"I cannot force her to completely give up her identity and position. She is not only my mother; she is also the Empress of Great Zhou.
"She ought to do what her position requires her to do. So even if I can understand whatever she does next."
He Zhao, hearing this, couldn’t help but nod his head.
But then he asked, "Doesn’t my lord feel wronged in your heart? What if the Emperor finds out about you..."
The one who truly betrayed him should be the Emperor.
Therefore, the real knot should also be the Emperor’s actions.
"That doesn’t matter." Yang Yi looked at him, "I’ve actually already understood him long ago."
He Zhao was stunned.
Yang Yi continued, "As a man, or as a General of Great Zhou, I can understand him sacrificing the small for the greater good. But in the end, I am his son, and it’s familial affection that’s the hurdle I can’t get over.
"But it doesn’t matter now because I have already abandoned him. The father-son bond in this life has simply been severed."
"My lord..."
"In these years we’ve been running around, it hasn’t been just for my grievances, we’ve been doing what we ought to do.
"Your wife and children are still waiting for you to return. Once we finish our tasks, everything will be settled."
Yang Yi said this, patting his shoulder, then withdrew his hand, "You should go wash up. After breakfast, we’ll go check the house. Regardless of the future, for now, don’t let down my mother’s intentions."
He Zhao pressed his lips tight and nodded.
As Yang Yi waited for him to leave, he continued to wash and change clothes.
Not a trace of sorrow could be found on his calm face. On the contrary, after tidying his hair and dress, he carefully tended to the bottle of osmanthus on the table.
A life of hardships indeed leaves significant scars, but at thirty-four, he’s already mature enough to know how to deal with betrayal and disappointment.
"I didn’t expect it, Brother Yang, you have quite the taste. The flowers look even more wonderful after you’ve rearranged them."
Lost in the fragrance of the flowers, Fu Zhen’s crisp voice came from behind.
Yang Yi, hearing the address "Brother Yang," turned back in surprise and looked her over: "How is it, after just one night, my rank has dropped?"
Fu Zhen walked up to him with a smile, "Yesterday, you called my father-in-law uncle. If I still call you uncle, how would I address my father-in-law?"
Yang Yi paused, then said, "You have your way of addressing, I’ll have mine."
"Wouldn’t others laugh at us if they heard?" Fu Zhen picked up a small basin of water nearby and sprinkled some on the flower branches. "I don’t want people to say I lack manners."
Yang Yi looked at her, then sat down on a chair nearby, gazing at her, "What trick are you up to, coming here so early in the morning?"
"It’s unfair for you to say that." Fu Zhen pointed to the dark circles under her eyes. "Look at these dark circles; does it look like I’m up to tricks? Aren’t you curious about my experience entering the palace last night?"
Yang Yi picked up the tea, "That’s the business of you officials. What does it have to do with a commoner like me?"
"What if I told you, you no longer have a younger brother, what would you say?"
Yang Yi was just about to drink his tea when he heard this, and he set the cup down: "What do you mean?"
Fu Zhen said, "Last night, I went with the Empress to Prince Yan’s Palace and personally heard Prince Yan reveal the truth that he deceived you and stirred up discord between you and the Empress."
Yang Yi was indifferent, "I had already guessed that."
"But you can never guess, Prince Yan isn’t actually the biological son of the Emperor and the Empress."
Yang Yi was suddenly burned by hot tea. He looked up, "What did you say?"
Fu Zhen pulled the towel he had hung after washing his face and handed it to him, "I said, Prince Yan is not your biological younger brother. He also said that he did all this because someone from Dayue incited him, saying that the Guan Family father and son who died on Baiyu Lane were his uncles."
Yang Yi was stunned.
"Of course, it’s all false." Fu Zhen straightened up, "Seven years ago, he wasn’t frightened by a deity in the City God Temple, but knocked out by a masked man who met him secretly."
"People from Dayue?" Yang Yi frowned, "What people from Dayue?"
"I don’t know," Fu Zhen shrugged, "That’s why I’m here to ask you. You’re well-informed. Do you know what Prince Lian Yang, who King of Dayue Duan Ruo raised in General Wei Wu Lian Qing’s Mansion, was doing seven years ago?"