Hu Yan Longchang had never been in such a sorry state.
After escaping from Yongcheng, he followed the people who had rescued him, wandering around on the rugged mountain paths. The only thing that comforted him was that judging from the direction, they seemed to be getting closer and closer to Xiliang.
This eight - foot - tall man was almost in tears.
During these days, he finally found out who had saved him.
It was actually the Empress Dowager of the Great Yan.
He wondered what that woman was up to...
Could it be...
Was the Empress Dowager interested in his father?
Thinking of this, Hu Yan Longchang curled his lips. Just as he was about to ask something more, he heard faint rustling sounds coming from the woods on both sides of the path.
He still retained his former vigilance. Immediately tensing his body, he whispered, "There's someone in the woods."
The black - clothed men who had been protecting him also noticed it. Frowning, they took a few men and quietly walked towards the woods with their swords drawn.
Just then, another group of black - clothed men leaped out of the woods, and the two groups quickly engaged in a fight.
When Hu Yan Longchang tried to take the opportunity to escape, he suddenly felt a chill on his neck. Someone had placed a sword against it.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, after enjoying the fresh air, it's time to go back."
A few days later, in the imperial palace of Xiliang.
A charming beauty was lying in Hu Yan Zhuori's arms and casually fed him a grape.
Hu Yan Zhuori was in a very good mood at this moment. He had corresponded with the Empress Dowager of the Great Yan before, and she had promised to help him get his son back.
So today, his only remaining son should be back!
He was quite annoyed. Although he had many women, only three of his sons had survived.
He had a rough idea that all this was related to his good queen!
However, without solid evidence, he couldn't do anything.
If he had known she was such a vicious woman, he shouldn't have spared her after seizing the throne!
Thinking of this, Hu Yan Zhuori looked at the beauty in his arms with a hazy look in his eyes and smiled sickly. "Beauty, how about we work harder to have another child?"
A look of fear flashed in the beauty's eyes, but she still smiled coquettishly.
Just as Hu Yan Zhuori was about to take off her clothes, someone suddenly came to report outside the door.
Thinking it might be news about Hu Yan Longchang, Hu Yan Zhuori hid his annoyance and allowed the person to enter.
"Your Majesty!" The person who came to report immediately knelt on the ground after entering, his voice trembling.
"What's the matter?" Hu Yan Zhuori pushed the beauty away and frowned.
"Something terrible has happened!"
"Bad omen!"
"Your Majesty... The people sent to pick up the Crown Prince reported that... they didn't see the Crown Prince. And..."
"And what!" Hu Yan Zhuori stood up with a gloomy face.
"And... the Emperor of the Great Yan sent a letter..." After saying that, the man tremblingly handed a letter to Hu Yan Zhuori.
Hu Yan Zhuori eagerly took the letter.
"A few days ago, some outlaws kidnapped your country's Crown Prince. I feel deeply ashamed and can't sleep at night. Fortunately, we discovered it in time and rescued the Crown Prince. Your Majesty of Xiliang can rest assured. From now on, I will surely send people to protect the Crown Prince around the clock to prevent any outlaws from taking advantage."
Hu Yan Zhuori was furious.
"The Emperor of the Great Yan is extremely shameless!"
Rescued his son back?
Was that really a rescue?
And preventing outlaws from taking advantage! Was he referring to him?
What was wrong with the Empress Dowager of the Great Yan!
Didn't they agree?
Could it be...
Was it all their scheme? Just to...
Make fun of their father and son?
Hu Yan Zhuori felt a tightness in his chest, spat out a mouthful of blood, and then fainted in anger.
...
Chu Qing and the others didn't delay their journey. So they arrived at the capital of Dongyi in a few days.
At the city gate, two rows of people were already waiting.
Wen Yi walked forward first and had a few words with a kind - looking middle - aged man.
Then the man walked forward, bowed deeply to Wei Ying, and said, "I am Chen Shouzhi, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial. I am here to welcome His Highness the Prince of Ning and his princess of the Great Yan."
Wei Ying nodded as a simple response.
Then, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial led Wei Ying and the others to the Guest Reception Office first.
After they had a short rest, they would enter the palace formally.
...
"Zizhan." Chu Qing said with some concern.
Wei Ying was standing by the window, looking out at the strange scenery. When he heard Chu Qing's voice, he slowly turned around.
Chu Qing walked to his side and gently held his hand.
Seeing that Chu Qing was worried, Wei Ying smiled and said, "Am I so vulnerable in Qingqing's heart?"
Chu Qing said seriously, "When we enter the palace later, if you see her, will you..."
"She is just a stranger to me now." There was no look of sadness on Wei Ying's face, but Chu Qing knew that he must be uncomfortable at this moment.
If he really didn't care about anything, why would he travel thousands of miles to Dongyi?
She hoped that nothing unexpected would happen when they entered the palace later.
...
In the Dongyi imperial palace.
A beautiful woman was dressing in front of a mirror. Her eyebrows and eyes were very similar to Wei Ying's.
She was Wei Ying's biological mother, the imperial concubine of Dongyi, Nangong Yin.
"Mother Concubine!"
Wen Huan shouted excitedly before she even entered the palace hall.
Nangong Yin smiled helplessly and then got up to greet her.
Wen Huan directly threw herself into her arms.
"Mother Concubine! Huan'er misses you so much!" Wen Huan said in a coquettish voice.
Nangong Yin reached out and stroked the stray hairs on her temples, joking, "You've only been out for a short time, and you already miss me. It seems that in the future, the princess mansion bestowed on you can't be too far from the palace."
"Of course! Father loves me so much. He must be reluctant to let me go far!" Wen Huan said proudly, puffing out her chest.
"That's right. Who doesn't know that you are the most delicate pearl of Dongyi." Nangong Yin stretched out her slender finger and pointed at Wen Huan from afar.
Such a simple gesture was made extremely charming by her.
"Mother Concubine, look. I came to you as soon as I got back. Have you prepared any delicious food for your pearl?"
Nangong Yin pretended to be angry and glanced at her, saying, "So you little girl are just thinking about the delicious food here!"
Although she said so, she had already waved her hand to order the servants to bring up the prepared snacks.
Seeing this, Wen Huan giggled and pulled Nangong Yin to sit down together.
After the mother and daughter chatted while eating for a while, Nangong Yin finally couldn't help but ask tentatively, "Huan'er, I heard that you came back with the... Prince of Ning of the Great Yan?"
Wen Huan was stunned for a moment, then curled her lips. "Why are you suddenly talking about someone else!"
Nangong Yin was taken aback, then hid a trace of panic in her eyes and put on a gentle smile. "Although your mother has always been in the harem, I still know something about the people and affairs of other countries. So, I can't help but be a little more interested in the... Prince of Ning, who is highly praised by everyone in the Great Yan."
Wen Huan said, "Okay, okay, Mother Concubine. Whatever you want to know, I will tell you everything I know and see!"
"What does he... look like?"
"Um..." Wen Huan blushed. "He's quite good - looking."
"How does he compare to your elder brother?"
"Your elder brother is a bit inferior."
"And..." Nangong Yin wanted to ask something more.
But Wen Huan said with a strange look on her face, "Mother Concubine... You don't want to betroth your daughter to him, do you?"