My father, Gao Huan, is an invincible prince!

Chapter 73 The Caged Bird, The Prince's Promise.

Deep within the palace, Empress Gao, the reigning empress, was resting her chin on her hand, gazing blankly at the small patch of sky outside the window, her beautiful eyes filled with loneliness and bewilderment.

She is only twelve years old this year. Her face is radiant and delicate. Her eyebrows and bone structure are in the same vein as Gao Cheng's. However, she has lost some of the sharpness and intimidation between her eyebrows and has more of a girlish gentleness.

However, at the age of twelve, a time when one should be carefree and playful, one should be living a carefree and joyful life.

She had long been trapped and locked within this deep palace, confined by high walls to a tiny space, spending her days facing cold palaces and walls, with no one to whom she could confide her innermost feelings.

And so it went, day after day, the years slipping away in vain, as if the rest of his life would be wasted within the confines of the palace.

After a long silence, she sighed deeply, withdrew her gaze, and murmured, "Brother, it has been more than several months since you arrived in Ye. Why have you been so slow in coming to the palace to see your sister?"

However, unexpectedly, just as she finished speaking, a young eunuch suddenly rushed into the hall, bowed, and reported: "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince of Bohai requests an audience."

Upon hearing this, Gao was taken aback, thinking that she was hallucinating because she missed her brother so much.

It wasn't until he looked up and caught sight of a handsome figure approaching from afar outside the main hall that a look of disbelief and astonishment appeared in his eyes.

Immediately, a look of surprise bloomed on her pretty face, and her beautiful eyes lit up instantly, like ripples spreading out from a stagnant pool after a pebble was dropped into it.

She didn't even have time to think much before she lifted her skirt and hurried to the palace gate to greet them.

Upon seeing the tall figure below the steps, her eyes suddenly welled up with tears. Her voice choked with emotion yet filled with joy, and she called out, "Brother! Why have you been so late? I have been waiting for you every day, and I almost thought you had forgotten me in the deep palace."

When Gao Cheng looked up and saw his younger sister, his cold and hardened heart, which was focused on national affairs, immediately softened, and a touch of warmth welled up in his heart.

He then gently patted her head and said with a warm smile, "Second sister, please don't be angry. These days, Yecheng is swamped with official business, and I've been too busy to spare a moment. As soon as I had a spare moment, I rushed to the palace to visit you."

Upon hearing this, Gao was finally convinced that this was not a dream, and tears immediately streamed down her face.

Seeing her tears, Gao Cheng was at a loss for words and quickly said gently, "Second Sister, don't cry. I'm here now, don't cry."

Unexpectedly, his words only intensified the girl's grief, causing her to burst into tears. Unable to hold back any longer, she buried her face in Gao Cheng's arms, choking back sobs several times until she could no longer speak.

Seeing this, Gao Cheng's heart softened even more. He quickly raised his hand and gently patted her back, saying softly, "It is my fault. I should have gone to the palace to see you sooner, so that you would suffer this injustice."

He comforted her for a long time, and the girl in his arms finally stopped breathing.

She quickly broke free, twisting her sleeves somewhat embarrassedly, and said, "I was overjoyed to see my brother and lost my composure like this. Please don't take offense."

Gao Cheng gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and said softly, "Why do you say such things? I am overjoyed to see my little sister thinking of me so fondly, how could I possibly take offense?"

Upon hearing this, Gao finally stopped crying and smiled. She then grabbed Gao Cheng's sleeve and pulled him into the inner room.

She continued, "Brother, you've come at the perfect time! I just happened to have a basket of golden apricots from Shandong, chilled with ice; their taste is absolutely exquisite. Brother, please come with me and try them..."

Gao Cheng let her pull him along without struggling.

After they entered the inner room and sat down, Madam Gao took out golden apricots from the ice jar and personally peeled and pitted them for Gao Cheng. Although her movements were still somewhat clumsy and awkward, her eyes and brows revealed a genuine joy that she had not felt in a long time.

Watching her busy figure, Gao Chengjing felt a growing pity for her. She sighed softly and asked, "Second Sister, how have you been these past few days?"

Upon hearing this, Gao paused in his actions, a hint of sadness appearing in his eyes.

But after a short while, he forced himself to suppress his sorrow and put on a calm demeanor: "I am well, everything is fine. His Majesty treats me very well, and the palace servants are also very respectful. Brother, please do not worry."

Gao Cheng had seen a lot of people, so how could he not see through her forced pretense of suffering?

However, given the current situation, he also knew that many of the hardships he faced were not something he could easily resolve.

At least, not now.

Therefore, he did not dwell on the topic, but simply took the peeled apricot from her and swallowed it in one bite, nodding in praise: "It really tastes excellent, Second Sister, you've gone to great lengths."

Upon receiving her brother's praise, Gao's worries instantly dissipated.

She quickly peeled a few more for him and asked again, "Brother, I haven't been back to Jinyang for a long time. I wonder how Father and Mother are doing lately? I miss them terribly."

Upon hearing this, Gao Cheng immediately nodded and said, "All is well. Father is in good health, and so is Mother. The other day, Mother was still talking about you in Jinyang, saying that you have been living in the deep palace for a long time and she was afraid that you might be unwell. She asked me to take good care of you after I arrive in Ye."

As soon as she finished speaking, Gao's eyes reddened again, and she sighed softly, "I miss my father and mother day and night, and I wish I could return home to visit them immediately."

Upon seeing this, Gao Cheng's heart also softened completely.

After a moment's thought, he reached out and patted the back of her hand, saying gently, "Wait a little longer. After the grand court assembly on the fifteenth of June, when things have settled down, I will petition His Majesty to grant you permission to return to Jinyang for a short stay, so as to comfort your family."

Upon hearing this, Gao's eyes immediately lit up with surprise and joy, and she asked incredulously, "Brother, is what you say true?"

Gao Cheng smiled and retorted, "When have I ever lied to you?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Gao was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly: "In that case, I will eagerly await your good news, brother. You must keep your word and fulfill your promises."

Gao Cheng nodded again: "Of course!"

Upon hearing this, Gao's worries completely vanished, and her face showed no trace of gloom.

The brother and sister then chatted casually about family matters, recounting their childhood memories in Jinyang and discussing the local customs and products of Yecheng.

Gao sometimes covered her lips and smiled faintly, and sometimes looked on with longing in her eyes, as if she had returned to her carefree youth in Jinyang.

As the conversation flowed by, time slipped by unnoticed, and before they knew it, the sun was setting in the west, and twilight gradually seeped into the palace walls, turning them a golden-red hue.

Seeing that it was getting late, Gao Cheng, though still feeling pity for her, stopped talking, got up and said, "Second Sister, it's getting late, and there are still some trivial matters to attend to at court. I should go home now."

The moment these words were spoken, Gao's joy vanished, replaced by eyes full of reluctance.

She clung to Gao Cheng's sleeve, refusing to let go, and said pitifully, "Brother, are you leaving in such a hurry? I still have so many things to say, can't you stay a little longer to chat?"

This time, however, Gao Cheng did not soften his stance and shook his head in refusal, saying, "Let's wait until another day. From now on, you will be stationed in Ye City, so why worry about not having time to visit me in the palace?"

Upon hearing this, Gao knew that Gao Cheng didn't have much time for idle chatter, and finally nodded in agreement.

Upon seeing this, Gao Cheng gave a few more words of advice, such as taking care of his health, before turning around and leaving the central palace.

Lady Gao stood at the palace gate, watching her brother's figure disappear into the deep twilight, and tears streamed down her face again.

But she also knew that her brother was now burdened with important military and national responsibilities, and could not be dragged down by his personal feelings.

Finally, he suppressed his sorrow and longing, silently looking up and hoping that the appointed time would come soon.