Chapter 443: The Family That Went North
The palace gates closed behind them.
For a long moment, nobody spoke.
The journey that had begun as a carefully planned northern investigation had changed completely after the ambush.
The Emperor had returned with everyone safely to the capital, but he had no intention of abandoning the north.
Instead, he had decided to disappear.
Not as the Emperor.
Not as the Empress.
Not as members of the imperial family.
They would travel as an ordinary family joining a large group of refugees heading north.
It was dangerous.
It was unconventional.
And, judging from the expressions around the room, nobody was entirely sure whether it was a brilliant plan or complete madness.
The Emperor stood before the large map spread across the table.
Prince Liang leaned over it.
Princess Zhi stood beside him.
Lady Chen sat quietly near the window.
General Wei Rong remained with his arms folded.
The Dowager Empress watched everyone with a thoughtful expression.
Lian An stood beside the Emperor.
Her eyes moved over the map.
"So we are really going?"
The Emperor looked at her.
"Yes."
"When?"
"In one week."
Everyone became silent.
Prince Liang straightened.
"One week?"
The Emperor nodded.
"We need time to prepare properly. If we leave immediately, anyone watching the palace will notice."
The Dowager Empress slowly nodded.
"That is sensible."
Prince Liang looked toward the map again.
"And we’re going as refugees?"
"Yes."
A small smile appeared on Prince Liang’s face.
"I like it."
Everyone turned toward him.
The Emperor raised an eyebrow.
"You like it?"
Prince Liang laughed.
"For once, nobody will expect me to behave like a prince."
Princess Zhi immediately looked at him.
"That worries me."
He looked offended.
"Why?"
"Because I know you."
Lian An covered her mouth to hide her laughter.
Prince Liang pointed at Princess Zhi.
"See? This is why I need a new identity."
The Emperor shook his head.
"You will be the eldest son of the family."
Prince Liang’s smile disappeared.
"Eldest?"
"Yes."
Prince Liang stared at him.
"Then what are you?"
The Emperor calmly replied,
"My eldest son."
The room went silent.
Then Lian An slowly turned toward him.
"My husband and I are going to be your parents?"
The Emperor nodded.
"Yes."
Prince Liang’s face became strange.
"So I have to call you Father?"
The Emperor looked at him.
"Only when someone is listening."
Prince Liang sighed dramatically.
"This is going to be difficult."
Princess Zhi laughed.
"You deserve it."
The Emperor continued explaining.
"We need a family structure that won’t attract suspicion. A widow mother traveling with her children is common among refugee groups."
His gaze moved toward the Dowager Empress.
"Mother will be the widowed matriarch."
The Dowager Empress blinked.
"Me?"
"Yes."
She stared at him for several seconds.
Then she laughed.
"So after spending my entire life as the Dowager Empress, I am now going to become a poor widow traveling north with her children?"
Lian An smiled.
"It may actually be fun."
The Dowager Empress gave her a look.
"You think so?"
"Yes."
"Then you can carry my luggage."
Lian An immediately stopped smiling.
Prince Liang laughed.
The Emperor’s lips twitched.
Even Lady Chen couldn’t help smiling.
The Dowager Empress looked around.
"Our family needs to look convincing."
She pointed toward the Emperor.
"You will be the eldest son."
Then toward Lian An.
"And she will be your wife."
Lian An nodded.
"Fine."
The Dowager Empress turned toward Prince Liang.
"You will be the second son."
Prince Liang bowed dramatically.
"As you command."
Princess Zhi was next.
"Your wife."
Princess Zhi nodded.
Then the Dowager Empress’s eyes moved toward Lady Chen.
"And she will be our daughter."
Lady Chen immediately looked up.
"Me?"
"Yes."
Lady Chen seemed surprised.
The Dowager Empress smiled.
"You need a place in the family."
Lady Chen remained silent for a moment.
Then she nodded.
"I understand."
The Emperor looked toward General Wei Rong.
"And General Wei Rong will be her husband."
Everyone looked at him.
General Wei Rong’s expression changed.
"My husband?"
Lady Chen looked equally startled.
Prince Liang immediately burst into laughter.
General Wei Rong glared at him.
"What is funny?"
"You."
"I don’t see why."
"You’re going to be married."
General Wei Rong’s face became expressionless.
"I am aware."
Princess Zhi leaned toward Lian An.
"This journey is already becoming interesting."
Lian An whispered,
"Too interesting."
The Emperor looked at everyone.
"Listen carefully."
The room became quiet.
"This isn’t a game."
His voice was serious.
"The northern region is unstable. Refugees are moving between villages. Food is scarce in several places. Bandits are taking advantage of the situation."
He pointed toward the northern border.
"And someone has been manipulating events."
His finger stopped over the map.
"The people who attacked us knew exactly where we were going."
Prince Liang’s expression hardened.
"So someone is watching the imperial household."
"Most likely."
General Wei Rong spoke.
"And if we travel openly again, they’ll attack us before we reach the north."
The Emperor nodded.
"That is why we won’t travel as the imperial household."
Lian An looked at the map.
"We’ll travel with refugees."
"Yes."
"Not ahead of them?"
"No."
"Not behind them?"
"No."
He looked at her.
"We travel among them."
She understood immediately.
"If we stay in the middle of the group, nobody will notice us."
"Exactly."
Prince Liang smiled.
"And if someone is watching the roads, they’ll see nothing more than a family trying to survive."
The Emperor nodded.
"That is the plan."
---
The Divorce
A silence followed.
Then the Emperor turned toward Lady Chen.
"There is one more matter."
Lady Chen looked at him.
The room became quieter.
The Emperor spoke calmly.
"Lady Chen, our divorce has already been arranged."
Everyone remained silent.
"You are free to return to your parents."
Lady Chen’s fingers tightened around her sleeve.
The Emperor continued.
"You don’t have to come with us."
Lady Chen looked toward him.
Then toward Lian An.
Then toward Princess Zhi.
Finally, she lowered her gaze.
"No."
The Emperor frowned slightly.
"No?"
"I won’t return."
"Why?"
Lady Chen took a slow breath.
"Because my parents’ home no longer feels like my home."
Nobody interrupted.
She continued.
"And if I remain here, everyone will continue looking at me as the former imperial wife."
Her voice became quieter.
"I don’t want that."
Lian An’s expression softened.
Lady Chen looked directly at the Emperor.
"You gave me freedom."
The Emperor nodded.
"Yes."
"Then let me decide where I go."
He remained silent.
"I want to go north."
The Emperor studied her.
"You understand the danger?"
"Yes."
"You may have to live like an ordinary refugee."
"I know."
"You may have to sleep on the ground."
"I know."
"You may have to eat whatever food is available."
"I know."
"You won’t have servants."
Lady Chen gave a small smile.
"I know."
The Emperor finally nodded.
"Then you may come."
Lady Chen bowed her head.
"Thank you."
Princess Zhi reached over and squeezed her hand.
"You won’t regret it."
Lady Chen smiled faintly.
"I hope not."
---
A Strange Family
Prince Liang suddenly looked around the room.
"So let me understand."
Everyone looked at him.
"The Dowager Empress is our mother."
"Yes."
"The Emperor is my elder brother."
"Yes."
"The Empress is my sister-in-law."
"Yes."
Princess Zhi is my wife."
"Yes."
Lady Chen is my sister."
"Yes."
"And General Wei Rong is my brother-in-law."
"Yes."
Prince Liang rubbed his forehead.
"This family is complicated."
Lian An laughed.
"You’re forgetting that you’re supposed to be a refugee."
Prince Liang immediately changed his expression.
He lowered his head.
"My mother is poor."
The Dowager Empress stared at him.
"Don’t exaggerate."
"My wife is beautiful but difficult."
Princess Zhi kicked him lightly.
"Ouch!"
Everyone laughed.
Even the Emperor smiled.
The Dowager Empress shook her head.
"If anyone sees you behaving like this, they’ll know immediately that you’re not an ordinary family."
Prince Liang straightened.
"I’ll practice."
"Practice what?"
"Being poor."
Lian An laughed.
"You can’t practice being poor."
"Why not?"
"Because you’re too spoiled."
The Emperor looked at him.
"She is correct."
Prince Liang sighed.
"I regret agreeing to this."
---
One Week
Lian An returned her attention to the map.
"If we’re leaving in a week, we need to prepare everything."
The Emperor nodded.
"Yes."
"What about food?"
"We’ll carry some supplies, but not too much."
"Clothing?"
"Simple."
"Money?"
"Small amounts. Different purses."
"Weapons?"
"Hidden."
"Medicine?"
"Enough for the family and some extra."
Lian An thought carefully.
"What about the refugees?"
The Emperor looked at her.
"What about them?"
"If we’re traveling with them, we shouldn’t look like we’re carrying more supplies than everyone else."
He nodded.
"Correct."
"But we can quietly help."
The Emperor understood.
"You’re thinking about food."
"Yes."
"And medicine."
"Yes."
"And children."
She nodded.
"We can’t pretend not to see people suffering."
The Emperor’s gaze softened.
"I knew you would say that."
Lian An looked at him.
"You knew?"
"Yes."
She smiled.
"Then you should have prepared more food."
Prince Liang laughed.
The Emperor gave him a cold look.
The laughter stopped.
---
The Preparations Begin
By afternoon, the entire palace had begun preparing for their departure.
But everything had to be done secretly.
No one could know that the imperial family was leaving.
Officially, the Emperor would remain in the capital.
A trusted minister would handle daily affairs.
Orders would continue to be issued in his name.
The palace would appear completely normal.
Meanwhile, behind closed doors, clothes were being selected.
Jewelry was removed.
Imperial ornaments were packed away.
Golden hairpins disappeared into boxes.
Silk robes were replaced by simple cotton garments.
The Empress stood before a table covered with clothing.
She picked up a plain brown dress.
She looked at it.
Then at the Emperor.
"This?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
She frowned.
"I’ve never worn something this plain."
"That’s the point."
She picked up another.
"This?"
"Better."
She sighed.
"I suddenly understand why ordinary people complain about clothing."
The Emperor smiled.
"You look beautiful in everything."
She immediately looked away.
"You’re not supposed to say things like that during preparations."
"Why?"
"Because I can’t concentrate."
His smile widened slightly.