Sleeping until the sun was high and still too drowsy to open my eyes, I finally realized I was truly pregnant.

When Tao Yuan arrived, I had just finished washing and was about to go out to buy some rice, flour, and vegetables. Seeing me in this domestic state, he was quite pleased: “I wonder why the Princess sent urgent word summoning this subordinate?”

I personally poured him tea: “I know there are over a hundred secret guards outside protecting me, dispatched by your Mingjian Division…”

Seeing his face turn pale, I smiled: “Since I am the master of the Mingjian Division, I’ve naturally glanced through the shadow guards’ records. But you needn’t be nervous—His Majesty and I are husband and wife, so what’s mine naturally belongs to him as well.”

Tao Yuan wiped his sweat: “That day His Majesty wanted to save the Princess but dared not trust the palace guards, so he found this subordinate… I originally planned to inform the Princess after rescuing her, but His Majesty told me not to mention it for now…”

Song Langsheng didn’t want me to know, naturally wanting me to think I was completely under his control, unable to escape unexpectedly. What he hadn’t anticipated was that I had played dumb to the very end—in the art of acting, my realm ultimately ran deeper than his.

I nodded understandingly: “So I have no intention of blaming you. I asked you here today only to trouble Chief Tao to have them all return home early. Look, the Double Ninth Festival is in a few days—everyone has worked so hard and should rest well. They could go sightseeing, climbing heights for distant views, picking chrysanthemums to take home…”

“Princess!” Tao Yuan interrupted in alarm: “Absolutely not… If there are more assassins…”

“Chief Minister will handle this matter for me,” I said, glancing away. “Also, I dislike being monitored.”

Tao Yuan immediately knelt, trying to persuade me: “His Majesty instructed this subordinate never to let the Princess face danger alone…”

“Who exactly is the master of the Mingjian Division—him or me?” I coldly interrupted. “Chief Tao, father clearly said that from then on, the Mingjian Division would no longer obey the court. Do you wish to violate father’s final decree?”

Tao Yuan looked up at me, struggling greatly: “Princess, you ultimately…”

I lowered my eyes without speaking. After a moment’s silence, Tao Yuan shook his head: “So be it. When flowers wish to leave the tree, how can the tree retain them… This subordinate obeys.”

The courtyard returned to peaceful tranquility. Tao Yuan asked if I had any other needs, and I gently shook my head. But before he left, I called out: “Chief Tao, henceforth, don’t wait for me. Whatever becomes of the Mingjian Division, you decide. Take good care of yourself.”

The bell at Meridian Gate rang throughout the capital—the sound announcing the new emperor’s ascension to the world.

Carrying my vegetable basket through the marketplace, I gazed toward the direction of the bell sound, wondering how majestic and imposing he would look in dragon robes with all ministers performing the three kneelings and nine kowtows.

As a child, I secretly hid outside the golden hall watching father, telling elder brother that in the future I wanted to marry a golden, shining great hero like father.

Hearing this, elder brother smiled and ruffled my hair: “Unfortunately, you’re Princess—father couldn’t bear to have you marry for alliance. So you could marry anyone except an emperor.”

Looking back now, I only feel life’s unpredictable changes make it unwise to speak too definitively.

After bustling about all morning, smelling the chicken soup’s fragrance, I quickly lifted the lid and dropped the cut noodles into the pot.

Since the chickens outside were raised so plump, not killing them would be wasteful. I’d gone to considerable trouble making this chicken soup noodles.

If Song Langsheng were here, he would surely say that for just eating longevity noodles, simply throwing in some tofu and vegetables would suffice—a good chicken would be more fragrant roasted or made into beggar’s chicken. Then I would retort that since I was pregnant, I needed to eat more steamed and boiled foods for the baby’s benefit.

Imagining his shocked and overjoyed expression upon hearing this news, I couldn’t help but smile. But looking up, the seat across from me was empty. I remembered that at this moment, he was likely still in the palace receiving audiences from officials and envoys.

One table, one person, two bowls of noodles. My eyes grew warm as I slowly began eating.

I had ultimately kept my promise, making him a bowl of longevity noodles. Yet I had broken my promise, unable to wait for him to return and celebrate his birthday together.

Before leaving, I thought of writing him a letter, but after long holding the brush, I couldn’t write. Thousands of words condensed into a note placed beside the noodles.

I’m sorry.

When I pushed open the door, bright light filled my vision. I instinctively raised my hand to shield my eyes from the blazing sun.

Mountain forests displayed gorgeous autumn maples, wind swept lake waves in layers. Leading my horse forward, I saw an old man at the nearby shore. During my days in this village, I often saw him fishing here, sometimes sitting for half a day.

Hearing hoofbeats, he turned back. Seeing bundles tied to my horse, he asked: “Miss, where are you going?”

I thought for a moment: “Far away.”

Everyone has unspeakable secrets. He asked no more, only saying: “A young lady traveling alone should be careful everywhere.”

I smiled slightly: “Thank you, old sir.”

This fragrant path was already enveloped by layers of maple trees. Wind made branches rustle as red leaves drifted down.

At thirteen, I was trapped beneath a cave when he leaped down with dancing fire maples, landing in my heart from then on.

Later, we arranged to meet under the maple tree where we first met, but even until sunset, I couldn’t find any trace of him.

But I remember that day was also sunny, with fresh woody scents in the mountain forest that lifted one’s spirits. We had promised to return together to that place to admire the maple forest again. Those rustling red leaves suddenly overlapped with this scene, only adding a sense of lonely solitude and quiet longing.

At this moment, I couldn’t explain this contradictory emotion.

Clearly I had made this decision, clearly determined never to return, yet reaching the road’s end, I still stopped moving forward.

Last night’s warm embrace and his words “My wish is to be with you—I’ll be happy only with you” echoed in my heart all day, impossible to dispel.

A voice deep inside reminded me.

Maple leaves rustled beside me. Looking up, I felt inexplicable deep fear and confusion.

In just that instant, I mounted my horse and turned back.

I wasn’t even sure what I could say after seeing him—the only thing I could think of was wanting to see him once more.

Returning to the bamboo cottage, the old man was still fishing. Seeing me return, he was slightly surprised: “Miss, why have you come back?”

“I forgot to take something.” I lightly dismounted, discovering the farmhouse door was open. Hurrying inside, the house was empty, but the other bowl of longevity noodles that had been full on the table was now just an empty bowl.

My heart jumped in alarm. I rushed outside and asked the old man: “Sir, did you see anyone enter my house?”

The old man put down his fishing rod, shaking his head and sighing: “Indeed, a man rushed here urgently just after you left. He asked me where you were, and I pointed in your direction saying you hadn’t gone far with your horse and could still be seen… The old man doesn’t understand—he first chased forward like a madman, but stopped halfway and just stood motionless, watching until you disappeared from sight…”

I stared blankly: “You… you mean… he didn’t catch up?”

“No indeed! He just stood there foolishly. Later he went into your house and stayed quite a while before leaving…” The old man reattached his bait and cast his hook into the lake. “Sigh, if you young couple had a quarrel, you should speak clearly sooner. This old man finds it painful to watch…”

A wind blew, and I felt coldness on my face, realizing it was covered with tears I hadn’t noticed.

So when I made my painful decision, he too had made his choice.

I raised my head slightly to look at the sky—dusk was falling, and everywhere was frosty flowing red.

In youth, fate forced us to miss each other; now, because of fate, we chose to miss each other.

This was also good. Since happiness seemed hopeless, why struggle without letting go?

Life was still long—why not preserve beautiful memories and never say farewell?

I raised my sleeve to dry my tears, remounted my horse, and looked back once more at the capital. In the distance, the majestic city gleamed golden under autumn sun—the place I’d lived from childhood.

But relatives and friends were all gone, leaving only one person in the world who stirred my deepest concerns.

I gently urged my horse forward. This road was so long it inevitably brought back those distant times and those unreturnable beautiful years.

Ahead, the setting sun was blood-red, clear wind brushed leaves—all around, western mountains glowed in evening light.

This departure would make meeting again impossible.