Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

The night was as dark as ink, the Milky Way hung low, and a bright crescent moon hung diagonally across the sky, casting a soft, watery light that coated the roof tiles of the general's residence with a hazy silver glow. The evening breeze blew by, carrying the uniquely warm scent of early summer, the scent of grass and trees.

Zhang Jingwei sat alone on the highest rooftop, one leg bent, his arm casually resting on his knee, the other leg dangling gently from the eaves. He held a small pot of sake in his hand, occasionally tilting his head back to take a sip, his gaze vacant, gazing at the silent courtyard in the distance and the hazy outline of the mountains beyond, his brow slightly furrowed, lost in a tangle of thoughts.

A subtle rustling sound and a slightly clumsy gasp came from behind him. He didn't turn around, but the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.

Huangfu Ling quickly climbed up carefully and found a safe place to sit beside him. Her dress brushed against the tiles, making a slight rustling sound. She followed his gaze and spoke softly, breaking the quiet of the night: "What are you thinking about, hiding here alone?"

Zhang Jingwei did not answer immediately. He took another sip of wine and said slowly, "I'm thinking about my father." There was a hint of imperceptible confusion and retrospection in his voice.

Huangfu Ling accompanied him quietly, looking up at the bright crescent moon, trying to steer the conversation towards a lighter tone: "The crescent moon is so bright tonight, like a polished silver hook."

"Yeah." Zhang Jingwei responded, his eyes still unfocused.

After a brief silence, Huangfu Ling spoke again, her tone full of concern: "According to Qian Ming, you didn't even have dinner. Are you hungry? Do you want me to ask the kitchen to make you some midnight snack?"

Zhang Jingwei shook his head and put the wine jug aside: "Don't bother, I don't have much appetite."

Huangfu Ling turned her head and looked at his hazy silhouette in the moonlight. "Did you go to see my father this afternoon?" She paused, her voice softer. "Did you encounter any difficulties? I saw that you were worried after you came back."

Zhang Jingwei was silent for a moment, then chose a partially truthful answer: "Yeah. Today... I was sorting through some of my father's old belongings, and there were some things I couldn't figure out, so I went to ask my father-in-law to see if there were any overlooked clues or omissions."

Huangfu Ling thought of the strange "treasures" he had seen during the day and nodded: "Those things my father-in-law left behind may look strange to me, but they are indeed extremely exquisite and fine things, not something that ordinary craftsmen can make."

"It's been almost a year..." Zhang Jingwei suddenly said in a low voice without any context, his tone full of emotion and an indescribable complex emotion.

Huangfu Ling misunderstood his emotion and softly said, "If you really miss your father-in-law, I'll accompany you to the temple tomorrow to see his tablet, burn some incense, and talk to him."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jingwei smiled bitterly and shook his head: "What is enshrined in the temple is just a handful of ashes and a wooden plaque. What good will it do if you look at it?" There was a sense of seeing through nothingness in his voice, or perhaps, it was a kind of stubborn unwillingness to face false commemorations.

Huangfu Ling heard the depression in his tone, gently leaned her head on his strong shoulder, and said sullenly: "Seeing you so depressed, I feel bad too."

Zhang Jingwei felt her dependence and concern, and his heart warmed. He stretched out his arm to hold her shoulders and explained, "Silly girl, I'm not depressed. I'm just thinking about something, something... very important but I can't figure it out."

Huangfu Ling found a more comfortable position in his arms and mumbled with a hint of coquettishness: "Well, anyway, I don't want to listen to your profound principles. Once you start thinking, your words tend to sound like monks chanting, and listening to them makes me want to sleep."

Zhang Jingwei was amused by her words, a low tremor in his chest. He deliberately said, "Haha, then sleep here. Using the sky as a roof, tiles as a mat, and sleeping with the moon, it's quite elegant."

Huangfu Ling closed her eyes, a relieved smile curved her lips, and her voice gradually became unclear: "Let me sleep... As long as I'm by your side... No matter where... I can sleep..."

The evening breeze was gentle, the moonlight clear. Zhang Jingwei looked down at his wife's peaceful face as she gradually relaxed and fell asleep in his arms. The turmoil in his heart seemed to subside for a moment. He tightened his arms, shielding her from the cool night air. He looked up at the bright moon again, his gaze becoming deeper and more resolute. Whatever the truth, at least at this moment, the warmth in his arms was real.

……

The next day, the sky was already bright, and the clear sunlight filtered through the carved window lattices, casting a warm glow on the bedroom floor. Because they had been enjoying the cool breeze on the roof the previous night, the young couple had both caught a slight cold. Their noses were stuffy and their heads were groggy. They lingered in their warm bed for a long time, neither of them wanting to get up first.

There was a gentle knock on the door, accompanied by the old butler's respectful voice: "Sir, Miss, the Marquis has sent someone to ask twice, asking if you would like to have breakfast together?"

Zhang Jingwei's nasal voice came from behind the curtain, and he replied vaguely: "Hmm... I understand..."

Then Douya reminded him again: "My Lord won't wait for you. I'll heat it up again after I get up."

The footsteps outside the door gradually faded away. After a long while, Huangfu Ling finally stirred in her husband's arms, looking up at him. Her eyes, moist from the slight chill, curved with a smile, and her voice was soft and tender: "Daddy didn't even wait for us...you're staying in bed again."

Zhang Jingwei didn't say anything, but just lowered his head and gently placed a kiss on her smooth forehead, with the warmth of the morning and a hint of laziness.

Huangfu Ling wrinkled her small nose and muttered softly, "It stinks...it smells like medicine."

Zhang Jingwei chuckled softly, wrapping his arms around her tighter. His chin rested against the top of her head, and his voice was hoarse, "If you've caught a cold, don't get up and infect the servants. Let's just stay in this bed... and recover."

This twisted logic made Huangfu Ling chuckle. She found a more comfortable position in his arms, like a cat craving warmth. Her usual heroic demeanor was completely gone, leaving only complete dependence: "Well... It's the most comfortable in your arms... I don't want to go anywhere today, and no one can wake me up."

Zhang Jingwei loved her innocent look so much that he lowered his head to kiss her hair and said in a deliberately low voice with a hint of ambiguity: "Then... let's sleep for a whole day. It's a good opportunity... to explore more about the wonders of the human body..."

Huangfu Ling's cheeks flushed red instantly. She buried her face in his chest out of shame and punched him lightly with her fist. A muffled voice came out from his clothes, full of infinite coquettishness: "Bad guy~... You're not honest even when you're sick..."