"Looks like I'm the one who drew 'Dragon Locking Dock'!" Ye Qingxue smiled, her tone light. "If things turn out badly in the end... no matter where I am, I will tell Xiaobao that you, his father, have never let him down."

Just as Yun Zhuo was about to act and speak, Zhuang Xin arrived, slightly out of breath: "Your Highness, the Emperor has summoned you to the palace immediately."

Before Yun Zhuo could react, Ye Qingxue stepped forward and hugged him: "Yun Zhuo, I hope the outcome is good. No matter what, I will strive for the best result, and I hope you will too."

She choked up and had to stop, her tears falling onto his shoulder and soaking into his clothes.

After a long while, Ye Qingxue finally managed a smile and continued, "We've already died once, so will Heaven protect us this time? Drawing lots is probably another way of going with the flow, as Mo Yuan said. It's most appropriate for me, as the mother, to go find Xiaobao. You haven't let your followers down either."

"Of course, if, if unfortunately, Heaven is not on our side, I hope, I hope you die a natural death."

Yun Zhuo hugged her tightly, wishing he could embed her into his very bones.

Ye Qingxue said, "For the past two or three years, I've devoted all my attention to Xiaobao. It feels like it's been a very, very long time since I've talked to you about this... I've talked to you about this..."

She tiptoed slightly and whispered in Yunzhuo's ear, "I love you, Xiaobao and I both love you."

...

As Yun Zhuo changed his clothes and went out, Chu Xianyun stepped forward and said to him in a low voice, "Our people have sent word that the theft and robbery of the grain was done by the Emperor's secret agents."

Yun Zhuo nodded slightly, indicating that she understood.

He rode into the palace.

With a rustling sound, he arrived at the entrance of the Emperor's study. As the eldest son and the crown prince, he was very familiar with this study since he was a child.

Like everyone else, he once thought his father was a benevolent ruler and an extremely powerful hero.

However, he entered the military camp early and went to the battlefield early, so he didn't have much time to spend with his father. Thinking about it carefully, he didn't really understand his father from childhood to adulthood.

However, in his heart, his father had indeed held a very important place and had been a guiding light for him. He thought that it was quite good for an emperor to become like his father.

"Your Highness, the Emperor is waiting for you inside." Eunuch Huaifu's words interrupted his thoughts.

Yun Zhuo pulled himself out of his thoughts, took a deep breath, and stepped into the imperial study.

"Greetings, Father. I have heard that the grain loss has had a very bad impact. You summoned me here so late, is it for this matter?" Yun Zhuo spoke first.

The emperor stared at him for a while before saying, "It is indeed this matter. Some people say that the loss of grain this time is likely the work of an enemy country, in order to prevent the successful construction of the Grand Canal. Therefore, I want to send you to investigate the truth of this matter. Depart immediately."

After a moment of silence, Yun Zhuo stood up and looked at the emperor.

The emperor was slightly taken aback by his direct gaze, but then thought that the father and son had already secretly broken off relations long ago, so Yun Zhuo's overstepping of boundaries was not surprising!

However, Yun Zhuo will die soon, so he doesn't need to worry!

“Father, as the Crown Prince, I have been away from home for many years, neglecting my studies and rarely having time to learn the ways of governing the country from the ministers and Father. I am very apprehensive.”

Yun Zhuo said:

"Regarding the loss of grain, it wouldn't be a bad idea to send someone else. Perhaps Lord Duan of the Court of Judicial Review, or perhaps my seventh brother? Didn't Father Emperor once say that he summoned my seventh brother back to the capital to have him assist me?"

The emperor's heart surged with anger. He was the father, Yun Zhuo was the son; he was the ruler, Yun Zhuo was the subject. How dare Yun Zhuo speak to him like this, questioning him and challenging his decision?

But the emperor did not fly into a rage. He knew very well that the most urgent task was to lure Yun Zhuo out so that he could kill him.

The emperor leaned back weakly, coughed twice, and said, "The loss of grain could be a big or small matter, and it could very well be the work of an enemy country. As the crown prince, you should handle this matter..."

"I've been feeling much weaker lately... If you handle things well, you'll be able to command respect from all sides, and I'll feel more at ease when you ascend the throne. You must understand, I'm making these arrangements entirely for your own good."

Yun Zhuo took a step forward and stood in front of the large desk, looking at him: "Father, over the years, have you ever thought of my mother even once?"

The emperor was slightly surprised. He and his son rarely mentioned the late empress. Why did Yun Zhuo suddenly bring it up tonight?

Could it be that Yun Zhuo sensed danger?