After the daytime spectacle of everyone flocking to the streets, fireworks light up the sky under a brilliant starry night.
Finally, the noisy crowd on the street gradually dispersed.
Not far from the Qin Prince's Mansion, in a restaurant, Young Master Yi was heartbroken and drowning his sorrows in alcohol.
Empty wine jugs were piled up haphazardly on the table in front of him, and he still held one jug in his hand.
Already tipsy, yet seemingly in a state of semi-drunkenness, he gazed at the wine jug in his hand and murmured sadly to himself, "In the end, you still chose him! Just one step away, just one step away between us, and in this life, you would have belonged to me alone..."
I can recall it a thousand times, ten thousand times, but I still can't let it go.
After saying that, he downed the wine in his hand in one gulp, then picked up another pot, got up and staggered to the window, where he stood leaning against the railing.
She still had those slender, peach-blossom eyes, gazing at the most fiery and dazzling sky tonight, and said sadly, "Why, why did you go back to his side even though you knew you couldn't go back, that you shouldn't go back?"
Although Yi Shangyun agreed to go with him, giving him a glimmer of hope, at the last moment, she still resolutely chose to return to Xuan Yuanhan's side.
Even so, Young Master Yi still did not really blame her.
Because he knew that all of this, from beginning to end, was just wishful thinking on his part.
From beginning to end, she never belonged to him, nor could she ever belong to him.
But he was unwilling to give up and worried about her, especially after he overheard that Yi Shangyun was a descendant of the long-lost guardian of the Western Qin Kingdom, which made him even more worried about her situation.
At this thought, he was truly terrified: "Girl, do you know how dangerous your future will be by making this choice? Who in the world doesn't know that whoever obtains the power of the Guardians will rule the world? How can a weak woman like you withstand the struggle for the world? Even if you do nothing, just because of this identity, you will be torn to shreds by this world. Do you really have to do this, to love him with your own life? Is everything you've done really worth it?"
Just as Young Master Yi was deep in thought, a melodious flute tune suddenly rang out.
He slowly moved his gaze toward it.
On the other side, under the bright moonlight, Tuoba Hong stood alone by the railing, dressed in white, playing a melodious flute as he gazed in the same direction as himself.
The flute music was clearly filled with a deep melancholy, and threads of emotion, like a lament...
To love but not be loved, or to gain and then lose again—which is more regrettable? How can one be so tormented by unrequited love?
We loved each other but were destined to be apart, we met but were speechless. From now on, we will be separated by mountains and seas, forgetting both joy and sorrow, and forgetting nothing more.
At the entrance of the Qin Prince's Mansion.
Seeing that the guests had finally dispersed one after another, Lu Tianjiao, who had been hiding in the shadows for almost a whole day, finally revealed himself.
Unexpectedly, as soon as they reached the door, they were stopped by the guards.
Lu Tianjiao was startled and shouted at the two guards, "You bastards, let me in! I want to see Brother Han!"
A guard looked up at the sky and said, "Today is the Prince's wedding day. He should already be in his bridal chamber by now and unable to receive guests."
Upon hearing this, Lu Tianjiao immediately became furious and said, "Enter the bridal chamber? With that wretched woman from the Yi family, what virtue or ability does she have to be worthy of sleeping in the same bed with Brother Han and serving him?"
Another guard said, "The Prince and Princess are deeply in love and are getting married by imperial decree. Everyone in the city praises them as a match made in heaven. Miss Lu, who are you questioning here? If these words reach the palace, it will be bad. I hope you will be careful with your words!"
"You... I'm too lazy to waste words with you dogs, get out of my way!" Lu Tianjiao's face turned green with anger, pointing at the guard's nose, furious and embarrassed.
She even dared to try to force her way into the mansion. The two guards immediately drew their swords and blocked her way, saying, "Miss Lu, please stop making trouble and trying to force your way into the Prince Qin's mansion. If you do not back down, please forgive us for being impolite to you!"
Unexpectedly, Lu Tianjiao suddenly shouted loudly without any hesitation, "Get out of the way, let me in, let me in, I want to see His Highness Prince Qin, I want to see Brother Han."
The guards were truly helpless and could only continue to entangle with her, trying to stop her: "Miss Lu, have you forgotten what the Dowager Consort said when she banished you? Don't you know why your father and brothers came to celebrate His Highness's wedding today, but you were the only one not brought? The Dowager Consort said that without her personal invitation, you would never be allowed to enter the Qin Prince's mansion again in your entire life."
Unexpectedly, Lu Tianjiao ignored everything and fought against the two guards with all his might, shouting hoarsely, "I don't care, I don't care, I must see Brother Han today. No one can stop me. Even if you kill me, I must see Brother Han today."
Just when the two guards were clearly at a loss, a tall and imposing figure gradually emerged from the courtyard.
Suddenly, a voice that was all too familiar rang out: "Stop!"
By the dim candlelight, Lu Tianjiao looked up and saw the outline of the person who came. She almost burst into tears of joy: "Brother Han, Brother Han, you've come! You've finally come! I knew you wouldn't be so heartless as to not see Tianjiao."
Upon seeing that it was their master, the guard immediately released his grip and sheathed his sword.
Dressed in wedding attire, Xuanyuan Han stepped across the threshold and stood on the stone steps, asking in a deep voice, "What are you doing on my wedding day?"
Lu Tianjiao stood at the bottom of the stone steps, looking up at Xuan Yuanhan's face with teary eyes, and asked, "Brother Han, did you really marry her?"
Xuanyuan Han answered with a firm look in his eyes: "In this world, the only person I have ever wanted to marry is her, and there has never been anyone else."
Lu Tianjiao was extremely unwilling and asked him, "But what is it about her that makes Brother Han so infatuated?"
Xuanyuan Han said, "She is kind, brave, and passionate. In my eyes, she is the best woman in the world."
Seeing Xuan Yuanhan's face beaming with happiness and doting affection as he spoke of Yi Shangyun, Lu Tianjiao, though tears were streaming down her face, gradually began to smile.
After a while, Lu Tianjiao, tears streaming down her face, slowly spoke, "So that's how it is. If that's the case, then what is Tianjiao to me? What about our past, all those days and nights we spent together at Xiqin Academy since childhood? Tianjiao has always believed that she was born for Brother Han. Everything I've done in this life has been for Brother Han. And now, now, how can Tianjiao accept this? Where should I go from here?"
"In fact, before I met Yun'er, I had never thought about romantic love. It was she who made my life complete."
As Xuanyuan Han spoke, he slowly looked at Lu Tianjiao's face and sincerely wished him well, saying, "I believe that one day, you will also find your own destiny!"
"No more, no more..."
"In this life, there will never be another person like Brother Han who could make Tianjiao willing to give her all her heart. Brother Han, you are truly so cruel to Tianjiao, so cruel..."
When all the questions buried deep in his heart were finally answered, Lu Tianjiao slowly turned around, staggered away, and walked away dejectedly, muttering sobs under his breath...
Seeing him leave, Xuanyuan Han looked up at the sky above. The moon was full and the stars were like rain. What a beautiful day!
Finally, after letting out a long sigh of relief, he turned and went back.
With a creak.
The door to Lin Yuexuan's bedroom was finally pushed open from the outside.
Xuanyuan Han walked steadily toward Yi Shangyun, who had been waiting by the bed for a long time.
Gently removing the fan from her hand, he then noticed that tonight, her exquisite makeup, illuminated by the red candlelight, revealed a slight flush on her cheeks—a gentle, beautiful, and captivating sight that he had never noticed or anticipated before.
He stared at her blankly for a while before snapping out of his daze and sitting down beside her. He silently took her slender hand in his and spoke first: "Thank you, Yun'er."
Upon hearing this, Yi Shangyun slowly raised her head, looking at him with a puzzled expression.
Xuanyuan Han looked at him tenderly and said, "There have been countless times in the past when I thought I would lose you. But now, thankfully, you are still here, and I am very happy."
Yi Shangyun suddenly realized and smiled, saying, "From now on, Your Highness and Yun'er will live together for a lifetime, sharing three meals a day, four seasons, and year after year."
At this moment, I finally brought her home as I had wished, and truly possessed her.
Unable to contain his emotions, Xuan Yuanhan lowered his head and gently kissed her soft red lips.
Then a large, well-defined hand slowly reached out and touched her collar, removing the cumbersome outer garment that covered her.
But just as Yi Shangyun was in his arms, feeling waves of tingling sensations from his kisses spreading throughout her body, Xuan Yuanhan suddenly stopped.
After noticing this, Yi Shangyun slowly opened her obviously dazed eyes and looked at Xuan Yuanhan's face.
Xuan Yuanhan said with a look of doting affection and heartache, "Tonight is our wedding night, and I want you more than ever. But... there's plenty of time. Take care of yourself first. I'm waiting for you to bear children!"
Upon hearing this, Yi Shangyun bit her lip, a hint of difficulty on her face, and said, "But... will we really still have children?"
Xuanyuan Han looked into her eyes and said firmly, "Yes, of course I will. I believe in my own strength, and naturally I believe in you. You will definitely not let me down."
"Your Highness."
Upon hearing this, Yi Shangyun, her face flushed with shyness, wrapped her arms tightly around his waist again and hid in Xuan Yuanhan's broad, firm, and warm embrace.
After a brief, tender moment, Yi Shangyun pressed herself tightly against Xuan Yuanhan's chest and asked, "I heard that Your Highness began preparing my dowry when I left the palace? Does that mean... Your Highness has been considering marrying me since then?"
Xuanyuan Han gently rested his chin on her forehead and said, "Too late!"
Yi Shangyun asked in confusion, "Late? What's late?"
Xuanyuan Han said, "Even if preparations had already begun at that time, I felt it was too late; it could have been done much earlier."
"Even earlier?" Yi Shangyun asked in surprise.
Xuanyuan Han's memory regressed, recalling every encounter the two had in the past.
Until that night, in the woods, she saved his life with just one glance.
But it seemed that wasn't enough. Xuan Yuanhan finally said, "If I had known you would come, even before we met, I should have started making preparations."
Upon hearing this, Yi Shangyun was deeply moved. After remaining silent for a long time, she suddenly said earnestly to Xuan Yuanhan, "Your Highness, promise Yun'er that no matter what happens in the future, Your Highness must believe in Yun'er, and we will never be separated again."
Xuanyuan Han nodded and said happily, "I agree."
Outside the window, in the quiet night, a hundred flowers bloom, their fragrance filling the air, and the starry sky shines brightly, etching tender emotions into the night...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com