"Old friend?"
Yi Shangyun stood there stunned for a moment, then hurried back to Qingxin Palace.
As soon as he stepped across the threshold, he saw a tall figure with half-tied black hair and wearing a black brocade robe standing with his back to him.
So he approached while scrutinizing the area.
Finally, she quickly retrieved the person from her memory and exclaimed in surprise, "Third Young Master? Is that you?"
Upon hearing the voice, the man turned around abruptly, then took two steps forward, his face beaming with joy, and said, "Girl, it really is you! I never expected you to come back here!"
Perhaps because the two had not seen each other for a long time, the man was too excited and, in his haste, he couldn't help but reach out to grab Yi Shangyun's hand.
But at the last moment, he paused in mid-air for a moment before withdrawing his hand.
Yi Shangyun was already aware of his deliberate concealment, but he didn't say anything. He simply nodded and asked, "Long time no see, Third Young Master, how are you?"
Young Master Yi had prepared a whole speech before coming, but now he didn't know how to say it to her.
Now that things have come to this, it seems that life is always unpredictable, and things often don't go as planned.
So, hesitantly, he began to speak intermittently.
"I……"
"Still the same old thing, just lazing around all day, just getting by."
"Girl, what about you?"
How are you?
"Now that you are the ruler of a country, being trapped by these high walls, don't you feel very uncomfortable?"
Yi Shangyun only wanted to explain: "Third Young Master, actually I..."
Unexpectedly, Young Master Yi raised a hand to interrupt him: "You don't need to explain, because no matter when, or in any role, or in any matter, you have always done very well. I know that this time, you were forced by circumstances. If the Dongning Kingdom's court doesn't return to take charge, it will sooner or later become someone else's possession."
"Third Young Master, I'm sorry!"
As always, Yunyi could only silently say something to him, just like countless times before.
"Another 'I'm sorry'..." Young Master Yi smiled, a look of helplessness on his face.
"I wanted you to belong to me for the rest of my life, but we've drifted further and further apart..."
He paused, then looked at her to confirm: "You and him, you've been through so much together, are you really going to give up like this?"
Yi Shangyun nodded: "Yes! Perhaps it was a mistake between him and me from the very beginning. Now, we've both returned to our own paths."
Young Master Yi felt a pang of heartache upon hearing this: "Girl, do you know how much I want you to be happy? Even if the person by your side in the end isn't me, all I want is for you to be happy."
As she spoke, she even became somewhat agitated: "But, why? Why did you also..."
Unable to continue the conversation, he changed the subject to the purpose of his visit: "Actually, I came to say goodbye!"
Yi Shangyun asked in surprise, "Saying goodbye?"
Young Master Yi took a deep breath and said, "After all the twists and turns, I never expected that my girl would finally come back and take this position. I've also made up my mind; after wandering and drifting for so long, it's time for me to come home!"
Yi Shangyun suddenly realized, and was extremely surprised: "Third Young Master, you've decided to return to China..."
Perhaps it was the content of their conversation that made the atmosphere increasingly heavy, as if they were about to suffocate.
Young Master Yi suddenly joked, "What? You don't want me to leave? If so, then order someone to keep me in your palace, even if it's just as a male concubine by the Empress's side!"
Yi Shangyun blushed instantly and scolded him, "Third Young Master, what nonsense are you talking about?"
Young Master Yi immediately explained, "Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore."
Suddenly, he began to examine the clouds on his clothes with a serious expression.
Yi Shangyun asked, puzzled, "Why is Third Young Master looking at me like that?"
Young Master Yi did not answer her immediately, but continued to examine her for a long time.
Yi Shangyun touched her face and asked again, "Is there something on my face?"
Young Master Yi finally came to his senses and said, "My girl is so beautiful, but I will never see her again!"
Upon hearing this, for some reason, Yi Shangyun's eyes suddenly filled with tears.
Unable to resist in the end, Young Master Yi said, "Little girl, may I hug you?"
Feeling that Young Master Yi was really going to leave him this time, Yi Shangyun hesitated for a moment, recalling all the little things they had shared, and then nodded.
Young Master Yi slowly opened his arms and moved closer to him.
After a while, Young Master Yi suddenly let go of her hand and solemnly handed a sachet to Yi Shangyun.
He earnestly instructed him, "Keep this sachet safe!"
Yi Shangyun took the sachet in her hand and examined it from all angles. She asked in surprise, "Isn't this the sachet you cherish most? How could I possibly accept it?"
Young Master Yi raised his head and said firmly, "My daughter deserves all the best things in this world!"
Seeing Yi Sanshao say those words with such pride, tears welled up in Yi Shangyun's eyes again.
Young Master Yi reached out and gently wiped away the tears, saying meaningfully, "Don't cry!"
After Young Master Yi left, Yi Shangyun's heart remained unsettled for a long time.
As dusk fell, the Qingxin Hall was brightly lit inside and out.
Yan'er noticed that she remained motionless, sitting at the desk, staring blankly at the sachet in her hand, looking sullen and unhappy.
So he shook his head, went down and brought the two children into the hall, hoping to distract him.
Seeing the children chasing each other inside the hall, occasionally making babbling sounds that were not yet very clear.
Sometimes he would even run over and rummage through the books on his desk, as if he were full of curiosity about everything new.
Yan'er deliberately stood beside Yi Shangyun, her face full of satisfaction as she muttered to herself, "Watching the two children grow up day by day, if General Wang and his wife knew in the afterlife, they would surely be grateful to Miss..."
Upon hearing this, Yi Shangyun finally moved her eyes, following the child's movements, and began to murmur to herself.
"General Wang was fearless in the face of power and refused to compromise his principles. He was loyal and righteous throughout his life, and in the end, he died because of me. Lady Wang also owed me a great debt of gratitude. I will make sure their descendants are taken good care of so that they can grow up to inherit General Wang's legacy, serve the court, and become pillars of the nation!"
Yan'er said, "Of course. Under Miss's protection and guidance, these two children will grow up safely and healthily."
Yan'er spoke lightly, but Yi Shangyun felt quite heavy-hearted.
As the days went by, time passed slowly, and she worried about how much longer she could stay with them. She said with concern, "I'm afraid my days may not be numbered!"
Hearing her muttering to herself, Yan'er asked, "What did you say, Miss?"
Yi Shangyun suddenly came to her senses and said, "It's nothing, Yan'er, go and invite Young Master Lu over!"
Soon, Lu Yuan arrived at the Qingxin Palace under the cover of night and solemnly bowed: "Lu Yuan greets the Empress!"
Yi Shangyun smiled and said, "Young Master Lu, there's no need for such formalities. This time, thanks to you, the people of both countries have been spared the devastation of another war!"
He seemed to hesitate for a moment, then continued, "Also, I would like to thank Young Master Lu for protecting him and his servants during this time. I have already sent Cheng Liang to escort him back to his country. Now that Emperor Jing is treating him so well, I think he will not cause any trouble or pose any threat to Dongning after he returns!"
Lu Yuan, however, did not think so at all, so he asked her to confirm, "So, is it really true that Prince Qin, Xuanyuan Han, will no longer threaten Dongning? Does the Empress really think so?"
Yi Shangyun glanced at Lu Yuan's face and suddenly felt inexplicably guilty, unsure how to answer: "I..."
Just then, Yan'er walked in again, holding the hands of the two children.
Lu Yuanjian asked, puzzled, "What does the Empress mean by this?"
Yi Shangyun introduced, "These two children are the children of a benefactor who saved my life when I was in Western Qin. Their parents have both passed away due to misfortune, leaving behind these two children who are helpless and pitiful. After much thought, I would like to entrust them to Young Master Lu for his help in raising and educating them. I wonder if Young Master Lu would agree?"
Lu Yuan asked in confusion, "Our Dongning Kingdom is full of talented people. The Empress could easily find good teachers to guide them throughout the country or even across the entire continent. Why choose Lu Yuan?"
Yi Shangyun stood up and said earnestly, "Because Young Master Lu has a noble character, and what I am looking for for them is not just a teacher who can teach and answer their questions. Most importantly, I want them to grow up to be like Young Master Lu, with a heart that cares about the people of the world, upholds peace in the world, and has a broad mind that transcends national boundaries."
After thinking for a moment, Lu Yuan finally agreed: "Your Majesty, please entrust these two children to your subordinate!"
Yi Shangyun was overjoyed: "It is a great blessing that their parents have brought them the opportunity to follow the young city lord. I thank Young Master Lu on their behalf!"
As he spoke, he bowed deeply to them.
Upon seeing this, Lu Yuan hurriedly stepped forward and reached out to stop her: "Empress, you mustn't!"
Yi Shangyun insisted, "Young Master Lu, you cannot refuse. This is my heartfelt thanks to you."
At this point, Lu Yuan also seemed to have no other options.
When the news of the new emperor's ascension to the throne of Dongning reached the Western Qin imperial palace, Emperor Jing was immediately enraged.
He quickly realized that someone was secretly advising Yi Shangyun, and had actually orchestrated a scheme for him to escape unscathed.
Soon, Xiao Lian's identity was verified. Because she no longer had the guardian phoenix mark found on Yi Shangyun, she was killed, and her body was hung above the city gate as a warning to others.
Immediately afterwards, Zhang Zhiyuan's entire family was raided and imprisoned.
He then ordered his men to immediately capture Yi Shangkun and his entire family and bring them back to the palace to await their fate.
The protector who belonged to her had unexpectedly become the empress of an enemy country.
Now that he has lost his guardian and the pawn Xuanyuan Han, what will he use to fight against Dongning Kingdom?
Emperor Jing feared that Dongning's army would soon be at the city gates.
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