A month after the Northern Dynasties withdrew their troops, Xufeng and Run Yu returned to the capital together.

The emperor personally welcomed them at the outskirts of the city. The chariot was in formation, intimidating everyone.

Xufeng insisted that Run Yu return with him and enjoy this supreme honor. It was as if they were looking at the rivers and mountains hand in hand.

During this month, the two of them were glued to each other like glue and oil. Because of the high status of the emperor, they did not care about etiquette. However, now that they returned to the capital, they were bound and restrained.

Run Yu was the vice-minister of the Taichang Temple and should follow etiquette. He knew that this was inappropriate, but he could not bear to go against Xufeng's wishes. In the end, he went with him to meet the emperor.

As expected, the emperor's expression did not look too good.

However, since it was a joyous occasion, he did not flare up. He still praised Xufeng without restraint. Apart from all kinds of treasures, he also bestowed an honor that was comparable to that of a crown prince.

Everyone in the court thought that with Xufeng's flamboyance, he would not refuse anyone. Who would have thought that Xufeng would be different this time? Not only did he ask the emperor to take back the order, he even returned the chariot and beauties.

Run Yu listened to him speak from the side. He was so nervous that his palms were sweaty.

Based on his understanding of Xufeng, he would definitely shock everyone to death with his words.

However, in this hall, Xufeng did not look to the side and did not even look at him. Naturally, he did not notice the looks he gave him.

"I do not dare to refuse the emperor's gift. However, since father loves me so much, I want to rely on your favor to be arrogant this time."

The emperor was amused by him. Dozens of years of fatherly love were evoked by him. He actually asked him why he was so abnormal.

"I boldly ask father to agree to one thing. If father agrees, I have nothing else to ask for in this life. I will only be loyal and filial and use my body to serve the country!"

"Oh?" The emperor did not know what he wanted and was even more curious. "What can make you so stubborn?

Seeing that you are not willing to give up, I have no choice but to agree.

However, what if what you ask for is a heresy? What will you do? "

"Your son's feelings will never go against the way of an official!"

"Very well, we agree to your request."

"A monarch never goes back on his words?"

"A monarch never goes back on his words!"

The Emperor thought that he had done Xufeng a great favor.

However, Run Yu knew that if he didn't stop it, who knew what kind of storm would be stirred up in the hall today.

"This humble subject is not talented, may I be so bold as to guess what Your Highness' request is?" He hurriedly interjected before the spilled water could not be undone.

Xufeng turned around to look at him. He was originally beaming with happiness, but when he saw Run Yu's expression, his smile immediately faded.

He stared at him without blinking, as if asking why he was unwilling, but the other party didn't look at him.

Run Yu bowed to the Emperor from afar. His robes fluttered in the wind, making him look like an immortal.

Seeing this, Xufeng suddenly felt that he was getting further and further away from him.

"Does Your Highness wish to ask for a title for your birth mother?"

When these words were spoken, not only did Xufeng's expression change, but even the Emperor appeared slightly displeased.

"That day, Madam was bedridden, Your Highness left the Palace to pray for blessings and was unable to attend to her. When Madam passed away early and was unable to perform filial piety, it must have been a matter of regret in your heart.

Returning with honor this time, you will naturally remember your mother's kindness in raising you. For this reason, it is natural that you wish to repay your kindness. "

After Run Yu finished speaking, the Emperor's expression gradually relaxed.

Xufeng's birth mother's death that year truly had the Emperor's tacit approval, which was why he had never heard anyone mention it for more than a decade.

Today, Run Yu had no choice but to bring it up in order to stop Xufeng from bringing up his unreasonable request. He knew that he had touched the Emperor's reverse scale, but it was inconvenient for him to act out in front of everyone.

These words brought up the kindness of his mother several times to remind the Emperor that Xufeng was, after all, his son. Although he was not favored, he had established such illustrious military service, so the title he should have was indispensable. Otherwise, not only would it chill Xufeng's heart, it would probably chill the hearts of all the officers and soldiers.

The Emperor knew that he had treated Xufeng unfairly. Today, on a whim, he had agreed to his request. He was already somewhat regretful, but when he heard Run Yu bring up his birth mother, he felt even more displeased.

But thinking about it carefully, using this matter to cover up the matter of his birth mother was not a bad way to permanently eliminate future troubles. Immediately, he issued an imperial edict to Run Yu's proposal.

Thus, the Emperor had one load off his mind. Run Yu let out a sigh of relief. All the civil and military officials in the court also praised the father's love and filial piety. Only Xufeng alone, after thanking the Emperor for his kindness, hurriedly took his leave without the slightest trace of joy.

Run Yu chased him to the front of the Palace gate, only to see that person's silhouette leaving behind a cloud of dust. The evening mist was heavy, the sun was far away and the sky was long. Gradually, even his shadow could not be seen.

Knowing that he had angered Xufeng, early the next morning Run Yu went to visit him to apologize.

Unexpectedly, he was refused entry. The personal guard said that His Highness Prince Yi had left the city to go hunting. He was afraid that he would not be back for several days.

Knowing that he was deliberately avoiding him, Run Yu sighed in his heart. But he had been gone for several months, his duties had piled up like a mountain. He had no time to spare, so he could not go looking for him.

What he did not know was that Xufeng hated him even more. It was not until half a month later that he returned to the city.

Hearing that he had returned, Run Yu immediately went to visit him as soon as he was off duty. But he was left outside the gate for a long time and was not allowed to enter.

The personal guard told him, "His Highness said that if His Highness came, please wait for him. He will be back soon." But he sat there until the sky darkened and still did not see His Highness.

Run Yu did not want to be angry with him and miss the opportunity to reconcile. He dragged his tired body and sat there waiting. Soon, he could not hold on any longer and fell asleep on the table.

When he woke up, he heard someone angrily scolding the personal guard in front of the gate, "Who told him to wait here!"

The personal guard felt wronged and replied, "Didn't His Highness tell His Highness to wait?"

"I did not say to let him wait here!

Can't you find a place to wait in such a big Prince's Mansion?

What's the use of having trash like you! "

After scolding his subordinates, that person walked directly to Run Yu and touched his forehead. He immediately frowned and said, "Why do you feel a little hot?

You too, of all places to sleep, you slept in this place where the wind leaks in from all sides. You deserve to be sick! "

Xufeng's face still did not have a good expression, but his hands were already half supporting and half carrying the person.

Run Yu smiled silently, but as soon as he stood up, his head felt dizzy.

Sensing his strangeness, Xufeng hugged him a little tighter.

However, he did not care about the smell of incense on his body. The strong smell entered his throat and stirred Run Yu's stomach.

He covered his mouth and forced himself to suppress it. He endured until his forehead was covered in sweat.

Xufeng looked at him blankly and helplessly, "Where do you feel uncomfortable?"

Run Yu wanted to say something to comfort him, but the malice in his chest surged. As soon as he opened his mouth, he could not hold back his annoyance and vomited.

Xufeng was so alarmed that he immediately ordered someone to call for an imperial physician.

The imperial physician did not take long to arrive. He carefully examined Run Yu's wrist for a long time. He only said that it was a deficiency of qi and blood, and an imbalance of the spleen and stomach. He would be fine after taking some medicine.

Seeing Run Yu's pale face and sweating profusely, and the imperial physician saying that there was nothing serious, Xufeng could only half-believe and half-doubtfully dismiss the people and order them to prepare the medicine.

Run Yu raised his eyes to look at Xufeng, who was busying himself. With a faint smile, he asked, "Is Your Highness still angry at me?"

Hearing this, Xufeng immediately stopped in his tracks. He snorted and said, "Don't think that this trick of injuring yourself will make this prince's heart soften."

As he said this, he placed the green plum tea that the kitchen had just served in front of Run Yu. Only then did he mind his own business and sit to the side.

Seeing this, Run Yu sighed softly, "I understand Your Highness' intentions, but that day in the hall, it was not the right time to mention it to His Majesty."

"Was it not the right time, or were you not willing to spend the rest of your life with me?"

Xufeng suddenly stood up, but he seemed to feel that this was not the right time to be angry at Run Yu. Thus, he turned his face to look out the window, suppressing the raging anger.

Run Yu propped himself up. The swaying candlelight reflected on his jade-like face. Although some warmth was applied, it made him seem even colder.

"His Majesty loves face the most. If Your Highness rashly asked him to bestow a marriage between you and me, such a heinous matter would be mentioned in front of everyone. It would only make him feel that his face had been swept to the ground, and he would take his anger out on others.

Your Highness is His Majesty's flesh and blood. Even if you have done many wrong things, it is not enough to sever the relationship between father and son, but … "

Run Yu paused for a moment.

He clearly knew what Xufeng had asked for that day, but he had rejected him for his own selfish reasons. He knew that he had hurt the other party's heart, so he could not give a reason to reject him.

However, Xufeng continued for him.

"But … the entire household of the Grand Commandant will be implicated because of this. Is this what you want to say?"

The words that had not been spoken were coldly continued by Xufeng. Run Yu lowered his head and said no more.

Xufeng couldn't help but laugh coldly. "So your so-called deep feelings are nothing more than this. It can't even compare to a mere reputation and wealth?"

Run Yu was stunned. His gaze toward the other party was already filled with resentment and anger.

He knew that he was not greedy for these worldly possessions, but he deliberately made him sound so unbearable. Although it was to anger him, it was also to belittle him.

"Your Highness comes and goes without a care and concern. Naturally, you are free and unrestrained. However, Run Yu's family has a long life ahead of them, and there are children below them. The lives of more than a hundred people are connected to me. How can I be free of worries like Your Highness?"

"Then you will abandon me for them?"

"This is not abandoning Your Highness!

Could it be that without that secular marriage, Your Highness does not have the confidence to be with me?

Without that secular recognition, Your Highness can't be with me for a long time? "

Run Yu rarely lost his composure. He stood up and walked toward Xufeng, asking with each step. When his voice fell, the rims of his eyes had already turned red.

A faint pain rose in his abdomen, but at this time, he had no time to care.

Under the dim light, he appeared even more frail and thin.

Xufeng's heart suddenly softened, and he was momentarily speechless.

He hoped that his relationship with Run Yu would be known to the world and let everyone know that they loved each other. This could not be considered wrong, but Run Yu's misgivings seemed to be excusable.

This was not a question of who was right or wrong, but that they did not seem to be of the same mind.

"Forget it. You are not feeling well. Let's not talk about this." Xufeng felt that he had already compromised.

However, Run Yu smiled bleakly. "I should not have forced Your Highness to obey me. Putting yourself in my shoes is not Your Highness' strong suit.

It is already late. It is inconvenient to stay in the prince's mansion. Goodbye. "

He turned and walked out. His figure was still elegant, but for some reason, Xufeng saw a trace of heartache.

He was just about to pull on his sleeve when he saw Run Yu's figure stagnate, and his body softly fell to the side.

Xufeng quickly caught him. He saw that his eyebrows were tightly knitted, and his eyes were filled with pain. His arms were tightly pressed against his lower abdomen, and he was trembling.

The temperature in his arms was ice-cold.

Xufeng was about to order someone to summon the imperial physician, but he saw a flash of light in the room, and a person jumped out!

Before His Highness Xufeng could shout "Assassin!", he was sealed in place by a spell.

"Fortunately, fortunately, this old man hurried and finally made it!"