That childish voice finally pulled Kan Nianzhen back from the brink of suffocation.
She restrained herself to small, shallow gasps, not wanting the little ones to notice anything amiss.
But the others, who could already hear Jiang Yingcheng's thoughts, had long since begun casting furtive glances her way.
Jiang Tinghuai spoke with worry written across his face. "Mother..."
Just then, a palace maid hurried in through the door, went straight to the empress, and whispered something in her ear.
Kan Nianzhen's eyes trembled, and she quickly ordered that the visitor be shown in.
Her pillar of strength had once again arrived when she was most helpless.
Before long, a powerfully built man in court robes slowly entered, framed against the gentle morning sunlight.
The visitor was Kan Ruifeng, the reigning General of Agile Cavalry, the empress's father, and also-
[The grandpa who smiles at Chengcheng every day!]
Jiang Yingcheng suddenly hopped down from her cushioned chair. Her little legs scurried so fast that she hugged the visitor's leg before even the empress could reach him.
"Grandpa Kan!" Jiang Yingcheng was delighted. "What a coincidence!"
Kan Ruifeng smiled and stroked Jiang Yingcheng's soft hair.
Naturally, this was no coincidence.
He had just been discussing the attack on Beiming with Emperor Mingze in Wuyang Hall. Midway through their discussion, a flustered eunuch had entered and quietly reported something to the emperor.
After that, he had been sent to Lingxi Palace to prevent the previously uninformed empress and crown prince from saying anything they should not.
He held out a hand and gently waved it twice in the air. Taking the cue, Jiang Yingcheng happily clasped it.
"Greetings, Your Majesty." He looked at his daughter's reddened eyes, and his heart sank a little.
Although he had not spent much time with the little