Wan Gonggong returned to the Qianqing Palace's guard room, where his two young apprentices hastened to attend to him, one pouring tea and the other offering water, massaging his shoulders and legs with utmost diligence.

  The eunuch only had time to wipe his face, change his clothes, and tidy up in front of the mirror before hurrying off to the Qianqing Palace's Xichang Hall.

  Emperor Xiao Yan sat at his desk in the Diligent Governance Hall handling government affairs, with two eunuchs standing behind him with their heads bowed.

  He wore a plain dress made of yellow silk with dragon patterns, cloud patterns and twelve chapter patterns embroidered on it.

  Heaven has been very kind to this man, who stood firm at thirty, but the years only brought him a deeper and more profound demeanor, a more solemn and majestic temperament, yet without leaving any traces on his face. He didn't have a beard, looking still young, with a clear and pure wind like jade.

  Anyone would acknowledge that if he weren't an emperor, he would still be a very charming man. Of course, his imperial status makes him even more attractive.

  He heard Secretary Wan come in, and from the documents he was reviewing, he slightly raised his head to glance at him with a hint of disdain, asking casually: "Back?" Then he continued to lower his head to review the documents.

  At this time, you will hear that his voice is also very low and thick, like a bell ringing in an empty valley, making it impossible to ignore his existence, and can't help but be fascinated by this sound.

  Wan Gonggong went forward and paid his respects, then bowed and reported: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the ceremony of receiving the imperial bride has proceeded smoothly in all aspects."

  Xiao Xiao nodded slightly and then didn't say anything else.

  After a while, he seemed to be enchanted by something and became dazed. The vermilion imperial brush in his hand stopped in mid-air, the bright red vermilion dripped from the tip of the brush, soaking through the paper on the desk, leaving a huge red dot.

  Wan Gonggong came over and tried to guess the emperor's thoughts, seeing him like this, he hurriedly added with a smile: "Miss Lin Si is very delighted."

  Xiao Yan's face twitched slightly, his narrow eyes becoming even narrower.

  Is she delighted? She would definitely behave like this in front of outsiders.

  Even as an emperor, he felt the impermanence and helplessness of life. Who would have thought that the one who once sat on his lap, would smile at him with furrowed brows, stretch out her hand to grab a pearl from his head, and when she couldn't get it, would laugh and kiss his cheek, then look at him with expectant eyes as his lovely little daughter, who would soon become his wife.

  He still remembered the last time he saw her, when he was just a prince. His brother, Prince Qi, had joined forces with the remnants of the deposed crown prince and Empress Chen to rebel against him. The Eastern Palace was besieged, and at that time, he was leading the Five Armies and the Western Mountain Garrison to rescue the emperor, leaving no time to care for the Eastern Palace. When his personal guard finally rescued the Eastern Palace, he heard that she had hidden Tai'er in a rice jar in the kitchen and then lured the rebel soldiers to the study, where she was slightly injured.

  At that time she was only six or seven years old, holding the hand of Tai'er who was one year younger than her, and walking timidly towards him. He asked if she was afraid.

  She remained silent for a while, hesitating whether she should prove to the adults that she was a brave child, but finally, as if she couldn't bear it anymore, with tears shining in her eyes, filled with grievances, and a sobbing tone, said: "Afraid, so afraid..."

  At that time, he was really heartbroken to see such a little girl, and he hugged her in his arms, patting her back to comfort her: "It's okay, Uncle is here, it's okay..." At that time, he thought to himself that he must never let such a little girl encounter such a thing again.

  And she seemed to have finally found a place where she could rest her mind, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face in his shoulder, sobbing softly. He still vaguely remembered the trembling of her body at that time, as well as the warm tears on his neck.

  Later he ascended the throne, to handle government affairs, to fight with those old ministers who were more cunning than one another, and to suppress those restless outer vassals and barbarians, things followed one after another.

  Lin Ying and her husband, Mr. Zhuang, were still a bit uneasy about the previous incident and no longer wanted her to come to the palace. Occasionally, when he saw some relatives' children in Gong Nangong's palace, he would ask why Gong Nangong didn't summon her into the palace. He remembered that Gong Nangong also liked this niece of the Lin family very much.

  But Xiangniang said with a hint of regret: "Third sister-in-law said that the child is ill, and she won't let her come to the palace so as not to cause us trouble."

  He also has children and understands the thoughts of Lin Ying and her husband, so he no longer forces them later on.

  He couldn't help but smile wryly, thinking that when the little girl grew up, he would have to find her a good husband and arrange a royal marriage for her with all the grandeur of a princess's wedding, ensuring she lived a life free from worries. Little did he know, fate had other plans, and in the end, he would become her husband.

  Xiao Xian put down his brush and asked Wang Gonggong: "I remember that the child has been ill since returning to Beijing, now..."

  The eunuch immediately replied: "Your Majesty, rest assured that the Fourth Miss's body has fully recovered. I've been keeping an eye on her all along, and the imperial physician also said that the Fourth Miss had a good physical foundation. She was originally ill because of her uneasy mind, but after she opened up and relaxed, she quickly recovered. Now her body is completely unimpeded."

  Xiao Xiao nodded and didn't say anything else.

  After a while, he thought of something again and asked: "What about Tai'er? What has he been up to lately? I haven't seen him for quite some time, and in the past few days, he hasn't come to pay his respects to me either."

  Wan Gonggong smiled and said, "Your Highness was scolded by the Emperor last time for writing a poor article, so he's been feeling guilty and has been studying hard recently. He even told the servants in Yanqing Palace that if he can't write an article that satisfies the Emperor and the Grand Preceptors, he won't come to see the Emperor."

  Xiao Yan's face showed a few degrees of warmth, and he said: "This child's temperament is like his mother's, a bit stubborn. I'm afraid he has psychological resentment towards me for scolding him last time."

  "Your Majesty mustn't say such things, the Crown Prince deeply respects and loves you."

  "Alright, who let me be his father?" He said, and then instructed: "Let them take good care of his diet, and also have someone keep an eye on him to prevent him from overworking, lest he hurt his body."

  Mr. Wan smiled and respectfully said: "Yes."

  As he spoke, he lowered his head and a hint of sorrow appeared on his face.

  The Crown Prince has not been studying diligently these days, but rather hiding in his house without eating or drinking. His temper has also become extremely violent, and several times the news of him beating people to death has come from the East Palace. If it weren't for the fact that the East Palace's fences are still relatively stable, I'm afraid the news of the Crown Prince's violent temper would have already been transmitted to the ears of those in the outer court and the Emperor through the hands of that person in the Zhao Yang Palace.

  The emperor may care about the crown prince, but it's not necessarily what these slaves know about the crown prince's mind.

  The Crown Prince began to change his temperament after news spread from the palace that the Emperor wanted to establish Lin Si as Empress.

  But some things, like the crown prince's little thoughts, can only be strangled in the cradle and never let others know. He hopes that the young master of the East Palace will soon understand that the emperor is his father, but also the Son of Heaven.