After some time had passed since Jingxi and Jiang Bai's wedding, the weather gradually warmed up, and the beginning of spring was approaching. Everything was moving in a positive direction.

On the outskirts of Beijing, Yan Wan held Jing Xi's hand with a reluctant expression, "Are you really leaving, Jing Xi?"

Jing Xi noticed Yan Wan's reluctance. She patted Yan Wan's hand and said with a smile, "Wan'er, I can finally live the life I want. You should be happy for me. I've always been alone before, but I'm so lucky to have met you and Jiang Bai. I'm very content. Don't worry, I'll be back in three months for your coronation ceremony. I'll go scout out some locations for our Yan's Hotpot restaurant first, to see which places are suitable for opening. The shops in the capital are all up to you." Jing Xi said freely. Although she was also reluctant to part with Wan'er, she knew that they would meet again someday, and life was long. Their next meeting would only be filled with the joy of a long-awaited reunion.

Yan Wan nodded. "Yes, I know, Jingxi. I'm happy for you. My Jingxi can finally live freely and unrestrainedly." Although Yan Wan was very reluctant, she would not stop Jingxi. For Jingxi, her freedom was precious.

In modern times, Jing Xi's freedom was restricted by a mercenary organization. Helpless, she could only lick blood from the blade. Until the moment of her death, she was never truly free, and her body was taken back by the mercenary organization.

But Jingxi was lucky; she transmigrated. She had an extra chance to start over compared to others. Yet, she was also unlucky, because in the original story, Jingxi, who so yearned for freedom, ultimately spent her entire life in the palace. Her only freedom was the distance from the palace to the imperial mausoleum after her death.

Being the empress, holding the supreme position, is perhaps the life every woman envies. But for Jing Xi, the title of empress is a shackle that restricts her freedom. In the original book, Jing Xi's younger brother, Jing Mo, in order to earn a way for his sister to survive and not want her to be looked down upon, resolutely chose to join the army. In the end, he was framed and died on the battlefield. Jing Xi was devastated. Although she was a transmigrator, she had treated Jing Mo like her own younger brother for so many years. The blow of Jing Mo's death to Jing Xi can be imagined.

Later, Jingxi learned that Jingmo had been framed, so after her wedding to Ji Mosheng, she faked her death to escape, solely to investigate the true cause of Jingmo's death. Jiang Bai, upon learning this, selflessly accompanied Jingxi for three years in her search for the murderer, ultimately avenging Jingmo. Although Jingxi wasn't in the palace during those three years and was free, she was consumed by her desire for revenge. Filled with guilt and hatred, how could she truly be free?

For those three years, Jing Xi was in a daze, her mind and heart filled with nothing but finding out the truth and avenging her. Jiang Bai stayed by her side for three whole years until he avenged Jing Mo. For Jing Xi, Jiang Bai was also an extremely important person. Yan Wan remembered that in the original book, when Jing Xi was brought back by Ji Mosheng, she asked Jiang Bai, "Jiang Bai, we..." but was interrupted by Jiang Bai's "Respectfully seeing off Your Majesty." Yan Wan thought that during the three years that Jiang Bai accompanied Jing Xi, perhaps Jing Xi had also fallen in love.

Later, at the coronation ceremony, assassins lay in wait to kill Jing Xi. Jiang Bai shielded her from the attack. His love was restrained, patient, and gentle. He loved Jing Xi, but at that time, she was already married to Ji Mosheng. He feared that his affection would burden her and give the officials ammunition to attack her. Even at the very end, until his death, Jiang Bai gently wiped away Jing Xi's tears and said, "Your Majesty, don't cry. Today, Your Majesty is supremely noble and should not cry for me. It is Jiang Bai's good fortune to have met Your Majesty in this life."

Since Jiang Bai's passing, Jing Xi has become the respected Empress, never stepping out of the palace again. Some say that the Emperor and Empress are deeply in love, and the Emperor is unwilling to let the Empress leave even for a moment. Others say that there is no one outside the palace that the Empress cares about. There are many different opinions, but only Jing Xi knows which one is correct.

In the original book, Jing Xi never had freedom. Now, Jing Xi can live freely and as she pleases, and Yan Wan is genuinely happy for her.

"Alright! Wan'er, we'll meet again someday." Jing Xi stepped forward and hugged Yan Wan, saying this.

"Sister, you and brother-in-law must remember to come back and see me," Jingmo said pitifully and reluctantly from the side.

Jingxi squatted down and gently rubbed Jingmo's little head, saying tenderly, "Don't worry, your older sister will definitely come back to see you. Study hard at the academy, okay? Strive to become a good official in the future, then your older sister will be at ease." This time, Jingmo chose to pursue a literary career and would not take the path of joining the army again. Everything was quietly changing.

Jingmo nodded with tears in his eyes and said, "I know, sister. Don't worry about me."

Jing Xi rubbed his little head again and said to Yan Wan, "Wan'er, now that Jing Lian'er and her mother have been sent to prison, there are only my father and a few concubines in the mansion. But I am still a little worried about them taking care of Mo'er. I need you to look after him for me."

"Don't worry, Jingxi, I will protect Jingmo. You don't need to worry," Yan Wan said with a smile.

"That's good." The last heavy weight on Jing Xi's heart was lifted. "Alright, Wan'er, Xiao Mo, I'm leaving. I'll come back to see you."

"Goodbye Jingxi, Jiang Bai. Jiang Bai, you must take good care of Jingxi." Yan Wan said to Jiang Bai, who was leading the horse beside her.

Jiang Bai looked at Jing Xi tenderly and said, "I will." This time, he and Jing Xi were finally together.

"Have a safe journey, sister and brother-in-law."

Jing Xi mounted her horse, with Jiang Bai following closely behind. "Xiao Mo, Wan'er, let's go back. Giddy up!" Jing Xi waved to Yan Wan and Jing Mo before riding off. Jiang Bai nodded to them and rode after them. The morning sun shone on them, casting a brilliant glow.

Yan Wan and Jing Mo waited until they could no longer see the two figures before reluctantly preparing to go back. When they turned around, they saw Ji Mohan's carriage parked not far away, and Ji Mohan was standing in front of the carriage waiting for her. "Let's go, Xiao Mo, let's take the carriage back."

Jing Xi found her happiness, and Yan Wan also found her own happiness.

"Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to attend the morning court?" Yan Wan asked, pulling Jing Mo to stand in front of Ji Mohan.

"I've finished the morning court session, I've come to pick you up and take you home," Ji Mohan said, holding Yan Wan's hand.

Yan Wan said teasingly, "What? Afraid that Jing Xi and I will run away?"

"Yeah, if you run away, I'll have nowhere to cry." Ji Mohan jokingly went along with Yan Wan's words.

Yan Wan secretly turned her head and smiled, then said arrogantly, "Then I'll take pity on you and go back to the palace with you."

"Alright, thank you for taking pity on me, Wan'er." Ji Mohan helped Yan Wan and Jing Mo into the carriage.

On the other side, Jing Xi and Jiang Bai hadn't gone far when they saw Ji Mosheng standing by the roadside. After thinking it over, Jing Xi and Jiang Bai stopped in front of him.

Jing Xi dismounted, and Jiang Bai followed suit. Jing Xi pulled Jiang Bai to bow and said, "Greetings, Prince Sheng."

Ji Mosheng wanted to step forward and help Jing Xi up, but Jing Xi gently dodged his touch. Jing Xi calmly asked, "I wonder what business Your Highness has with my wife and me?"

Jingxi emphasized the phrase "husband and wife" to remind him that she was already married and hoped he would not do anything rash or say anything inappropriate.

Ji Mosheng lowered his head and smiled bitterly, then withdrew the hands he had reached out to help Jing Xi up, saying, "Jing Xi, I'm just here to see you two off, there's nothing special about it."

"Then thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. We must be on our way today, so we'll take our leave now." Jing Xi said, following his words. She was a little anxious. Although she was with Jiang Bai now, who knew if the power of that damned plot had disappeared? What if it caused some trouble again? How could her trip continue?

This is the freedom she has longed for for two lifetimes. If anyone destroys it, she will fight them to the death!

Ji Mosheng felt a pang of sadness seeing how she seemed to want to stay as far away from him as possible. Did she really dislike him that much?

“Jingxi, you don’t need to do this. I came here today because I have something to tell you. Recently, I’ve had many dreams that are so real that I’m so immersed in them that I don’t want to wake up.”