After Xiao Jinglin left Yanbei, Ren Yaoqi occasionally received letters she sent back. Shortly after Ah Zhuo’s first birthday, Ren Yaoqi finally received good news – Zeng Pu and his son Zeng Kui had been surrounded and killed by troops led by Xiao Jinglin.

When Zeng Kui left Ningxia, he had taken Wu Yiyu with him. After eliminating the Zeng father and son, Xiao Jinglin found Wu Yiyu, but unfortunately Wu Yiyu had already gone mad by then. Xiao Jinglin sent Wu Yiyu to Ningxia to be cared for by the Di family.

When Ren Yaoqi read this letter, her emotions were somewhat complex. Originally, she had thought that when she learned of the Zeng father and son’s deaths, she would feel some satisfaction, but when the moment came, she felt very calm. She was more concerned about when Xiao Jinglin could return. Little Ah Zhuo could already speak now, but apart from his father, no one could understand what he said.

On this day, when Ren Yaoqi returned from the Nine Yang Hall, she saw Xiao Jingxi holding Ah Zhuo standing in the courtyard of Zhaoning Hall. Xiao Jingxi pointed to the glazed fish tank in the courtyard and said to Ah Zhuo, “This is a fish.”

Ah Zhuo tugged at his father’s hair and blew a bubble: “Ah——pū——”

Xiao Jingxi calmly retrieved his hair from his son’s hands and continued patiently: “Say it again, fish.”

Ah Zhuo: “Ah pū——”

Xiao Jingxi smiled: “Mm, not bad, once more.”

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but laugh out loud, causing both father and son to look over. Ah Zhuo immediately clapped his hands and lunged toward Ren Yaoqi: “Pū——pū——mā——pū——”

Ren Yaoqi pinched Ah Zhuo’s chubby little face and asked Xiao Jingxi: “What is our silly son saying?”

Xiao Jingxi held Ah Zhuo steady and translated seriously: “He said ‘Mother, hug hug.'”

Ren Yaoqi took Ah Zhuo, but before Ah Zhuo could smile, she handed him to the wet nurse nearby, gesturing for the nurse to carry the child inside: “Be good, Mother will hug you when she can understand what you’re saying.”

Ah Zhuo lay on the wet nurse’s back, looking at his mother with eager eyes, but didn’t dare cry out. His little appearance was quite pitiful and endearing. However, his mother only smiled and waved at him, while his father had no eyes for him after his mother appeared.

“How did you come back so early today?” After the child was carried inside, Ren Yaoqi asked Xiao Jingxi.

Xiao Jingxi took Ren Yaoqi’s hand: “Mm, came back to handle some matters.”

Ren Yaoqi nodded and didn’t ask further. When the two were about to enter the main room, Xiao Jingxi suddenly said, “Oh, someone from the small retreat house came to report today that Concubine Fang died last night.”

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi paused in her steps. She hadn’t heard news of Concubine Fang for a long time, so she was surprised to suddenly hear of her death.

Nodding, Ren Yaoqi continued walking forward: “How did she die?”

Xiao Jingxi was brief: “Terminally ill, couldn’t be saved.”

Concubine Fang had fallen ill when she learned that Ren Yaoying had run away with Zhou Wen and that Ren Shimin had publicly declared Ren Yaoying dead. Meanwhile, Concubine Fang’s brother, Fang Yacun, had been suppressed by the Fang family for years. Frustrated and unsuccessful, news came from Jiangnan last month saying that Fang Yacun was destitute, went to a tavern to drown his sorrows, but couldn’t pay for the drinks, and was severely beaten by the tavern owner and his workers. After returning, Fang Yacun fell ill and was eventually killed by a sudden bout of typhoid.

The successive bad news finally broke Concubine Fang.

Before dying, Concubine Fang expressed a desire to see Ren Yaoqi one last time. When this was reported to Xiao Jingxi, he refused decisively. Concubine Fang died that very night with her eyes wide open.

However, these unimportant details were not something Xiao Jingxi would mention to Ren Yaoqi.

The grievances between Ren Yaoqi and Concubine Fang now seemed like events from a past life. After hearing about it, Ren Yaoqi put it aside.

After another ten or so days, Xiao Jinglin returned, several days later than Ren Yaoqi had expected. Later, she learned the delay was to accommodate the travel schedule of the Yun family’s eldest young master, Yun Wenting, who was severely injured and couldn’t endure jolting.

Regarding Yun Wenting’s injury, Xiao Jinglin’s explanation was very brief. During the siege of the Zeng father and son, Zeng Kui had plotted to die together with Xiao Jinglin, but in the end Xiao Jinglin wasn’t injured while Yun Wenting was wounded instead.

However, Ren Yaoqi could tell from Xiao Jinglin’s expression that things were not as simple as she described. Later, when the Princess Consort specifically called Hong Ying over for questioning, Ren Yaoqi learned the whole story.

In summary, it was a story of a hero saving a beauty – Yun Wenting was injured while saving Xiao Jinglin. His injuries were quite serious at the time, and he almost couldn’t be saved. Although he was eventually rescued, Yun Wenting’s left hand was crippled. In the future, he wouldn’t be able to lift heavy objects with his left hand, and it would ache during rainy weather.

On the third day after Xiao Jinglin’s return, she came to tell the Princess Consort that once Yun Wenting’s injuries healed, she wanted to marry him.

The Princess Consort and Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but look at each other in surprise.

After recovering from her shock, the Princess Consort carefully advised: “Lin’er, marriage is a lifelong commitment that can’t be taken lightly. Don’t you want to think about it more? Didn’t you disagree before? Could it be that you changed your mind because he saved you this time?”

Ren Yaoqi also nodded: “You should think it over carefully. Why don’t you wait until Young Master Yun recovers before making your decision?”

Xiao Jinglin shook her head and insisted: “I’ve already thought it through and don’t plan to change my mind. Mother, please start preparing.”

The Princess Consort secretly signaled to Ren Yaoqi to investigate privately later.

However, before Ren Yaoqi could seek out Xiao Jinglin, Xiao Jinglin came to talk to Ren Yaoqi on her initiative.

“At that time, he was about to die, and the physicians all said he couldn’t be saved. I asked him if he had any unfulfilled wishes, and he said he had only one wish from childhood to adulthood – to marry me as his wife.”

Xiao Jinglin had looked at the pale Yun Wenting, suddenly feeling somewhat sad in her heart. She sat by Yun Wenting’s bedside and said softly: “My master spent five years accumulating betrothal gifts for my master’s wife, finally moving her to marry down to him. They loved and accompanied each other for many years, their feelings remaining as strong as ever. I’ve envied them since childhood, thinking I too wanted to find a husband who would love me wholeheartedly like my master’s wife did, but unfortunately, I searched for many years without finding one.”

Xiao Jinglin met Yun Wenting’s gaze and said seriously: “Whether a man loves a woman isn’t measured by how much he can give her, but by how much of what little he has he’s willing to give her. You say you like me, and I believe you, but all along, your feelings for me have never outweighed your family’s importance in your heart. Now that you’re willing to put me before your family, I no longer believe you.”

Yun Wenting’s gaze gradually dimmed.

But Xiao Jinglin continued: “However, now I want to give you a chance. And give myself a chance too. I want you to give me what you currently have that’s most precious. If you can give it, I’ll marry you.”

Yun Wenting looked steadily at Xiao Jinglin: “What is it?”

“Your life. Your courage, your will to live.”

Yun Wenting looked at Xiao Jinglin and smiled. He wanted to say he had already given her his life.

Xiao Jinglin seemed to know what Yun Wenting was thinking. She shook her head: “No, I want your life, but I don’t want you to die for me. Liking someone should be a joyful thing – it should bring good results. So if you’re willing to live for me, I’ll accept you and spend the rest of my life loving you.”

Yun Wenting understood Xiao Jinglin’s meaning. He gently grasped Xiao Jinglin’s hand that was placed beside him: “Alright, I’ll live for you.”

In the end, Yun Wenting did survive through his own will to live. Xiao Jinglin was someone who kept her word. Since she had promised Yun Wenting she would marry him, she naturally wouldn’t go back on it.

After hearing the story, Ren Yaoqi didn’t know what to say, but she hoped Xiao Jinglin would be happy and believed in the decision Xiao Jinglin had made. Even if Yun Wenting had a thousand faults, his heart that loved Xiao Jinglin was precious.

After Yun Wenting’s injuries healed, the Yanbei Prince’s mansion and the Yun family prepared for Yun Wenting and Xiao Jinglin’s wedding. Yun Wenting finally overcame all obstacles and married the bride he had chosen since childhood.

The night before the wedding, Yun Wenfang went to drink with Yun Wenting.

Each man held a wine jar. Yun Wenfang drained the wine in his jar in one gulp and patted his elder brother’s shoulder: “Congratulations on getting your heart’s desire.”

Yun Wenting smiled and also patted Yun Wenfang: “Thank you.”

Yun Wenfang said, “From now on, you and the Princess will fly together as a pair. With the vast sky and sea before you, I’ll be caged in this prison for the rest of my life.”

Yun Wenting couldn’t help but laugh: “The entire Yun family has been given to you, and you’re complaining?”

Yun Wenfang glanced sideways at Yun Wenting: “Do you want it back?”

Yun Wenting only smiled without speaking.

Yun Wenfang snorted and snatched Yun Wenting’s wine jar, tilting his head back to drink deeply.

Yun Wenting looked at Yun Wenfang: “Ah Fang, thank you, truly!”

Yun Wenfang threw the wine jar back to Yun Wenting and lay down on the ground: “Everyone says having a brother like you is a blessing I cultivated in my past life. From childhood to now, how many times have you taken the blame for me, cleaned up my messes – even you can’t count them all, right? But all debts must be repaid, so you don’t need to thank me. I’m just repaying my debt to you. If I don’t clear it in this lifetime, who knows, I might have to be your ox or horse in the next life.”

Yun Wenting also lay down like Yun Wenfang and laughed: “Actually, I’m not suitable to be the head of the Yun family. Ah Fang, perhaps you’re more suitable than I.”

Yun Wenfang scoffed: “Perhaps. After all, there’s nothing this master can’t do well. All my bad luck and setbacks in this lifetime have been spent on matters of the heart.”

After hearing this, Yun Wenting said nothing, only handing his wine jar to Yun Wenfang again. Yun Wenfang took it and drained it in one elegant gulp, then threw the empty jar far away.

On the day Xiao Jinglin and Yun Wenting married, Yunyang City’s streets were packed with people. The people of Yanbei were all excited because the Princess had finally married, to such a well-matched, talented, and beautiful couple.

Shortly after Xiao Jinglin and Yun Wenting’s wedding, the couple went together to Jiajing Pass. From then on, Xiao Jinglin was responsible for border military affairs while Yun Wenting handled all clerical work – it could be said the wife sang and the husband followed, harmoniously and beautifully.

On the day they saw off the Xiao Jinglin couple from Yunyang City, Xiao Jingxi took Ren Yaoqi’s hand as they climbed the city wall. The two leaned against each other at the height, watching Xiao Jinglin’s troops slowly disappear beyond the horizon, their thoughts wandering.

Xiao Jingxi suddenly said, “Madam.”

Ren Yaoqi looked up: “Mm?”

Xiao Jingxi frowned: “Have we forgotten something important?”

Ren Yaoqi was puzzled: “What important thing?”

Xiao Jingxi: “Just now, when Ah Zhuo fell asleep, you seemed to have put him in one of Jinglin’s dowry carriages.”

Ren Yaoqi: “……”

Of course, it turned out to be a false alarm in the end. Little Ah Zhuo hadn’t been taken to Jiajing Pass with his aunt’s dowry. When Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jingxi came down from the city wall, Nanxing was waiting at the city gate holding Ah Zhuo.

When they had gone out, they hadn’t brought maids or servants – just the couple with their child, plus the guards Nanxing and Mu Hu. Fortunately, Nanxing was alert and remembered before Xiao Jinglin’s carriage departed that the young master was still fast asleep in the dowry carriage.

Ren Yaoqi took the child while Xiao Jingxi helped her into the carriage.

In the jolting carriage, little Ah Zhuo rubbed his eyes and woke up. Opening his eyes to see his mother, he smiled with crescent-shaped eyes: “Mother——”

Seeing Ah Zhuo’s eyes that looked so much like his father’s, Ren Yaoqi’s heart melted as she touched the soft hair on his head: “Good boy.”

Xiao Jingxi smiled from the side: “He can call ‘Mother’ now? In the future, your mother won’t casually throw you in carriages and give you away to people.”

Ah Zhuo looked at his father, then at his mother, seeming to understand, and then… “Waaah——” burst into tears.