He Jianghe had just conquered the last island and was celebrating with his soldiers when he received a letter from the princess.
A drunken soldier loudly read the words on the letter, and the surroundings erupted in cheers. He Jianghe, seated at the head of the table, listened in a daze.
"The flowers by the road are blooming—you may return at your leisure."
Had his Little Princess missed him?
The words were straightforward and lively, lacking the subtlety of the original verse, but they made his heart race all the same.
At nearly thirty years old, had her heart finally opened to him?
"Marshal," a soldier beside him teased, "don’t get too excited. It’s just telling you to go back and see the flowers. We’ll be returning soon anyway."
"I’m not excited," he retorted stubbornly.
The soldiers glanced at his trembling hands and burst into laughter, quickly pouring him another drink.
As the wine slid down his throat, He Jianghe thought of his study.
He had filled it with stacks of paper. That day, Chang Le had entered for the first time, but she hadn’t looked toward the desk.
Had she glanced over, she would have seen that every sheet of rice paper covering the desk and chairs was scrawled with her name—overlapping in hasty, frantic strokes.
How long could love last? For some, half a month. For others, half a year. But there were those who could love for a lifetime, even after growing old and turning to dust, still longing to mingle with her in the end.
"Marshal, where are you going?" Shouts of surprise suddenly rose around him.
Brushing off the scent of alcohol, He Jianghe swung onto his Qilin mount. "To see the flowers. I’ll go ahead."
Before anyone could stop him, their marshal had vanished beyond the gates.
Chang Le sat in the courtyard, chin propped in her hand, belatedly realizing that the New Year was approaching.
Since their marriage, they had always spent the New Year together in the palace. Would she have to go alone this year? It felt unbearably lonely. Her younger brother had Hai Qing, her mother had the emperor—only she would be left with empty space beside her.
Her mother’s letter had claimed that planting these flowers would summon her consort. Impossible, she thought. Though those islands were sparsely populated and easily conquered, by her calculations, he wouldn’t return until after the New Year.
Pouting, Chang Le stood up and approached the Mandarin duck flowers, intending to vent her frustration by plucking them.
But just as she picked one, she heard the sound of rushing wind.
Setting the flower down, she looked up to see someone sprinting toward the princess’s residence, boots crunching through the snow.
His features bright, his gaze burning, he dismounted his Following Beast from afar and dashed toward her like the wind.
The icy winter air wrapped around her, followed by the warmth radiating through his clothes as he embraced her.
Chang Le’s eyes reddened. "How could a consort really grow from flowers…?"
He Jianghe, panting, held her tightly. "You’ve finally come around."
"Come around to what?" she asked, confused.
Without explaining, he lifted her and spun her around, then joyfully led her inside. "Come, let’s prepare for the New Year and go to the palace for the vigil."
"Alright!" Chang Le didn’t bother questioning further. Her husband was back—that was enough. Now she had someone to carry things for her.
Fireworks bloomed over the Palace City, one after another, filling half the night sky.
The main hall was laden with delicacies, bathed in brilliant light. Ji Mingchen carefully shielded Hai Qing, who was pregnant again, and glared at Chang Le. "Don’t let her drink."Chang Le pouted, "Only you would be so thoughtless, taking Hai Qing out for a stroll when she's with child, nearly getting her assassinated."
"I wouldn’t have taken her if I couldn’t protect her," Ji Mingchen quickly defended himself.
But it didn’t stop Mingyi from throwing a chopstick at his head. "Reckless!"
With a dramatic wail, Ji Mingchen slumped onto Hai Qing’s shoulder. "Mother hit me, wuwuwu..."
Hai Qing: "..."
Was this whining lump on her shoulder really the same fearsome emperor who ruled the court with an iron fist? Talk about a split personality.
This was her fourth pregnancy, so she was no stranger to it and didn’t consider herself fragile. Still, she didn’t want to bring it up during the family banquet, especially since the eldest princess and her husband still had no children. She didn’t want to upset them.
But as it turned out, neither the eldest princess, her husband, nor the retired emperor and empress seated above seemed bothered. To them, having children was just a personal choice, and they were all still young—there was no rush.
Gradually, she relaxed, patting the emperor’s shoulder as she joined in the laughter with everyone else.
The older princes and princesses circled around the retired emperor, who picked up one of the little ones and presented her to Mingyi like a treasure. "Would my lady like to hold her?"
Mingyi took the child. The little princess had round, curious eyes like black pearls, staring up at her.
"You’re so pretty," the little girl lisped.
Mingyi chuckled and handed her a gold ingot. Seeing this, two other children immediately tugged at her skirts. "Grandmother is peerless, the most beautiful in the world!"
Amid applause, Mingyi handed out ingots to each of them.
The children ran off to play with their newfound riches. Ji Bozhai glanced at the person beside him and slipped her an ingot as well.
Mingyi accepted it without a second thought.
He gave her New Year’s money every year, making her feel like a child again.
No one in the entire Azure Cloud Realm dared treat her as a child. She was a living legend, the prologue to an empire, the only Superior Fighter capable of restraining Ji Bozhai.
But by his side, she truly felt carefree.
Mingyi never imagined that a life once on the brink of ruin could lead to such a perfect ending.
Her gaze drifted downward, where He Jianghe had discreetly placed the Military Tally among the New Year’s gifts before settling beside Chang Le, his eyes shimmering as he watched her.
Chang Le chattered away with Hai Qing, none of her former timidity or insecurity remaining. She was still plump, but now radiated confidence and charm, a joy to behold.
Hai Qing cheerfully let Chang Le touch her belly and even tried to share some folk remedies. He Jianghe instantly intervened.
Chang Le’s health was delicate, and he didn’t want her risking pregnancy. A lifetime together was enough—they didn’t need a child to feel complete.
Fortunately, Chang Le didn’t envy Hai Qing. Everyone had their own path.
Fireworks burst overhead, and the palace residents gathered outside the grand hall, watching the sparks rain down like shooting stars, praying for another prosperous year.
Red lanterns stretched from the palace gates all the way into the city streets.
In this golden age, children—boys and girls alike—dashed through the alleys, their laughter ringing out. Firecrackers popped in open squares, while the aroma of New Year’s feasts wafted from homes. Even the candied hawthorn vendor, having made a tidy profit from the children’s New Year’s money, finally packed up to go home for dumplings.As long as one is alive, life holds endless possibilities. The sweetness and bitterness of life must be earned through one's own efforts. While the beginning may be destined by heaven, how one lives is determined by oneself. May everyone achieve their heart's desires and attain the ending they seek.
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