Originally pretending to be asleep, Murong Han immediately opened his eyes upon hearing this, "I understand!"

He then looked towards Jiang Xue, "Father Emperor genuinely likes you. For your sake, he actually came out of the palace to welcome you. Look, this is just an hour, and he has already come over. It’s clear that he was ready all along, just waiting for the news of our entry through the city gates! Although he bears undeniable responsibility for the incident involving the poisonous insect in Mother, I still hope you can show him a bit more kindness, after all, "

Jiang Xue smiled wryly, "Alright, brother, although I have no affection for him, I also do not hate him. For the sake of how much he loved Mother, I will be kinder to him, rest assured! But there’s one thing I need to clarify with you in advance. The fact that Mother is still alive is not something I want you to tell him right now!"

This would also not be allowed in the future, naturally, this was a thought Jiang Xue kept to herself. She would find some time to have a proper talk with her brother about the reasons. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Why? I wanted to make Father Emperor happy!" Murong Han was perplexed, but Jiang Xue felt the time wasn’t right.

"Just listen to me, brother. This matter must remain secret, no matter what. Understand? Once we’re back in your palace, I’ll explain everything to you!"

Mother’s character was evidently no longer suitable for that treacherous Imperial Palace. Besides, the Old Emperor’s days were numbered. Who would look after her in her later years?

Even if brother ascends the throne in the future, Xi Yue’s temperament would not suit being an Empress Dowager, and she might be tightly controlled by the concubines. Since it doesn’t seem suitable in any way, it’s better to acknowledge from the start that she has passed away.

Murong Han got off the horse carriage before Jiang Xue, stood up straight, and bowed in the direction of the Old Emperor, then turned back to wait in front of the carriage. During this process, everyone’s attention was focused on that inconspicuous carriage.

When the curtain was lifted from the inside, revealing a pair of delicate hands, a graceful figure appeared before everyone’s eyes. Originally wanting to jump directly down, Jiang Xue was interrupted as an eunuch came over, directly kneeling in front of her. She glanced at her shoes, fortunately, they weren’t the Qing Dynasty platform shoes, but cloth shoes worn by Han women. What punishment must that eunuch endure if they were the platform shoes?

She adhered to all the necessary protocols and etiquette. Both she and her brother were dressed in ordinary attire despite returning to the palace, as they came back from outside the city and hadn’t even had time to enter the palace. No one criticized their attire under these circumstances.

As Jiang Xue cast her gaze towards that resplendent yellow figure, she felt no emotion, not even fondness. It always seemed to her that he wasn’t entirely faithful to love. Had it not been for his negligence back then, how could Mother have been poisoned by those women?

Reflecting upon it now, this poor father of hers may never understand how much suffering and hardship his woman endured for him, right?

With a slight shake of her head, Jiang Xue decided not to dwell on these meaningless thoughts any longer.

When Murong Han pulled her hand to bring her to the Old Emperor, before she could even pay her respects, he had already rushed forward in excitement, holding her tightly in his arms. How respected the color yellow is, yet at this moment, it seemed he had forgotten his status, gazing at her intently with a father’s look, mumbling incessantly.

"So alike, so very alike, how can it be this alike? Where is your mother? Why have you returned alone? Where is your mother?"

A series of rhetorical questions, while showing his disbelief, also revealed the anxiety within him. He trembled with excitement as he asked.

"You are indeed my daughter, Murong Xue. This is the name your mother gave you; you should know that, right? Where is she? Why didn’t she come back with you?"

Looking at the elderly man before her, full of anticipation, craning his neck to look behind, desperately waiting for something, Jiang Xue felt a little sorry but still told him ruthlessly.

"I’m sorry, only I returned. Mother passed away over ten years ago... She... perished... Her maid took care of me until I was six, and she too was pursued and killed..."

"Dead... Dead? How is that possible? How could she die? You’re deceiving me, aren’t you? She must have refused to forgive me, that’s why she didn’t come back."

Because of Jiang Xue’s words, Murong Yi wept uncontrollably in front of the civil and military officials, utterly disregarding his image.