“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I have now reached my allotted years, and the Dragon returns to Heaven. The son of the Duke, Jing Xi (Wei Yi), is of noble character and moral virtue, possessing both filial piety and virtue, deeply resembling myself. He will surely be able to inherit the great succession. Let him succeed me and ascend the throne. All civil and military officials and the people of the realm shall follow this decree. Thus it is decreed.”

This final edict shocked all the ministers in the outer hall beyond measure.

Even Wei Yi and Ji Yunshu found it unbelievable.

How could the Emperor pass the throne to Wei Yi?

There must be great mystery in this.

Zhang Quan held the imperial decree before Wei Yi. “Prince Shun, receive the decree.”

Wei Yi hesitated and dared not accept!

Zhang Quan: “This is His Majesty’s great grace. Prince Shun, accept this favor.”

He wavered indecisively, feeling even more apprehensive in his heart.

But in the end, he still accepted that imperial decree.

He kowtowed in thanks: “Thank… Your Majesty.”

He kept his head lowered to the ground, his forehead touching the icy cold floor, not rising for a long time.

Perhaps only that bone-chilling cold sensation could make him somewhat clearheaded.

To know that all of this… was real!

The next day, atop the palace tower.

Jingrong and Wei Yi stood above, the two looking at the palace with its red walls and green tiles below, and the prosperous capital city, silent for a long while.

Until a white dove landed on the ramparts, finally breaking the current silence.

“Why?” Wei Yi finally spoke to ask.

Jingrong’s expression was calm: “If the heart is not here, where is the realm? If I took this empire, it would fall sooner or later.”

Hearing this, Wei Yi furrowed his brow slightly, looking at everything below that was about to belong to him, and asked again: “But are you willing to give this empire to me?”

“It’s not giving—this realm should have been yours all along.” He emphasized.

Hm?

Wei Yi looked at him, wanting to know why. Jingrong spoke with some regret: “I promised you that atop Mount Ji I would spare Duke Yuguo’s life, but in the end, I killed him with my own hands. To you, I feel guilty. But it’s not because of this that I chose to let you succeed to the throne—it’s because being emperor requires a heart, a heart that loves and cares for all the subjects under heaven. Just on this point alone, no one can match you.”

“You truly trust me?”

“If I didn’t trust you, I wouldn’t be doing this.”

Wei Yi fell silent.

Jingrong: “Wei Yi, some things that should be yours are destined to be yours. You should accept them.”

“…”

He took a deep breath, looking down at the prosperous capital city.

Countless struggles played out in his heart.

Finally—

“Alright, I accept this imperial grace.”

The gray dove on the ramparts cooed several times, flapped its wings, and flew away…

In the twenty-first year of Emperor Qizhen’s reign, he passed away!

In March of the same year, Wei Yi ascended the throne, changing the era name to Chengxuan.

Three days after Wei Yi’s ascension, Muruo prepared to leave the capital with Tang Si.

Yuhua Pavilion.

“Slow down, these things are all very important.” Tang Si stood with hands on hips directing the young attendants, quite displaying the bearing of a proprietress.

The young attendants worked without complaint.

Who could blame their master’s wife for being pregnant—she couldn’t be scolded or struck!

Muruo walked over, speaking gently, “You’re pregnant now, don’t lose your temper at every turn.”

Tang Si nodded obediently, linking her arm with his, saying: “I know.”

“You know? You know and yet you still secretly drink alcohol?”

“When did I drink?”

“Still trying to argue—last night I found an empty wine bottle under the bed.”

“I…”

“How many times have I told you, you can’t drink while pregnant. The child will be born stupid. What would we do if they turn out like you?”

…

The two bickered back and forth with great relish.

They happened to be caught in the act by Jingrong and Ji Yunshu who had come to see them off.

“You’re about to be parents, how can you still quarrel every day?” Jingrong patted Muruo’s shoulder. “And you really are something—your temperament is still the same as before. Don’t you know to change a bit? Yielding to your wife won’t make you lose any flesh.”

“Oh my, listen to what you’re saying. I’m not like you, only concerned with having a beauty in your arms.” Muruo deliberately teased.

This made Ji Yunshu feel quite embarrassed.

Tang Si asked playfully, “By the way, you two… when are you getting married?”

This…

Jingrong answered magnanimously, “That depends on when a certain someone is willing to marry me.”

The certain someone rolled her eyes at him.

Provoking a laugh.

Afterward, Jingrong pulled Muruo aside, saying, “News came from Lingzhou—Jing Xian… is dead. At the time, he had just arrived in Lingzhou.”

Eh!

Muruo was shocked.

“He took medicine for many years, his body broke down. He couldn’t hold on until reaching Lingzhou.”

Muruo sighed. “Perhaps… that’s also a kind of release.” He felt uncomfortable in his heart and didn’t want to bring up the matter again, so he changed the subject. “Your temperament is carefree—I imagine you won’t stay in the capital too long either. If you want to choose a good place, come find me in Houliao.”

“There will be such a day.”

“Then I’ll wait for you.”

Time was getting late. Muruo and Tang Si boarded their carriage. Though reluctant to part, with firm hearts, they believed they would meet again one day.

After Jingrong and Ji Yunshu saw the two off outside the capital, they went to a place.

It was a plum blossom forest.

Plum blossoms drifted amid the white snow. Looking out, one seemed unable to see the end.

Being within it was like being in a fairyland.

Petals fell on Ji Yunshu’s head, adding several touches of beauty. On her delicate, refined face, a faint smile played as she wandered through this plum blossom forest, like a vivid painting come to life.

Jingrong stared at her, entranced.

Ji Yunshu paid no attention to his gaze, instead wondering in her heart—how was it that she didn’t know the capital had such a fine piece of land?

She asked, “When did the capital have such a plum blossom forest?”

Jingrong’s gaze was tender: “I planted this for you.”

“Planted for me?” She looked at the extremely handsome man before her in puzzlement.

“A year ago when we entered the capital, I ordered people to plant this plum forest. Plant the cause, reap the fruit—now the plum blossoms are in full bloom. I should bring you to see them.”

Her heart trembled, deeply moved.

Her eyes instantly reddened slightly.

A smile spread across Jingrong’s lips. He reached out and pulled her to his chest.

She pressed her lips together, raising her deep eyes to look at him. The man’s gentle yet profound gaze made her entire body soften, as if her chest were wrapped with a smooth silk ribbon, smoothing away all the unease and tension in her heart.

“Yunshu, I’ve been waiting all along. Finally, I’ve waited for this day.” His heart was filled with joy.

She also spoke sincerely: “Gray-haired, never parting; through life and death, following each other.”

Their four eyes met, eternally intertwined.

Jingrong reached out to hook her delicate chin, lifting it slightly, then bent down. His thin lips fell upon her crimson lips, extremely gentle.

Around them plum blossoms fell, mixed with white snow, scattering on the two of them.

Jingrong, if this is a dream, I hope to never wake up.

…

The Imperial Palace.

Wei Yi, dressed in dragon robes, stood in the pavilion of the Imperial Garden. The entire courtyard’s winter flowers bloomed extremely brilliantly—colorful, competing to bloom, adding some vitality to this cold Forbidden City.

He walked to a plum blossom tree and reached out to break off a branch.

The flowers bloomed brilliantly!

He quite liked them too.

But—

The just-broken plum blossom still fell from his hand, lightly striking the ground.

When the wind blew, it scattered several petals.

He laughed lightly, drawing the sword worn at a guard’s waist.

The guard immediately knelt on the ground.

And a young eunuch, worried he might hurt himself, quickly stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, this sword is very sharp. Please don’t injure yourself.”

He didn’t listen, gripping that long sword tightly. Its silver light shone like a torch, reflecting a piercing cold gleam that gradually penetrated into his eyes.

His clean, clear eyes now gradually darkened.

He held the long sword and fiercely thrust it into the ground.

With considerable force.

The blade entered the earth, standing straight up in the ground!

Facing the white snow as it stood.

(First Map Complete)