Love and Crown

The blue cloth curtain was abruptly pulled aside, bringing a refreshing breeze that dispersed the hazy white mist, clearly revealing the profile of the tall, handsome man behind it. He was stern yet elegant, his head full of jet-black, resilient hair tied back with a gem-studded ribbon, cascading naturally over his smooth shoulders. The faint glow of a nearby fire reflected off his exposed skin, casting a golden hue.

The corners of his lips, sharp as a sword, curled into a knowing and somewhat teasing smile as he turned slightly. "Slipped while walking... Cang Cang, Minjia, why is there blood on your chests?"

No answer came from across the room. They watched as a droplet of water slid from his mist-dampened temple, tracing a path down his sharply arched brows, the corners of his smiling eyes, and his steep, cliff-like cheeks before landing on his firm pectoral muscles. The droplet shimmered briefly, then continued its tireless journey down his broad, solid chest like a tiny stream. Further down, instead of a flat, warm abdomen, lay another breathtaking figure.

Cradled in his arms was a naked young man. Unconscious, the man's pale, bloodless lips were pressed tightly together, his long lashes like butterfly wings resting peacefully. His handsome brows were relaxed, and his unbound hair lay slightly disheveled in the arms of the striking man.

His slender frame was slightly lean, his skin pale yet glowing softly under the firelight. If the striking man was a golden chalice, then he was a piece of white jade.

A gentleman is like jade—its brilliance is neither dazzling nor enchanting, yet no matter how dazzling the surrounding jewels may be, jade always emits a gentle, understated radiance, quietly but unmistakably asserting its presence.

Thus, upon suddenly seeing such a naked man, one might inexplicably feel a sense of tranquility, as if gazing upon his unclothed form was not an act of impropriety but rather an elegant affair, akin to sipping wine adorned with flowers or engaging in poetic exchanges between fisherman and woodcutter.

...

Kumoer stood facing me and Minjia, watching us with an amused smile.

Minjia had long since covered her nose, wide-eyed and frozen like a statue.

I snapped out of it first, chuckled, and turned to grab Minjia, looking at her seriously. "Minjia, does Xiao Bai look good naked?"

Minjia nodded vigorously.

"Minjia, I even let you see my husband naked. Am I not good to you?" I pressed.

Minjia kept nodding, her eyes still glued ahead.

"Well, now that you've seen enough, let's go." I covered her eyes and dragged her behind the curtain.

Li Mingshang spoke up. "Since you're already here, stay and help."

Minjia and I obediently turned back, heads bowed as we approached Li Mingshang.

"Minjia, tend to the fire—keep it steady, not too big or small. Little girl, grab a blanket and wait nearby," Li Mingshang instructed.

We hurried over. Standing by the wooden tub, I noticed Xiao Huan's hair was still loose over his shoulders, so I pulled a jade hairpin from my own hair and gathered his into a bun.

As I tied his hair, my fingers brushed the warm skin of his neck, and my lips curled unconsciously.

Kumoer glanced up at me. "Cang Cang, your arrow wound hasn't healed. You don't look well—you should rest."

I shook my head with a smile. "I'm fine here."He smiled and said nothing more.

The treatment actually took quite a while, but as long as I could look at him—even in his unconscious state—it felt like a dream I didn’t want to wake from for even a moment.

After soaking in the medicinal solution, Li Mingshang took out silver needles and unblocked all of Xiao Huan’s acupoints before finally letting out a relieved sigh. "That brat’s life is saved."

Hearing this, I relaxed slightly, but then I noticed a fresh scar on his chest. Though small and already scabbed over, it stood out starkly against his skin.

Seeing my gaze linger on the scar, Kumoer spoke up from the side. "Xiao Bai got that when he rushed to shield you after seeing the hidden weapon hit your chest."

As if pricked by something, my hand trembled slightly.

Though I hadn’t seen it clearly at the time, if Xiao Huan hadn’t rushed to catch me, how could he have failed to dodge such a simple hidden weapon?

And yet, even then, when he held me, I had still tried to push him away.

Kumoer sighed lightly and chuckled. "Cang Cang, if you want to cry, you can wait until Xiao Bai wakes up and cry for him to see."

I shifted my gaze to Xiao Huan’s face. He was still peacefully unconscious, his pale cheeks devoid of any color.

After a moment of silence, I leaned down and pressed my lips to his colorless ones.

No matter who was watching, I simply focused on the warmth of his skin. Then, a single tear slipped from my eye and landed on his cheek.

Kumoer said nothing. Minjia had already left earlier. Li Mingshang silently packed his medicine chest, flicked his sleeve, and muttered, "This trip really took it out of me. I’ll have to demand payment from this kid when he wakes up." With that, he strode out, medicine chest in hand.

He was quick to leave and quick to return.

"Mr. Li! It’s the middle of the night—how are you getting back?" I called after him, but he had already lifted the tent flap, his figure soon vanishing into the darkness.

"That Mr. Li could probably walk straight into this camp alone, and no one would be able to stop him," Kumoer suddenly remarked.

"Does Mr. Li know martial arts too?" I was surprised—Li Mingshang had never displayed any skill in front of others.

Kumoer smiled. "That imperial physician’s abilities are no less than Gui Wuchang’s."

He paused briefly at the mention of Gui Wuchang. "After he injured you, he disappeared… Kidnapping you from among the Imperial Bodyguards and using your life to threaten Xiao Bai—that wasn’t my doing. He’s a capable man, and I’ve always wanted to recruit him. But this time, he hurt you. If I see him again, I might just kill him."

I nodded without comment. Whenever Gui Wuchang was mentioned, I felt an odd unease.

Back when he took me out of the capital, he’d had plenty of opportunities to kill me or use me for his own ends. Yet it seemed all he did was bring me to the Jurchen Camp and then leave me be.

And then there were those two sudden hidden weapons… My injuries weren’t actually severe. Though the weapons struck seemingly vital spots, they cleverly avoided my heart. The reason I slept for days afterward was partly due to a mild fever, but also because Xiao Huan, fearing complications, had included many sedatives in my medicine.

If Gui Wuchang had truly wanted me dead, would he have been so half-hearted about it?

But since I couldn’t make sense of it right away, I simply smiled at Kumoer and kept my doubts to myself.After being busy for a while, I started feeling dizzy again and turned to walk back to the bed to lie down.

Before I could take a step, Kumoer had already reached out and scooped me up in his arms, carrying me to the bed and setting me down.

I smiled at him. "Thank you, Kumoer."

After going through life and death together, Kumoer and I seemed to have grown closer. Even now, calling him by his name directly didn’t feel inappropriate at all.

"If he carried you over, you’d never say thank you to him, would you?" Kumoer suddenly said, smiling faintly. "Such polite words are only said to those who aren’t close. For the most intimate people, you don’t need to say them at all."

I looked up at him and was startled to see a trace of sorrow lingering between the brows of this usually cold and sharp man.

I raised my eyes and gazed at him seriously. "Kumoer, no matter what, I’ve failed your feelings for me… At that moment, I truly wanted to—"

"Cang Cang…" Kumoer interrupted me, smiling faintly. "When he no longer needs you, you can come with me. But if he dies, you would follow him… Even if your body lives on, your heart would die with him, wouldn’t it?"

He was too perceptive. I was suddenly at a loss for words, and a heavy silence fell over the tent.

Kumoer placed his hand on my cheek. "If you truly love him, then go to him. Once you hold on, don’t let go. Don’t thank me while thinking in your heart that you’ve failed me. Just remember that there was a man named Kumoer who also loved you, even if it might not compare to his. But since I’ve let you two be together, you must live happily for me. Remember that, Cang Cang?"

I nodded, and a large, hot tear fell onto the back of his hand. Holding his hand, I leaned against his shoulder, smiling through my tears. "Thank you…"

Kumoer patted my back lightly and sighed. "Have I been around Han people for too long? Why am I getting sentimental too?"

"Brother, Cang Cang, you two…" Minjia had returned at some point, gaping at Kumoer and me, then at Xiao Huan, who was still unconscious on the other side.

I quickly pushed Kumoer away, slightly embarrassed. "It’s not what you think…"

Kumoer shot her a glare. "Can’t you come back a little later, you brat?"

After all this commotion, Kumoer had the large tent partitioned into two sections, giving up a smaller space for Xiao Huan to rest and recover.

Precious medicinal ingredients like tiger bone and deer antler were abundant in the northeast, and Kumoer had them delivered continuously. Two days later, though Xiao Huan still hadn’t woken up, his breathing had grown steadier, and a healthy flush had returned beneath his skin.

I stayed by his side every day, as if making up for lost time. Gazing at his sleeping face, I found myself unable to look away for some reason.

That day, after feeding him his medicine, I was about to rest my head on the edge of the bed for a nap when I accidentally pressed against his hand.

Feeling his fingers twitch slightly beneath my cheek, I quickly moved away. For a moment, I didn’t understand what had happened. Then, after a dazed pause, I looked up and saw his eyelashes flutter as he frowned and opened his eyes.

I didn’t dare speak, staring at him intently.

He coughed lightly, his brows furrowing tighter. His deep eyes were slightly unfocused as he murmured weakly, "Too… bitter…"

I nodded. "Mr. Li prescribed this medicine for you. Of course it’s bitter."He coughed a few more times, then actually closed his eyes again, murmuring as if to himself, "Then I'd better keep being unconscious..."

I tightly grasped his hand, "No! If you dare go back to sleep, I'll cry right in front of you!"

Only then did he open his eyes again, "Cang Cang?"

That soft call had been absent for over a year. I pressed his hand against my cheek and smiled at him, "I've already cried several times these past few days while you were unconscious. If you want me to keep crying, then go ahead and sleep some more."

He still seemed unable to comprehend the scene before him, looking quite surprised, "You're here?"

"Yes, I'm here." I leaned down and gently kissed his thin lips, "Brother Xiao, you're finally awake. That's wonderful."

His deep eyes flickered with emotion before he finally smiled at me after a pause, "I'm alright, no need to worry... Empress."

I raised an eyebrow at him, "Haven't you realized yet? We're still in the Jurchen Camp, so you're not the emperor anymore, and I'm not the empress... You're just a male concubine." Even I thought my joke was a bit cruel and couldn't help laughing, "But I've already told Kumoer that from now on you're my exclusive male concubine—he's not allowed to compete with me for you!"

He froze again, this time finally recognizing my teasing, though he still looked incredulous. Turning his head aside, he coughed lightly, "In that case... I should thank my lady..."

His coughing made his breathing somewhat labored—I knew it was because the earlier poisoning had damaged his heart and lungs. Hurriedly, I helped him sit up halfway to lean against my shoulder.

Holding his body, I turned to lightly kiss his cheek and said with forced cheerfulness, "So we don't have to worry about identities like emperor or empress anymore. Let's just stay together like this forever, okay, Brother Xiao?"

But no matter how lightly I spoke, a silent tear still slipped from the corner of my eye. I wiped it away and turned to look at him, smiling as best I could, "Life is so short. I don't want to keep lying to myself anymore, or watch you leave while I can do nothing... Brother Xiao, is it too late that I'm only now daring to admit that the one I love most is still you?"

He simply looked at me silently, closing his eyes before opening them again. Pushing me away slightly, he leaned over to spit out mouthful of blood by the bedside.

Holding him, I gently stroked his back. Though his body felt warm, my heart was icy cold: For over a year, all that time, I had abandoned him without care or concern.

His slightly cool hand covered mine as he continued coughing lightly. Raising his head, he smiled at me, "Don't worry... it's just congested blood..."

I nodded, using a handkerchief to wipe the blood from his lips before helping him lean back against the headboard.

He smiled faintly, lowering his eyes as he released my hand. After seeming to consider his words carefully, he said, "Cang Cang... if you feel you owe me anything, I was only doing what I could... There's no need to dwell on it."

He still didn't believe me... I had always spoken so decisively before. I said I loved Xian Xue, I made a lifelong vow with Kumoer in front of him.

He says he was only doing what he could—but who would go so far in their efforts that they'd even sacrifice their own life?I smiled, took his hand, and gently placed it over my heart. Looking up at him, I said, "Have I never told you, Brother Xiao... if you were gone, I would follow you."

When I saw him lying unconscious, I truly understood everything—even though there were still so many unresolved matters between us: Master's death, Xian Xue's death, and his confrontation with my father.

But what did any of that matter? If he really had killed Master and Xian Xue, then I could accompany him after death to the endless hell, facing mountains of blades and seas of fire. Even if he and my father were destined for mutual destruction, I could still walk the path to the underworld with him.

I no longer sought peace of conscience, no longer sought freedom for myself. I only wanted to be with him, even if it meant being consumed by flames in an instant, doomed for eternity.

"I love you most..." I smiled at him, meeting his eyes openly for the first time since Master's death, no longer hiding anything. "Brother Xiao, this time, I won't just say it—I'll mean it."

After a long while, his body moved slightly, and for a moment, his expression seemed dazed. "Cang Cang..."

I smiled, leaned down to embrace him, and rested my head on his shoulder. "Don't doubt me anymore, okay? Brother Xiao... let's not be apart again." The surroundings were quiet, the wick of the oil lamp on the table crackling softly in the flame.

The arms around me gradually tightened, and Xiao Huan's voice, for the first time, sounded like a dream—ethereal and distant. "Alright, let's not be apart again."

Leaning against his chest, I suddenly remembered something and paused before asking, "Brother Xiao... when you first woke up, were you complaining about the bitterness? Are you still afraid of taking medicine?"

He coughed lightly a few times and gave a faint "Mm."

I knew it... Back when we traveled the Martial World together, he had once taken medicine in front of me. The expression on his face at that time—if the people in the Forbidden Palace had seen it, they would have been utterly stunned.

From then on, I knew that Xiao Yuncong, the flawless young hero who sometimes seemed like an immortal untouched by worldly affairs—now the wise and mighty Emperor of Wu—had one fatal weakness: he feared bitterness.

Thud, thud. The sound of a knife handle tapping against the tent suddenly echoed, followed by a familiar voice. "If you want to whisper sweet nothings, do it when you get home. This is still my territory."

I sat up and turned to see Kumoer standing at the tent entrance, arms crossed, smirking.

I casually picked up one of Xiao Huan's shoes and threw it at him. "Why do you have to ruin the moment?"

"Ruin it? I think I'm setting the mood perfectly," Kumoer said, grinning at Xiao Huan. "Women's vows can't be trusted... Xiao Bai, when I treated you, we already had skin-to-skin contact. I've seen and touched everything. You might as well just come with me."

Xiao Huan calmly looked at me. "Cang Cang, throw the other shoe at him too."

After resting and recuperating in Kumoer's camp for a few days, Xiao Huan finally improved somewhat.

After waking, he coughed up clotted blood twice. Though it seemed severe, it was actually a sign of gradual recovery. A few days later, aside from occasional coughing, he was much better.

That day, the four of us—Minjia, Kumoer, Xiao Huan, and I—sat in the tent, slicing venison and drinking wine.The roe deer was hunted by Minjia during her routine patrol outside the camp. With both sides having ceased hostilities these past few days and no battles to be fought, wild animals had begun roaming freely again.

As we chatted idly, Minjia suddenly spoke up: "Cang Cang, why don’t you stay and become my sister-in-law? I can tell you’re quite reluctant to part with my brother. That day when Xiao Bai was still unconscious, didn’t you hold him in your arms? If you stay as my sister-in-law, I’ll get to see you every day."

This girl really knew how to bring up the worst possible topics. I had only just managed to make Xiao Huan stop dwelling on the fact that Kumoer and I had once pledged ourselves to each other, and now she had to mention that !

"Holding Kumoer?" Xiao Huan, draped in a loose cape, was reclining on a nearby chair with a cup of wine. He swirled the cup lazily as he asked.

"Being my wife isn’t bad," Kumoer chimed in from his seat beside Xiao Huan, equally languid. "Xiao Bai absolutely refuses to stay with me—it breaks my heart. Keeping his wife by my side would at least ease the pain of longing."

" This is how you ease longing…" I twitched my lips, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

"If you put it that way, I’ll be the one heartbroken," Xiao Huan sighed, picking up Kumoer’s thread. "If not for the burden of the realm, I’d stay by your side forever too."

"Enough. Fate brought us together but denied us a shared future. Knowing you’d grieve for me is enough," Kumoer sighed as well.

Minjia looked between her brother, me, and Xiao Huan, then frowned. "Cang Cang, now I’m confused. Among the three of you, who actually likes whom?"

"That," I said, still grimacing between amusement and exasperation, "even the ghosts don’t know."

These past few evenings, Kumoer had taken to visiting Xiao Huan regularly. Each time, he would find some excuse to shoo me away, leaving the two of them alone for hours, whispering who-knew-what.

Whenever I asked, both would just smile mysteriously and exchange outrageously ambiguous remarks right in front of me. Had their act somehow become genuine? Did they actually harbor those kinds of feelings for each other? The thought alone gave me a headache.

Then my mind turned to the women back in the Forbidden Palace. Not returning would be one thing, but if I did, the struggle for dominance—no, the phoenix struggle—would resume. The road ahead was long, and if I wanted Xiao Huan all to myself, I’d have to fight even harder.

With that thought, I slammed my wine cup onto the table, rolled up my sleeves, and glared at Kumoer. "I’ve had enough! Let’s settle this fairly—if you win, Xiao Bai is yours. If I win, he’s mine!"

"You’re challenging me for a man?" Kumoer stared at me, half-shocked, half-amused. "Xiao Bai, this little girl really wants to fight me for you."

Xiao Huan snorted with laughter, and Kumoer burst into hearty guffaws.

I stared at them, baffled.

Minjia glanced between them and me. "Cang Cang, my brother and Xiao Bai don’t like men—only women. They’re just teasing you. Couldn’t you tell?"

I flushed slightly but stubbornly retorted, "What? Of course I knew… I was just joking too."

That only made Kumoer and Xiao Huan laugh harder.

Now I’d really embarrassed myself—played for a fool by these two old foxes.

No matter how pleasant the days were, farewell inevitably arrived.

Once Xiao Huan had recovered further, Kumoer notified Qi Chengliang inside Shanhai Pass to come and escort him back.I don't know what agreement he had made with Xiao Huan. It was most likely those long conversations they had in the tent that led to their mutual understanding.

After escorting us outside the main camp, Kumoer smiled and said to Xiao Huan, "Withdraw the troops in three days?"

Xiao Huan nodded. "The word of a monarch is not to be taken lightly."

Kumoer laughed. "I'll trust you this once."

Outside the Jurchen camp stood the imposing ranks of the Great Wu soldiers, all clad in black armor. At their forefront was a man draped in a red cloak, the crimson tassel on his helmet fluttering in the wind. Upon seeing Xiao Huan emerge, he dismounted and knelt on one knee. "Your subject Qi Chengliang welcomes Your Majesty’s return."

Amid the awe-inspiring and unyielding army, I quietly reached out and grasped Xiao Huan’s hand. He squeezed mine in return, then stepped forward with a smile. "Rise, Commander Qi."

Qi Chengliang thanked him and stood. A man of few words, he quickly signaled for two horses to be brought forward from the ranks. I glanced at the horses but still didn’t let go of Xiao Huan’s hand.

Understanding my intention, he smiled and said to Qi Chengliang, "One horse will suffice."

Once the horse was brought over, Xiao Huan mounted first, then extended his hand to me with a grin. "Satisfied?"

I took his hand and mounted behind him. Xiao Huan held the reins and gently nudged the horse’s sides, guiding it forward at a steady pace, with Qi Chengliang following closely.

Sitting sideways on the horse, I wrapped my arms around Xiao Huan’s waist and rested my head against his collar, whispering, "Brother Xiao, I’ve seen Qi Chengliang at my family home before. He’s my father’s disciple and often visited him."

He nodded with a smile. "I’m aware of that."

I hesitated for a moment before tightening my embrace around him.

Even though I had prepared myself, facing reality was an entirely different experience.

It’s almost laughable—I am, after all, the Empress of Great Wu. So why does it feel like the whole world opposes my being with Xiao Huan?

We had traveled quite a distance when I noticed Kumoer and Minjia hadn’t returned to camp but remained on horseback outside, watching us depart.

I tugged at Xiao Huan’s sleeve. "Great Wu and Kumoer… are planning to negotiate peace? What’s this about withdrawing troops?"

He chuckled, not hiding anything from me. "Yes, Kumoer has agreed to peace talks and is willing to continue acknowledging Great Wu’s sovereignty. However, he demands that the lands north of Shanhai Pass be recognized as the territory of the Chengjin Kingdom."

The war had drained both nations, leaving Kumoer temporarily unable to invade the Central Plains, while Great Wu would struggle to completely crush him. A temporary peace was not a bad outcome for either side.

As he spoke, Xiao Huan suddenly laughed. "Kumoer is quite something—he said he’d submit to me, but not to my son. He swore that once I die, he’ll raise his army again."

"Then you’ll just have to outlive him, both of you with long white beards," I teased, waving a final farewell to Kumoer and Minjia, whose figures were now barely visible.

Though a sense of melancholy lingered, I knew that no matter how magnificent the scenery beyond the pass, Great Wu was my true home.

Once inside the pass, Shi Yan stood before us, his weathered face betraying an uncharacteristic mix of sorrow and joy.

He stepped forward to bow, his hands trembling slightly. "Your Majesty."

Xiao Huan helped me dismount and smiled at him. "You’ve all worked hard these past days."

Shi Yan’s eyes reddened as he clasped his fists in silent emotion.

Xiao Huan gave him another smile before leading me up the steps into the building.

The complex at Shanhai Pass spanned dozens of acres, with numerous pavilions alongside the military barracks. For this visit, Xiao Huan’s temporary quarters had been arranged in a small tower at the heart of the fortress.I walked in with him. Upon entering, the room was carpeted with thick woolen rugs. At the center stood a golden lion-beast statue, half a person's height, from whose mouth curled a wisp of fragrant smoke—extremely delicate, yet carrying a cloying sweetness.

I found it slightly odd. Xiao Huan wasn’t particularly fond of incense, and if he did use any, it was always ambergris. This kind of heavily perfumed scent, so reminiscent of cosmetics, couldn’t possibly be to his liking.

Passing through the rosewood screen inlaid with black jade landscapes with Xiao Huan, we entered the inner chamber. Here too, everything was made of rosewood—the tables, the chairs. A crystal vase on the desk held freshly cut wintersweet branches, their subtle fragrance permeating the room.

As Xiao Huan sat down, a palace maid brought in a bowl of Pre-Qingming Longjing tea.

Since returning with him this time, I’d noticed that apart from Shi Yan, no one addressed me as "Her Majesty the Empress." Even when Qi Chengliang went to the Jurchen Camp to fetch Xiao Huan, he hadn’t mentioned me. And then there was the proclamation, which made no mention of the empress being held captive in enemy territory.

Waiting until the maid had left, I sat beside Xiao Huan, wrapped my arms around his waist, and smiled. "Brother Xiao, did you order the Imperial Bodyguard’s two battalions to suppress the news of my absence from the palace?"

He paused, then smiled as he held my shoulder. "Yes. I had the palace announce that the empress had fallen mildly ill and was recuperating... Whether you wish to return or not, news of your abduction would have been damaging."

Holding him, I didn’t know what to say. His considerations for me were always so thorough.

I looked up at him. From this angle, the steam from the tea drifted past his face, forming a hazy veil that obscured his features. Reaching through the mist, I looped my arms around his neck and rested my head on his shoulder. "Brother Xiao... No matter what, I just want to be with you."

He didn’t respond, only tightened his hold on my shoulder.

Shi Yan’s hesitant voice broke the silence from the doorway. "Your Majesty, someone requests an audience."

Xiao Huan nodded but didn’t remove his hand from my shoulder, so I stayed nestled against him, unmoving.

Shi Yan hesitated, then added, "It’s General Longwei."

"Spare me the formalities! Get out of my way!" A familiar, slightly hoarse voice suddenly rang out.

I quickly lifted my head. The young man standing at the door, clad in a black cloak, had sharp, handsome features, but his expression was laced with deep mockery and arrogance. It was my brother.

Shi Yan took a step back, his hand tightening on his sword hilt.

My brother smirked, a murderous glint gathering between his brows. "What, Commander Shi? Care to cross blades with me?"

"Shi Yan, you may leave," Xiao Huan said, releasing my shoulder and standing to greet my brother with a smile. "Jueding, it’s been a while."

Shi Yan bowed and left, closing the door behind him.

My brother sneered. "Don’t act so familiar. I don’t recall being that close with Your Majesty."

My brother had always preferred wandering the Martial World, rarely staying in the capital since his youth. Though he’d been given the honorary title of General Longwei in recent years and led our father’s retainers, he still spent most of his time traveling as a knight-errant. Back then, he and Xiao Huan had been close friends—they’d even shared wine jars on rooftops, drinking together until dawn.

Xiao Huan quirked his lips in a faint smile but said nothing.

My brother seemed unwilling to stay in the room a moment longer. He immediately stretched out his hand to me. "Cang Cang, come back to the capital with me."I stood up hesitantly and glanced at Xiao Huan. He smiled and said, "Cang Cang, it might be better for you to return to the capital first. I still have some matters to attend to here."

I realized that if he was still keeping my disappearance a secret, my staying here would indeed be inconvenient. Though reluctant, I nodded. "You've only just recovered a little. Don't push yourself too hard."

He smiled faintly and suddenly reached out to pull me into his embrace.

My body stiffened, and my face immediately flushed. This was the first time he had actively hugged me. After a moment's hesitation, I wrapped my arms around him too. His robes carried a faint, refreshing scent, like sunlight.

He whispered in my ear, "Don't worry. We'll see each other again soon."

I nodded. I should have been happy—he had hugged me on his own and reassured me that we'd meet again soon. Yet, for some reason, my eyes stung slightly.

He released me and nodded with a smile. "Take care, Cang Cang."

Xiaoshan had been standing with his head turned away, silent the entire time. Now, he grabbed my sleeve and turned to stride toward the door. At the threshold, he paused abruptly but didn't look back. "Xiao Huan, if I could, I'd kill you."

With those words, he pulled me straight out the door.

Xiaoshan had come prepared. A carriage was waiting not far away, and he helped me inside. After a moment of silence, he chuckled dryly. "When I got the news and rushed here from southern Yunnan, he had already gone to the Jurchen Camp to rescue you. In the end, it was still him who saved you."

I looked up at him. "Brother, I love him. I can't lie to myself. If he died, I would die too. When I held him, I couldn't think of anything else."

Xiaoshan gazed at me quietly, his eyes gradually deepening with sorrow. He reached out and ruffled my hair. "Silly girl, if you love him, then love him."

He didn't say much more. He had always teased me, calling me "silly girl," but just like Xiao Huan, he would rush to my side without hesitation when I was in danger. Even though he hadn't come to terms with our Master's death and still resented Xiao Huan, he told me, "If you love him, then love him."

I grinned at him and nodded firmly. "Okay."

Xiaoshan smiled faintly, withdrew his hand, and let the carriage curtain fall.

We traveled back to the capital in a single day.

By the time we arrived, the sky was pitch black. Xiaoshan showed his pass to the city guards, who opened the gates for us.

The carriage entered through the northern gate, passing Xuanwu Gate to take me into the palace. As we traveled along Xuanwu Avenue, we came close to the residence of the Chief Grand Secretary. Xiaoshan hesitated before asking, "Cang Cang, do you want to go home and see Father?"

I thought for a moment, then shook my head. "No."

"Cang Cang," he said after a long silence, "Father has missed you since you entered the palace."

I was quiet for a while before smiling. "I still won't go back."

Xiaoshan didn't press further and simply smiled. "I'll take you back to the palace."

The Forbidden Palace at night was even more secluded and silent. The city enforced a strict no-lights policy after dark, leaving everything shrouded in darkness. Xiaoshan carried a lantern and led me through Xuanwu Gate, past Shunzhen Gate, and through the Imperial Garden until we reached the front hall of the Palace of Gathered Elegance. Xiaoshan was already waiting there with the palace maids.

Since this was the inner palace, Xiaoshan couldn't enter further. "Get some rest early. I'll take my leave now," he said.

I nodded. "Are you going home?"My brother paused, then shook his head: "No, I'm still going to Yunnan."

He kept urging me to go home, yet here he was, not returning for years either.

I smiled and advised him, "Be careful on the road."

"You've really grown up, actually saying 'be careful' now." Suddenly, my brother pressed his hand on my head and ruffled my hair roughly. "If this little brat can take care of herself, I can rest easy."

Covering my head, I glared at him. "Who are you calling a little brat? A reckless boy pretending to be mature."

My brother chuckled again and left without another word. I watched as the dim palace lantern he carried disappeared behind the wall, soon out of sight.

"Little brat" and "reckless boy" were terms our father often used for me and my brother. Whenever he saw us doing something foolish, he would scold us with that mix of exasperation and affection.

Now that we've grown up—I'm the Empress, and my brother is the imperial-appointed General—would Father still call us that if he saw us?

Xiaoshan approached, overjoyed yet not daring to speak too loudly. "Miss, you're finally back! Was that the Young Master just now? When he heard you were missing, he rushed back to the capital from Yunnan without rest for days and nights, then immediately left for Shanhai Pass. Why didn’t he come in and rest before leaving?"

"Let’s talk inside." I noticed Jiao Yan hiding timidly behind Xiaoshan and walked over to pat her shoulder. "You’ve lost weight? Why haven’t you been eating properly at home? Come inside with us."

Jiao Yan nodded quickly, wiping tears from the corners of her eyes with her fingers, and followed us back to the rear hall.

Once inside, Jiao Yan knelt before me, her voice choked with emotion. "This servant knows her crimes are unforgivable... It’s so good that Her Majesty the Empress has returned. His Majesty told me he would surely bring you back, and I knew he would keep his word."

I took a sip of tea. Truthfully, I didn’t blame her at all. Ying was her master, and she was just an inexperienced young girl. That day must have terrified her too.

Smiling, I avoided mentioning the incident and asked instead, "Jiao Yan, didn’t you dislike the Emperor? Why are you calling him 'His Majesty' now?"

Jiao Yan blushed slightly and lowered her head. "I only realized later that His Majesty is very kind. Even though my master injured him, he didn’t kill her. When he saw how worried I was about Your Majesty, he assured me he would bring you back. He’s a good person, so gentle. I don’t hate him anymore."

This girl’s emotions were as simple as ever—coming and going as quickly as they pleased.

I smiled faintly, then thought of Xing Yiyong’s death and asked, "How did Consort De die?"

At this, Jiao Yan frowned. "That wicked woman? Her father was executed for treason, so of course she met a bad end. After Your Majesty left that day, the Imperial Bodyguards dragged her out. She begged His Majesty to forgive her, but when he remained silent, she took out a small knife and killed herself."

I sighed, recalling the almost tragic despair I had seen in Xing Yiyong’s eyes that day.I never hated Xing Yiyong to begin with. She was just another pitiable woman trapped within the Forbidden Palace, suffering through days of anguish while loving a husband who did not return her affection. Husband? The word gave me pause. Xiao Huan was my husband, but he was also the husband of every consort in the rear palace—Du Tingxin, Xing Yiyong, Wu Lianming, and all the others. It had never occurred to me to be with both Kumoer and Xiao Huan at the same time, but had Xiao Huan ever considered being with me while also being with his other consorts?

A faint rustling echoed in my heart.

I continued questioning Jiao Yan: "Earlier, you mentioned your Master injured His Majesty. How did it happen? Was it serious?"

Jiao Yan replied, "The moment Master saw His Majesty that day, he announced that the Empress had already been abducted. When they later crossed hands, His Majesty seemed distracted—Master said his techniques were all over the place. Then His Majesty was poisoned by Master's incense, though in the end, Master was still subdued by him."

"His Majesty's expression was terrifying then. I truly thought he would kill Master. But to my surprise, His Majesty let him go, saying that if Master wanted to kill someone, he should come for His Majesty himself—why involve the Empress?"

As she spoke, a puzzled look crossed Jiao Yan's face, as if she were still reliving that day. "After being injured by Master, His Majesty kept coughing. When he spoke, his face was frighteningly pale. I'd never imagined seeing such sorrow on a man's face... as though it would have been better if he were the one taken instead. So when His Majesty later swore he would rescue the Empress no matter what, I believed he would do it—even if it cost him his life."

So Xiao Huan had been poisoned even before leaving for Shanhai Pass. No wonder his condition had deteriorated so badly. The thought made me angry. "No wonder Mr. Li said he was being reckless. When he returns, I’ll give him a piece of my mind!"

Jiao Yan startled. "What did Your Majesty say?"

"Nothing," I quickly covered.

Nearby, Xiaoshan looked at me with concern. "Miss, the journey was dusty. Would you like to freshen up and rest?"

I agreed. "Alright." With that, I stopped speaking to Jiao Yan.

After returning to the capital, nothing but good news arrived from the front. The peace negotiations proceeded smoothly—Kumoer accepted the title of Bohai King conferred by Great Wu, and the Chengjin Kingdom submitted to Great Wu.

With the shadow of war lifted, joy spread throughout the Forbidden Palace. Rumors even circulated that the peace agreement came about because His Majesty had single-handedly stormed the enemy camp, awing Kumoer into swearing allegiance before his own tent.

I couldn't help but laugh at the thought. Storming the enemy camp alone was true enough, but it wasn't awe that did the trick—more like seduction.

Then came word that the army had begun its return march and would likely reach the Great Martial Gate by noon the next day. The entire court, both inner and outer, bustled with preparations for the triumphant reception.

As per tradition, a grand banquet would be held before the Hall of Supreme Harmony to honor the officials and generals. The palace eunuchs and female officials were all busy with arrangements. Xiaoshan, as both the head maid of the Palace of Gathered Elegance and the overseer of the Imperial Wardrobe, was especially swamped.

The Empress Dowager, unable to manage everything alone, dragged me out of my self-imposed seclusion—where I'd been feigning illness to sleep—to assist.

Sitting in the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility, I was soon approached by attendants reporting on the red silk needed to decorate the three main halls—how much was in stock, how much more to procure, and requesting my vermillion seal of approval to withdraw the required amount from the inner treasury.Soon, someone came to report that it was the menu for tomorrow's grand banquet for the Censor Officials, requesting Her Majesty the Empress's final approval.

Then another messenger arrived, saying the ceremonial music had been rehearsed before the Hall of Supreme Harmony and asking Her Majesty to come inspect it...

After such a day, by evening I could barely hold on. Pleading a headache, I retreated to the Palace of Gathered Elegance.

Having missed supper entirely, I collapsed onto the bed fully dressed, listening to the increasingly urgent northern winds outside the window as I drifted into a heavy half-sleep.

In the depths of slumber, a pair of slightly cold hands gently covered my face, and a familiar voice called softly by my ear: "Cang Cang."

I hurriedly opened my eyes. In the dim candlelight, Xiao Huan knelt by the bedside, smiling at me.

Without thinking, I grasped his hand: "Brother Xiao? Weren't you supposed to return tomorrow?"

He smiled: "The Emperor of Great Wu must arrive tomorrow. I came back tonight to see you first."

Only then did I notice he was wearing the black uniform of the Venom Battalion, his face bearing traces of travel dust—he must have disguised himself and rushed back nonstop.

I sat up and pulled him onto the bed. Though his hands were still somewhat cold, they felt much better than days before. "How's your health? Any improvement?" I asked.

He nodded with a smile: "After so many days of rest, I'm much better now."

"And that gives you license to ride through freezing winds?" I shot him a reproachful glance, then asked, "What about Kumoer and Minjia? Did they return to Jianzhou?"

He chuckled: "I knew you'd ask about them. They broke camp and left the day before our army's return." Pausing, he added with another smile: "That Kumoer... insisted I include Bai Chi Fan's deeds in the Imperial Edict rewarding him, saying it was because of this man that he agreed to peace talks."

I shook my head wistfully: "It seems Kumoer remains unable to forget Xiao Bai. He'll probably pine for him the rest of his life."

Xiao Huan looked torn between laughter and exasperation: "Since when did you start making such jokes?"

"Weren't you two quite happy making them yourselves?" I stuck out my tongue at him and squeezed his hand. "Brother Xiao, you must be hungry after rushing back. Let me have some food sent over, and warm a pot of Bamboo Leaf Green Wine." Smiling at him, I teased, "Well? Suddenly finding me quite the virtuous wife?"

He nodded, amused: "Just a little."

"What do you mean, 'a little'?" Laughing, I suddenly pulled him into a tight embrace, resting my head on his shoulder. "Brother Xiao... I'm so glad you came back to see me first."

He returned the embrace, gently patting my back without words.

His Cold Poison was under control now—the body I held was warm, unlike those previous days when no matter how many layers he wore, his frame always felt chilled beneath.

Yes, as long as he lived, as long as I could still hold him like this, why should I dwell on anything else?

Back in Kumoer's camp when he'd stopped breathing, when I'd held his icy form, I'd thought—if he could just speak one more word, smile one more time, I wouldn't mind dying right then. Now he was alive, his body warm. Why should I think of anything else?

Yet some invisible insect gnawed at my heart, its nibbling sound just beyond perception—I couldn't find it.

"Your Majesty!" Jiao Yan's startled cry came from the palace doors.I quickly looked up and saw her standing frozen at the door, hands covering her mouth. The gold-inlaid enamel tray she'd been holding clattered to the floor, sending the fragrant pears rolling everywhere.

She stammered, "A... a man..."

Amused, I hugged Xiao Huan tighter. "Yes, a man. Your mistress is committing adultery today. You can stand guard at the door for me."

Jiao Yan stood there wide-eyed, the poor girl completely terrified.

Xiao Huan took pity on her and turned to smile. "Jiao Yan, it's me."

Recognizing his voice, Jiao Yan took a few steps forward. When she saw Xiao Huan's face clearly, she immediately knelt. "It's Your Majesty! You frightened this servant half to death!"

I laughed. "It's just a man. Was that really so frightening?"

"That's not how it should be," Jiao Yan raised her head and argued earnestly with me. "Before, if Madam wanted to stray from the marriage, I would definitely have helped keep watch. But now I know how well His Majesty treats you. If my future sweetheart could treat me even half as well as His Majesty treats you, I'd be completely satisfied. So if Madam still wrongs His Majesty, how heartbroken he would be."

Jiao Yan had always been quick with words, and hearing these remarks made me click my tongue repeatedly. I turned to look at Xiao Huan: "What bewitchment have you been practicing? Even my own people have been won over by you?"

He smiled and said to Jiao Yan, "Rise. Thank you for worrying about me, but don't tell anyone you saw me here."

Jiao Yan's cheeks flushed like apples as she stood up and nodded vigorously. "Your Majesty can rest assured, this servant would rather die than speak of it."

I laughed again. "Silly girl, why bring death into it?" Then I instructed her, "Go tell the kitchen to prepare some qi-boosting and nourishing dishes—preferably light ones—and warm a pot of Bamboo Leaf Green Wine to bring over."

Jiao Yan went to carry out the orders, and soon the kitchen sent over several carefully prepared dishes, along with the warmed Bamboo Leaf Green Wine and a small stove.

Though he had improved a lot, Xiao Huan still coughed lightly a few times. I handed him the ginseng soup I had warmed and asked, "Brother Xiao, will you stay here tonight?"

He took the bowl and smiled. "I still need to return to the relay station."

"Why not just enter the city with the army tomorrow?" Having finally seen him again, I couldn't bear to part for even a moment. "Can't you leave the city again tomorrow morning? Must you rush back and forth?"

He smiled but didn't reply.

I knew that once he made a decision, he wouldn't explain much, and it was hard to change his mind. So I smiled and said, "Fine then, at least stay and eat with me."

In the end, he still left. Not long after the meal, he prepared to depart.

Silently, I followed him to the door and handed him the dark cloak he had worn when he arrived.

Standing at the foot of the steps, he smiled at me. "Cang Cang, the night wind is cold. Go back inside."

I smiled back at him. "Brother Xiao, see you tomorrow."

He smiled too, and his dark figure soon vanished into the pitch-black night.

I looked up. The sky over the Forbidden Palace in the twelfth month was overcast, devoid of starlight, and seemed somewhat eerie.

The rustling voice in my heart sounded twice, then disappeared.

At noon on the ninth day of the twelfth month in the eighth year of Virtuous Blessing, the Triumphant Army returned to the capital. They passed through the Great Martial Gate, crossed the moat, and wound their way into the Forbidden Palace via the Gate of Heavenly Succession.

After eighty-one ceremonial cannons fired outside the Meridian Gate, the emperor, clad in military attire, appeared on the Imperial Way astride a jet-black steed.

Civil and military officials lined both sides of the Imperial Way, performing the three kneelings and nine prostrations before joining the Triumphant Army to escort the imperial procession through the small gates on either side of the Meridian Gate into the city.

The imperial consorts waited inside the Golden Water Bridge. Spotting the emperor on horseback from afar, they all bowed.

While everyone kept their heads lowered, I secretly looked up, wanting to see how Xiao Huan looked in armor. Instead, I caught sight of a carriage passing through the side gate beside the Meridian Gate.

It was a pheasant carriage, reserved for imperial consorts. Being allowed to pass through the Meridian Gate without alighting was an exceptionally honorable privilege.

Suddenly, I realized that Imperial Noble Consort Du Tingxin was not among the welcoming party.

Not only that—in all the days since my return, I had never once seen her in the rear palace. She had accompanied the emperor on his campaign.I didn’t want to let my thoughts run wild, but they spun uncontrollably: Du Tingxin had accompanied the imperial procession on the campaign. She had been in Shanhai Pass the entire time—while Xiao Huan and I were in Kumoer’s tent, she was just a few miles away in the city. When we returned to Shanhai Pass, the cloying incense in that room was hers. When I went back to the inner palace, she was by Xiao Huan’s side as he negotiated the peace treaty with Kumoer. Last night, when Xiao Huan had been in such a hurry to return overnight, it was because she was still waiting for him in the army.

The rustling sound in my mind grew louder and louder, filling my ears completely.

The grand music of gongs and drums, the shouts of the eunuchs clearing the way—all of it faded beneath this sound. At last, I understood what that gnawing worm inside me was.

The concubines still hadn’t raised their heads, but I slowly straightened my posture. Xiao Huan rode his horse across the white marble bridge, approaching step by step.

Just as I had imagined, he looked just as striking in armor.

The midday sun shone down, casting a golden halo over the gilded armor and the warhorse clad in gold. At the center of that radiance, his features were clear, as though a celestial being were descending slowly from the clouds.

Gui Wuchang had been right—some people were born to be revered.

As the horse drew nearer, the young emperor’s face became clearer.

Yet I began to wonder—was this the same young man who had once smiled at me in the autumn breeze of Jiangnan? The one whose tenderness I had thought belonged only to me?

Xiao Huan’s dark eyes met mine. He saw my impropriety, but there was no surprise in his gaze. He didn’t smile either, only looked at me quietly, his expression carrying a faint gentleness.

Behind me knelt a sea of prostrate figures; behind him stretched another. As I gazed into his eyes, I suddenly felt as though he stood on the distant shore of some unknown river.