Focus… focus! Even until her death, she believed he didn’t truly love her. She thought he cherished her only because her face bore some resemblance to the Grand Princess. Li Huailin clenched his fists, his whole body trembling uncontrollably.
If only… if only he had confessed his feelings earlier, would she not have taken her own life? Or perhaps, if he hadn’t sent her to the other estate, would there have been a chance to save her?
Jiang Xuanjin was right; it seemed he had never done anything correctly. One wrong step led to another. His imperial sister left him, Ning Wanwei left him, and his current predicament was all his own doing.
Is it too late for regret now? He would give up everything to have her wake up.
With a lump in his throat, Li Huailin gently lifted her body, just as she had tenderly done for him countless times. He took her hand and turned to carry her on his back.
“Your Majesty!” Han Gu exclaimed in shock. “What are you doing? Put the Empress down!”
Li Huailin seemed not to hear. He carried Ning Wanwei on his back and said hoarsely, “I want to take her back to the palace.”
He had built the He Xi Palace for her; it was her place, and she needed to return there.
“Walk back?” Jiang Xuanjin spoke coldly.
Li Huailin’s body stiffened. He turned his head, his eyes filled with complex emotions. After a moment of serious thought, he said, “I will issue an edict to abdicate in favor of my imperial sister’s son.”
Jiang Xuanjin raised an eyebrow and looked at him.
Li Huailin’s eyes were dull, his face ashen like a corpse. It seemed he had lost all hope. He murmured, “As long as you take us back to He Xi Palace, I will do everything that needs to be done.”
Jiang Xuanjin had intended to imprison Li Huailin, as he was responsible for the chaos in the realm and the many hardships in his own life. But hearing this, he paused, clutching his sleeve, and began to think carefully.
Li Huaiyu had been anxiously waiting in her room after breakfast, glancing eagerly at the door. After half an hour, Jiang Xuanjin returned. She quickly averted her gaze and casually asked, “How did it go?”
Jiang Xuanjin entered, removed his outer robe with disdain, and tossed it outside. Wearing only his inner garments, he pushed aside the beaded curtain and walked into the inner chamber. “The Emperor is settled at the other estate. In two days, we will return to the capital together.”
Huaiyu got up and followed him, grabbing the swaying curtain and poking her head inside. “Are we going to the capital too?”
“After all, the capital is the nation’s capital.” With his hand on his belt, Jiang Xuanjin turned his head. “I need to change and bathe. Can you give me some privacy?”
“No!” she replied quickly and loudly, raising her chin. “Is there any part of you I haven’t seen?”
Chengxu, who was about to enter with a bucket of water, paused at her words and turned to leave immediately.
“Stop.” Jiang Xuanjin gritted his teeth and called him back. “The water.”
The estate was filled with the stench of death, and while other matters could be ignored, bathing was essential.
“Yes.” Chengxu braced himself, pretending he hadn’t heard anything, and brought the water inside, pouring it into the tub behind the screen.
Li Huaiyu rested her chin in her hands, forming a flower shape, and watched Jiang Xuanjin remove his inner garments, unable to suppress a “tsk” sound.
The man before her twitched his eyelids and turned his head. “I saw Miss Xu and Chijin arguing when I came in. Do you want to check it out?”
“No.”
“Lu Jingxing got a new treasure and hid it in his tavern. Do you want to steal it?”
“No.”
Taking a deep breath, Jiang Xuanjin asked, “Then what do you want to do?”
With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Huaiyu looked at him and mouthed each word: “Watch you bathe!”
“……”
Chengxu, facing away from her while pouring water, didn’t see what she was saying. Only Jiang Xuanjin, facing her, turned red, then green, then blue, utterly embarrassed.
“Master, the water is ready.” Chengxu tested the temperature, then bowed his head and left, closing the door behind him.
Hearing the door latch, Li Huaiyu let out a playful “ow” and lunged at Jiang Xuanjin, reaching to undo the ties of his inner garment and pulling it off his shoulders.
Jiang Xuanjin was slightly annoyed. “Being a rogue?”
“You can bully me with the lights on, but I can’t bully you in broad daylight?” She ran her hand over his firm shoulder, feeling its hardness, and couldn’t resist poking it. She whispered in admiration, “So solid.”
His ears turned red, and Jiang Xuanjin swatted her hand away, turning her around by the shoulders. Then he removed the last of his clothing and stepped into the tub.
“Hey, hey, hey!” Huaiyu quickly turned back, but it was too late. Water splashed, steam rose, and only his slightly flushed face remained above the water, his jaw tense, lips tightly pressed.
Unable to hold back, Huaiyu burst into laughter, clutching the edge of the tub. “We’ve been married for so long, what are you embarrassed about?”
“Do not look at what is improper.” Jiang Xuanjin gritted his teeth, forcing each word out.
“That might work on others, but what’s the use with a rogue?” Li Huaiyu rolled up her sleeves, picked up the soap, and began rubbing it on his back. “Come on, let me help you wash.”
“The Jiang family rules forbid women from assisting in bathing!”
“I know, I know. Come on, lift your arm.”
“This is debauchery!”
“Yes, yes, that’s right. Now, the other arm.”
“Li Huaiyu!”
Water splashed as Jiang Xuanjin shouted, “Are you even listening to me?”
Giggling as she rubbed soap on his hand, Huaiyu leaned down and pecked his cheek. “Your voice is so nice. How could I not listen? Even when you’re not speaking, I love your voice.”
The first part was serious, but the latter? What sound could there be when he’s not speaking? He shot her a cold glance, about to scold her, when he remembered something.
Red curtains, passionate nights, someone unable to control themselves, groaning softly in her ear.
Jiang Xuanjin: “……”
“Hey, why is your face so red while you’re bathing?” Li Huaiyu asked innocently. “Is the water too hot?”
Covering his eyes with his hand, he murmured, “Yesterday was my fault. After a long separation, I lost control.”
Being with a smart person is great. She hadn’t even said anything, and he already realized she was getting back at him for teasing her yesterday. Grinning, Li Huaiyu patted his chest generously. “I forgive you.”
“Then?” He glanced at her mischievous hand, then at her, pursing his lips to indicate: shouldn’t she let him go now?
“You’re too late with that.” Huaiyu continued to pat him regretfully. “If you’d said it earlier, I would have left. But now that I’ve touched you, I can’t move my hand. Look at this, skin like jade, irresistible…”
Chengxu stood guard at the door, suddenly hearing a splash from inside, followed by the lady’s tinkling laughter: “Hahaha—”
Can bathing be so joyful? Chengxu couldn’t understand.
As the steam dissipated, Li Huaiyu wrapped a large towel around him, carefully drying him off. Then she fetched a clean robe and helped him dress.
Jiang Xuanjin sat silently on the soft couch, letting her rub his damp hair.
“Thank you.” She looked at the back of his head with a smile, her tone suddenly serious. “I thought I’d never get to see Huailin again.”
Jiang Xuanjin paused, his expression softening. “You miss him?”
“How could I not? I raised him.” Huaiyu earnestly rubbed his hair. “I changed his diapers when he was little. His first word was ‘Imperial Sister.’ Every year on my birthday, he’d make me a little gift, like wood carvings or knotted strings. One year, he even gave me a pair of clay figures, saying the big one was you and the small one was me. It made me so happy.”
“……?”
“Don’t give me that look. I liked you back then, and he knew it. He knew and gave me something I’d like. You know, they were quite lifelike. I kept them in Feiyun Palace. When I went there with you last time, they were still on the shelf.”
Her hand slowed, and Huaiyu sighed softly. “If Li Shan weren’t his father, maybe I’d still be sitting in Feiyun Palace, watching the flourishing Northern Wei under his rule.”
But alas, there are no “ifs.”
Jiang Xuanjin asked quietly, “Do you want him to remain on the throne?”
Li Huaiyu shook her head. “It’s not about what I want. The fact is, he’s not fit to be a ruler. The Li royal family is likely finished.”
She used to be stubborn and determined to protect the throne left by her father at all costs. But after everything she’d been through and learning a bit of righteousness from Jiang Xuanjin, Huaiyu now felt it didn’t matter who sat on the throne, as long as the people of Northern Wei could live in peace. What did it matter if the royal surname was Zhao?
Seeing the admiration in his eyes, Jiang Xuanjin pulled her into his arms. “When we return to the capital, you’ll see many familiar faces.”
She twirled his half-dry hair, raising an eyebrow. “Is everyone going back?”
Thinking for a moment, her expression turned serious. “Is your family also returning to the capital?”
“Why?” Jiang Xuanjin asked. “Are you afraid?”
“Ridiculous, what do I have to fear?” Huaiyu pouted. “It’s just… they don’t know about the little troublemaker and little rascal I gave birth to. When they find out, they won’t try to take them from me, will they?”
“Who could take them from you?” Jiang Xuanjin chuckled. “The Little Overlord of Chang’an, ruler of the marketplace.”
That was a slogan Qingxian often shouted during the campaign. Whenever he saw her worried, he’d shout it to reassure her. Over time, it spread throughout the Ziyang Army.
Li Huaiyu’s mouth twitched. “I think they’re itching for a beating.”
“It’s great, very spirited,” Jiang Xuanjin said seriously. “When marching, shouting it keeps everyone motivated.”
She raised her fist to punch his shoulder, but Jiang Xuanjin caught it, whispering, “I’m here.”
With me here, you have nothing to fear.
Startled, Huaiyu blinked, looking at his confident expression, her heart suddenly softening.
Yes, she was now someone with protection. Even if the sky fell, he would hold it up! What was she worried about? Smiling, Huaiyu kissed his hand. “Thank you for taking care of me, my lord!”
“You’re welcome, Your Highness.” He squinted, pinching her chin and leaning down to return the favor with a deep kiss.
…
Liu Yunlie fled towards Fodu Pass, keeping an eye on the surrounding area. If Jiang Xuanjin approached, he planned to retreat further into Xiliang. However, there was no movement, and by the time he learned Jiang Xuanjin had withdrawn his troops, a month had passed.
The capital was guarded by the Changlin Army. Li Huaiyu expected some trouble upon their arrival, but surprisingly, there was no obstruction. As their carriage entered the city, the people lined the streets, cheering.
“The Lord of Ziyang has returned! The Lord of Ziyang has returned!”
“The Lord’s military prowess is unmatched!”
“Has the Princess of Danyang returned too?”
Hearing the discussions, Li Huaiyu smiled proudly, but the last question startled her, and she instinctively ducked back inside.
“What are you doing?” Jiang Xuanjin glanced at her.
Huaiyu clutched her head, muttering, “I’m afraid they’ll throw eggs at me!”
Jiang Xuanjin rolled his eyes. “Do you think it’s still the eighth year of Daxing?”
In the eighth year of Daxing, the Princess of Danyang passed away, and the world rejoiced. But by the end of that year, as war broke out in the ninth year, her name was cleared. With the rise of Yixian City and the Danyang Army’s achievements against Xiliang, no one called her a scourge anymore.
Huaiyu paused, hesitantly lifting a corner of the curtain.
The people on the street were smiling, with no hostile expressions. When they mentioned the Princess of Danyang, they said, “After so many years of injustice, her name is finally cleared. I heard she came back to life, but who knows if it’s true.”
“Probably false. How could the dead come back to life? She must have been clever, knowing she was framed, and faked her death.”
“The Princess of Danyang is amazing!”
Unlike the curses of the past, Huaiyu listened, blinking, her smile slowly widening.
“They’re praising me!” She turned back, her eyes shining.
Jiang Xuanjin nodded. “It’s the truth.”
Feeling elated, Li Huaiyu asked, “Then tell me, what am I good at?”
Most people would modestly say “I don’t deserve it” or “You’re too kind” when praised. But not her. She wanted more compliments. Jiang Xuanjin shook his head, expressionless. “I won’t comment on other things, but there’s one thing you’re truly good at.”
“What?” Huaiyu cupped her hands, looking at him expectantly.
The man in the carriage adjusted his sleeves, speaking objectively, “Becoming the wife of the Lord of Ziyang.”
Li Huaiyu: “……”
They say couples grow more alike over time. If nothing else, his thick skin was certainly becoming more like hers.
The long procession stretched for half a mile. In the middle, one carriage was particularly odd. A long platform with six wooden wheels carried something resembling a coffin, covered by curtains that swayed in the wind, emitting a strange odor.