Chapter 3401 Concealment
Zhu Feng frowned slightly and said with a half-smile, "When did you learn to say such polite words?"
Hearing this, Chen Xuan's face turned a little red.
However, Zhu Feng didn't seem to intend to argue with him. He just waved his sleeves and said, "Everyone, get up."
Chen Xuan then kowtowed and stood up. The officials behind him all breathed a sigh of relief, as if they had just returned from the gates of hell. Some of them even had beads of sweat on their foreheads.
Zhu Feng looked Chen Xuan up and down again.
He was dressed in neat official uniform, and he was tall, handsome, and very energetic, but there was a hint of inaudible sadness between his brows, making him completely different from the spirited young man who had just come to his side.
Zhu Feng understood the reason.
He held Chen Xuan's hand and walked towards the carriage parked in front, saying softly, "Regarding your uncle's matter this time, I know the rules of those of you who practice Taoism. You should have been given three years of mourning. However, the reconstruction of Jinling City is indispensable to you. Please don't blame me for the matter of taking away your love."
Chen Xuan immediately said, "Your Majesty, you are too kind."
His expression was gloomy, clearly because of this incident. Although the old uncle was only his adoptive father, he had been raised by him since childhood, and they were as close as father and son. Not being able to observe the mourning in person was indeed a bit cruel for him. But he still said in a deep voice, "State affairs are more important than family affairs. My father, if he is still alive, would understand my humble servant."
Zhu Feng said, "That's good."
He was about to say something else when Concubine Yi turned around and looked at Princess Yongping, who was being held in the arms of a palace maid. Her cheeks were gradually reddening and her body was a little hot. She was too anxious to care about anything else and whispered softly, "Your Majesty, Yongping doesn't look right. Let's hurry into the city first."
Zhu Feng also looked back and couldn't help but reveal a worried look.
Chen Xuan said: "Is this the little princess? What happened to her?"
Nan Yan said, "I was frightened on the boat just now, and now I have a fever."
"Scared?"
Upon hearing these two words, Chen Xuan's face immediately showed a nervous expression. He asked, "Could it be that your majesty's dragon boat encountered something on the river?"
Not only him, but also the officials behind him became nervous.
Nan Yan looked at them and felt something was wrong.
Zhu Feng glanced at Chen Xuan and the others, and without asking any further questions, he simply said, "Just now, when we were on the river, the wind suddenly picked up, and the boat became a little unstable, which scared Yongping."
Chen Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.
He immediately turned around and told the attendants behind him to send the doctor to the palace to prepare. Then he said to Zhu Feng and the others, "The wind is strong here. Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine, the Imperial Concubine Yi, and the two young princes, please return to the palace first."
So Zhu Feng got on the golden carriage, and Nan Yan took Xin Ping and Concubine Yi on another carriage.
The group left the dock and soon entered Jinling City.
As soon as the convoy entered the city gate, Nan Yan couldn't contain herself anymore. She reached out and lifted a corner of the curtain, looking out carefully.
The last time she saw Jinling City, it was ravaged by war and devastated. The streets and alleys were empty, and the originally exquisite pavilions and towers had turned into broken walls. The whole city was stained with blood and corpses were everywhere, like a dead city.
This time is completely different from before.
What you see are exquisite pavilions and towers, beautifully carved beams and painted buildings. The common people are neatly dressed, kneeling on both sides of the avenue and cheering "Long live the city". Their faces are no longer the ones that were terrified and defeated after being baptized by war. Instead, they are as full of vitality as the city itself.
Everything looks brand new.
Even though she was worried about her daughter, Concubine Yi couldn't help but lean on Nan Yan's shoulder and look outside, saying softly, "From this perspective, Jinling City is not too bad."
Nan Yan whispered, "Where? Five years ago, all the buildings here collapsed."
Concubine Yi opened her eyes wide: "Really?"
Nan Yan said, "Why would I lie to you?"
Concubine Yi was shocked to realize that she had been too careless these days and had lost all manner of manners when talking to the Imperial Concubine. She hurriedly said, "Don't be offended, Your Majesty. I just said something out of turn."
Nan Yan smiled and said, "Sisters, there's no need to be so cautious. Besides, we've finally gotten out, so it's good to take a breath. Why worry so much? In fact, even I can hardly believe what I saw five years ago. I always wonder if what I saw five years ago was just a dream."
Concubine Yi said, "If this is really a dream, how wonderful it would be."
Nan Yan also felt a little emotional and said softly, "Yes."
If it was really just a dream, then at least the people here wouldn't have to suffer so much, Qingting wouldn't have died, and Jian Ruocheng and Xu Miaoming wouldn't have to leave so far...
But, in the end, it is just their wishful thinking.
Nan Yan sighed and said softly, "No matter what, the current state of Jinling City is not in vain for the Emperor's efforts over the years."
Concubine Yi nodded: "Yes."
Because of the reconstruction in the city, many of the past landscapes are no longer the same as before. This Jinling City is not only brand new, but has indeed become a new city where they can no longer find the old images of the past. Seeing the hometown where they grew up become completely unfamiliar, coupled with the worry about their daughter, Concubine Yi gradually became depressed, and Nan Yan recalled the past five years ago, and her mood became a little gloomy, so the two of them stopped talking.
The journey passed quietly.
They entered the Jinling Imperial Palace. Because it had been previously occupied by Zhu Chengjin, it hadn't suffered much of the ravages of war, so the damage wasn't significant. Only the Purple Palace had been completely rebuilt, while the rest had only undergone minor repairs. However, since the Emperor had returned to Jinling City after five years, Chen Xuan naturally felt compelled to do a lavish job. The palace was meticulously cleaned, even the multicolored glazed tiles on the roof were spotlessly polished, reflecting a dazzling light in the sunlight.
However, at this time, Nan Yan and Concubine Yi were no longer in the mood to appreciate the surrounding scenery.
They hurried back to the harem. Little Yongping had already developed a fever. They called the imperial physician to examine her. The physician said that she had been frightened and immediately asked someone to prepare a bowl of calming medicine for her. Little Yongping slept a little more soundly and her fever subsided a little.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Nan Yan asked Aunt Tongyun to take Xinping away to rest, and she stayed with Concubine Yi to help her take care of little Yongping.
Seeing that Yongping's condition had improved, Concubine Yi also breathed a sigh of relief.
She sat on the edge of the bed, carefully wiping Yongping's forehead with a handkerchief soaked in cold water, and said to Nan Yan, "Your Majesty, do you feel that the Master Chen who came today seemed to be hiding something?"
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