Shen Qianyu had always wanted to take Song Wan back to the villa in the capital’s outskirts once more, but helplessly, his body kept relapsing and never fully recovered.

After this illness, Shen Qianyu had lost considerable weight, and the problems with his knees had become increasingly severe. Sometimes, simply standing for too long would feel unbearable.

Only by the spring of the following year could he barely manage to walk about in the courtyard.

Spring was no longer cold, yet Shen Qianyu wore heavy furs on his body. Even when sitting in the courtyard to sun himself, he still needed to cradle a hand warmer in his arms.

He mentioned several times that there was no need for everyone to trouble themselves carrying him outside, but Song Wan gently refused each time.

The midday sun was strong. Sunning himself afterward would help him sleep better at night, which was why Song Wan persisted.

Sitting with him in the small courtyard, fine beads of sweat had already formed on Song Wan’s forehead.

Seeing this pained Shen Qianyu’s heart, and he extended his hand before her.

“What is it? Are you hot?”

Grasping Shen Qianyu’s hand in return, Song Wan said: “If you’re hot, I’ll have Liu Yao take you back to your room.”

Shen Qianyu shook his head: “It’s nothing. I only feel guilty, constantly dwelling on how I haven’t been able to take you back to the villa.”

In his prime, his palms had been slender and full. Now that he had become so thin, his bones and joints were particularly prominent.

Song Wan lowered her head to carefully caress his hand, her fingertips slowly tracing over the dark, sunken scars: “Between husband and wife, what guilt is there to speak of?”

“As long as you’re by my side, I’m content wherever I am.”

“Yet I still feel guilty.”

Shen Qianyu murmured: “We’ve been husband and wife, yet I failed to maintain good health. Moreover, these past few years I’ve been quite a burden, causing you constant worry and exhausting your spirit.”

“Had I known this day would come, in earlier years I should have cherished my body more and not done so many dangerous things.”

Throughout his life, his choices had always been made with firm resolve, never with regret.

Shen Qianyu had always felt that words of regret were merely the evasive sophistry of the foolish and the weak.

Anyone who could control their own path forward would not waste time dwelling on past missteps. If one step went wrong, countless choices lay ahead to seek new opportunities. But in this moment and circumstance, he finally understood the taste of regret.

“If in my youth in Nanqing I could have spoken one or two flattering words, perhaps now I could accompany Wan’er three to five days longer.”

“If in my youth I had understood how to ingratiate myself and pleased the Qin Zhan siblings, perhaps I wouldn’t have been thrown into the fighting ring time and again.”

“If I… could have broken every bone in my body to escape that night in the snow, perhaps today I could accompany Wan’er back to the villa in the capital’s outskirts to admire the full moon once more.”

He regretted it.

He truly regretted it.

“Wan’er, I’m unwilling to accept this.”

Gripping Song Wan’s wrist forcefully, Shen Qianyu said: “I’m unwilling to accept that I only accompanied you for a mere few decades.”

“I’m unwilling to accept that when we’re free of duties and responsibilities, I cannot take you out to see the world.”

“There should have been opportunities.”

Shen Qianyu’s voice choked with emotion: “You don’t know—in Nanqing, there’s a place called Cloud Sea. At sunrise, vast mists rise within the clouds, as if heaven and earth have overturned and the sea has entered the clouds.”

“Such scenery—I wanted to take you to see it.”

“Wan’er, do you know that pale white flowers grow along the Su River’s banks? They look ordinary, but their fragrance is extraordinary. Come spring and summer, they bloom everywhere, as if one were immersed in a sea of flowers.”

“Such scenes are supremely, supremely beautiful.”

He gripped Song Wan’s hand ever more tightly: “But now I can do nothing.”

“I truly wanted to take you to see them.”

Hearing this, Song Wan smiled gently with curved brows: “But I have no desire to go.”

“When I was widowed at the Chengyang Marquis Manor, I once thought that if I could just leave the courtyard, even hearing the clamor of voices would be enough. But after meeting you, I no longer wished to go anywhere.”

“With you by my side, though we haven’t reached a hundred years, each day and hour surpasses a hundred years.”

Raising her hand to stroke Shen Qianyu’s white hair, Song Wan then touched her own temples: “Though we haven’t enjoyed a hundred years together, you and I have grown old together with white hair…”

“This outcome is already extremely good.”

Shen Qianyu’s eyes grew warm, and he smiled faintly.

After spring and summer came autumn and winter. Shen Qianyu’s health fluctuated, sometimes good, sometimes bad, while Song Wan tirelessly remained by his side day after day.

Each morning, the husband and wife would have some plain porridge and pickled vegetables together. At midday, one would rest on the bed while the other took a nap on the arhat couch.

Occasionally when Shen Qianyu slept until he was covered in sweat, Song Wan would help wipe him clean with a cloth dampened with warm water.

“You’ve worked so hard.”

“What hardship is there to speak of?”

Song Wan massaged Shen Qianyu’s stiff, cold legs bit by bit, then suddenly smiled: “When I was carrying Yan’er, the ordeal was no small matter. Didn’t you massage my legs like this at night back then too?”

During that period, her legs would often cramp, causing unbearable pain and numbness, yet Song Wan had never been troubled by it.

Because no matter when she felt uncomfortable, Shen Qianyu would sense it.

And now, it was simply her turn to care for him.

“When you cared for me back then, did you ever find it hard?”

Shen Qianyu said: “Naturally not.”

Hearing this, Song Wan smiled: “I feel the same way.”

“It’s not hard at all, and I find it sweet as honey.”

Filling a copper warming bottle with hot water, Song Wan wrapped it in a thick layer of cotton cloth and tucked it into Shen Qianyu’s blankets to ward off the cold.

“Wan’er.”

“Hm?”

“Shall we go to the villa in the capital’s outskirts tomorrow? If time is insufficient, I want to go there to spend the rest of my life with you.”

“No.”

Song Wan smiled: “I know your thoughts. You’re not truly set on going to that villa in the capital’s outskirts. You’re only haunted by the fact that you once promised to take me back but have never fulfilled this promise—it’s an obsession in your heart.”

He honored his promises. Regardless of whether matters were great or small, easy or difficult, he would accomplish whatever he’d agreed to.

But now was not a good time for him to fulfill his promise.

“The small courtyard in the palace is warm, with Imperial Physicians always on hand. This place is more suitable for your recovery than the villa in the capital’s outskirts.”

Gently patting the once-again stubborn Shen Qianyu: “Don’t dwell on this matter anymore. Just owe it to me.”

Seeing he wanted to speak, Song Wan smiled: “Wait for the next life. In the next life when you come find me, you can repay this debt then.”

“Good. In the next life, I will certainly find Wan’er again and repay the affection owed from this life.”

Having spoken these words, the heavy stone in Shen Qianyu’s heart lifted, and he no longer remained troubled by the matter of going to the capital’s outskirts.

Three more years passed. Shen Qianyu’s body had reached a state where the oil was exhausted and the lamp flickered out. Most of the time he was trapped in unconsciousness, unaware of worldly affairs.

Song Wan still quietly remained by his side as always. During the day when he slept, she would tend to flowers and plants or chat idly with Heng Zhi about household matters, reminiscing about the past.

But no matter when Shen Qianyu woke, she would always be at his side.

One midsummer day, Shen Qianyu suddenly sat up.

“Wan’er?”

“I’m here.”

He extended both hands, grasping randomly in the air several times. Seeing this, Song Wan hurriedly grasped his hands.

Shen Qianyu turned his head and looked at Song Wan with tears: “Wan’er, it seems I’ve slept for a very long time.”

“It seems I haven’t seen you in ages.”

“We just saw each other yesterday.”

Shen Qianyu shook his head: “I don’t remember.”

He extended his hand before Song Wan, gently stroking her cheek.

After so many years together sharing joys and sorrows, how could he still not have seen enough of the woman before him?

As his fingertips slid across her brows and eyes, Shen Qianyu’s heart ached sharply.

His Wan’er had aged considerably.

The woman no longer possessed the fair skin of her youth, and her unpowdered cheeks showed faint dark spots. Yet her gaze had never changed. Through the long years, her eyes still held the gentleness and tenderness of when they were a young married couple.

“Wan’er.”

“I’m here.”

“Don’t hate me. Don’t hate me for leaving before you.”

Shen Qianyu’s eyes were clouded, his words slurred: “Wan’er, I’m afraid.”

“I’m afraid…”

His palms were extremely forceful, as if a strange power erupted from deep in his heart. He gripped Song Wan’s hand and didn’t release it for a long time.

“There’s no need to be afraid. I’m here. No matter when or where, I’m here.”

“Yan’er…”

“You want to see Yan’er?”

Shen Qianyu raised his head to look at Song Wan, silently weeping: “Have Yan’er take good care of you.”

“After I’m gone, you should eat more meat and keep someone by your side at night.”

“I know.”

Tears fell one by one onto their tightly clasped hands. Song Wan’s heart ached intensely with boundless reluctance.

“Don’t cry. You don’t like crying.”

Shen Qianyu looked at Song Wan, his eyes full of attachment.

“After I’m gone, don’t place me in the Shen Family Imperial Mausoleum. Have Shen Shiyan find a place with beautiful mountains and clear waters for us two.”

“Alright.”

“After I’m gone, reduce the period of national mourning to twenty-one days. Allow common folk to marry and open markets.”

“Don’t delay the livelihoods of the people.”

“Alright.”

“Shixiao…”

Song Wan said: “I’ll have Yan’er send a letter to Shixiao. He’ll make it in time.”

Shen Qianyu nodded.

Though both Shen Shiyan and Shen Shixiao had been raised by his own hand, in his private heart, he always pitied Shen Shixiao a bit more.

Shen Shixiao’s temperament resembled Song Wan’s—never speaking half a word of his own sorrows or grievances. Looking at Shen Shixiao, he could always recall the unflappable Song Wan.

If possible, he wanted to see Shen Shixiao once more. If not possible, so be it.

“I’m still not at ease about you.”

“Who will see to your three meals a day? Your clothing and meals?”

Shen Qianyu’s eyes were vacant as he murmured to himself: “Your heart is heavy, and you can’t bear to speak your inner thoughts to others. I fear even if others serve you inadequately, you won’t speak up…”

The more he spoke, the more unwilling he became, and the tears in his eyes grew heavier.

There were countless palace maids and servants in the palace, but Wan’er wouldn’t speak the words in her heart to them.

He was aged and decrepit. His tears were especially sorrowful, heartbreaking to witness.

When Shen Shiyan received Liu Yao’s message, he abandoned a group of ministers and ran to the small courtyard. When he entered the room, Shen Qianyu was still holding Song Wan’s hand, refusing to release it for a long time.

Seeing his first child, Shen Qianyu smiled faintly.

“Yan’er.”

“Your child is here.”

Shen Shiyan knelt on both knees, waiting before the bed.

Shen Qianyu looked at him for a long time before finally saying in a low voice: “Take good care of your Mother.”

These few words had already exhausted all his strength. Shen Qianyu only felt exhaustion throughout his body and couldn’t help drifting into a light sleep.

Everyone thought he couldn’t hold on much longer, yet unexpectedly, though he remained unconscious for many days, he still retained a single breath.

Even though he hadn’t consumed a single drop of water for many days, his chest still rose and fell faintly.

Seeing him like this, Song Wan also couldn’t swallow food for a long time.

“Mother, go rest. Let your child watch over Father.”

His Mother had already kept vigil over his Father for a long time—her body could no longer endure it. Seeing this pained Shen Shiyan’s heart, so he had the palace maids forcibly help Song Wan to the bed for a brief rest.

Listening to the breathing beside his ear, Shen Shiyan knelt before the bed and silently wept.

Watching the father who in childhood had often carried him on his shoulders, as towering as a mountain, now with darkened cheeks and a sunken chest, Shen Shiyan felt difficulty breathing.

He reached his hand into the blankets and cried: “Father, please go. Your child will take good care of Mother…”

“Mother’s body is frail and cannot endure more torment. Please forgive your child’s lack of filial piety in speaking such treasonous words.”

Shen Qianyu’s body had already turned dark. The Imperial Physicians also said he now clung to a single breath, but in reality, the person had already passed.

Someone from the Imperial Medical Academy had once proposed that the Retired Emperor could be placed in a coffin first—perhaps during the movement, this final breath would disperse.

But Shen Shiyan was unwilling to do so.

He didn’t know what unfulfilled wishes his Father held, but regardless, he wanted his Father to depart peacefully with a settled heart.

Shen Qianyu’s palms were ice-cold. No matter how Shen Shiyan held them in his own palms, he couldn’t warm them.

“Stop crying.”

Song Wan sat up from the bed and slowly walked to stand before Shen Shiyan.

“I know what wish your Father holds. He…”

Song Wan smiled faintly and sat beside Shen Qianyu.

“Your Father’s disposition is obstinate. Once he’s set his mind on something, no one can persuade him otherwise. Now that his temper has flared up, whatever you say will be useless.”

Tenderly touching Shen Shiyan’s head, Song Wan said: “Are our burial garments prepared?”

With these words, Shen Shiyan understood Song Wan’s meaning. He was slightly stunned, then began to cry.

“Mother…”

“Go attend to your duties. I’ll persuade him.”

Sending Shen Shiyan away, Song Wan looked at Shen Qianyu and laughed softly.

“I’m getting old, and my memory has deteriorated somewhat. These past days I kept thinking you were waiting for Shixiao. Just now when I lay down to rest, I suddenly remembered something.”

“In the past, you once said that if this day came, you would certainly depart after me. I suppose it’s this matter that prevents you from letting go.”

Song Wan raised her hand and gently caressed Shen Qianyu’s cheek.

She had cared for him by his side every day without noticing any changes in him, but whenever she saw Shen Shiyan’s shocked gaze when coming to pay respects, Song Wan realized he must now appear quite frightening.

From childhood, she had been betrothed to Jiang Xingjian. Since she could remember, she had known Jiang Xingjian was her husband, the one who would grow old together with her in days to come.

Before Jiang Xingjian returned to the capital, Song Wan had always thought she had feelings for him.

She had thought worldly love and affection were just like that—pale and bland.

But after meeting Shen Qianyu, she finally understood that love and affection were like raging fire.

Youthful feelings resided in the heart, in the corners of brows and eyes—every gesture and movement endlessly stirring the heart. After many years together, that blazing love transformed into concern for warmth, cold, hunger, and fullness. Only then did she understand that the single word “love” existed entirely in life’s trivial details.

“We two truly became an ordinary married couple for a lifetime.”

Song Wan released Shen Qianyu’s hand and pillowed herself in the crook of his arm as she had done countless days and nights before.

“In the past, the listener paid no heed, but only after a lifetime passes in a fleeting moment does one realize that the word ‘ordinary’ is already extraordinary.”

Embracing Shen Qianyu’s waist, Song Wan said: “In the next life, I’ll still be an ordinary married couple with you.”

Shen Shiyan waited in the courtyard for a long time. Only when the sky gradually darkened and still not a sound came from within the room did he finally enter, face covered in tears.

On the bed in the room lay two people, just like many years ago when he would burst into Changle Palace and occasionally see such a scene.

But he knew that no matter what sounds he made, the Father and Mother who had loved him his entire life would never again chase him angrily throughout the hall as in childhood, while the other followed behind with gentle words telling him to watch his step and not fall.

“Your Majesty…”

Shen Shiyan knelt in the room and suddenly wailed like he had in childhood.

He had known, he had known this day would come.

His Father and Mother had always been deeply devoted to each other. Even life and death could not separate them…

He had always known.