If it were a few years ago, he would surely have been reluctant.
He also worried about the empire, and the Emperor.
But now he realized that leaving at this time was the best option. If he stayed longer, he might not be able to retreat unscathed.
Upon hearing this, Yun Shu smiled faintly, filled with admiration. He truly was her father.
"The matter of leaving the capital is not only something Father has been contemplating these past few days, but also something that King Ye and I have considered. Father can leave the capital first and live in seclusion in the mountains with Xiao Li and the other two. After Ye Wang and I have avenged Old Master Qin, we will meet up with Father," Yun Shu explained their plans with Zhan Tianye.
Yun Changfeng looked surprised. "You've both thought it through?"
He had been anxious for several days.
This was precisely what he had most hoped for.
He hoped King Ye would leave the capital, but he knew of King Ye's ambition. King Ye's ultimate goal had never been to leave the capital.
The words he had spoken were merely a test.
If Shu'er disagreed, he naturally would not leave the capital and would face all adversities with them, having already cast his own life and death aside.
Yun Shu nodded. "We have made our decision."
Tears welled up in Yun Changfeng's eyes. He nodded repeatedly. "Good, good, good. I will arrange everything these past few days and take the three of them away first. No one will ever know our whereabouts. You and King Ye... will have no worries in the capital. But you must remember to protect yourselves."
"Don't worry, Father," Yun Shu said with a smile.
She picked up a handkerchief from the side and handed it to him. "Father, do you have something in your eye?"
Yun Changfeng blinked and replied, "Yes, how did sand suddenly get into my eye? I'm getting old; my eyelids can't even keep out sand anymore."
Father and daughter burst into laughter together.
That night.
Yun Shu and Zhan Tianye sat on the parapet.
Above them was the bright moon.
Below were a few small trees in the General's Mansion.
"The Great General is wise to choose to resign at this time. It is rare in this world. Before today, I was worried about the Great General, thinking he would not easily leave the capital," Zhan Tianye said, his voice low and slow.
His words conveyed his praise and respect for Yun Changfeng.
The Great General, who rarely encountered enemies on the battlefield, should have enjoyed all the glory. Yet, at this moment, he chose to retire. Who could achieve such a feat?
It was like him.
Years ago, he had been ambitious, his sole desire being the empire.
Assisting Zhan Tianhong was merely to stabilize the realm, out of consideration for the late emperor's trust and entrustment.
He felt only a sliver of brotherly affection for Zhan Tianhong.
But now, he had seen through it all.
In the past, he desired the empire because he had nothing else he wanted.
Now, he had someone he wanted, and thus he wished to leave the capital with Yun Shu and the others, far from the disputes.
They were what he cherished most in his life.
The imperial throne, the empire—all were like fleeting clouds, no longer in his sight.
He tightly grasped Yun Shu's hand.
Having her was like having the world.
Yun Shu suddenly smiled, her bright eyes sparkling. She teased, "If you're not King Ye anymore, aren't you afraid of being bullied by me in the future?"
"Willingly," Zhan Tianye gazed deeply into her bright eyes.
He would not trade her for ten million empires.
What if he was bullied by her? Moreover, he might even enjoy being bullied by her. A mischievous thought suddenly crossed Zhan Tianye's mind.
Yun Shu looked at him and felt something was amiss. The way he looked at her...
The temperature around them suddenly rose.
Yun Shu froze.
Zhan Tianye cupped her head and kissed her.
A lingering kiss.
A kiss of deep affection.
It was a long time before they stopped.
The moonlight grew softer.
Not far away.
The three children, who should have been asleep, wanted to sneak out to see their father and mother meeting.
They wanted to give their father and mother a surprise, a hug for the whole family of five.
Instead, the three children were dumbfounded.
They covered their small mouths.
They looked at each other.
Daddy and Mommy were kissing again!
And this time, they were kissing on the wall!
The three children quietly retreated.
Their faces flushed red.
Zhan Xiao Li, who was usually like a little adult, blinked his sparkling big eyes and guessed, "Will we have a sister soon?"
"Not yet. I asked Sister A'Cha last time, and she said we still need to enter the bridal chamber. After entering the bridal chamber, we can have a sister," Zhan Xiao Feng said.
Yun Xiao Jing nodded. "Sister A'Cha is right. I've always heard in stories that after the wedding night, the female lead in the book would soon become pregnant and have a child."
That was the sequence!
The three children really wanted a sister. If they could have a sister, they would dote on her and not let anyone bully her!
And their sister would be fair-skinned, with a soft, sweet voice that was so pleasant to hear!
Someone yawned, "I'm so sleepy."
"I'm sleepy too."
"Let's go back to sleep."
The three children scurried back to their rooms on their short legs.
Just as they left, Yun Changfeng, who couldn't sleep and wanted to take a stroll in the mansion in the middle of the night, happened to see the couple on the parapet.
At first, he didn't look closely and thought it was some couple daring to get close on the General's Mansion's wall.
But upon closer inspection, in the moonlight, he recognized the two familiar figures. Oh dear, they were from his family!
Yun Changfeng's old face flushed red.
His eyes darted around.
He quickly covered his eyes and walked away.
Thankfully, he hadn't spoken out to chase them away. If he had, it would have been too embarrassing!
The night deepened.
Outside the back door of the Gu family.
A figure was lurking around.
He leaned against the wall, bored.
He had a blade of grass in his mouth.
He muttered, "Why aren't they out yet? These days, there are only a few people who can make this lord wait."
Just as he finished speaking, a woman's voice called out, "You don't have to wait. You can leave early."
Hearing this, Ruan Xi immediately chuckled twice. "I'm willing to wait for you."
"Stop with the sweet talk. You can fool a bunch of concubines, but I don't believe you," Gu Zhiruo glared at Ruan Xi. The more she interacted with him during this period, the more she felt he was too philandering and also heartless. In short, he was not a good person.
He was at most more straightforward than Qu Shujie.
He had directly told her his intentions.
Initially, she had spoken to him out of consideration for Yun Shu.
But now, she felt it was time to consider some matters.
After two broken engagements, there were many rumors about the Gu family in the capital, and her parents rarely went out to socialize anymore.
Ruan Xi stared intently at Gu Zhiruo. "We are truly a perfect match. No one in my family considers me a good person; they all think I'm inherently wicked. And your reputation in the capital has been tarnished by the Qu family. Why don't we join forces, silence some people, and then live a carefree life together?"
"You said that if I asked for a divorce, you would immediately divorce me and publicly claim it was your fault," Gu Zhiruo asked.