"Daughter, you're too brave. I've heard how vicious those people are. What will your mother and I do if you get captured and never come back?"
His voice was somewhat agitated, and his eyes were a little moist. It was clear that he was genuinely frightened. Those dreams were so vivid that he still felt lingering fear even now.
This was the first time Liu Sisi had ever seen tears in her father's eyes. She knew she had really worried him this time.
She immediately admitted her mistake. "Father, I will never put myself in such a dangerous situation again. I promise, I swear..."
Liu Dashi quickly covered Liu Sisi's mouth, "Don't talk nonsense, what oath are you making? I know you have a good heart, but you can't keep risking your life to do good deeds!"
"Hehe, don't worry, Dad. Your daughter is very capable! Those little minions of hers are no match for me. If you don't believe me, I'll go and show you one of these days."
Liu Dashi couldn't stay angry with his daughter for long, and his tone softened.
"Go and see His Highness the Crown Prince! He knows you're back and has come to the residence several times, but he didn't want to disturb you since you were sleeping so soundly."
"Okay, I'll go see him first. I'll call my brother and sister-in-law back tonight so we can have a good family reunion."
After Liu Sisi went outside, she saw her little nephew still waiting for her, so she took out a few bags of QQ candy from her spatial storage and said...
"Xiao Zhe, Auntie has to go out for a little while. Wait for me at home, and I'll play with you when I get back, okay?"
"Okay! My mom said that my second aunt's baby is about to be born, so I'll have a playmate then."
"Yes, Xiao Zhe will soon have a younger brother or sister and will become a big brother. He can't cry anymore, or people will laugh at him."
"Yes, I will definitely be a good older brother," Liu Mingzhe nodded firmly, looking incredibly cute like a little adult.
"Father, Mother, I'm going to find Gu Lingchen. I'll have him come over for dinner tonight."
Liu Sisi really missed Gu Lingchen. She hadn't visited him in his palace during this time because she was afraid that if she saw him, she wouldn't want to leave. So she decided to finish her work before seeing him.
"Go!" The carriage was already at the door; Liu Dashi had prepared it for his daughter well in advance.
When the carriage arrived at the palace, Liu Sisi got off and walked to the palace gate of Gu Lingchen.
Asheng saw Liu Sisi wanting to go and report, but Liu Sisi stopped him. She waved her hand, and Asheng tactfully withdrew.
Liu Sisi opened the palace gates herself, and Gu Lingchen, who was drinking tea, paused and looked up.
He finally saw the person he had been longing for day and night.
He reached Liu Sisi in a few steps, hugged her tightly, and looked at her with affection.
"Sisi, you're finally back. I missed you so much, so much..."
He held Liu Sisi in his arms, whispering sweet nothings to her, as if he wanted to meld her into his very being, never wanting to be separated from her again.
During that year, countless noble ladies from the capital tried every means to marry him, but he remained as cold as stone, ignoring them all and refusing them all, waiting for the return of his beloved.
Even Emperor Yong'an advised him that Sisi could be his principal wife, and that he was not young anymore, so it was normal for him to have a maid or concubine, but he did not agree.
Liu Sisi let him hold her, listening to those sweet words that she used to find cheesy, but now she felt very happy listening to them.
"Sisi, come on, I'll take you to see Father Emperor. I have something important to do."
"Ah Sheng, go and invite His Highness the Third Prince. Tell him that there is something important to discuss with him in the Imperial Study."
"yes."
Soon, the group appeared in the Imperial Study. Emperor Yong'an put down his pen and looked at the group of people who were bowing respectfully before him.
"Princess Anning has just returned. Do you all come together because you have something to discuss with me?"
Emperor Yong'an thought to himself that Gu Lingchen must be asking him to grant him a marriage.
Unexpectedly, Gu Lingchen suddenly knelt down on the ground and said.
“Father, in recent years I have observed that my third brother is both scholarly and martial, diligent in his studies, and also has the talent to govern the country. I am ashamed of my inferiority and do not want to occupy the position of Crown Prince.”
"For the sake of the greater good of the nation, your son is willing to relinquish the position of Crown Prince to my third brother."
Upon hearing this, Gu Lingxuan immediately knelt down, "Second Brother, what do you mean by this?"
Gu Lingchen gave him a wink, signaling him to behave well in front of his father.
Although Gu Lingchen had been having him learn some strategies for governing the country and ask him questions about people's livelihood for the past two years.
He only thought that his second brother wanted him to become a virtuous minister in the future; he never thought of replacing Gu Lingchen.
Gu Lingchen's sudden action left him somewhat dazed, but he glanced at Princess Anning beside him and then at his second brother's eyes.
He instantly understood; he was also aware of how deeply his second brother loved Princess Anning.
If one becomes emperor, there will always be times when one cannot help but add various women to the harem. If there is only Liu Sisi in the harem, it would probably be difficult for the ministers to accept.
It seems that my second brother is willing to give up the position of crown prince to Princess Anning.
But his birth mother's status was not high, would his father agree? He looked up at Emperor Yong'an's face, and sure enough, Emperor Yong'an's face did not look good.
"Does Chen'er intend to relinquish the position of Crown Prince? Could you please tell me the reason?"
"The reason is that I feel my third brother has the same imperial demeanor as you, while I do not."
Gu Lingchen flattered both Emperor Yong'an and Gu Lingxuan. Of course, he couldn't say that he abdicated because he wanted to marry only Liu Sisi in his life, or because Liu Sisi didn't like being inside the palace.
If that were the case, Emperor Yong'an would definitely have a problem with Sisi.
Emperor Yong'an did not agree directly, but looked at Liu Sisi instead.
"What does Princess Anning think? If Chen'er weren't the future emperor, would you still marry him?"
Liu Sisi, who was suddenly called out halfway through her gossip, bowed and answered Emperor Yong'an's question.
"I don't care whether Gu Lingchen has the throne or not. I like him as a person, not his throne."
"Alright, I understand. You and Chen'er may leave now! Xuan'er, stay. I need to question him before making a decision."
"yes."
Before leaving, Gu Lingxuan patted his shoulder and whispered encouragingly, "Don't be nervous. Just perform as you normally would, you'll be fine."
After saying that, Gu Lingchen took Liu Sisi out.
Liu Sisi immediately pulled Gu Lingchen onto the carriage back to the Princess's Mansion.
"Let's go! Come to my house for dinner tonight, my mother will cook herself."
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