Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 1275 - 1272_1

Shangguan Xuanyi took Xiao’er and the young ones and embarked on their journey back to the Imperial Capital.

Xiao’er and Gu Qiling also followed them back.

Because the four children were so young, even though Shangguan Xuanyi was in a rush and wished he could return to the Imperial Capital immediately, their carriage could not travel very fast. It was only when they boarded a ship that they made better progress.

However, on the ship, the four children were incredibly active! If you were not careful and lost sight of them for just a moment, the children would be either clinging to the window lattices or the guardrail of the ship, it was enough to scare one half to death!

Yang Liu, Yang Mei, and Zhao Yong spent every day in trembling fear!

Xiao’er had finally succumbed to the four children and their extraordinary ability to create chaos!

In the past, everyone used to say that she was a very troublesome child, but Xiao’er felt that these children were even more so!

Actually, it wasn’t the children’s fault, they had been used to playing around in the area ever since they learned to crawl. The area was very safe, and any unsafe places were fenced off by Bai Tian to prevent the children from going there.

Furthermore, since their childhood, Bai Tian had often taken the children flying in the sky, swimming in the lake, floating in the sea, and picking fruits from trees to eat... Therefore, the four children had gotten used to being active and could not stop.

Finally, they returned to the Imperial Capital! Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

After Shangguan Xuanyi returned to the Imperial Capital, he settled Xiao’er in and then immediately summoned the steward of Wang Mansion to ask him if there was any news of Master Yunfa.

"To respond to you, my lord, there’s none. The whereabouts of Master Yunfa are unpredictable, he’s elusive. Unless he intentionally reveals his trail, it’s unlikely that anyone can find him," the steward replied.

Shangguan Xuanyi did not say anything, as the steward was telling the truth.

After changing his clothes, he took the four children to the palace.

First, he went to meet the Emperor and the Empress.

After the Empress spent some time affectionately fussing over her grandsons, she asked, knowing that Xiao’er was in a coma, "Has there been any news from Master Yunfa yet? She’s been unconscious for such a long time, her body must have been seriously damaged!"

If one doesn’t eat or move for several months, when they wake up, their body would almost certainly be severely damaged!

However, Shangguan Xuanyi had been massaging Xiao’er every day and moving her limbs a little, but even with this, when she wakes up, her body would likely not be as flexible as before, and her physical functions would definitely be somewhat impaired.

"I received news that Master Yunfa would return to the Imperial Capital, and so I brought Xiao’er back immediately."

"Master Yunfa is hard to track, maybe we should ask the Imperial Oracle first for a method to wake Xiao’er up?" suggested the Emperor.

"That could work!" Shangguan Xuanyi did not refuse upon hearing this.

He then left the children in Kunning Palace and discussed the matter of attacking Nangong Country with the Emperor in the study room.

The Emperor was satisfied with the progress and current status of the attack on Nangong Country after talking with him all morning.

When he heard about how Shangguan Xuanyi had spirited away the confidential documents from the secret room in the royal study room of the Nangong Country, he couldn’t help but laugh heartily, repeatedly praising Shangguan Xuanyi.

"I thought about how you managed to get such an important list! I didn’t expect it to be obtained like this! Excellent! Ha ha..."

Shangguan Xuanyi had promptly sent some important documents, especially the list of traitors within Nangong Country via the Pigeon Post system. This was done to capture these people as soon as possible. Otherwise, if Nangong Country discovered that the documents in the secret room were stolen, they would definitely inform their spies here.

To capture them all at once, Shangguan Xuanyi immediately copied these lists and sent them back to the Imperial Capital via Pigeon Post after leaving the Imperial City of Nangong Country.

"I ordered all the people on the list to be arrested at the earliest opportunity, not one was missed. I’m sure you didn’t risk everything by infiltrating their stronghold and bringing these documents out for nothing! Ha ha... Some people were arrested without even knowing what they did wrong!"

"Even if not a single person was arrested, I wouldn’t be disappointed, Father King. After all, I just brought these here as a matter of convenience," Shangguan Xuanyi replied casually when he heard this.

His careless attitude should suit the Emperor’s concerns about internal threats much better, right?

The Emperor’s laughter ceased. Could they have a proper conversation?... Never mind, let’s assume he was saying one thing and meaning another.

If he did not wish to arrest all the traitors, would he have sent a Pigeon Post back at the earliest opportunity? He could have just brought it back with him since he was returning to the Imperial Capital anyway!

There had been so many things to take care of recently; the Emperor hadn’t slept well for days! It’s really great that his son was back!

The Emperor took a pile of memorials from the table, preparing to hand them over to Shangguan Xuanyi to handle.

"Father King, I just returned from Zezhou. After the battle, dealing with Gu Xuan, and stealing those documents, I am physically and mentally exhausted and need to rest for a while. Please don’t come to me for administrative matters," said Shangguan Xuanyi promptly when he saw the Emperor’s intentions before he even spoke a word.

What a joke. He had just returned and already a bunch of duties had been pushed onto him. Xiao’er still hadn’t woken up yet, and he had to stay by her side. Also, he had to wait for Master Yunfa’s visit. He simply didn’t have the mood to deal with administrative issues!

The Emperor paused at his words, and after thinking for a while, he figured his request might indeed be excessive. His son had just returned from a long journey, and considering Xiao’er’s condition, he must be extremely troubled. Alright, let him rest for half a day... No, a whole day will do!

Feeling somewhat dejected at the thought, the Emperor sighed. He hadn’t gotten a rest for a long time either! As the saying went, "With great power comes great responsibility" - it’s a life of serving the people in every possible way!

"Well, now that you’re back, take the children to see your Empress Dowager Grandmother. She’s been missing them terribly!"

"I am leaving, your Majesty!" Shangguan Xuanyi bowed and took his leave immediately upon hearing the Emperor’s words, lest he changed his mind.

The Emperor waved his hand impatiently: "Go! Go! If you don’t want to help with the memorials or administrative affairs, are you planning to stay here and have your meals that easily?"

His place is only for those who worked hard, leaving them with food and duties, but for those who did not, there was nothing to be had!

After leaving Zichen Palace, Shangguan Xuanyi went to Kunning Palace to pick up the children, and together they went to Cining Palace.

After the Empress Dowager had been burned, her health had gotten worse. She did not like to meet people these days.

She used to go to the Imperial Garden for walks, but not anymore.

When the Empress Dowager heard that Shangguan Xuanyi was bringing the children to pay respect to her, she quickly responded, "Please, let them in quickly. It is almost noon, which is when the sun is at its fiercest. I worry that the children might get sunburnt."

The maid quickly went out to invite Shangguan Xuanyi and the children in.

"Your son wishes Empress Dowager Grandmother a long life and good health!" Shangguan Xuanyi bowed in respect.

Before they entered the palace, Shangguan Xuanyi had specifically instructed Aunt Rong to teach the four children how to pay their respects. As the children were quick learners, they were now bowing to the Empress Dowager respectfully, saying:

"Chen’er, Nuannuan, Mo’er, Qingqing wish great Empress Dowager Grandmother, blessings and good health!"

"No need for formalities, no need... My great-grandsons have grown to be able to walk and talk in just a few months since I last saw them! I’ve missed you all so much! Come, come here to your great-grandmother."

In fact, they had been in Zezhou for almost a year!

The children looked at their father, and seeing him nod in agreement, they immediately ran over to the Empress Dowager and began to cling to her affectionately.

At this moment, a young maiden by the Empress Dowager’s side gave Shangguan Xuanyi a curtsey: "This servant girl Qingqing pays respect to Prince Rui."