Jiang Yan suddenly grasped my hand. The warmth of his palm slowly transmitted through the sugar painting, softening the crystalline phoenix slightly, as if our love were also gradually warming in this warmth. "As you command, my Lady Jinxin." As he lowered his head, his eyelashes cast a delicate shadow under his lids, like a delicate ink painting. "I've been waiting for this day since I stole your sugar painting on Suzaku Street." His voice was low and gentle, like the stars in the night sky, illuminating every corner of my heart.
The bell from the corner tower rang out in the distance, its melodious sound echoing in the twilight, startling a flock of returning pigeons. They flapped their wings and flew off into the distance, as if conveying this beautiful joy. I quietly looked at the stars in Jiang Yan's eyes, then at my family running towards me with lanterns in the distance, and an indescribable happiness and satisfaction welled up in my heart. Suddenly, I felt that the rewards from the Golden Palace and the praise from all over the capital were not as sweet as the sugar painting in my palm and the warmth in his palm. The cold and lonely sickbed and the desolation of being ignored in my previous life have now transformed into the tenderness in his eyes and the sweet life that is about to unfold in the twilight of the capital. In this warm and beautiful moment, I know that all the suffering is in the past, and the days to come will be filled with love and hope. I will walk through every spring, summer, autumn and winter hand in hand with Jiang Yan, and write our sweet chapter together.
Time flew by. Ever since that birthday banquet, the streets and alleys of Beijing were abuzz with my story. The poetry society's fame spread far and wide, attracting numerous talented women and becoming a vibrant part of Beijing's cultural landscape. The bond between Jiang Yan and me, like fine wine, only grew stronger with age. We often strolled together through the streets of Beijing, soaking in the city's prosperity and warmth.
Jiang Yan also became increasingly involved in the bookstore's affairs. He not only meticulously assisted me in managing the bookstore's accounts, but also, with his talent and connections, brought many valuable books and outstanding authors to the bookstore. Thanks to our joint efforts, the bookstore's business flourished, becoming a gathering place for Beijing's literati and scholars.
I, too, continued to forge ahead on my creative journey. Each new work imbued me with my insights into life and my hopes for the future. The Empress Dowager greatly admired my work and frequently invited me to the palace to share my creative insights. With the privilege of free access to the palace, the poetry society also fostered a deeper exchange and integration with court culture.
After that incident, Liu and Lin Wanyue's reputations in the capital plummeted. Their actions were condemned by the public, and they no longer dared to challenge me. However, I didn't despise them, for I knew that life's challenges were like thorns lurking in the shadows, poised to emerge at any moment. But I was no longer afraid, for I had Jiang Yan's companionship, my family's support, and my own inner resolve and courage.
In this capital city, brimming with opportunities and challenges, I soar like a phoenix, soaring freely in the literary sky. Jiang Yan, like those sturdy wings, always stays by my side, protecting me from wind and rain. Our love is like the four seasons of Beijing: flowers in spring, moon in autumn, cool breezes in summer, snow in winter—each season filled with sweetness and warmth. The road ahead may still be long, but I firmly believe that as long as we work together, we will weather the storms, embrace an even more brilliant rainbow, and write our own legendary life.
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