Two years later.

The Emperor had worn himself down to his last flicker of life and finally passed away.

That year, Empress Wei was thirty-six years of age.

Counted from the day she entered the palace — a full twenty years.

From a girl of common birth, to entering the palace as a maid-in-waiting, to being favored and conceiving a daughter, then rising step by step from the rank of Jieyu all the way to the summit of the imperial harem. In the final years of the Emperor’s life, she remained constantly by his side — cherished, honored, and unrivaled by any.

Before the Emperor passed, he had specially set down a final edict, entrusting the throne to the Crown Prince. In the edict, he also made mention of Empress Wei — praising her as “virtuous, kind, and a model for the inner palace.” He further conferred upon her the title of Empress Dowager Xiande.

With this imperial edict in place, the newly enthroned Emperor and his Empress naturally could not afford to neglect Empress Dowager Wei.

Empress Dowager Wei was also most perceptive — she harbored no attachment to power or authority, and swiftly handed over the management of the inner palace to the Empress. She enjoyed the dignity and comfort of her honored position in complete ease and tranquility.

Princess An’ya had taken a prince consort a year prior and moved into the princess’s residence. Now, word had come of happy tidings once more — Empress Dowager Wei felt immense joy and satisfaction at heart.

That year, Wei Yan was thirty years of age.

He had entered the Imperial Medical Bureau at the age of twelve, and had by now risen to the position of Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau, commanding great prestige and admiration that many envied. Yet the hardships endured along the way were known to no one.

No one knew what terror and fury the young Wei Yan — then sixteen — had felt upon realizing that Empress Xu had conceived unseemly feelings for him.

No one knew that when he resolved to rid himself of Empress Xu, he had already steeled his heart to burn every bridge behind him.

Fortunately, he had succeeded.

He had rid himself of Empress Xu, maneuvered skillfully around the Emperor to protect the woman he loved, then later saved the Crown Prince and labored tirelessly to prolong the Emperor’s life. His merits were plain for all to see, and his rise to Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau was, in everyone’s judgment, well-deserved.

For Wei Yan, however, the greatest achievement of these thirty years was not any of this — it was having taken as his wife a woman whose heart was in perfect harmony with his own.

That year, Ling Jingshu was twenty years of age.

In the year of her fourteenth birthday, Ling Jingshu had opened her eyes to live a second life.

Her heart had been filled with pain and hatred, her every thought bent upon vengeance and retribution.

She had brought her younger brother Ling Xiao to the capital, and by a fortunate turn of fate, come to know the Crown Grandson. Unwilling to rely on beauty to advance herself, she had resolutely chosen a different road — a far more winding and arduous one.

Summoned into the palace by the ill-intentioned Empress Xu, she endured and persevered under Empress Xu’s threats and intimidation. After joining forces with Wei Yan to remove Empress Xu, she had then found herself the object of the Emperor’s covetous attention.

Fortunately, there had been Wei Yan. Fortunately, there had been Empress Wei.

The day she was carried in the bridal sedan chair to wed Wei Yan — that was the happiest day of her entire life!

And so, too, was the moment she gave birth to her son, Wei Xi.

Now, she devoted herself with careful attention to raising her child, and each day she waited for Wei Yan’s return. This quiet, comfortable life — to her, it was already the greatest happiness the world could offer.

The Emperor had passed away, a new Emperor had ascended the throne, and the Crown Grandson had been named heir apparent. Peace and prosperity had come to the four corners of the realm.

Ling Xiao had studied diligently at the Imperial Academy for several years and at last passed the provincial examinations. He had also become engaged, waiting only to pass the metropolitan examinations the following spring before holding the wedding ceremony.

This match had been arranged by Ling Jingshu for Ling Xiao. Over these two years, even as she tended to her child, she had often gone about calling on the noble ladies of the capital — quietly selecting a suitable wife for Ling Xiao without drawing attention.

The young lady in question bore the surname Yu, and was the daughter of the Vice Minister of Rites. Her appearance was clear and refined, she was well-read and accomplished, and was particularly gifted in calligraphy and painting — a woman of recognized talent throughout the capital.

Women of exceptional talent often carry a certain degree of pride. Yet this Miss Yu had a temperament that was quite gracious and unassuming, never holding herself above others with self-importance.

After Ling Jingshu had settled on Miss Yu, she exchanged visits with the Vice Minister of Rites’ wife on several occasions and tactfully expressed her desire for the two families to be joined in marriage. She also specifically arranged for Ling Xiao and Miss Yu to meet, along with Miss Yu’s mother.

Ling Xiao had grown considerably over the years. The striking good looks of his boyhood had taken on the resolute quality of a young man; his bearing was tall and graceful, his manner refined and composed.

Miss Yu was immediately taken with him, and with a shy and bashful nod, gave her consent. The Vice Minister of Rites’ wife found Ling Xiao quite pleasing as well, and seeing that her daughter was willing, she had no reason whatsoever to refuse.

And so the engagement was settled swiftly and smoothly.

With Ling Xiao’s engagement secured, Ling Jingshu’s heart was eased of one great concern. She then turned her attention to the busy work of preparing a residence and furnishings for Ling Xiao’s new household.

Since Ling Jingshu had married into the Wei family, riding the wave of Empress Wei’s glory and prestige, her own standing had risen steadily and without pause. The entire Ling household had also benefited considerably from her reflected honor. Ling Wuye had long since been appointed to a good official post — though one quite far away — and had promptly departed with his wife and children to take up the position.

When he might return to the capital was anyone’s guess.

Ling Jingshu was only too glad to never have to see Ling Wuye or Li Shi again.

Over these two years, she had also found marriages for the two maidservants who had served at her side.

Qiao Yun had married the son of the Wei household’s head steward.

As for Bai Yu — she had long harbored quiet feelings for Han Yi, the head steward of the Huichun Hall. Ling Jingshu and Bai Yu had shared the bond of mistress and maidservant, and she naturally wished to see Bai Yu’s happiness fulfilled. She had specifically asked Wei Yan to personally speak with Han Yi and facilitate the match, thus bringing this happy union to pass.

Time flowed on, and before one knew it, another five years had passed.

On this particular day, Wei Yan returned home unexpectedly early.

Wei Xi, now seven years old, was fair-skinned and remarkably good-looking. His temperament, however, was nothing like the quiet composure of either Ling Jingshu or Wei Yan — he was quite lively and spirited. From far off, he came bounding over: “Father! You are back so early today!”

Wei Yan laughed and swept his son up into his arms, then sighed fondly: “Xi’er, you have grown heavier again. If this keeps up, Father will soon no longer be able to carry you.”

Wei Xi pulled a playful, impish face and replied cheerfully: “Xi’er will eat a little less at each meal from now on.”

Then he turned his head and called out: “Mother, why are you walking so slowly?”

Ling Jingshu, her hair dressed in the coif of a married woman, smiled with lips gently pressed together and continued her unhurried, graceful approach.

The years had left barely a trace upon her face — they had only added the ripe charm and beauty of a woman come into her full maturity. Her every expression, her every smile, was captivating.

Wei Yan watched Ling Jingshu with a warmth that stirred gently in his heart.

With one arm holding his son, he extended the other and drew Ling Jingshu into his embrace: “A’Shu, I have something important to tell you.”

Ling Jingshu tilted her head up with a gentle smile: “What is it?”

Wei Yan cleared his throat: “I have already submitted my resignation as Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau to the Emperor. The Emperor has granted it. I will stay home with you for a while first, and then — we will pack our things and leave the capital.”

Ling Jingshu was both astonished and overjoyed: “You truly resigned your post? How did the Emperor agree to let you go?”

Wei Yan raised an eyebrow: “I have spent my days toiling in the Imperial Medical Bureau, with no time to come home, and no time these years to properly keep you company. I have given the imperial household years of loyal service. Surely they cannot expect me to devote my entire life to them!”

He paused, then continued: “A’Shu, from this day forward, I am no longer any kind of imperial physician. I need not enter the palace again. The two of us will leave the capital together — wherever we wish to go, we shall go.”

He had never forgotten the promise he had made to her!

Ling Jingshu’s eyes grew warm, and she nodded, a choked catch in her voice.

Wei Xi, unwilling to be left out, made his feelings known at once: “Father, Mother — wherever you go, Xi’er is going too!”

“But of course.” Wei Yan seemed to have cast off a great and heavy burden, his smile light and radiant: “Our family of three will always be together — never to be parted.”

Ling Jingshu nestled her head into Wei Yan’s embrace, her eyes shining bright with tears of joy.

From this day onward — vast mountains and wide rivers, far from the halls of power — free and unbound.