Blossoms of Power

Unchanged Is His Original Appearance (Finale)

"I have enshrined Xiao Jiu's spirit tablet at Cien Temple, allowing the Noble Consort to accompany Xiao Jiu there—living with ancient Buddha and dim lamps, devoutly atoning for her sins." Regarding the arrangements for this mother and daughter pair, Xiao Changqing had already made up his mind. "As for Princess Pingling... it is enough for her husband's family to decline."

Princess Pingling had married into an aristocratic family, but their clan lacked capable talents. Moreover, with a new emperor came new ministers. Regarding his origins, he did not intend to conceal them. Once made public, as long as he held power in the court, no one would dare support Princess Pingling's husband's family.

"And you?" Shen Xihe asked after listening.

Xiao Changqing turned and bowed to Shen Xihe. "Though I possess modest talent, I recommend myself as the Imperial Tutor. I beseech the Empress Dowager's approval."

Shen Xihe was somewhat surprised. She had actually planned a better arrangement for Xiao Changqing. The capital was a place of sorrow for him, and she intended to appoint someone to take over the Northwest. Her father was already eager to travel the world, seeking pleasure and vengeance.

Her brother missed her and wished to return to the capital to stay by her side. The Northwest required someone of exceptional ability, skilled in both civil and military affairs, to stabilize it. As the Empress Dowager issuing the decree, neither the Northwest troops nor the common people would strongly resist.

She never expected Xiao Changqing to want to remain in the capital and become Xiao Junshu's teacher.

But this request, Shen Xihe could not refuse. No one was more suitable than Xiao Changqing to be Xiao Junshu's mentor. He had studied true statecraft and had once striven for the imperial throne.

"If Fifth Brother is willing to be Junshu's teacher, I could not ask for more." Shen Xihe agreed immediately.

The next day, Xiao Changqing returned to court. Shen Xihe ordered him to lead the Three Departments and Six Ministries in deliberating on state affairs. Most memorials were to be handled jointly by the Three Departments and Six Ministries, with only critical matters beyond their decision-making scope forwarded to Xiao Changqing and Xiao Changgeng.

She pondered who would be suitable to take over the Northwest.

You Wenjun came to request an audience. Shen Xihe received her in the inner cabinet of Zichen Hall. You Wenjun was dressed in white, with only two silver hairpins in her bun and plain white silk at her temples.

"I wish to return home and seek the Empress Dowager's permission," You Wenjun stated directly.

Shen Xihe: "Return home?"

"Yes. Before his passing, His Highness instructed me to return home." You Wenjun did not want to stay here, nor did she wish to reside in the Liewang Residence.

Seeing the place reminded her of someone whose heart did not hold her.

Shen Xihe pondered for a long time before speaking. "I permit you to return home. The Chief Commandery of Shiwei has always been hereditary to your You clan. You may choose between the roles of Chief Clerk or Military Advisor."

You Wenjun was so shocked she forgot etiquette, staring at Shen Xihe in astonishment.

Shen Xihe was granting her an official position!

"Although you are the Liewang's widow, even upon returning home, the You clan would not dare force you to remarry. Yet your martial skills have no outlet." Shen Xihe spoke unhurriedly, her voice calm. "The Liewang advised you to return home, surely recognizing your talents."

The You clan, having used You Wenjun as a pawn in a political marriage, would naturally not give her the same opportunities as their sons. Xiao Changying could not have been unaware of this. By still advising her to return home, he hoped You Wenjun would have a broader horizon to showcase her abilities.

You Wenjun's eyes stung. Since childhood, she had trained in martial arts with her brothers, enduring more hardships and mastering deeper skills, believing she would be different. Yet in the end, she could not change her fate and had to go to the capital for a political marriage.

She thought her destiny was set for life and had resigned herself to it.It turned out he had paved the way for her future before his death.

Had she not mentioned that Xiao Changying had asked her to return home on his deathbed, Shen Xihe might not have considered agreeing, though she wouldn’t have dwelled on it deeply.

Taking a deep breath, You Wenjun suppressed the bitterness in her throat, striving to keep her voice from trembling: “I… your subject is willing to serve as an army advisor!”

“Are you certain?” Shen Xihe asked.

The positions of Chief Secretary and Army Advisor were worlds apart in both rank and authority.

The Chief Secretary represented the imperial court as a military supervisor—even the Grand Commander and Deputy Protector-General would show deference. In contrast, the Army Advisor was the lowest-ranking officer in the army. The key difference lay in the fact that as Chief Secretary, You Wenjun was an official of the court and could not inherit the position of Protector-General of Shiwei.

But if she joined the army as an advisor and climbed the ranks through her own abilities, it was not impossible for her to eventually succeed as Protector-General of Shiwei.

“Your subject’s resolve is firm,” You Wenjun declared resolutely.

Shen Xihe personally drafted an imperial decree, stamped it with the emperor’s seal, and sent You Wenjun back to the Protectorate of Shiwei.

The first year of Yonghe passed peacefully and in an orderly manner.

In the second year of Yonghe, Cui Jinbai was recalled from the Blackwater Tribe. The national mourning period had ended, and Shen Xihe personally arranged his marriage to Bu Shulin—now known as Bu Shuyao, the younger sister of the Prince of Shunan.

By June of the same year, their child was already three years old by traditional reckoning when they finally held their wedding.

The Prince of Shunan also brought his only son to the capital to attend his sister’s wedding. At the banquet, many guests noticed the striking resemblance between the “cousins” Bu Zhan and Cui Zhu. The next day, when they saw the newlywed wife of Minister Cui, they were even more astonished by how much she looked like her brother, as if carved from the same mold.

From then on, no one doubted that Bu Shuyao was the biological sister of Bu Shulin.

In the third year of Yonghe, after multiple rounds of evaluation, Shen Xihe confirmed the candidate to take over the northwest region—Xiao Changfeng.

Back then, in the secret passage, Xiao Changfeng had been ambushed—a result of his own lack of skill. He had not defied his sovereign’s orders. Now that a new emperor had ascended the throne and his ruler was Xiao Junshu, Shen Xihe was still willing to employ him, so he naturally remained loyal.

Shen Yingluo also yearned to see the place where her father and brother had once been stationed. Even though she knew she would miss them by going there, she was still willing to make the journey. It would also spare her further interactions with Shen Yungan, avoiding mutual discomfort.

Shen Yungan and his wife were recalled to the capital, where they met their four-year-old niece for the first time. By then, Xue Jinqiao was pregnant again.

The sisters-in-law reunited with great affection, and Xue Jinqiao remained as cheerful as ever. That night, she stayed in the Zichen Hall to sleep beside Shen Xihe, and the next day, Shen Yungan reluctantly brought her back to the palace.

Shen Xihe appointed three tutors for Xiao Junshu, all from the younger generation: Xiao Changqing, Xie Yunhuai, and Cui Jinbai.

One taught the art of rulership, another lectured on the geography of the realm, and the third explained the hierarchy of officials and nobility.

Gradually, rumors began to circulate, suggesting they were all favored courtiers of the Empress Dowager. The source of these rumors was difficult to trace, but Shen Xihe paid them no mind, and the six-year-old Xiao Junshu, who was already aware of such matters, was also unbothered.

He knew there was someone in his mother’s heart—that person was his father. She would often stand lost in thought before his portrait, and whenever Baisui mentioned Luming, his mother would smile with exceptional tenderness and serene beauty.

“Mother, what kind of person was Father?” On this day, seeing his mother pause before the painting once more, the six-year-old Xiao Junshu could not help but voice the question that had long lingered in his heart.In Xiao Junshu's eyes, his mother was the wisest woman in the world, more revered than any woman in the history books he had studied, including their ancestor, the female emperor.

What kind of person could make such a mother unforgettable, yearning to the point of madness?

Shen Xihe turned sideways and lowered her head, looking at her son who stood with one hand behind his back, trying hard to appear mature and reliable. She couldn't help but smile knowingly. She crouched down and gently stroked his forehead: "Your father..."

Shen Xihe wanted desperately to find some words of praise for Xiao Huayong, but discovered that no words could adequately describe him. After thinking for a long time, she looked seriously at Xiao Junshu: "Your father is a perfect man in your mother's heart."

Gold cannot be pure gold, and no man is perfect.

Xiao Junshu blinked. Father was actually a perfect man in mother's heart!

The image of father in his mind grew even more grand and towering.

"I really want to meet father," Xiao Junshu said with full reverence and longing.

Patting her son's head, Shen Xihe said: "You will meet him."

Shen Xihe had never hidden from Xiao Junshu the fact that Xiao Huayong was still alive.

As Xiao Junshu grew older, he had more to learn and gradually began to participate in court affairs. Occasionally, for the convenience of discussion and teaching by example, Xiao Changqing and Xie Yunhuai would stay overnight at the Zichen Hall.

Even though Shen Xihe had moved back to the Eastern Palace after Xiao Junshu turned five, guarding the flowers and plants that Xiao Huayong had planted, there were still those who secretly slandered her. As long as it didn't affect Xiao Junshu's character, Shen Xihe paid no attention to them.

In the eighth year of Yonghe, this year under the watchful eyes of all officials, the powerful Imperial Uncle Xiao Changqing brought an exceptionally handsome man into the palace, heading straight to the Eastern Palace.

In previous years, there had been those who, thinking that Shen Xihe was young and widowed, presented beautiful men to her. Such people usually met with unfortunate ends. She didn't care about those rumors because the more certain topics were avoided, the more people would gossip about them.

But presenting men to serve her crossed her bottom line. The light punishment would be deprivation of titles and dismissal from office, while the severe punishment would mean losing one's head.

This time, many people watched Xiao Changqing closely. It was said that Xiao Changqing left the man at the Eastern Palace and departed immediately.

At that time, Shen Xihe was not at the Eastern Palace but was dining with Xiao Junshu at the Zichen Hall. When Xiao Changqing brought someone to the Eastern Palace to see her, Shen Xihe didn't pay much attention, as similar things had happened before.

Since Zhenzhu hadn't sent anyone to urge her, it couldn't be anything important. She only returned to the Eastern Palace after spending time with Xiao Junshu.

At the main gate of the Eastern Palace stood two maple trees. It was golden autumn, the season when red leaves burned like fire. As Shen Xihe rounded the long corridor from afar, she could faintly see the maple leaves covering the sky like clouds, floating above the Eastern Palace gate.

This always made her recall that year when they first met in the palace - him standing on the stone steps in a light white round-collar robe, wearing a great cloak, eagerly looking forward.

Thinking of this, Shen Xihe couldn't help but curve her eyes into smiles. Over the years, she had become more accustomed to luxury and comfort, her demeanor more dignified and authoritative.

Walking out of the covered corridor and stepping onto the stone path before the Eastern Palace, her upturned shoes adorned with pearls occasionally stepped on one or two fallen maple leaves. Shen Xihe casually looked up and saw, through the dappled shadows of the trees, a tall figure standing with his back to her at the palace gate.

That great cloak, that head of black hair, that golden crown, the light white clothing beneath the cloak, that graceful and noble stance.Countless times in midnight dreams, she had envisioned this familiar scene, and for a moment she couldn't tell whether she was inside the dream or outside it.

She held her breath, slowed her footsteps, and walked over quietly.

As if hearing the sound behind him, he turned amidst the falling maple leaves. His eyes—deeply veiled radiance gathered like silver moonlight—met hers. His voice, just like all those years ago, carried faint traces of grievance: "You came back. I thought you wouldn't return..."

You came. I thought you wouldn't come.

Only one character different from back then, yet separated by twelve years—a full cycle of time.

But she had waited, hadn't she?

Suns and moons alternate, times and worlds change, yet unchanged remains his original appearance.

[Author's Note]

It's completed. Nothing particular to say. Probably won't write extra chapters. Just fixing some typos before applying for completed status.

(End of Chapter)