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nShi Qingzhou saw Long Xiaoyuan’s relief.

n“What’s wrong?”

nLong Xiaoyuan paused and said honestly, “Qingzhou, I’ve actually thought about it, especially when I was caught. I thought if I could still come back here and see you.”

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nShi Qingzhou paused and said softly, “Well, what about now?”

nLong Xiaoyuan smiled. “Now, I’m back here.”

nShi Qingzhou also smiled. “Yes, you are back here.”

nLong Xiaoyuan said, “Qingzhou, I think now it’s great to be alive. I can breathe fresh air, hug someone I love, and lie on such a comfortable bed. Tomorrow, I can hear our son call me Father in a soft childish voice. Qingzhou, don’t you think it’s good to be alive?”

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nShi Qingzhou nodded. “Indeed, it’s not bad.”

n“Let’s go see your mother tomorrow.”

n“Okay.” Shi Qingzhou nodded. “I’ll go, and you stay here. You just came back, so you should handle political matters. The problem with the Eastern Darkness has to be solved.”

nLong Xiaoyuan groaned. “Does that mean I’ll be very busy again?”

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nShi Qingzhou looked at him and smiled. “Are you scared?”

n“Yeah, I’m really scared,” Long Xiaoyuan sighed.

nShi Qingzhou smiled and said, “I’ll be back soon. Don’t worry.”

n“You don’t need to.” Long Xiaoyuan shook his head. “You’ve been out for so long, and your mother must’ve missed you. Stay with her at home longer. Come back after dinner.”

nShi Qingzhou raised his eyebrows. “Are you so generous? I’m surprised.”

nLong Xiaoyuan’s face darkened. “I’ve always been generous.”

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n“Then why didn’t you want me to go out in the past?”

nLong Xiaoyuan said helplessly, “I was worried about your safety. Now that our enemies are dead, I won’t be worried anymore.”

n“Okay.” Shi Qingzhou nodded. “I accept your explanation.”

nThe two of them chatted and fell asleep.

nThey were exhausted after the journey, and they needed a good rest.

nThe two of them didn’t do anything, hugging each other to sleep.

nThe next morning, when Long Xiaoyuan got up, Shi Qingzhou was still asleep. Long Xiaoyuan didn’t disturb him and got up quietly.

nShi Qingzhou woke up in a daze when Long Xiaoyuan got up, but he was sleepy, so he went back to sleep.

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nWhen he woke up again, it was almost time for Long Xiaoyuan to come back from the morning court.

nShi Qingzhou got up. After he washed up, Long Xiaoyuan came back.

nShi Qingzhou went to greet him.

n“How was the morning court?”

nLong Xiaoyuan smiled. “Regarding my return, some people were happy, some were worried, and some people trembled with fear.” Shi Qingzhou laughed. “You have a vivid description.”

n“Of course. Let’s have breakfast. You can go back home after breakfast.”

n“Yes, I know.” Shi Qingzhou nodded.

nLiu Suifeng and Ouyang Chuan did not follow them back to the imperial palace. Instead, they stayed in the Imperial City.

nThe house that Long Xiaoyuan gave them was well equipped.

nThe house had been tended to, waiting for the two masters to return.

nTherefore, Liu Suifeng and Ouyang Chuan went to stay there.

nAlthough Madam Shi had Liu Suifeng’s medicine with her, Shi Qingzhou was not completely at ease, so he planned to take Liu Suifeng with him to check on his mother carefully.

nShi Qingzhou knew where Ouyang Chuan and Liu Suifeng were staying, so he went over directly.

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nThe two of them were having breakfast when he arrived.

nAfter Shi Qingzhou told them what he had come for, Liu Suifeng said he would go with Shi Qingzhou after breakfast.

nOuyang Chuan said, “I’m not going. I’ll do some shopping.”

nLiu Suifeng said, “Alright. Take care of yourself.”

nOuyang Chuan rolled his eyes. “Do you think I’m a child?”

nLiu Suifeng said with grievance. “Of course you are not a child anymore. I’m worried about you.”

nOuyang Chuan ignored him.

nShi Qingzhou said, “I’ll wait for you outside.”

nOuyang Chuan said to Liu Suifeng hurriedly, “Why don’t you leave?”

nLiu Suifeng sighed. “I feel I’m a nuisance.”

nOuyang Chuan grinned. “It’s good that you know.” Liu Suifeng was speechless.

nHe simply didn’t want to say anything.

nHowever, Liu Suifeng quickly left and followed Shi Qingzhou to the general’s mansion.

nAt this time, Shadow Guardian delivered a message to Long Xiaoyuan.

nIt was from the Eastern Darkness.

nAfter reading it carefully, Long Xiaoyuan let out a long sigh of relief, and he smiled.

nZhou Suye failed.

nIt was a tragedy for him, but he actually succeeded in killing Emperor Zhou.

nHowever, Emperor Zhou didn’t die right away, and he killed Zhou Suye with his sword.

nZhou Suye died on the spot, and Emperor Zhou passed the throne to Fang Shuoyang.

nActually, Zhou Suye intended to kill Fang Shuoyang with his sword. At that time, Fang Shuoyang could not defend himself. For some reason, Emperor Zhou rushed up and stepped in front of Fang Shuoyang.

nEmperor Zhou was seriously injured, but he successfully killed Zhou Suye, who was shocked.

nAs for Fang Shuoyang, Emperor Zhou somehow saved him, so he was the final winner.

nFang Shuoyang should feel complicated now.

nFang Shuoyang might not know why Emperor Zhou did that, but Long Xiaoyuan knew the reason from an emperor’s point of view.

nEmperor Zhou was old after all, but most importantly, he was sad too.

nThe Eastern Darkness couldn’t go far in his hands.

nHowever, Fang Shuoyang was obviously qualified.

nTherefore, for the future of the empire, if someone had to die, he would rather be that person.

nJust like Long Xiaoyuan. His son was only two years old, and he was willing to take risks and die with his enemy, leaving a peaceful country to his son.

nHe could do this, so could Emperor Zhou.

nBesides, Fang Shuoyang was an adult, much better than a two-year-old child.

nThis may not have anything to do with love or compensation. This was the emperor’s strategy.

nOf course, it was also the emperor’s sorrow.

nEmperor adored Zhou Suye the most, but he couldn’t show his affection, which made his favorite son misunderstand.

nMoreover, the son he secretly loved the most wanted him to die!

nWasn’t this the sorrow of being an emperor?

nEspecially Emperor Zhou.

nHe used his other sons to pave the way for his beloved son. But in the end, he ended up like this…

nSighing softly, Long Xiaoyuan put away the note.

nNo matter what, this result was the best.

nAt least, the people he cared about were all alive…

nAt night, Shi Qingzhou came back.

nLong Xiaoyuan had already had dinner and was enjoying the cool in the yard.

nHe lay on the lounge chair leisurely.

nWhen Shi Qingzhou came back, he saw Long Xiaoyuan.

nShi Qingzhou approached Long Xiaoyuan. “Have you had dinner?”

nLong Xiaoyuan waved at Shi Qingzhou.

nShi Qingzhou extended his hand.

nLong Xiaoyuan smiled. He pulled Shi Qingzhou into his arms and let him sit on his lap.

nShi Qingzhou looked at him. “What’s up?”

nLong Xiaoyuan said softly, “There’s news from the Eastern Darkness.”

nShi Qingzhou paused and hurriedly asked. “How is it?”

nLong Xiaoyuan smiled. “When Zhou Suye tried to kill Fang Shuoyang, Emperor Zhou protected Fang Shuoyang and got seriously injured. However, Emperor Zhou managed to kill Zhou Suye, his most beloved son, and with his serious injury, he passed the throne to Fang Shuoyang.”

nShi Qingzhou thought about the news.

nLong Xiaoyuan hugged Shi Qingzhou’s waist.

n“Qingzhou, Emperor Zhou had been stupid for a lifetime, and he got smart in the end. He had so many sons, but almost none of them ended up good. He had the weird idea to use his other sons to enthrone his favorite son without caring about their deaths. Therefore, he ended up like this. But, this result is the best. Do you think so?”

nShi Qingzhou looked at Long Xiaoyuan and nodded slowly. “You’re right. This result is the best…”

nLong Xiaoyuan kissed Shi Qingzhou’s ear.

n“Back then, we were willing to take risks for our son, leaving the country to him and ready to die with the enemies. I think that’s what emperors will do.”

nShi Qingzhou also said, “Emperor Zhou made his own choice to kill Zhou Suye, whom he had adored for so many years. Since his favorite son wanted to kill him, he preferred to kill his son himself. Zhou Suye deserved it, but I didn’t expect him to move so early.”

n“He might be forced to do it,” Long Xiaoyuan said. “He had lost the battle at the border. When he returned, people with eyes naturally knew who was more suitable to be the emperor. Even Emperor Zhou couldn’t deny it.”

n“That’s true…”

n“Qingzhou, let’s go back.”

n“Okay.” Shi Qingzhou nodded.

nLong Xiaoyuan held Shi Qingzhou’s hand and wrapped it in his palm. “Let’s go…”

n“Okay…”

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