The Realization of the Meaning of Flower Language

In the sixth month of the first year of the Taigan reign, Princesses Qing'an and Ru'an returned to the capital. The emperor was overjoyed and held a banquet to welcome them, with all the officials celebrating together.

At the banquet, Li Xingyi, as the Empress, naturally sat with Qi Dou. Today, Li Xingyi specially wore a red strapless long dress with peony flowers embroidered on the bodice. She wore red embroidered shoes with a long pearl chain hanging on the edge of the shoes, which were also decorated with peony flowers. Her hair was loose, and she wore a golden phoenix crown and silver bells on her waist.

With all the officials present, Li Xingyi was able to meet Li Fengtan. Li Fengtan looked at Li Xingyi with great satisfaction and smiled. Li Yanzhang continued to smile at Li Xingyi, and Ji Xi nodded respectfully to her.

Qi Dou said to Li Xingyi, "Xingyi, I am looking forward to your surprise."

Before long, a palace attendant announced, "Princess Qing'an has arrived!" followed by, "Princess Ru'an has arrived!"

Li Xingyi gazed quietly ahead. The first thing he saw was a woman dressed in a simple blue robe, with a flowing blue hair ribbon. The woman had a beautiful face, and her peach-pink lips were particularly eye-catching.

Li Xingyi knew that this must be Princess Qing'an. After all, such attire and the determination in her eyes could only belong to Qi Qing, who could lead hundreds of generals.

"Royal sister, wait for me!" The voice was gentle and a little coquettish. Looking towards the source of the voice, one could see it coming from a woman with a round face. She was wearing a pale yellow dress and her headdress was adorned with flowers and pearl tassels.

She looks very cute; this is Princess Qi Ru of Ru'an.

The two men stepped forward and bowed to Qi Dou and the other man, saying, "Your Majesty and Empress pay their respects and wish you a long and healthy life."

Royal etiquette is paramount, especially on important occasions. Qi Dou said, "Rise, please take a seat."

The two replied fluently, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

After the two men were seated, Qi Dou said, "My dear ministers, now that they have arrived, let us begin the banquet."

Everyone hurriedly said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Qi Qing raised his wine cup and smiled at Qi Dou first, saying, "Your Majesty, this must be the Empress. She is indeed well-educated, elegant, and beautiful. I would like to offer a toast to the Empress."

Qi Dou was about to say no, but Li Xingyi raised her wine cup and said calmly, "Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty. I will drink first."

He then downed the drink in one gulp. Seeing this, Qi Qing also drank it down and laughed, "Your Majesty has a good capacity for alcohol."

Li Xingyi said calmly, "You flatter me, Your Majesty."

Qi Dou looked at Li Xingyi and said softly, "How are you? Are you feeling unwell? If so, you must tell me immediately."

Li Xingyi looked at him, not knowing what to say, and could only say, "Your Majesty, I am fine."

Qi Dou didn't know why, but he felt that Li Xingyi had a strange feeling today. Her eyes were no longer completely cold, but rather bitter.

At this moment, Qi Ru asked worriedly, "Brother, is Sister-in-law alright?"

With a large number of people at the banquet, Qi Dou and Li Xingyi's every move was under everyone's watchful eye.

Qi Dou realized what was happening and explained, "It's alright, the Empress hasn't drunk any alcohol. I was just worrying too much. Please continue, everyone."

Qi Ru laughed after hearing this, and hugged Qi Qing, saying, "Royal sister, I am so envious that my brother has already won over my sister-in-law so quickly."

Qi Qing patted her head and smiled, "I'm very happy that the Emperor treats the Empress so well. One should cherish the person one wants to protect in life."

"and……"

Qi Ru asked, "And what?"

Qi Qing looked at Li Xingyi and said, "Moreover, I feel that there is some kind of rift between the Empress and the Emperor. Although the Empress is naturally aloof, I feel that there must be something between them."

Qi Ru patted her chest and said, "It's okay, I'll take care of it. I will definitely protect them."

Qi Qing thought for a moment and said, "That's fine, Your Highness will accompany you."

Then, the two began their plan, offering toasts to the Empress one moment and to the Empress the next. Qi Dou tried to help her fend off the toasts, but Li Xingyi didn't give him the chance.

Finally, Qi Min couldn't stand it any longer and immediately said, "Hey! That's going too far! What are you two trying to do?! Didn't we say that Her Majesty the Empress doesn't drink much? Can't you hear us?!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned. Qi Qing remained calm and smiled, "I'm sorry, it was my elder sister who forgot."

Qi Ru pretended to think for a moment, then said, "Oh dear, how could I forget that?!"

Qi Min remained silent. Seeing this, Li Xingyi said calmly, "It's alright. We're happy today, so we should enjoy ourselves to the fullest."

Li Xingyi's face was now flushed red. Qi Dou looked at her, still worried, and said, "Please continue, everyone. I will help the Empress to the side hall to rest."

Qi Min finally breathed a sigh of relief, looked at the two people opposite her, and snorted.

After Qi Dou took Li Xingyi away, Qi Min immediately walked towards the two of them, slammed her hand on the table, and said, "Royal elder sister, royal younger sister, you two are acting a bit strange today?"

Qi Qing smiled, took a sip of wine, and said, "Don't worry, Imperial Sister, the two of us would never harm Her Majesty the Empress."

Qi Min asked, puzzled, "Then what were you doing just now...?"

Qi Ru pulled her aside and said, "Alright, the two of us are trying to warm up their relationship. You know, a man and a woman in a room together, what a great opportunity."

Qi Min asked in confusion, "Huh? Aren't they a married couple?"

Qi Qing looked at the wine glass and said, "Husband and wife are husband and wife, and their hearts are their own."

Over here, Qi Dou helped Li Xingyi to sit down in the side hall. He knelt down on one knee and took Li Xingyi's hand, saying, "Xingyi, why won't you let me drink for you?"

Li Xingyi's eyes were filled with complex emotions after hearing this, including love, resentment, sadness, and anger.

She looked at the person before her and said, "Your Majesty is the supreme ruler, how could I dare to trouble you?"

The tone was gentle, but the words spoken were so cold.

Qi Dou was puzzled. He asked, "Xing Yi, what's wrong with you? Why are you suddenly acting like a different person?"

Li Xingyi slowly approached him and said coldly, "Isn't this better? How respectful and courteous we are, how befitting of the Empress."

Qi Dou looked at her and said, "Xing Yi, are you unhappy because I always go to see Shi Yan?"

Upon hearing this, Li Xingyi immediately regained her composure and said, "Your Majesty should bestow your favors equally, and I dare not be displeased."

Qi Dou's eyes widened upon seeing this. He shook his head slightly, immediately stood up, grabbed Li Xingyi's arm, and said, "Xingyi, I don't want you to do this. Tell me what happened. Tell me."

Li Xingyi looked at him and thought of what happened back then. She also wanted to know what had happened back then. But he didn't say anything, and Li Xingyi didn't say anything this time either.

Li Xingyi only felt that Qi Dou had treated him so inexplicably back then, and Li Xingyi chose to forget all of that, but he became entangled with him again, fell in love again, and remembered all of that. How should Li Xingyi face Qi Dou, and how should he act as if nothing had happened?

After a long while, Li Xingyi remained silent. Seeing this, Qi Dou could only quietly hug Li Xingyi and say, "Xingyi, I'm sorry. If I'm wrong, I apologize to you. Please don't be like this, okay?"

Li Xingyi finally softened and deliberately asked, "Your Majesty, did I... know you before?"

Even though Qi Dou knew that she had forgotten him again because she didn't care about him, he was still very sad when he actually heard it.

He looked at Li Xingyi again and said with a wry smile, "Xingyi, I am Gongsun Dou."

Li Xingyi said calmly, "Your Majesty, I do not know Gongsun Dou. I first met Your Majesty at our wedding."

At that moment, Qi Dou froze completely, his heart as cold as if it had fallen into an ice cave.

His eyes were slightly red, and he choked out, "You...don't...recognize...me?"

Upon hearing this, Li Xingyi slowly stood up and bowed to him, saying, "Your Majesty is the Emperor of Qi, how could I not recognize you?"

Seeing her like this, Qi Dou shook his head in despair, tears streaming down his face, and said, "No...it's not like that! You're not like that!"

He then turned and ran out, saying, "I'm going to find Qingyi and get to the bottom of this! I don't believe you've forgotten me!"

"..." Li Xingyi watched his retreating figure in silence.

A Dou...

Qi Dou ran frantically through the red walls and finally found Qingyi and Zhao Hongxing in a courtyard not far from the side hall of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. They were sitting in the pavilion watching the fish.

"So that's how it is. That's why you were hiding your identity." Qingyi nodded.

Qi Dou walked quickly towards them and said, "Tell me! Why did Xingyi forget me?!"

Zhao Hongxing looked at Qi Dou and was about to advise him to calm down when Qingyi, as if she had known this moment would come, stood up and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive this servant for being rude."

Qi Dou immediately replied, "Granted!"

Zhao Hongxing could only pray for Qingyi from the sidelines.

Qingyi asked, "Does Your Majesty still remember leaving without saying goodbye three years ago?"

Qi Dou said, "I remember."

Qingyi asked somewhat excitedly, "Does Your Majesty know that the Empress is born without understanding emotions?"

Qi Dou paused for a moment, then said, "I don't know, but..."

Qingyi continued, "But you noticed it, you just didn't believe it because you thought it couldn't be! Her Majesty couldn't do that!"

Qi Dou retorted, "I am not! I did not!"

Qingyi retorted angrily, "So you left without saying goodbye and misunderstood that Her Majesty had agreed to Li You's marriage proposal, but you forgot that she is also a person!"

"She's just a little slow on the uptake when it comes to matters of the heart, but that doesn't mean her heart is cold! Li Xingyi has already fallen for you without even realizing it!"

"However, your actions led the Empress to drink the potion of forgetfulness in her grief!"

Zhao Hongxing gently patted Qingyi's back and whispered, "Your tone, watch your tone."

Because she never believed that Li Xingyi could fall in love with her, even after receiving the answer, she was still instinctively incredulous.

Qi Dou shook his head and slowly backed away, saying, "How...how could she? How could she?"

Seeing this, Qingyi continued, "What is the Water of Forgetfulness?! The Water of Forgetfulness makes you forget love! If you have no love, how can you forget it?!"

Zhao Hongxing whispered from the side, "Don't get excited, don't get excited."

"Then... how can she regain her memories?" Qi Dou asked.

Qingyi said, "Her Majesty regained her memory a month ago, which is why she refuses to see you."

At this point, Qi Dou finally understood, and he turned and ran towards the side hall with tears streaming down his face.

It turns out it wasn't that I didn't love you, but that I didn't know I loved you!

Li Xingyi! For the past three years, I... have really missed you.

He thought to himself, and tears streamed down his face.

At this moment, Qi Dou felt that the road from here to the side hall was too long, too long because three years had passed, too long because it was so agonizing.

Qi Dou just wanted to see the person he had longed for all these years as soon as possible.

When they arrived at the side hall, Li Xingyi had changed out of his red robes and into his usual white robes, just like the ones he wore back then.

In fact, the moment Qi Dou stepped into the side hall and embraced Li Xingyi, he had already won, because she was still there, still waiting for him.

At this moment, the lily of the valley outside swayed in the wind, and the meaning of the lily of the valley flower was realized at this moment: "happiness returns".

The silver bells on Li Xingyi's body swayed gently in the wind, reminding him of the time when he was first given his name.

Cold stars, an unchanging heart.