Chapter 1299: Chapter 781: General Xie’s Daughter, Xie Qianyun
Due to etiquette, Gao Chaoyang didn’t excitedly throw herself into An Ji’s arms, but tears welled up in her eyes.
"Little Imperial Uncle, aren’t you going to invite us in?" An Youyou urged with a smile.
Xiao Jinyu, whose eyes were glued to Anqi at that moment, felt a bit embarrassed when he heard An Youyou’s words and quickly regained his composure, hurriedly saying, "Please, come in quickly."
The group then entered the Prince Jin Mansion together.
Apart from the servants, only Xiao Jinyu and Anqi lived in Prince Jing Mansion. Originally, Xiao Jinyu also invited Lady Li to live with them. However, Lady Li, accustomed to palace life, refused, except when she occasionally worried about Xiao Jinyu’s life outside the palace and would come to stay at Prince Jing Mansion for a few days.
They walked into the main hall.
Xiao Jinyu promptly asked the servants to pour good tea and serve some snacks.
An Youyou eagerly drank tea and ate snacks, appearing to be in a good mood.
"An Ji..." Xiao Jinyu began, but then corrected himself, "Emperor of Beiyuan Country."
"Just call me An Ji, as before," An Ji replied respectfully, "Everything I have is thanks to the Daxuan Kingdom, so in Daxuan Kingdom, I am still who I was."
"In that case, I won’t stand on ceremony," Xiao Jinyu said, continuing, "An Ji, this time when you return, you should be taking Chaoyang with you."
Upon hearing this, Gao Chaoyang looked at An Ji with an expectant expression.
Of course, An Ji noticed Gao Chaoyang’s gaze. He looked back at her and said, "I respect Chaoyang’s choice."
Clearly, he was leaving the decision to Gao Chaoyang.
Everyone turned their attention to Gao Chaoyang.
An Youyou, still eating her snacks, also looked at her.
"I want to go back." Gao Chaoyang blushed slightly, speaking softly, "I want to go back with Brother Du."
An Youyou’s eyes moved slightly.
It was the answer she had expected all along.
"When the Supreme Emperor and Empress Dowager return, I will explain everything to the Emperor," An Ji said. "At that time, Prince Jing and Chaoyang will separate, and I will take Chaoyang back to Beiyuan Country."
"Alright." Gao Chaoyang nodded heavily, unable to conceal her joy.
Xiao Jinyu breathed a small sigh of relief.
Once he and Gao Chaoyang separated, he would immediately marry Anqi, without any further delay.
"An Ji, since you haven’t seen Chaoyang for such a long time, you must have a lot to say to her in private," Xiao Jinyu said considerately. "Have a good chat. I’ll take Anqi and Youyou for a walk outside."
An Ji lightly pressed his lips together, seemingly glancing at An Youyou, who had been eating the whole time.
Upon hearing the little Imperial Uncle’s suggestion, An Youyou quickly stood up from her chair, saying, "I just happen to want to explore the large courtyard of the little Imperial Uncle’s house."
With that, she left with Xiao Jinyu and Anqi.
The large main hall was left with only An Ji and Gao Chaoyang.
All the servants had been sent away, providing them with absolute privacy.
"An Ji." Gao Chaoyang called out to him.
An Ji returned her gaze.
Reawakened from watching An Youyou’s cheerful figure.
"I didn’t expect you’d come for me so soon," Gao Chaoyang said, gazing at An Ji with eyes full of emotion. "Thank you."
An Ji’s Adam’s apple moved slightly.
From a young age, he had always felt a sense of compassion for Gao Chaoyang.
"Chaoyang, I’m sorry," An Ji suddenly apologized.
Gao Chaoyang’s eyes widened slightly, bewildered.
"I couldn’t save your mother consort," An Ji stated directly.
Gao Chaoyang’s eyes instantly filled with tears.
She looked at An Ji, unable to accept it.
The mother consort who had raised her and accompanied her throughout her upbringing would no longer be there...
She had hoped to return to Beiyuan Country to see her mother consort and then live happily ever after with An Ji. She hadn’t expected that her mother consort wouldn’t be alive.
"My condolences," An Ji said, his voice also low as he observed Gao Chaoyang’s grief.
Gao Chaoyang bit her lip hard.
Wanting to suppress the pain in her heart and not trouble An Ji, she knew An Ji must have tried his best. An Ji always kept his promises, but the sudden loss of a close family member was a pain she couldn’t hide.
She stood up from her chair and slowly walked over to An Ji.
As An Ji looked at Gao Chaoyang’s tearful face, his heart couldn’t bear it either.
"Brother Du," Gao Chaoyang’s choked voice, her entire body fell into An Ji’s embrace.
An Ji was slightly taken aback.
His body stiffened.
"From now on, I only have you," Gao Chaoyang clutched An Ji’s clothes tightly, her face buried deeply in his chest.
Suppressing her sobs.
Seeing Gao Chaoyang’s distress and breakdown, An Ji gently patted her back, offering comfort.
