The third quarter of yĂn-shĂ (3-5 am) on the eighth day of the third lunar month, Lin Si Yao followed Liang En Jing and Liang En Zai to the palace to see the Emperor.
Lin Xiao woke up early, but after being fed, he slept again. And Lin Long, who had just learned to turn her body, Â was crawling on the bed, playing happily with Situ Yun.
Su Shuilian signaled Bai He and the wet-nurse to watch the kids. Then, she walked on the corridor of her Lotus Courtyard, in deep thoughts. When she reached the end of the corridor, she chose a clean bench and sat down, facing the lake of young lotus leaves, absent-minded.
Although Liang En Zai had repeatedly assured her that there wouldnât be anything unexpected when A Yao went to the palace to see the Emperor. That the Emperor had just wanted to compliment him. Afterall, Lin Si Yao had helped the royal family to eliminate Blood Unionâs Twelve Blood Knights that Da Hui had always been afraid of.
However, she didnât know why she was still somewhat anxious.
Meeting up with the Emperor wasnât a simple matter.
She remembered Imperial Doctor Ouyang Xun, who used to save the Emperorâs life and was greatly dedicated to the entire Da Huiâs royal family. However, because of his frank rejection, he ended behind bars.
There was also Long Xi Yue. Not only did she assist Ouyang Xun in saving countless people, she had also helped the Emperorâs concubines and wives in their labor. In the end, her outcome?
If Blood Union hadnât taken action, she would have become a sacrifice. She would have been forced to sacrifice her second life with an embroidered ball. Haha, if her embroidered ball chose a talented, handsome husband, she would have to step back and sew the wedding dress for the Third Princess. And⊠if she picked some common guy, a low-profile villain in the market, she would have to wear that wedding dress and sacrifice her life to exchange for the good name of the Emperor. Isnât it ironic?
Fortunately, the Blood Union had come to save them. Doctor Ouyang was taken to Blood Union, and because of that, he wouldnât have a chance to set his foot on Da Huiâs territory anymore. How about Long Xi Yue? Perhaps she would follow Ouyang Xun back to Blood Union, or⊠she would change her appearance and live as someone else.
Sigh⊠With that thought, Su Shuilian couldnât help but let out an audible sigh. It has been two years since she had arrived in this world, never had she thought that her life would have a complicated relationship with the current royal family.
She just wanted to stay and settle down with A Yao in a small, remote town that had verdant hills and limpid water. They would have several kids and raise herds of cows, sheep, or chickens. When the harvesting time came, she would harvest rice or dry rice or deliver lunch to her husband working on the field. When they had free time, they would go fishing, catch some shrimps or roast the sweet potatoes with the kids. She could have time to sew clothes or draw some pictures. A dream come true!
No one had expected to see the reality, which was completely different from their imagination.\n
The Fan Hua Town still had verdant hills and limpid water. However, it was renamed to Fan Hua Private Mansion.
She and A Yao still lived there with their kids, but now they had more people; more servants and maids in the house.
When the harvest time came, they didnât need to worry. They didnât need to feed their livestock eitherâŠ
And even her embroidery job, the one she had mastered and it had become part of her, wasnât as interesting as when she had to do to earn a living. Their maids had prepared clothes for the adults and the kids for four seasons. She didnât need to sew anything herself, unless she insisted. However, if she did that, she would blame herself for squandering.
Sigh⊠Su Shuilian sighed again. She threw a pebble into the lotus lake. Looking at the ripples expanding after the pebble sank, she slowly calmed her mind.
Perhaps she needed to learn from A Yao. She should not mind or take concern of other people and matters. Of course, she believed that she and the twins were in his heart. Moreover, they got the most prominent position in his heart.
Thinking about that, Su Shuilianâs lips curved into a satisfied smile.
From the outside, this man looked cold and indifferent. However, when they were with each other privately, he was full of passionate love. Sometimes so hot, she even finds it hard to endure.
However, the two conflicting characters seemed to stay harmoniously in him. It pulls her closer to him.
Su Shuilian held her hot cheeks, gently patting, trying to cool down the heat on her face. Looking at the sun over her head, she knew it was wÇ-shĂ (11 am-1 pm).
Oh, she had sat here absent-minded for almost two hours? Did they get any news from the imperial palace?
Su Shuilian massaged her sore calves, slowly getting up. As she was about to return to her room and check the twins, she was startled by someone standing behind her.
â⊠Mo..MotherâŠâ
Feng Cai Yun internally sighed, waving at the daughter that had been sitting there and let her mind wander for half a day.\nâXu-er, we have received word from the imperial palace, saying that they will return after attending the feast.â
ââŠOk!â Su Shuilian nodded, exhaling in relief. If the imperial palace sent someone to deliver the message, and they got the feast, it meant they were safe. The worry that had weighed her heart vanished.
âMother, do you want to talk to me?â Su Shuilian saw Feng Cai Yun looking at her with complicated eyes. She stopped and checked her clothes. Finding nothing strange, she lifted her head to look at her mother.
Feng Cai Yun shook her head. She just came to chat some with her daughter. This morning, she heard that today, her daughter and her son-in-law would return to Fan Huo Town. She felt really lost. This was the daughter she had borne in her womb for ten months⊠Although there was the gap of ten years they didnât know anything about the otherâs existence, when she finally found her, she was already married and pregnant.
Her daughter lived in a remote village, which was thousands of miles away from the imperial city. Even if she wanted to visit her more often, she couldnât do that. Moreover, she couldnât move in with her daughter and son-in-law. Thatâs why she and her husband, as Elder Wangye and Elder Wangfei, had come up with a solution. They decided to merge that village into Prince Jingâs Mansion. Later on, she and her husband could rightfully go and visit her regularly.
It was lucky that her son-in-law was sensible. To bluntly put it, he didnât care much. Of course, her daughter and her grandchildren were his exceptions.
The cold man with superb skills and extraordinary aura had cared for her daughter very well. She and her husband didnât need to worry about their daughter. At the same time, it comforted them somehow.
Lately, seeing her daughter sinking in her thoughts and sighing, she repeatedly asked herself: had her daughter ever resented her? After all, what was her mother that birthed her, but never fed her for a single day. What kind of position did she occupy in her daughterâs heart?
Has her existence ever been the object of fluctuation in her daughterâs emotions? Among her daughterâs worries, was there any because of her?
Although she had told herself many times: donât mind it; donât worry about it⊠As long as her daughter was safe and happy, it was alright no matter if she could be something in her daughterâs heart.
But was it really ok?
âMotherâŠâ  A tender call pulled Feng Cai Yunâs wandering thoughts back to her.
âXu-erâŠâ Feng Cai Yun retrieved the bitterness in her heart. She curled her lips into a loving smile. âLetâs go. Itâs lunch time. The men arenât home. We shouldnât mistreat ourselves.â
âYes,â Su Shuilian reached out to Feng Cai Yunâs hand. It was very natural, as if they had always done that, as if they had never been parted for ten years.\n\nLiang En Zai sighed begrudgingly.
âYour Majesty, although my brother-in-law has extraordinary skills, heâs just a barbarian from the mountainous area. Heâs not suitable to shoulder the heavy duty in the imperial palace. Why donât you give him some money then?â Liang En Zai smiled, interrupting and breaking the push-and-pull situation between the two.
âHahaâŠâ Hearing Liang En Zai, Li Wen Xiu knew the other was trying to rescue Lin Si Yao. Li Wen Xiu burst out laughing, shaking his head. He turned around to see Liang Xuan Jing sitting at another table. âZhen does not think that your good son-in-law is just a barbarian from the mountain.â
âThank you for your praise, Your Majesty!â Liang Xuan Jing got up, bowed to thank the other.
âMy officials, today, Zhen have something to announceâŠâ Li Wen Xiu said before glancing at the side hall. âYouâve been listening and drinking for long enough. Come out!â
Seeing Li Wen Xiuâs acting strangely, Liang Xuan Jing and the others were so curious, turning to look at the side hall.
When they recognized the identity of the man walking out of the side hall, everybody was astonished. Then, they muttered to each otherâs ears.
âBlood Union⊠Heâs the Blood Unionâs Emperor!â
âHeavens! Thatâs the real Blood Unionâs Emperor!â
âWhy is he here? Wasnât it agreed that the Blood Union and Da Hui donât interfere with each otherâs political matters?â
âIs it because of the twelve Blood Knights? He comes all the way here to take revenge?â
âDid⊠Did His Majesty want to hand Lin Si Yao to Blood Unionâs Emperor as tribute?â