Chapter 12: Reunion

Early spring was slightly chilly, with the rain just cleared. In the depths of a peach orchard, a hazy mist covered the lush mountain fields, as a group of guards surrounded a figure riding a horse, draped in a golden-patterned dark robe.

Li Xuan sat upright on the horse, his back straight, his posture like a pine tree. His gaze was calm yet sharp, casually sweeping over the landscape. Between his brows, there was a faint hint of authority, different from the youthful look he once had. As the crown prince, after being named heir at the age of thirteen, he had seen countless storms in the court and had long learned to hide his emotions, even controlling his joy and anger without a trace.

"Your Highness, there is someone by the road!" A guard's shout broke the silence.

Li Xuan's gaze flickered slightly, and he raised his hand, signaling for the group to stop. His eyes fell on the figure ahead—a frail person kneeling in the mud, dressed in tattered clothes, with messy hair hanging down, obscuring the face.

"How could there be a beggar here?" A servant murmured, about to step forward to chase them away, but Li Xuan raised his hand, stopping them.

"Step back." His voice was deep and commanding, not allowing any objection.

Li Xuan dismounted and walked slowly toward the person. As he entered deeper into the peach orchard, his pace slowed, and his brows furrowed.

The thin shoulders, the delicate yet vaguely familiar outline—it was like a key that suddenly opened a door deep in his memory.

"You are…"

The person slowly raised their head.

Their gazes met, and Li Xuan's body stiffened instantly.

It was him. Even though five years had passed, and despite the drastic changes in his appearance, those eyes—he would never mistake them.

"Yichen?" His voice trembled slightly, and the restrained emotions inside him finally leaked out.

Gu Yichen's gaze was complex, and he opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He pressed his hand to his throat, slowly shaking his head, as if he wanted to speak but was unable to.

Li Xuan's heart tightened, and memories surged in. The horrific fall of the Gu family in one night, Gu Yichen's uncertain fate for five years, and all the helplessness, anger, and pain that Li Xuan had been unable to express over those years.

"You…" His voice choked, and he took a deep breath to suppress his emotions.

Li Xuan bent down and helped Gu Yichen up from the mud, his tone returning to calmness. "Come back to the palace with me."

Back at Fengning Palace, sunlight streamed through the intricately carved windows, casting light on Gu Yichen's figure. He was kneeling in the hall, looking disheveled, but still upright and composed, a far cry from the boy who once chased after Li Xuan, calling him "Xuan-ge" in their childhood.

In the hall, the mistress of Fengning Palace was sitting by a gilded qin table—Li Xuan's mother, the Empress. She was dressed in a scarlet palace robe, her expression dignified, yet her eyes held a warm tenderness.

"You must be Gu Yichen?" The Empress's voice was like a spring breeze, tinged with a hint of sentiment.

Gu Yichen nodded but remained silent.

"Why aren't you speaking?" The Empress furrowed her brows.

Li Xuan, standing nearby, spoke softly, "Mother, he has lost his voice, probably due to shock."

The Empress paused at his words, her expression growing more complicated. She studied Gu Yichen closely, her brow furrowing with pity. Slowly, she spoke, "You've suffered a lot over the years, haven't you? Don't worry, you're among your people now, back in the palace."

Gu Yichen lowered his gaze, his face showing gratitude. He raised his hand and tapped his chest before pointing to Li Xuan, his expression serious, as if expressing his thanks.

The Empress smiled and sighed. "Silly child, there's no need to thank us. If it weren't for Yichen accompanying Xuan'er when he was little, how would he have ever understood true friendship?"

Hearing this, Li Xuan raised his eyes to look at his mother, his face calm, but from Gu Yichen's perspective, his hand subtly clenched his sleeve.

The Empress continued to sit in Fengning Palace, her gaze shifting between Gu Yichen and Li Xuan, a complex emotion flickering in her brow. She personally poured a cup of tea for Gu Yichen and motioned for him to take it. "Child, rest for a while. After all the hardships you've endured these years, now that you're back, you don't need to be afraid anymore."

Gu Yichen took the tea with both hands, his expression calm but with an unspoken gratitude. He lowered his head and took a sip before bowing deeply to the Empress.

Li Xuan stood to the side, his gaze resting on Gu Yichen's thin figure, silent. His childhood friend had returned, and though his demeanor remained steady and reserved, the distance and caution that lingered in his eyes caused a slight pain in Li Xuan's heart.

"Xuan'er," the Empress turned to speak gently to the Crown Prince, her tone holding a note of concern, "You two have been close since childhood. Now that Yichen has returned, you must take care of him. The Gu family suffered a lot back then; he must have borne much hardship."

"Yes, Mother," Li Xuan replied respectfully. His tone was calm, but his eyes hid deep emotions. The slight tremor in his lowered gaze seemed to speak of past memories, of emotions he struggled to suppress.

The news of Gu Yichen's return soon spread throughout the court and beyond. The Duke of England immediately sent a petition to the Emperor, requesting permission to take Gu Yichen into the Duke's residence for care:

"Gu Yichen is still young and has been alone for many years. The palace is full of strict rules, and he might not adapt well. If His Majesty permits, I would like to take him into my household and treat him as my own."

The Emperor, upon hearing this, nodded in agreement and gave instructions: "Though he will temporarily reside in your house, he must still follow royal etiquette. Do not neglect it."

The imperial edict was issued, and the Duke of England's household quickly made preparations for Gu Yichen's arrival.

Half an hour later, Princess Jing'an arrived hurriedly at Fengning Palace. She wore a simple and elegant cloud-patterned palace gown, her hair adorned with a white jade hairpin. She looked graceful and dignified, yet the anxiety in her eyes could not be concealed.

As soon as she stepped into the hall, she anxiously spoke, "Where is Yichen?"

Gu Yichen, sitting in the hall, trembled slightly at the familiar voice, and lifted his head to look toward the door.

"Mother…" Gu Yichen moved his lips silently, but no sound came out. He trembled as he knelt, kowtowing three times to Princess Jing'an, tears shimmering in his eyes.

Princess Jing'an froze, her hands covering her mouth tightly, and tears streamed down her face. She stumbled forward, kneeling, and tightly embraced Gu Yichen. "My child, where have you been all these years? Do you know how your mother has lived all this time?"

Gu Yichen closed his eyes, allowing the tears to fall. He did not respond, only holding onto his mother with all his strength.

The Empress, standing nearby, sighed slightly and signaled for the attendants to withdraw, allowing the mother and son to be alone.

Princess Jing'an held Gu Yichen for a long time before slowly pulling away from him. She gently cupped his face with both hands, carefully examining his features.

"It's you, it's my child." She gently stroked his forehead, her voice choking. "How did you become so thin? What have you been through all these years?"

Gu Yichen lowered his head, tightly gripping his mother's hand, but remained silent. Princess Jing'an, noticing his abnormality, turned to the Empress and asked, "What happened to Yichen…?"

The Empress slowly nodded and sighed. "He was frightened and lost his voice. The imperial physician has examined him and confirmed it is aphonia, which will require time to heal."

Princess Jing'an covered her heart, tears falling like rain. "My son, you're only fifteen! How could you endure so much?"

Li Xuan, standing at the side, silently watched this long-awaited reunion, his expression barely showing a hint of emotion. He spoke softly, "Aunt, now that Yichen has returned, this is a great blessing. He will reside at the Duke of England's mansion from now on, and you can visit him anytime."

Princess Jing'an's expression changed slightly. She looked at Li Xuan, then turned her gaze to the Empress, her voice filled with unease. "The Duke of England's mansion…?"

The Empress stepped forward and gently reassured her, "Though Yichen will be sheltered by the Duke of England, Xuan'er will protect him. Moreover, the Duke of England is the father of the Imperial Concubine, and he specifically sought permission from His Majesty, which is why such an arrangement has been made."

Upon hearing this, Princess Jing'an tightly grasped Gu Yichen's hand and spoke softly, "No matter where you stay, I will always protect you. You are of royal blood, and no one dares to harm you."

Gu Yichen nodded, tears once again welling up in his eyes.