The cold winter wind swept snow through the night. Another year had passed.

Inside and outside the imperial city, colorful lanterns and decorations were hung everywhere to celebrate the Empress’s daughter’s one-hundred-day ceremony. The Emperor had commanded court officials of the fourth rank and above, along with their wives, to enter the palace for an audience. A banquet was laid out in Baohe Hall to commemorate the occasion.

Meng Tinghui sat in elegant attire, personally holding her hundred-day-old daughter. Her plump face glowed with excellent health as she smiled at the assembled officials and their wives.

Yan Fuzhi’s joy at having a daughter was undisguised. Disregarding court etiquette, he sat with his arm around his wife and daughter, barely acknowledging the toasts from his officials.

The imperial princess was named Ruotao. Born weighing eight jin, the tiny child naturally became the focus of the entire nation’s attention. Within three days of her birth, an edict was issued from the inner court, declaring the imperial eldest daughter as heir to the throne.

Contrary to custom, the officials of the outer court did not oppose this proposal. It seemed they all hoped the Emperor would establish an heir early to bring peace to the empire. Given that the northern territories had been established as the Empress’s enfeoffment, they hoped this succession would permanently extinguish any rebellious thoughts among former dynasty officials.

It had been more than half a year since the northern conflict was resolved. The redistribution of surrendered territories, reorganization of military and civilians, dispatching of civil and military officials, and deployment of troops to build cities and fortifications had all been set on the right track. Even during her pregnancy, Meng Tinghui had not forgotten the civil and military affairs of her enfeoffed lands, managing them for quite some time until Yan Fuzhi forced her to let go and rest.

After Di Nian returned to the capital at the beginning of the year, escorting Northern Jian Emperor Xiang Deqian and his clan members in chains, she had gone to the northern border to oversee the three pacification commissioners. Only after the imperial army had completely occupied and pacified all Northern Jian territories did she return to the capital by imperial decree. With the rank of Left General of the Golden Guards, she commanded the Three Offices, while Shen Zhili was also granted an honorary title for Di Nian’s merits, becoming the most honored female official at court.

Shen Zhishu had also been summoned back to the capital court three months ago. For her remarkable achievements as the Transport Commissioner of Chao’an, she was appointed as Vice Minister of Revenue and Assistant to the Secretariat, thus entering the Policy-Making Hall, sitting as an equal with elder officials to discuss state affairs.

As a result, any outstanding young civil officials at court were promoted to higher positions. The government administration throughout the country had been thoroughly reformed, and the former factional struggles among the old officials were rarely seen again.

People said that when a country has a wise ruler and the world is at peace, the prosperity of the Jingxuan era can unfold.

The laughter at the banquet never ceased. Civil and military officials sat interspersed, clinking cups, drinking wine, and talking with smiles, all showing festive cheer.

Not long after the feast began, a palace servant approached the female officials’ seats and whispered to Shen Zhili: “The cavalry display at the training grounds ran late. General Di has just hurried here and dismounted at the hall entrance.”

Hearing this, Shen Zhili nodded and quietly slipped away from the table, rushing down the hall steps.

In the night, a figure in bright armor watched as flowing skirts flew toward him from the hall. He couldn’t help but smile as he extended his arms to steady her, saying, “Regardless of the occasion, aren’t you afraid of being seen by others?”

Shen Zhili curved her red lips into a smile and pulled his arm as they walked inside. “You haven’t seen how the Emperor is treating the Empress tonight, with no regard for propriety whatsoever. How does what I’m doing compare?”

Di Nian’s warm, large palm enveloped her small hand as he gently pulled her back. “I rushed here and haven’t changed out of my armor. Don’t pull and tug, or you’ll get your hands dirty.”

She laughed softly, “When have I ever minded you being dirty?” Then, drawing closer to him, she continued, “Tonight, the court officials finally had the opportunity to see the Imperial Princess. She truly has an endearing appearance. When she opens her eyes, her black pupils dart around, very much showing the Empress’s wit. At only three months old, she already knows how to stare back at the Shen family’s little boy. The court officials couldn’t help but smile. My sister-in-law even joked with the Empress in public about arranging a marriage early.”

Di Nian raised an eyebrow, his steps quickening. “It’s truly frustrating that we’re so often apart, which is why your belly still shows no movement. That Shen boy is getting all the advantages!”

Shen Zhili’s face reddened as she scolded him, “How do you know my first child will be a boy? I’d rather have a daughter to match with an imperial prince.”

Di Nian’s expression turned to surprise. “Are you saying the Empress is with child again?”

Shen Zhili nodded, whispering, “Just look at how the Emperor dotes on the Empress. The Imperial Princess is already three months old, so it’s not surprising that the Empress is pregnant again.”

Di Nian broke into a grin. “That’s good. It will stop the court officials from gossiping.”

The two entered the hall laughing and talking, just as the Emperor and Empress were bestowing the third round of wine. They took their seats and raised cups in celebration with the other officials. Shen Zhishu, seeing Di Nian’s arrival, walked over with her cup to chat with him for a while.

Meng Tinghui, being pregnant again, grew tired of sitting in the place of honor for too long. She handed her daughter to the wet nurse and walked over to the ladies’ section to chat with everyone.

After the women praised the Imperial Princess for her beauty, intelligence, and natural talent, they made room for her, allowing her to inquire about recent happenings throughout the country.

When discussing the achievements of new officials in the northern enfeoffed lands, Zuo Qiurong quietly said from the side, “Your Majesty, I have a request.”

Meng Tinghui smiled, “Please speak freely.”

She bowed her head and said, “I wish to request a transfer to Huaiyuan Road.”

Meng Tinghui understood her meaning. After thinking for a moment, she replied, “I’ll remember this tonight and discuss it later. Is that acceptable?”

Zuo Qiurong nodded, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Shen Zhili couldn’t help but laugh, “Minister Zuo is truly a devoted lover. Minister Yin has been transferred to the northern surrendered territories for over half a year, and you’ve never forgotten him.”

“What’s wrong with being devoted?” Yan Fuzhi leisurely poured her a cup of wine, saying, “If not for the Empress’s years of devotion, how could she enjoy her current honorable position and favor?”

Several ladies nearby heard this and nodded in agreement.

Meng Tinghui felt somewhat embarrassed, her ears reddening as she looked at Yan Fuzhi, “You’re now like the moon surrounded by stars among the ladies. You even dare to tease me.”

Everyone covered their mouths and laughed. Yan Fuzhi also laughed beautifully, repeatedly saying “I wouldn’t dare” and “I’m at fault,” adding that the Imperial Princess was so adorable that everyone had drunk a few more cups tonight and was speaking more freely.

As she listened, the corners of her mouth curved into a smile. Looking up to check on her daughter, she noticed the child was no longer in the wet nurse’s arms. Glancing around, she discovered that he had taken the baby again and was showing her off to the court officials, who competed to entertain her.

Watching his broad, straight back, her heart rippled with emotion. She felt that time with him passed like flowing sand, incredibly fast. How was it that in what seemed like such a short time, their daughter was already born, and she carried his bloodline in her womb again?

Just as she was thinking this, he suddenly turned his head, his gaze distant yet burning, penetrating directly into her eyes. His thin lips curved into a smile, his handsome face causing her to lose herself momentarily.

No matter how many years passed, she still felt her heart flutter for him just as she had when they first met.

Outsiders said that although they supported each other, they also checked each other’s power. Her enfeoffment in the north spanned thousands of miles, and the new officials and military commanders she employed were mostly her own trusted people. This strengthened her position as Empress, forcing him to favor her exclusively in the palace. Meanwhile, he commanded overwhelming authority in the court and military, backed by the capital’s senior officials and the iron-willed Imperial Guard. Even if she harbored rebellious thoughts, she would be hindered by his power.

But how could outsiders know that love in this world isn’t always so complicated? Regardless of how others viewed them, only she and he truly understood each other’s hearts and knew how precious their love and companionship were.

In this lifetime, they could never love each other enough. How could they waste time calculating against each other?

Moreover, from beginning to end, they had never schemed against, betrayed, or hated each other.

With these thoughts, she couldn’t help but rise and walk toward him, smiling as she received the salutations from court officials, then standing by his side and reaching out to gently tickle their daughter’s little face.

He looked at their daughter in her swaddling clothes, her chubby pink face extraordinarily adorable, her bright black eyes sparkling with intelligence, looking exactly like her when she was young. He couldn’t help but lean close to her ear and whisper, “Do you know, many years ago, I once played with you just like this when you were in swaddling clothes?”