Touya Yaoyao

Even though Yu Yaoyao had been gone for a long time, and the night was deep with the moon hanging over the willow branches, Zhao Hede was unable to sleep tonight.

Seeing her staring blankly at the photo in her hand, Bai Juncheng couldn't help but walk over, put his arm around her shoulder, and gently asked:

"What's wrong?! Is something on your mind?"

Zhao Hede touched the cheek of the little boy in the photo, as if vaguely recalling the years when her son disappeared more than ten years ago, and couldn't help but feel heartache and helplessness.

Seeing her like this, Bai Juncheng couldn't help but hug her and gently comfort her:

"Hede, don't be afraid. Our son is standing before us healthy and whole. What happened more than ten years ago will never happen again. I promise."

But Zhao Hede did not feel relieved by this; instead, she became even more fearful and apprehensive, and said:

"Will it really not happen again?! But I'm still so scared. My Guoan, he was only nine years old when he was kidnapped from the palace and he was gone for half a month. If it weren't for... if it weren't for a stroke of luck that he was rescued, he probably would have died that year. How can I not be afraid?"

Seeing her like this, Bai Juncheng felt even more heartache and hugged her tighter. He rested his chin on the top of Zhao Hede's head and whispered words of comfort:

"Hede, don't worry, with me here, no one can harm our son, no one can harm you. Don't worry, I've already arranged people both in the capital and around the National Security Bureau. You will be safe, please believe me, okay?"

Zhao Hede didn't speak, but touched the photo, her expression becoming increasingly pained.

Seeing her like this, Bai Juncheng could only silently hug her, hoping to offer her some comfort.

At the same time, he also found it strange that Hede would suddenly recall the events of that year. So, after a long silence, Bai Juncheng finally couldn't hold back any longer and asked in surprise:

"Why did you suddenly bring this up for no reason? It happened so long ago, and our son is all grown up now. Why did you suddenly think of it again?!"

While looking at the photos, Zhao Hede touched the boy in the picture with a lingering look, and murmured to herself:

"It's all because of that time you kidnapped that girl. I was thinking of giving her some compensation, but instead, she asked me if there was anything she could help me with?"

At this point, Zhao Hede couldn't help but sigh, giving a self-deprecating bitter smile as he said:

"What could possibly be wrong with me? The only thing I can't understand is the abduction of my son back then, so I brought it up, and guess what she said?!"

Upon hearing this, Bai Juncheng felt a sense of foreboding. He looked at Zhao Hede in disbelief and couldn't help but ask:

"What did she say?!"

Recalling Yu Yaoyao's expression when she said those words, Zhao Hede couldn't help but close his eyes, subconsciously clench his hands, and grit his teeth as he said:

She said, "There are no fathers or sons before power, no blood relatives before interests. She said, 'Given enough temptation, am I sure those people in the Elder Council won't betray me?'"

Upon hearing this, Bai Juncheng's expression immediately changed. He stared at Zhao Hede in astonishment and couldn't help but probe:

"you mean…"

Zhao Hede took a deep breath, slowly opened her eyes, and looked calmly at Bai Juncheng, unable to resist asking:

"Juncheng, think about it. Back then, we had already broken ties. I had no one left to rely on. If something were to happen to my only heir, I would be an emperor without the power to protect myself and without a successor."

At this point, she subconsciously grasped Bai Juncheng's hand and continued speaking with a solemn expression:

"In fact, back then, all they needed to do was find a pretext to bring me down, and they could choose a suitable puppet according to their own wishes. Could they resist such a huge temptation?!"

Bai Juncheng frowned subconsciously. He wanted to explain, but Zhao Hede covered his mouth.

Zhao Hede looked at Bai Juncheng with a serious expression and continued her analysis:

"I know what you're trying to say, but what I'm saying isn't entirely impossible. The royal family of Zhao Kingdom only has one partner in their lifetime. Once I break with you, there's no possibility of reconciliation. Therefore, Guo'an is my only son, and my only trump card. If this card fails, all that's left for me is utter ruin."

Bai Juncheng naturally understood what Zhao Hede meant. At that time, she was sitting on a crumbling imperial throne, and the only thing she could rely on was her child.

If something were to happen to the child at that time, in her anger, she would not be able to reconcile with her at all, and might even push her further away.

In this way, she will be even more isolated and helpless, and even surrounded by enemies. You must know that an emperor who has imperial power but no protection is no different from a child carrying gold in the bustling city.

Even worse, the Elders' Council might take advantage of her misfortune, kick her while she was down, force her to abdicate, and replace her with a new, more obedient puppet emperor.

But those things didn't happen, did they?! Besides, although he had no official connection with her, he had been secretly keeping an eye on her movements. In addition, the Elders' Council had been behaving itself all these years, so he didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

However, when Bai Juncheng saw the worried expression on Zhao Hede's face, he inexplicably felt that he had been thinking too simply about some things.

So, he gently touched Zhao Hede's hand that was covering his mouth, couldn't help but move it away, and whispered:

"Since that girl has raised such a question, she must have some ideas. In that case, why not let her handle that matter from back then? Perhaps that will..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Hede glared at him reproachfully and questioned him in a accusing tone:

"You're asking that girl to put herself in danger. Do you think our son would be willing to do that?"

Bai Juncheng was at a loss for words. He tapped Zhao Hede's nose with a mixture of helplessness and affection, and couldn't help but tease him:

"You're so blinded by your own interests! You only know that our son likes that girl, but do you know that the girl likes your son?! She grew up in the Ye family, and all the Ye family's children are outstanding in character and appearance. Are you sure that girl wouldn't just go for someone from her own neighborhood?!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Hede was stunned. She frowned and pondered for a moment before speaking uncertainly:

"Probably not, after all, they..."

As she spoke, she began to feel a little guilty. Seeing Zhao Hede's uncertain expression, Bai Juncheng couldn't help but sigh and continue explaining:

"So, we need to give them both opportunities to spend more time together. Once the girl sees Guoan's good qualities, she'll like him!"

Bai Juncheng spoke with absolute certainty, as if as long as they did as he said, Yu Yaoyao would fall in love with their son?!

Although Bai Juncheng's words made sense, Zhao Hede couldn't help but feel ashamed when he recalled Yu Yaoyao's various deeds.

She rubbed her temples, looking like she had a headache, and felt that Bai Juncheng's idea was too naive, or even a bit unreliable.

You see, that girl may seem timid and submissive, but she's actually quite opinionated. She may appear to go with the flow, but she's actually in control of everything. It would be difficult for someone like that to fall in love with anyone!

But Bai Juncheng's words were not without reason. As the saying goes, time will tell. Letting the two young people spend more time together, get to know each other better, and let the girl see the good qualities of her son is much more convenient than rashly proposing marriage to the girl.

After all, compared to becoming a resentful couple because of a lack of understanding, getting to know each other and working through things before getting married would probably be much better, right?

Seeing Zhao Hede's conflicted expression, Bai Juncheng couldn't help but bring his head close to her neck, his hot breath spraying onto her skin, making her feel uncomfortable.

She instinctively tried to turn her head to one side, but was immediately held captive in someone's arms. The person even went further, kissing her neck and shoulders, whispering in a low, husky voice:

"He De, Guoan must be lonely with just one person. Why don't we give him a younger brother or sister?"