Chapter 260 Three Years

After regaining the military power of the Ye family, Jun Zechen began to train troops in various cities of the Kingdom, and even went to the military camps for training in person. He was ready to go to the battlefield himself, and he wanted to be an emperor on horseback in this life.

Because deep down in Jun Zechen's heart, he doesn't want to face the current palace.

The second year of Chongwu.

Jun Zechen led his army to attack Canglang vigorously. Relying on the memories of his previous life, he was able to make unstoppable progress all the way. After half a year, he finally reached the Canglang Imperial City.

Just like in the previous life, he saved his cousin Qi Wanyin.

Jun Zechen was not very impressed with his cousin. He casually sent someone to escort her back to the capital, and then continued to lead his army south to attack Yuehui and Lingyu, and then headed west all the way to Yuelin Kingdom.

Jun Zechen's personal expedition this time took longer than his previous life. In his previous life, he only personally attacked the most difficult country, Canglang, and he arranged trusted soldiers to lead the troops for other small countries.

However, he spent three years personally recovering all the neighboring countries of the monarchy and transformed the monarchy into the Maharaja Dynasty.

During these three years, the Queen Mother and the ministers in the court had pleaded with him to return to the court more than once, but Jun Zechen seemed to be addicted to killing on the battlefield.

The endless blood and cruel killings could make him temporarily forget the pain in his heart.

However, the war will eventually end.

In the third year of Chongwu, Jun Zechen led his troops to return in triumph.

The people were waiting at the city gate early in the morning. Jun Zechen was wearing armor, and his face was shining coldly under the sunlight.

His face was cold, like an iceberg, making people dare not approach him easily. The murderous aura emanating from his body was even more frightening. He sat high on his warhorse, with an upright posture, like a descending god of war, majestic and awe-inspiring.

After returning to the palace, the Queen Mother and her concubines were waiting there early to welcome His Majesty.

At the main entrance of the palace, a red carpet was laid out, flags were flying, court guards were lined up in neat rows, drums and music were playing, and the scene was extremely grand and magnificent.

The palace maids and eunuchs stood with their heads bowed, respectful and solemn.

During these three years, Tang Suxi gave birth to the second prince and was promoted to noble concubine by the empress dowager. Lin Miaoyin gave birth to the third prince and was promoted to noble concubine by the empress dowager, with the power to assist in managing the six palaces.

Lin Miaoyin looked at His Majesty whom she hadn't seen for three years, tears welled up in her eyes for no apparent reason, and she felt deeply moved.

Your Majesty has never met her third prince in three years. Should Your Majesty have forgotten the Queen?

Lin Miaoyin's eyes were full of tenderness and as clear as water as she looked at Jun Zechen, with the corners of her mouth slightly raised, trying to show her most beautiful side.

The moment Jun Zechen dismounted from his horse, all the court officials and guards knelt down and shouted in unison, as if they had been trained long ago.

"Your Majesty is a man of great power. You have personally led an expedition and returned victoriously, defeating the enemy thousands of miles away. You have brought glory to our country and are unrivaled in history. Long live Your Majesty!"

The sound was like a huge bell, resounding through the sky and deafening.

As the court officials were paying their respects, Jun Zechen walked towards the Queen Mother.

The armor added to his majesty.

The six concubines were nervous and expectant. After not seeing His Majesty for three years, he looked even more majestic and handsome.

He had sharp eyebrows, starry eyes and a resolute face, but the strong murderous and ruthless aura around him made people feel awe.

They also greeted him one after another, their voices soft but in unison: "Long live His Majesty."

Jun Zechen frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "Stand up."

Walking up to the Queen Mother, Jun Zechen bowed respectfully to her and said, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you, Mother."

Although the empress dowager was unhappy that the emperor had been away at war for three years without caring about his own safety, she was still relieved to see her son, whom she had not seen for a long time, return safely.

"Just come back."

The three-year-old eldest prince Jun Yihuan stood quietly beside the empress dowager, his little face tense and his expression cold beyond his age, his dark eyes staring straight at his father.

Something doesn't feel right.

On the day Jun Yihuan was born, he was secretly rejoicing in his heart that he was lucky enough to be the queen's son again in his life.

However, he was just born and still unable to speak, but he learned the sad news of his mother's death from his aunt Miaoyun who took care of him.

At that moment, he was filled with shock and disbelief.

My father loved my mother so much, and she was so smart, how could she die like this!

But before he grew up to find out the truth, his father resolutely went to war.

This world seems to have many similarities with his previous life, but also has too many completely different places.

Today, Jun Yihuan looked at his tall and cold father, who looked both like and unlike his father in his previous life.

In my previous life, my father was only cold on the surface, but now he exudes a murderous coldness all over his body.

Jun Zechen felt Jun Yihuan's focused gaze, and his indifferent eyes slowly moved downwards. As soon as he saw Jun Yihuan's face, he seemed to be under a spell, staring at him intently, unable to move away.

These features, this expression, how could they be so much like hers.

Jun Zechen couldn't help but stretch out his hand.

Jun Yihuan stared at his father with his big eyes without blinking, his little face still stiff. Although he was a little reluctant in his heart, he still walked towards his father, raised his little hand and placed it on Jun Zechen's big hand.

My father in this life didn't even protect my mother. He is so useless.

The Queen Mother and her son expressed different emotions, and a loving smile appeared on their faces.

"Emperor, this is the eldest prince. He has been smart since he was young and has your demeanor. Yihuan, call him father."

The Queen Mother's voice was gentle and melodious.

In addition to spending a lot of time in Kunning Palace, another place Jun Yihuan often went to was Cining Palace. After his mother and the Queen Mother passed away, the Empress Dowager loved him very much and would call him to Cining Palace every few days to play with him and tell him stories.

Therefore, Jun Yihuan didn't want to offend the Empress Dowager, so he pursed his lips and said crisply, "Father."

The lines on Jun Zechen's face softened a lot, and he picked up the child directly.

Jun Yihuan was a little kid at this time, sitting obediently in Jun Zechen's arms, looking very well behaved.

The Third Prince, who was following the Imperial Concubine (Lin Miaoyin), suddenly became agitated.

He twisted his little body, waved his two chubby little hands, and shouted, "Mother, I want Father to hold me too!"

The voice carries the wilfulness and eagerness of a child.

Recently, the Third Prince has been hearing his mother telling him that his father is coming back.

Although the eldest brother was born to Empress Yuan, his mother was a noble concubine and still held power in the palace.

In the palace, everyone fawned on him and tried to please him in every way. He could even bully his second brother at will, but his eldest brother not only had the support of the Empress Dowager, but was also being held by his father himself.

The second prince was very dissatisfied.

Lin Miaoyin was startled at first, and subconsciously glanced at His Majesty. She saw that His Majesty's eyes were always on the eldest prince, and he did not move his gaze to them. He seemed to be oblivious to the second prince's shouting.

There was a sudden surge of disappointment in her heart, her face turned slightly pale, and a look of loss flashed in her eyes.

It turns out that Your Majesty still cares the most about the eldest prince born to the Queen.

But she quickly came to her senses, forced a smile, picked up the third prince and comforted him softly.

When the court officials saw His Majesty coming back, they held the eldest prince in their arms. This special treatment was truly unusual.

They looked at each other, speculating secretly in their hearts, but did not dare to show it on their faces.

Jun Zechen didn't care about other people's eyes and carried Jun Yihuan back to the Qianqing Palace.

He put Jun Yihuan down, and the two of them just looked at each other quietly.

After a long while, they both spoke almost at the same time.

"Are you not afraid of me?"

Jun Zechen narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at the little person in front of him.

"Where is my mother?"

Jun Yihuan stared at his father closely, his face tense and his eyes full of doubt.

When Jun Zechen heard his question, his lips were instantly pursed into a straight line and the expression on his face became solemn.

"Your mother has passed away, and I have avenged her."

His voice was low and suppressed. Three years later, he said with his own mouth that she had passed away, and his heart still ached.

Jun Yihuan lowered his eyelashes and drew his handsome eyebrows together.

Is his mother really dead?

Jun Zechen looked at Jun Yihuan and saw that he was not afraid of him at all. Not only did he not feel angry, but he felt that Jun Yihuan was becoming more and more like an old friend.

She was not afraid of him either. She had been very courageous since she entered the East Palace.

"You are already three years old. Starting from tomorrow, I will send someone to teach you. I will test you every three days." Jun Zechen said in a serious tone.

"Yes, I understand. I'll take my leave."

Jun Yihuan's voice now still has a hint of childishness, and his dissatisfaction with his current father is growing deeper.

After hearing the news of his mother's death from his father again, Jun Yihuan left the Qianqing Palace with his head hung, like an eggplant hit by frost.

Jun Zechen had been back in the imperial court for three days, and during these three days he had not set foot in the harem.

The Empress Dowager is very worried about the Emperor's current condition. Now, she is probably the only one who can persuade the Emperor.

She came to the Qianqing Palace with a look of helplessness on her face.

"Has the Emperor not let go of the Empress yet?"

The Queen Mother's voice broke the silence in the hall.

An Shun had been with Jun Zechen for three years and knew very well that the word "Empress" was a thorn in His Majesty's side. No one was allowed to mention it at all. Only the Queen Mother and the eldest prince could say a few words in front of His Majesty.

When Jun Zechen heard the Queen Mother's question, he froze.

Haven't you let it go? But sometimes he feels as if he has been able to stop thinking about her. Have you let it go? But why is it that every time he thinks of her, his heart still feels empty, as if something is missing.

Seeing that the emperor remained silent, the empress dowager could only continue to persuade him earnestly.

"Emperor, I know you are deeply saddened by the death of the Empress, but it has been three years. I, the court officials, and the people have given you three years to let go of the Empress."

"You only have three princes in your harem now. Do you really have to abstain from sex for the rest of your life for the queen?"

Abstinence?

Jun Zechen smiled bitterly in his heart. He was just full of guilt. Even though he knew that she was jealous, Jun Zechen still chose to follow the ancestral rules and took in those concubines.

If she had been the only one in the backyard, would she have not died?

He once thought that he could protect her well, that he could have the best of both worlds, that he could fulfill his promise to his father and at the same time make her his honorable queen, and that the two of them could stay together for the rest of their lives.

But in the end, he was greedy.

He lost her forever.

"Mother, I just returned to the court, and the memorials have piled up like a mountain. I don't have any thoughts in that regard."

"I am your mother, how could I not know what you are thinking?"

The Queen Mother's eyes were sharp and insightful.

"Now that you're back, I'll start preparing for you for the talent show that has been put on hold." The Queen Mother said in a firm tone.

Jun Zechen's brows were instantly filled with a hint of impatience, and his brows were slightly furrowed.

"My mother has been in the harem for her entire life. Don't you think she is tired of it? If there was only the empress in my harem, she would not have died."

"You are the emperor, how can you have such an idea? If you hate the harem, can you make it disappear?"

The Queen Mother's voice rose and her expression became serious.

"What about your court? It is even darker and more mysterious than the harem. Why don't you abolish your court?"

Jun Zechen raised his head and looked straight at the Queen Mother.

"The court is your tool for governing the world, and the harem is your tool for prolonging the throne and preserving the country forever. As an emperor, don't you understand this?"

The only thing the Empress Dowager did not teach the Emperor well was how to handle his emotions.

The emperor should not be emotional.

If there is only one woman in the harem, how can the emperor guarantee that his external relatives will not interfere in politics? With few princes, once someone murders a prince, the emperor will have no successor. Does he have to hand over the throne to others?

Jun Zechen understood these principles in his previous life, so his rationality would always prevail over his emotions. The struggles in the harem were as unavoidable as the struggles in the court.

It was also because of his rationality that his queen died three years ago.

"In my mother's heart, I should also be a tool without any emotions, right?" Jun Zechen asked indifferently.

Everyone wanted him to be a perfect emperor.

"I have never thought that way. I just hope that you can be like your father and like women, but not fall in love with them. Once the emperor falls in love, he will have to make a choice, and you will be the one who suffers."

There was a glimmer of pity in the Queen Mother's eyes.

It's no use saying more now.

The Queen Mother only realized these principles after she had been Empress for ten years. At that time, she began to consider everything from the Emperor's perspective. She no longer obsessed with right or wrong, but weighed the pros and cons. She no longer had any sentimental feelings for her son or daughter.

She and the late emperor were husband and wife, as well as comrades-in-arms.

The emperor is not a god and cannot predict the future, so he needs to plan and balance the court, and the former court and the harem have always been inseparable.

Jun Zechen silently turned the ring on his hand, his dark eyes lowered, making it impossible to see his thoughts.