Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

"so beautiful."

Jiang Mengxuan squatted by the wishing well, placed a faint lotus lantern into the water, and gently stirred the surface with her jade-like hand, creating ripples.

The lotus lanterns drifted with the current, gradually merging with thousands of other lotus lanterns in the distance, creating an extremely beautiful and heartwarming scene.

Jiang Mengxuan looked on with infatuation, stood up and shook her wet hands: "Ah Lang, do you think all lovers in the world can eventually be together?"

Shen Lang calmly replied, "I don't know. I never believed in these things before, but at this moment, I think I should believe them."

Jiang Mengxuan smiled faintly, then stood up and grabbed Shen Lang's sleeve: "It's almost 9 PM, the time to release sky lanterns. I want to go and see, Lang, come with me."

Shen Lang took a clean white handkerchief from his waist, picked up Jiang Mengxuan's delicate hand, and carefully dried the water stains on her hand.

Such a subtle movement made Jiang Mengxuan's heart flutter like a deer, and her ears burned slightly again.

"Well, let's go."

Shen Lang took Jiang Mengxuan's hand and they walked together toward the Star River Terrace where the sky lanterns were released.

In front of Xinghe Terrace, the air was filled with the sounds of people and the fragrance of incense.

There is still half an hour before the auspicious time for releasing the sky lanterns.

At the highest point of Xinghe Terrace, Shen Lang seized a stone table and quietly placed a piece of silk on the stone bench.

Seeing such a thoughtful gesture, Jiang Mengxuan felt a surge of emotion once again.

Shen Lang secured a spot at the highest point of Xinghe Terrace, offering a panoramic view of the nightscape of Jinling.

Jiang Mengxuan took out a crystal bottle containing pink liquid, and at the same time took out two jade cups.

"According to the custom of the Daughters' Day, we should share a cup of peach blossom wine. Ah Lang, have you ever drunk peach blossom wine?"

"Peach blossom wine is brewed by the person you love. I don't even have someone I love, so how could I have peach blossom wine?"

"From this day forward, you will be able to drink peach blossom wine made by the person you love every year."

As they spoke, Jiang Mengxuan poured half a cup of peach blossom wine for herself and Shen Lang respectively.

“Ah Lang”.

Jiang Mengxuan raised her wine glass to Shen Lang, then covered her face with her sleeve and drank it all in one gulp.

"Ah."

Shen Lang picked up his wine cup, and similarly covered his face with his sleeves, drank half a cup of wine.

Peach blossom wine has a very low alcohol content, only around ten degrees in my previous life. It is also sweet and very refreshing to drink, and you won't feel drunk at all.

After finishing her glass of wine, Jiang Mengxuan poured herself and Shen Lang another half glass.

The two looked together at the brightly lit night view of Nanjing.

"Ah Lang, do you want to know when I fell in love with you?"

Jiang Mengxuan's eyes were filled with tears as she spoke softly.

"I never dared to hope for feelings before. Everyone says that the imperial family is heartless, but I have always kept my father's teachings in mind."

I also believe that my future husband will be like my ancestors, marrying into a wealthy and powerful family, and spending my life without love.

But the moment I saw you, I had a strange feeling. I remember it was at the Fragrance Pavilion, and I was still worried about the secret realm of Jinling.

Just then, you suddenly appeared before me. Seeing your decisive and ruthless actions, completely disregarding the threats from the Prime Minister's mansion, and cleanly and efficiently eliminating those henchmen...

A strange feeling arose in my mind; I felt that our fates might be inextricably linked from now on.

Shen Lang remained silent, listening quietly as Jiang Mengxuan poured out her heart to him.

"However, back then I never imagined that we would end up like this."

I just felt like I'd found someone I could use.

I'm sorry, Alang, this was my honest thought at the time, and I didn't want to deceive you.

Shen Lang nodded understandingly: "Mengxuan, you don't need to worry about it. Actually, I feel the same way."

In the beginning, my relationship with you was also about getting as many benefits as possible from you to improve my terrible life.

As for other things, I haven't really thought that much about it. After all, who can really explain feelings?

Jiang Mengxuan smiled and said, "I already knew that. You're already reaping what you sow."

After saying that, she added with emotion, "Later, when you guided me on how to govern a country, and taught me how to use power to replace the scheming and imperial arts,

My feelings for you have completely changed. When I initially chose you as my husband, I thought you were just a helpful assistant.

Looking back now, I realize that from that time onward, I deeply longed to spend my life with you, but I wasn't even aware of it myself.

As she spoke, she no longer concealed her gaze, looking at Shen Lang with deep affection.

Shen Lang laughed nonchalantly: "So, when you led me into the palace back then, it wasn't just a whim?"

"At that time, there was no other way. If we hadn't done that, you might have run away."

"Sigh, any normal person would be suspicious in this situation, right?"

"However, I made the right bet that day, and a husband came who I can rely on and spend my life with."

Shen Lang asked, puzzled: "A bet?"

"Ah."

Jiang Mengxuan nodded slightly.

"Actually, that night, I cast seventeen divinations, and every single one of them showed great fortune. Don't you think that's fate, Ah Lang?"

"Ha, I never expected that Her Majesty the Empress, who is so aloof and noble, would have such a playful side."

"Of course, so what if I'm the Empress? If I were to remove that title, I would just be a humble woman."

Jiang Mengxuan pushed the wine glass in front of her on the table.

"After all, a true lover is hard to find, and what daughter doesn't hope to marry a perfect husband?"

"After spending more than a year together, I am now very certain of my feelings."

I liked you from the very beginning, so Ah Lang…

Jiang Mengxuan grasped Shen Lang's hand, her face flushed with a delicate blush, as if she were pleading, yet also hoping.

"Please stop running away. I'm really not as bad as you think. I would never do something like betraying you after you've served your purpose."

I will only give you all my tenderness and affection. I am you, and you are me. We will join hands, weather the storms together, and face all setbacks and difficulties together.

Okay?

After listening to Jiang Mengxuan's story, Shen Lang grasped Jiang Mengxuan's somewhat cold hand.

"Mengxuan, since things have come to this point, there are some things I've been keeping to myself for a long time."

"I've been thinking about this for a long time now. In fact, no matter how much I say, it all boils down to one sentence."

Jiang Mengxuan quietly looked at Shen Lang's face, waiting for him to give his answer.

"If I really didn't care about you, why would I do so much for you?"

“Back then, you agreed to all three conditions I proposed without hesitation, and you never broke your promise.”

"From that time on, my feelings towards you had already changed."

It was only because of the difference in status, and the tragic history of powerful officials overshadowing their rulers, that they dared not confront all of this directly.

"After all this time together, I only recently realized that I've been the one running away all along, and running away doesn't solve anything."

"Fate may be unfair to everyone, but in the end, the key to controlling fate is actually in our own hands."

"So Mengxuan, for you, I can try to turn the gears of fate, put rationality aside, and follow my heart."

"If you do not betray me, I will treat you with sincerity. From now on, our fates will be intertwined. As long as you stand there, there will always be someone to shelter you from the wind and rain."

Two lines of tears streamed down Jiang Mengxuan's face; she was too excited to utter a single word.

At this moment, she finally felt relieved and no longer had to worry that this man would inexplicably run away from her.

bang——

With the sound of a bell, it was time to release the sky lanterns.

The next moment, countless sky lanterns rose up in front of the two of them.

On the Star River Terrace, beautiful women and talented men continuously uttered soft words and blessings for the future.

"so beautiful."

"Yes."

After the bell rang three times, Shen Lang and Jiang Mengxuan stood up together and looked at the scene of countless stars dotting the sky.

At this moment, the couples behind them were snuggling together, whispering sweet nothings to each other, and some even kissed instead of saying anything.

“Mengxuan…”

"Ok?"

Shen Lang called out softly, and Jiang Mengxuan responded blankly.

The next moment, her slender waist was forcefully pulled into the man's arms.

"Ah Lang, you, um..."

Before Jiang Mengxuan could respond, her burning lips had already silenced all the words she wanted to say.

After the initial shock, as if struck by lightning, Jiang Mengxuan wrapped her arms around Shen Lang's waist, nestled quietly in his embrace, and gave a swift, albeit stiff,, yet passionate, response.

Lips and teeth intertwined, ears and cheeks whispered sweet nothings—everything was so natural and inevitable.

Jiang Mengxuan gently closed her eyes, quietly enjoying this long-awaited moment of tenderness.

They finally put aside all their grudges and opened their hearts to each other without reservation.

Sky lanterns dotted the night sky, forming a thin stream of Milky Way, reflecting the image of a newlywed couple at the highest point of the Star River Terrace.