Spring is in full bloom in Jiangnan.

Willows swayed like smoke along the banks of the canal, and peach blossoms were in full bloom. The Shen family courtyard was bustling with activity. The twins, a boy and a girl, belonging to the second brother Shen Wenbai, were over 100 days old, exquisitely beautiful, and had become the apple of the family's eye. An'an had become the eldest sister, earnestly helping to take care of her younger siblings every day. The courtyard was filled with the babbling of babies and the laughter of children.

Shen Yuewei sat on the porch, sewing a small summer dress for An'an. Warm sunlight bathed her, and she listened to the laughter of her parents playing with their grandson, the whispers of her second brother and sister-in-law, and An'an's chattering childish words. She felt a sense of peace and tranquility. Only occasionally would her gaze drift involuntarily towards the courtyard gate, carrying a barely perceptible hint of anticipation.

"Yuwei, take a rest. Chengjing isn't an outsider." Lin Qingwan sat on the porch, basking in the sun with her youngest son who had just woken up. Seeing Shen Yuewei's slightly nervous expression, she couldn't help but tease her. She had taken good care of herself after giving birth, and her complexion was rosy, adding to her mature charm.

Shen Yuewei's face flushed, and before she could answer, a commotion of voices and the clear sound of horses' hooves drifted from the direction of the canal dock outside the courtyard, eventually stopping at the door.

Shen Yuewei's heart skipped a beat without warning. She put down her needlework and slowly stood up. She subconsciously tidied her temples, took a deep breath, and quickly walked towards the door.

The courtyard gate creaked open.

Outside the door stood a travel-worn figure. He wore a slightly worn blue robe, stood tall and elegant, his face was a little thinner, and his brows showed the weariness of a long journey. But his deep eyes, under the warm spring sun, shone astonishingly, having traversed thousands of mountains and rivers and crossed years of time, and were fixed directly and precisely on her.

There were no words, no calls. Time seemed to stand still at that moment.

Shen Yuewei felt a massive torrent of joy, sorrow, and disbelief instantly overwhelm her, surging through her heart and rushing to her eyes. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She just stared at him, at the undisguised longing and deep affection in his eyes that almost devoured her.

The laughter inside the courtyard seemed to sense something was amiss and gradually quieted down. An'an was the first to run out; seeing the people at the door, her little mouth gaped open, then she burst into a thunderous cheer:

"Daddy! It's Daddy! Daddy's back!"

The first thing that catches the eye is An'an, clinging to the leg of a tall, sturdy figure like a little koala, her little face tilted up, chattering excitedly: "Daddy! Daddy! An'an missed you so much! Have you seen my new clothes?"

The figure wore an ordinary bamboo-green straight-cut long robe, lacking any royal grandeur, yet still exuding an air of refined elegance. He bent slightly, one hand steadily supporting his daughter's little bottom, the other gently stroking An'an's hair. His handsome features bore the weariness of a long journey, but also overflowed with undisguised longing and doting affection.

"I saw her, An'an is so beautiful." His voice was a little hoarse, but as gentle as the breeze in Jiangnan in March.

Then, he raised his head, his gaze passing over his cheering daughter, and precisely capturing Shen Yuewei standing under the eaves, her eyes already red-rimmed.

Their eyes met.

Thousands of miles, years of separation, court intrigue, misty rain in Jiangnan... all the waiting, torment, longing, and perseverance converge and melt away in this one glance.

Xiao Chengjing gently put An'an down and strode towards Shen Yuewei. His steps were steady, yet carried an almost urgent determination. He quickly stepped onto the stairs and stood before her.

Sunlight filtered through the newly green grapevines, casting dappled patterns that danced in his deep eyes and illuminated the misty tears welling in Shen Yuewei's eyes. She gazed at his slightly thinner yet still handsome features, at the undisguised fervor and deep affection in his eyes, an unspoken ache rising in her throat, finally culminating in a soft, choked whisper: "Chengjing..."

Without saying a word, Xiao Chengjing stretched out his arms and, under the smiling gazes of the Shen family and the curious look in An'an's eyes, tightly and forcefully embraced the woman who had supported his entire soul and illuminated the rest of his life.

The force of that embrace seemed to want to meld her into his very bones, carrying the preciousness of something lost and found, the weariness and ecstasy of traversing mountains and rivers, and the resolute determination to never be apart again.

"Veil... I'm back." His deep voice sounded in her ear, hot and trembling slightly. "I'll never leave again."

Shen Yuewei pressed her cheek against his warm, weathered chest, listening to his steady, powerful heartbeat. Tears that had been building up for so long finally streamed down her face, soaking his shirt. She closed her eyes, reached out, and wrapped her arms tightly around his lean waist. All her worries, grievances, and strength found refuge in this embrace.

"Mmm." She responded softly in his arms, her voice thick with nasal tone, yet full of peace and contentment.

"Ahem!" A deliberate cough broke the deeply moving scene. Shen Wenbai, fanning himself with a folding fan and holding his eldest daughter's hand, wore a mischievous smile. "I say, Your Highness... oh no, should I call you Prince now? You've come all this way back, and all you've done is hug your wife. You haven't even seen your parents-in-law, your second brother and sister-in-law, or our An'an... oh, and those two little ones in the cradle?"

Everyone burst into laughter. Mr. and Mrs. Shen watched their daughter and son-in-law embrace with smiles, their eyes filled with satisfaction. Lin Qingwan also smiled. An'an ran over and hugged her father's leg, tilting her little face up in protest, "Daddy, hug An'an! Daddy, hug An'an!"

This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!