Sweet after bitter

Morning Light Hall

Chen Huanli wore only bright yellow pajamas and walked barefoot on every brick.

Fu Huaiying sat on the dragon chair and laughed at him, "There are only so many bricks in total, how long will it take you to walk?"

"cold."

"Wear shoes when it's cold."

"If it weren't for Lord Wen keeping you in check, those old guys would have come up and torn you apart. Especially that Li Li. I don't even want to listen to him."

Fu Huaiying laughed, "How can you be so childish even at this age? They were originally all members of the Huan Wang Party, but now because of the soldiers you brought with you and Yan An, my brother's military power dare not speak out. But as long as it doesn't threaten your throne, they can say whatever they want. How many more years can they talk?"

Chen Huanli kicked the table in frustration. "I thought that once you became emperor, you wouldn't have to suffer any grievances."

Fu Huaiying laughed out loud, "Hahaha, do I look like I've been wronged?"

"Just let Li Li go back to his hometown."

Fu Huaiying shook her head. "No, he's a censor, so he's a bit blunt. But when Emperor Huanyu was on the throne, he dared to speak frankly about the emperor's mistakes, which shows that he's upright. Huanli, there will be more and more people around you in the future, and nice words will always make you feel comfortable, but there must always be someone who speaks frankly about your mistakes."

"It's good that I have a teacher by my side. I will listen to whatever you say."

"You are the emperor. If you only believe the words of one person, you will bring about your own destruction," she said, touching Chen Huanli's ear. "Dragon ears are meant to hear voices from all directions."

Chen Huanli spread his legs, sat on the ground, and lay on her legs, closing his eyes. "That's too noisy."

"Honest words may be unpleasant to the ears, but they are beneficial to one's conduct."

He curled his lips, indicating that he had understood, and rubbed his face sideways, "Teacher, when do you and Lin Yan'an plan to get married?"

Fu Huaiying was stunned for a moment. She had never thought about this question. To her, as long as the two of them were of one mind, it didn't matter whether they got married or not.

"There is no such plan for the time being."

Chen Huanli looked up at her, his eyes shining. "If you don't want to get married, that's fine. I'll clean up my old bedroom and give it to you."

Fu Huaiying smiled and shook her head, "No, I like the one outside the palace. Dahu is not used to living in the palace."

Chen Huanli stood up and touched the dragon throne. "I used to look at the tall dragon throne and wonder when I could sit on it. I looked at the bright yellow robe and wondered when I could wear it," he said, turning his head and staring at Fu Huaiying. "But when I sat on it, it felt too cold and hard. When I put it on, I felt uncomfortable. I preferred the ones you bought for me."

Fu Huaiying lowered her eyes and touched the cold dragon throne in his mouth. "Once you get used to it, you won't have the same thoughts as today anymore."

Chen Huanli raised his eyes, with a hint of confusion in them. Fu Huaiying looked at him but did not speak.

She could see clearly that Huanli did not want to be emperor. He was bent on revenge and wanted to sit on the throne. She just didn't understand why he always acted reluctant and reluctant in front of her.

Fu Huaiying looked at it for a long time and sighed in his heart.

Forget it, Huanli is a good child.

Chen Huanli leaned on the desk and came close to her. "Teacher, why are you looking at me like that?"

"Seeing that we are separated from each other for a long time, I am relieved."

Chen Huanli curled his lips and said, "You are not much older than me."

Fu Huaiying smiled and stood up from the dragon chair, "I'm leaving."

"Where are you going?"

"go home."

Fu Huaiying walked out of the palace gate and looked over. Lin Yan'an was standing not far away, leaning gently against the carriage and looking at her.

She stepped forward, raised her hand, and held his slightly rough, calloused hand.

"Let's go home."

…

The people from the Ministry of Rites selected an auspicious day and prepared for the coronation ceremony.

The border was settled, and Wen Chuyan and Lin Yan'an also stayed in the capital temporarily.

Lin Yan'an tilted his head, put the cloak on her, and looked at the sky that was whitened by the snow. "It's been a long time since I saw such bright sunshine."

Fu Huaiying touched his hot hand and said, "Let me warm it up."

Lin Yanan took her hands in his arms and said, "I'll be your hand warmer. Keep them warm for as long as you want."

"Huanli asked when we would get married."

Lin Yan'an lowered his head and looked at her cautiously, "Do you want to?"

Fu Huaiying curled her lips, "Looks like I have to ask His Majesty for permission to marry me."

It took Lin Yanan a while to react. He was so excited that he lifted the person up high. He stammered for a long time and couldn't utter a word.

Fu Huaiying patted his shoulder and said, "Are you excited enough? Put me down."

Lin Yanan was still a little bit unbelievable, "Are you really willing?"

Fu Huaiying rolled her eyes at him and said, "We've been husband and wife for a lifetime, what's there to be unhappy about?"

"Then I'll go back and make arrangements!"

As soon as the words came out, the person flew out.

Fu Huaiying rubbed his eyebrows. Why do all of them have such a temper?

"girl……"

Da Hu looked at Lin Yan'an's back as he ran away, put down the empty tea bowl, and seemed to be hesitant to speak.

Fu Huaiying smiled, stepped forward, and gently shook her hand. "No matter what, no matter where we are, you are the most important person to me. This will never change, even if I marry Yan An."

Da Hu's straight shoulders slowly drooped, and he leaned over to rub her neck gently. "The old marquis has been so kind to me, and the young marquis and I are as close as siblings. I know I shouldn't have such selfish thoughts, but I'm always afraid that someone will replace me by your side."

Fu Huaiying raised his hand and touched her face. "No one can replace you, Fu Guang. I was the one who gave you your name. We have come all the way from this cramped and cold courtyard to where we are today. To me, no one can compare to you. If you give up your bright future because of me, I will always feel guilty towards you."

Da Hu didn't say anything.

Fu Huaiying sighed, "Brother will return to the border sooner or later. If you want, you can follow him. You have such talent and perseverance, you shouldn't be trapped in this remote place with me. You should gallop across the battlefield and see the geese and the howling wind in the distance."

Da Hu leaned quietly on her shoulder. Fu Huaiying didn't say anything else, but just quietly felt the wetness slowly spreading to her shoulders.

Fu Huaiying knew it, so she agreed.

How could she bear to let her go? But Fu Guang could fight Lin Yan'an back and forth, and even fight Wen Chuyan to a draw, so how could she bear to let her be just a maid for the rest of her life?

Fu Huaiying got her approval, and within a few days he sent someone to invite Wen Chuyan.

Wen Chuyan pushed open the gate, looked at Dahu's red eyes and the tea handed to him by Fu Huaiying, and understood what she meant.

"good."

"Hmm? Good what?"

"Don't you mean to let your maid serve as my deputy general to gain some experience?"

Fu Huaiying laughed, "How come you agreed before I even asked? I've come up with so many excuses, but none of them worked."

"I know what you mean just by looking at me. Why waste your breath?"

Wen Chuyan lifted his robe and sat down beside her. "I met Lin Yan'an a few days ago. He was happily buying all kinds of things. He was very down-to-earth and didn't ask anyone else for help. Seeing how busy he was, I lent a hand and chatted with him for a while."

"Hmm? What did he say?"

"You're just trying to show off to me that you're willing to marry him, saying that your marriage is destined by heaven and that it will never be my turn in three lifetimes."

Fu Huaiying was somewhat helpless and raised her eyes, "Brother..."

Wen Chuyan smiled gently and raised his hand to interrupt her. "Huaiying, as long as you are doing well and as long as he treats you well, I will be relieved. I have been in the barracks all year round, and I can't leave my soldiers behind, nor can I leave the wind of the border. In fact, I have always known that I am not suitable for you and will never be able to be by your side when you need me. But at that time, I was young and arrogant, and always thought I could overcome all difficulties, until I found out that I couldn't protect you at all, nor could I be there in time when you needed me."

"There's no hatred between Lin Yan'an and me. He might think I hate him for stealing my wife, but that's not the case. I've always been grateful to him. If it weren't for him, I'm afraid your path would have been even more difficult after I left."

Fu Huaiying sighed and looked at him with tears in her eyes. All the words she wanted to say were reduced to one sentence: "Take care of yourself."

Wen Chuyan smiled and raised his hand to touch his chest. The amulet on his chest was still telling him the most precious friendship of their youth.

"Yes, I have an amulet."

Fu Huaiying was stunned again, and looked over at his hand that was placed on his chest. "Brother, the only thing you always carry with you is the one she got from the temple..."

Wen Chuyan lowered his eyes, his gaze gentle. He always remembered that before he left for the battle, everyone held his hand and told him to achieve great things and restore the glory of the Wen family a hundred years ago...

Only Huaiying, only she didn't care about all the glory he brought. She just ran away with tears in her eyes. When she came back at night, she stuffed an amulet into his arms. He still remembers her tears in her eyes when she told him to take care of himself.

"Brother, I went to ask for a fortune, and it was a very good fortune. The Bodhisattva said that you will come back safely."

Her resolute gaze and red, swollen eyes took root in his heart. From then on, no one could step into his heart...

Wen Chuyan did not wait for the coronation ceremony. He left early and resigned to Chen Huanli, saying that he was worried about the border.

Chen Huanli personally went down the stairs and helped him up. "General Wen, why don't you stay for two more days?"

"I have stayed in the capital long enough. I must go back to the border."

Chen Huanli laughed, "If the capital city wasn't so important to me, I would have wanted to go and take a look."

"It doesn't matter. These are all your Majesty's beautiful mountains and rivers. You can see them even from the front of the palace."

Chen Huanli looked at him and said, "General Lin asked me for a marriage. General, don't you want to drink in the wedding wine before leaving?"

"Don't joke with me, Your Majesty. I'm leaving the capital this time and won't be back for three to five years at most. I just hope you can protect her."

Chen Huanli nodded, his eyes softening considerably. "She is my teacher, the Imperial Preceptor. No one can surpass her. Don't worry."

Fu Huaiying stood on the city wall, watching Dahu and Wen Chuyan leaving, and held Lin Yan'an's hand tightly.

Lin Yanan held her hand back and patted her back gently, "Everything will come back."

Fu Huaiying nodded and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. "They will all come back."

…

On the first day of spring, the people of the whole city welcomed the biggest ceremony in recent years. The new emperor ascended the throne and issued a general amnesty.

Chen Huanli walked up the stairs step by step. All the civil and military officials knelt at the bottom, prostrating themselves as subjects. Only Fu Huaiying, dressed in crimson court robes, stood tall and straight among all the kneeling officials. The new emperor had granted her the right not to kneel, and she alone had such a right...

The green bamboos in the once withered courtyard can also regain vitality in the court.