The old minister said, "I am a warrior. I don't understand love or affection. I dare not disobey Yan Min's dying wish."
"She was feeling very uncomfortable physically at the time, and if I hadn't responded, she would have felt uncomfortable too."
She was suffering from illness, how could he bear to see her suffer any more.
Thinking back on it now, his heart still ached dully.
As he spoke, he looked at Yan Cheng and Yan Yu: "You were still young at that time. Although you can remember things, you are still children."
"Which child doesn't need a mother's care?"
"I'm a rough man, but I know you had a good relationship with your Third Aunt. After all, she came to take care of you when you were still in Yanmin's belly, and she continued to take care of you after you were born. As you grew into children, you had a very harmonious relationship with her."
"I've always heard that stepmothers treat their children harshly. Some stepmothers flatter their children to death, while others stepmother them secretly."
"I thought Yanmin was right. Instead of entrusting the child to outsiders, it's better to entrust it to our own family."
"How could I have the time to discipline you all the time back then?"
Military affairs are very busy.
In fact, the emperor at that time had already thought of taking back the military power of the Yan family, and he was really worried about this.
It would be great if someone could come to help and take care of his and Yanmin's child, and if this person knew him well, that would be the best thing.
"Your mother also said that because of your birth, your third aunt often came to our house, and she wasted her best years."
"For all these reasons combined, I agreed."
"Whether you blame me or not, the fact remains that I agreed to take her in as my concubine."
Soon, he changed the subject: "If she really planned to murder me, I will never let her off easily!"
Yan Funing asked softly, "Is Grandfather thinking about Grandmother?"
"Of course I do. How could I not?" The old Duke smiled, but tears welled up in his eyes. "Young couples grow old together. I wish she would always be by my side."
He and Yanmin were a young couple, and the friendship they had was something that only older people like them could understand.
Although he said that he was a rough man and a warrior, he also had a soft spot in his heart.
"Girl, your mouth looks most like your grandmother's. When grandpa saw you for the first time, he knew you were a member of our Yan family."
"grandfather!"
Upon hearing this, Yan Funing quickly walked over and threw herself into her grandfather's arms, tears falling uncontrollably.
The old Duke patted his granddaughter's shoulder. "Your grandmother was also a pampered person. I once regretted her giving birth to two children for me. She suffered a lot when giving birth to your father and aunt, especially your father, who was our first child. They say the first birth is the most difficult; she was in pain for two days. But I don't regret her giving birth to two children for me. Because of her, I have such intelligent descendants like you."
Yan Funing raised her head from the old Duke's arms and said, "Grandfather, Concubine Yun said that Grandmother is a kind-hearted person. I think Grandmother is not only kind-hearted, but also beautiful."
It’s a pity that she never met her grandmother.
"She's truly kind-hearted and beautiful. I was immediately attracted to her when we first met," the old Duke's eyes gleamed. "It was a beautiful spring outing, and I was riding past her. My horse's hooves splashed mud and water, which splashed on her. I quickly dismounted to apologize, but she graciously said it was fine."
She was clearly a delicate woman, and she magnanimously said it was nothing to him despite his reckless behavior.
"At that time, I asked for compensation in silver, but I had no money on me, and she said it was unnecessary. I had no choice but to offer her clothes as compensation and asked her to tell me her address so I could send someone to her home. She also said it was unnecessary. In desperation, I gave her the token I had on me and told her to send someone to the Yan family with the token to get the silver note."
"When she refused, I placed the token in her hand..."
"Now that I think about it, I was pretty brave. I held a girl's hand like that."
"Later, I waited for half a month, but she didn't come to the Yan family. I asked the doorman and the housekeeper, but they both said no one had come with the token."
"Just when I was wondering if I'd ever see her again, I didn't expect that at the Flower Festival held in the palace, I would finally get to meet her."
"That time, she returned the token to me. That's when I learned that she was the legitimate daughter of the Yongding Marquisate."
"That was when the Emperor wanted to arrange a marriage for me, wanting me to marry Princess Shang as his consort, so that he could hand over the Yan family's military power."
"I wanted to keep my military power and my heart was moved. I announced in front of everyone that I had a lover, Yan Min."
"The emperor was quite pleased with the news and granted me and Yanmin a marriage on the spot."
Hearing this, Yan Bojian gave a thumbs up and said, "Grandfather is amazing. He is truly worthy of being our grandfather. He only met once, and the marriage was already arranged the next day."
The old Duke laughed and said, "Speed is of the essence in war, and the same is true when it comes to marrying a wife. If you've taken a fancy to someone, there are probably others who have taken a fancy to her too. If you don't act quickly, someone else will snatch her away."
He smiled, his eyes looking lonely.
His wife has not been with him for many years.
He didn't like staying in this house without her.
Especially Dongyuan, which reminds him all the time that his wife is long gone.
He liked to come to Nanyuan because Nanyuan was the residence of his eldest son, Yan Cheng, who was his and Yan Min's first child.
Especially after Fu Ning came back, he liked to come to Nanyuan more. This little girl Fu Ning had a mouth like Yan Min, and her delicate personality was just like Yan Min.
At this time, Yan Yu said, "Why hasn't that person from Dongyuan come yet?"
Hong Qingyi guessed, "Maybe your nanny can't invite her."
The old Duke looked at Di Feng and said, "Take your men to invite him. If you can't invite him, tie him up."
"Yes, old Duke."
Di Feng bowed and left.
Old Madam Hong sneered, "I told you this years ago, but you didn't listen to me. Now that your children and grandchildren have told you, you finally dare to face it. You say you're old..."
"You are right, everything you said is right." The old Duke responded casually.
Who can understand his pain?
He just doesn't want to face it.
Sometimes he would fantasize that as soon as he stepped into the Duke's Mansion, Yan Min would come to greet him and ask him how his day was in the military camp.
He didn't even want to face the fact that Yan Min had been gone for so many years...
He really doesn't want to care about other things.
As long as he could get by at the Duke's Mansion, it was fine. Besides, he had promised Yan Min. Could he break his promise and have her pull his ears and scold him when he went to see her a hundred years later?
Everyone waited for a long time before Di Feng and the nanny finally brought Madam Yan over.
Seeing so many people in the main hall of Nanyuan, Old Lady Yan was a little surprised, and her eyes fell on an old woman sitting on a round stool.
In just a moment, she recognized the person.
It was Ami, the eldest sister’s personal maid.
However, even if she recognized him, she would not shout.
She is now the old lady of the Duke's Mansion, an old maid, and an elder sister who has passed away. No one can do anything to her.
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