The Return of the King: A Generation of Prodigies

"What's wrong with you?" After watching the two children walk away, Qiong Niang came over and asked.

Shen Tianjiao held her forehead and smiled bitterly, "Why else? Of course I'm afraid that guy will get jealous."

"When he came this morning, he saw An An sleeping next to me and he was a little unhappy. Then I saw how cute An An was and I couldn't help but pinch her face with my hands."

"Now I'm in trouble. He's getting jealous, saying I love his sister and not him, that I'm partial to his sister and don't like him. Where can I go to seek justice?"

Looking at Shen Tianjiao who looked like she had lost all hope in life, Qiong Niang felt gloating but also a little disappointed in her heart. Shen Tianjiao's current troubles were beyond her reach.

As soon as the two people finished their conversation, Ruan Yuhu came back.

Seeing Ruan Yuhu coming back, the lively atmosphere instantly became lifeless again.

"This is what she gave you." Ruan Yuhu handed the book in his hand to Shen Tianjiao.

Shen Tianjiao took the seemingly ordinary book and asked Chunchao to put it away.

"When will the death of Empress Dowager Liu be announced?" Ruan Yuhu asked Shen Tianjiao. Empress Dowager Liu had already been buried, and there was no need to delay the announcement of her death any longer.

"Wait a moment. I need to take the two children to Taihe Palace first. He said he wanted to see Mu'er. I need to find out what he means and then decide when to announce the Queen Mother's death."

Although Shen Tianjiao was not incapable of pushing her son to the position of crown prince without Li Rui's permission, she still wanted Li Rui to issue the decree.

"Well, that's good. It doesn't matter whether the Queen Mother is dead or alive now." Ruan Yuhu understood Shen Tianjiao's thoughts. Letting Li Rui personally recognize Li Muyang's status as the crown prince was indeed the best choice.

"Has the medicine been delivered to Taihe Palace?" Shen Tianjiao now only hopes that after Li Rui takes the medicine, he can temporarily become a normal person as expected.

"It's been delivered. He should have drunk it by now."

Qiu Tong has always been very efficient in her work. After leaving Jinyang Palace, she went straight out of the palace and returned to the hot spring villa.

"Okay." Shen Tianjiao stood up and ordered, "Bring the children here and go to Taihe Hall."

Soon, Li Muyang and Li Muyan were brought over. Shen Tianjiao took Li Muyang's hand and said, "You two will accompany the Queen Mother to the Taihe Palace to meet your father."

As soon as Shen Tianjiao finished speaking, she clearly felt Li Muyang's hand being held by her, and it trembled unconsciously. The child had an inexplicable resistance and fear towards her father Li Rui.

"The Queen Mother is with you. It's okay. We're just going to see your father and we'll be back."

Shen Tianjiao looked at Li Muyang and smiled gently, soothing his uneasy heart.

"Yes, son knows." Li Muyang subconsciously held Shen Tianjiao's hand tightly. Although he really didn't want to go to Taihe Hall to see his father, he still agreed obediently.

Shen Tianjiao brought her son and daughter to the Taihe Palace. Huang Chunhua hurried over to greet Shen Tianjiao, saying, "Your servant pays respects to the Empress. May the Empress be blessed with good health."

"Well, how is the emperor feeling today?" Although Shen Tianjiao knew that even if Li Rui took the medicine prepared by Chao Yun, it would not be able to take effect immediately and make him better, she still hoped that Li Rui could feel better as soon as possible.

Do what needs to be done to avoid further trouble later.

"In reply to the Empress, the Emperor is in good spirits today."

Shen Tianjiao didn't say anything and took the two children into Li Rui's bedroom.

Today, Li Rui did not fall asleep as usual, but was leaning on the bed reading a book with great energy.

Seeing Shen Tianjiao bringing Li Muyang in, Li Rui quickly put down the book in his hand and waved at Li Muyang.

Li Muyang subconsciously took a step back and turned to look at his mother.

Shen Tianjiao nodded at Li Muyang, and Li Muyang reluctantly walked to Li Rui.

Li Rui reached out and touched Li Muyang's head. He felt guilty towards this son whom he had always neglected.

This son will be the only one in his life. If he had known that he would end up in this situation, he should have treated his son well.

But who could he blame for all this? The consequences he faced today were all retribution for his own actions.

Li Rui touched Li Muyang's head and looked up at Shen Tianjiao beside him. For a moment, he was overwhelmed with emotions and felt really uncomfortable.

Once upon a time, he and Shen Tianjiao were a loving couple that everyone envied. If he hadn't been too greedy and made mistakes, they wouldn't have ended up like this.

Unfortunately, it’s too late to say anything now. There is no medicine for regret in this world.

Li Rui retracted his gaze and looked at his son standing in front of him, saying, "Mu'er, you must listen to your mother's words and be filial to her in the future. Do you understand?"

"Yeah." Li Muyang nodded obediently. Since entering Taihe Hall, this child has never raised his head and looked Li Rui in the eye.

"You must study hard in the future, be a clear-minded person, and be a wise ruler who can seek benefits for the people of Yunli and protect their safety. Remember that?"

Li Rui looked at Li Muyang who was unwilling to get close to him, and he couldn't help feeling a little sad. He was not a good emperor, not a good husband, and not a good father. Thinking about it this way, he was really a failure. There was nothing he did well in this world.

"Your Majesty, this is your daughter Li Muyan, please hug her." Seeing her son feeling uncomfortable and wanting to cry, Shen Tianjiao came to rescue him.

Shen Tianjiao handed Li Muyan, who was in her arms, to Li Rui. Unexpectedly, the little girl burst into tears as soon as she was in her father's arms.

Li Rui looked down at the little girl in his arms who suddenly started crying. He was panicked and at a loss. He looked up and looked at Shen Tianjiao for help.

Shen Tianjiao silently despised Li Rui in her heart, then walked up and hugged Li Muyan in her arms.

Li Muyan stopped crying immediately when she was in Shen Tianjiao's arms. This was a clear expression of her disgust for her scumbag father.

Li Rui sighed silently. As a father, he felt sad and helpless when being despised by his own two children.

"Mu'er, take your sister out to play first. Father has something to say to your mother."

Hearing this, Li Muyang did not respond to Li Rui at first, but looked at Shen Tianjiao beside him. Seeing Shen Tianjiao nodded, he whispered, "Okay."

Seeing that both children had gone out, only Shen Tianjiao and I were left in the room.

Li Rui then spoke up and said, "Ah Jiao, thank you for raising these two children so well."

"If it weren't for you, well!" Li Rui sighed and continued, "If it weren't for you, I would really have no one to succeed me."

"Ah Jiao, I have failed you in this life. I am sorry for you. In the next life, I will definitely repay my debt to you."

Shen Tianjiao felt disgusted after hearing what Li Rui said. The scumbag had done enough and came to repent and seek forgiveness before dying. Li Rui knew how to make Shen Tianjiao feel disgusted.

Resisting the urge to vomit, Shen Tianjiao looked at Li Rui and said, "Your Majesty, what are you talking about? Your Majesty is now in the prime of his life, and he will be fine after some rest."

Li Rui shook his head, smiled sadly and said, "Ah Jiao, please stop comforting me. I know my body well. I'm afraid I won't be able to make it through this year in my current state."

"It doesn't matter if I die, but you will have to work hard in the future. Mu'er is still young and needs someone to help him. From now on, he will only have you as his mother to protect him."

"Tomorrow, I will issue an imperial decree in the court to appoint Mu'er as the crown prince. If I unfortunately die young, Mu'er and Yun Li's kingdom will depend entirely on you."

Li Rui's words made Shen Tianjiao feel very moved for a moment, but this feeling of excitement was only limited to the moment when Li Rui said that he wanted to make Li Muyang the crown prince.

"Your Majesty, don't worry. Mu'er is my son. As a mother, I will naturally protect him. Your Majesty, just rest assured and recuperate."

Although Shen Tianjiao felt that she had abandoned Li Rui in her heart, she still had to put in her best efforts on the surface and continue to act.

"I have nothing to worry about with Mu'er and Yunli's kingdom now in your hands."

Li Rui's words were really against his will. If he hadn't sensed that he was about to die, he would never have said such a thing.

His entire life till now has been for power, because only when he stands at the pinnacle of power can he feel safe and satisfied.

But now, even if he was reluctant to give up the power in his hands, he had no choice but to let it go.

In order to keep his bloodline going and prevent Yun Li's imperial power from falling into the hands of others, Li Rui had no choice but to rely on Shen Tianjiao and the Zhenbei Marquis Mansion.

"Ah Jiao, help me up. I will write the imperial edict now. When you are done, take it back with you. Tomorrow morning, I will go with you to the Zhenghe Palace."

Li Rui looked at Shen Tianjiao, stretched out his hand to her, and waited for Shen Tianjiao to help him.

Shen Tianjiao glanced at Li Rui. Although she didn't want to help him, she could only endure it temporarily for the sake of Li Muyang's smooth and legitimate succession in the future.

So Shen Tianjiao stepped forward, suppressing her dissatisfaction and disgust, and supported Li Rui, helping him to the desk. Shen Tianjiao immediately let go of his hand and rubbed her hand on her clothes in disgust.

Li Rui quickly wrote the imperial edict to appoint Li Muyang as the crown prince. He turned his head to look at Shen Tianjiao beside him and asked, "Ah Jiao, is this okay?"

Shen Tianjiao lowered her head and read the edict written by Li Rui, nodded and said, "Yes, it's okay."

Only then did Shen Tianjiao feel relieved. With this edict, Li Muyang could become the next king of Yunli without any doubt or grievance.

Looking at the imperial edict on the table, Shen Tianjiao thought of her soft and sweet, well-behaved little daughter Li Muyan.

Since Li Muyang is about to be made the crown prince, Li Muyan, as his younger sister, must of course have the honor that belongs to her and matches her status.

"Your Majesty, since Mu'er is going to be made the Crown Prince, shouldn't Yan'er also have a title?"

"Yan'er?" Li Rui looked up at Shen Tianjiao in confusion. It took him a moment to realize that Shen Tianjiao was talking about his daughter. "Is that child's name Yan'er?"

A father has not cared for his child or loved him since the birth of his child, but he doesn't even know his child's name. Shen Tianjiao was really speechless about Li Rui.

If it weren't for the fact that this was the critical moment when Li Muyang was enthroned as the crown prince, Shen Tianjiao would have wanted to punch this scumbag.

Such a person is not worthy of being the father of two children.

"Mu Yan, Li Mu Yan." Shen Tianjiao spoke briefly and was too lazy to talk to Li Rui anymore.

"Li Muyang, hmm, that's a good name." Li Rui thought for a moment and said, "How about granting her the title of Princess Ankang?"

"Princess Ankang?" Shen Tianjiao frowned. Although the title was nice, it somehow reminded her of the young Princess Huai'an, which made her very unhappy.

Moreover, the title of Ankang has a good meaning, but it is not noble enough, and it is still not suitable for Shen Tianjiao's daughter.

"Let's grant her the title of Princess Pingyang. This child is the emperor's only legitimate princess, and she deserves the title of Pingyang."

"Princess Pingyang? Okay, I'll listen to Gillian. The child's title will be Princess Pingyang."

Li Rui followed Shen Tianjiao's words without hesitation. After all, she was his daughter, so he could give her any title.

Originally, Li Rui was still worried that if he gave Li Muyan a title that was too high, Shen Tianjiao would be unhappy. After all, Li Muyan was different from Li Muyang. Her biological mother, Concubine Du, was still alive.

But now that Shen Tianjiao said so, Li Rui is happy to see it happen.

Soon the imperial edict conferring the title of Princess Pingyang on Li Muyan was also written. Shen Tianjiao collected both edicts and prepared to take them back to Yuxiu Palace to have them stamped with the imperial seal. After all, the imperial seal was in her hands now.

"Your Majesty, there are still many things to prepare for tomorrow, and you are tired after disturbing me for so long. I will not disturb your peace here. Please have a good rest."

The task was done and the goal was achieved. Shen Tianjiao didn't want to stay in front of Li Rui any longer. Staying any longer would make her feel suffocated.

After saying this, Shen Tianjiao turned around and left without waiting for Li Rui's response.

Li Rui looked at Shen Tianjiao's resolute back as she left, feeling extremely melancholy. After all, he and Gillian could never go back to the past.

Shen Tianjiao was in a good mood when she came out of the bedroom. She held the imperial edict in her hand, appointing Li Muyang as the crown prince. Now it didn't matter whether Li Rui was dead or alive.

"Mother." Seeing Shen Tianjiao coming out, Li Muyang rushed over and hugged Shen Tianjiao.

"Well, let's go. Let's go back." Shen Tianjiao pulled Li Muyang out of her arms and pinched his face. "Are you hungry? Let Dongyang make you something delicious when we get home."

"Yeah, okay." Hearing that he could go back and eat delicious food, Li Muyang breathed a sigh of relief and his mood improved.