Life experience
News of the court's departure quickly reached the Yun residence. Learning that Yun Xiao was alright, Madam Yun and Yun Ti waited patiently outside the residence for his return. An hour passed, but Yun Xiao still hadn't returned. Madam Yun was terribly worried. Yun Ti held her hand and comforted her, "Don't worry, Mom. Dad will be fine."
After waiting for a long time, Yun Xiao still didn't return home. Unexpectedly, people from the palace came in a carriage.
The young eunuch stepped forward and said, "General Yun has returned triumphantly, and His Majesty is delighted. He is now staying in the palace for a long conversation. He is afraid that his wife will be worried, so he has ordered this servant to come and report."
Madam Yun held Yunti's hand tightly after hearing this and said, "I see. Thank you for telling me, eunuch."
After dismissing the court, Yun Xiao was stopped by the eunuch before he even stepped out of the palace. The eunuch said that the emperor had invited him, but when he arrived at the side hall, he did not see the emperor in person. He asked the eunuch in the palace, who said that the emperor was busy with affairs and asked him to wait patiently. The emperor would come to see him when he was free.
Yun Xiao smiled knowingly after hearing this. It seemed that His Majesty wanted to put him under house arrest in the palace. The emperor's order could not be disobeyed, so Yun Xiao had no choice but to ask the eunuch to inform his family that he was safe.
After seeing off the palace people, Madam Yun brought the ladder into the mansion, but she stopped halfway as if she was about to leave the mansion.
"Stop, where are you going?" Mrs. Yun scolded.
Yunti turned around and said, "I want to see the emperor."
Madam Yun held her back: "Nonsense!"
Yunti looked at his mother stubbornly: "I'm not messing around. I can't just sit there and watch my father in danger."
"Do you think I'm not worried? But what's the point of you going there? Can you question the emperor? Or can you release your father? It's just adding another hostage for the emperor! Child, you must be patient and believe in your father." Madam Yun said earnestly with red eyes.
Madam Yun was in pain, but with Yun Xiao gone, she, as the mistress, had to hold up the family. Yun Ti saw his mother's aggrieved expression and wiped away her tears with trembling fingers. "I know, mother. I know."
Three full days passed, and the emperor did not meet Yun Xiao, and the Yun family was unable to wait for Yun Xiao's return.
A lot can be done in three days, but also a lot cannot be done. The Yun Mansion is at the center of the storm, and any movement of the Yun family will be heard by the emperor. Even if he wants to build a ladder, he will be helpless, not to mention that Yun Xiao secretly sent a letter home saying that he should wait and see what happens.
After waiting for another two days, Yunti could no longer sit still. During these five days, she had thought a lot and recalled a lot, and finally she couldn't help but sneak into the palace.
The hall was resplendent with gold and jade, showing off the noble status of its owner. The emperor sat on the dragon throne, looking down at the ladder from above. "What is the matter with your request to see me this time?"
Of course, Yunti was not naive enough to think that the emperor would release Yun Xiao if she came to plead for mercy, so she did not talk about her father but only about herself and the emperor.
"Your Majesty, oh no, Uncle Emperor, I still remember when my father was often away from home, and you were the one who taught me all the time. You taught me archery and horseback riding, took me to appreciate flowers and hunt, and even personally examined my homework." Yunti smiled at this. "The first time I failed an assignment, you took a ruler and tried to hit my hand, but I flinched out of fear and missed. Seeing your gloomy face, I raised my hand again in fear, but you only touched me lightly with the ruler. That's when I knew you couldn't bear to hit me. After that, I became more and more presumptuous, deliberately dodging every time, which really angered you."
The emperor's mouth twitched slightly when he heard this. Being in a high position always felt a bit cold. His sons and daughters were all afraid of him and didn't dare get close to him. Only the little girl from the Yun family dared to joke with him and knew her limits. Naturally, he was happy to get along with this little girl, but...
"Also, during the summer heat in the palace, I was lying in the pavilion in the Imperial Garden, two large cauldrons of ice beside me, and the palace maids stood by to fan me. It was truly cozy and comfortable. I don't know where you appeared, and your sudden remark, 'You know how to enjoy yourself,' startled me. I immediately jumped up to greet you, but I accidentally stepped on the ice and fell flat on my face. You pointed at me and laughed, 'Look at you, you look like a big cat.'"
The emperor obviously still remembered this incident and couldn't help laughing, but Yunti's next words made the corners of his mouth flatten again.
Yunti felt a little uncomfortable, tears quietly creeping up her clear eyes. She continued without caring, "These beautiful memories have been surfacing in my mind these past few days. I respected you as my own father. To be honest, I still don't want to believe that you took me into the palace just to use me as a hostage! But then I thought, if you were really so cruel, how could you personally supervise me? I think you treat my father the same way. You grew up together, and he has always been your most capable minister. He has blocked all difficulties and dangers for you, the people, and the Ningchang Kingdom. Now that he is old and can no longer withstand the tossing, why do you bother to fight against the tiger in the trap? If I say that our family only wishes to return to the countryside, can you let my father go?"
The emperor regained his usual coldness, but one could still tell from his brows that he was somewhat moved. Yes, Yun Xiao had been by his side since he was young, and half of this empire was built on his shoulders. In the past few decades, Yun Xiao had handled both foreign invasions and internal strife very well, but he was afraid that his achievements would become too great, so he wanted to get rid of him as soon as possible.
"They are indeed father and daughter, even their ideas are exactly the same. It seems that Yun Xiao has raised a good daughter... I understand what you mean, let's go back first." The emperor said with a smile.
I don’t know whether Yunti persuaded the emperor, but this is all I can say.
The emperor looked at the receding figure on the ladder and thought deeply, remaining silent for a long time.
Two days ago, Yun Xiao asked for a meeting and told him the same thing. He was willing to hand over his military command and resign his position as general, moving his family to the border and never setting foot in the capital again. He only wanted to enjoy his old age with his family. If that was the case, there was really no need for him to kill them all...
In the evening, Yunti returned home to see his mother glaring at him angrily. Madam Yun asked, "Why don't you listen?"
"Mom, I'm sorry." Yunti lowered his head and let her scold him.
Madam Yun held her forehead and said, "Forget it, just follow me."
The two of them walked to Yunti's bedroom. Madam Yun waved her hand and asked the servants on all sides to leave. She held Yunti's hand very solemnly.
"The palace has issued an order that your father will be able to return tomorrow."
Yunti was very happy: "Really? This is good news!"
Although Madam Yun was also happy, the smile on her face was forced. "There's one more thing I want to tell you. Your father and I have discussed this for a long time. We originally planned to tell you after the war was over. I just hope you won't blame us."
Yunti had never seen Madam Yun in such a state of distress. She asked anxiously, "What's the matter?"
Madam Yun opened and closed her mouth several times before she finally said, "Actually, you are not the child of your father and me."
Yunti was shocked: "Mom, what are you talking about?"
"Years ago, your father returned victoriously to the capital and encountered you, not even a month old, on his way. That night, amidst a storm, you were placed in a crevice, wailing uncontrollably. Your father couldn't bear to bring you home to raise. I've been childless my entire life, and my husband and I believe you're a blessing from heaven. We thought we could protect you for the rest of your life, but we never expected the Yun family to find itself in this predicament."
Madam Yun didn't look joking at all. Yunti still found it hard to believe that the people she had called her father and mother for twenty years were not her biological parents. This time, Yunti was speechless. She felt bitter and said, "Do you know who my biological parents are?"
Madam Yun replied, "No, your father also secretly sent people to look for her, but to no avail."
Yunti had mixed feelings. It wasn't that she had high expectations of her biological parents, after all, they had never raised her for a single day. She was just a little sad to know that she was abandoned.
Seeing Yunti silent, Madam Yun assumed she was missing her blood relatives. "The Yun family can no longer protect you from danger. If you wish to find your biological parents, my husband and I will do our utmost to help you leave."
Yunti shook his head: "No! Mother, don't say that. I have grown up in the Yun Mansion for more than ten years. This is my home. You are my parents. If the Yun Mansion is in trouble, I will share the hardship with you."
"Ti'er..." After hearing these words, Mrs. Yun's eyes were filled with tears and she hugged Yunti's neck and cried bitterly.
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