"

"No, no, I wouldn't dare."

Gu Lin immediately deflated like a punctured balloon. "Ayu, I suddenly remembered I have some things to take care of, so I'll go ahead..."

Before Gu Lin could finish speaking, a shout rang out, "Gu Lin, don't try to escape!"

Bai Qian attacked with a sharp palm strike, and almost instantly engaged Gu Lin in combat. The two fought fiercely, and Jiang Yu was stunned for a moment before her eyes began to fill with a subtle smile.

"Mother, let's go inside and wait. Father and Aunt are going to fight for quite a while!"

Jiang Yu couldn't help but laugh out loud, casting a helpless look at Gu Lin.

......

Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Gu Qingyan was reviewing memorials, while Jiang Yu and Jiang He, unusually, brewed tea and began to chat.

"I didn't ask you properly earlier, brother, what does it mean to stay in the capital for a while...?"

Seeing Jiang Yu's cautious demeanor, Jiang He felt a little uneasy. Now that he was sitting in front of A Yu, A Yu didn't seem to be forcing him to leave Lingzhou.

"I've come to the capital this time because I want to propose marriage to the Bai family."

Jiang Yu smiled broadly upon hearing this, "A marriage proposal is a good idea. You should come to the capital to propose in person. At that time, Ayan and I will bestow a marriage upon you, so that Axi can have a grand wedding."

"If Father and Mother knew, they would be happy for you, brother."

"Me too, I'm happy too!"

Jiang Yu was genuinely happy; her eyes were even a little red from smiling. She had always worried that her brother was alone in Lingzhou, like a living dead.

But seeing her brother begin to plan for the development of Lingzhou and willing to come to the capital to propose marriage, a huge weight was finally lifted from her heart.

“There’s one more thing.” Jiang He took a sip of tea. “If you and Ayan need me, I can… stay in the capital.”

"What?"

Jiang Yu could hardly believe her ears. "Brother, you said you'd like to stay in the capital?"

Jiang Yu excitedly grasped Jiang He's hand, and after a few moments she reacted, "Brother, you don't need to force yourself for me and Ayan. After you and Aqian get married, Aqian will still be able to go to the battlefield, but you may be separated more often."

The fact that Jiang Yu could say such a thing shows that she had already thought of countless possible future lives for Jiang He.

“No.” Jiang He patted Jiang Yu’s hand. “During these past few months in Lingzhou, I’ve thought a lot and figured out a lot of things.”

“Ayu, I hope that on the day Ayan unifies the world, our Jiang family will be truly glorious in battle.” A flame flashed in Jiang He’s eyes. “The higher our Jiang family climbs, the better the revenge will be for those heartless people in the Gu family.”

The game of chess may seem unsolvable at first, but if the player changes their mindset, the entire game can be brought to life.

"My previous thinking was completely wrong."

“I will fight for you and Ayan, for our Jiang family ancestors, and for the people of Daqing.” Jiang He’s gaze was firm. “When the world is unified in the future, Daqing will not be annexed as a weak country.”

Things he couldn't understand before, he understands now.

We realize that the past cannot be changed, but we know that the future can be pursued.

He wants to thank these people for working together to give him the opportunity to choose as he pleases.