"Uncle..." Yao Ying started the conversation first even though he was still feeling hesitant. However, he was too curious ah~! Although he knew that curiosity killed the cat, he was still adamant to know everything!

"Hmm...?" Feng Yong Rui asked with a smile on his face.

Yao Ying didn't know why Feng Yong Rui looked so comfortable ah~! Shouldn't he feel guilty or something?

"I heard that you become this kingdom's regent since last night under the Empress' decree. Is it true?" Yao Ying asked seriously. When he found out about it, he was feeling dumbfounded. After all, he didn't see it coming at all! Since the moment he saw Feng Yong Rui, he only thought that the latter was a soft and amiable man --- who knew that he was actually able to become a regent in one-night span?!

Last night, he told Xiu to inquire about the palace's matter. Even though he remembered that they couldn't find out any news from the palace the previous day, he still took a gamble. However, contrary to his expectation, it was actually easy to gain information --- it was like someone was deliberate to make it easier for him to inquire about any news from there. Yao Ying couldn't help but think that this must have been Feng Yong Rui's doing.

However, whether it was really the truth or not, he still needed to confirm it to Feng Yong Rui ah~!

Feng Yong Rui nodded with a smile, admitting it. "Yes, I am," he answered.

Qi Hao furrowed his eyebrows when he heard this news and finally, he was able to connect the dots whether he believed or not. His father... as a regent? He would never dream of this before ah~! After all, the Empress was still there... Even though she was one of them, but... who would easily give up a monarch's absolute power?! Especially the royal family...

"Is this your aim all along?" Qi Hao asked softly in disbelief. He glanced at Yao Ying, Yao Ling, and Lin Jian... judging from their look, it seemed like they had already known about it --- or to be exact, guessing about it.

But... why didn't his father tell him? This was the part that made him confused the most. Was it because he didn't trust him? If yes, it really hurt his feelings ah~!

Feng Yong Rui nodded his head once more. "You guess it right once again! Everything is under my plan, and of course... my control," Feng Yong Rui answered confidently.

"Why?" Qi Hao asked in a hoa.r.s.e voice. He was brought up by his father to be righteous and loyal to the kingdom... But, doing this kind of thing? Wasn't it the same as treason?! Honestly, he didn't agree with what his father had done.

This matter was just too bizarre ah~!

Feng Yong Rui could see the dissatisfaction from his son's expression which made him quite helpless, on the other hand, Xiao Fang looked at him as foolishly as before in a mixture of confusion and disbelief. He could see how different both of his children were, however, he still loved them both regardless.

"I have my own reasons," Feng Yong Rui answered --- even though he didn't feel guilty, he still felt uncomfortable ah~!

"Then, tell me!" Qi Hao slightly raised up his voice.

Feng Yong Rui sighed and asked in a low voice, "Do you know why your mother turns out this way?" It was lucky that his children had already grown up, it should be fine to tell them at this moment.

Qi Hao looked at Feng Yong Rui in surprise, but honestly, he had never asked this question before. As long as he could remember, his mother was always sick. He thought that it was because of a complication that had happened right after she gave birth to his deceased sister and that was the reason why he had never brought this matter up.

"Isn't mother always like this?" Qi Hao and Xiao Fang asked at the same time.

Rong Qiu shook his head and sighed. Feng Yong Rui, this old fool, was always so righteous and stubborn. He could explain to them before he implemented the plan and avoid the misunderstanding, but he didn't do it. He decided to guide the conversation by asking the next question.

Rong Qiu asked Feng Yong Rui, "Why didn't you tell them before?" After that, he sighed and shook his head while muttering to himself, "You should have shared the burden with your children as well... Why do you want to shoulder it all by yourself ah~?!"

Even though he talked in a low voice, everyone in the room could hear him clearly.

Feng Yong Rui was grateful for what Rong Qiu had said, but he merely waved one of his hands and said, "It's better if they have a happy childhood."

This was indeed the true reason! They didn't want his children to live with a grudge...

"Stupid!" Rong Qiu murmured to himself. Whether he was the real Rong Qiu or not, in the end, his friends.h.i.+p with Feng Yong Rui was real and he really treated this fool as his best friend. Fortunately, he knew the story behind Feng Yong Rui's behavior, otherwise, he would feel disappointed as well!

"What about my mother?" Qi Hao asked once again.

"She was actually really healthy back then because the childbirth didn't affect her in any way. When she was recuperating, something happened to her maiden family which made her fall ill once again," Feng Yong Rui explained. At the end of his speech, his eyes were full of hatred.

Qi Hao and Xiao Fang looked at their father in surprise --- this was a story that they had never heard before! They had never met their mother's maiden family. When they asked about it before, Feng Yong Rui told them that they were all already gone. Because they had never kept in touch with them, Qi Hao and Xiao Fang had never tried to inquire about them. It seemed like they really knew nothing about their mother's maiden family...

"Is it the Han Emperor's doing as well?" Qi Hao asked in hatred. No matter what, everything was always back to that s.h.i.+tty Emperor. How many lives had been ruined by him so far? So many ah~!

Feng Yong Rui nodded his head. "Yes, it's all his doing --- like always."

"Tell us, Father!" Both Qi Hao and Xiao Fang asked at the same time.

Feng Yong Rui told them that their mother's family was framed back then. There was a rumor that was spreading slowly that the Han Emperor had used his power to bribe his way to buy the official's favor and there was actually a sufficient incident. Feng Yong Rui was indeed a loyal follower of the Han Emperor ever though the latter was still unfavored prince --- along with his wife's family, after all, they were all in the same boat.

The Han Emperor mercilessly put all the blame on his wife's maiden family as a sacrifice. To save them both, his father-in-law deliberately cut their relations.h.i.+p before they were all beheaded. The Han Emperor talked about the greater good and even though his wife's maiden family was willing, he still held a grudge.

Especially after he found out that they weren't exactly willing... The Han Emperor threatened them with his and his wife's life, coincidentally... his wife was an only daughter and she was the apple of their parents' eyes. Because of this, his wife felt guilty and it led to the deteriorating of her health!

Feng Yong Rui was popular for his loyalty and love to his wife, so when he saw her that way... how could he not feel angry? He planned to trap the Han Emperor slowly while pretending to be his loyal subordinate even though he really wanted to kill that man!

Fortunately, he finally got the chance.