You have asked for permission to marry, why should I restrain myself?

It was three days later when Lin Zhaoyue woke up again.

When she woke up in the bamboo garden, she didn't know what method Xiao Yan used to coax Xiao Jingchen, although he was still a little depressed.

Lin Zhaoyue felt annoyed, not knowing why she had slept for so long. But now no one could see her, no one could hear her. No matter what she did, it was useless. She could only hope and wait for Xiao Yan to go to Huguo Temple again. However, she waited for many years.

Ever since Xiao Yan came back, he has been busy with government affairs. As Xiao Jingchen grew older, he became more and more strict with him, and all kinds of schoolwork occupied his time.

Although Dad and Mom loved their grandson, they had no choice but to treat him extra well in his free time.

Xiao Jingchen is now Xiao Yun's only son. Although the remnants of the previous dynasty have been eliminated and Anguo is now peaceful, the person in that position will not die out. For the royal family, having few offspring is an extremely dangerous thing.

Because once an accident really happens, the country will change hands, and some ambitious people will try every means to get rid of him.

If you don't study hard now, you may not even be able to protect yourself in the future.

Xiao Jingchen was a smart child. He understood his situation without anyone telling him. He studied very hard, but occasionally when he was tired or aggrieved, he would secretly run to her grave to cry. Later, when he grew older and encountered something unpleasant, he would only go to her grave to pull weeds, burn incense and paper money, and he didn't even tell her about the grievances in his heart.

Xiao Yun was a disciple of Bai Mozi. He lived in seclusion in the Huguo Temple for six years. He experienced several fierce battles with the Northern Jue, killed all the remnants of the previous dynasty, and restored order in the court.

He possesses the power of thunder and the virtue of generosity, and is a man of great talent and strategy. He can fight the enemy in battle and also maintain the stability of the country. He is suitable to be a founding monarch and can also protect the country.

In addition, Xiao Yun was indeed very diligent. Over the years, Anguo had enjoyed good weather and had not suffered any major natural disasters or misfortunes. After the eldest prince's party was completely eradicated, no one dared to covet the throne. The monarch and his ministers worked together to make Anguo develop in a better direction.

Doctor Li was appointed as the head of the Imperial Medical Service. At first, some people had some complaints, but Doctor Li's excellent medical skills silenced everyone.

Doctor Li always remembered Ning Xi's wish to pass on his medical skills, and he was generous in teaching his medical skills to others. Whenever someone asked him for advice, he would tell them everything he knew.

Only two months after Doctor Li took office, all the doctors in the Imperial Medical Bureau were convinced of his leadership.

Those who can work in the Imperial Medical Bureau are carefully selected and are the best of the best.

Xiao Yun followed her mother's last wish and vigorously developed medical care, building branch medical clinics in various provinces. In the second year after Doctor Li took office, nearly 70% of the imperial physicians in the Imperial Medical Service were sent to the imperial medical clinics in various provinces. Over the past few years, the Imperial Medical Service has been continuously supplying medical talents and saving many lives.

In the seventh year of Dr. Li's tenure, Xiao Ying initiated the establishment of the first medical school in history.

Xiao Yun vigorously developed education, reduced the cost of schooling for the people of Anguo, and built a girls' school against all odds...

Xiao Yun worked hard to govern the country, was diligent, was good at everything, and was willing to accept advice. He was not stubborn and self-willed, so he could be called a wise ruler.

However, what worries the cabinet and ministers is that His Majesty is not interested in women!

Since the death of the two queens, there have been no other women in the harem.

This has never happened since Anguo was founded.

Today, the title of queen still belongs to the deceased Miss Lin Er.

At first, some ministers wrote to the emperor saying that this was against etiquette, but after that, the ministers would not only interfere with the emperor's decision to appoint a queen, but would also be moved to tears even if the emperor chose a woman and appointed her as a concubine at will. After all, having a woman in the harem is better than having no one at all.

However, for five consecutive years, no one could enter Xiao Yun's harem.

Every year, ministers would threaten death to advise Xiao Ying to expand his harem, but Xiao Ying was completely unmoved. When he got annoyed, he would punish the person more often. If the person did not repent, he would demote him.

The voices gradually became smaller, but the emperor's heirs were related to the country's destiny, and the Ministry of Rites could not ignore it.

The Minister of Rites, who was over seventy years old, had no choice but to kneel in the imperial study with important cabinet officials and officials from the Ministry of Rites.

"Your Majesty, the country cannot be without a queen, and the palace cannot be without concubines. Please put your ancestors and the country first!"

The Minister of Rites banged his head on the ground, tears streaming down his face.

"Your Majesty is wise, but you have no children yet. If there is no one to take over the throne after a hundred years, the world will be in chaos!"

"Your Majesty, the succession of the emperor is related to the foundation of the country. Please think carefully about it!"

"Your Majesty, please think carefully..."

All the ministers knelt down, as if they would not get up forever if Xiao Yun did not agree.

Xiao Yan looked at the ministers kneeling down and after a while, he sighed:

"This is what all of you dear ministers are asking for and worrying about. Tomorrow I will appoint a crown prince to ease the hearts of my subjects!"

Enthroning a crown prince?

Where did the prince come from? There wasn't even a concubine in the palace, let alone a prince.

The ministers looked at each other, full of confusion.

However, some ministers had a hint of worry in their eyes... They remembered that the queen had once given birth to a stillborn baby...

So, when Xiao Jingchen was ten years old, he was brought into the palace by Xiao Yin and named the crown prince.

That was also the first time Xiao Jingchen appeared in front of everyone.

The ministers looked at Xiao Jingchen's little face that looked very similar to Xiao Yun, and saw Xiao Yun holding his hand and walking step by step to the Golden Throne Hall, and their eyes were almost filled with tears.

The throne finally has a successor!

With only one talented person like him, the cabinet and a group of ministers were extremely alert, even more nervous than Xiao Ying.

Whenever there is any disloyalty or any disturbance, the Cabinet and the Ministry of Rites will be the first to become anxious and will investigate the matter immediately.

The ministers looked at Xiao Jingchen and liked him more and more.

Although he was still young, he had extraordinary conversation, outstanding knowledge, and an intelligent brain. He passed the imperial examination at the age of thirteen and became famous in Kyoto.

After the empress was appointed to succeed her, all the ministers completely gave up trying to persuade Xiao Ying to take a concubine. After all, His Majesty was like a stubborn stone that could not be broken no matter how hard they hit it.

The emperor and his ministers were of one mind, and everyone focused their energy on state affairs. In just over a decade, Anguo's development had been far ahead, and everything was thriving.

But only Lin Zhaoyue knew that Xiao Yan's health was getting worse every year, especially in the past two years. He kept coughing at night and occasionally coughed up blood.

Because he couldn't sleep due to the cough, he got up to handle official business. Staying up late made his health worse, forming a vicious cycle.

The previous emperor overthrew the Ye family, giving Anguo time to recuperate, but the invasion of the Northern Jue almost destroyed everything.

He had been pursuing the rapid development of Anguo too much in recent years, and he was depressed and overworked, which led to illness. Even with the treatment of Doctor Li, the burden on his body was accumulating day by day and he simply could not bear it.

Late at night, a suppressed cough was heard in the imperial study.

Xiao Yun was wearing a dark nightgown, holding a handkerchief in his slender hands, pressing it against his lips. He kept coughing, almost coughing out his lungs.

Hearing the coughing in the imperial study, Eunuch Fu, who was waiting outside, became extremely anxious.

Xiao Jingchen, wearing an undergarment and an outer robe, hurried over.

Seeing Xiao Jingchen, Eunuch Fu seemed to have seen a savior and said:

"Prince, you are here. His Majesty is coughing badly again tonight. Please go in and persuade His Majesty. If he continues like this, His Majesty's body will not be able to bear it."

Eunuch Fu's eyes were slightly red.

Xiao Jingchen took a bowl of sweet pear soup from his follower and walked in without knocking.

Xiao Ying gave Xiao Jingchen the privilege of walking before the emperor, and he could enter and leave Xiao Ying's imperial study at will.

Hearing the footsteps, Xiao Yan stuffed the blood-stained handkerchief in his sleeve, looked up at him, and said:

"Chen'er, why are you here?"

"I heard that Father was coughing again, so I made a bowl of sweet pear soup for him to moisten his throat."

"Chen'er is thoughtful."

Xiao Yan took the sweet pear soup and drank it.

After Xiao Yan finished drinking, Xiao Jingchen said:

"Father, it's late at night now, it's time to rest."

Xiao Yan put the bowl back on the tray and waved his hand.

"It's okay. I can't sleep. Just take care of some official business. When I go to the border the day after tomorrow, you can relax a little! I don't know when I will return to the capital. During your time as regent, I will keep your uncle Shen and your eldest uncle to assist you. If anyone dares to take the opportunity to make things difficult for you, you can just let your eldest uncle teach him a lesson."

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Lin Zhaoyue burst out laughing.

Although it is crude, it is effective.

If this had happened in the past, she probably would never have imagined that Xiao Yan would have such a side of him.

But as I laughed, a feeling of sadness arose in my heart.

Lin Zhaoyue never thought of herself as a magnanimous person. She used to think that she was the kind of person who would remember a slap in the face for the rest of her life, but it was only fifteen years.

For many things, as time goes by, the pain and hatred will gradually fade away.

Her memory will fade, and what she remembers more deeply now is how Xiao Yan was as an emperor and as a father.

She has seen everything Xiao Yan has done over the years.

Although he was strict with Xiao Jingchen, he was very kind to him.

He is a wise ruler and a good father.

My eldest brother has already recognized my father and mother. After fifteen years, he has completely accepted them and they have become a true family member.

Ever since the eldest brother knew that Xiao Jingchen was his nephew, he has been particularly protective of him.

His way of protecting was also simple and rough. As long as he noticed someone had ill intentions towards Xiao Jingchen, he would draw his sword without saying a word.

Nowadays, everyone is terrified when they see Ning Yi.

"My son, I know."

Xiao Jingchen responded, and after a while, he said:

"Father, do you really have to go to the border?"

Xiao Jingchen knew that his father was a martial arts expert, but his father was in poor health and he didn't want him to go.

Seeing the worry in Xiao Jingchen's eyes, Xiao Yan said slowly:

"The Northern Jue invaders have been harassing our borders for many years. If we don't get rid of them completely, they will surely come back one day. Chen'er, don't worry. Those Northern Jue barbarians can't do anything to me."

Xiao Jingchen was silent, pursed his lips, and took out an amulet for him.

"This is the amulet that I went to the Huguo Temple to ask for my father a few days ago. I am here, waiting for my father's triumphant return..."

……

"We await your triumphant return!"

On the day when Xiao Yun led a million-strong army to leave the capital, all the ministers saw him off. Under the city gate, the ministers knelt and kowtowed, and their voices reached the sky.

It has been three years since Xiao Yun left.