An unfamiliar embrace, carrying an unfamiliar scent, swept over him, causing Shen Cong's eyes to widen slightly, their light shifting with an odd glint.
Is this what mother's embrace feels like?
She didn't want to hit them, but rather to give them this gentle, warm embrace.
No one else had ever given them such a hug before. Perhaps their mother had some untold story back then?
Shen Yue bit her lip, her fingertips involuntarily lifting slightly.
Stop pretending!
Shen Cong suddenly let out a cold shout, shoved Qu Jingyun away forcefully, and was as wary as a small beast with its fur standing on end, his eyes filled with undisguised hostility.
Shen Yue immediately snapped out of her daze and hurriedly hid next to her brother like a frightened little rabbit.
"You think you can erase the sins of abandoning us all these years by saying a few nice words? Dream on!"
"We didn't need a mother before, and we won't need one in the future!"
After saying that, he raised his head high, grabbed Shen Yue, and strode away.
A mix of emotions—bitterness, heartache, and more—writhed within Qu Jingyun, gripping her heart tightly, causing her extreme pain.
Watching her two children walk away, she took a deep breath, turned around, her face hardening again, and returned to her old courtyard.
After washing up, she sat on the soft couch, and her slightly drowsy mind gradually cleared up.
For an ordinary young lady, disappearing inexplicably for five years might be a curse as if the sky had fallen.
Qu Jingyun was no ordinary young lady; she was the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Personnel, raised as a boy by her father from a young age. She was courageous, decisive, and composed.
With this sense of composure, Qu Jingyun first set off a signal firework. After glancing at the dazzling fireworks, she turned around, her gaze calm and methodical, and summoned back all those who had served her. She then sent people to inquire about the various events that had occurred over the past five years.
The chaotic situation was gradually pieced together, and the underlying logic became clear.
Meanwhile, the news that the mistress of the General's Mansion had returned to the capital after disappearing for five years also caused a sensation in the capital!
The next morning, someone from the Empress's palace came to invite Qu Jingyun.
The entire household was in an uproar.
It should be noted that since Qu Jingyun mysteriously disappeared five years ago, the palace has not summoned the General's Mansion again.
But now, Qu Jingyun has just returned and has been summoned by the Empress!
Qu Jingyun, however, remained remarkably calm.
Her husband held military power, and she had once served as his strategist. Together, they easily broke through the enemy's defenses and took the enemy's heads. Their achievements were so great that they threatened the emperor. Even if she were the emperor, she would be wary of such a general.
His mysterious disappearance for five years and subsequent return, as well as the royal summons, were all within expectations.
She entered the palace in full regalia, dressed in her finest attire.
In the magnificent palace, she knelt down to pay her respects.
Five years have passed, and the Empress Wang's dignified and elegant face bears many traces of time, but her ever-present, flawless smile remains unchanged.
She first offered her a seat, then looked her up and down carefully, her beautiful eyes full of surprise: "You haven't aged much in the past five years. Where did you get some secret recipe in the past five years?"
He looked gentle and kind, but his first words to her were to inquire about her whereabouts over the past five years.
Qu Jingyun sighed and said, "Your Majesty, please don't joke with me. I fell off a cliff five years ago and lost my memory. Fortunately, I was rescued by a female doctor in the mountains. I lived at the foot of the mountain for five years until two days ago when I regained my memory and returned to the manor."
Her words were earnest, but Empress Wang didn't believe a single word of them.
She was surprised and suspicious, but on the surface she said with concern, "Really? I sent people to search that mountain, but we couldn't find it. Fortunately, you are safe and sound."
Qu Jingyun hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped. After a long while, she finally spoke, her face flushed, when questioned by Empress Wang.
“Those soldiers are tall and strong, and they look very fierce. Anyone who didn’t know better would think I was a wanted criminal. How could I dare to expose myself to the public?”
That makes sense, but Empress Wang always suspected that Qu Jingyun had gone to find her husband during those five years.
She tried a few more questions with a smile, but Qu Jingyun was exactly the same as she was five years ago—a slippery eel who spoke so flawlessly that no one could find a single fault in her words.
Empress Wang finally lost her patience and sneered, "I heard that Chen Song married a concubine yesterday? I remember that his marriage was personally arranged by the Emperor. He turned around and made a big show of marrying a concubine, which is disrespectful to the royal family. He should be severely punished!"
The atmosphere inside the Jiaofang Palace suddenly changed, becoming solemn and majestic.
Qu Jingyun's heart skipped a beat. Without saying a word, she knelt down on the ground, her mind racing. In the blink of an eye, she wiped her eyes and began to cry.
"This child is really too disobedient and should be severely punished!"
"It's just that I lost my memory for five years and only returned yesterday. I haven't even sorted out the affairs of the household yet, and the children have been led astray. Your Majesty, as a mother yourself, you should understand my heart..."
As she spoke, she rambled on, from being a mother herself to talking about her children's marriages, and then to her own poor health and the aftereffects it left, completely veerging off-topic.
Empress Wang tried to interrupt several times, but couldn't get a word in edgewise. She listened with throbbing veins on her forehead.
In the end, she didn't even want to ask about her husband anymore. Qu Jingyun even put her on a high platform, forcing her to treat Chen Song leniently.
Finally, with a livid face, she told her to leave.
While wiping away her tears, Qu Jingyun said, "Your Majesty is merciful," and then quickly got up from the ground and went out with steady steps.
After she left, Empress Wang's face darkened completely, and her hands, adorned with jeweled nail guards, abruptly overturned all the tea sets on the table.
"Well done, Qu Jingyun! What a brilliant strategist! I refuse to believe I can't deal with you!"
A strong killing intent permeated the palace, and the palace servants dared not tremble and knelt down on the ground.
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