Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhaojing breathed a sigh of relief and stood up, saying, "It's getting late, so you should rest early. We have to travel early tomorrow morning."
"Your subject respectfully sees off Father Emperor!" Feng Mo then rose and said.
"No need to see me off." Emperor Zhaojing waved his hand, turned around, and saw his son's lonely figure under the lamplight. His heart softened, and he said gently, "Fengmo, take good care of yourself."
Feng Mo lowered his head, his eyes stinging with tears. "Father is the same."
"Hmm." Emperor Zhaojing glanced at him again before leaving the study and following the guards into the night.
Feng Mo did not follow him out. He stood in the study for a long time. At this moment, Mu Liao from the next room came out. "It seems that I guessed correctly. His Majesty has already decided to kill Your Highness. What are Your Highness's plans next?"
"Let's go back to Suzhou first," Feng Mo said in a deep voice.
He knew his own limitations; with his current strength, he had no chance of killing Xie Jingrun. But he was determined to avenge this, and also…
He paused, and a scene he had witnessed in the palace that day suddenly flashed into his mind.
The woman in red, having shed her former naiveté, now possessed a captivating charm that came with being pampered, and nestled obediently in Xie Jingrun's arms...
He narrowed his eyes and suddenly clenched his fist.
She should have been his.
All her joys and sorrows should be related to him, so why should Xie Jingrun be able to have her?
She should have belonged to him.
And the throne...
"...Your Highness, it's late. Please go back and rest." Mu Liao's voice rang out beside him.
Feng Mo snapped out of his reverie and replied, "Mm."
...
The Imperial Palace.
When Rong Qingqing had her period, although she didn't experience pain like some girls, she always had soreness in her lower back for the first two days, so she went to bed early after dinner.
Xie Jingrun took the book and leaned against the bedpost to read, while his other hand reached under the covers to stroke her belly.
Rong Qingqing was somewhat enjoying it.
His hands were large and dry, and his gentle caresses gradually calmed her anxiety caused by her period.
She was feeling drowsy when she suddenly noticed his hand and withdrew it.
She opened her eyes and glanced at him, asking indistinctly, "Where are you going?"
Xie Jingrun leaned down and kissed her forehead, then smiled and said, "Go to sleep, I'll be back soon."
"Oh." Rong Qingqing closed her eyes as instructed.
Seeing her obedient sleeping posture, Xie Jingrun smiled, got up and went out.
Changlin was waiting outside the door.
Upon seeing him emerge, they immediately stepped forward and reported, "The Emperor Emeritus has just left the palace."
Xie Jingrun stood on the steps with his hands behind his back. Hearing this, he wasn't particularly surprised, but he still asked, "Do you know where he went?"
“Since Xiong Tian was with His Majesty, I was worried that we would be discovered, so I didn’t send anyone to follow him,” Changlin replied.
Xiong Tian was Emperor Zhaojing's top bodyguard, possessing exceptional martial arts skills and keen intelligence.
Xie Jingrun was naturally aware of this, and after a moment of silence, he suddenly said, "It seems our plan is going to fall through."
Changlin was taken aback. "Does it refer to the deployment along the official road leading to Xuzhou?"
"Hmm." Xie Jingrun nodded, pondered for a while, and then ordered, "They will probably change their route and take the mountain road. Pass down the order that they must do everything in their power to kill Feng Mo."
Upon hearing this, Changlin immediately understood.
It seems that the retired emperor only superficially believed the emperor's words that he would not kill Prince Xu, but in his heart he did not believe it. Therefore, he ran out of the palace late at night to inform Feng Mo.
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