"The Emperor has suddenly decreed that you and I must go to the palace immediately," Yun Changfeng replied.
Yun Shu was startled, "Me and Father, to the palace?"
"Yes, change your clothes at once." Yun Changfeng frowned slightly. When he received the decree, he couldn't understand why the Emperor would suddenly want Shu'er to go to the palace with him.
Yun Shu was quickly getting dressed, her mind racing.
Did the young Emperor want her to enter the palace to save him?
With her doubts, she and Yun Changfeng left the manor and got into a carriage.
In the carriage, Yun Changfeng quietly guessed, "Shu'er, perhaps the Emperor intends to bestow upon you the title of Consort."
Yun Shu was drinking water from her waterskin to moisten her throat. Hearing Yun Changfeng's words, the water in her mouth immediately sprayed out, "Father, I am several years older than the Emperor! If he wanted to, he could call me Auntie."
"Otherwise, why would he see you late at night? A few days ago, you were quite radiant in the palace, and the Emperor took a new liking to you, which is not surprising. However, if the Emperor truly mentions this matter, how should I refuse?" Yun Changfeng was in a dilemma.
Seeing Yun Changfeng's troubled expression, Yun Shu couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Father, don't overthink it. The Emperor's age group fancies girls of thirteen or fourteen."
"Shu'er, you think too simply. I am a man, and I understand what men think. In the entire capital, how many women can compare to you?" Yun Changfeng now believed that no one in the capital, from top to bottom, could compare to his daughter.
Yun Shu was stunned. In her father's eyes, she was incomparable?
"Because I am your daughter, Father, you think no one can compare to me. In the eyes of any parent, their own child is the best," Yun Shu said with a smile.
On this point, she definitely had the right to speak.
"Shu'er's words make it sound as if you are already a mother, understanding the thoughts of parents," Yun Changfeng chuckled.
It seemed Shu'er was truly intelligent.
Yun Shu's eyes flickered. She was indeed a mother!
Unfortunately, she couldn't tell him this now.
Otherwise, it would scare him.
After some time, when there was a suitable opportunity, she would tell him that he had three grandchildren, though one had gone to heaven shortly after birth.
Soon, the carriage arrived at the imperial palace.
Yun Shu couldn't resist and slept for a short while on the way.
She was woken by Yun Changfeng when they reached the palace gate.
They alighted from the carriage and boarded a palace carriage.
Very quickly.
They arrived at the young Emperor's sleeping quarters.
The sleeping quarters were brightly lit.
Several people guarded the entrance.
Upon seeing Yun Changfeng and Yun Shu, they immediately said, "Please wait outside the door. This servant will go and inform His Majesty."
Immediately after, an eunuch walked into the sleeping quarters.
"Your Majesty, the General who Pacifies the South and Miss Yun the Second have arrived."
"Invite them in."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
A palace attendant walked out of the sleeping quarters.
He respectfully said to Yun Shu and Yun Changfeng, "Please, General who Pacifies the South and Miss Yun the Second, come in."
They walked in.
As they just entered.
Yun Shu suddenly felt an extremely sharp gaze sweep over her.
Her heart stirred.
Her peripheral vision scanned towards that sharp gaze.
Upon seeing.
She was incredibly surprised.
Zhan Tianye?
The young Emperor had also summoned him to the palace?
It was late at night.
Were they planning to not sleep at all?
Yun Shu noticed how sharp Zhan Tianye's gaze was, even containing scrutiny.
She secretly rolled her eyes, scrutinizing what?
If he looked again, he would absolutely not guess that she had visited his manor tonight.
When Zhan Tianye saw Yun Shu and General Yun enter together, his gaze involuntarily fell on Yun Shu.
For some reason, he felt she looked very, very familiar.
"Your subject (your subject's daughter) pays respects to His Majesty, may His Majesty live for ten thousand, ten thousand, ten thousand years."
Yun Shu and Yun Changfeng bowed together to the young Emperor, who was half-reclining on the bed.
"No need for formalities, rise." Zhan Tianhong looked at the two of them, and a light flashed in his eyes when he saw Yun Shu.
Yun Shu and Yun Changfeng both rose.
Then the two of them also paid their respects to Zhan Tianye.
Zhan Tianye told them there was no need for formalities.
After a series of tedious courtesies, Yun Shu and Yun Changfeng were granted seats and sat down.
"Minister Yun, I have summoned you and Miss Yun the Second to the palace today because there is an important matter," Zhan Tianhong said after glancing at Zhan Tianye.
Yun Changfeng immediately replied, "Please, Your Majesty, command me."
Yun Shu remained silent. It was enough for her father to speak.
Besides, she noticed that Zhan Tianye occasionally glanced at her.
These glances were filled with hostility.
She could even clearly feel his aversion towards her.
Damn it!
If he disliked her, why was he looking at her?
After a round of internal complaints, Yun Shu heard Zhan Tianhong say, "I wish to bestow the title of Consort upon Miss Yun the Second. A few days ago, when I encountered Miss Yun the Second in the palace, I was quite moved. Tonight, Prince Ye is also present, so I specifically invited Minister Yun to the palace to ask Minister Yun and Miss Yun the Second in person."
"What?" Yun Changfeng's eyes widened.
It was as he had guessed!
The Emperor had indeed set his sights on Shu'er!
Yun Shu's lips twitched fiercely, looking at Zhan Tianhong in disbelief.
Had this young Emperor lost his mind?
Bestow Consort title?
"According to His Majesty, on that day in the palace, Miss Yun the Second happened to encounter His Majesty, and after you spoke a few words, you found each other quite congenial. Is that correct?" Zhan Tianye's gaze, sharp as a knife, swept towards Yun Shu.
In that gaze, there was a look of contempt.
It was almost as if he was saying, did Yun Shu intentionally seek out the young Emperor to meet, and then seduce him, making him unable to forget her, to the point where at midnight, the Emperor wanted to summon her to the palace to bestow a title upon her.
Yun Shu's lips twitched fiercely, looking at Zhan Tianye with utter speechlessness.
"Fifth Brother, it is not like that. Miss Yun the Second and I only exchanged a few words," Zhan Tianhong said, feeling somewhat guilty, but he couldn't explain the specific circumstances.
She had told him that night that no one should know she had medical skills, so he could only give a casual reason.
He never expected his Fifth Brother to misunderstand!
Yun Shu smiled, remaining silent.
She didn't want to respond to Zhan Tianye anyway!
"So, Miss Yun the Second, do you wish to enter the palace?" Zhan Tianye asked, his voice still icy cold.
In his opinion, five years ago, Yun Shu was foolish and infatuated, unbearable to look at. Five years later, although no longer foolish, she was ambitious and also not a kind woman. He couldn't just watch such a woman enter the palace; the Emperor was young and no match for her.
Moreover, she was capable of such a thing!
To seduce a thirteen or fourteen-year-old Emperor!
Yun Changfeng immediately looked at Yun Shu, his brow furrowed tightly, "This matter..."
"General Yun, this matter concerns His Majesty and Miss Yun the Second. I wish to hear Miss Yun the Second's answer," Zhan Tianye said sternly.
Yun Changfeng frowned and replied, "That is incorrect, Prince Ye. Shu'er is my daughter, and her marriage is naturally my decision."
"But General Yun does not know that she met with His Majesty in secret," Zhan Tianye said coldly.