This year's snow came unusually cold and has been falling for almost half a month, covering the entire bloody war in the North with this blanket of white.
The moat was frozen over, and the war came to a standstill.
The Northern Liang suffered heavy losses this time, almost to the point of national ruin and destruction at the hands of the Great Qi. If it weren't for the Western Regions sending troops to help, and the Great Qi emperor suddenly disappearing without a trace, the Northern Liang would have truly been forced to withdraw from the stage of history.
This great war weakened the Northern Liang state, and even with its alliance with the northern gentry, it dared not launch a war rashly.
After Yan Beimo was brought back to Xin Palace, he remained unconscious for several days.
The emperor of a great nation fell into a coma, and the court officials in Jiankang were in an uproar. However, due to the powerful families of Yandu, they did not dare to make any rash moves and were discussing the matter privately.
"Yan Beimo, I don't love you anymore, I don't want you anymore."
Inside the dimly lit and magnificent hall, the person on the bed suddenly woke up from a dream.
The wound on his chest was torn open by his force, and he could see the surroundings of the hall. He put on his robe and got out of bed.
Hearing the commotion inside, the night hawk guarding the door spoke up.
"Your Majesty, you're awake."
No one spoke. After a moment, the palace door was pushed open, and the person slowly walked out.
Outside, everything was covered in white. Yan Beimo looked at the snow falling in the garden, his handsome features expressionless.
Night Hawk noticed the wound on his chest and quickly lowered his gaze.
"How long have you been sleeping alone?"
"It's been almost half a month."
Silence fell all around.
Night Hawk glanced furtively at His Majesty's white hair, unsure whether he should bring up the matter of the Lady. Seeing that His Majesty had no intention of asking, he didn't dare to say anything more.
"Where is Yan Jingyu?"
"His Highness is still in Jiankang."
Yan Beimo said calmly, "Pack your things and set off back to Jiankang."
Chaoge was close to Jiankang, and within a few days, they returned to the capital.
News of the Great Qi Emperor's return to the capital spread quickly, and the hidden rebellion in the previous dynasty was quelled. On the surface, there was nothing unusual.
His personal expedition to the north nearly brought the Northern Liang to its knees and its people to ruin. If he hadn't been seriously injured, the situation for unifying the north would have become clear much sooner.
Once all the states in the north are destroyed and the north and south are unified, he will be the first emperor in history to end this century of division after hundreds of years of war. People from the previous dynasty will want to press their advantage and continue fighting.
But they had no chance to meet the emperor. Before they could even ask to see His Majesty, they were stopped and unable to reach the emperor's ears.
As soon as Yan Beimo returned to the palace, before he could even see his son, he saw two people sitting in the main hall.
"You've fought on the battlefield for so many years, but this is the first time you've been beaten like this."
Xie Xuan put down the chess piece at the tea table and turned to look at him.
Cui Linyuan, who was opposite, also looked up.
The two were slightly surprised when they saw his white hair, "This—"
Yan Beimo walked over slowly, seemingly unwilling to bring up that day's events. He didn't respond and instead downed a pot of cold wine.
Seeing his indifferent expression, Xie Xuan suppressed her gossip and handed him the memorial.
“Look, these are all the evidence of officials who colluded with powerful families while you were away.”
Yan Beimo took it, glanced at it casually, and tossed it onto the desk.
He ignored the two of them and went straight to the inner palace bath to bathe and wash up.
The night in Jiankang wasn't very cold. In the warm pavilion next to the emperor's bedroom, Ayu heard the news of her father's return and hurriedly scurried out the door.
He has turned one year old, but his mother and father are not here. It was his grandmother who held his first birthday banquet.
The first birthday banquet for the only prince of the Great Qi Dynasty was naturally held in a very grand manner. He received many gifts and wanted to show them to his mother and father.
The maidservant serving nearby hurriedly followed. Although there hadn't been much snow in Jiankang, the weather had been bad for the past few days. It had just rained, and the roads were still a bit slippery. She was worried that the maidservant might slip and fall.
"Your Highness, please walk slowly---"
Ayu was very well-behaved and seemed to understand, so she slowed down her walking.
When he arrived at the palace, he saw Night Hawk guarding the door. He tilted his head and watched for a while. When he saw the man looking over, he remembered him and walked over.
Night Hawk saw the young prince approaching and hurried over to greet him.
"Your Highness."
Ayu walked past him, leaned over the palace door, and called out indistinctly into the hall.
"Father--"
The young prince is not yet six years old and does not have a tutor, but there are special teaching matrons in the palace who teach him on a daily basis. The Empress Dowager will also hold him and whisper "father" and "mother" in his ear. He learns quickly and remembers everything.
Seeing his reaction, Night Hawk feared that His Majesty would be angry, so he quickly picked up the little prince and prepared to leave.
Suddenly, the door inside opened.
When everyone saw His Majesty emerge, they immediately knelt down.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Yan Beimo glanced at Ayu, who was looking up at him from the ground, his cold eyes unblinking.
He stared intently at his little face, seemingly looking at something.
Ayu wasn't afraid of him and grabbed his robe to speak.
"Father--Mother--"
As soon as he called out "Mother," Night Hawk felt a chill rush towards him, and fear flashed across his face.
His Majesty has been in a coma for so long, yet he hasn't mentioned the Lady at all. It's as if he's forgotten about her. This is the first time in so long that someone has mentioned the Lady in front of His Majesty.
Yan Beimo seemed not to hear, staring intently at Ayu's little face, finally fixing his gaze on her eyes.
Ayu also sensed something was wrong. She opened her dark eyes and looked up at her father, then stared at his hair.
He curiously rolled his eyes and clung to his long legs, wanting a hug.
Yan Beimo bent down, picked him up, and walked into the hall.
Ayu reached out her little hand to touch his hair, her eyes filled with childlike curiosity.
After the father and son entered the hall, Yan Beimo placed his son on the small couch, leaned against the side, and stared at him indifferently without saying a word.
Ayu felt strange being stared at by him, so she couldn't help but stick her butt out and look around, but there was nothing there.
He scrambled to his feet and walked toward him.
"Father, here---"
She held a pair of ancient rings inlaid with pearls and phoenixes in her small hands.
When Ayu saw that his father wouldn't accept the rings, he quickly waved his hand. These were the most beautiful pair of rings he had ever received as a gift. He wanted to give them to his mother and father; they would look very nice.
Yan Beimo took it, looked at it for a few moments, then lowered his head and remained silent.
Ayu was a little afraid of her father, so she wiggled her little bottom to peek over, but couldn't see her father's expression.
He bit his finger and pouted, wanting to lean in and kiss it.
But the next second, he was lifted up and carried out by his father.
The palace doors were opened, and the night hawks guarding outside bowed their heads when they saw the people coming out.
"Go to Puguo Temple."
The night hawk paused, then went to Puguo Temple?!
When the Lady fell off the cliff, Puguo Temple was sealed off, and the abbot was imprisoned underground. After so long, why would His Majesty suddenly want to go to Puguo Temple?
"Um?"
A chilling voice came through the phone, and he swallowed hard before quickly replying, "Yes."
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