"YOUR HIGHNESS, I'M SORRY"

Chapter 3

Yan Xianchu and Li Zhong have come to look for them and seeing the happy and harmonious scene of his children getting along, Yan Xianchu revealed a fatherly smile.

He also saw the wooden archery board full of arrows, one that is somewhat scattered and one hitting all the target. He instantly knew who's board the latter is and can't help but silently thank Li Zhong for cultivating and guiding Yijun.

"Li Zhong" Yan Xianchu called

"This servant is here" Li Zhong answered as he also showed a smile seeing the arrow boards.

"Yijun grow up well and brilliant, how could I express my gratitude to you"

"This servant is merely doing what His Majesty tasked to this servant.  I should be the one thanking His Majesty for allowing me to marry my wife Lin Yue and giving us a comfortable life" he stated.

Yan Xianchu was glad hearing that from him.

Lin Yue was the novice midwife that have known about Li Yijun's condition. Seeing that the midwife was patiently waiting for her judgement in the prison without telling anyone about Yijun's condition he gave her a chance to live and granted her to Li Zhong as his wife.

Thankfully the two gradually fall in love to each other and have a harmonious marriage they also have a son that is 2 years younger than his children and became Yijun's companion.

Lin Yue is a good woman and have also treated Li Yijun very kindly without prejudice on her condition.

Even though they were considered as her parents, the husband and wife would still call her Your Highness when their is no one around and would not forget that she is still the Emperor's child.

Yan Xianchu's face then became serious remembering his discussion with Li Zhong earlier.

Someone inside the palace have actually seen Li Yijun's face and it was even more unfortunate that it was someone who have seen the Empress' face and eyes.

Then rumors have started to circulate that the Empress have cheated on his Majesty with one of his servant and gave birth to a bastard. His Majesty loved his Empress dearly so he didn't pursue it and even supported the child and let the child enter the palace to visit the Empress time to time. But because of her cheating the Emperor never aloud her to leave her bedchamber ever again and used the reason that she's sick and have weak body due to giving birth.

Their were even some other versions about this rumors and some even said that it was his Majesty's son and the Empress actually gave birth to three children instead of two but the biggest question is that, Why would his Majesty send away the child if it's his child?

So the people believed more in the rumor of the Empress cheating on the Emperor's back that's why the Empress was imprisoned in her palace and was not allowed to leave her bedchamber with the reason of sickness.

Eventually this rumors have reached the ears of the court officials and their prejudice towards the Empress have resurfaced again. They even brought this matter in one of their court meetings making Yan Xianchu very furious and almost beheaded the court official that have stated this issue.

With the court officials seeing his extreme reaction they even more believed that the rumor is true and it have pricked the Emperor's hidden wounds resulting for him to react like that.

The court officials eventually asked Yan Xianchu to depose the Empress and send her to exile. Yan Xianchu didn't agree making this court officials protest making him even more furious and almost beheaded all of them but was stopped by the Grand Secretariat that has been supervising him for years.