His innermost thoughts were revealed, and he ventured into a fictional dynasty with the system.

Xiao Wanxi had been anxiously watching the Emperor Emeritus's figure. When she saw him walk back safely, her heart, which had been clenched with worry, instantly relaxed.

However, the extreme worry and fear just now instantly turned into anger and heartache.

Her eyes reddened, and she quickly walked to the Emperor Emeritus's side, raised her hand and slapped him hard on the back, her eyes already brimming with glistening tears.

Her voice was choked with sobs and reproach, and she said with a sob in her voice, "The Regent has already been in trouble. If something happens to you too, how can I, the Empress Dowager, live?"

How could you be so reckless? Didn't you think about yourself? What would I do if something happened to you...?

Her voice trembled, and every word was filled with concern and worry for the Emperor Emeritus.

Mu Yunxi silently stayed by Su Jinyun's side, her gaze also closely following the development of the situation, a hint of worry in her eyes.

Seeing that the soldiers began to move in an orderly manner and that nothing unusual happened, she finally felt a little relieved.

They helped Su Jinyun, who still looked sorrowful and seemed to have lost her soul, into the tent.

Inside the tent, the atmosphere was oppressive and heavy. The two sat facing each other, and for a moment, they didn't know where to begin.

A suffocating silence filled the air, as if an invisible boulder was pressing heavily on their hearts, making it hard for them to breathe.

The system, Haoyue, which had transformed back into the adorable panda, was now filled with indignation and frustration, its once round eyes seeming to spit fire.

It had just clearly heard that mysterious voice, which was like a cold command, demanding that it help the emperor here without question.

They even threatened him fiercely, saying that if he didn't do as they said, he wouldn't be able to leave the place.

What angered and frustrated it even more was that it tried to contact the system bureau through various means, hoping to seek support or a reasonable explanation.

But the instructions coming from the other end were that it should unconditionally obey the voice's commands. This infuriated it so much that its whole body trembled slightly.

He cursed inwardly, "I should have known better than to stay and watch the show and get myself into this mess! I'm so regretful! What a terrible thing to do!"

Amid the tense and busy disaster relief atmosphere, the soldiers on patrol nearby would occasionally cast curious glances at this adorable little iron-eating beast.

Their entire attention had just been drawn to the strange sight in the sky.

Seeing such a small, exquisite, and adorable iron-eating beast, I immediately felt it was very novel and interesting.

Haoyue keenly sensed that someone was secretly observing it, and the anger that had been building up in its heart was instantly ignited again. It bared its teeth angrily at those people.

Its originally cute appearance now had a hint of ferocity, as if it wanted to display its authority and warn those people not to spy on it.

Seeing those people instinctively take a step back, it felt secretly pleased with itself, thinking it had successfully frightened everyone.

It then strode with short, yet deliberately arrogant steps toward Su Jinyun's tent, as if declaring its dissatisfaction and anger to the whole world.

However, it did not hear the soldiers whispering among themselves, their words filled with affection and praise for it.

"Look at that little iron-eating beast, it's so cute!"

"Yes, I've never seen one this small before. It's quite interesting."

"Look at its puffed-up face, it's so funny."

Since that upheaval, the Zhaoning Kingdom has resembled a huge and complex machine.

Driven by the passage of time, they have been steadily and quickly engaged in the intense and busy process of rescue and development.

From the bustling streets and alleys of Kyoto to the quiet villages in remote border regions, the entire country...

Everyone seemed to be drawn by an invisible yet powerful force, immersing themselves wholeheartedly in their respective affairs.

On the surface, everything was proceeding in an orderly manner. Qin Qianluo's departure was like a wisp of smoke, leaving no obvious ripples in people's lives.

It was as if she had never existed on this land; no one mentioned her name in public anymore, and there were no sacrificial ceremonies.

It was as calm as a bottomless pool, yet it subtly revealed an indescribable strangeness.

However, beneath this seemingly calm surface lies a deep and unyielding longing in everyone's heart.

Whether it's the emperor and his ministers who hold the heavy responsibility of the nation's rise and fall in the imperial court, or the soldiers who are stationed year-round on the harsh frontiers, defending the country with their blood and loyalty.

Or perhaps it's the ordinary people who toil day and night in the city to make a living, who, in the midst of their busy daily lives, will inevitably fall into a brief daze in an unintentional moment.

And at such times, their gazes would always unconsciously drift to the distant horizon, fixing on the direction in which that bright red figure finally disappeared.

In those eyes, there was a faint glimmer of expectation, like a candle flame flickering in the cold night, weak yet tenacious.

It was as if, if they gazed at it long enough, that fiery red, as intense as flames and as dazzling as the sun, would once again come into view.

With the dignity and warmth of the past, they once again lead them forward.

But each time, after a brief yet long gaze, they could only lower their eyes helplessly and disappointedly, silently burying the last glimmer of hope in their hearts.

Then, pretending nothing had happened, she continued with her work as if the affectionate gaze had never occurred.

What is tacitly understood is that, in the long years that have passed, not a single person has proposed building a cenotaph for the regent.

It's as if as long as they don't do that, Qin Qianluo will still exist vividly in everyone's hearts, and will return calmly as before at some unexpected moment.

Standing before the crowd once more, she leads the Zhaoning Kingdom towards a brighter and more glorious future with her exceptional wisdom and decisive decisions.

The Kingdom of Zhaoning is waiting, and so is the Emperor.

The young emperor held firm to his belief that he had plenty of time to wait for the moment when that miracle would happen.

When Qin Qianluo once again set foot on this land she deeply cherished.

Time flies like an arrow, passing by in the blink of an eye, and many years slip by quietly.

The now very old Su Jinyun, after returning from the border, stepped into the palace that held countless memories and supreme power for the first time.

At that time, Ning Yuanhe was in the Imperial Study, concentrating on dealing with a mountain of government affairs.

Sunlight streamed through the carved window lattice, falling on her focused face and revealing her slightly furrowed brows.

Upon hearing the eunuch rush in and whisper the news that Su Jinyun had come to the palace to request an audience, she abruptly stopped writing with the vermilion pen she was using to review memorials.

A drop of thick ink fell silently, leaving a small, irregular dark stain on the white Xuan paper, much like the turbulent emotions she was experiencing at that moment.

Su Jinyun's figure is no longer as tall and lithe as it once was; time, like a merciless carving knife, has left deep and indelible marks on her.

Her back was slightly hunched, like an old tree that had weathered many storms; though it still stood tall and resilient, it could not hide the vicissitudes of time.

Although his steps were still steady and powerful, each step carried a slowness and solemnity that he had never experienced before, as if each step carried the weight of time.

Her head was full of pure silver hair, neatly and tidyly coiled at the back of her head, with an antique jade hairpin on her bun.

Its warm luster reveals the sedimentation of time, adding a touch of solemnity and depth.

She wore a plain-colored robe, the wide sleeves swaying gently as she walked, like withered leaves drifting in the wind, yet carrying a sense of resilience and indomitable spirit after enduring hardships.

As Ning Yuanhe watched Su Jinyun slowly approach, her eyes involuntarily reddened slightly, and a complex mix of emotions welled up in her heart.

She understood deeply that Su Jinyun's heart was filled with resentment, a resentment like a seed buried deep in her heart.

Nourished by the years, it has long since taken root, sprouted, and grown into a towering tree that blocks out the sun.

This resentment was not only directed at Zhaoning Kingdom, but also at her own deep self-blame and regret for being powerless to reverse the situation when Qin Qianluo left.

Since returning from the border, Su Jinyun has secluded herself in the Regent's Palace, like a wounded goose licking its wounds alone, refusing any contact with the outside world.

Apart from Mu Yunxi, no one else is allowed to step into the Regent's Palace.

She was immersed in her own world all day long, bearing the immense pain of losing Qin Qianluo alone, as if the whole world had collapsed and only the four walls of the Prince's Mansion were her everything.

Mu Yunxi, a former warrior who once dominated the battlefield, still retains her superb martial arts skills despite the marks that time has left on her.

In order to see Su Jinyun, she actually used all her skills to climb over the wall and enter the Regent's Palace.

Every night, when all was quiet, Mu Yunxi would use her lightness skill to quietly scale the high walls of the Prince's mansion like a ghost, and reunite with Su Jinyun.

Su Jinyun was helpless about this and could only let her do as she pleased. After all, if the wall were really raised, given Mu Yunxi's stubborn and obstinate nature, she might accidentally fall and hurt her old bones.

But that would give her a reason to stay in the Regent's Palace and not leave, which would likely cause even more trouble.

The Imperial Preceptor Yu Ji, too, gradually aged in the long river of time, like a flower that blooms and then withers.

After returning from the border, she resolutely chose to retreat to the mountains and forests, far away from the hustle and bustle of the world, like a weary bird returning to its nest, seeking inner peace and tranquility.

She ceased to concern herself with worldly affairs, as if she had quietly vanished from the world, and no further news of her came.

Ning Yuanhe respected Yu Ji's choice and did not want to disturb her secluded life. Over the years, she has not sent anyone to search for her whereabouts.

Every year, as long as I receive a letter from Yu Ji from the mountains and know that she is doing well in that peaceful place, I feel a sense of comfort.

It was as if the letter from afar was an invisible thread connecting the past and the present, preventing her from forgetting the years when they fought side by side.