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Susu is still young, she loves to eat and play, and if Chun Xi were not in the palace, Susu would certainly miss her.

"Is Sister-in-law going to Mobei alone? That’s so dangerous." Xiao Jinyu looked at the Susu in Shen Chuwei’s arms, too small to understand the meaning of Shen Chuwei’s words, and was staring at him with her beautiful eyes.

"Little Huang."

Xiao Jinyu: "..." When will you learn to call me Uncle?

Shen Chuwei shook her head: "No, Father will arrange for generals to accompany us."

Xiao Jinyu had always yearned for the battlefield, wishing to join the fray like his elder brother, the Crown Prince, but had lamented the lack of opportunity; he saw this as his chance.

"I’ll go with Sister-in-law, I’m going to see Father right now."

Having said this, Xiao Jinyu strode away.

Shen Chuwei sighed as she watched his retreating figure. What are you going to do?

"Mama, Little Huang didn’t hold baby," Susu said with a pout.

Shen Chuwei looked down at her daughter, seeing her little face filled with grievance, she explained: "He’s your Uncle, not that he won’t hold you, but he’s too busy right now."

Susu cocked her head and called out, "Little Huang~ Susu?"

Shen Chuwei knew her daughter’s pronunciation wasn’t accurate, so she corrected: "It’s Uncle, not Little Huang."

Susu patted her chest and said, "Baby knows, it’s Little Huang~ Susu."

Shen Chuwei: "..." Just call it egg yolk pastry then.

Xiao Jinyu went straight to the Imperial Study Room. His timing was fortuitous as the Ministers, having just finished discussing state affairs, were exiting one after another.

Seeing Xiao Jinyu, they came forward to salute him in unison.

Xiao Jinyu waved his hand and strode into the Imperial Study Room.

"Father, I wish to accompany the Crown Princess to Mobei."

The Emperor rubbed his forehead and his headache worsened upon hearing this.

"Little rascal, always causing trouble."

Xiao Jinyu retorted dissatisfied: "Father, how can you speak of your son like this? If I am a rascal, what does that make you?"

The Emperor, with his phoenix eyes wide in anger, slammed the desk, "Are you defying me?"

Xiao Jinyu silently swallowed his saliva, his voice growing weaker: "Father, I come with serious matters. You didn’t inform me about the ordeal of my elder brother, the Crown Prince. I’ve been diligently practicing archery and horse riding, now is the time to put it to use."

By the end, he couldn’t help but raise his voice a notch.

The Emperor angrily said: "Shut your mouth."

Xiao Jinyu called out in a wheedling tone: "Father."

The Emperor softened his tone: "You stay in the palace and behave. There’s no need for you to worry about these matters."

Xiao Jinyu persisted: "I don’t want to meddle, but my elder brother’s life and death are uncertain. How can I, as his brother, stand by and do nothing?"

The Emperor paused, "You think just knowing a bit of archery and horse riding is enough to go to the battlefield? You think that just because you’ve killed a few game during the autumn hunt, you can go to the battlefield? These are far from enough!"

Xiao Jinyu stubbornly said: "Of course I know it’s not enough, that’s why I want to go to the battlefield, to help my elder brother."

The Emperor: "..."

Xiao Jinyu, in a coaxing manner, called out again: "Father."

The Emperor with great solemnity said: "The battlefield is perilous. You and the Crown Prince are different. You’ve been pampered since childhood, you know less than the Crown Prince, and your tactical planning is also inferior.

How could I let you go to the battlefield?

I’m not saying this because you’re not good enough, but these are things that need to be experienced and learned over time.

You don’t even attend the morning court, and you don’t take care of your own fief, how can you be ready for the battlefield? "

"Your mother would be angry if she knew." The last part was the crux of it.

It had not been easy for him to mend relations with the Empress, and if he let Jinyu go to the battlefield, he feared he might not even be allowed through the gates of Fengyi Palace.

"I’ll go to Mother," Xiao Jinyu said without looking back and dashed off.

The Emperor watched his son leave and sighed helplessly.

When the Empress learned that her youngest son wanted to go to Mobei, she firmly refused, "No, you can’t go."

Xiao Jinyu draped an arm around his mother’s shoulders, pleading, "Mother, I’ve been pampered since childhood and have never truly committed to anything. This is a good opportunity. I won’t let you down, Mother."

The Empress looked up at her youngest son who now towered over her by a head. She had watched him grow bit by bit; she was reluctant to let him suffer the slightest hardship, how could she bear to send him to the battlefield?

"Yuyu, Mother is afraid. The Crown Prince has already gone to the battlefield, I can’t let you go as well. If something were to happen to you, how could I live on?"

Xiao Jinyu realized his mother was wavering and continued, "Mother, I know how much you love me, but my elder brother is in trouble. I, as his brother, cannot stay out of this. Don’t worry, I’ll return with him."

Seeing her son’s determination, the Empress suddenly asked, "Can you bear to leave your wife behind?"

Xiao Jinyu froze at the words, realizing that leaving for Mobei was not a matter of just a few days. His bride, he definitely couldn’t bear to part with her.

But hadn’t the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess been apart before?

That year, the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess were separated for half a year. It was not a particularly long time, but it wasn’t short either.

The Crown Prince must have endured the agony of yearning, and now Xiao Jinyu could vaguely understand how he felt.

"I am not leaving and never coming back. If I’m lucky, perhaps by the time I return, my bride might have some good news," Xiao Jinyu said with a smile.

The Empress sighed helplessly, "Yuyu, you’ve grown up after all. Your mother only wishes for you to be safe. I don’t ask for you to excel in every way."

Xiao Jinyu said, "Mother, I understand your worries. I will definitely return triumphantly."

The Empress did not try to dissuade him further, "Mother believes in you."

Xiao Jinyu was somewhat moved. He looked at his mother, wrestling with a question for a long time, but finally he asked it.

"Mother, I have always wanted to ask you something. Was it your idea to have big brother take my place as a hostage?"

Upon hearing this, the Empress’s face changed, "Who told you that?"

Seeing his mother’s face turning slightly uneasy, Xiao Jinyu sensed he already had his answer.

"It was the old people in the palace who said it. Mother, is it true?" He couldn’t help but ask again.

The Empress said helplessly, "It’s all from many years ago. Why are you still dwelling on this issue?"

Xiao Jinyu brought up all the doubts he had been harboring over the years, questions he had always wanted to ask.

"Since big brother returned from Nanzhao Country, mother you have always been distant from him, always cold to him. He is clearly your son too. Why are you always so harsh towards him?"

"Those are matters of the past. Don’t bring them up again," the Empress clearly did not want to talk about old grievances.

Xiao Jinyu did not continue asking, planning to return and ask again later.

"Mother, when the Crown Prince returns this time, could you celebrate his birthday for him?"

Xiao Jinyu had always been curious about the Crown Prince’s birthday. No one had told him, and the Crown Prince himself never spoke of it.

It was only last year that he found out from Liu Xi’s mouth. Every year on his birthday, it was his mother who celebrated with him, but the Crown Prince always watched from the side. He couldn’t imagine what the Crown Prince must have felt at that time.

The Empress was startled at the mention of this.

When the Empress consented to Xiao Jinyu’s departure for the battlefield, the Emperor didn’t say anything further. General Xu accompanied him towards Mobei.

Xiao Jinyu returned to the Qianchen Hall, and as soon as he entered the room, he embraced his wife tightly, burying his head in the nape of her neck, his voice thick with reluctance.

"Ayan."

Lady Han looked down at Xiao Jinyu, puzzled, "What’s wrong?"

Xiao Jinyu said, "I have to go to Mobei. You just stay here in the palace and don’t always keep to the house. Go and spend some time with Susu when you can. I guarantee it will make you feel better all day."

Lady Han frowned, "Why are you suddenly going to Mobei? Why didn’t you discuss it with me?"

Xiao Jinyu explained, "I just learned today that something happened to big brother in Mobei. The Crown Princess is going there, and as big brother’s younger brother, it is only natural for me to help him.

Because it happened so suddenly, I didn’t have the chance to discuss it with you.

I know that Ayan would definitely support me in this. "

Lady Han was silent.

Xiao Jinyu coaxed her, "Don’t be angry, Ayan. I promise to fight swiftly and resolve this quickly so that I can return and be with you as soon as possible."

Lady Han looked coldly at Xiao Jinyu, "Did you ever consider taking me with you?"

Xiao Jinyu lowered his head and gently kissed her lips, "Mobei is too dangerous. How could I bear to let you accompany me to endure hardships? Only if you stay in the palace will I have peace of mind."

Lady Han huffed dismissively, "Excuses."

Xiao Jinyu grabbed her wrist and pinned her to the bed, "Ayan, I’m not making excuses. I really can’t bear to leave you behind. If we were just going out for fun, I would definitely take you with me, but going to battle is different from leisure. I can’t take you with me."

Lady Han stared at him, "I don’t believe you."

"I will make you believe," Xiao Jinyu said as he lowered his head to kiss her, wanting his actions to show her how much he couldn’t bear to leave her.

It took a while for Lady Han to utter, "Xiao Jinyu, you’ve learned to be bad."

Xiao Jinyu noticed the usual plainness of her clothes was now replaced with a flush of crimson, her breath unsteady, and he found himself unable to stop wanting more.

"Ayan, I will be setting off for Mobei the day after tomorrow. I will truly miss you."

Lady Han was silent.