Chapter 553 Capturing the Enemy as a Sacrifice
Nan Fengling glanced at him furtively and continued, "Don't think that you're capable just because you were able to walk from Bei Di to the capital. Running away is nothing. You need to be able to protect the people you care about, whether it's your mother or your Mianmian. Now that you're all alone here, have you thought about your mother?"
“If your father really takes a new wife, your mother will not only be heartbroken, but also worry about where you will go.”
Xiao Qing'er continued, "I heard from Aunt Wan Chun that my father no longer intends to take any more concubines."
Nan Fengling slapped him on the back of the head. "Your father is the king. Even if he doesn't take concubines now, there's no guarantee he won't in the future. Are you going to run away and blackmail them again?"
"By then your father will have other sons who will look down on you, and your mother will fall out of favor and cry every day."
Although her words were somewhat cruel, they were all true. She herself came from a royal family, so she could empathize with the hardships she had endured.
Not everyone is like Crown Prince Zhou Ruiyuan. Whether a poor scholar or a noble prince, he remained devoted to his wife.
Xiao Qing'er immediately showed a look of panic. After all, he was still a child, and after Nan Fengling said that, he really became anxious. "Then what should I do?"
Nan Fengling thought for a moment and said patiently, "As the saying goes, a mother's status depends on her son. If you behave well as the Crown Prince of Beidi and inherit the throne in the future, even if your father takes another concubine, no one will dare to bully your mother."
Xiao Qing'er's eyes gradually dimmed after hearing this. "If I had known this would happen, I would have been better off staying in Changliu Village."
Nan Fengling was amused by him. "If you really stay in Changliu Village as a hooligan, in another ten years or so, you'll be watching Xiao Mianmian marry someone else in style."
Xiao Qing'er was taken aback. In his little mind, there was no such thing as getting married or liking someone. He just wanted to stay with Xiaomianmian and take care of her and protect her.
Just like before in Changliu Village.
Nan Fengling's words always struck a chord with him.
He asked, "If I can go back to be the crown prince, will I have the chance to return to her side again in the future?"
Nan Fengling nodded. "That's right."
Xiao Qing'er immediately regained his fighting spirit. He stood up and said firmly, "Okay, I'll go back."
Nan Fengling smiled, "Your parents' people will probably arrive in a couple of days. You should rest well these next few days."
Little Qing'er nodded obediently.
Nan Fengling got up and left, but before leaving, he looked back at Xiao Qing'er one last time. This child is really stubborn. I wonder what will happen to her in the future.
She smiled and returned to her courtyard.
In the capital, Du Wanchun soon received news that Xiao Qing'er had been taken back.
Although Xiao Qing'er is clever and sensible, keeping him around will eventually lead to gossip, since he is, after all, a person from the Northern Di Kingdom.
Lord Lu was executed along with his entire family for treason. If the Emperor discovers that they have close ties with the prince of the Northern Di Kingdom, it will naturally arouse his suspicion.
Sending him back would be entirely beneficial.
Xiao Mianmian talked about him for a few days at home, but then she was having a blast with Yi'er and Yu'er in the palace and forgot about it.
These days, the emperor comes to see them every few days, seemingly unaffected by the rumors.
Since Zhou Ruiyuan entered the Eastern Palace, his official position was naturally revoked, and he ended up spending more time with Du Wanchun every day.
The emperor seemed to be staring at them, scrutinizing them.
Du Wanchun and Zhou Ruiyuan didn't care. They lived their lives as usual, filling the desolate East Palace with flowers and plants.
A breeze blows, and the entire palace is filled with the fragrance of flowers.
However, the emperor was in trouble. Every time he came, he would shed tears and sneeze. He wanted to remove the flowers, but he dared not. Helpless, he could only gradually reduce the number of times he came here.
Du Wanchun and Zhou Ruiyuan were also happy to have some peace and quiet.
On the surface, the two of them seemed like idle people. One was making money every day, while the other communicated with Lord Zheng outside every night, keeping a clear understanding of what was happening in the court.
Every time Xiao Mianmian wakes up at night, she always finds her father and mother with the lights on in the middle of the night.
Later, I got used to it and didn't think it was strange.
Months later, the rumors about the Emperor framing the Lu family spread wider and wider, becoming increasingly outlandish, and the people gradually expressed their dissatisfaction.
A group of ministers in the court would occasionally submit memorials to the emperor, urging him to investigate the matter again and clear Lord Lu's name.
If it were in the past, the emperor would never have investigated. If he had investigated and proven Lord Lu's innocence, wouldn't that have meant that he had wronged him?
But things are different now. Rumors are flying everywhere. If he doesn't investigate, it must mean he has something to hide, which would only confirm that the rumors are true.
After much deliberation, the emperor actually agreed to re-examine Lord Lu's case.
He planned to sacrifice the officials who had colluded with Lord Lu to the heavens to prove his innocence.
When Zhou Ruiyuan heard the news, he breathed a sigh of relief, "All the work I've done these past few days has finally paid off."
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