An Ning naturally understood Song Yanqing’s aning.
Song Yanqing was more rational than Xie Ruotong, or perhaps, had deeper thoughts.
Probably the difference between a civil and military official.
Song Yanqing feared she would hurt Xiao Jinxing again.
So he reminded her not to toy with the Emperor’s emotions.
She smiled slightly, "Don’t worry, I’m tired too. I can’t bear the turmoil anymore."
"I have overthought it, my apologies." Song Yanqing said humbly, "Take care, Your Majesty. I wish you a smooth journey tomorrow."
He did not forget to remind her to rember to et Xiao Jinxing tomorrow.
Song Yanqing, this man, appeared formal but was quite cunning.
Otherwise, he couldn’t have earned Xiao Jinxing’s appreciation.
Understanding people’s hearts and strategies must be loved by the Emperor.
"By the way." Song Yanqing took out a token, "This is the military token Ruotong asked to hand over to you. When you reach Mobei, use this token to enter the army camp."
An Ning nodded, accepting it.
"Then I shall take my leave." Song Yanqing didn’t delay.
Thinking he couldn’t wait to return to Xie Ruotong’s side, to his daughter’s side.
"Go back."
Song Yanqing received the command, imdiately mounted his horse, sped up, and left without looking back.
After Song Yanqing left, An Ning instructed Guan Yu, "The imperial palace is not a place outsiders can enter casually, especially the harem. Only eunuchs are allowed to stay; no other males can lodge. You should join the others, and tomorrow I will have soone inform you before going to Mobei."
"Yes." Guan Yu nodded and couldn’t help but ask, "Miss, you are really..."
Regarding her identity as Empress, only Zhang Wenhe and Yan Jinyao knew.
After all, no matter how loyal others are, the fewer people know so things, the better—this is more harm than good.
Facing Guan Yu’s confusion, An Ning thought for a mont and explained, "It’s late now. I will explain to you all on the way to Mobei tomorrow."
"Oh." Guan Yu dared not ask more.
He jumped off the carriage, and a Palace Attendant got on.
Then drove the carriage into the imperial palace.
An Ning lifted the curtain.
An Youyou peeked out, examining the familiar imperial palace.
She couldn’t help but say, "Mother, it’s exactly the sa as when we left. It hasn’t changed at all."
"Do you miss it?" An Ning asked gently.
"I do. I particularly miss father and brother, and sister Anqi too." An Youyou said in her childish voice, "Does mother miss them?"
An Ning smiled, "I do, that’s why I brought you back."
An Youyou nodded heavily.
She couldn’t wait to see them now.
The carriage soon reached Fengqi Palace.
As Song Yanqing had negotiated in advance, all the palace attendants of Fengqi Palace were already at the gate waiting.
Seeing the carriage stop.
All the palace attendants quickly knelt on the ground and said in unison, "Welco Your Majesty back to the palace, welco the Princess back to the palace."
An Ning’s nose tingled.
She actually thought this place should have been deserted.
She was not here.
Her palace attendants shouldn’t be here either.
Even though Song Yanqing negotiated, it was impossible for the palace attendants to gather at Fengqi Palace so quickly.
The only possibility was that the palace attendants stayed here ever since she left.
Xiao Jinxing clearly understood that if Gu Xingchuan were still alive, she wouldn’t return, and he kept this fact from her. Obviously, he believed she wouldn’t return.
Not returning, yet still preserving her palace...
An Ning didn’t want to think too much.
If she thought too much, she feared she’d go straight to Mobei.
"Rise."
"Thank you, Empress. Thank you, Princess." The palace attendants rose.
Respectfully standing in two lines, waiting for her and An Youyou’s return.
She walked into Fengqi Palace.
Not only were all the palace attendants there, but every furnishing in Fengqi Palace, even the cushion and inkstone she habitually placed in the hall were still there, their positions unchanged.
The palace was clean and without a speck of dust.
Truly, it was just as she left it.
Returning now, it was still the sa.
"Your Majesty." A palace maid approached respectfully.
It was An Ning’s close maid, Xiu Lian.
Her eyes were red, moved beyond words by the Empress’s sudden return.
Everyone thought the Empress would never return.
This departure lasted nine months.
If the Emperor were still in the palace, he would be so happy.
"Have you all been here during my absence?" An Ning asked.
"Reporting to Your Majesty." Xiu Lian curtseyed, "After you left, the Emperor commanded all servants and maids at Fengqi Palace to remain, just as if you were here. No furnishings were allowed to be moved. The palace had to stay exactly as it was when you left."
An Ning pressed her lips.
She couldn’t help but recall Xiao Jinxing’s deanor when ordering this.
Was it hopeless? Or, was there a sliver of expectation?
"The Emperor often visits Fengqi Palace." Xiu Lian added, "Sotis he sits for a mont, drinks tea, and leaves. Other tis, he stays a whole day. He sits on the couch you liked and writes. The Emperor wrote a lot, and I kept all his writings. I’ll bring them to you now."
Saying this, Xiu Lian excitedly brought out the Xuan paper Xiao Jinxing had written.
Every Xuan paper had only two words.
Just "An Ning."
An Ning looked at these varied brush strokes.
Clearly, the sa words were repeatedly written. So strokes were fluid and beautiful, while others were crooked as if chewed by dogs, making it hard to believe it was the sa handwriting. But apart from Xiao Jinxing, who else could it be?!
She saw traces of ink spread on the Xuan paper... the more she looked, the more her heart ached.
She was fully aware of where these marks ca from.
And understood why so characters were so well-written, while others looked so unsightly.
When she wrote Fu Xingyi’s na before, she had experienced the sa.
It was because when the heart hurt too much, one couldn’t hold the brush steady, the script beca twisted, and tears blurred the eyes.
"Your Majesty?" Xiu Lian called softly.
Noticing her emotional fluctuations.
An Ning tried to clear her vision of the blur and regain composure, saying, "Send for the Crown Prince and Princess. I want to see them."
"Yes, I will go imdiately." Xiu Lian quickly left.
An Ning once again glanced at the Xuan paper before her, looking at the papers covered with her na.
Her eyes reddened again and again.
An Youyou seed comfortable at the mont, sitting on a chair, sipping tea, and happily taking in the familiar surroundings.
Until.
Xiao Luming and Xiao Anqi arrived.
When the two saw An Ning and An Youyou, they were visibly moved.
Of course, the most excited was An Youyou.
She quickly scrambled off the chair, rushing into Xiao Luming’s arms, "Brother, I missed you so much! Wah-wah-wah..."
She suddenly burst into loud tears.
Xiao Luming held An Youyou tightly in his embrace.
His eyes appeared slightly red as well.
Anqi watched Youyou, listening to her cry, and couldn’t stop her tears from falling.
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