Chapter 70: Wishing you and me a happy ending.
Time flies, and three years have passed in the blink of an eye.
Phoenix Dance City is welcoming the most beautiful spring of the year, with hundreds of flowers blooming in the Imperial Garden, creating a vibrant scene.
A little boy with a tiger-like face, dressed in a bright blue brocade robe, was running wobbly along the bluestone path, giggling.
"Chen'er, slow down, be careful not to fall!" A smiling male voice sounded behind him.
Emperor Jialuolin had just finished the morning court session and hadn't even changed out of his bright yellow dragon robe when he hurriedly went to the Imperial Garden to "walk his child." When he looked at his son Jiamingchen's lively little figure, his eyes were filled with tenderness and doting affection.
Upon hearing his father's voice, Xiao Mingchen not only didn't stop but ran even faster. As a result, he lost his footing and was about to fall forward. Jialuolin reacted quickly, stepping forward and stretching out her long arm to scoop the little bundle of flesh into her arms.
"Look at you, you won't listen to me." Galorin gently flicked her son's nose and then gave him a symbolic pat on the bottom twice.
.
Little Mingchen hugged his father's neck and complained in a childish voice, "Father, the...the earth is uneven!"
Galo Lin was amused by his clever way of turning the tables. "Alright, alright, it's because the ground is uneven. Father will have all the roads here rebuilt so that our Chen'er can run on them, okay?"
"Okay!" Xiao Mingchen responded loudly, then gave Jialuolin a "smack" kiss on the face, smearing his face with saliva.
Galorin's heart softened instantly. He never imagined that the baby who was born three years ago amidst grief and new life would now become the brightest light in his life.
He held his son and sat down in the pavilion in the Imperial Garden, patiently playing with the little wooden horse he had brought, listening to his son chattering away in childish language. The worries of the court seemed to have faded away.
"Father, when will Mother be back?" Little Mingchen asked, busy playing while keeping an eye on his beloved mother's whereabouts.
"Chen'er, be good, your mother will be back in a few days!" Jialuolin coaxed, but sighed inwardly. His empress was still so restless.
“Alright, then let Grandpa and Grandma play with Chen’er.” Without even looking up, Xiao Mingchen immediately gave his father a second “instruction.”
Galorin smiled and agreed. He realized that his son really enjoyed bringing the whole family together and was dedicated to promoting family harmony.
It seems that with this precious son, I won't be a "lonely man" anymore.
-
At the northern frontier camp, thousands of miles away, the scene was quite different.
On the drill ground, banners fluttered in the wind, and Bai Lian, dressed in silver armor and a red robe, sat upright on her horse, inspecting the soldiers who were training.
She still stands tall and graceful; time has not changed her in the slightest, but has instead added a touch of composure and dignity.
A year ago, after years of persistent pleading and encouragement from Jialuolin and with the help of her son Xiaomingchen, she finally agreed to become the Empress of Feng Kingdom.
However, she had made a prior agreement with Galo Lin that she could take charge of the Phoenix Seal, but only on the condition that she participate in frontier military affairs.
"General, the new batch of crossbows has been fully distributed and the soldiers are well-trained. Please inspect them!" The deputy general stepped forward and respectfully reported.
Bai Lian nodded slightly, spurred her horse forward, and the sunlight made her silver armor reflect a dazzling light. In the eyes of the warriors, their general was like a Valkyrie, who would surely protect their country and make them swear to follow her to the death.
The very existence of the white lotus is the greatest boost to morale.
After completing her inspection, Bai Lian returned to the commander's tent and found a letter on the military report in front of her, written in childish handwriting and filled with circles and little figures. Upon opening it, she read: "All is well. Chen'er misses you dearly and longs for your return."
It seems to be the work of that father and son again. Looking at the family letter, Bai Lian's lips unconsciously curled up, and her eyes softened.
She took out a portrait she always carried with her. It was a portrait of the three of them painted by a court painter at the behest of Jialuolin when Chen'er turned one year old.
In the painting, she is holding Xiao Mingchen, and Jialuolin is standing beside her with her hand gently on her shoulder. All three of them have happy smiles on their faces.
Bai Lian gently stroked the portrait of her son's chubby little face and Jia Luolin's smiling eyes, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
These past three years have been peaceful and warm, and have long since healed the wounds of the past.
With his respect, patience, and unwavering love, Galo Lin gradually rebuilt her confidence in her family and future. And their son, Galo Ming Chen, was the most precious gift God had given them.
Thinking this, Bai Lian couldn't help but kiss her son in the portrait again. She then picked up her pen to reply, not writing too much about military and national affairs, but simply describing the situation of the patrol, and finally adding: "Inform Chen'er that I will be returning soon. Also, the small wooden carving of the Northern Border that he wanted last time has been found to be carved by a skilled craftsman."
-
Half a month later, Bai Lian returned to Fengwu City in a small entourage.
As soon as the carriage entered the palace gate, Bai Moyuan was seen carrying the neatly dressed Xiao Mingchen, with Changsun Rao'er standing beside him, already waiting by the palace road.
"Mother!" As soon as Xiao Mingchen saw Bai Lian, he struggled to jump off her arms and rushed over like a little cannonball, grabbing her leg.
Bai Lian bent down and picked up her son. The little guy was quite heavy, and Bai Lian couldn't help but kiss his chubby little face: "Chen'er, did you miss your mother?"
"I want to! I want to every day!" Jia Mingchen hugged her neck, his sweet words making Bai Lian smile happily.
"Father, Mother, what brings you here?" Bai Lian looked at Bai Moyuan and Changsun Rao'er to the side.
"Your good husband estimated roughly when you would arrive, so he arranged for us to meet you here," Changsun Rao'er said with a smile.
Over the years, the two elderly people have become increasingly healthy. Since Bai Moyuan relinquished most of his positions and assumed the honorary title of Grand Commandant, he has had much more time to enjoy his grandchildren.
After several years of careful recuperation, Changsun Rao'er's health has greatly improved. Her greatest pleasure now is sewing clothes for her grandson for all four seasons with the palace embroiderers.
Every time Bai Lian sees the two elderly people, she can feel this increasingly deep warmth, and her heart feels at peace.
"By the way, Shuli will be home in a few days. Why don't you come and have a meal with us?" Changsun Rao'er said. Since Bai Ziyuan left, Shuli has devoted all her energy to raising her child. She did not remarry, but instead founded the first women's chamber of commerce in Luoyang with her own abilities, and now the business is very prosperous.
It is truly admirable that she has grown from a little princess into a businesswoman who can support herself.
Thinking of this, Bai Lian felt even better and her interest was piqued. "Would you like to ride a pony with Mother?"
As she spoke, she picked up Jia Mingchen and helped him onto the horse.
"Lian'er, don't go too far. The child is still young. Be careful." Bai Moyuan had barely finished speaking when Bai Lian raised her whip and galloped off in a flash. She planned to take her little Mingchen for a ride along the city wall.
Bai Lian rode on her horse and took one last good look at Phoenix Dance City. The golden glazed tiles shone brightly in the sunlight, the red palace walls remained as new as ever, and the majestic palace was still as awe-inspiring as ever. Everything seemed unchanged, yet everything seemed to have changed.
Bai Lian suddenly remembered that several years ago, on a similar spring day, she, at the age of seventeen, came to participate in the Crown Prince's selection of a consort, holding a pipa... Looking back now, she no longer seems to regret her choice.
Xiao Mingchen was very happy on horseback, and his silvery laughter interrupted Bai Lian's thoughts.
This child is already quite adept at riding horses at such a young age; he'll surely be a good rider in the future. As Bai Lian was thinking this, she looked up and saw Jia Luolin riding a black steed coming towards her.
"Oh dear, Father has come to pick us up. Let's stop playing here for today." Bai Lian slowly stopped the horse with one arm around Chen'er, then swung her long legs and jumped down, making Jia Luolin's heart jump with fear.
Galo Lin smiled and stepped forward, naturally taking the riding whip from her hand and handing it to the attendant behind her. Her gaze fell gently on her face: "You must be tired. Was the journey smooth?"
"It went smoothly." Bai Lian looked at him, nodded, and put Chen'er on the ground. Chen'er immediately grabbed his parents' trouser legs with one hand each, making Bai Lian and Jia Luolin both laugh and cry.
The wet nurse behind him wanted to hold Jia Mingchen, but the little prince whined and only wanted his father to hold him. So Jia Luolin put him on his shoulders, "Let's go, Daddy will take you riding on a big horse again~"
Bai Lian smiled as she watched the father and son run towards the afterglow of the setting sun. This imperial family allowed her to feel the warmth of the secular world, and she felt extremely content.
After dinner, Galo Lin gently placed her son, who had fallen asleep from playing, on his crib, covered him with a blanket, and then walked to Bai Lian's side, just about to reach out and massage her shoulders.
“Your Majesty, not today.” Bai Lian patted Jia Luolin’s hand.
"Why?" Galorin pouted, revealing a rare look of frustration.
"Don't try to imitate Chen'er's expressions! I won't fall for it!" Bai Lian said with a smile. "You're going to be a father again, so be more composed."
"Wait," Galorin said as if waking from a dream, "what do you mean by 'what else'?"
"It means exactly what it says." Bai Lian said with an indifferent expression.
Galorin seemed to wake from a dream, happily picking up Byakuren and about to spin her around, but suddenly remembered something.
"Wait a minute, you were riding a horse just now?!"
"Hahaha, you reacted pretty quickly today." Bai Lian bent down to avoid Jia Luolin's embrace, smiled slyly, and turned to walk towards the bedroom.
The two walked one after the other, the king and queen of the empire chasing each other like young lovers.
After walking a few steps, Bai Lian slowed down, seemingly lost in thought as she gazed silently ahead.
Galorin stepped forward and took her hand. "What are you looking at?"
"Shh~ Look at our home." Bai Lian held his hand back and said softly, her voice calm and content.
Galo Lin followed her gaze and saw his sleeping son smacking his lips, looking adorable. A thought struck him, and he gently pulled Bai Lian into his arms.
Outside the window, the moonlight was like water, and the stars filled the sky, peacefully enveloping this imperial city that symbolized power, and gently protecting this rare glimpse of human life.
Looking out the window, Bai Lian silently made a new wish in her heart: "If there is an afterlife, I hope that the mountains and rivers will remain the same, and that my country will be at peace."
Her own story seems to be coming to an end, but the story of General Bai and Emperor Lin will continue in these ordinary moments of warmth.
(The End)
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Author's Note: This is a story about love and protection. It was started 17 years ago and has finally come to an end today.
The joke is old, but it's a small way of giving back to my past self.
Thank you so much for being here with me.
Next, I will update some side stories, including modern-day episodes featuring the male and female leads, and I will also revise some of the earlier chapters.
Hopefully we'll meet again in our next book!
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