"Studying medicine is for self-protection."
Su Xuening's simple explanation made Helian Rong frown.
This sentence reveals the hardships they faced in Eastern Chu.
Helian Rong then took Su Yun'an's hand and touched it: "You have calluses on your hands, have you learned martial arts?"
Su Yun'an nodded obediently and said, "I learned martial arts to protect my mother and my sister from being bullied."
Helian Rong was taken aback again.
The children's words pained him; they kept saying they were protecting themselves, their mother, and their sister. It seemed they weren't living a peaceful life in Eastern Chu.
Looking at Su Xuening's stunningly beautiful face again, Helian Rong understood what was going on.
This child is so beautiful; without a powerful family background, her looks would surely become a source of trouble.
Helian Rong then thought of his grandsons. He had sent people to bring him back to Northern Wei, but he had neglected these two children.
They must have suffered a lot while Ci'er was away from Dong Chu.
Helian Rong looked at the two apologetically and said, "I'm sorry, it was my great-grandfather who didn't think things through and caused you to suffer."
Su Xuening and Su Yun'an originally harbored resentment towards their great-grandfather because of Su Renzhong's being taken to Northern Wei, but his apology at this moment made them let go of their resentment.
In fact, their ordeal in Eastern Chu was not entirely his fault, so he cannot be entirely blamed!
However, the matter of him giving his father amnesia medication...
Helian Rong could see that there was still resentment in their hearts, so he sighed and said, "Sit down, all of you. Tonight is going to be long. Tell me about your experiences in Eastern Chu, and I will also tell you about your generals, your fathers, and your grandfathers."
Yuan Xian immediately brought over a small table.
Su Xuening and Su Yun'an sat down obediently.
"Tell me about your affairs in Eastern Chu," Helian Rong asked with concern as the two sat down.
Su Yun'an remained silent, and Su Xuening then gave a general account of their life in Dongchu.
This includes the bullying they suffered from Su Renyi and Su Feiling's family, the scheming of Su Huiyan and Xuan Yuanyu, and the inaction of the Su family army.
Even though Su Xuening didn't go into too much detail about their experiences, Helian Rong could already tell from her words how difficult things had been for them.
Su Renyi, wanting to seize the title left by Ci'er, schemed against the two children and even tried to burn them alive.
To obtain the military seal of the Su family army, Su Huiyan imprisoned and abused the mother of these two children, causing her to lose her memory. She even repeatedly hunted down the two children, trying to kill them.
And the secret service, they didn't offer any help to the two children or their mother from beginning to end.
After Ci'er was sent to Northern Wei, they went through countless hardships before finally discovering that their father was not dead. Anyone would feel resentful in this situation.
After listening to their story, Helian Rong's eyes reddened with heartache, and he felt even more ashamed and remorseful: "Back then, I sent the secret army to Eastern Chu to protect your father. Of course, you weren't born yet. So the secret army's duty was only to protect your father. It was my negligence that caused you to suffer so much. I deserve to die!"
Su Yun'an shook his head: "We don't blame you for not having the Su family army protect us, but you shouldn't have taken Father away and made us think he was dead, tearing our family apart. Also, you gave Father amnesia drugs, making him completely forget Mother and us siblings!"
The Su family army has its own duties and masters. The Su family army has no obligation to protect them, so they really have no right to blame the Su family army.
Helian Rong was surprised that Su Yun'an, at such a young age, was so discerning and could say such things.
While pleased, he also nodded in acknowledgment of his mistake: "When I sent your father back, he was very agitated and insisted on returning to Eastern Chu. He refused to stay in Northern Wei no matter what. I had no other choice but to resort to this tactic. Only by making them completely forget about you can he stay in Northern Wei and stay by my side peacefully."
Helian Rong choked up again and said, "I have already lost my son, and I don't want to lose this grandson as well. I hope you can understand the wishes of an old man like me."
Su Xuening and Su Yun'an exchanged a glance and then said nothing more.
They had already learned quite a bit about the situation in Northern Wei. He lost his eldest son at such a young age, and his grandson had not grown up by his side since childhood. After being missing for so many years, he finally found him, so naturally he hoped that his grandson could stay by his side.
However, a father with a sound mind would never abandon his family and stay alone in Northern Wei, so it's understandable that he came up with this idea. But it was a hardship for his family, who were separated by him for more than four years, and have only just reunited now.
In fact, Su Yun'an couldn't understand it: "Since you sent the Su family army to Father's side, you should know about our family's situation. Why did you only take Father and not us? You could have explained the situation to our whole family and sent someone to bring us all to Northern Wei. Why did you only secretly take Father away and leave us all in Eastern Chu?"
If they had been taken to Northern Wei earlier, their family wouldn't have suffered so much hardship and pain, and they wouldn't have been separated from their loved ones for so long.
Helian Rong sighed softly and explained, “You are still young and do not understand the complex situation of our Northern Wei royal family at all. I am old and no longer as in control as I was when I was young. It is already difficult for me to protect your father. If I had brought you all here in the first place, and something had happened to you, wouldn’t your father have resented me to death? I secretly had them send your father to Northern Wei not only because I did not want to alarm Eastern Chu, but also because I did not want to alarm Northern Wei, and I did not want my illegitimate sons to know your whereabouts and use you to control me and your father. Of course, it was also because I did not think things through. I did not expect that after taking your father away, you would suffer so much.”
Su Xuening and Su Yun'an understood what Helian Rong was saying.
This could be considered a way of protecting them, but the reality was not as simple as he had imagined.
Of course, the things that happened in Dongchu cannot be blamed on him!
"Can I ask you a question?" Su Xuening suddenly asked.
Helian Rong paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "Of course."
Seeing that he agreed, Su Xuening didn't hold back: "You have repeatedly tried to keep our father in Northern Wei. Do you intend to pass your throne to him?"
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