He looked at his father and mother with a dazed expression.
How did he end up in his father's arms?
Wasn't he supposed to be outside the city?
"Xiao Li, are you awake?" Yun Shu asked softly.
"Mother, I..." Zhan Xiao Li's eyes were hazy, and he felt as if he had a dream.
In his dream, his maternal great-grandfather had left them, and he had run away from home wanting to be with his maternal great-grandfather.
Suddenly, a wave of ecstasy surged within him. Just as he was about to ask, the image of Jiang Luoxi suddenly flashed in his mind!
It wasn't a dream!
It was Jiang Luoxi who had grabbed him just now!
It must have been that bad woman who sent him back!
"Awake? Come, let Mother hold you. Are you thirsty? Do you want some water?" Yun Shu asked gently.
Upon hearing this, Zhan Xiao Li burst into tears, "Mother! Woo woo woo woo..."
Zhan Tian Ye's face was grim, and he remained silent.
If it were in the past, he would have reprimanded Zhan Xiao Li, asking how a man could easily break down and cry in distress? It was truly shameful.
But now it was different.
He realized that he had wronged Xiao Li in the past.
Yun Shu was very patient and did not press further, gently patting Zhan Xiao Li's back.
Zhan Xiao Li cried for a long time.
It was as if he were crying out all the fear and self-blame in his heart.
"Mother, it was me who caused Maternal Great-grandfather's death. It's all because I had that dream, that's why Maternal Great-grandfather died!" Zhan Xiao Li clung tightly to Yun Shu, sobbing and crying.
Yun Shu sighed inwardly. As expected, it was because of this, because of that dream. "Xiao Li, there are many coincidences in the world. If a dream comes true, it only means it's a coincidence. Some people can even dream of things that will happen in the future. This doesn't mean you caused your maternal great-grandfather's death, understand?" xxs1
Zhan Tian Ye's brows furrowed.
It was because of a dream?
He said in a deep voice, "It was just a coincidental dream. If you had really done something foolish today, your maternal great-grandfather would have been very angry."
Zhan Xiao Li froze, tears still on his face. He rarely cried so much and was good at controlling his expressions. He suddenly realized that he had been crying for a long time and had completely lost face.
His father and mother said it wasn't his fault.
From last night until just now, he had been afraid that if his father and mother knew he had caused his maternal great-grandfather's death, they would be very angry and would abandon him. That's why he didn't dare to speak.
To his surprise, his father and mother said it had nothing to do with him, he had just had a coincidental dream!
"You really are a child. Promise Mother that you won't overthink things in the future, okay?" Yun Shu asked gently.
Zhan Xiao Li was still a little dazed. Perhaps it was because he had just woken up. He looked less cool and mature than usual, and instead had a touch of childish fragility. He nodded blankly, "Father and Mother really don't blame me?"
"Silly child, you didn't do anything wrong, why should we blame you?" Yun Shu said with a faint smile.
Zhan Tian Ye frowned and said, "Having a dream is indeed not your fault, but you made other mistakes. Father once told you not to run away from home, yet you ran away from home again this time. As a man, how can you go back on your word?"
Zhan Xiao Li immediately got out of Yun Shu's embrace and stood proudly in front of Zhan Tian Ye. "Father, I was wrong."
It was his fault, and he admitted it!
"Father can have as many board beatings as he wants. I promise I will never run away from home again," Zhan Xiao Li vowed seriously.
Looking at Zhan Xiao Li's mature demeanor, Yun Shu's heart melted completely.
At such a young age, he admitted his mistakes without evasion. He was truly her good son, and she suddenly felt a sense of pride.
"No need for board beatings. When we return to the Prince's residence, you will practice one hundred sheets of calligraphy." Zhan Tian Ye said in a deep voice.
One hundred sheets of calligraphy?
Zhan Xiao Li's small face wrinkled.
He really disliked practicing calligraphy.
At this moment, two small figures ran in from the door and went straight to Zhan Xiao Li's side. "Xiao Li, we'll practice with you!"
Seeing Yun Xiao Jing and Zhan Xiao Feng enter, Zhan Xiao Li immediately touched his face, making sure there were no tear stains left. Then, with a sense of responsibility, he said, "No need. I made a mistake myself, I'll write them myself."
Those two disliked practicing calligraphy even more than he did. One man's actions, one man's responsibility.
Thinking about it now, he was really too foolish! If he had really gone to be with his maternal great-grandfather, wouldn't his father, mother, and two younger brothers have been sad?
Therefore, he was willing to accept his punishment.
Watching the three little ones share blessings and hardships, Yun Shu was deeply gratified.
She looked at old Master Qin, who was sleeping soundly in the ice coffin, and said softly in her heart, "Old Master Qin, did you see? There is nothing in this world to worry about. Xiao Li and the others have grown up. They have affection in their hearts and are sensible and intelligent..."
...
The carriage swayed gently.
No one spoke.
Jiang Luoxi leaned against the carriage with a cold face and closed her eyes.
From the moment Jiang Luoxi left the Qin residence and got into the carriage, she had been silent.
How dare a mere guard talk back to her and make her lose face!
What use were the words of a dead person?
She had seen too many people who fell out of love. King Ye would never remain devoted to Yun Shu alone.
What about growing old together, what about blessings, it was all bullshit!
"They didn't suspect each other, nor did they have any grudges. Was Yun Shu too clever to make Zhan Tian Ye suspicious?" Jiang Luoxi opened her eyes and asked herself.
She finally confirmed it.
King Ye might have already planted seeds of suspicion in his heart.
...
Loyal Warrior Marquis's Residence.
The gate of the residence was tightly shut.
The gatekeeper, upon seeing Qian Le'er, came out with a heavy heart.
Everyone in the Loyal Warrior Marquis's Residence knew that it was because of Qian Le'er that the Marquis and his son, the Crown Prince, had fallen out. Moreover, the Marquis was so angry that he was still ill and had not gotten out of bed for the past two days.
The Marquis's residence was not like this before.
"Is the Crown Prince in the Marquis's residence? I have something I want to see the Crown Prince about. Please inform him." Qian Le'er said to the gatekeeper.
The beauty knew how anxious she was at this moment.
The gatekeeper replied, "Please wait a moment, Miss."
Upon hearing the gatekeeper's address and reply, Qian Le'er's expression changed. Yi Zixing had actually returned to the Marquis's residence! He had said that after seeking an explanation from Yun Shu, he would return to her place first. But not only did he not return, he didn't even send someone to inform her, and instead returned to the Marquis's residence!
Qian Le'er's heart began to beat faster.
"Madam, the Crown Prince is actually in the Marquis's residence," Xiao Ju said in shock.
This was the first time the Crown Prince had broken his word.
Qian Le'er's face was extremely ugly.
She clutched her handkerchief tightly. Could it be that Yun Shu truly held the upper hand in his heart? The words he had said to her, his apparent concern for her, were nothing compared to Yun Shu?
"Perhaps... perhaps something happened in the Marquis's residence, so the Crown Prince returned there," Xiao Ju said tentatively, carefully observing Qian Le'er's expression.
The closed gate of the Marquis's residence opened.
Jiang Luoxi immediately looked towards the open gate.