The next day, Madam Qi brought several daughters-in-law to the Su family. She didn't seem particularly happy, and even her smiles carried a hint of aloofness.
Qi Yuechan was both happy and nervous throughout the entire process, fearing that her own mother would give Su's parents a hard time.
Su's mother was very frightened and felt uneasy and cautious when facing them.
After a short while, their relationship progressed rapidly, and they even made plans to have tea together again before leaving, a stark contrast to when they first arrived.
As Qi Yuechan saw her family off, Madam Qi earnestly advised, "Your mother-in-law's personality is unlike that of other country folk, and she's certainly not as annoying as your grandmother. Your second sister-in-law seems easy to get along with as well. I'll be at ease knowing that the whole family will live in harmony from now on."
Qi Yuechan genuinely liked the Su family, none of whom took concubines, and her husband promised never to.
With kind in-laws, easy-going sisters-in-law, and a considerate husband, she feels that her life is worthwhile.
After resting for two days, Su Yi went to the palace to report back. It was on this day that he learned from the Emperor that his daughter had almost been bullied.
After hearing the whole story, Su Yi was almost furious in front of the Emperor.
The Emperor comforted him at the right moment, saying, "My dear minister, don't worry. Those madmen have been brought to justice, which can be considered revenge for An Ran."
Su Yi bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for making the decision for my daughter."
The Emperor explained, "This matter has little to do with me. It was your son who reported it to the authorities, and the Ministry of Justice only found out it was your son when they accepted the case."
"Well, we talked about this when we went to the palace that day."
"What, did your daughter or son tell you when they got back?"
These words were what hurt Su Yi the most. No wonder her son made her stand as punishment when they got home that day; it was because of this.
This suddenly dampened his spirits, which had made him feel closer to his child. If he could handle such a big problem as being bullied by himself, what use was he as a father?
The Emperor had also heard about the fact that Su Yi's son was not close to him, and knew that the man was probably heartbroken at the moment.
He changed the subject, saying, "My dear minister, you should go back and rest for a few days. I will see which positions in the court are vacant before making a decision."
Su Yi returned home feeling utterly exhausted, and his daughter's sweet calls further drained his energy.
Feeling extremely distressed, he went to Liu Huan to tell her about it, and Liu Huan thought it was something serious.
"I thought something serious had happened, but it turns out this is all there is?"
Upon hearing this, Su Yi felt that his wife knew everything but was only keeping it from him, which meant she didn't consider him a reliable person at all. He cautiously asked, "You knew too?"
Liu Huan shrugged, "I don't know?"
Knowing what was bothering her husband, she began to comfort him earnestly, saying, "It's normal for children to have their own little secrets as they grow up. As long as you can firmly decide that he doesn't want to tell us, what's wrong with that?"
She cupped Su Yi's face in her hands, looked into his eyes, and said, word by word, "They will eventually fly away, but I won't. I will always stay by your side, for the rest of my life."
Liu Huan's words comforted Su Yi's heart, and he exclaimed that she was the best wife in the world.
He couldn't help but hug her waist and whisper, "Madam, shall we have another child?"
Liu Huan pushed him forward, "You want me to return the pearl to its original state?"
Su Yi smiled obsequiously, "How could someone as beautiful as you call yourself a pig?"
Liu Huan hugged his head again and said earnestly, "Don't think about other stones. You still have me. I will never leave you. Don't be sad and don't think about other things."
Ever since Liu Huan learned of Su Yi's secret several years ago, she has been trying her best to help him escape the illusion.
That was during the epidemic, when Su Yi felt he saw Liu Huan wake up and say she knew nothing.
Later, he appeared many times, always after Su Yi fell asleep, getting up alone and sitting on the bed talking to himself, always talking about his conversation with Liu Huan.
Liu Huan went to Changbai to find out what was going on and learned that he had been experiencing this condition for several years, and no one else knew about it except for him and Changyun.
Liu Huan did not tell the Su family, including Su's father and mother, about the matter after she found out.
Only through silent observation and unintentional guidance, constantly reminding him that he was always there for Su Yi, did his symptoms gradually improve over the years.
She didn't want Su Yi to be hurt again because of the child. Her son was very sensible, but this was a hurdle for him that he just couldn't overcome. Liu Huan didn't know how to persuade him.
She could only leave it to time; she believed her son would figure it out.
Su Yi buried her head and choked back tears, "I just wanted to make it up to them, to make sure they needed me, but I just couldn't do it right."
Liu Huan smiled and said, "I need you. You can make it up to me."
After talking things out, Su Yi felt better and stopped worrying about the child.
He summoned the two men and asked, "Do you want to study at the Imperial Academy or find a tutor to teach you at home?"
Anzhi pursed his lips and said, "I'm going to the Imperial Academy."
Anzhidu went, and Anran naturally went too. Su Yi happily went to the Ministry of Rites and got two enrollment slots. He felt that he could finally do something for his son and daughter.
The result was that he was too happy too soon; his daughter left before she even started school.
"Have you found it yet?"
"Master and Miss probably had accomplices, but they've already disappeared."
Su Yi slumped into a chair, her eyes welling up with tears as she looked at the childish letter in her hand.
Today was supposed to be the day he took office as the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. He got up to have breakfast with his children and take them to the Imperial Academy, but his daughter was not in the house.
Only a letter remained on the table, stating that she had gone to the Xuanzhen Sect to learn martial arts and that she would return in five years.
Even Liu Huan, who always believed in giving children freedom, was furious at her actions. The Su family was in an uproar. Su Yi had no mind to take up his post, and everyone went out to try to intercept her and bring her back.
It's no use, the person has long since disappeared.
Especially Su's mother, she fainted from anger when she heard that her child had not returned. Her health was already poor, and if she hadn't begged the emperor to send a strict judge, she probably would have died that day.
The first thing she did upon waking was to ask someone to look for the children, thinking, "They're still so young, what if something happens to the two little girls while they're out?"
While Liu Huan was angry, he also had to comfort the elderly in his family. Looking at his son who seemed unaffected, he felt that he was also involved in the matter.
He called the person into the room alone and shouted at them, "Kneel down!"
An Zhi knelt upright in front of her, and Liu Huan couldn't help but want to cry when she saw her son's appearance.
"Why didn't you discuss such a big matter with us? Do you think your mother and father are useless and no longer needed?"
An Zhi suddenly looked up, "Mother..."
"Do you also want to leave? Do you also want to quietly leave a letter and go off to make your own way in the world?" Liu Huan interrupted him abruptly, accusing her son with a sob in her voice.
Anzhi hurriedly explained, "Mother, I won't leave you, but Anran..."
He hesitated for a moment before stopping. Liu Huan stared at him. "Tell me, what does she want?"
Anzhi had never seen Liu Huan so angry. He lowered his head and said in a low voice, "Anran has always wanted to be a chivalrous woman. She yearns for the outside world. How could I, as her brother, not want to help her?"
“Mother, I don’t want her to be trapped in the capital for the rest of her life, nor do I want her to marry into a prestigious family and be confined to the backyard. I want her to be free, and even if things can’t be changed in the future, at least she is free for these few years.”
Su Yi, who was about to enter, stopped in his tracks. He was stunned by his son's words, and the anger in his heart turned into helplessness at that moment.
Hearing this, Liu Huan inside became even more agitated. "How can you be so sure that your parents would push her into the abyss, Su Anzhi! Do you really think your parents are so shallow, such villains who would sacrifice their children for the powerful and wealthy?"
Anzhi knelt on the ground and shook his head desperately, "Mother, no, Mother, I'm sorry, I know I was wrong, your son knows he was wrong."
Liu Huan shook her head in disappointment, turned away so he wouldn't see her tears, "You don't know, you have no idea where you went wrong. Go back, I'm tired."
An Zhi went out with red eyes, and quickly lowered her head the moment she met Su Yi's gaze.
Before Su Yi closed the door, he saw his usually aloof son walk to the center of the yard and kneel down, letting the scorching sun shine on him.
"You went back?" Liu Huan asked, sniffling.
Su Yi pulled her down to sit. "No, she was kneeling outside."
Liu Huan felt much better. "At least he still has some conscience. Otherwise, I almost died from being pregnant for ten months. Wouldn't I have given birth to an ungrateful child?"
Su Yi responded with a long silence.
Su Yi didn't answer Liu Huan, but silently told her what was on his mind, "Although I always comfort you, I'm also afraid that the child really won't need me anymore."
“Anzhi is just too precocious, he only half understands everything, and more than anything, he feels insecure about the Su family.”
Anzhi still felt that Su Yi had abandoned them and had zero trust in the Su family. She also heard from somewhere that women were used as bargaining chips for marriage alliances by powerful families, so she wanted to make plans for her younger sister as soon as possible.
Su Yi said, "I'll go talk to him."
Liu Huan stopped him, "Don't go yet, let him kneel. He was the one who made a mistake this time. Let him reflect on what he did wrong."
Upon hearing this, Su's mother, disregarding her own health condition, had someone help her to the main courtyard. She was heartbroken to see her grandson kneeling in the sun.
"Anzhi, what's wrong? Get up! Why are you kneeling in the sun?"
Anzhi stepped aside and said, "I'm fine."
Su's mother was extremely anxious. "How come everything's alright now? Did your parents make you kneel? Su Yi and Liu Huan, come out here!"
The two people inside the room exchanged a glance, then got up and left one after the other with no other choice.
Su's mother walked up to the two of them and began to lecture them, "Tell me, when you were little, did I ever make you kneel as punishment?"
That's naturally not the case.
"What are you doing now? I know you're worried about Anran's passing, but why are you taking it out on your child? You parents didn't take good care of your child and you're blaming the older brother. Is this how you parents should act?"
As she spoke, Su's mother couldn't help but wipe away her tears. "My two grandsons are so obedient and sensible. It must be that something at home upset them. Otherwise, why would they want to leave?"
The Su family was haunted by the Li family's departure, especially since Liu Huan's sudden departure back then dealt a heavy blow to the Su family.
Liu Huan and the other woman quickly helped her up. "Mother, we didn't make him kneel. It's hard to explain in a short time. You're not feeling well yet, so let me take you home first."
Su's mother sat down beside him. "I'm not leaving. If Anzhi doesn't get up, I'll stay here with him."
When educating children, the worst thing is to encounter parents who spoil their children. Liu Huan could only pause and say, "You can get up now."
Anzhi obediently got up and helped Su's mother out, saying, "Grandmother, I'll take you back."
When he returned and was about to kneel, a maidservant relayed a message: "Young Master, Madam wants you to come in."
"mother"
Liu Huan asked her son to sit down beside her, and asked earnestly, "Son, do you really dislike the Su family that much?"
Anzhi was bewildered, not knowing why her mother would ask such a question.
"Let me tell you about my relationship with the Su family. I actually have two memories..."
The two chatted until late at night without being disturbed, and no one even knew what they were talking about.
"It's too late, you should go home first."
After Anzhi left, he saw that the study next door was brightly lit. He hesitated for a moment, then knocked on the door tentatively.
"Enter"
The voices inside were not as warm as they were on other days; they were eerily cold and desolate.
The moment he pushed open the door, he could see the person inside frowning unhappily, only relaxing when they saw him.
He put down the folded document in his hand, stood up, and forced a smile as he asked, "Why are you here?"
"Father, I have something I want to talk to you about."
Su Yi was very excited, and didn't know where to put his hands. "Sit down."
After their conversation, the night was over.
Because Su Yi did not go to take up his post but went to the palace to apologize, the emperor ridiculed him, saying, "My dear minister, you are so resourceful, but I never expected you to be defeated by your children."
Su Yi sighed helplessly, "I really have no way to deal with these two children."
The emperor laughed for a long time before saying, "Only when you become a parent do you realize the debt of gratitude you owe to your parents. You are not the only one suffering from this."
"Your Majesty, Young Master Rong has arrived."
"Xuan"
Someone arrived, interrupting their conversation. Su Yi was about to get up and take his leave, but the Emperor kept him there.
"Oh, Jingchen, you don't need to avoid me. You've grown a lot taller in the years I haven't seen you. It's a good opportunity for you to meet him."
Su Yi couldn't refuse, so he could only stand aside and watch the boy enter.
At the age of fourteen or fifteen, he was already seven feet tall. He looked mature for his age and was very good-looking, perfectly inheriting the advantages of Prince Rong and Princess Rong.
He stood up and bowed to the boy, who quickly lowered himself in return, saying, "Lord Su."
The Emperor also chimed in, saying, "You used to hold Jingchen when he was little, why are you being so polite now that he's grown up?"
Su Yi then clasped his hands in a fist salute to the Emperor, saying, "Your Majesty, etiquette must not be disregarded."
"Yes, yes, you two brothers are exactly the same. Alright, you can go now. Just remember to go to Dali Temple tomorrow."
After Su Yi withdrew, the Emperor looked at the young man with a mocking expression, "What's wrong? Did you quarrel with your father again?"
The emperor was not annoyed that the boy did not speak. "Alright, I only called you here to ask about the crown prince's studies. Why are you so serious? Relax."
Ten days after Anran left, Anzhi also passed away.
However, this departure was permitted by the entire Su family, and Su's mother even wished she could give him all their belongings.
"It's always good to have extra money when you're traveling, even if you're poor. Your parents are heartless to send you and your brother so far away at such a young age."
In the end, Su's mother only managed to say one sentence: "Wherever you go, don't forget to send a message back. Your grandfather and I don't have many years left."
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