"With your words, Second Brother, I feel at ease. However, I'm afraid that in the future, when I need you, you won't be willing to do anything for me," Yan Nangui said.
"In the past, Second Brother was a scoundrel and a fool. But if you say there's anything I wouldn't dare to do, then you're underestimating me. I've thought about this for a long time, even when you were pregnant. If you had given birth to a prince, I would definitely have protected him as the crown prince. Now that you've given birth to a princess, it's the same. I'll definitely protect the next emperor so he'll treat her well. If he doesn't, well, His Majesty has more than one son anyway." Yan Nanji said these words with great domineering confidence.
In terms of personality, he resembled Yan Lingyun's father, the old town's Marquis An.
“I’ve remembered what you said, Second Brother. Since you have such ambition, take good care of yourself. Consort Jin’s son couldn’t be saved, and she’s still not fully recovered. She hasn’t done anything yet, but once she recovers, there will likely be another power struggle in the palace. Since you’re working under General Huo, you should also be careful. After all, I’m keeping her in the palace from rising to the top, and I’m sure her father has a lot of grievances.”
Yan Nanji nodded; in fact, he had sensed it all these years ago.
But it doesn't matter. Now, he finally understands the meaning of family.
With her father and elder brother, as well as her favored concubine sister in the palace, she had the confidence to rely on them.
Conversely, they are the same.
Having two capable sons and a beloved daughter was also the source of the general's confidence.
For Yan Nanxu, it was the same as for Yan Nanji.
The same applies to geese migrating south.
They are interdependent; their prosperity is shared by all.
After meeting with Yan Nanji and his wife, Yan Nanji arranged for a royal physician to treat Yang Shi and also sent a lot of tonics.
The imperial physician returned and said that Lady Yang had actually miscarried. After giving birth to her third child, she accidentally became pregnant again, but the pregnancy didn't go smoothly.
Yan Nangui then sent a nanny, the same nanny who had taken care of her during her pregnancy, to give Yang a lecture.
Is it suicidal to keep having children?
Things didn't go smoothly in Bailu Prefecture, despite my best efforts.
There were no problems with the academy, but on the third day after arriving in Bailu Prefecture, news came from the capital that Duke Ye was dying.
"From what the messenger said, the Duke had forbidden anyone to speak of it, saying it was just an illness, nothing serious. But now medicine is useless. He hasn't eaten for three days, and I'm afraid he won't make it," Yun Ji said.
Shu Chengfeng sighed deeply: "Send word to prepare to return to the capital."
He could wait when the Empress was ill, but he couldn't wait when the Duke of Ye was ill.
This was his maternal grandfather, the man who single-handedly supported him becoming the crown prince.
Both morally and logically, we should rush back as soon as possible.
When the news reached the rear, Yan Nan responded and ordered everyone to quickly pack up and return to the capital.
It was early July, the hottest time of the year.
There's no other way; you have to leave.
On the return journey in the carriage, the Seventh Princess didn't cause too much trouble, though she did whine a little every day.
However, he eats and sleeps normally, showing no signs of getting sick.
There was an iceberg inside the car, but the temperature was just right.
"Your Majesty," Shuanzi called from outside.
"What's wrong?" Jiangxiang asked.
"A message came from ahead that His Majesty and the princes want to change horses. Lord Shangguan has been left to escort us."
"Please convey my message to His Majesty, telling him to be careful in all matters and not to worry about what's to come," Yan Nangui said.
"Yes." Shuanzi hurried off on his horse.
"His Majesty and the prince have already left, and we still have seven or eight days to go..." Jiangxiang said worriedly.
"What are you afraid of when the world is at peace? Besides, Shangguan Ba is escorting you. What else is there to worry about?" Yan Nangui said.
Jiangxiang agreed, but she rarely went out, so how could she not be afraid?
Ahead, Shu Chengfeng rode his horse, leading several of the older princes day and night, but the oldest prince was only ten years old and eventually couldn't keep up.
In the end, only His Majesty, his personal guards, and a pair of infantrymen made it back.
They headed straight for the Duke's mansion.
Duke Ye was on his last breath.
It's like they've been waiting for this.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
The people inside rushed out to greet them.
Shu Chengfeng helped the old lady up and they went into the inner room.
With the help of his maids, Duke Ye sat up against the pillow.
He had lost a lot of weight in the few months I hadn't seen him.
He had been claiming illness and recuperating at home since after the Lunar New Year, but unexpectedly, things turned out this way.
Shu Chengfeng supported him and held his withered hand: "Grandpa was sick, but you didn't tell me sooner. Are you blaming me for being unfilial?"
"No...no...everyone gets old eventually." Duke Ye smiled and said, "Your Majesty, please don't think that way. I would be very happy if Your Majesty could come back and see me off."
"It's my fault. I didn't know you were so ill this morning," Shu Chengfeng sighed.
"It's alright, it's alright. Your Majesty, don't be sad. In my life, I've had everything—wealth, honor, and everything else. I've even been on the battlefield. I've protected two emperors. What more could I want? The Ye family is already extremely wealthy." Duke Ye gasped for breath and then said, "I...I'm really not strong enough. There are a few things I must say. You may all leave."
The maids inside hurriedly retreated, leaving only Yunji behind.
“I have failed in raising my son. Your uncles are all mediocre men. They have no ambition and only seek a peaceful future. Your mother, back then… shouldn’t have married the late emperor. It was just that she liked him. I originally thought she would just be a prince’s consort. But she became empress…”
“Your elder brother is a kind and gentle child, but his personality is not suitable for being the crown prince or the emperor. However, your elder brother was born when your father and mother were still deeply in love, so it's different. I know you don't like hearing this from me. But no one else will say this to you except me.”
"Grandpa, please speak freely," Shu Chengfeng said.
"Oh, your mother, she's gone mad. When Consort Zhen entered the palace, she was like a madwoman. Actually, she's just like Yue'er. She only wants a good husband. But emperors don't care about only one person. The late emperor... he had no conscience. Even if Changfeng, such a good child, wasn't suitable to be the crown prince, he was still his eldest son. He doted on him, spoiled him, kissed him, and hugged him."
"So your mother can't forget. She was empress for decades, but she never had the dignity of an empress. Now that she's empress dowager, her son is the emperor. She doesn't have to feel aggrieved anymore. But that's why she thinks too much. It's not good for her to be like this, but I can't persuade her anymore."
"She's your mother, no matter what. Be more forgiving of her."
"Yes, I am not good either. I will definitely treat Mother better in the future," Shu Chengfeng said.
"That's good. Let the Ye family be as they are. There's no need to send any more Ye family daughters into the palace. It's good enough that they're living a life of wealth and privilege," Duke Ye said with a smile.
"Yes, I'll do whatever you say." Shu Chengfeng felt extremely distressed.
"That's good, that's good. Thinking about it, I've lived a pretty good life. There's been nothing to be sad about. Now that I've come to an end, I'll even receive posthumous honors. I'm content, very content."
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