An eight-year-old kid emptied his scumbag father's warehouse and followed his grandparents into

"Xiaoyu, you can't delay your marriage with Langlang any longer." Jing Chunxi gently stroked Xiaoyu's long hair, who was over thirty years old, her eyes full of pity. "If we delay any longer, the dowry I prepared for you will go moldy. Take advantage of my return to the capital this time and get the wedding done quickly."

Years ago, Xiaoyu often visited her sister in the palace and developed feelings for the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards, a relationship that turned out to be a tragic one. The deputy commander died a heroic death while on official business outside the palace, leaving Xiaoyu heartbroken and unable to recover.

Over the years, no matter how much they advised her, Xiaoyu never started a second relationship.

Three years ago, Feng Langlang, who had been widowed for many years, came to propose marriage, but Xiaoyu refused to budge. The two remained deadlocked, neither willing to marry the other. In desperation, Feng Jiaojiao had no choice but to beg Jing Chunxi to act as a mediator.

“But… Xiaoyu still wants to take care of her nephews more… she doesn’t want to…” Xiaoyu lowered her eyes and twisted her handkerchief. Although her tone was still hesitant, it had already revealed a hint of relenting.

"Aunt Xiaoyu is so annoying, always interfering in everything! You should just get married already!"

“That’s right! Besides, Father can’t bear to see Mother suffer anymore, and we also want to have more younger brothers and sisters to keep us company. Aunt, hurry up and get married and have more children.”

"The Feng residence is only two streets away from our home. We can easily make seven or eight round trips a day!"

The triplets chimed in with their own words, helping Xiaoyu until her face flushed red and she was almost bursting with anger.

"You...you..." She stomped her foot defiantly, looking like she was ready to throw caution to the wind, "Then...it's all up to you, sister! From now on, your aunt will never come back to see you again!"

The triplets clapped their hands excitedly: "Then we'll go to the Feng Mansion to visit Auntie after school! It would be best if Auntie had a few younger cousins ​​soon."

...

In the winter of the eighteenth year of the Dakang era, the retired emperor and empress arrived in Lingnan once again.

The climate here is very different from that in the north; it's spring-like all year round and full of blooming flowers.

They bought a small courtyard next to the lychee grove. Every lychee season, Xu Zize would personally climb the tree to pick the lychees and hand the sweetest and largest ones to Jing Chunxi.

"Do you remember back in Yamen Village, there weren't many lychee trees? Do you remember the lychee you gave your husband?" Xu Zize suddenly asked.

Jing Chunxi certainly remembered. Back then, the future was uncertain, and even a single lychee had to be shared. Looking back now, those difficult years have become her most precious memories.

In Lingnan, they met many local farmers. Xu Zize would help them repair farm tools, while Jing Chunxi taught the farm women embroidery. No one knew their true identities; they simply assumed they were a wealthy couple from the capital.

That day, while Jing Chunxi was teaching embroidery, a peasant woman asked curiously, "Madam, why don't you have any children by your side at your age?"

Jing Chunxi smiled slightly: "The children have all grown up and have their own paths to walk."

The peasant woman nodded as if she understood, and said enviously, "Madam and Master have such a good relationship; they are inseparable every day."

Yes, they're inseparable. Jing Chunxi thought to herself, this is probably the life she's longed for.

After living in Lingnan for a year, they set off for Sichuan. The roads to Sichuan were difficult to travel, but they were in no hurry, stopping frequently to enjoy the scenery along the way.

In Chongqing, they sampled all the street food. Jing Chunxi especially loved Dan Dan noodles, so Xu Zize secretly asked a vendor for the recipe, wanting to make it for her when they got back.

"My husband is even becoming proficient in cooking now?" Jing Chunxi teased.

Xu Zize said solemnly, "It is a husband's duty to cook for his wife."

These words warmed Jing Chunxi's heart. The former Xu Zize was a king, with the country and its people in his heart; the current Xu Zize was simply her husband, whose heart was filled with her.

At the foot of Mount Qingcheng, they met a wandering Taoist priest. The priest looked at their faces and said meaningfully, "You two are destined for greatness, yet you are able to let go of wealth and status and enjoy the freedom of nature. This is truly great wisdom."

Xu Zize and Jing Chunxi exchanged a smile. Indeed, being able to set aside one's imperial status and live the life of an ordinary person—isn't that a kind of happiness?

In the autumn of the nineteenth year of the Da Kang reign, they finally set off for Rouran. After a long journey, they finally saw Mingzhu, which they had not seen for many years.

Mingzhu is already a mother of two, but when she sees her sister and brother-in-law, she still rushes into Jing Chunxi's arms just like when she was a child.

With tears welling up in her eyes, Mingzhu said, "When I went back last time, I told you that you had gone traveling. I miss you so much."

Hei Zi stood to the side, bowing respectfully. He was now the king of Rouran, and Mingzhu was the queen. Yet, in their presence, he still maintained the same humility he had shown in the past.

After living in Rouran for more than half a year, Jing Chunxi saw Mingzhu's happy appearance and finally felt completely at ease. Before parting, Mingzhu quietly said to Jing Chunxi, "Sister, Mingzhu thinks you look younger than when you were in the palace."

Jing Chunxi touched her face and smiled. Perhaps it was a compliment, but it was also a reflection of her state of mind.

After leaving Rousseau, they had no fixed destination and went wherever their hearts led them. Sometimes they would stay in a small town for months, and sometimes only for a few days.

That day, they arrived at a small village on the edge of northern Xinjiang. That night, Xu Zize and Jing Chunxi sat side by side on a sand dune, gazing at the stars.

"Does Madam still remember how long we've been away from the palace?" Xu Zize asked.

Jing Chunxi leaned on his shoulder: "Three years and four months."

“These past three years have been the happiest time for me,” Xu Zize said softly. “There were no memorials, no morning court sessions, just you and me.”

Jing Chunxi didn't answer, but simply held his hand tighter. Under a sky full of stars, the two figures nestled together, as if they would stay like this until the end of time.

"Madam," Xu Zize suddenly brought up the topic again, "what have you thought about having a little princess?"

Jing Chunxi looked up at him. In the moonlight, his eyes were gentle and expectant. She finally nodded softly: "If heaven is kind..."

Xu Zize happily embraced her and placed a kiss on her forehead.

The desert night wind blew, carrying the soft rustling of fine sand. In this vast expanse of land, they were just an ordinary couple, enjoying this belated tranquility and sweetness.

Meanwhile, Xu Li, far away in the capital, already had two children and was still reviewing memorials in the imperial study. When he saw letters from his parents sent from all over the country, a warm smile would always appear on his lips.

He knew that his father and mother were finally living the life they had longed for. And he would continue to protect this vast empire.

The book is finished! Thank you for reading!