After crossing, I was forced to hold on to my thighs and build a kingdom

As soon as the door closed, Princess Du stood up. She stepped forward and took her son's hand. After carefully examining him, she confirmed once more, "An'er, are you truly well again?"

Faced with his mother's kind heart, even the usually taciturn Prince of Dingbei could only offer gentle comfort, "Mother, I'm truly recovered! Father and I had agreed not to let Divine Doctor Liu announce my recovery. We did this so that the secret agents planted in the palace would pass on false information and avoid alerting the enemy."

"That's good, that's good!" Princess Du relaxed. "But my son, don't be careless. You were seriously injured this time and almost lost your life. As a mother, shouldn't I be worried?"

Recalling her son's tragic plight, Princess Du's beautiful eyes filled with tears. "As the old saying goes, a gentleman does not stand beneath a precarious wall! A son of a wealthy family does not sit in a hall of desolate wealth. My son has a heavy responsibility on his shoulders. He must never again venture forth alone!"

Su Cheng'an was slightly stunned and couldn't help but look at the woman sitting on the seat. His mother was bright and beautiful, still like a beautiful and charming flower in the world that had not been weathered by the wind and frost.

But her words just now clearly had a hidden meaning: "Mother, you?"

Seeing her son's surprised and bewildered expression, Princess Du laughed twice before solemnly saying, "Several generations of our Su family's ancestors fought bloody battles and were driven to foreign lands to bring peace to the northern border and protect the well-being of the people here. This is how we have the hereditary Dingbei Palace."

Thinking of her husband, who toiled day and night, she revealed a hint of heartache. "Who could have known that after ascending the throne, the new emperor would favor treacherous officials, listen to slander, and exclude loyal and honest people? He spends his days not thinking about governing the country, living a decadent life, and disregarding the people's livelihood. Yet, he only knows how to be suspicious of the generals fighting outside. Originally, your father believed that the innocent would be cleared, and as long as we all work hard for the country, the emperor will not be disheartened by the loyal and honest people."

Princess Du stared ahead, sadness in her eyes. "Until the Wu'an Marquis incident five years ago. This loyal Northwestern hero, a pillar of the nation, ultimately ended up colluding with both domestic and foreign forces, betraying the country, and his entire family was executed."

"As the saying goes, 'When the birds are gone, the bow is hidden.' The war in the northwest hasn't even subsided, and the Western Rong are still lurking covetously. Yet, the one on the throne can't wait to kill loyal and righteous people! After three days of sitting in despair, your father finally came to his senses, put away his last shred of fantasy, and began to prepare."

Princess Du sneered disdainfully: "We can't sacrifice all our blood and sweat only to be slaughtered in the end!

The one sitting on the throne is no longer a benevolent monarch, nor worthy of our unwavering loyalty!"

She looked at her son, her voice filled with bitterness. "Since then, our Dingbei Palace has been restricted in every way, and every step has been difficult. We have to drive out the Northern Di bandits from outside, and defend ourselves from the poisonous arrows shot from the imperial court from within. And yet, the palace is still not at peace. Your father's hair has already turned white in just a few years."

Thinking of the troublesome bastard at home, Princess Du became annoyed again. "Your eldest brother is arrogant and insolent. He is not capable of doing anything, let alone protecting the Dingbei Palace. He is lucky that he is able to behave himself and not cause trouble!"

Turning her gaze to her tall and handsome son, Princess Du said earnestly, "Now, this vast palace is solely supported by your father. Fortunately, my son has grown up, and your father now has someone to carry on his legacy! In the future, my son, please do not venture into danger alone again. If anything happens to you again, the hard work of several generations of the Su family will be wasted!"

After hearing his mother's words, Su Cheng'an couldn't help but feel guilty. He had always thought that his mother was a wealthy and beautiful woman raised in the palace. Although she and his father were deeply in love, she had never interfered in the affairs of the previous dynasty.

Because of his noble status, he was brought up by his father for personal education when he was less than four years old. Whenever he met his mother, she would only care about his daily life with a loving mother's love. Su Cheng'an only thought she was a noble lady with some vision in the boudoir.

Moreover, the plan he and his father had planned was already in a precarious situation, with life and death at stake. Therefore, only he and his father and a few close confidants knew about it, and they dared not speak it out loud, let alone mention it to his mother.

But I didn't expect that my mother had already known it and saw it so clearly.

The surprised expression of her usually steady son made Princess Du burst out laughing.

She patted Su Cheng'an's shoulder lovingly and jokingly said, "Suddenly you realize that your mother isn't that easy to coax, right?"

"Mother, Mother," Su Cheng'an grasped Princess Du's hand, his heart swirling with emotion, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Mother is not simply difficult to appease. Mother is clearly a wise woman who disguises her wisdom and conceals her true abilities. Your son is truly ashamed and delighted."

He felt ashamed that after being a mother for twenty years, he discovered that his mother was not just the person he knew her to be; but he was happy that this kind of mother was the most suitable mother for their Dingbei Palace.

Princess Du put away her smile and said seriously, "Before, all we had to do was behave properly, maintain peace in the northern border, and occasionally make some harmless mistakes to reassure the emperor. We were honest subjects who wholeheartedly defended the emperor. What a pity..."

She sighed, "The Emperor won't let us go, and is determined to force us, the Dingbei Palace, to perish! Even clay figures have some earthiness, let alone humans! Our Su family has worked day and night for the Shen family's kingdom, fighting for our lives, but in the end, they won't even let us live. So what's the point of following the Shen family?"

The ruler and his subjects depend on each other and serve each other like fish and water.

If the Son of Heaven is virtuous, people will elect him as their leader; if he is unvirtuous, people will abandon him and not use him.

The one sitting on the Panlong throne now can neither get along with the ruler and his subjects, nor treat the people as his own children.

They killed loyal ministers and good generals, and trampled on the common people. The borders were in turmoil, and the barbarians were invading from all sides.

The one on the throne turns a blind eye and a deaf ear, living only in the false dream of prosperity woven by flatterers and villains, enjoying himself and living a life of drunkenness and dreams.

What's the point of having such a king?

It would be better to break this chaotic environment and open up a new world with clear skies, fresh air and gentle breezes.

Su Cheng'an looked at his mother, as if he had returned to the time of his childhood admiration for her.

Originally, he and his father were the only ones on this journey, but now he has his mother to accompany him. How lucky he is!

Su Cheng'an extended a hand towards his mother and took the initiative to hold Princess Du's hand.

Princess Du lowered her eyelashes slightly and her eyes fell on her son's hand.

It is so large and powerful. Before long, the owner of these little hands that she had carefully cared for had actually grown up through hardships and become the handsome young man in front of her.

"Mother, please join father in assisting my son in his journey in the days ahead!"

Princess Du's tears, which she had been holding back for so long, suddenly flowed down. She quickly turned her head and wiped them with a handkerchief. Then she turned back and smiled with relief, "My son has really grown up! After today's coming-of-age ceremony, it's time for him to get married!"

Su Chengan's joy suddenly froze on his face.

After a while, he weakly protested to his mother, "Mother, I'm still young..."

"You are not a child anymore. You are an adult after you are crowned today!" Princess Du replied with a smile.

"How can I have a family if my great cause is not accomplished?" Su Cheng'an said righteously.

"It's okay. Our Dingbei Palace still has some assets. Even if you don't achieve great things, your father's small business can still barely support his future daughter-in-law!"

Su Chengan gritted his teeth secretly, still unwilling to give up: "I have no plans to get married for the time being!"

Princess Du took the lead and said, "Then let's start planning today!"