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The reason why Nangong Yan knew this was because she had been seriously ill recently. The abandonment of the Prince Consort, Yan Jiuchao’s schemes, and the decline of the Queen Manor had made her heart ashen. Everyone thought that she was no different from the living dead, so they were no longer as careful as before in front of her.
She had heard a lot of things by accident, including Li Yu’s conversation with an accomplice.
Li Yu said that he had gained the Empress’s favor more and more. The Empress could no longer leave him. If this chess piece was used well, it could turn the court of Nanzhao upside down. At that time, it would be much easier for them to restore the country.
Although Li Yu was dead, his accomplices were still in the central palace. However, it was not important. They had already left.
The Empress’s greatest scheme in her life was with Yuwen Zhao. After being protected by Yuwen Zhao and the State Preceptor Hall for many years, she was not as careful as before, nor was she as vigilant as before. The matter of Eunuch Li was a huge lesson.
Thinking of how she had almost become a chess piece for the eunuch, the Empress felt a chill run down her spine. She held Nangong Yan’s hand and sighed. “I’ve wronged you. Fortunately, you arrived in time. Otherwise, I wouldn’t know where I would be kidnapped by that eunuch.”
The biggest mistake was not that she was almost kidnapped, but that she kidnapped Dabao in front of the ministers. This was an irreversible mistake. In the future, even if Nangong Yan eliminated all difficulties to clear her name, she would not be able to change the sins she committed today in the throne room.
Unfortunately, it had already happened. It was useless to regret it. In the duel three days later, she had to defeat the Eldest Princess!
“Yan’er, how’s your health?” Just now, she was so focused on escaping that she forgot to care about her daughter’s health. At this thought, a layer of guilt surged in the Empress’s heart.
Nangong Yan said, “I’m fine.”
It wasn’t that she was really fine. Even if something happened, nothing could happen. At the critical moment of life and death, if she fell, everything would be over. How could the Empress not understand that she was forcing herself? The Empress raised her sleeve in heartache to wipe the sweat off her forehead, but she tilted her head and avoided it.
The Empress’s expression stiffened. “Yan’er, you…” She wanted to say, “Did you hear my conversation with His Majesty and know about me and Yuwen Yu?” When the words reached her lips, she skipped this topic and asked directly, “Are you blaming Mother?”
“No,” Nangong Yan said perfunctorily.
The Empress choked and said, “I know that you blame me. I am indeed in the wrong, but I didn’t do it on purpose. At that time, I…”
“Stop talking!” Nangong Yan did not want to hear about her history with Yuwen Yu.
Nangong Yan hoped that she had never known the truth. Her mother had not betrayed her father, and she had not relied on Yuwen Yu to change her fate to become the lucky star. She had not snatched everything that belonged to the Eldest Princess. She had not…
“Yan’er…” The Empress held Nangong Yan’s hand again.
With a violent bump, the Empress’s body fell to the side. The mother and daughter’s hands separated. Nangong Yan did not even look up.
The Empress felt endless coldness on her daughter’s face. She still blamed her…
“Where are we going now?” The Empress said sadly.
Nangong Yan said, “To the Princess Manor to pick up Li’er and Xi’er.”
As soon as she finished speaking, a carriage stopped at the entrance of the alley, blocking their path. A trace of vigilance flashed across Nangong Yan’s face. A muscular figure jumped out of the carriage. “Mother, it’s me!”
“Li’er!” Nangong Yan’s expression relaxed and she lifted the curtain.
Nangong Li quickly walked up. When he saw the Empress and Dabao in Nangong Yan’s arms, he did not show any surprise. It was as if he had known all along. He bowed and said, “Grandmother, Mother.”
The Empress nodded in relief.
“Where’s Xi’er?” Nangong Yan did not see Nangong Xi.
Nangong Li sat down beside Nangong Yan and said, “I’ve settled her in a suitable place. Mother, don’t worry.”
After not seeing him for a while, Nangong Li had also lost weight. It was unknown what sin their family had committed, but one after another, they fell into the hands of the Eldest Princess and the others, tortured until they were inhuman.
It was unknown how much effort Nangong Li had spent to reconnect his broken ribs. He had even used a few large jars of spirit pills. Fortunately, he was from the royal family. If it were any other disciple, they would probably still be lying on the hospital bed.
“Let’s go,” Nangong Li said to the coachman.
The coachman waved his horsewhip and continued forward.
Nangong Li looked at the child sleeping soundly in his mother’s arms, his eyes cold. He had let Consort Yun, her daughter, and Yu Shaoqing torture him so miserably, and now their little sweetheart is in his hands.
Sensing her son’s thoughts, Nangong Yan reminded him, “Don’t touch him for the time being. I have use for him.”
Nangong Li retracted the killing intent in his eyes. “Got it, Mother.”
The carriage avoided the bustling streets and drove in a deserted alley. Not long after, they left the street and came to a deserted deep path.
Nangong Li lifted the curtain and looked. “Mother, where are we going?”
Nangong Yan did not answer him. Instead, she said, “You’ll know when you get there.”
The carriage circled around and finally arrived at a small bamboo forest when the Empress was almost vomited.
Nangong Yan carried Dabao down the carriage.
At this moment, Dabao was already awake. When he opened his eyes, he was in an unfamiliar place. He still did not cry. He just stayed quietly in Nangong Yan’s arms with his black eyes wide open.
Nangong Yan was on the verge of acting up at any time. Fortunately, it was Dabao who was kidnapped. If it were the chattering Xiaobao and Er’bao, they might have suffered in her hands.
The Empress put on her hood and alighted from the carriage with Nangong Li’s help.
Nangong Yan was still weak. She could not carry such a big fat child in a short while. She looked down at the little guy in her arms. “Has anyone told you you’re heavy?”
Dabao shook his head.
The corners of Nangong Yan’s mouth twitched. What kind of monsters were that family? Didn’t they think that such fat children were heavy?
“Walk by yourself.” Nangong Li placed him on the ground and grabbed one of his little hands.
Dabao obediently followed her.
The Empress and Nangong Li followed behind the two of them.
After walking for about fifteen minutes, an elegant courtyard appeared in front of them. In the courtyard surrounded by bamboo hedges and a straw hut, it looked simple and honest, but the floor under the porch was made of the best golden cedar.
The Empress and Nangong Li stopped in their tracks.
“This is…” Just as Nangong Li spoke, a man in white walked over from the side path. The man did not notice them. His side profile flashed and he walked into the small courtyard.
Nangong Li looked at the familiar back and his eyes lit up. He strode over. “Father!”
The man turned around. It was a face that was twenty to thirty percent similar to Prince Yan, but it was definitely not Prince Yan himself.
A trace of disappointment flashed across Nangong Li’s eyes.
That’s right, how could he forget that that man had long abandoned them and went to seek refuge with his Zijun and Cong’er? What was he looking forward to? Did that man discover his conscience and change his mind? Did he want to spend the hard times with them?
“Li’er.” Bai Qianli recognized him and could not help but smile happily.
This intimate address made Nangong Li frown. “Who are you? How dare you call my name?”
“I am…” Bai Qianli opened his mouth but hesitated. He nodded at Nangong Yan, who was walking over. Then, he looked at the child in Nangong Yan’s hand in surprise. He had seen Yan Jiuchao before. This child’s expression and facial features were very similar to Yan Jiuchao.
He was surprised, but he did not say anything. He looked at the Empress again.
“My mother,” Nangong Yan said.
Bai Qianli bowed. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”
The Empress looked at him and then at her daughter, who had already entered the room. Her eyes flickered slightly, but she did not expose them. She walked into the room.
Nangong Li also sensed their unusual aura, especially since this person looked so much like his father. He chased Nangong Yan into a room.
Nangong Yan’s familiarity with the house made Nangong Li feel a subtle abnormality in his heart.
Nangong Li’s face darkened. “Mother, who is that man?”
Nangong Yan let Dabao sit on the stool and turned to look at her son indifferently. “Is this the time to care about this? The duel with the Eldest Princess is in three days. You should think about how to defeat her for me!”
Nangong Li clenched his fists.
Dabao raised his head and looked at the two of them. He raised his little hand to cover his ears.
“Don’t be afraid.” Nangong Yan took his little hand. “We won’t quarrel.”
Dabao looked at Nangong Li again, as if asking if they really won’t quarrel.
Nangong Li glared coldly at Dabao and left without looking back!
