Now that the Emperor has issued the decree, Su Tiyue can leave the palace and return home at any time.

Su Tiyue, who originally planned to pack her things and go home later, was touched by Xiao Heye's reluctant yet unwilling expression of wanting her to stay.

She was also reluctant to part with it.

That's why I decided to go home the next morning.

After the two had dinner, it gradually got dark, and a light drizzle was falling outside. If a breeze blew on their faces, they would feel cool.

"If you're not busy, why don't you come for a walk with me?" Su Tiyue took a pale yellow, exquisitely crafted bone umbrella, stood at the door, and turned her head to look at him.

"What's wrong, Your Highness? Are you still reluctant to leave?" Xiao Heye smiled and looked over her head at the rain outside.

The rain wasn't heavy, but the spring night in Yong'an City was still a bit chilly.

He glanced again at Su Tiyue's thin clothes, then walked behind the screen and took out a light pink cloak.

Xiao Heye walked up to her with steady and powerful steps, then draped the cloak over her shoulders and carefully tied it for her.

After he finished doing all that, Xiao Heye took the bone umbrella from her hand and opened it.

When he held the umbrella for her, the umbrella in his hand would always intentionally or unintentionally lean towards her, so that most of his clothes on one shoulder would be covered with a layer of fine water droplets.

Everything happened so naturally.

In his presence, Su Tiyue was always the one being taken care of.

Xiao Heye held a high position and wielded immense power. Although to outsiders he was merely a despicable and shameless eunuch who indiscriminately killed innocent people, he seemed to possess an innate kingly aura and an arrogant demeanor that looked down upon the world.

But this man, so strong and powerful, always inadvertently becomes more tender and gentle when facing Su Tiyue.

His tolerance and concession, his meticulousness, and his unwavering attitude towards relationships are truly amazing.

The two walked out of Yelan Pavilion. When they passed Tingyu Tower, Su Tiyue peeked inside. It was as quiet as ever.

"I suddenly remembered when I first moved here, Tingyu Tower was always noisy. It must have annoyed the Master back then, right?" Su Tiyue tilted her head to the side, a slight smile curving her lips.

She was beautiful when she smiled; her eyes and eyebrows curved like the moon and a gentle breeze caressing his heart.

Xiao Heye hummed in agreement, gave her a fond look, and then remained silent.

He thought to himself that although it was a bit noisy, he didn't find it annoying at all.

Xiao Heye is a man skilled in strategy and planning. It seems that Su Tiyue's path and ultimate destination are all within his control.

Not surprising at all.

The paths in Nanyuan are always kept very clean, so even if it rains and wets the road, Su Tiyue's skirt hem won't get dirty.

As they walked along the winding path to the jasmine garden that Xiao Heye had specially planted for her, he suddenly turned around and asked, "Your Majesty, do you remember where this place used to be?"

Su Tiyue lowered her eyes and said calmly, "It is... Nanyuan Xiangtang."

"Will Your Majesty still feel palpitations and fear when you think of this incense hall again?"

Clearly, Xiao Heye was referring to the matter concerning Prince Rong.

She shook her head and said, "No."

Su Tiyue reached out and hooked her arm around his, who was holding the umbrella, and said fearlessly, "From early winter last year to late spring this year, in just a few short months, I have witnessed countless bloody and cruel scenes, seen countless people stop breathing and their hearts stop beating in front of me. I have also experienced being chased, being hunted, and being plotted against, almost losing my life..."

"So many experiences have made that once weak little girl stronger and braver, haven't they?" she asked him, looking up at him.

Xiao Heye chuckled and asked her, "Is Your Highness blaming me?"

"Of course not. To me, the Palm Seal can create miracles and create beauty; it is my most loyal guardian. Just like this garden in front of me... When the Palm Seal planted these jasmine flowers, I was thinking that the incense hall where people had died had been razed to the ground, and then covered with a thick layer of soil, and planted seeds that represent hope and a bright future."

She paused, her eyes slightly red: "This is the best and most precious gift that Master Xiao gave me. When summer comes and the jasmine flowers bloom, Master Xiao, please remember to bring me here to see them again."

"I had no idea that I was so good in Her Majesty's eyes?"

"Master Xiao is wonderful, impeccably wonderful, wonderful in every way." After a while, she blinked her bright eyes and whispered, "Why does Master Xiao still call me Your Majesty? Once we leave this palace, I will no longer be Your Majesty."

"It's only the last day. I won't be able to call you 'Your Majesty' anymore..." Xiao Heye replied with a smile, his eyes filled with tenderness and affection as he looked at you.

"Is Your Highness happy? Tomorrow you will leave the palace and be the real Su Tiyue again... no longer the Consort Shu in other people's eyes, nor the Dowager Consort Shu, but just an ordinary family's daughter."

Su Tiyue nodded: "Yes. From the day I entered the palace, I thought this was how my life would be. I would be born, grow old, get sick and die within these palace walls, and I would never be able to get out."

“When the late emperor was on the throne, I lived in constant fear, afraid of serving him in bed, afraid that I might accidentally run into him at some corner.”

"Later, when the late emperor passed away, and I had the seal of office to rely on, I felt that there was hope for the future."

"Master... After I leave the palace, let's be like everyone else, an ordinary couple, living the most ordinary life... okay?" Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was deeply engraved in his heart.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!