A familiar tone.

"Sister, I'm here."

This time, I heard it more clearly than last time.

A sharp pain shot through her body as something forcefully forced its way into Leng Qingning's body, vying for control.

A moment later, Leng Qingning felt her body light up, as if she was slowly rising. She opened her eyes and was surprised to see herself beneath her.

She realized that her soul had left her body.

Is it possible to go back?

Her soul completely separated from her body; her spirit floated upwards, passing through the crystal chandelier, through the ceiling, and soaring straight into the sky…

——

After Wen Yanche fell into a coma, Changfeng was like an ant on a hot pan, the burly man over 1.9 meters tall so anxious that he kept shedding tears.

"My lord, please wake up soon," Changfeng cried out, her voice choked with sobs. This was the third day that Wen Yanche had been unconscious.

"Cough." The person on the bed gradually woke up.

"My lord, you're awake?" Changfeng, his tears still wet, hurriedly went forward to check on him.

The first thing Wen Yanche said when he opened his eyes was, "Where's Ning'er? Is she awake?"

Changfeng quickly helped Wen Yanche up, feeding him water while truthfully saying, "Not yet, my lord."

Disappointment flashed in Wen Yanche's eyes as he lifted the covers to go see Leng Qingning.

Only after Changfeng pleaded with him did he reluctantly drink a small bowl of plain porridge.

Having regained a bit of strength, Wen Yanche immediately rushed over to watch over Leng Qingning.

Master Kongchen cast a spell, and Leng Qingning's physical body remained as vibrant as when Xiao Ning was alive.

Wen Yanche took the sleeping girl's hand and pressed it against his face; it was soft and cool.

"Ning'er, when will you wake up?" Wen Yanche's voice was hoarse, his tone pleading, and he sounded very sad.

Tears streamed down her delicate hands, flowing endlessly.

After an unknown amount of time, the girl on the bed was possessed by the spirit, and as if sensing something, she slightly raised her eyelashes.

She opened her eyes and there was a stunningly handsome man in front of her.

It's A-Che!

Is this... a secluded world?

Before she could even feel happy, she saw the man in front of her looking sad and crying very hard. Leng Qingning had never seen Wen Yanche like this before, and she felt extremely distressed.

"A-Che," Leng Qingning called softly.

Wen Yanche seemed not to hear her. Leng Qingning raised her other hand and gently wiped away the tears from the corner of Wen Yanche's eyes.

Feeling the warmth on his face, Wen Yanche snapped out of his pain.

"Ning'er?"

"Is it you? Ning'er?" Wen Yanche asked the girl, his voice choked with emotion.

A smile bloomed on Leng Qingning's lips. "It's me, A-Che. I'm back."

The familiar tone, the familiar address, and that smiling face that frequently appears in my dreams.

That's right! It's his Ning'er!

Wen Yanche's sorrow turned to joy, and he bent down to embrace Leng Qingning tenderly.

The anxiety and fear of the past few days have all turned into the joy of regaining what was lost.

“You’re finally back, Ning’er…” Wen Yanche hugged Leng Qingning tightly, sobbing softly, afraid that she would disappear again at any moment.

Leng Qingning hugged him back and gently comforted him, "Ache, I'm sorry for making you worry."

Wen Yanche shook his head, "It's good that you're back."

How could he blame her?

…

The Empress was informed of Leng Qingning's return immediately. After a short rest at Kongmen Mountain, the group set off back to Changle City.

Upon receiving the letter, the Empress was overjoyed and wept tears of joy. She immediately dispatched men to guard outside the city and await further news.

When Leng Qingning and her companions were a day's journey from Chang Le City, the Empress received the news and personally rushed to the outskirts of Chang Le City, waiting for them all night.

Upon seeing Leng Qingning, the Empress broke down, tears streaming down her face. Ignoring the gazes of others, the ruler of the nation embraced Leng Qingning and wept bitterly.

"My son...you have suffered..."

"It's because Mother Empress didn't take good care of you. She shouldn't have let you go to the Azure Sky..." The Empress felt extremely guilty.

"Mother misses you!" The Empress whispered these words only in her heart.

The ministers who came to greet His Majesty were shocked to see him crying like this. Why was His Majesty so agitated?

Wasn't His Highness the Young King supposed to have spent several months cultivating at Mount Kongmen? His Majesty said so himself, so why is he so heartbroken?

The ministers were puzzled and stepped forward to comfort the empress.

If they knew that their young ruler had died once and almost didn't come back, their reaction might be even more intense than the Empress's.

The ministers escorted Leng Qingning to the carriage. The Empress ordered her to return directly to the palace, where a banquet had been prepared overnight, awaiting her return to celebrate.

The news of the young king's return to the city spread throughout Chang Le City in an instant.

Yuegong

Leng Qingning led Wen Yanche into the banquet hall of Yudingxuan.

At the banquet, the Empress's eyes were red, but she couldn't help but smile. The Emperor thought she was just missing her daughter too much.

The Empress did not tell him about the soul swap; the Emperor only knew that his daughter had gone to the Empty Gate Mountain to cultivate for several months.

Returning to Yue Palace, Leng Qingning's expression was complicated. She hadn't expected her to actually come back; she had thought she would die there.

"Ning'er, what's wrong?" Wen Yanche asked worriedly.

"Ah Che, it's so good to see you again," Leng Qingning said with emotion.

It's so good to be able to come back!

Wen Yanche served her food, smiling faintly without saying a word.

Leng Qingning recalled Wen Yanche's sorrowful expression when she awoke, and how he had protected her day and night, even to the point of vomiting blood and falling into a coma, and she couldn't help but be moved.

"Ah Che, thank you for staying by my side and silently protecting me when I was in danger." Leng Qingning expressed her gratitude for Wen Yanche's dedication.

“We are husband and wife, no need for thanks,” Wen Yanche said with a smile.

"What if I never wake up?" Before this, Leng Qingning wasn't sure if she would be able to come back.

Wen Yanche looked serious and replied without hesitation, "I have said that I will stay with you forever and never be separated from you. If you do not wake up for a day, I will wait for you for a day. If you do not wake up for a lifetime, I am willing to wait for you for a lifetime."

Hearing this, Leng Qingning was deeply moved, and her gaze towards Wen Yanche softened.

From now on, we should treat A-Che even better.

"Your Highness, this old minister pays his respects to you." This was the voice of the Left Prime Minister.

Leng Qingning raised her wine cup and offered a distant toast to the Left Prime Minister.

The ministers took turns toasting Leng Qingning…

After the banquet, the two went to Guining Palace to talk with the Emperor.

In the afternoon, Leng Qingning and Wen Yanche returned to their residence, where Cang Yuan had been waiting at the gate for a long time.

After not seeing each other for many days, Leng Qingning was stunned.

Last time in the Azure Sky, A Yuan was injured…

She knew everything that had happened during her absence, especially the incident where Xiao Ning scared her husbands. Biluo told her everything vividly and without missing a single word.

"My lady..." Cang Yuan began, his expression excited yet uncertain, "Is it you?"

Leng Qingning smiled sweetly: "A Yuan, it's me. How's your injury?"

After a few seconds of confusion, Cang Yuan confirmed that it was Leng Qingning.

He strode forward and embraced Leng Qingning, his grip tightening, his joy overflowing. "My wife, I've missed you so much..."

The man's voice was cool and aloof, yet his words were filled with tender affection.

Leng Qingning felt a pang of sadness in her heart, "A Yuan, I miss you too!"

Wen Yanche looked away and stood next to the two of them, blocking the view of passersby.

Cang Yuan felt a little unreal; the pain he felt when Leng Qingning died had not completely subsided.