After the funeral, Xiao Chengyu locked herself in her palace, refusing to see anyone. She held Qi Mingxuan's belongings and spent her days in tears.

On the seventh day, Xiao Chengji forced his way in.

"Yu'er! Look at the state you've become!" he cried out in anguish. "If Mingxuan were alive, how heartbroken he would be to see you torturing yourself like this!"

Xiao Chengyu raised his head, his eyes vacant: "Brother, my heart aches so much... it hurts so much I feel like I'm dying..."

Xiao Chengji sat down beside her and said softly, "I know. But Mingxuan doesn't want you to be like this. His greatest wish is for you to live a happy and fulfilling life."

Just then, a palace servant came to report: Qin Sang requests an audience.

Qin Sang brought a letter: "This was found while sorting through the Prince Consort's belongings. It must have been written when his condition improved."

Xiao Chengyu trembled as he opened the letter; it bore Qi Mingxuan's familiar handwriting:

"Yu'er, if you read this letter, it means I am no longer in this world. Do not be sad, do not cry. Being able to love and stay with you is the greatest happiness of my life."

Remember to eat well, go to bed on time, and avoid staying up late reviewing memorials. No matter how busy you are with state affairs, take care of yourself…

If there is an afterlife, I will find you again and reunite with you. At that time, we will no longer be royalty, but just an ordinary couple, growing old together.

"Mingxuan, who will always love you"

Reading the letter, Xiao Chengyu burst into tears, but the heart-wrenching pain in his heart seemed to be relieved somewhat.

From that day on, she slowly pulled herself together. She knew that Qi Mingxuan wanted her to live well and to continue protecting the great Liang they both loved.

She devoted herself entirely to state affairs, earning the respect of her officials through her outstanding abilities. With her assistance, Xiao Chengji successfully ascended the throne, becoming the new emperor. Border wars gradually subsided, and the Great Liang Dynasty ushered in a long-awaited period of peace and prosperity.

However, whenever the night is quiet, she would take out that letter and gently stroke the handwriting, as if she could feel the warmth of the writer.

A year later, on Qingming Festival, Xiao Chengyu came alone to Qi Mingxuan's tomb. A spring breeze blew, and pear blossoms fell like snow, just like the scene when they first met.

She gently placed a bouquet of white chrysanthemums down and said softly, "Mingxuan, I'm doing well. The government is stable, and the people live in peace and contentment. Are you doing well over there? Do you miss me?"

A gentle breeze blew by, and the pear blossoms fluttered down, as if in response to her question.

Xiao Chengyu smiled slightly, tears welling in his eyes: "I miss you so much. Every day, every moment. But don't worry, I will live well, for your sake too."

She stood quietly in front of the grave for a long time, until the sun set, before turning and leaving.

As she left the cemetery, she encountered an unexpected person—Xie Ling'er. She was also holding a bouquet of white chrysanthemums, clearly there to pay her respects.

"Princess," Xie Ling'er greeted.

"Whom are you here to pay respects to?" Xiao Chengyu asked, somewhat surprised.

Xie Ling'er said softly, "To commemorate a relationship that ended before it even began." She looked at Qi Mingxuan's tombstone, "And also to commemorate the foolish self who once had such delusions."

Xiao Chengyu was silent for a moment, then asked, "Have you let it go now?"

Xie Ling'er smiled slightly: "I've let it go. Actually, I let it go a long time ago, but I wanted to settle things today." She looked at Xiao Chengyu, "What about the princess? Has she let it go?"

Xiao Chengyu looked at the setting sun on the horizon and said softly, "Some feelings don't need to be let go; you just need to carry them with you as you move forward."

The two exchanged a smile, as if they had reached some kind of tacit understanding.

On the way back to the palace, Xiao Chengyu suddenly remembered something and asked the maid accompanying him, "How are Qin Sang and Xin Rui doing lately?"

The maid reported, "Miss Qin has opened a clinic in the capital, providing free medical care to the poor. General Xin goes there every day to help out, and the two have a very good relationship."

Xiao Chengyu smiled slightly: "It seems that good things are coming soon."

Sure enough, Xin Rui soon came to see Xiao Chengyu and asked for a marriage decree. Xiao Chengyu gladly agreed and personally officiated at their wedding.

At the wedding, looking at the radiant newlyweds, Xiao Chengyu was happy for them, but he couldn't help but think of his own wedding, and a pang of sadness rose in his heart.

Just then, a warm little hand tugged at her clothes. She looked down and saw it was Xiao Chengrui and Ashina Yun's son, who could already walk.

“Auntie,” the little one said in a childish voice, “Daddy said you would tell me stories.”

Xiao Chengyu bent down and picked him up, saying softly, "Okay, Auntie will tell you a story about a brave general and a beautiful princess..."

Days passed by like this. Xiao Chengyu poured all his energy into politics and teaching his nephew, as if this could fill the void in his heart.

However, fate is always unpredictable. On a clear autumn day, news came from the border: in the final battle against the Northern Barbarians, the soldiers rescued a severely wounded man. Although the man's face was disfigured and he had lost his memory, he clutched a jade pendant tightly to his chest—exactly the same one that Xiao Chengyu had given to Qi Mingxuan.

Upon hearing the news, Xiao Chengyu dropped his teacup with a thud.

"Prepare the horses!" Her voice trembled. "Prepare the horses immediately! I want to go to the border myself!"

Xiao Chengyu rode at breakneck speed, traveling day and night, and finally arrived at the border military camp five days later. Xiao Chengrui had already received the news and was waiting outside the camp gate.

"Yu'er!" Seeing her dismount, Xiao Chengrui hurriedly went to greet her, "Was the journey smooth?"

Xiao Chengyu, disregarding pleasantries, asked urgently, "Where is he? Take me to see him!"

Deep within the military camp, outside a secluded tent, heavily guarded, Xiao Chengyu lifted the curtain and entered. He saw a man with a scarred face lying unconscious on the bed, while the military doctor changed his dressings.

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