Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

As dusk fell, candles in the Hall of Mental Cultivation were brightly lit.

Chu Ning walked slowly into the hall with Shen Wanying, Wu Zhao, Wu Xiuning and Chu Tian. A sumptuous dinner had already been prepared in the hall.

On the golden nanmu table, celadon bowls and cups reflected the candlelight, emitting a warm luster.

The aroma of the dishes carefully prepared by the imperial chef filled the air, but it could not cover up the faint scent of sandalwood in the palace.

"Please sit down." Chu Ning sat down first, his eyes sweeping across everyone's faces.

Although the punishment of the retired emperor Chu Huai today was a matter of great satisfaction to the people, it was ultimately a fratricide, and he could not help feeling depressed.

Looking at his wife and children in front of him, his tense heartstrings finally relaxed a little.

Shen Wanying noticed her husband's mood and poured him a glass of warm wine with her delicate hands: "Your Majesty has been tired today, please have some wine and food first."

Wu Zetian also spoke at the right time: "The matter of the retired emperor has been resolved. Your Majesty does not need to worry anymore."

She turned her eyes slightly and looked at Chu Tian who was fiddling with his chopsticks: "Tian'er has made progress in his studies recently. Several teachers praised him for his intelligence yesterday."

Upon hearing this, a hint of relief flashed in Chu Ning's eyes.

He picked up the ivory chopsticks, picked up a piece of fat and lean braised pork and put it in Chu Tian's bowl: "Tian'er, eat more, it will be better for you to grow stronger."

Five-year-old Chu Tian stared at the piece of greasy fat in the bowl, and his little face suddenly wrinkled.

He secretly looked up at his mother, Shen Wanying, his black grape-like eyes full of help.

Shen Wanying chuckled at this and gracefully placed the piece of fat meat in her bowl. "Your Majesty has been away on military campaigns for years, so I'm afraid you don't know that Tian'er has disliked fatty meat since he was a child."

As she spoke, she picked up a piece of tender tenderloin for Chu Tian: "Tian'er likes this."

Chu Ning's hand holding the chopsticks paused in the air, and a trace of embarrassment flashed across his face.

Only then did he realize that he didn't even know his son's eating preferences.

During these years of fighting all over the country, he missed too many details of his children's growth.

"I was negligent."

Chu Ning put down his chopsticks and said seriously, "I will stay in Kyoto for a long time. I must get to know Tian'er's studies and life well."

Upon hearing this, Wu Xiuning immediately jumped up and said, "Your Majesty, you don't know yet, right? Brother Tian'er can already recite many poems and songs! The teachers say he's a child prodigy!"

The eight-year-old Wu Xiuning inherited her mother Wu Zhao's beauty, with a pair of lively and bright almond-shaped eyes.

Chu Tian lowered his head shyly and whispered, "It's all thanks to the teacher's good teaching."

Chu Ning laughed and rubbed Chu Tian's head with his hand: "You are worthy of being my son, Chu Ning! Tomorrow I will reward the teachers generously."

He looked at the two children with gentle eyes, and a sense of pride in being a father surged in his heart.

Dinner was held in a warm atmosphere.

The palace maids added dishes and poured wine carefully, for fear of disturbing this rare family reunion.

Under the candlelight, Chu Ning noticed that there seemed to be worry between Shen Wanying's brows.

"Is Wanying worried about something?" Chu Ning asked.

Shen Wanying put down her chopsticks and said gently, "Your Majesty, now that the matter of the retired emperor is settled, shouldn't you go and see Concubine Lan? She just gave birth and has gone through this kind of thing..."

Wu Zhao also nodded in agreement: "Sister Lan has been quite frightened this time. Your Majesty should indeed go and comfort her."

Chu Ning's expression froze.

He hadn't visited Feng Mulan in the past few days, firstly because she needed to rest, and secondly because he didn't want to see her with unresolved matters.

Now that the truth is out, it's time to go see her and her newborn baby.

"You are right." Chu Ning nodded: "After dinner, I will go to Lanxin Palace."

After dinner, Chu Ning came to Lanxin Palace alone.

It was late at night, and the palace lanterns swayed in the corridor, stretching his shadow very long.

Strangely, the palace maid who was supposed to be guarding outside the palace was nowhere to be seen.

As I approached the inner hall, I saw two palace maids standing in front of the door with panicked expressions.

"Your Majesty!" Seeing Chu Ning's sudden arrival, the two palace maids knelt down hurriedly to pay their respects.

Chu Ning frowned: "Has Concubine Lan rested yet?"

"Your Majesty, Concubine Lan has gone to bed." One of the round-faced palace maids lowered her head and answered, her voice trembling slightly.

Another tall and thin palace maid also hurriedly added: "Divine Doctor Sun has instructed that Concubine Lan needs to rest and recuperate and is not suitable for seeing guests."

A cold light flashed in Chu Ning's eyes. "Do you know what you are talking about? Am I also a 'guest'?"

The two palace maids' faces turned pale immediately, and they lowered their foreheads to the ground, not daring to look up.

The round-faced maid stuttered, "This servant... This servant didn't mean that. It's just... It's just that the Imperial Concubine did give the order."

"How dare you!" Chu Ning shouted coldly, "How many heads do you have to lie to me?"

The tall and thin palace maid trembled all over and almost collapsed to the ground. "Your Majesty, please forgive me! It was...it was the Imperial Concubine who ordered us to say this."

Chu Ning said no more and strode open the door of the palace.

Only a few dim lights were on, and Feng Mulan could be vaguely seen sitting on the bed, holding the newborn in her arms.

Hearing the noise, Feng Mulan didn't even raise her head and said in a cold and hard voice: "I said, no one is allowed to come in!"

"Even I can't do it?" Chu Ning said in a deep voice.

Feng Mulan suddenly looked up and saw that it was Chu Ning. A trace of panic flashed across her cold and beautiful face.

She quickly closed her clothes and gently placed the sleeping baby in the cradle beside her.

"Why is Your Majesty here?" she asked with forced calmness.

Chu Ning's eyes fell on her untied collar, and his face suddenly darkened: "I have arranged two wet nurses for you, why do you still want to breastfeed yourself?"

Feng Mulan raised her chin stubbornly: "My child must drink my milk."

"You!" Chu Ning was furious. "You're so willful right after giving birth. What if you get hurt?"

Feng Mulan said nothing, but just lowered her head and straightened her clothes.

In the candlelight, her pale face and the dark circles under her eyes showed her postpartum weakness.

Seeing this, Chu Ning's heart softened and he walked to the bed and sat down.

"I'm here to tell you that the mastermind behind the assassination of Divine Doctor Sun has been identified."

He whispered, "It's the Emperor."

Feng Mulan looked up suddenly, shock flashing in her eyes: "It's him!"

She recalled the dangerous day of delivery. If Sun Simiao had not arrived in time, both she and the child would have been in danger.

"I have exiled him to the imperial mausoleum and he will never be allowed to return to the capital."

Chu Ning held Feng Mulan's cold hand and said, "This is an explanation for you and the child."

Feng Mulan was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Your Majesty, are there any people in the court who object to your decision to deal with the retired emperor?"

Chu Ning's eyes flashed with surprise. He didn't expect her to care about this. "A few old ministers have complained, but the evidence is irrefutable, and they can't do anything about it."

He paused. "Why do you ask that?"

Feng Mulan shook her head: "I am just worried. The Emperor has some foundation in the court, and with the royal family, I am afraid he will not give up."

Chu Ning didn't take it seriously: "Don't worry, I have ordered people to strictly guard the imperial mausoleum, he can't cause any trouble."

As he spoke, he looked at the sleeping baby in the cradle, his expression softening: "This child looks like you, with delicate eyebrows and eyes."

Feng Mulan finally smiled: "Your Majesty, do you want to hug him?"

Chu Ning carefully picked up the baby, his movements were clumsy but gentle.

The little guy smacked his lips in his sleep, causing Chu Ning to chuckle.

"I decided to name him Chu Ying, which means brave and extraordinary." Chu Ning whispered, "I hope he will be like you."

Tears welled up in Feng Mulan's eyes: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the name."

As the night deepened, Chu Ning decided to stay in Lanxin Palace.

He ordered someone to bring him the memorial, and reviewed it by lamplight, occasionally looking up at the sleeping mother and son.

Outside the window, a bright moon was obscured by dark clouds, as if foreshadowing an impending storm.