If it were not for later on, Gu Ying really could not stand Li Hao neglecting court affairs, getting drunk with Adu every day, and looking decadent as if he wished to die imdiately. She revealed a little about the possibility that Ning Si was still alive.
But unexpectedly, for this shred of possibility, Li Hao personally led the guards to search all over the land south of the Yangtze, spending over a year to look for A Si in person.
Gu Ying kindly reminded him, "If Your Majesty forces A Si again, she would not think of leaving you, but leaving the mortal world completely."
Li Hao lowered his head dejectedly and sat opposite her, "I understand..."
Gu Ying said, "Go south, Your Majesty. I just want to remind you... A Si needs ti to get over the grievances she has suffered these years. If you truly love and cherish her, set her free."
Li Hao raised his head, flustered, "I love her! I always love her! I have never been unfaithful to her. Those won were for show to the Empress Dowager. Sun Shi's child is not mine. Gu Ying, please explain to A Si for , will you?"
Gu Ying sneered coldly, "Then please keep in mind what Your Majesty has said today."
Li Hao did not say anything more. After talking with Gu Ying, he went on a trip to Jiangnan.
In the picturesque Suzhou, he saw his A Si walking down the street hand in hand with Xing buying kites...
She smiled so happily, completely different from when she was in the imperial harem.
At that mont, even though he was the ruler of the world, he could not help but shed tears.
Li Hao did not choose to appear in front of Ning Si.
He ordered soone to open up a teahouse across from Ning Si's house, and he would stay in the teahouse for a few days every month, secretly guarding mother and son.
So they lived in peace for another year.
Winter in Jiangnan, the scenery was like a painting.
He had just arrived at the teahouse, the owner said, "Master, there is a joyous occasion in the household across recently."
Puzzled, he asked, "What happy occasion?"
The owner hesitated for a mont, then said, "They said the mistress of the house will be taking in a son-in-law, many young n have been there recently to apply."
Li Hao's complexion changed suddenly, his eyes beca terrifyingly dark.
Sensing displeasure from the master, the owner cowered fearfully, not daring to say anything more.
He had to watch those young n enter and leave Ning's door one by one. Finally unable to hold back anymore, on a day without snow, Li Hao stopped Ning Si at the entrance of an alley.
His eyes were red and bloodshot as if they would split open, pressing her against the wall, "Ning Si, how dare you!"
Ning Si was badly frightened, puzzled and flustered as she raised her fair little face, "Your Majesty, you... How did you..."
Li Hao painfully captured the woman's soft lips, sealing off all her words between his lips and teeth. Then, when her breathing beca ragged and panting, he put his arm around her slender waist, hoarsely whispering in her ear, "A Si, I was wrong, forgive , okay?"
"These years looking for you almost drove crazy."
"If Gu Ying didn't tell you were still alive, I'm afraid I would have gone to the netherworld by now to look for you mother and son!"
Ning Si had never seen such a grieved expression on the handso man's face before.
Her heart was racing, unwilling to believe it. She pushed him away hard, "You have the wrong person, I'm not Ning Si..."
"Fine, you don't recognize , what about Xing?"
"He..."
"How could you let other n beco his father?"
"I will find him a good stepfather."
Li Hao's heart felt like it was being twisted by knives, "A Si, even if you wanted to take a husband, I would have the best chance."
"You are the emperor, the king of Eastern Li. Leave, pretend you never saw ..."
Li Hao's eyes turned red as he held her even more tightly. No matter how she struggled, he refused to let go, "I will never let you go again."
Ning Si helplessly quieted down in his embrace. She sighed faintly, "Li Hao, I don't love you anymore... Do you know?"
Her love had been worn away by his indifference over endless years.
Now she didn't know how to love, nor dared to love.
Li Hao's eyes reddened, not daring to look directly at her brows and eyes. He could only hold her body tightly and choke back sobs, "A Si, I know... So I will try my best for the rest of my life, to make you love again."
Ning Si felt a twinge in her heart. The cold wind howled as the snowflakes began to flutter down again.
Her petite body was wrapped in his thick cloak without feeling the slightest chill.
She wanted to move but was held down tightly by the man.
As if he would not let her go unless she agreed.
She sighed softly again, reaching out her small hand to touch his cold cheek, "It's cold, let's go ho."
Li Hao was jolted and it took him quite a while to regain his senses. In a daze, the woman's soft little hand held his big palm, leading him back to Ning's house in a stupor.
As soon as they entered the yard, a six or seven-year-old boy walked past them.
"Huh?"
The boy turned back again.
"Father, why did you only co now?"
Li Hao's handso face was filled with confusion.
Ning Si glared at Li Yixing, "Yan'er and A Ying are about to enter the city with your aunt Gu Shuang and your sister Sui Sui. Go pick them up."
"Xing, you go get elder brother Yan'er and aunt Gu first." Li Yixing's eyes were bright, now that he was older, he looked more and more like Li Hao. He said aningfully, "Mother, stop bullying Father, a man's heart can be very fragile sotis too."
Ning Si pushed him, and Li Yixing went out.
Li Hao frowned, still not understanding what was going on.
But seeing A Si's smiling face, his mood beca a little calr.
They spent the New Year in Suzhou.
Gu Ying and family, as well as Gu Shuang and family, were preparing to return to Bianjing.
Before leaving, Li Hao had lingered outside Ning Si's door for a long ti, barely managing to coax his wife. If he left, soone was bound to take advantage of her loneliness.
Unexpectedly, before he could speak, Ning Si packed up voluntarily and returned with Li Yixing to the capital.
Li Hao did not understand.
Ning Si said, "You should thank A Ying and Shuang. If not for them using the common people every day to speak for your rit, I would not have forgiven you so quickly."
Li Hao was overjoyed, "I promise I will never neglect A Si again..."
Ning Si neither said she believed him nor doubted him. She only said, "If there is one more woman in the palace, Xing and I will leave. You are not to stop us."
Li Hao quickly held up three fingers, "Rest assured A Si, other than our little princess, there will never be any other won!"
Only then did Ning Si give him a good look.
After returning to Bianjing, Ning Si moved back into Zhi Feng Palace. From then on she lived an especially unrestrained life. She wanted to go outing with her sisters, so she went out. As she put it, "With no man in my heart, naturally I wield the sword like a deity."
When Yin Lan was giving birth, she did not even keep His Majesty company for his birthday, only wholeheartedly attending to Yin Lan during labor.
It was said that afterwards His Majesty was very hurt and lonely, babbling drunkenly while hugging his son by himself.
This matter was even recorded in the historical records.
When later historians reviewed the most affectionate emperors in history, they would often bring out Eastern Li's An Ping Emperor for all kinds of analysis.
Of course, when it cos to the most doting husband in history, it has to be the later Prince Zhao Changdu.
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