She led the whole village to prosperity by raising koi fish.

Chapter 171 Persuading Yu Yan to Leave

Just as Yang Yuyan was brimming with confidence and joy, preparing to ascend to the supreme throne of Empress, a small figure, like a sudden ray of sunshine in spring, unexpectedly appeared in the magnificent palace. This figure was all too familiar to Yang Yuyan; it was none other than her beloved son, whom she had longed for day and night—Xiao Bao!

When Yang Yuyan's gaze fell upon that small figure, the light in her bright, star-like eyes suddenly burst forth, like dazzling fireworks in the night sky, radiant and captivating. At that moment, everything around them seemed to dim, and the world seemed to consist only of the two of them, mother and child. Yang Yuyan's steps quickened involuntarily, as if drawn by an invisible force, and she swiftly ran towards Xiaobao.

In the blink of an eye, Yang Yuyan was standing before Xiaobao. Without hesitation, she stretched out her arms and embraced him tightly. Feeling Xiaobao's warm body and gentle breath, Yang Yuyan could no longer hold back her tears, which flowed like a burst dam. These tears slid down her fair cheeks, dripping onto Xiaobao's clothes, spreading into glistening teardrops. Each tear was filled with her deep longing and endless concern for her son, an emotion only a mother could understand.

After a while, Yang Yuyan gradually calmed down. She slowly released her embrace, but her hands remained gently resting on Xiaobao's thin shoulders, as if afraid that she would lose him again if she let go. Yang Yuyan gazed at Xiaobao's adorable little face and asked softly in an incredibly gentle tone, "Xiaobao, tell Mommy, how did you suddenly come here? Did your father send you to visit Mommy?"

However, Xiao Bao gently shook his head, his clear, watery eyes looking at Yang Yuyan, and answered crisply, "Mother, that's not it. I came to see you myself." After saying that, Xiao Bao raised his little hand and wiped away the tear stains left at the corner of Yang Yuyan's eyes, his movements as gentle as a spring breeze brushing across a lake.

Upon hearing this, an indescribable look of surprise instantly appeared on Yang Yuyan's exquisite face, a surprise that seemed to be mixed with a bit of disbelief. Her lips parted slightly, her beautiful eyes widened, and her originally fair and snow-white skin was now flushed with a faint blush due to the emotional fluctuation.

At the same time, her soft and melodious voice trembled slightly uncontrollably, like a candle flame flickering in the wind: "Oh, I see! Could it be... that you really missed your mother so much that you went to all this trouble to come and see me?"

Xiao Bao blinked his clear, innocent eyes and gazed up at Yang Yuyan. His small, pink hands gripped Yang Yuyan's clothes tightly, as if afraid that if he let go, she would disappear.

Seeing Yang Yuyan squat down and look at him tenderly, Xiaobao leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "Mother, actually, besides missing you, I have something else important to tell you."

Upon hearing this, Yang Yuyan's eyes flashed with curiosity and doubt, but she did not interrupt Xiaobao. Instead, she smiled and gave him an encouraging look, signaling him to continue.

So, Xiao Bao took a deep breath and mustered his courage to continue, "Mother, I think that although this palace seems incredibly magnificent, it is actually fraught with danger and intrigue. We, mother and son, must be constantly on guard against others' schemes and traps. Living in such constant fear is exhausting! In my opinion, it would be better to leave this deep palace and return to our hometown. There, the mountains and rivers are beautiful, the people are simple and honest, and there's not so much scheming. Besides, even if we could enjoy wealth and luxury in the palace, it still wouldn't compare to the freedom we have back home! Moreover, Father used to be a teacher, so when we go back, you can become a teacher like Father and live a peaceful life. Wouldn't that be much better than living in constant fear in this palace?"

Hearing Xiaobao's words, Yang Yuyan felt a pang of sadness. She gently stroked his hair and said earnestly, "My child, you are still young, and there are many things in the adult world that you don't understand yet. The reason I chose to stay in this palace and strive for power and status is not just for momentary vanity and pleasure. It's because only with enough power can I protect you, provide you with a stable and prosperous life, and ensure that you will never have to worry about food or clothing." At this point, Yang Yuyan couldn't help but sigh softly, then reached out and patted her son's tender shoulder.

"Then let me ask you, isn't childhood just a once-in-a-lifetime event? Are you really so unwilling to accompany your child as they grow up?" Xiao Bao asked angrily, his eyes wide with puffs of puff. Yang Yuyan, standing to the side, nodded slightly, indicating her agreement with Xiao Bao's words.

"Besides, Mother, given the current situation, it seems you'll never be able to sit on that high and mighty Empress's throne in your lifetime. That's a certainty, an indisputable fact!" Xiao Bao said with his arms crossed and a serious expression. "Since that's the case, why should we, mother and son, continue to struggle in this cage-like place? Why not simply leave here and go out into the world to find our own happiness and peace? After all, I am your own flesh and blood. As your son, of course I wholeheartedly hope that you can live a carefree and peaceful life!"

Hearing Xiao Bao's unexpected words, Yang Yuyan was startled and hurriedly asked, "My dear, why did you suddenly say such a thing? What made you think this way?" Xiao Bao sighed deeply, his face showing an expression as if he knew countless secrets, and slowly explained, "Mother, actually, this matter has long been an open secret. The current Emperor already has someone he loves. That woman not only has a powerful background and a deeply rooted family, but she is also deeply favored and protected by the Emperor. Therefore, the position of the Empress was secretly decided long ago."

Hearing Xiao Bao's words, Yang Yuyan felt as if struck by lightning, instantly frozen in place. Her once beautiful face was now deathly pale, ashen, from extreme shock and despair. For a long time, Yang Yuyan firmly believed that through her relentless efforts and dedication, she would one day ascend the throne of Empress, a symbol of unparalleled glory. However, cruel reality struck her like a heavy hammer, shattering all her beautiful dreams and fantasies into nothingness.

"Is that woman the Empress Dowager's niece?" Yang Yuyan asked Xiaobao with a puzzled look. Xiaobao gently shook his head and replied firmly, "No, it's someone else!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Yuyan frowned slightly, and a series of possible candidates flashed through her mind. Then, she eagerly asked, "Who could it be? Could it be Su Yuning?" Her words revealed her uncertainty and curiosity about this guess.

Faced with his mother's barrage of questions, Xiao Bao seemed a little helpless. After taking a deep breath, he replied earnestly, "Oh, Mother, I'll tell you the truth. Actually, that person is the daughter of the current Prime Minister—Yang Xin!" After saying that, Xiao Bao didn't forget to observe his mother's reaction.

Upon hearing Xiaobao's answer, Yang Yuyan was completely stunned. After a long while, she slowly stood up, a look of confusion and disappointment in her eyes. Xiaobao, who had been watching his mother's every move, quickly grabbed her hand and said urgently, "Mom, let's hurry up and leave this treacherous place full of intrigue and deceit!"

Yang Yuyan lowered her head, her gaze falling on Xiaobao's hand tightly gripping hers, and a flood of emotions overwhelmed her. A complex mix of feelings surged within her, leaving her momentarily speechless. However, when she saw Xiaobao's innocent and adorable face, all her inner turmoil seemed to vanish in an instant.

Finally, as if she had made up her mind, Yang Yuyan squeezed Xiaobao's hand tightly and smiled as she said to him, "Okay, baby, let's go now." After receiving his mother's affirmative answer, Xiaobao was as happy as a child, and a bright smile bloomed on his face.

Just as they turned to leave, Yang Yuyan couldn't help but glance back at the magnificent palace one last time. This building, which had once held countless dreams and hopes for her, now only left her with heartache and resentment. However, thinking of what her son had just said, her heart gradually calmed down, and she finally chose to let go... She understood that perhaps true happiness wasn't within these high palace walls, but rather in living a free and unrestrained life with her son. So, mother and son left the palace hand in hand, the sunlight shining on them, as if foreshadowing the beginning of a new life.

In the beautiful Xinghua Village, sunlight bathed the tranquil village and the shimmering pond, creating a picturesque pastoral scene. Just then, the village chief stood in the central square of the village and announced a momentous decision: to lead the villagers in filling in the pond and building a factory next to the village.

He said with great enthusiasm, "Fellow villagers, our village's economic development has been slow for a long time. If we can build a factory, it will provide many jobs, allowing everyone to work and earn money right at their doorstep!" However, before the village chief could finish speaking, a chorus of objections rose from the crowd.

A dark-skinned, burly villager was the first to jump out, waving his arms excitedly and shouting, "I absolutely disagree! Why should we fill in this perfectly good pond? I'm counting on this pond to raise fish, so my family can have fish to eat during holidays. Anyone who dares to touch this pond, no matter who they are, I'll never forgive them!"

Immediately afterward, another woman dressed in a floral print couldn't hold back any longer. She exclaimed anxiously, "I disagree too! This is a beautiful sight in our village! Every summer, the pond is filled with blooming lotus flowers, and those plump white lotus roots can be dug up and used for cooking and selling. If the pond is gone, all of this will be lost!"

The surrounding people nodded in agreement, and for a moment the scene became somewhat chaotic. At this moment, the village's most respected elder, trembling with age, walked over. He stroked his white beard and said earnestly to the village chief, "My child, building up the village is indeed a good thing, but we must also be considerate and not act rashly. This ecological environment is the livelihood of our future generations; we must not destroy it!"

The village chief stood at the front of the crowd, looking at the agitated and indignant villagers before him, and was momentarily speechless, unsure how to respond. He had originally been full of confidence in promoting the development and construction of the village, but now he was at a loss due to this sudden situation.

At this moment, the village chief's mind was in turmoil, a jumble of conflicting thoughts. He began to reflect on whether his previous decisions were correct, and whether he had failed to fully consider the feelings and needs of the villagers. However, just as the entire village's development was stalled due to public opposition, a turning point quietly emerged.

That day, the village chief's nephew, who had been working in the city, returned to the village in a flurry of activity. He was all smiles, waving a piece of paper and shouting that he had good news to share. Upon hearing this, the previously noisy crowd instantly fell silent, and all eyes turned to the village chief's nephew.

"Uncle, fantastic news has arrived!" The village chief's nephew rushed up to the village chief, excitedly saying, "The Emperor has issued an edict! He says all those open spaces outside the city will be developed into large-scale processing plants! From now on, people from all over the country can go there to work and earn money! Our village won't need any more development projects!"