Volume One, Chapter 15: The Arrival—Return to the Capital!

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Yan Weiyu's eyes flickered briefly, then she met Xiao Ping'an's gaze with firm sincerity and said, "How could that be! You two are the apples of your mother's eye. How could I possibly think of giving you away to be raised by others?"

"Mother is just a little busy, but whenever she has time, isn't she always the first to come and be with you?"

Xiao Ping'an nodded, then sneered coldly, "Yes, but the problem is, the times you have free are so few, it's almost pitiful. Which three-year-old child can count on one hand how many times in a year they eat and sleep with their mother?"

The emperor heard this and immediately felt a pang of heartache.

This little child, not only growing up without a father's love, but even the mother neglects them—it’s almost like being an orphan!

Almost instinctively, he spoke to comfort them, "Child, you have suffered."

Xiao Ping'an rubbed his eyes, making his big eyes redder, and continued his complaint, "Mother, since you don't care about us this way, yet you won't let us seek our father's love?"

Yan Weiyu looked even more guilty. She quickly wiped her eyes, her expression shifting instantly as her voice choked up, "Well, Anbao, you’ve misunderstood your mother! How could I not care about you!

"You two are my only family in this world! I have only you! You are more important than my own life.

"I forbid you to look for your father because I’m afraid he will snatch you away from me. If that happens, our mother and children could truly never see each other again."

Xiao Ping'an raised an eyebrow, doubt clear on his face, "Mother, do you mean our real father is a bad man?"

Yan Weiyu nodded quickly, "Yes, he’s a terrible villain. My whole life has been harmed by him!"

"If he finds out you exist, he will definitely capture you and use you to threaten me! Not only will all my years of effort be wasted, but I might even lose my freedom, becoming his scapegoat!"

"Imagine those dark, hopeless days. Mother is really scared! Anbao, would you want your mother to become a lifeless shell?"

Xiao Ping'an frowned tightly, then sighed after a long moment, "Mother, you only act so fearless because you rely on your sons’ soft hearts."

Yan Weiyu’s face brightened instantly, thrilled, "Anbao, then will you come back with me?"

Xiao Ping'an shook his head coldly, "I can promise not to look for my real father. But the father I chose, I like him very much. He has some little troubles now and needs my help. So, I have to stay for a while."

Yan Weiyu felt a headache coming. At least if Xiaokai stayed with a normal official’s family, she could always get in and take him away.

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But Xiao Ping'an had chosen the imperial palace. Was that somewhere you could just stroll into?

That was a den of devourers! He was still so young, the guards couldn’t come with him, and if anything happened, no one would hear his cries.

Yan Weiyu hurriedly pulled Xiao Ping'an aside and whispered a warning, "This is the imperial palace. People here will eat you alive. You’re here, and your mother’s reach can’t extend this far. If something happens to you, how can your mother live?"

"You’re not like your sister, who can at least protect herself a little. You’re just a little weakling. Anyone could pin you down with a finger."

"I can’t just watch you fall into such a passive position."

Xiao Ping'an rolled his eyes in a most ungraceful way, "Mother, do you have some misunderstanding about your children? The imperial palace is a place where people kill without bloodshed. You think it’s a fighting arena? If Xiaokai is here, she’s probably being sold out and counting money for them. What self-protection does she have?"

He lifted a finger and pointed to his head, "To live, you have to learn to rely on this."

Yan Weiyu had long accepted the bitter truth that she couldn’t out-argue a three-year-old brat.

But she would never give in: "Unless you convince the emperor to let Wuming stay by your side, I can’t agree."

Xiao Ping'an’s eyes widened, "No way, Uncle Wuming is a man. How can a man stay in the harem?"

Yan Weiyu smirked, "He can disguise himself as a woman."

The empress dowager and the emperor sat there calmly sipping tea, watching the mother and son whispering for a long time, finding it quite amusing.

They thought their voices were low, but everyone present heard perfectly clearly.

To protect this little guy, the mother was even willing to have her subordinate disguise as a woman—that girl’s thinking was truly extraordinary.

However, the emperor did need Xiao Ping'an’s help right now. The palace was full of spoiled nobles, and without Xiao Ping'an as an excuse, their actions would lose legitimacy.

Since it was decided Xiao Ping'an would stay in the palace, naturally, the emperor turned a blind eye to Yan Weiyu’s arrangements, pretending not to hear.

Xiao Ping'an knew his mother worried about him not having a suitable female guard, which was why she proposed such a plan. After a moment’s hesitation, he nodded in agreement, "I’ll go talk to Emperor Father."

The emperor actually wanted to tell Yan Weiyu that if she was worried, she should stay and protect Xiao Ping'an herself.

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But after opening his mouth several times, he never quite managed to say what he truly wanted.

Xiao Ping'an looked at the figure before him—Wuming, who had delicate brows, pale makeup, and bright eyes like stars—and sighed deeply.

Heh, all so well-prepared! There’s no way this was a spur-of-the-moment decision!

He had once again been tricked by that sly mother.

She never intended to take him back from the start!

All that talk about how they were her precious children and her worries about the dangers of the palace were lies! She had long hoped to toss him into the palace and forget about him!

By now, she had probably already fled the capital!

Xiao Ping'an gritted his teeth in fury!

Though it was his own chosen path, he was still so angry—what could he do?!

Meanwhile, a hawk flew out from the palace, disappearing into the vast sea of clouds.

Three hundred miles from the capital, in Tong City, a crimson-clad man of striking features and extraordinary aura sat upright in the VIP seats of the Crane Flying Pear Garden. He sipped tea while listening to a flower-dan (female opera singer) sing a mournful tune.

His long fingers tapped lightly to the rhythm on the table, a faint yet captivating smile playing on his lips.

Outside the Pear Garden, a man dressed in black removed a small cylinder from the hawk’s claw and hurried over, respectfully handing it to the man, "Master, a letter from the capital."

The crimson-clad man lazily set down his teacup, took the cylinder, and opened it slowly. Just a glance shattered his composed demeanor. With a sharp sound, he stood up and slammed a fist on the table, grinding his teeth, "That wretched woman actually dared to parade around in the palace!"

"Send word, return to the capital at once!"