Consort Jing patted him gently and said slowly, "I'm so happy that you're still willing to call me Mother..."
Chu Tianze quickly replied, "Of course you are my mother."
Consort Jing raised her head, smoothed the stray hairs from his forehead, and smiled, “Over the years, I’ve watched you become capable of standing on your own, brave and skilled in battle, guarding your territory, growing more and more outstanding, more and more… resembling the demeanor of your maternal grandfather, uncles, and your mother. I’m very happy, but I also feel a pang of regret. What right do I have to be called ‘Mother’ by you? Your mother was that extraordinary woman who was no less capable than any man, not me. Now that you know your true identity, it’s naturally inappropriate for you to call me ‘Mother’ anymore…”
Chu Tianze said solemnly, "Without you, Mother, where would the Prince of Yan be in this world? Are you saying that you don't want to acknowledge me as your son?"
Consort Jing chuckled, "How could I not be willing? It's just that I was originally just a physician's daughter from the Qin family. Having Miss's child call me 'Mother' for so many years has filled me with trepidation. Your mother eagerly awaited your birth and sacrificed so much for your arrival. Your mother should only be her..."
Chu Tianze shook his head and said softly, "Mother...yes, and you too. If Mother is still willing to acknowledge me as her son, then let's not talk about our identities anymore..."
Consort Jing's eyes reddened, but she smiled faintly and said, "Alright, we'll remain the same as before, but you must remember that your real mother's name is Qin Zi."
Chu Tianze nodded emphatically, "My son knows."
Seeing the dark circles under his eyes, Consort Jing smiled and said, "Alright, you and Xiaoxiao must have been up all night again. You're a grown man, so it's fine, but how can you let Xiaoxiao keep you up like this? Go and rest." As she spoke, she opened the door.
Bai Chuxiao, who was standing not far away, quickly came forward and said with a smile, "Mother."
Now that everything was out in the open, Chu Tianze's mood had eased considerably. He slowly approached Bai Chuxiao and gave her a smile.
Seeing the two getting along so well, Consort Jing's eyes showed a hint of relief. "You two coming back like this won't cause any problems, will it?"
Bai Chuxiao smiled and said, "Mother, don't worry, nothing serious is happening in the army."
Consort Jing nodded. "That's good. Look at your eyes. Go and rest. Your mother will call you for lunch."
Chu Tianze put his arm around Bai Chuxiao and said slowly, "Then I'll have to trouble Mother."
After the two returned to their room, Bai Chuxiao hugged Chu Tianze tightly and said, "It's so good."
Chu Tianze chuckled lightly, "Of course."
Bai Chuxiao tilted her head back and smiled faintly, "Still the same Chu Tianze as before."
Chu Tianze was somewhat helpless. "What nonsense are you talking about? I'm just having trouble accepting it right now. It's not like things will change overnight."
Bai Chuxiao blinked and said seriously, "Love turns to hate, hate drives one mad, and thus one becomes twisted and morally corrupt..."
Chu Tianze pinched her mouth shut, silencing her rambling.
Bai Chuxiao slapped his hand away, pouted, and thought, "Isn't that how it always goes in TV dramas from my past life? In my opinion, there are plenty of twisted people in the Great Xia royal family..."
Chu Tianze put his arm around her shoulder and led her to the bed. "Stop imagining things, go to sleep!"
Bai Chuxiao grabbed his hand and stopped walking. "I don't want to sleep. I still have something here."
Chu Tianze raised an eyebrow, "What?"
Bai Chuxiao found a box inside the house, took out a scroll, handed it to Chu Tianze, and said with a faint smile, "Take a look."
Chu Tianze slowly opened the painting, and upon seeing the person in the picture, his expression became complicated. "This is... my mother."
Bai Chuxiao said softly, "The old friend is gone, but the legend remains. It's just that a sincere heart was ultimately misplaced..."
Chu Tianze gently stroked the portrait, memorizing the woman's appearance, and murmured, "Before imperial power, true love is hard to find."
He then turned to the woman beside him and said seriously, "But, Xiaoxiao, you can trust me."
Bai Chuxiao stared at him intently for a while, then chuckled softly, "I believe you."
Chu Tianze put the portrait away and returned it to the box, saying in a low voice, "What choice would Xiaoxiao make?"
Bai Chuxiao smiled slightly, "When I discovered something amiss, I killed him with my own hands without hesitation."
Chu Tianze pulled her into his arms and whispered, "You're very good like this."
Bai Chuxiao raised an eyebrow, "Aren't you afraid?"
Chu Tianze said calmly, "I told you you could trust me, and I won't give you the chance to kill me."
The two rested briefly before being woken up for dinner. Their schedules had been completely disrupted by traveling at night and sleeping during the day for the past two days; it was time to get back to normal.
Old Madam Murong and the First Madam meticulously arranged the meal, but they didn't ask Chu Tianze and Bai Chuxiao why they had suddenly returned.
Consort Jing suddenly said, "Actually, I also have something I'd like to discuss with everyone."
Bai Chuxiao smiled and said, "Mother, please speak freely."
Consort Jing smiled and said, "Now that I'm out of the palace, I don't want to follow those rules anymore. You don't need to call me Dowager Consort anymore. My name is Xu Hui, so from now on, please just call me Madam Xu."
Madam Murong hesitated for a moment, "This..."
Consort Jing smiled again, "Ze'er, Xiaoxiao, you should understand your mother's intentions. This matter is settled. Please convey this message."
She hated the late emperor and was weary of the palace. Now that the secret no longer needed to be kept, she no longer wanted to be a concubine dowager; she just wanted to be herself again…
Chu Tianze nodded slightly, and Bai Chuxiao smiled, "Alright, whatever Mother says."
Since the Prince of Yan had no objections, Old Madam Murong and the First Madam naturally wouldn't insist, and quickly smiled and said, "Madam Xu."
Freed from her shackles, Consort Jing smiled slightly, appearing much more relaxed...
After lunch, Chu Tianze and Bai Chuxiao returned to the camp as quickly as possible. Everyone was finally relieved to see that the two looked as usual.
Inside Chu Tianze's tent, the lights were on. Bai Chuxiao picked up a detailed map and looked at it. "The Empress Dowager is still in the palace. Will the Prince of Xiang make a move?"
Chu Tianze said calmly, "Just wait and see."
Bai Chuxiao raised an eyebrow at the nonchalant man and said, "Why do you think Chu Wenzheng is getting involved in all this? He didn't even get the throne, is being a regent enough?"
Chu Tianze said calmly, "To create chaos in the Great Xia Dynasty and make us brothers fight each other, it would be even better if we all died."
Bai Chuxiao curled her lip, "You royals are truly heartless. When you're not having a good time, you think about destroying the world. You should have just killed him with a single sword back then."
Chu Tianze pulled her into his arms and said in a deep voice, "What killing? Do you think you can just walk away after killing someone? You're not allowed to talk nonsense or take risks anymore. Do you know how worried I was when I saw you covered in blood and unconscious in the town that night..."
Bai Chuxiao blinked at the man who had suddenly gotten angry and said, "It was just a joke."
Chu Tianze said seriously, "Don't joke around with your life. I don't even want to think about what would have happened if you had arrived a moment later and been arrested..."
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