After leaving the military camp, Xuan Yuanhan went straight to the gate of the Yi Mansion in the west of the city.
Yi Shangkun got up early and went to the palace; he was not at home at the moment.
Only Madam Nian, along with Consort Lan and Yi Shangxue, and all the servants of the manor, went out to greet the distinguished guests.
The group of people knelt on the ground in unison, bowing their heads respectfully to the newcomers.
"Welcome, Your Highness, King Qin!"
No matter when or where, Xuanyuan Han always maintained an air of dominance and authority.
Cheng Liang quickly searched the crowd several times, but still couldn't find Yi Shangkun and his son Yi Shangjun.
He then glanced at his master beside him, and asked Nian and the others, "Where are Pharmacist Yi and General Yi? Where are they right now?"
Because of Yi Shangyun's death, when facing Xuan Yuanhan, the Nian family inevitably appeared somewhat indifferent and displeased.
He replied, "Reporting to the General, my master went to the palace before dawn this morning and has not yet returned. As for my son..."
As they were talking, Yi Shangkun, who seemed to be deep in thought the whole way, appeared in the crowd gathered at the street corner.
He overheard someone in the crowd saying, "Isn't the eldest daughter of the Yi family already dead? And now that the Princess Consort of Qin has someone else, why is His Highness Prince Qin still coming to the Yi family?"
Yi Shangkun's heart immediately panicked: "Your Highness, what is he doing here? Could it be that he has already discovered Yun'er's faked death?"
Looking around, I suddenly caught sight of that imposing, noble, and towering figure standing at the entrance of my house. I quickly squeezed through the crowd and ran toward him.
"Your humble servant greets Your Highness, the Prince of Qin! I was unaware of Your Highness's presence and have failed to greet you properly. Please forgive me, Your Highness. It is freezing outside; please come inside!"
Upon hearing this, Nian quietly tugged at Yi Shangkun's sleeve, indicating that she did not welcome this person into the family.
Yi Shangkun glanced at her sideways, and Nian Shi had no choice but to remain silent.
Little did anyone know that Xuanyuan Han had already realized all of this, but he said nothing.
However, he finally saw Yi Shangkun in person. Seeing that there were many onlookers around, and fearing that it might be inconvenient, Xuan Yuanhan accepted the invitation and stepped into the gate of the Yi residence.
He thought it was because he had taken a concubine, and Lady Nian was overly fond of her daughter, which made her unhappy.
So after they were seated, he actually said to Lady Nian, who had come to serve him tea, "I am very sorry about Yun'er's matter!"
Upon hearing this, the room fell silent, as if even the surrounding air had instantly frozen.
Only Nian is still unable to let go of her grief over the loss of her beloved daughter.
Then he broke the silence, saying, "We only ever see the new bride laughing, who ever hears the old bride weeping? For the rest of your life, Your Highness, may you live in harmony with your new queen and enjoy a long and happy life together! My daughter, it's just that she was unlucky and had no fortune to enjoy this favor. How can you blame Your Highness?!"
"So the Nian family really believes that Yun'er is no longer alive!?" Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuanhan frowned.
Then he exchanged a glance with Yi Shangkun, whose expression was clearly flustered.
Xuan Yuanhan then realized that Nian Shi was indeed still unaware of Yi Shangyun's faked death, and thus he could understand her attitude towards him.
"This Yi Shangkun really went to great lengths, even keeping his own bedmate so tight-lipped."
However, hearing the obvious hidden meaning in her words, and the deep resentment she harbored, Cheng Liang finally couldn't bear it any longer and admonished her, "Madam Yi, please watch your manners..."
Upon seeing this, Xuan Yuanhan immediately stopped him, saying, "Cheng Liang, you must not be rude to the Madam."
Once his master spoke, Cheng Liang had no choice but to shut up, but he glared angrily at Yi Shangkun beside him.
Yi Shangkun quickly dismissed Nian Shi, saying, "Alright, go and see how the things I asked you to prepare are going. You don't need to serve me here!"
"Yes!" Lady Nian then withdrew.
Immediately afterwards, Yi Shangkun stood up and knelt down in front of Xuan Yuanhan with a thud.
He bowed his head and prostrated himself on the ground, begging for forgiveness: "Please forgive me, Your Highness. I shouldn't have been so blinded by greed as to agree to deceive Your Highness with Yun'er's faked death. I don't know what's wrong with this child. Ever since she woke up from her coma a year ago, her behavior has become increasingly strange, as if she is no longer our daughter!"
Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuanhan muttered to himself, "She really isn't your daughter anymore!"
It seems that Yi Shangkun still doesn't know that Yi Shangyun, after waking up again, is actually a soul from another time and space.
So be it. What good would knowing do? It would only add to the sadness...
Now that things have come to this, what is there for him to be angry about?
For him, Yi Shangyun's departure was undoubtedly the loss of the love of his life.
In this lifetime, there will never be another person who is so passionate and unforgettable.
However, judging from Madam Nian's attitude just now, it is clear that the Yi family has lost more than just a good daughter.
Who is more heartbroken than whom?
With this thought in mind, Xuan Yuanhan finally said calmly, "Get up!"
When Yi Shangkun sat back down again, looking anxious, he wiped the cold sweat from his temples with his sleeve.
Xuanyuan Han then spoke, "I have not come here today to interrogate you."
Hearing this, Yi Shangkun finally dared to raise his head and look at his face.
Xuanyuan Han then asked, "I've come to ask you what exactly happened in the palace these past few days? Did the Emperor make things difficult for you and your son?"
Thinking back to those days in the palace, although nothing happened, he still feels lingering fear.
Yi Shangkun paused for a moment, thought it over and over again, and finally said, "Your Highness is overthinking it. His Majesty only asked me some questions about official duties. I was not made to suffer any difficulties!"
Xuanyuan Han certainly didn't believe his words. The more nonchalant Yi Shangkun appeared at this moment, the more suspicious he seemed.
Then I asked again, "Then I ask you, where did Yi Shangjun go, and why did he suddenly submit his resignation to me?"
Yi Shangkun suppressed his fear and panic, and said, "I heard that the 200,000-strong army of Dongning Kingdom will soon be pressing on our border. I only have Jun'er as my son, and I don't want him to be in danger. I sent him south yesterday, intending to have him abandon the army and become a merchant!"
"What did you say? Abandon the military for business?"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Liang was shocked and furious, and questioned him, "At this critical moment, when we need capable people, as a general, Yi Shangjun's actions at this crucial juncture should be considered desertion, and he should be beheaded as a warning to others! If it weren't for His Highness Prince Qin's intention to cultivate him because of the Princess Consort, Yi Shangjun would still be a piece of trash by now!"
However, Yi Shangkun looked preoccupied and said softly, "If I had known that the Yi family would end up like this, I would have preferred that my children were all good-for-nothings. I would have accepted it. It would have been better than them losing their lives and me, an old man, having to bury my children!"
After hearing Yi Shangkun's words, Cheng Liang stood there stunned for a long time.
"Yi Shangkun, how could you say such a thing..."
Xuanyuan Handu stared into Cheng Liang's eyes, stopping him from saying anything more.
He then slowly stood up and said to Yi Shangkun, "Today, it is I who have disturbed you!"
Cheng Liang was quite puzzled by his behavior, and seemed to want to explain something: "Your Highness..."
Finally, he sighed and fell silent in resignation.
Seeing Xuan Yuanhan stand up, Yi Shangkun also stood up.
Xuanyuan Han then said, "Cheng Liang, let's go back to the manor!"
So he immediately took a step and left the Yi residence with Cheng Liang.
Yi Shangkun was about to follow when he said, "Your Highness, this humble subject respectfully sees you off!"
But Xuan Yuanhan immediately stopped him, saying, "Pharmacist Yi, please wait!"
After the master and servant walked out of the Yi residence, Cheng Liang thoughtfully mounted his horse and asked his master, "Your Highness, what should we do now?"
Xuanyuan Han sat upright on his horse, his posture straight, his hand holding the reins, his eyes fixed on the front with unwavering determination!
“Yi Shangjun is different from his father, Yi Shangkun. Since ancient times, the military camp and the battlefield have been the best places to temper a man’s true character. I believe that Yi Shangjun will not desert; he will return!”
After he finished speaking, a "Giddy up!" was heard, and Xuanyuan Han raised his whip and galloped away.
"Yi Shangjun, you'd better do as His Highness says, and make sure you don't let everyone look down on you!"
A moment later, Cheng Liang suddenly came to his senses, gritted his teeth and said those words, then quickly sped off to catch up.
At dusk.
Long En and Eunuch Shou suddenly appeared slowly at the gate leading out of the palace.
A deep sense of unease was clearly visible on Eunuch Shou's face.
Long En, who was also looking down and focused on his steps, seemingly preoccupied, said, "The 200,000-strong army of Dongning will soon arrive at the border of our Western Qin. At that time, there will surely be a fierce battle between the Emperor and the King of Qin. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the young master to reap the benefits. At this critical juncture, the young master should really not take this risk. You should know better than anyone that if the Empress Dowager finds out about this, she will be furious."
Long En, standing to the side, understood perfectly well, but he had been pondering this matter for many days before finally making this decision.
“I know it’s too risky to let her enter the palace now. If her identity is discovered, it will surely lead to disaster. But this is what I owe to her and her mother. Her health can’t be delayed any longer. The palace has better conditions. Perhaps only by bringing her into the palace can we have a glimmer of hope!”
Upon hearing this, Eunuch Shou let out a sigh of utter helplessness.
"If the Empress Dowager knew that her own granddaughter was actually... alas, this is a terrible tragedy!"
The past was too painful to recall, and Long En could only say apologetically, "I'm sorry, all these years, I've always caused you worry and fear."
Saying more is useless and pointless.
Shou Gonggong then stopped and handed the reins to Long En, giving him a final instruction: "Now that things have come to this, go and come back as soon as possible. Remember, never let anyone suspect her."
"Hmm!" Long En nodded and took the reins from Eunuch Shou.
After shaking his head one last time, Eunuch Shou turned and went back on his own.
As Long En mounted his horse and galloped away, two figures slowly emerged from a corner outside the palace gate, under a large old locust tree.
One of them said to the other, "So that's what they were planning! Quickly go back and report this to His Highness!"
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