There wasn’t much for the Princess herself, mainly sadness for the Empress Dowager.
However, as an Emperor.
He had long been accustod to suppressing his emotions, hence his stern deanor outside.
But when with Lin Wanyi, he could relax all his thoughts.
After embracing for a long ti, the Emperor finally let go.
Only then did he notice Lin Wanyi’s arms were sowhat red from his grip.
So he turned to a cabinet and brought out so ointnt.
When the ointnt box was opened, Lin Wanyi smiled.
"If I rember correctly, this ointnt was applied by Your Majesty for back then."
"You have quite the nose."
There’s no other way; Lin Wanyi grew up almost imrsed in a pot of dicine.
So, naturally, she could recognize this scent.
The Emperor gently applied and massaged the ointnt on her.
Soon, the redness and swelling dissipated.
Seeing this, the Emperor put her sleeve back down.
He spoke to her earnestly.
"In the future, if I accidentally hurt you, just speak up, don’t grit your teeth to endure it, I don’t want you to bear it either."
Lin Wanyi did not expect that just a little redness and swelling could lead the Emperor to think of so much.
But soon, she understood.
This was likely related to his own experiences.
Endurance is not always a good thing.
If possible, the Emperor hoped that Lin Wanyi could, under his protection, express her emotions freely.
Thinking about this, Lin Wanyi felt warmth in her heart.
She imdiately held the Emperor’s hand in return and said.
"I understand. In the future, not only will I speak if I’m in pain, but also if I’m hungry or tired."
The Emperor chuckled at her child-like words.
But he still needed to explain clearly to Lin Wanyi.
Then he sighed and said.
"The Princess has already been sentenced to death, and all involved have been convicted. When Mother left the Princess Mansion, she looked like a taut string. I felt distressed seeing her. I planned to console her, but she shut out."
Seeing the Emperor bringing up this matter, Lin Wanyi then continued.
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager’s mind is extraordinarily resilient, which ans that in her vulnerable monts, she doesn’t like to be disturbed. Your kind intentions are better expressed after so ti has passed. For the next couple of days, let the Empress Dowager have her peace."
"Any mother would be heartbroken in such a situation."
Lin Wanyi’s mind was not as rational as the Empress Dowager’s, but she was also a mother.
When in deep pain, one would rather heal alone.
The Empress Dowager being able to hold up without falling ill is already comndable.
As for their concern, it’s better to express it later.
The Emperor thought her words made a lot of sense.
But after years of spending ti with the Empress Dowager, he always felt that after tomorrow, the Empress Dowager might not want to stay in Shengjing City anymore.
Seeing the Emperor’s slightly somber face, Lin Wanyi imdiately comforted him.
"We won’t disturb them, but the Princes visiting the Grand Empress Dowager is appropriate. I’ll bring the children over to accompany the Empress Dowager in the coming days."
Children are the purest, and seeing their smiles can lift one’s spirits.
"Yes, that’s a good idea."
Glancing at the night outside and the fatigue on Lin Wanyi’s face.
The Emperor had Dong Yuzhong bring water, and after washing, they lay down together.
Under the moonlight, they leaned against each other.
There was nothing inappropriate, just the presence of one another brought peace.
The next day, after the Emperor finished court, he went to Cining Palace.
Just stepping into the main hall, he heard the laughter of the Fifth Prince and Second Princess.
Imdiately, so of his tense expression eased considerably.
When he, dressed in a Dragon Robe, approached, the noisy children saw the Emperor.
They quickly and sweetly called out.
"Father."
Then they gathered around, chattering incessantly.
"Alright, let your father sit down."
The Empress Dowager smiled at the children, while Hui Xian’s two children, along with Princess Ming Ruo, looked a bit envious and reserved.
The forr because their father had been severely ill and hadn’t seen him up in a long ti.
The latter because she hadn’t interacted much with the Emperor, and given her maternal family’s situation, she felt sowhat restrained.
"I greet Your Majesty."
"Son pays respects to Mother."
With the Emperor present, Lin Wanyi naturally stood up.
Nanny Wen had a palace maid bring her a stool, and she sat by the Emperor’s side.
Seeing both of them present, the Empress Dowager spoke directly.
"The tumult in Shengjing City has subsided. After much thought, I’ve decided to return to Wutai Mountain for a quiet retreat to live out my days."
Hearing this, Lin Wanyi was a bit surprised.
But the Emperor appeared as if he had expected it.
"When do you plan to leave, Mother?"
"I’ll return to the traveling palace today to pack, and leave in three days."
"So soon?"
The Empress Dowager smiled, but there was a hint of fatigue in it.
For the first ti, the Emperor sensed such an atmosphere from her.
With a heavy heart, he continued.
"I am unworthy, Mother is still alive, yet I can’t let you live comfortably. It’s all my fault."
The Empress Dowager replied.
"How is this your fault? Emperor, don’t let won’s affairs cloud your mind. The Da Wei kingdom still needs you to guard it diligently."
In the Empress Dowager’s heart, love was always grand.
She loved this world, as well as its people.
Hearing this, Lin Wanyi was shocked again and again in her heart.
It must be said, the Empress Dowager’s wisdom was unparalleled.
She admired her but also felt the sa ache the Emperor did.
Hearing the Empress Dowager’s decision to leave.
Ming Ruo was the first to stand up.
With a slight sob, she said.
"Grand Empress Dowager, I want to go with you."
"Nonsense, you are a Princess of the nation, what would you follow to Wutai Mountain for? Just stay in the palace, won’t you?"
Ming Ruo didn’t know what happened with Imperial Aunt Hui Xian.
But since her two children had been brought to the palace.
It ant they were to be taken away together.
So she didn’t want to be abandoned again, and imdiately knelt to the ground, bowing reverently three tis to the Empress Dowager.
When she looked up again, she didn’t say a word.
But her eyes said it all.
Moved, the Empress Dowager gritted her teeth.
In the past, she had trapped her two daughters with the title of Da Wei Princess.
Now, she didn’t plan to continue doing the sa to her granddaughter.
With tears in her eyes, she said in a choked voice.
"If that’s the case, then Ming Ruo can co with . I’ll bring her back before she cos of age."
She then looked to the Emperor and Lin Wanyi.
"What do you two think?"
Lin Wanyi felt it inappropriate to speak.
The Emperor helped Ming Ruo up, sincerely asking.
"Do you really want to go?"
Ming Ruo nodded seriously, without a trace of reluctance or resentnt in her eyes.
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