He is the one the Empress wants to see!
Who else in the world is worthy of the Empress leaving the palace in disguise to meet personally?!
Except for the one she has been searching for over twenty years——
"Father!" Fu Zhen called out just as he was about to blurt it out, simultaneously giving him a meaningful look: "I have more to say to Mr. Yang, please point us to a place!"
Pei Yu snapped back to reality, shivering before looking around and then pointing to a small door to the east: "Follow me!"
Saying this, he immediately started walking toward that direction.
He was so excited that his body was as tense as a bow!
Fu Zhen turned back to glance at Yang Yi.
Yang Yi sighed silently and followed quietly.
It was not until they followed Pei Yu into a serene and exquisite small courtyard to the east that Yang Yi walked in front of Pei Yu and respectfully cupped his hands: "Uncle Chang Hao, how have you been?"
Chang Hao was Pei Yu’s courtesy name, back during the battle of Huzhou, Pei Yu was already married with children.
Pei Yu’s eyes immediately turned red, and he heavily slapped Yang Yi’s arm: "It really is you, it really is you?!"
"It is me." Yang Yi nodded, his eyes also turning red.
"Good, good, that’s great!"
Pei Yu patted his arm several times, repeating the word good several times, and upon seeing the eager Fu Zhen beside him, he realized: "You two talk first! I, I will find you later!"
Saying this, he exited swiftly.
The courtyard was now empty, even outside was quiet.
There was no doubt that Pei Yu had everything arranged when he left.
Fu Zhen gestured toward the room: "Mr. Yang... let’s talk inside."
She now realized that Yang Yi was calling Pei Yu uncle, didn’t this make generations all mixed up? Now she couldn’t even bring herself to call him Uncle Yang!
Without a word, Yang Yi followed her into the room, glancing over the surroundings. There weren’t many luxurious items, just the essential tables and chairs, along with two calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall and a few military books on a cabinet.
Additionally, two pots of thriving Molan on the desk, the desk was very clean, indicating regular visitors.
"How are things in the palace? Stop keeping me in suspense, girl."
Even though the place was pleasant, he had not forgotten the purpose of this visit. After a quick scan, he turned to face Fu Zhen.
Fu Zhen said: "Since you agreed to come to the Pei family, there are some things I think you should verify yourself."
Saying this, she glanced at the courtyard gate and then walked out.
Yang Yi frowned, and as he watched her disappear, the entrance became empty, and shortly thereafter, a thin and elderly figure slowly appeared.
Yang Yi’s throat tightened, and his hands hanging at his sides involuntarily clenched.
The figure walked in, and under the slanting sunlight, the face gradually became clear.
"Yi Yi."
The Empress stood in the courtyard, looking at him from a distance of about ten feet beyond the threshold. As she uttered those words, her tears burst forth, "Yi Yi!"
She walked quickly a few steps, crossed the courtyard, climbed the steps, and stopped at the threshold.
The real Yang Yi stood before her, familiar yet slightly unfamiliar features, resembling his father’s figure, everything just like in Fu Zhen’s portrait.
Tears flowed like a spring, immediately inundating the Empress’s eyes.
But they also blurred her vision, preventing her from seeing the person in front of her clearly.
She hurriedly raised her hand to wipe away the tears, reaching out to grab Yang Yi: "Yi Yi, let mother take a good look at you."
Since she appeared, Yang Yi hadn’t taken his eyes off her.
He, too, was fixated on the Empress, real men don’t cry easily, yet his eyes were now reddened as well.
However, upon seeing the Empress’s outstretched hand, he instinctively took a step back.
"Yang Yi is a mere commoner, unworthy of the Empress’s deep affection."
"Child! If you are a commoner, then I am nothing but a commoner’s mother!"
The Empress burst into tears, bending over in sorrow, looking at the threshold as if gazing at a high mountain. Clearly, she was just one step away from reaching him, yet that step was insurmountable.
"You are my son, I have searched for you for twenty-four years! I am nearing my end, and I finally lived to see this day of reunion, this is my good fortune. But you, do you really refuse to look at me even once?"
Yang Yi turned his back to her, his chest heaving, tears also welling up in his eyes. "In the past, I swore to safeguard your safety, but from the moment you decided to abandon me, you had no more eldest son, and I had no more parents, you should know this!
"Your call of ’child’ comes too late, Empress."