In late March, with willows shrouded in mist and hibiscus blooming along the paths, it was the most beautiful season of the year in the south. Yet Pei You’an and Jia Fu had no heart for the scenery. After leaving Quanzhou, they immediately headed north toward the capital.

Pei You’an was eager to return to the capital but worried that Jia Fu would not be able to endure the hardships of rapid travel. At first, he arranged their journey according to a normal schedule.

Jia Fu hadn’t seen her son for several months. Besides missing him deeply, she harbored secret worries, wishing she could grow wings and fly back. What did she fear about the hardships of the road? She kept urging them forward, and Pei You’an had no choice but to accelerate their pace.

Finally, on this day, the couple arrived at the capital. They went directly to the imperial palace to request an audience and successfully entered. The couple was led to Chengguang Hall, where the Emperor’s study was located. As they waited beneath the empty steps, they heard the sound of rapid footsteps from inside. Looking up, they saw Ci’er running out.

“Father! Mother!”

Ci’er stepped over the high threshold, his face bearing a joyful smile, and rushed toward them.

Jia Fu no longer cared about palace etiquette. She left Pei You’an’s side and ran forward, taking her son into her arms, holding him tightly, and kissing his forehead like falling raindrops.

Ci’er was delighted by his mother’s several kisses but stole a glance at his father. Seeing him gazing at him, he couldn’t help feeling slightly embarrassed. When his mother was about to kiss him again, he dodged a little and whispered in her ear, “Mother, Father is watching…”

Jia Fu suppressed the flood of emotions in her heart and turned to see her husband slowly walking toward them. Only then did she release her son.

Ci’er walked to Pei You’an, and as usual, was about to bow formally to him. Before he could kneel, Pei You’an extended his arms and drew him into an embrace, holding him tightly.

Not only Ci’er but also Jia Fu was somewhat surprised.

Pei You’an deeply loved his son—Jia Fu knew this—but in front of Ci’er, he had always been reserved and restrained.

Expressing his feelings for his son as he did today was something Jia Fu had never seen before.

Ci’er was held tightly in his father’s arms. At first, he seemed somewhat surprised, but gradually, a happy smile appeared on his face. Tentatively, he slowly extended his small arms and embraced his father’s neck. His little face rested against his father’s ear as he whispered, “Father, you’ve been away fighting bad people for so long. Ci’er and Mother have missed you very much…”

Pei You’an’s eyes reddened slightly, and he held his son even tighter, unwilling to let go for a long time.

“Master Pei, His Majesty says that Lady Zhen should take the Young Master to the Western Garden. Master Pei, please enter. His Majesty has something to say…” Cui Yinshui, who had followed from inside, had been standing to the side, carefully observing Pei You’an’s expression and speaking cautiously.

Jia Fu’s heart skipped a beat, and she glanced at her husband.

Pei You’an handed their son back to Jia Fu, exchanged a look with her, and said softly, “Take Ci’er first.”

He slowly exhaled, stepped forward, and went inside.

…

Xiao Lie no longer showed the vigor he once had when facing Pei You’an. Now he wore only a loosely draped outer robe, reclining on a couch, holding a memorial that he was reading.

Pei You’an knelt and performed the ritual greeting between sovereign and subject.

Xiao Lie told him to rise, slowly stepped down from the couch, and returned to his usual imperial seat. His eyes fixed on Pei You’an: “You’an, recently, the memorials We have received from ministers mention two matters most frequently. First is the great victory in the northern campaign. You decisively defeated the nomad cavalry and captured several royal members. Now the Xiongnu court intends to seek peace. In this war, your achievements are tremendous. Very good.”

Pei You’an spoke calmly: “It is thanks to Your Majesty’s boundless fortune. I merely did my duty and dare not claim credit.”

Xiao Lie smiled slightly, staring at Pei You’an before him: “The second matter is inquiring about the Great Wei’s successor.”

He threw the memorial in his hand, along with a stack placed at the corner of the table, in front of Pei You’an with a “slap.”

“Too many things have happened recently, and My former thoughts have changed. I originally intended to welcome Xiao Yu back, fulfilling My promise to the realm. Unfortunately, as you witnessed, that child has no interest in this and refused to return. I have taken notice of Ci’er and will cultivate him well. In the future, Ci’er will surely become a sage ruler of our Great Wei.”

“Tomorrow, I will have the Imperial Astronomers select an auspicious day. I will take Ci’er to worship at the ancestral temple, acknowledge his lineage, and establish him as the Imperial Grandson of our Great Wei.”

“You’an—”

Xiao Lie called his name, his eyes fixed on Pei You’an: “Your estrangement from Me originally stemmed from Xiao Yu. Now, regarding Xiao Yu, I have done My utmost. I ask you to concede one step—is that too much?”

He spoke each word deliberately.

Pei You’an stared at Xiao Lie, and Xiao Lie stared back, refusing to yield in the slightest.

Their gazes met.

“Your Majesty, you anticipated long ago that Yu’er would not return. When he willingly returned to the capital to accept execution, you already knew this. At that time, you did not kill him but imprisoned him on Golden Dragon Island. Forgive my presumption, but perhaps it was not out of Your Majesty’s mercy, but to use him as leverage against me in the future?”

Pei You’an’s expression no longer showed the anger of the past. His face was desolate, his tone calm.

A trace of discomfort flashed in Xiao Lie’s eyes, but it quickly disappeared.

He stared at Pei You’an: “I did indeed anticipate that Xiao Yu would not return. I will also tell you frankly that several years ago, I already considered establishing My grandson as the successor to the Great Wei. Unless you and your wife were unable to have a son during My lifetime, your son, even if he lacks the qualities to become a sage ruler, would surely be more than adequate as a ruler who maintains what has been established. Initially, I spared Xiao Yu indeed out of consideration for you. But today, My decision to establish Ci’er is no longer to pressure you! My resolve is firm and will not change! This child has exceptional qualities, the likes of which I have never seen in My life. If well-educated, he may indeed become a sage ruler in the future!”

Xiao Lie spoke with slight excitement in his eyes. He closed them briefly, slowly composed himself, and then opened them again.

“You’an!”

He called his name again, gazing deeply.

“That you and I cannot be father and son in this life is My misfortune, and I no longer insist. But having such a son is a blessing for the Great Wei and all the people under heaven. Why can you not set aside personal feelings and join hearts with Me? For our Great Wei, for the vast realm, let us work together to raise a sage ruler who will shine through the ages and be recorded in history?”

Pei You’an stood frozen, motionless.

…

Jia Fu took Ci’er back to Jiao Garden. While talking with her son, she forcibly suppressed the unease in her heart, anxiously waiting for Pei You’an’s return, somewhat distracted.

“Mother, that day I asked Grandfather Emperor what is meant by ‘the world under heaven,’ and Grandfather Emperor took me out of the palace. Grandfather Emperor said that in the future, he wants me to help him continue being Emperor. Mother, do you and Father agree?” Ci’er finally spoke of that day’s events, then looked at Jia Fu with wide eyes.

Although she had already prepared herself mentally, when she heard these words from her son’s mouth, Jia Fu felt as if all the blood in her body suddenly froze. Her chest tightened, and for a moment, she couldn’t breathe.

What it meant for Ci’er to become the heir to the Great Wei—she understood this all too well.

She stared at Ci’er’s face, speechless.

“Mother? Are you unhappy?”

Ci’er quickly noticed something unusual about his mother and looked at her with concern.

“Father and Mother, please don’t be angry. Ci’er will listen to you!” Ci’er hurriedly added, his arms tightly embracing Jia Fu’s neck.

Jia Fu gazed into her son’s still innocent, confused eyes. Suppressing the reluctance and heartache within, she shook her head: “Don’t worry, Ci’er. Mother isn’t unhappy…”

She said half of what she meant to say, but the rest remained stuck in her throat.

“Father!”

Ci’er suddenly called out.

Jia Fu abruptly turned her head to see that Pei You’an had somehow returned, standing outside the door, his eyes fixed on her and Ci’er, his figure motionless and silent.

Hearing Ci’er’s call, he seemed to finally come to his senses. He stepped over the threshold, walked in step by step, and stopped in front of Jia Fu and Ci’er.

He gazed at Ci’er for a long time, a slight smile gradually appearing on his lips. He reached out and gently stroked his head, then instructed Cui Yinshui to take Ci’er away to play.

With Cui Yinshui leading him, Ci’er left, looking back repeatedly.

Finally, only Jia Fu and he remained facing each other in the room.

His expression was somewhat bleak as he stared at Jia Fu, saying nothing.

Jia Fu and he looked at each other in silence for a long time. Eventually, she slowly walked toward him and asked in a trembling voice, “Elder Cousin, can nothing be changed at His Majesty’s end?”

Pei You’an said softly, “Fu’er, I’ve let you down…”

Jia Fu buried her face in his shoulder and closed her eyes, and tears slowly flowed out.

…

Three months later, in the sixth month of the seventh year of Zhaoping, the matter of imperial succession, which officials had speculated about for a long time, finally became clear after a long period of silence.

The Emperor took the child who had once stood with him on the Meridian Gate tower to worship at the ancestral temple.

The next day, the court announced the imperial edict: the Emperor had established that child as the Imperial Grandson, who would inherit the throne after his death.

At the same time, the Emperor issued another decree.

Pei You’an had rendered great service in the war against the nomads, showing unwavering loyalty to the court. Effective immediately, he was restored to his original position, with all previous titles reinstated. Additionally, he was appointed as the Imperial Tutor to the Imperial Grandson, tasked with the important responsibility of guiding and educating the Imperial Grandson from now on. He was expected to be diligent and not disappoint the Emperor’s expectations or the trust of the realm.

On this day, Jia Fu, who had returned to the Marquis’s mansion several days earlier, received a continuous stream of court ladies and wives who came to visit and congratulate her after the news spread quickly.

Lady Pei was at the prime of a woman’s beauty, at the peak of her loveliness. Her appearance showed no trace of the years spent in the harsh frontier. Compared to before, she had gained an additional air of dignity and grace. All who saw her praised her, either flattering her excessively or deliberately seeking her friendship. She maintained a smile, neither obsequious nor arrogant, dealing with people appropriately in all situations.

Late at night, Pei You’an returned to the mansion.

Several days earlier, when Jia Fu returned to the Wei Marquis’s mansion from the frontier, Ci’er had also moved out of Jiao Garden, where he had lived for a year and a half. Xiao Lie, fearing he might not adapt immediately, personally took him to reside in Chengguang Hall, overseeing all aspects of his daily life.

Tonight, Pei You’an had remained in the palace until now, finally returning to the mansion.

Candles were still burning in the room. Pei You’an pushed open the slightly ajar door and entered to find Jia Fu greeting him with a smile, helping him remove his clothes, and urging him to bathe. She did not mention Ci’er at all, as if nothing had happened.

Pei You’an emerged from the bath. Jia Fu had not yet gone to bed. She took a robe and personally helped him put it on, then bent down to tie the sash around his waist, saying, “Elder Cousin, I see you’ve lost weight recently. I’ve prepared a late-night snack for you. Wait, I’ll have someone bring it, and you can eat before sleeping.”

After saying this, she gave him a slight smile, turned, and hurriedly headed toward the door.

Pei You’an watched her back and could no longer contain himself. He stepped forward and tightly embraced her waist from behind, bending to kiss the top of her head, saying hoarsely, “Fu’er, I know you’ve been suffering these days. If you want to cry, go ahead. Don’t hold back in front of me.”

He turned her around to face him.

The smile disappeared from Jia Fu’s face. Her teeth tightly bit her lips, and her eyes gradually reddened.

“How has Ci’er been these past few days?”

Pei You’an gazed at her, his mind filled with the scene from tonight when he parted from his son. The boy had followed him closely, clutching his sleeve tightly, unwilling to let go, tears in his eyes as he asked if, although he couldn’t call them Father and Mother in public, he could still call them so in private. This man, who had endured hardships throughout his life, had witnessed countless court intrigues and had once been powerful enough to change the course of events, now couldn’t help but feel his eyes redden.

He forced back his tears: “The Emperor said he hopes Ci’er can become a sage ruler in the future. I do not have such expectations. But when Ci’er grows up, he should be able to become a competent ruler for the people under heaven. If so, then what we have lost today may not be without recompense.”

Jia Fu sobbed silently, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

Pei You’an picked her up and placed her on the bed, lying down beside her. He raised his hand to gently stroke his beloved wife’s soft, cloud-like hair: “Rest assured, although Ci’er is young, he is extremely sensible. In the future, I will freely enter and exit the palace. If you miss him, you may also enter the palace at any time.”

“Elder Cousin, when Ci’er grows up, will he resent us for having abandoned him like this?”

Jia Fu asked through teary eyes, her voice choked.

Pei You’an was silent for a moment, then smiled slightly: “To embrace the blue sky by ten thousand zhang, to weigh gain and loss within a square inch. When Ci’er grows up, he will have his thoughts.”

Jia Fu gazed at him.

Pei You’an’s face slowly drew near, and his lips gently kissed away the tears on her face, one by one, with infinite tenderness. Finally, he pulled her into his embrace, holding her tightly.