Yun Shu glanced at the Emperor.
"The sky is about to darken. Tonight, Consort Ye and her entourage shall stay in the palace. It happens that I am fond of your three children."
After the Emperor spoke, his gaze fell upon the three little ones beside Yun Shu.
Their composure earlier had surprised him. When the adults were a bundle of nerves, these children remained unfazed, sitting with Yun Shu like miniature adults, their brilliance blinding and captivating.
Few of his own grandchildren could achieve such excellence.
Suddenly, an idea formed in his mind: take the children, leave the mother.
Yun Shu watched the Emperor's deep, calculating gaze sweep over the three little ones. She remained composed and said, "Very well."
Upon saying this, she exchanged a look with Yun Changfeng and Xie Jin.
The Emperor had extended an invitation to stay; there was no reason to refuse.
An hour later, not far from the General's mansion, two figures lurked suspiciously.
Seeing several carriages stop at the entrance of the General's mansion, they craned their necks in anticipation.
But upon seeing who alighted from the carriages, they slumped back in disappointment.
"Why didn't Yun Shu return with them?"
"Let's wait. I heard they didn't enter the palace with General Li, so they might not leave together either."
"I'm so cold."
"Bear with it. As long as we see Yun Shu, we'll get what we want."
"Mhm!"
...
Inside the palace, Yun Shu and her party returned to the pavilion where they had rested that afternoon.
However, no sooner had they settled in than the Emperor sent a messenger, stating he wished to see Yun Shu's three sons.
The message assured them they need not worry.
"He only wants to see the three children?" Xie Jin narrowed his eyes. What was this dog emperor plotting?
Why was he so eager to see the little trio?
Could he be harboring some ill intentions?
Perhaps the dog emperor thought the three adorable children were easier to control than Zhan Tianye, and thus decided to try and control them?
This was precisely the kind of scheme a calculating emperor would devise.
"I'll accompany them. They usually get into mischief, but they do listen to me. Furthermore, Prince Ye entrusted me with their care, so I should go wherever they go."
Without waiting for the palace attendant's agreement, he winked at Yun Shu and Yun Changfeng.
A smile flickered in Yun Shu's eyes.
She hadn't been worried about Xiao Li and the others initially. The trio were intelligent enough, and the Emperor of Xixia wouldn't dare do anything to them, as they were, on the surface, envoys of the Eastern Ning Kingdom.
The three little ones looked at each other, their star-like eyes filled with confusion. Why did the bad emperor want to see them?
They just knew the bad emperor had separated them from their father and kept their mother and father apart. It was all the bad emperor's doing.
They were on guard!
As soon as Xie Jin and the trio left, Yun Shu and Yun Changfeng, father and daughter, began a hushed conversation.
"What is the Emperor scheming?" Yun Changfeng whispered.
Yun Shu's red lips curved into a light smile. "Perhaps he sees Xiao Li and the others as his own grandchildren."
Yun Changfeng's brow immediately furrowed. "He's worthy of that?"
"Indeed, he is not," Yun Shu chuckled.
The father and daughter said no more.
They sensed someone hidden in the room.
The fact that the person could hide so silently, undetected, and only be noticed by them indicated deep internal strength and excellent control of their presence.
A name flashed through their minds.
In the palace, there was only that one person.
Yun Changfeng returned directly to his own chambers, while Yun Shu pushed open the door and entered.
The moment the door opened.
She saw the person in the room.
"When did you hide here?"
The imperial banquet had dispersed in haste. They had only exchanged a glance before leaving.
She hadn't expected him to appear in her chambers after leaving the banquet.
Silently, unnoticed.
A long arm reached out, pulling Yun Shu forcefully into his embrace.
A man's low voice came from above her head, "Just before you returned."
Earlier, during their meeting in the palace, he had almost lost control and wanted to hold her to alleviate his longing.
Yun Shu was about to speak when he lowered his head.
A moment later.
Yun Shu's voice, tinged with a flirtatiousness she herself hadn't noticed, said, "I now have some leads. In a while, I should be able to help you recover your past memories."
"Zhen Lin likes you," Zhan Tianye said in a deep voice.
A hint of jealousy laced his low tone.
Yun Shu's mouth twitched. Their conversation had gone astray. Regaining her composure, she looked at him with a teasing smile, "Are you jealous?"
She hadn't expected the amnesiac Zhan Tianye to be such a jealous person.
Well... his jealousy was rather cute.
Zhan Tianye did not deny it. "Yes."
Yun Shu smiled and patiently explained, "I saved his life. I watched him go from an unknown young physician to Consort Ye right before his eyes. He doesn't like me as a benefactor."
Zhan Tianye asked no further questions.
A woman's judgment of a man wasn't always accurate.
He was a man, and he could tell at a glance that Zhen Lin's feelings for Yun Shu were far from those of gratitude for a savior; it was the possessiveness of a man for a woman.
...
In the Imperial Study.
The Emperor had already ordered the Imperial Kitchen to prepare pastries and snacks that children liked and sent them over.
A table laden with a dazzling array of delicacies.
Children would be tempted to eat upon seeing them.
Before the children arrived, the Emperor was already contemplating how they would address him once they arrived.
It would be nice if they could call him 'Imperial Grandfather'.
As the Emperor lost himself in thought, a palace attendant's report came from outside the door.
"Reporting to His Majesty, they have arrived."
The Emperor collected his thoughts and replied, "Bring them in."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The next moment.
The doors of the Imperial Study were pushed open.
Several figures entered.
The Emperor's face had been smiling.
But upon seeing Xie Jin, his smile vanished, and his expression immediately darkened.
"Young Master Xie?"
"It is I." Xie Jin nodded with a broad smile.
He noticed the Emperor's immediate displeasure upon seeing him. Tsk, as if he wanted to be here?
If not for the three little ones of Prince Ye, he wouldn't bother coming to spar with an old fox and waste his time.
"Come here, you three, let me have a good look." After nodding grimly at Xie Jin, the Emperor beckoned to the three little ones.
The three rascals were in perfect sync.
They took two steps forward together, closing the distance slightly.
Zhan Xiao Li, in particular, had heard the bad emperor's inner thoughts.
The bad emperor was cursing Uncle Xie in his mind! And daydreaming, wanting to be their grandfather.
Hmph!
They already had a maternal grandfather, which was enough!
The Emperor saw their guardedness and distance, and though he felt a bit uncomfortable, he didn't get angry.
Their wariness towards strangers indicated their intelligence.
They wouldn't be easily exploited in the future.
"Can you tell me why you weren't afraid when you saw so many ants just now?"