One year after Chengxuan, Wei Yi abdicated.

On this day, the sovereign ascended the throne, imperial grace was boundless, and amnesty was granted throughout the realm!

With the new emperor’s first rain, the entire capital, both inside and outside, was in an uproar.

Everyone anticipated the new emperor’s ascension, welcoming the prosperous glory of Da Lin.

At this moment, in the rear courtyard of Prince Rong’s estate.

Clear rain slid down from the layered tiles like strings of silver pearls, falling to the ground with a sound.

Jingrong stood with his hands clasped behind his back beneath the eaves, rainwater splashing onto his clean robes, creating circle after circle of spreading stains, like a landscape painting.

His gaze lingered for a long time on the distance, looking toward the direction of the imperial palace.

After an unknown length of time, the clear rain suddenly slowed, the fine drizzle like thick fog making the distant scenery increasingly blurred.

At this moment, the new emperor should be nearly at the Golden Throne Hall!

From the moment the palace bells began to ring, he had been standing here for nearly two hours.

Ji Yunshu silently walked to his side and extended her palm to catch a few drops of rain falling from the eaves.

The rainwater fell into her palm, carrying a coolness.

At the end of November, winter had already begun.

Two years’ time, experiencing three winters.

And within these two years, inside the imperial family there had been treacherous currents and waves, stirred by the struggle for power until bloodstains covered everything.

Court officials replaced, ambitions inflated, wild winds within the palace sweeping wantonly.

From Qi Zhen to today’s new emperor, one dynasty after another—who knew whether this very day could finally draw a perfect conclusion to everything?

Ji Yunshu looked at the rainwater in her palm, those drops of rain like dancing sprites, light and joyful.

After a long while—

She turned her head to ask him, “Do you regret it?”

Jingrong’s handsome face was very calm. He slightly curved those beautiful eyes, the corners of his mouth smiling: “Now, there’s no point in talking about regret.”

Indeed!

He had already made his decision.

Ji Yunshu understood his meaning.

So she asked no more.

Jingrong extended his hand toward Ji Yunshu’s palm that was catching rain, their ten fingers interlocking.

The ice-cold rainwater was caught between their palms, slowly seeping into each other’s lines, flowing wildly along with their burning blood.

The two smiled at each other!

At this moment, from the direction of the palace, the bell sound came again.

The rain also gradually stopped…

Inside the palace, red carpet was laid all across the area outside the Golden Throne Hall.

All the ministers knelt on both sides.

Welcoming the new emperor!

Just a few days ago, after Commander Xiao finished reading aloud the late emperor’s posthumous edict, Jingrong, who should have donned the dragon robe, announced his abdication the very next day, yielding the throne to Jing Cheng, the only grandson of the Marquis of Dingbei.

A child merely eight years old!

The Marquis of Dingbei’s line was also of the imperial family, and this line had only the eight-year-old Jing Cheng remaining.

When Jingrong made such a decision, the ministers in court seemed unsurprised, because after experiencing so much, everyone knew that Jingrong was like a bird in flight, simply not belonging to the cold place that was the imperial palace. What he wanted was the vast sky outside.

What he wanted was to roam the rivers and lakes freely with Ji Yunshu.

Eight-year-old Jing Cheng wore a dragon robe, seeming not yet accustomed to all of this, his eyes more or less carrying some timidity and nervousness.

Shang Zhuo, who had already become the Grand Tutor, led him by the hand all the way from the Divine Light Gate to outside the Golden Throne Hall.

When stepping onto that red carpet, Jing Cheng looked around and actually dared not walk any further, remaining in place as he looked at all the civil and military officials of the court.

Shang Zhuo lowered his eyes and gently called: “Your Majesty?”

Jing Cheng remained motionless, appearing stage-frightened.

Shang Zhuo said, “Your Majesty, don’t be afraid. This humble minister will hold your hand.”

His voice was extremely gentle!

The young emperor still refused to walk, and even stepped back slightly.

Some ministers raised their heads to look over, exchanging glances with one another.

Shang Zhuo really had no other option. He crouched down and said: “Your Majesty, shall this humble minister carry you?”

Jing Cheng’s large eyes turned, thought for a moment, then finally nodded.

Shang Zhuo then picked him up and headed toward the Golden Throne Hall.

The young emperor entered the hall and sat upon that dragon throne that was taller than he was.

The new emperor ascended the throne!

All the civil and military officials of the court kowtowed: “Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live!”

The sound resonated throughout the entire palace.

Rippling outward for a long time!

This year was the first year of Dehao.

Several days later, at the Embroidery Bureau.

Several eunuchs hurried to the entrance.

Upon seeing them, Nanny Jiang quickly came up to ask: “What are you doing here?”

“We’re under orders to take that Second Miss Ji somewhere.”

“This…”

Ji Wanxin seemed to have already guessed. From the day Wei Yi abdicated, she had been waiting, waiting for a certain someone to come see her.

Now, she had finally waited for it.

She said to those several eunuchs: “Could you wait for me the time of one incense stick?”

“I’m afraid…” They were in difficulty.

“I won’t run.”

The eunuch thought for a moment: “All right then, just the time of one incense stick.”

“Thank you, honorable sirs.”

She returned to her room and changed into a different outfit.

Plain white clothing!

This was… white mourning garments!

The eunuchs were extremely surprised, but in order not to delay time, they didn’t inquire further and took her away.

All along this journey, they went to a relatively quiet place in the palace.

It was a courtyard devoid of human presence.

Very much like the Cold Palace.

Also like a prison.

“Go in.” The eunuch pushed open the door.

Ji Wanxin stepped inside and smelled the fragrance of tea coming from within the room, rushing forth, refreshing to the heart!

After entering, standing before her was a fabric screen embroidered with phoenixes.

Faintly, she could see someone seated on the floor on the other side of the screen.

She paused for a while before walking around the screen in front of her and going inside!

At this moment, Ji Yunshu was sitting cross-legged on the mat, holding an exquisite teapot in her hand, leisurely and contentedly brewing tea.

She knew someone had entered, but didn’t even glance at Ji Wanxin.

She opened her lips to say: “Sit.”

Her voice was very light.

No emotion could be heard in it.

Ji Wanxin also obediently sat down across from her.

When Ji Yunshu raised her eyes, she finally saw that she wore plain white clothing, and gave a light laugh.

But in the end said nothing.

She only poured two cups of tea, pushed one of them before her, and said: “Try it. It’s your favorite tea. These tea leaves were also brought from Jinjiang.”

Ji Wanxin hesitated for a while, the corners of her mouth smiling slightly, then held the tea and took a sip.

She praised: “Your tea-brewing skill has gotten better and better.”

Ji Yunshu said: “Oh? Really? Actually, it’s still the same as before.”

“Everyone progresses—how could it be the same as before?”

“If the heart is not greedy, naturally it remains as it began.”

Hearing her say this, Ji Wanxin’s pale lips smiled, saying: “I really wish we were still at home in Jinjiang.”

“Everything can’t go back, can it?”

“Yes! Nothing can go back.” Ji Wanxin’s voice was somber.

Ji Yunshu said nothing more and continued to concentrate wholeheartedly on brewing tea.

After a long while—

Ji Wanxin couldn’t help it: “Don’t you want to say anything?”

She didn’t speak.

“Don’t you even want to know why, when the Wei family elders died back then, dove feathers were hidden in your room?”

She still didn’t speak.

Ji Wanxin’s palms tightened as she told her: “It was me. I was the one who inadvertently told him about the dove feathers being poisonous, which gave him the idea to poison them! And the dove feathers in your room were also placed by me. What you and Ji Pei said beneath the plum blossom tree back then—I was indeed the one who told Father.” She revealed everything one by one.