Farewell Flower Festival

Two days later, someone from the palace came to summon Mu Tianling and Chao Yan to the palace for an audience.

When seeing Emperor Mu again, Chao Yan was both surprised and surprised.

What was surprising was that Emperor Mu looked very ill. He looked fine at the New Year's Eve dinner, but now he had difficulty getting out of bed. He was very thin, like a spent bow. He could only walk a few steps with the support of Concubine Yin. He started coughing as soon as he sat down. Concubine Yin quickly asked someone to bring the ginseng soup. After Eunuch De served Emperor Mu two sips, Emperor Mu waved his hand, and Eunuch De asked someone to take the ginseng soup away.

Unexpectedly, Mu Tianyuan was also here. People outside the palace were privately saying that his position as crown prince was no longer secure and that he was under house arrest by Emperor Mu. It was estimated that the edict to depose him would be issued in a month or two. Now Mu Tianyuan was kneeling in front of Emperor Mu, with his head bowed and not daring to raise it.

Seeing that Emperor Mu was so weak, the expressions of Mu Tianqi, Mu Tianchen and Mu Tianling also looked heavy.

Neither Mu Tianqi nor Mu Tianchen brought their families with them, and Chao Yan was the only family member who was summoned into the palace.

"Prince." Emperor Mu called out, his voice sounding old and weak. Mu Tianyuan knelt on the ground and moved over. His eyes were already red. He choked and called out "Father". Tears fell down and he admitted his fault, "Father, it's all my fault." Emperor Mu waved his hand, not letting him continue. He waved again, asking Mu Tianqi, Mu Tianchen and Mu Tianling to come over. The three of them knelt down.

Emperor Mu looked at his four sons and coughed for a while. Concubine Yin patted him on the back and comforted him, "The children are all grown up and can share your worries. The most important thing for you now is to take good care of your health so that you can enjoy the happiness of family life when your little grandson is born."

"I know my own health, and what worries me most is the Crown Prince." Emperor Mu patted Mu Tianqi's shoulder and said, "Qi'er has always been filial, and I am most relieved about Qi'er. In the future, the three of you must assist the Crown Prince. As long as you brothers are of one mind, I will be at ease even in my grave." Mu Tianqi agreed, "Your son will remember your father's teachings." Emperor Mu looked at Mu Tianchen, and he kowtowed solemnly, "Your son will remember your father's teachings." Emperor Mu looked at Mu Tianling again, and he also kowtowed, "Your son will remember your father's teachings."

"Prince," Emperor Mu stretched out his hand, and Mu Tianyuan hurriedly held it without even having time to wipe his tears, choking with sobs as he called out "Father". Emperor Mu touched his head lovingly, and instructed him word by word, "You must remember what I say next." Mu Tianyuan choked with sobs and nodded.

"In the future, you must not indulge in pleasure and neglect state affairs."

"Yes."

"The Crown Princess is your first wife, and you cannot depose her in the future."

"Yes."

"In the future, brothers must work together and not kill each other."

"Yes."

Mu Tianyuan responded seriously to every instruction given by Emperor Mu, and kept all three instructions firmly in mind.

Chao Yan looked at Emperor Mu's earnest teachings as if they were his last will and testament, and couldn't help being moved. Even though he was the emperor and held the power over life and death over the people of the world, in the end, he still had to live up to the old saying: All parents in the world are pitiful.

Emperor Mu asked Chaoyan to come over again, saying that his two daughters were married and not around. When he saw Chaoyan, he thought of his own daughter, so he asked Chaoyan to stay for two more days.

Mu Tianling suddenly raised his head, and Chao Yan was also surprised by Emperor Mu’s decision.

"I'm tired, you all can go down." Emperor Mu waved his hand, Mu Tianyuan left in tears, Mu Tianqi and Mu Tianchen also left one after another, Mu Tianling knelt without moving, and Eunuch De came over to persuade him, "Fourth Prince, please get up quickly, the emperor needs to rest."

Mu Tianling looked at Mu Huang, his eyes were filled with mixed emotions, the grievances and anger accumulated over the years were on the verge of exploding. Zhao Yan saw that something was wrong, came over to help him up, and said softly, "Go back." She also quietly gave him an OK gesture, indicating that she was fine.

Mu Tianling followed Duke De’s announcement and retreated. Emperor Mu asked Concubine Yin to go back and rest as well.

"Do you want to ask me why I kept you here?" Emperor Mu asked.

Chao Yan nodded without hesitation.

Emperor Mu waved his hand and asked Chao Yan to sit down first. He said with emotion: "Although I am the emperor, there are very few people around me who can tell the truth. They are afraid of losing their heads if they say something wrong." He smiled again and said, "You are brave." Chao Yan replied, "Father, I am also timid and afraid of losing my head."

Emperor Mu smiled again and started coughing again. Chao Yan hurriedly handed him the teacup. After taking a sip and breathing smoothly, Emperor Mu asked, "Do you think the Crown Prince is comparable to the Second Prince?"

Chao Yan's eyelids jumped when she heard this. This was really a life-threatening question. She considered her words and replied, "Your Highness the Crown Prince is a rare talent, destined by heaven. He is a role model among the princes and is extremely filial to the emperor. Your Highness the Crown Prince will definitely remember what the emperor said and will not let him down in the future."

Emperor Mu said, "Do you really think so in your heart? Are you just trying to fool me with nice words?"

Chaoyan nodded without hesitation. Although what Mu Tianyuan had done before was really shameless, she was sure of one thing: he would definitely remember his father's words and would not kill his brothers. Moreover, as long as she had a virtuous wife like Liu Sui by her side, she and Mu Tianling would not have a bad life in the future.

But if it were Mu Tianqi, she wouldn't dare to guarantee that he wouldn't exclude dissidents. His mind was much deeper than Mu Tianyuan's, and he had the means. It wouldn't be difficult for him to seize power without bloodshed. By then, not only Prince Ling's Mansion, but maybe even her father and her brother would be implicated, so she really supported the prince in her heart.

Eunuch De arranged a place for Chaoyan to live, and Chaoyan settled down in the palace again.

After dinner, Chaoyan saw Eunuch De leading the priest Yuchen over, probably to see a doctor.

After Eunuch De sent Priest Yu Chen away, he came to Chao Yan and took her to see Emperor Mu.

Chaoyan noticed that Emperor Mu looked better than during the day. Emperor Mu told her that things were not peaceful in the north again and he planned to let her father return to the border. Chaoyan asked if there was going to be another war. Emperor Mu said it was to prepare for the future. Chaoyan then understood that it was to prevent the north from taking the opportunity to cause trouble when the crown prince succeeded to the throne in the future.

"I will summon your father to the palace tomorrow. You and your daughter can say goodbye in person."

"Thank you, Father."

At night, Chao Yan was thinking about some things and didn't fall asleep until almost three o'clock in the morning.

The next day, Eunuch De took her to see Shen He. After the father and daughter met, Eunuch De stepped aside and let the father and daughter talk alone.

Seeing Shen He, Chao Yan's eyes slightly turned red, and her voice was slightly choked. She asked, "Dad, when will you be back?" Shen He comforted her, "Dad will be back in a few months, you have to take good care of yourself."

……