Chapter 272: Always Doing Something, Leaving Something for Posterity

Chen Yan returned home cradling the already asleep, drooling Sizi, and just handed the little creature on his back to her two maids when Gao Yang frowned and came over.

"Didn't you say you were going to fetch Sizi? Why were you delayed in the palace for so long?"

"Look how late it is; you still think you can go home?"

"You live in the palace, after all."

Chen Yan gave her a glance, sat down by himself, and took a sip of tea.

"Chen Yan! I'm talking to you!" Gao Yang said, angry.

He always feels that this person, after learning she's pregnant, has switched tactics; the concern is genuine, yet it can still make him furious.

"Stop the fuss; there's a big incident in the palace today. If I can come back, you should burn high incense."

Chen Yan looked around, saw the two maids taking Sizi out and closing the door, then said lazily.

"Besides, if you're worried about me, just be worried about me; can you speak straight?"

"Do you have to use that tone and those words to express it?"

"I'm not the one saying it, Zhao Tang, the proud one has now withdrawn from the environment, you can't do that."

Gao Yang: "......"

She automatically ignored the rest and focused on the phrase 'there's a big incident in the palace.'

"What big incident happened in the palace? Does it involve you?"

"Ah, it's a long story," Chen Yan sighed.

Gao Yang glanced at him, getting irritated, and gave him a tap, "Then cut the long story short—what are you nagging about at home?"

"You keep saying it's a long story, but can you just not say it?"

Chen Yan was silent for two seconds, then, for the sake of the child and the foot massage, forgave Gao Yang and didn't argue.

He remembered that in his previous life, while watching Animal World, it was said that a mother tiger becomes extremely irritable after conceiving cubs, especially before and after giving birth, and even male tigers dare not approach.

Chen Yan felt Gao Yang was leaning toward that direction.

"What are you thinking?" Gao Yang urged, "Tell me, what's up in the palace?"

"Do you still remember those alchemists who were summoned by His Majesty last year to refine immortal pills?" Chen Yan said.

"I remember," Gao Yang thought for a moment and nodded.

"But that group of alchemists hasn't produced results for a long time; the immortal pill that supposedly grants longevity has never been refined, and I would have forgotten if you hadn't mentioned it."

Suddenly, her eyes brightened, "The big incident you mentioned—could it be that the immortal pill has finally been refined?"

"It has indeed been refined," Chen Yan was about to speak when Gao Yang, unable to wait, grabbed his arm, excitedly saying, "Did you ask Father Emperor for two... three immortal pills?"

"You've rendered so many merits for Father Emperor and his people; getting three immortal pills shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"Immortality! If we can get three, we could be together forever."

Chen Yan:???

"Let go, what nonsense about immortal pills, that's just a big poison pill!"

"If you want to eat it, eat it yourself; just don't swallow me and the unborn child."

"Poison pill?" Gao Yang was stunned, her excited expression gradually faded, and she calmed down.

"That's right, where does longevity come from in this world? They're just a bunch of deceitful wandering sorcerers; how could they possibly refine immortal pills?"

"If they did exist, they'd probably not have enough for themselves, let alone give any to us."

After speaking, she seemed to realize something, looked up at her husband, her voice trembling, "So, the big incident you mentioned is the poison pill?"

Chen Yan nodded and fell silent.

"Father Emperor... took the poison pill?" Gao Yang was now a bit panicked, gripping Chen Yan's arm involuntarily tighter.

That was her Father Emperor, her biological father.

He was her greatest support in this world besides Chen Yan.

Gao Yang had lost her birth mother when she was young; she didn't want to lose her birth father again.

"Relax," Chen Yan said soothingly, "The poison pill's toxicity is low, and since your Father Emperor's poisoning isn't severe, there's no life‑threatening danger, only some aftereffects."

"You can think of it as your Father Emperor, like your Mother Empress, having a respiratory illness; though it can't be cured and flares up occasionally, if he takes proper care, it won't cause major issues."

Sensing Gao Yang's inner panic, he stated the outcome directly, no longer withholding.

Sure enough, after hearing it, Gao Yang's hanging heart finally settled.

Like Empress Changsun, Gao Yang thought that since there's no life‑threatening danger, it's a blessing amid misfortune.

Being alive is the most important.

She wiped the tears spilling from her eyes and sharply said to Chen Yan, "Can you finish it all in one go next time?"

"Can each of you let people save some worry?"

"Do we have to make us worry to be okay?"

Chen Yan: "......"

What the hell does this have to do with me?

Besides, what have I made you worry about?

What have you worried for me again?

Sigh~

Fine, it's all fate!

"......."

"Brother Li, it's changed again."

On a tall building, Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng stood side by side, gazing into the distance at the faint outline of the Imperial Palace.

"That's normal," Li Chunfeng chuckled lightly, "Anyone who comes into contact with Mr. Chen has an ever‑changing fate; I now can't even understand the guard beside Mr. Chen."

"Speaking of that guard…" Yuan Tiangang turned his head, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Do you really intend to go find that thing?"

"Since you've promised, why not go?"

Li Chunfeng stood with his hands behind his back, a gentle breeze brushed by, lifting a few strands of hair, and his whole being exuded an aura of celestial elegance.

Yuan Tiangang remained silent for a long while, "Alas~ I've already urged you many times; since you're so determined, I won't keep urging you. I can only wish you success."

Saying that, he took something from his bosom and handed it over, "This is the official seal His Majesty bestowed upon me; you may take it. Perhaps it will lend you a hand."

"In that case, I shall accept it without reservation," Li Chunfeng did not decline, and solemnly took it.

The seal indeed proved helpful to him.

Later, Li Chunfeng teased, "Brother Yuan, it's a matter of timing and destiny; this time you suffered a backlash, so you needn't accompany me—consider it avoiding that risk."

"And all this stems from Mr. Chen."

"Indeed, timing and destiny." Yuan Tiangang shook his head with a sigh, then looked at his friend and said gravely, "Yet I still don't understand—Mr. Chen never forced you; you could have refused outright. Why must you go?"

"Don't you realize? Not only is this a nine‑to‑one chance of death, it may also return empty‑handed. Why are you so persistent?"

"Brother Yuan, I see through it," Li Chunfeng smiled, gazed at the myriad lights below and the vast starry sky above, and whispered.

"What can we do even if we calculate the heavenly mechanisms?"

"What good is knowing everything?"

"We remain within the torrent of fate, drifting with the current, exhausting all effort to stir a barely noticeable ripple—so what does that achieve?"

"The more we know, the more regrets accrue. Brother Yuan, I no longer wish to continue this way."

Li Chunfeng murmured, "Just as Mr. Chen said, in life there are things to do and things not to do."

"Traveling through this world, we must do something, to leave something for those who follow!"

"......"