Deep Palace Pet Peach Blossom Flawless

Lan Youchen solemnly instructed, "When you get to the palace, don't tell your sister about your mother. Even though she's the queen, she's surrounded by crises. Don't let her be sad about this matter anymore!"

Lan Qingbai and Lan Qinghua looked at each other and said yes in unison.

The truth of the arms trafficking case came to light, and the Lan family quickly regained their foothold in the imperial city under the strong protection of the emperor.

In the Golden Palace, Li Xiang, with a solemn expression, read out clearly word by word the results of the arms trafficking case, as well as the treatment of some people.

Jiang Yuhu was sentenced to death along with his entire family: men were beheaded, women strangled, and all three clans were convicted of unpardonable crimes. All other branches were sentenced to exile. Jiang Yuhu finally shared life and death with the concubine of the Shi family. It's unclear if he regretted sacrificing the lives of his entire clan, including his wife and children, for such a fate.

As for the Imperial Tutor, some ministers had initially expressed doubts or sympathy for him due to his sudden stroke. However, after this incident, no one dared to plead for mercy for this former imperial tutor, once the foremost among the civil officials! Furthermore, the Emperor Shenwu stated that he would continue to keep the paralyzed Imperial Tutor in the palace, cared for by the imperial physicians daily. This move made the civil and military officials in the court sigh at the emperor's respect for teachers and his benevolent heart.

Emperor Shenwu said frankly that his former teacher was already so seriously ill, and he could not bear to see it. He thought that it was God's punishment for his teacher, and he would no longer pursue the teacher's guilt!

All the civil and military officials in the court bowed their heads and kowtowed: "Your Majesty is wise and wise! Long live Your Majesty!"

The father and sons of the Lan family were all in mourning for the deceased and did not attend the court, but Lan Youchen had already submitted a memorial of resignation, which Emperor Shenwu kept without sending out.

When the day came for the Lan family members to enter the palace, Lan Youchen brought his son and younger brother into the palace. A eunuch led them directly to the Qianzheng Hall.

In the Qianzheng Hall, after the Lan family knelt down, Emperor Shenwu called them up, and the monarch and his ministers discussed the border situation and the movements of the grassland people for a long time.

After finishing his official business, Emperor Shenwu sighed and said, "The general's wife is the empress's mother and also my mother-in-law. The empress is deeply saddened by her passing, and I am also heartbroken. I want to posthumously confer the title of First-Rank Lady on my mother-in-law, but the general has resolutely resigned this time. I know that you are deeply depressed, and I can allow you to rest for a while, but I must seize the love of the Martial Realm Marquis! The people of the grasslands are ambitious, and the border must be guarded by people who are both wise and brave. This is not only for me, but also for the millions of people! I believe that the general will understand my painstaking efforts after learning from General Lan!"

Lan Youchen's expression changed slightly, and he immediately knelt down to express his gratitude: "Your Majesty—I obey your command!"

This was a good thing. If all the male members of the Lan family were in mourning, they would enter a period of decline, a situation that would be extremely detrimental to the Empress and the Crown Prince. His Majesty must have considered this. The Emperor Shenwu's mention of General Lan had Lan Youchen momentarily lost in thought. It seemed that His Majesty's actions in this case were not only to appease the Empress but also to show his trust in his late father, allowing the Lan family to escape this catastrophe.

Emperor Shenwu finally said, "The Empress is waiting for you in the side hall of Qianzheng Palace. You can go now!"

It was a favor that Emperor Shenwu allowed the Lan family and the empress to reunite. If the women in the harem wanted to see their maternal relatives, one option was that the woman was pregnant with an heir to the throne, and her mother could enter the palace to accompany her, but this also required that the woman had a high position in the harem; the other option was that the woman in the maternal relatives had made great contributions, and the emperor bestowed his grace on the women in the harem. Also, during the New Year's Festival, the emperor would hold a banquet, and men and women would sit separately and see each other from afar.

The brothers Lan Youchen and Lan Qingbai finally showed excitement on their faces. After expressing their gratitude, they followed the eunuch to the side hall.

Arriving at the side hall, Lan Youchen immediately spotted his daughter, seated on the imperial concubine's couch. She was clad in a dark gold phoenix robe and a magnificent phoenix crown. She exuded grace and elegance, a truly magnificent figure. Yet, her appearance remained unchanged, undimmed by the passage of time, and even more radiant.

Glancing at Lan Qingwu's equally excited expression, Lan Youchen finally reacted and immediately knelt down in worship. How could Lan Qingwu let his father kneel down in worship before him!

She quickly came over and supported Lan Youchen's left arm, "Father, no!"

Lan Youchen looked at his daughter's face and said, "Etiquette cannot be abolished!"

Uncle Lan Er, Uncle Lan San, and the brothers Lan Qingbai who were standing behind him had already knelt down and bowed their heads.

Lan Youchen insisted on kneeling, and Lan Qingwu followed suit: "If father insists on this, your daughter can only bow down and kneel down!"

Lan Youchen was stunned, and then Ruping and Ruhan supported Lan Youchen and insisted on helping him up.

Ruping was very strong, and Lan Youchen stood up involuntarily.

"Second Uncle, Third Uncle, Brother, please stand up! His Majesty has asked us to be together here for a moment, so let's not waste time on these empty formalities!"

Lan Youchen was also a straightforward person, and he immediately followed suit, "Thank you, Queen!"

Ru Ping and Ru Han immediately prepared chairs, refreshments, etc. After they had prepared everything, they went out and stood guard at the door so that the family could have a good chat.

Lan Youchen looked at Lan Qingwu distressedly: "I heard that the queen was seriously ill. Is she recovered now?"

Lan Qingwu nodded, and the two groups asked each other about their recent situation, but they tacitly did not take the initiative to mention Mrs. Lan.

But eventually, they had to broach the subject. Lan Youchen explained his decision: "Father intends to observe three years of mourning for your mother. His Majesty has approved this, and your eldest brother will replace me in garrison duty at the border. His Majesty has made the necessary arrangements. With the exception of Father, no one else in the Lan family will observe mourning."

Lan Qingwu nodded: "Alright! The border defense line must be guarded by familiar people. Father, His Majesty has allowed my daughter to return to the border to pay tribute to my mother. When my mother... left, we were not by her side. My daughter is heartbroken every time she thinks of it!"

Lan Youchen was shocked and said, "His Majesty agrees to let you return to the border? My daughter, you must think carefully about this matter! If your mother knew that you completely disregarded His Majesty and everything in the palace because of her, how could she rest in peace?"

Lan Qingwu said, "Father, I have made up my mind. I dreamt of my mother when she passed away. If I can't go home and see her again, I won't be at peace! Since Your Majesty has agreed, I won't go back on my word. I have been with you for many years and I am fully capable of accepting your grace!"

Lan Youchen didn't know how to persuade Lan Qingwu. He was a father, but a very traditional one. His wife was responsible for teaching their daughter, and he only needed to be a pillar of support for his silent daughter. So much so that Lan Youchen didn't know how to speak. After all, his daughter was not only his daughter now, but also the Empress Dowager, the mother of the country!

Lan Youchen looked at his eldest son, Lan Qingbai, who also frowned. "Sister, have you made up your mind? If you leave the palace and go to the border, what will happen to the palace? Do you have any arrangements for the Crown Prince, the Seventh Prince, and the Seventh Princess?"

"The Seventh Prince and the Seventh Princess will naturally follow me. The Crown Prince cannot easily leave the Imperial City. With His Majesty watching over him, nothing will go wrong."

Lan Qingbai's eyes were heavy. "Have you ever thought about what His Majesty would do? Sister, if you're gone for a few months, what if His Majesty has a new lover and you're not in the palace? Have you ever thought about this?"

Lan Qingwu had naturally thought about it, and she said almost inaudibly, "Then there would be no need for me to return to the palace."

But facing the concerned eyes of her father and brother, she just smiled and said, "You don't have to worry too much. Everyone has to accept His Majesty's grace. The prince is still in the palace, so I will naturally return to the palace!"

The Lan family did not expect to receive this news and looked at each other in bewilderment. If their clan was in the imperial city, they could leave the palace whenever they wanted with the Queen's favor and return to the palace the moment they turned around, just like returning to the Lan Mansion in the imperial city. Uncle Lan would be able to see his niece from time to time.

But the border was thousands of miles away, and the situation in the palace was changing rapidly. How could Lan Qingwu, the heir of a country, stay outside the palace for a long time? If His Majesty had a new wife by then, it would be extremely disadvantageous to the Queen and the Crown Prince.

Lan Qinghua said disapprovingly, "Brother, you're just overthinking it. It's useless for us to overthink things His Majesty has agreed to!"

At this time, Ru Ping walked in with lotus steps: "Empress, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived with the Seventh Prince and the Seventh Princess!"

Lan Qingwu quickly changed the subject: "Hurry and let them in, Father, Second Uncle, Brother, you rarely see these children, this time you can spend a few days together."

Lan Youchen was delighted to see the Crown Prince, but time flew by. After spending over an hour in the side hall, Lan Youchen had no choice but to ask to leave. His Majesty had granted them grace, but they still had to fulfill their duties. Although the Lan family had troops on the border, they were never arrogant and always had a clear understanding of the situation. This was the true foundation of the Lan family's enduring success.

After the Lan family members left, Lan Qingwu thought for a long time. She wanted to mention the details of her return to the border to the Emperor, but he became incredibly busy, and Lan Qingwu could only see him late at night. By then, Lan Qingwu had already taken some tranquilizing medicine and could only lift her eyelids to glance at the Emperor before falling asleep again.

After the Lan family settled down, Lan Youchen could no longer stay. He submitted another memorial requesting that he and his family return to the border as quickly as possible. Remembering that he hadn't even been able to see his wife, he felt a burning pain in his heart. Emperor Shenwu approved it, and Lan Youchen and his family returned to the palace, this time to say goodbye. Before leaving, Lan Youchen hesitated, "Empress, please reconsider!"

Lan Youchen took the Lan family away. Their roots and hearts were at the border, and they were anxious to return.

Lan Qingwu hadn't seen or spoken to the Emperor for several days, leading him to suspect he'd changed his mind. But then, Lan Qingwu received an imperial decree, and the palace staff at Fengqi Palace were scrambling to prepare for Lan Qingwu's departure. Even Li Xiang joined in the frenzy. His Majesty, he explained, couldn't bear the Empress's bumpy journey, so he requested the palace staff at Qianzheng Palace assist with travel preparations.

Lan Qingwu watched the palace servants bustle about, and the Seventh Prince and Princess also joined in the fun, chattering about what to bring. A few days passed like this, and Lan Qingwu was shocked to realize that she was about to set off with her two children, but she hadn't spoken more than three sentences to the Emperor Shenwu in all those days!

Is the Emperor Shenwu still busy? The Crown Prince is also busy, but Lan Qingwu still sees the Crown Prince every day, and can talk to him and eat with him every day. Is the Emperor Shenwu really that busy?

Lan Qingwu thought about it, stood up and went to the main hall of Qianzheng Palace to find Emperor Shenwu. Unexpectedly, Lan Qingwu saw the memorials piled up like a mountain on the new imperial desk at a glance.

Lan Qingwu was shocked. She had never seen so many memorials piled on the imperial desk. She walked over and bowed, "Your Majesty, may you be well! Your Majesty, why are there so many memorials?"

Emperor Shenwu caught a glimpse of Lan Qingwu's figure from the corner of his eye, but he didn't bother to look at her carefully. He kept writing comments on the memorial with the red pen in his hand and threw it aside. Li Xiang hurriedly took it and carefully sorted it into categories.

Emperor Shenwu didn't even look at Lan Qingwu: "Wei Ruo, I'm busy, what can I do for you?"

Lan Qingwu wanted to speak, but she didn't know how to say it. She said softly, "Your Majesty, Ruoruo is about to leave. You..."

"Well, I understand. Aren't all the things packed? If there's anything else you need to do, let Li Xiang help you!"

Li Xiang, whose memorial had been divided into several parts, only smiled faintly at Lan Qingwu when she heard this. Lan Qingwu didn't mean that at all! But when she was about to speak again, the Emperor Shenwu raised his red brush again. He never raised his head to look at Lan Qingwu. The memorials passed through the Emperor Shenwu quickly. After a while, three or four memorials had been read and approved by the Emperor Shenwu.

Lan Qingwu opened his lips lightly: "Then... I will take my leave!"

Lan Qingwu looked at the unresponsive Emperor Shenwu, feeling both angry and aggrieved. When had she ever been ignored by the Emperor? Lan Qingwu bit her lip and turned away in anger. She had originally wanted to have a good chat with the Emperor before leaving, but she gave up the idea.

This continued until Lan Qingwu and the two children were ready to set off, all seated in the low-key and luxurious carriage. Lan Qingwu still hadn't found the opportunity to speak to the Emperor Shenwu. Forget it, I'll talk to him when I get back to the palace!

Lan Qingwu's mood was definitely affected, but seeing the excited expressions of the two children in the carriage, Lan Qingwu slowly smiled. The carriage was warmly decorated and spacious, and she, the two children, and Ruping, the four of them, had plenty of space in it. Ruhan was already several months pregnant and could no longer accompany Lan Qingwu on the long journey, so Lan Qingwu decided to let Ruhan stay in the imperial city. Poor Ruhan missed such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to leave the palace, and was so anxious that she was about to cry. She was finally comforted by Lan Qingwu.

"The border is my home. You will definitely like it when you get there. I will take you to pay homage to your grandmother first, and then take you around the border."

The Seventh Prince responded, "Mother, it's a pity that the Crown Prince can't come. He must be feeling bad. When I get there, I'll draw more pictures and send them back to the Crown Prince so he can experience the customs and people of the borderland through the paintings."

The Seventh Princess giggled and said, "Seventh Brother, are you sure you don't want to piss off the Crown Prince? Be careful or he'll beat you up!"

The Seventh Prince said, "No way! If that doesn't work, I'll bring back some more local specialties for my brother, the Crown Prince."

Lan Qingwu watched the two children bickering with a faint smile. In fact, it wasn't just Chu Ming who was angry. Would the other person be angry? Would...

Just as Lan Qingwu was thinking, the brocade curtain of the carriage was pulled open by someone, and Emperor Shenwu appeared outside the carriage. Lan Qingwu watched in amazement as Emperor Shenwu kicked his long legs and got into the carriage.