Chapter 93: Chapter 89: Going Home

After Shen Jingxian came out, she didn’t see Song Yan. It seemed that because Song Yan’s leg injury was so alarming and the Emperor knew she was on good terms with his daughter, he had someone take Song Yan back for treatment first.

However, Shen Ming did not escort Song Yan back. In fact, he was the first to come forward after Shen Jingxian walked out.

“Yi Fen! Are you alright?” Shen Ming’s face was full of concern, but Shen Jingxian only felt discomfort.

Now Shen Ming was Song Yan’s fiancé, yet he wasn’t concerned about Song Yan and was worried about her here. What kind of reasoning was that?

A fickle person like him being involved with a little manipulative girl wasn’t surprising at all.

Or perhaps, as the Princely Heir of Prince Rong Mansion, having multiple wives and concubines was engraved in his very bones. Chasing after other women wasn’t called infidelity, but rather elegance.

Shen Jingxian ignored him and swept past Shen Ming, rushing towards that glimpse of Emperor Ming who was approaching, “Father, I’m fine, don’t worry.”

Nestled in her father’s warm embrace, smelling the familiar dragon musky scent, Shen Jingxian’s heart relaxed significantly.

But obviously, the Emperor didn’t relax like she did. Even his hands holding her trembled.

Shen Jingxian didn’t dare to lift her head to see the Emperor’s face, fearing she might lose her composure.

“Father, don’t cry.”

“Alright, Father isn’t crying.”

Liar, his voice was clearly choked up.

The last time she had been unconscious for six years; when she woke up, the Emperor and Empress were visibly haggard. Now, after being kidnapped, the Emperor and Empress immediately brought people to find her.

They say the Emperor is a figure of immense worth, and the Princess is worth a thousand pounds, but how could a daughter surpass her father’s importance?

Shen Jingxian couldn’t believe the Emperor hadn’t faced any obstacles when coming out to find her, yet he still came, even bringing the Empress along.

Shen Jingxian now had a deeper understanding of her father’s stubbornness and his control over the court.

“Where’s Mother?”

“Your Mother is over there.”

Following the Emperor’s gaze, Shen Jingxian saw the Empress sitting on horseback.

With the frivolous palace attire and makeup removed, the Empress looked just like someone in her early twenties, with elegance mingled with a touch of heroism, a dagger at her waist and long braid resting on her shoulder.

Shen Jingxian had always known the Empress to be a formidable figure, reportedly capable in both literature and martial arts, even able to argue back and forth with the current Grand Secretary without losing.

But she had always heard of the Empress’ prowess from others, never having seen it with her own eyes. In her impression, the Empress was just a mother, occasionally bullying the Emperor, but without any sharp edges.

But now, Shen Jingxian seemed to truly see the Empress in her revered form.

“Mother!”

Shen Jingxian ran over and discovered the unusual situation with the Empress.

She wondered why the Empress wasn’t dismounting; it turned out it wasn’t because she didn’t want to, but because she couldn’t.

Hearing Shen Jingxian’s words, the Empress’s expression was strange, as if she hadn’t completely realized who the person before her was.

Shen Jingxian sighed, her eyes involuntarily reddening.

“Mother, I want to ride a horse with you.”

Before the Empress could answer, she climbed onto the horse, letting the Empress encircle her in her arms.

Only then did the Empress gradually come back to her senses, looking at Shen Jingxian in her arms, as her dazed eyes were rekindled with light, yet quickly filled with moisture, “As long as you’re okay, as long as you’re okay, my dear Er Ya…”

Shen Jingxian:… I dislike the name Er Ya, but today I’ll endure it.

The Empress’s oddity was something Shen Jingxian noticed after she woke up; at that time, she was in recovery. Once, when she left Yi Fen Palace without informing the Empress, upon return, the Empress was in that previous state.

Shen Jingxian had secretly consulted the Imperial Physician, but they couldn’t find anything, only saying there was no physical issue. Based on past experiences, Shen Jingxian deduced the Empress likely had PTSD.

The sorrow of losing her daughter was too great a shock for her.

Shen Jingxian calmed her mind, smiling and urging the Emperor to begin the journey home, but she became even more concerned about the matter involving Qin.

She couldn’t die.

If she died, the Emperor and Empress wouldn’t survive.

…

The Emperor had a dream.

In his dream, he returned to the time when the Empress, pregnant, was pushed into the water in December.

At that time, the Empress had a hard time conceiving due to palace conspiracies, and that pregnancy was already a surprise; if the child wasn’t saved, the Empress would never have children again.

Seeing the Empress lying on the bed, lips pale and weak, he hated himself for the first time.

The Empress originally had strong abilities to govern the country, and he most admired how she could command on the court with the prowess of a woman.

He had trapped the Empress within the small palace walls due to his emotions, yet he hadn’t protected her properly, leading her to fall into the narrow schemes of harem women multiple times.

If his protection were stronger, without considering the intricate court factions, neither the Empress nor their future child would endure such suffering.

After the Empress fell into the water, he dealt with many concubines, not just neglecting them but directly having them secretly executed.

And for those obedient concubines, if they wished to leave the palace, he promised to send them off with a new identity, ensuring a worry-free life. However, if they coveted the position of the harem’s head again, he wouldn’t show mercy.

Then, he, and the Empress, had their one and only daughter safely born.

He looked at the small body, at a loss of what to do.

This was their first, and only child together.

For this child’s smooth birth, the Empress had endured countless hardships.

People said the delivery room was a place of defilement, but he didn’t think so. Hearing the child’s first cry, he rushed in, seeing the spirited Princess beside the weak Empress, a towering and dignified man, a sovereign of a nation, couldn’t hold back his tears.

After this ordeal, the Empress’s health undoubtedly worsened, with the Imperial Physician declaring she would be barren for life.

But to him, that wasn’t an issue; he would cherish their only daughter in the palm of his hand, raising her well. No matter if they had only one child, he would let everyone know the child’s importance to him.

Was changing the national surname difficult? Of course, it was.

A person’s hair and skin are inherited from their parents, so is their name.

Unfortunately, his relationship with the former Emperor wasn’t good, and during the battle for the throne, he hadn’t spared any mercy. His own mother had died in palace battles, while the former Emperor turned a blind eye, keeping up appearances. From then on, his only family was Prince Rong,

As long as Prince Rong agreed to the change in national surname, he wouldn’t care about anyone else’s opinion.

Fortunately, his younger brother shared his sentiments, and they agreed effortlessly; the Princess’s surname was changed, and a name was given.

He knew how people gossiped outside, saying he was the only father who took his daughter’s surname.

But so what? Rules were made by people, and he only wanted his wife and daughter to live carefree lives. If provoked, he wouldn’t mind if everyone in the world adopted their daughter’s surname.

He is an Emperor, a husband, and a father.

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