On the carriage back to Beijing, sunlight filtered through the cracks in the windows, casting golden rays of light and shadow throughout the carriage. Si Yan, lying obediently on Jiang Yan's lap, was concentrating on the account book, his little finger tapping gently on the page and mumbling to himself, as if he were conducting an extremely important financial calculation. His brows would sometimes frown slightly, and sometimes he would reveal a look of sudden enlightenment. His serious demeanor made him look like a real accountant.
Nianli, like a cheerful little magpie, clung to Su Qingyao, enthusiastically learning how to mix rouge. Su Qingyao, clutching various bottles and jars, patiently explained the techniques to Nianli. Nianli's eyes widened as she watched Su Qingyao's every move with curiosity, occasionally reaching out to try it herself. Her rosy face shone with excitement and anticipation, as if she were exploring a whole new and wonderful world.
Su Jinli leaned gently on Jiang Yan's sturdy shoulder, listening to the vibrant laughter of her children, but her thoughts drifted back to her past life. In that life, she was alone and helpless, struggling alone in a cold world. Those days, uncared for, felt like a long, dark nightmare, and even now, the memory still brought lingering fears to her. A complex wave of emotions welled up in her heart, a mixture of regret for the hardships of her past life and a cherishment for the happiness of her current life.
"What are you thinking about?" Jiang Yan keenly noticed Su Jinli's change of mood. He gently held her hand, the warmth of his palm transmitting through their skin, as if to dispel the lingering haze in her heart. Jiang Yan's eyes were filled with concern and love, and he looked at Su Jinli intently, as if she was his whole world.
"I'm thinking," Su Jinli raised her head slightly, tears glistening in her eyes, but a happy smile spread across her lips. "Luckily, I have you." Her voice was soft but firm. These four simple words were filled with her deep gratitude and love for Jiang Yan. Without Jiang Yan, she might not have been able to escape the tragic fate of her previous life, nor would she have such a warm and happy family today.
The emperor, who was sitting opposite, pretended to look at the scenery outside the window, seemingly indifferent to everything in the car. But the slightly raised corners of his mouth revealed his joy at the moment. He quietly took out a warm jade pendant from his bosom. The jade pendant was delicate in texture and shimmered with a soft luster in the sun. It was obvious at a glance that it was worth a lot of money. The emperor gently stuffed it into Nian Li's hand, and said with a doting look in his eyes: "This is my compensation to you. If you want to sell candied haws in the future, tell me!" There was a subtle flattery in the emperor's voice, as if he wanted to make up for the trouble he had caused to Jiang Yan's family before.
"Your Majesty, you still owe me money for three strings of candied haws!" Si Yan seemed to have suddenly remembered something, and suddenly raised the abacus in his hand and said righteously. His childish voice echoed in the car, breaking the originally warm and quiet atmosphere, and made everyone in the car couldn't help laughing. Su Jinli and Jiang Yan smiled at each other, their eyes full of love and admiration for Si Yan. Su Qingyao laughed so hard that she fell backwards, and Nianli also giggled, and the crisp laughter echoed in the car one after another.
The emperor laughed out loud at Siyan's sudden words. He tapped Siyan's little nose and said, "Okay, okay, I'll pay you back what I owe you when I return to the palace." The emperor's smile was kind and amiable. At this moment, he was no longer a high and mighty monarch, but more like an elder who loved his juniors.
Outside the car window, springtime in the Jiangnan region was in full bloom, like a vibrant, colorful scroll unfolding before their eyes. Verdant mountains undulated, like a green cloak gently covering the earth. In the fields, golden rapeseed blossoms blossomed freely, intertwining with tender wheat seedlings to form a sea of yellow and green. A gentle breeze rippled the blossoms, emitting a delicate fragrance. Willow trees swayed by the roadside, their slender branches swaying in the breeze like the gentle dance of a young girl's hair. Peach, apricot, and pear blossoms clashed in dazzling splendor, red like fire, pink like clouds, white like snow. The branches were adorned with a dazzling array of blossoms, as if nature had specially prepared a magnificent attire for this season.
The picturesque spring scenery of the south of the Yangtze River, like their present day, is filled with sweetness. Every scene, every color, seems to speak of the beauty and happiness of life. Su Jinli looked at her family, her heart filled with gratitude and contentment. She knew that this life of sweetness had only just begun. And those past grievances had long since been transformed into the sweetest memories, amidst the overflowing love of her family.
In this warm carriage, Jiang Yan gently hugged Su Jinli and whispered in her ear: "In the days to come, I will always be with you and make you happy forever." Su Jinli nodded slightly, leaning in Jiang Yan's arms, feeling his warmth and strength.
Nianli held the jade pendant given by the emperor and couldn't let it go. She raised her head, looked at the emperor and said, "Your Majesty, can I still go to Jiangnan to sell candied haws in the future?" The emperor smiled and replied, "Of course, I will accompany you as long as you want." Nianli laughed happily. Her laughter was as clear and sweet as a silver bell, full of longing and expectation for the future.
Si Yan continued to study his account book, muttering, "When I grow up, I'm going to make a lot of money and buy a big house for my parents and my sister." Jiang Yan and Su Jinli were delighted and moved to hear this. They knew that their children were growing up healthily and happily in such a warm family atmosphere, their hearts filled with love and dreams.
As the carriage slowly moved forward, they drew closer to the capital. The capital, the city that had once brought them stress and trouble, now seemed less formidable to them because of each other's companionship. They knew that no matter what difficulties they faced in the future, as long as they worked together as a family, nothing could stop them from pursuing happiness.
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