Chapter 234 Brother-in-law

Chapter 234 Brother-in-law

"Leave the rest to me, you don't need to worry about it!" Xie Yan said bitterly. "Don't thank me anymore."

Shen Nanzi looked at him.

He rubbed her fingers, "I'll be sad!"

Shen Nanzi saw a pitiful and aggrieved look in his eyes.

Xie Yan said he was sad?

Just a thank you!

Shen Nanzi didn't know how to reply to him, and the carriage was deathly silent.

"Um...who do you suspect?" After all, he was helping her, so Shen Nanzi spoke up, breaking the tense atmosphere.

Xie Yan's eyes became complicated, with a hint of sadness in them.

"They only smeared you and deliberately stirred up trouble between you and Cheng'er, while completely absolving me of any responsibility."

"Besides Xue Yubai, there won't be anyone else."

Now it was Shen Nanzi's turn to be silent. His relationship with Xue Yubai was quite close, and the fact that he was on her side already surprised her.

Having known each other since childhood, Xie Yan was not a heartless person. What would his choice be? Shen Nanzi did not know.

Was he trying to prevent her from doing anything, or did he feel pity for Xue Yubai?

Did Xie Yan really know nothing about Xue Yubai's long escape?

Shen Nanzi didn't want to think about it too much. She decided to quit while she was ahead and let Xue Yubai handle the matter between them.

As long as Yunhan remains stable and Cheng'er's throne is not threatened, she can turn a blind eye to everything else.

Xie Yan held her hand tightly and gently pulled her into his arms.

"Anyone who hurts you and Cheng'er is my enemy!"

Shen Nanzi's eyes flickered slightly as she leaned against his strong yet warm chest. If only he had treated her this well earlier!

She must be the happiest woman in the world.

Seeing her nestled against his chest, her cheek pressed against his skin, his heart skipped a beat. The discomfort he had felt earlier vanished, and his heart felt as if it were filled with honey.

Xie Yan had never felt so anxious and insecure. Every smile, every word, and every action of hers touched his heart and soul.

He seemed to be himself, and also to be her shadow, always wanting to submit to her.

He rubbed his chin against her forehead, feeling her soft warmth, and a sweet feeling welled up in his heart.

...

When we returned to Luoyang, it was already early autumn.

Throughout the journey, Xie Yan investigated the rumors.

Just as they had predicted, the rumors gradually spread from the vicinity of Yunhan towards Luoyang.

Even rumors require considerable manpower and resources. While the Xue family's power has certainly increased significantly, according to Shen Nanzi's investigation, it is insufficient for him to have the ability to confront them.

This wave of public opinion campaign is aimed at her and Cheng'er's throne, so it seems there are other accomplices involved.

If Xie Yan doesn't expose his accomplices, this incident will likely escalate further.

She had already secretly sent a letter back to Luoyang, asking her brother to investigate.

Shen Nanzi was once bitten by a snake, and for ten years she was afraid of even a rope.

She dared not fully trust Xie Yan; his relationship with Xue Yubai was more difficult to deal with than Xue Qingning's.

And then there's Xie Hongrui. Xie Yan said he wasn't his son, but Xue Qingning insisted he was. Shen Nanzi knew perfectly well that this might be a ploy by Xue Qingning to sow discord.

But she was still worried, what if it was true!

She dared not place all her hopes on Xie Yan; Cheng'er was still young, and anything could change.

If the public opinion campaign succeeds, it will reveal that the Xue family has other hidden forces she is unaware of.

Even Cheng'er's throne is not without its risks.

She won't participate in this battle, but she must keep an eye on it.

If Xie Yan were to stand firmly by her and Cheng'er's side this time, she could open her heart to him and tell him her concerns.

If it were something else...

Shen Nanzi stepped down from the carriage and looked at the majestic palace. After several months, she had finally returned to this place that she both loved and hated.

Xie Yan supported her, and like her, gazed at the palace, his eyes brimming with emotion.

They didn't originally belong here; they were just passersby. But fate bound them together.

Through trials and tribulations, they became the masters of this place.

Shen Nanzi would always find herself looking at the road on her left, the road back to Prince Jing's mansion.

She had gone there countless times, carrying the weight of many years of her life, so deeply etched in her memory that she never wanted to look back.

"Let's go back! Cheng'er must be waiting!" Xie Yan said, taking her hand and leading her inside.

Shen Nanzi knew that a tough battle was ahead, and she had to be on her toes.

Beneath Xie Yan's wide sleeves lay their intertwined hands as they walked side by side through the palace, its walls lined with green, its decorations vermilion, and its roofs covered with black tiles.

In front of the Chongde Hall, on the high steps, Cheng'er wore a black dragon robe with red trim and a crown.

Upon seeing them, he disregarded etiquette, lifted his robes, and descended the steps.

Shen Nanzi also broke free from Xie Yan's grasp and hurried toward the child she had been longing for.

A red dress billowed behind her, and hairpins swayed in her hair. Xie Yan's steps quickened involuntarily.

He watched as Shen Nanzi squatted down and hugged Cheng'er, a smile curving her lips. He jogged up behind them, but then stopped in his tracks.

Looking at the mother and son, Shen Nanzi expressed her longing for Cheng'er.

"Mom misses you so much! Seeing your favorite food makes me miss you, and seeing fun things makes me miss you too."

“Even the children running on the street, I have to take a second look at them, because I think they look like you.”

"Cheng'er, do you miss your mother?"

In Xie Yan's view, how could such words be spoken? Shouldn't longing be kept in the heart?

"Mother, Cheng'er misses you too." He pouted his red nose and touched Shen Nanzi's cheek, as if he wanted to rush into his mother's arms.

As if sensing something, Shen Nanzi pulled him into her arms, stroked his back, and exclaimed, "My Cheng'er has grown quite a bit taller!"

Cheng'er grinned foolishly, burying his head in Shen Nanzi's shoulder, forgetting that he was the emperor and acting like an ordinary child.

Snuggling in her mother's arms.

Xie Yan's eyes held envy, but even more so, gratitude—gratitude for having them now.

Although they are not yet completely accepting of him, as time goes by, they will eventually see into his heart.

Cheng'er, satisfied in Shen Nanzi's arms, looked up and saw Xie Yan not far away.

He stood up, straightened his dragon robe and crown, and respectfully greeted Xie Yan, "Father."

Shen Nanzi also stood up, wiping the mist from the corners of her eyes, and looked at the father and son.

Xie Yan carefully examined it and gave a slight approval, "Hmm, he looks like a king."

Shen Minghan, who was walking over, complained, "You guys are finally back. I can finally rest for a couple of days. I'm exhausted."

He touched the white hair at his temples and said with disdain, "Look, this is all from worry. Being a temporary regent is really not easy."

As he spoke, he tore off the seal from his waist and returned it to Xie Yan, saying, "A small seal carries a heavy burden."

Xie Yan took it and hung it back on his waist. "Thank you for overseeing the country, brother-in-law. You've worked hard. If you want any reward, go to the storeroom and choose one yourself."

Brother-in-law! This was the first time Shen Nanzi had heard Xie Yan address her brother in this way, and she found it quite strange.

"Alright!" Shen Minghan waved his hand. "They've already said I'm a powerful relative of the empress, so I don't want any rewards. Otherwise, it'll just make a bunch of officials green with envy."

"I'd be happy if I could just rest for a few days!"

"I'll grant you two days off, no more," Xie said with a smile. "There's too much to do, I need my brother-in-law to help."

Upon hearing that he had a two-day holiday, Shen Minghan didn't want to stay a moment longer. "I'm leaving!"

After walking a few steps, Shen Minghan said, "Fang Shuo's king will arrive tomorrow. Who do you plan to receive him?"