“Why would you want to replace them?” Xue Zining asked.
Feng Ling paused. “Your Majesty, would you truly want to be with someone who does not have you in their heart?”
“Shouldn’t loving someone mean loving them with all your heart? You want to completely replace the person he’s liked for so many years; that’s just deceiving yourself.”
Upon hearing this, Feng Ling looked at her and suddenly said, “Do you know that he likes you?”
Xue Zining froze, looking at Feng Ling. Feng Ling smiled. “Because you know, you can speak such words so brazenly. Don’t you find it cruel?”
Without waiting for her to respond, Feng Ling continued, “Your Majesty, shouldn’t liking be mutual? If one person likes another and disregards whether the other person likes them back, what’s the difference between that and forceful seizure?
I like Wen Yu Xi because even though he knew His Majesty was who he liked, he still restrained himself, not wanting to become a burden to His Majesty. Isn’t such a person admirable?”
Xue Zining never imagined she would be lectured by a young girl who seemed to have less experience than her.
“What you say is not wrong,” Xue Zining nodded.
Feng Ling said, “Therefore, my liking him is my business, his liking you is his business, and as for who Your Majesty likes, that is Your Majesty’s business. We cannot control who they like; we can only like them silently and do what we believe is loving them.”
Xue Zining smiled and reached out to pat Feng Ling’s head. “I never expected you to be so knowledgeable at such a young age. I underestimated you.”
Feng Ling lifted her head. “But I also like Your Majesty. Your Majesty is a very warm person, and I feel an unprecedented warmth when I’m with Your Majesty.”
“Thank you. I am also happy with you. I hope you will always be happy, whether or not you get what you desire in the future.”
“I will be,” Feng Ling said with a smile, tilting her head.
“Mother Emperor…”
“Mother Emperor…”
Xue Zining’s body stiffened. She looked towards the doorway and saw two little figures secretly hiding behind the door. Even though their full faces were obscured, she was struck by their faint features.
They were like carved jade, delicate and lovely.
Feng Ling couldn’t help but stand up. “Little ones, who are you? Why are you so beautiful?”
The little girl was wearing exquisite Moon Silk Brocade, fabric only royalty could wear. Feng Ling frowned. “How come I don’t know any royal family members with such adorable children?”
The little girl walked past Feng Ling and swayed towards Xue Zining, revealing a smile. “Mother Emperor…”
Seeing her, Xue Zining’s heart melted. She had thought that after being away for so long, the children wouldn’t recognize her, but she never expected them to know she was their mother.
“Mother Emperor,” the little boy also walked over. Unlike the little girl’s swaying steps, he walked steadily.
Feng Ling was stunned. “Are they yours?”
Xue Zining nodded. “They were just a month old when I left.”
“This… they can talk at six months? And walk?” These were truly prodigies. As expected, children from the royal family were no ordinary ones.
“What’s so special about that? The First Prince and the Second Princess could speak when they were four months old,” Xue Yan said proudly, walking over.
Feng Ling shook her head. “It seems they are indeed prodigies. I really want to see that Emperor Yun.”
What kind of astonishing brilliance did the remarkably talented Xue Jingyun possess to have such lively, cute, and intelligent children with the Empress?
“How did they recognize me?” Xue Zining asked Xue Yan. Sometimes she thought the two little ones wouldn’t recognize her as their mother yet.
Xue Yan replied, “Your Majesty, you may not know, but one day the First Prince saw Your Majesty’s portrait and asked me about it. I only told them once, and they remembered.”
Xue Zining was filled with mixed emotions. She hugged the two little ones. “I’m sorry. Mother Emperor wasn’t by your side.”
“Mother Emperor, Xue Yan Auntie told us that Mother Emperor went to find Father Emperor. Did you find him?”
Xue Zining froze. The little girl beside him said, “Brother, you’re so silly. If Mother Emperor found him, she would have brought us along already.”
“I’m sorry, Mother Emperor lost your Father Emperor,” Xue Zining said with a hint of sadness.
“Mother Emperor, don’t be afraid. My sister and I are here with you.”
Xue Zining held them both, whispering, “One day, your Father Emperor will return.”
“Uncle Hua…”
Hua Yun Jin looked up and saw the delicately carved little girl standing at the doorway. The corners of his mouth curved involuntarily. “Little Yue Yue, are you looking for me?”
Xue Xing Yue nodded. “Yes!”
“Why are you looking for me? Don’t you have your Mother Emperor to look for?” Hua Yun Jin asked with a smile.
Xue Xing Yue shook her head. “Mother Emperor won’t tell me where Father Emperor is, so I came to ask Uncle Hua.”
“If your Mother Emperor doesn’t know, how could Uncle Hua know?”
“If you don’t know, you can find out,” Xue Xing Yue said.
Hua Yun Jin was caught between laughter and tears. “But why should I help you?”
“Uncle Hua, I know you like my Mother Emperor. What if I agree to let you be my Father Emperor?”
Hua Yun Jin was taken aback. “Little Yue Yue, if your Mother Emperor hears you say that, you’ll be in for a spanking.”
“Heaven knows, you know, and I know. Is Uncle Hua going to report me?”
Hua Yun Jin smiled. “You have a Father Emperor, yet you want me to be your Father Emperor. Aren’t you afraid your Father Emperor will be angry?”
Xue Xing Yue shook her head. “If he were truly angry, he would have returned by now. He wouldn’t be absent when I miss him so much.”
Hua Yun Jin was stunned. “If I take you away, your Mother Emperor will kill me.”
“I’ve already left a message for Mother Emperor. If Uncle Hua doesn’t take me, I’ll tell Mother Emperor that you kidnapped me.”
Hua Yun Jin was between laughter and tears. “You’re sure I won’t refuse, aren’t you?”
“Uncle Hua, take me to find my Father Emperor, and I’ll give you a chance to be considered as my Father Emperor. You have nothing to lose.”
“Alright, I agree,” Hua Yun Jin nodded.
“I knew Uncle Hua would agree.”
Hua Yun Jin snorted. “You’re quite calculating.”
“Uncle Hua, let’s set off quickly. If we’re late, Mother Emperor will find out.”
Hua Yun Jin instructed his subordinates to prepare for the journey.
When Xue Zining received the news, Hua Yun Jin was already a hundred miles away from the capital.
“How can King Hua indulge the Second Princess’s whims? If something unexpected happens, how many heads does he have to lose?” Xue Yan said indignantly.
Xue Zining didn’t mind. “It’s good for her to go out and see the world. It’s better than staying at home. Besides, I trust Yun Jin.”
“You always have your reasons. However, I’ve already sent Feng Jiu to follow them and provide close protection for His Highness the Second Princess. Your Majesty, please rest assured!” Da Feng Novel Network
Xue Zining nodded. “Forget it, let’s not worry about her.” If Xing Yue could really find Yan Zhao, it would be a good thing.