It took time to send the letter, and it also took time for Xiao Zhen to arrive in the capital. By the time Xiao Zhen arrived in the capital, it was already eight days later.

The rainy night was chilly, right outside the General's Mansion.

The carriage stopped, and Xiao Ji, holding an oil-paper umbrella, led the entourage from the General's Mansion down the steps, bowing to the people inside the carriage:

"Father."

In his concise words, there was a son's respect for his father, and only one son's respect for his father.

Inside the carriage,

Using the lantern carried by the servant, Xiao Zhen peered through the carriage curtain and the rain to make out Xiao Ji's silhouette.

"That's thoughtful of you."

Xiao Zhen was not good with words, and more than anything, he didn't know what to say to his child.

Xiao Ji used to lead troops to fight in various places, and it was common for the father and son to meet only once every three or four years. They rarely corresponded.

For the past six years since Xiao Ji massacred the city, Qingyan has had no further battles, and the father and son have only been able to meet once a year.

Every year during the Lunar New Year, Xiao Ji would bring the best wine from the capital back to his mother's hometown to celebrate the New Year with his father, Xiao Zhen.

They would stay for only three days before setting off back to the capital, and their next meeting would be at the New Year the following year.

After an incense stick has burned.

In the study that Xiao Zhen used to use, the long-dusty luminous pearl shone again. Outside, the rain was noisy, but inside the study it was quiet.

The father and son sat facing each other, neither of them showing any expression.

Returning to the General's Mansion and sitting in this study again after many years, Xiao Zhen felt a sense of disorientation.

Even though his son, who was sitting opposite him, had grown up, he saw what he looked like as a child.

After a long pause, Xiao Zhen spoke: "Have you thought it through?"

Xiao Ji: "Yes."

Xiao Ji has become more talkative since he got together with Shang Changge, but he still doesn't want to say much in front of his father.

After Xiao Zhen resigned from his official post, he stopped paying attention to the people and events in the capital city, and his impression of Shang Changge, the eldest princess, remained from more than ten years ago.

Despite his young age, he was arrogant and disdainful of everyone. His actions always carried an air of arrogance; old habits die hard.

Xiao Zhen didn't think that a person could change much as they got older.

Xiao Zhen: "On my way here, I heard a lot from passersby saying that you and Princess Anguo are in love. Is this true?"

Xiao Ji replied with the same word: "Yes." His usually cold and hard facial features softened slightly because of the words "mutual affection."

That's right, he and his little rascal are a perfect match, mutually in love and affectionate!

I wonder if the little rascal is asleep at this hour tonight, and if I miss him. I guess so, since it's warm and comfortable to sleep with him in my arms.

Having served as Grand General for many years, Xiao Ji had long since mastered the skill of keeping his emotions hidden, remaining calm and composed without changing his expression.

Xiao Zhen, oblivious to Xiao Ji's distraction, began to speak as a father and as a descendant who had once borne the glory of the Xiao family:

“You shouldn’t take sides. Our Xiao family has served in the military for generations, not to be loyal to anyone, but to protect our home and country.”

"The struggle for the throne is a power vortex involving the royal family and various factions. Your decision to take sides, given your military power, will only complicate matters further..."

Xiao Ji interrupted, "Father, how long do you think a dynasty without a wise ruler can last? When a dynasty falls, what becomes of the nation and its people?"

The wind and rain lashed against the roof tiles, and the study fell into a tense, deathly silence.

Xiao Zhen was once a great general who led troops to fight the enemy, and he had also served in the imperial court. His once resolute face now showed a relaxed expression.

"You've grown up."

For a father who is not good with words and doesn't know how to get along with his children, these words are equivalent to a compliment.

Xiao Ji appreciated the gesture and seized the opportunity to say, "So I would like to ask Father for help, as I wish to marry the princess as soon as possible."

Xiao Zhen: "Princess Anguo..."

Xiao Ji: "Changge is the wife I want to spend my life with, no matter what my father's views and prejudices are towards Changge."

I will not change my mind. I respect my father and hope he will respect my choice.

“Changge will marry me and she will be the eldest princess of Qingyan. That will never change. I think Father should understand the difference between the noble and the lowly.”

Putting aside social hierarchy, if Changge, after marrying me, still suffers cold treatment from my father due to prejudice, then it is my incompetence as her husband.

Xiao Ji stared directly at Xiao Zhen with his dark, deep eyes, as cold as a deep pool. It had been many years since the father and son had faced each other so directly.

Xiao Ji said in a deep voice, still quite politely: "Father, I think you should understand what I mean and get the unspoken meaning behind my words."

...

Xiao Zhen smiled, a relieved smile spreading across his usually resolute face, which had rarely shown a smile since his wife's passing. He repeated what he had just said:

"You've grown up."

Xiao Zhen rarely smiled, and Xiao Ji rarely saw Xiao Zhen smile either; over the years, it could be counted on one hand.

Xiao Ji suddenly had the idea of ​​easing the tension between father and son, or more accurately, he wanted to make the current atmosphere less tense. Follow-up question:

Is that considered a compliment?

Xiao Zhen was taken aback and looked over.

Upon closer inspection, I realized that the violence I remembered in my son, which was once even more intense than my own back then, had faded considerably.

Then he thought of the rumors he had heard along the way, as well as his son's defense of Princess Anguo and his warning to him as her father.

Having been through it all, he could easily guess who was responsible for his son's change. Setting aside his prejudices, he nodded.

"Yes. It's right to protect the woman you love, and it's also right to unconditionally protect your wife."

“I didn’t teach you these things, but you understand them, which is good.”

After the father and son finished their conversation, it was still early.

It's just that after winter sets in, it gets dark quickly, and with dark clouds, rain, and thunder, the sky is as dark as the middle of the night.

Xiao Ji was in a fairly good mood and wanted to go see Shang Changge as usual, but he held back.

The plan is to go to the princess's residence tomorrow to give the princess a surprise after the wedding is arranged in advance by the father's audience with the emperor.

The next day, the rain stopped and the sky cleared.

The weather was already cold, and it rained all night until midnight. The morning after the rain was so cold that it made people shiver.

When Xiao Ji and Shang Changze arrived with the imperial decree, Shang Changge's resentment at being forced out of bed was enough to tear ten post-apocalyptic zombies apart.

"...Considering Xiao Ji's age...I hereby grant...the wedding date...an auspicious day...This is my decree."

Shang Changge was still half asleep and his mind was in a daze. He roughly understood the gist of the conversation, gave a perfunctory thank you, and then casually accepted the imperial edict.

Looking past the handsome younger brother at Xiao Ji, he waved the bright yellow imperial edict in his hand, sincerely praising him:

"It's all thanks to General Xiao's advanced age. General Xiao is truly remarkable."

Shang Changze cleared his throat. The Crown Prince, a gentleman who always treated others with courtesy, had no intention of mocking his future brother-in-law.

Xiao Ji: ...

General Xiao, aged six, was extremely resistant to such praise, but his brother-in-law was present.

You can't flirt with his little rascal, act spoiled, or pretend to be a big shot. The only way to express your love is through your eyes and through patience.

Shang Changge yawned with undiminished elegance, ignoring the loving gaze that General Xiao was casting at her.

He bluntly told the two people in front of him that he was going back to take a nap, casually handed the imperial edict to Qingyao, and turned to leave.

Gone...gone...

She left decisively and gracefully, not even sparing Xiao Ji, who had been missing her terribly since last night and dreaming about her.

Xiao Ji clutched his chest inwardly: He'd been abandoned by his princess, he was vomiting blood, it hurt so much!

Shang Changze: "Ahem—" The polite Crown Prince, who never mocked people to their faces, suppressed his laughter and made an excuse:

"I have something to attend to, so I'll take my leave first. Please proceed, General Xiao."

Like Shang Changge, Shang Changze left decisively, leaving Xiao Ji all alone.

Along with the princess's many servants, the scene in the howling wind of a winter morning was utterly desolate and bleak.