Yan Shujin said with a serious expression, "Father, please don't take any risks. I'll take care of everything."
King Xuan agreed, saying, "I also want to watch Guige get married and have children, and watch Huanjie grow up."
Yan Shujin stared at Prince Xuan and said, "Father..."
"It's a pity that I promised to teach you horseback riding and archery, but I haven't been able to," King Xuan said with some regret. "It seems that I have been breaking my promise to you and your mother."
Yan Shujin shook her head vigorously: "I know Father didn't break his promise on purpose."
King Xuan smiled and shook his head: "It's my fault for not keeping my promise to you."
The father and daughter talked a lot, mostly about heartfelt things, as if they had set aside their identities and were just an ordinary father and daughter.
On the day King Xuan left, Yan Shujin and Han Jing personally saw him off, and even arranged for guards to escort him along the way to ensure his safety. But even so, King Xuan still had an accident.
No one knows when King Xuan's horse was tampered with, causing him to fall off.
King Xuan's arm was broken. Although it could be healed, he could no longer lift heavy objects or do delicate tasks.
In addition, King Xuan's leg was also lame, making it impossible for him to go to the battlefield.
Yan Shujin fell silent after hearing the news, finally understanding the source of her bad premonition.
Emperor Yan locked himself in his study and eventually had Zhao Zhong tell Empress Dowager Yan the news, because he didn't know how to face his mother.
Empress Dowager Yan did not fall ill as Emperor Yan had imagined; instead, she summoned Emperor Yan the very next day.
When Emperor Yan arrived at the Empress Dowager's palace and saw her, he was surprised to find that she looked quite well. He breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I have already sent the imperial physician over. Your Majesty, please rest assured."
Empress Dowager Yan gave a wry smile and said, "What do I have to worry about?"
Emperor Yan felt that Empress Dowager Yan's words were somewhat inappropriate.
Empress Dowager Yan had already dismissed everyone and said, "The thing I regret most back then was not insisting that the Empress leave."
Emperor Yan moved his lips, but didn't know what to say.
Empress Dowager Yan looked at Emperor Yan and said, "I don't want to hear the news of Zhili's death one day."
"Mother, no, it can't be," Emperor Yan quickly said. "This was an accident."
Empress Dowager Yan shook her head: "Let Zhili go, whether to Fuzhou or anywhere else. He's already ruined, let his family stay away from the capital."
Emperor Yan clenched his fists, looking at Empress Dowager Yan with a somewhat disheveled and weak expression: "But..."
Empress Dowager Yan said in a light tone: "Let's just consider it a division of the family property."
Emperor Yan gritted his teeth and remained silent.
Empress Dowager Yan looked at Emperor Yan and said calmly, "Zhili is already a cripple, can't you see that?"
Emperor Yan realized that the "crippled person" did not refer to Yan Zhili's hands and legs, but rather to Yan Zhili's heart. Emperor Yan even suspected that the incident was suspicious, wondering whether Prince Xuan was truly unaware or simply going along with the flow.
Empress Dowager Yan said, "I don't have many days left to live. You should establish an empress as soon as possible. Besides that, there is the issue of offspring. Ping is raised by my side, and I have to make more plans for him. I just want that child to grow up safely and peacefully, just like his name."
Emperor Yan felt that Empress Dowager Yan's words were very ominous: "Mother, this child will have you helping to plan for the future, why are you saying these things now?"
Empress Dowager Yan thought for a moment and said, "I just feel that some things should have been said sooner rather than later. I still have a lot to say to Qiu Niang, but it's too late now."
Emperor Yan was both anxious and agitated. He said, "Mother, you can't just think about my brother. What will I do if I'm left alone in the capital?"
"I'll stay with you," Empress Dowager Yan said without hesitation. "Since the family split up, the elders have always lived with the eldest son. Your Majesty, please let your younger brother's family enjoy a period of reunion."
When Emperor Yan left the Empress Dowager's palace, he fell silent for a long time before asking, "Zhao Zhong, what do you think I should do?"
Zhao Zhong was unaware of what was happening in the Empress Dowager's palace. Upon hearing this, he lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty is wise and will make your own decision."
Emperor Yan gave a cold laugh, and after a long while said, "A lonely man, huh?"
Zhao Zhong pretended not to hear.
Emperor Yan hesitated for a moment, then went to the Empress's palace. Ever since the Empress passed away, he had the palace gates locked, and the furnishings inside were kept exactly as they were when the Empress was alive.
But even though there was only one person missing, Emperor Yan felt an intense chill when he entered. Was the Empress like this when he wasn't there?
Emperor Yan entered the Empress's bedroom, looked at her dressing table, and picked up a comb. It was just an ordinary peach wood comb, and not very well made. But when he saw the comb, Emperor Yan's eyes reddened. This comb was one he had made for the Empress himself, and it was engraved with the words "Given to my beloved wife".
If he hadn't seen it today, Emperor Yan wouldn't have remembered this incident at all. He gripped the comb tightly and whispered, "Qiu Niang, I missed you."
Alone and lonely.
Even with Empress Dowager Yan remaining in the palace, Emperor Yan felt utterly alone.
Author's Note: We only appreciate what we have when we lose it. Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or gave me nutrient solution!
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