The little boy stopped playing with the nine-linked rings and looked at the old woman expectantly.
The old woman thought for a moment and said, "They are good children just like you..."
The carriage stopped just before it reached the city gate. Before the people inside could react, they heard people kneeling in welcome outside.
The old woman paused for a moment, then pushed open the carriage door and saw her two sons, dressed in light silver armor, getting off their horses.
Walking in front was his eldest son. The old woman felt that he seemed to have changed a lot since the last time she saw him a few years ago, just like when she first met the official: "Mother."
"Oh, eldest..." The old woman paused, feeling that it wasn't appropriate to call her eldest son by his nickname at this time.
"Mother." The youngest son, who was following behind, stepped forward and said, "My elder brother and I have missed you so much."
Upon hearing this, the old woman, who had been comforting her daughter-in-law in the carriage, couldn't help but burst into tears, embracing her two sons tightly: "Mother missed you too..."
The beautiful woman also got out of the car, holding the hands of her two children and standing behind her mother-in-law. She kept looking at her husband, and her eyes were only on him.
The little girl, dressed as a boy, glanced at her uncle and father first, then at the guards around her. The guards were all dressed smartly and carrying knives, yet they treated her uncle and father with great respect.
She felt that all of this was unfamiliar. When she thought about how two of the people who came to pick them up were specially arranged by her aunt and had been told to her quietly along the way, the little girl pursed her lips, looked at her mother and then at her younger brother, and her expression became much more serious.
No matter what, she will always protect them.
The old woman quickly released her two sons, but held their hands tightly: "Zhili, go and see your wife, daughter, and son. They have been with me and taken care of me all these years. You have become successful, but you can't be heartless, you know? If you treat them badly, I will not forgive you."
"Mother, don't worry." Yan Zhili also saw his wife and two children. Looking at his daughter's thin and dark appearance, and thinking about the suffering his wife and children had endured over the years, he said, "They are my life."
Once the family had calmed down a bit, Yan Chao personally helped his mother into the carriage: "Qiu Niang and the others are waiting for you in the palace."
The old woman said, "I'm also saying this to you. Even if you become emperor, you can't let Qiu Niang down."
"I know," Yan Chao assured her. "Don't worry, Mother."
The old woman frowned. She found it strange that her eldest son called her "mother," but then she thought that her eldest son's status was different now and he might be more careful. So she didn't say anything and nodded awkwardly.
Yan Zhili helped his wife into the carriage, then bent down to pick up his son and put him on the carriage. Just as he was about to pick up his daughter, he heard the little girl say, "Dad, I want to ride a horse with you."
"Okay." Yan Zhili laughed heartily and picked up his daughter: "Daddy will take you horseback riding!"
The little girl hugged Yan Zhili's neck and giggled: "I envy them all for being able to ride horses, but I won't let them take me riding, because I want my dad to take me riding, so everyone will envy me."
Yan Zhili adored his daughter. She was his first child, and he raised her until she was five before sending her away. She had suffered a lot outside over the years, and he cherished her dearly. He immediately put his daughter on his horse, and after his elder brother mounted, he mounted his horse and followed beside the carriage, protecting his daughter: "Good, Dad will take Baojie riding a horse, so that everyone will envy Baojie. From now on, only others will envy Baojie, and Baojie will never envy others again."
Yan Chao also liked this niece; his wife had even helped deliver the baby. "Baojie only likes your dad, not your uncle anymore?"
"I love it." Baojie's voice was crisp and clear, with a naturally loud voice: "Uncle, I've missed you so much!"
Yan Chao laughed heartily and reached out to hug Bao Jie, saying, "Bao Jie, your uncle promised to give you a grand wedding procession, as precious as a treasure."
Although Baojie was a bit dark-skinned and thin, a closer look revealed her delicate features and bright, clear eyes. She would surely grow into a beautiful young woman once her skin turned white: "I believe in my uncle. I've been waiting for my uncle and father to come and pick me up!"
The capital city had just experienced war and appeared somewhat desolate. Baojie rode on her horse and looked around. Many people were kneeling on both sides, and they lowered their heads as they passed by. Baojie looked at all this but did not ask anything. Yan Chao saw Baojie's behavior and liked his niece even more. He felt that his niece was as steady as him.
Yan Chao rubbed Bao Jie's head and asked, "Are you scared?"
“I’m not afraid.” Baojie answered without hesitation, her eyes shining: “Grandma said that this is something that Uncle and Dad risked their lives for. Uncle and Dad saved everyone and allowed people to survive, so this is the honor that my family deserves.”
As the brothers' power grew, they heard countless flattering words, but none of them moved Yan Chao as deeply as Bao Jie's simple words. He laughed out loud, "Good, as expected of my Yan family's Bao'er." But as he looked towards West Street, his eyes were filled with coldness.
Although Yan Chao had not yet become emperor, he moved into the palace without any courtesy. Although the palace had experienced war, it could still be lived in after a little tidying up. As for the concubines of the last emperor of the previous dynasty, if anyone claimed them, their families would take them back for burial. If no one claimed them, they would be thrown into a mass grave. Those who did not die were locked in the cold palace and were guarded.
Chen Qiu and her entourage waited at the palace gate early in the morning. When she saw her mother-in-law, her eyes reddened and she knelt down. The old woman hugged her eldest daughter-in-law tightly. Their relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had always been very good. When the old woman was very ill, Chen Qiu took care of her at her bedside. She almost died from phlegm in her throat, and Chen Qiu helped her suck the phlegm out without any disgust.
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