A gentle breeze blows through endless years, and ten years have passed in the blink of an eye.
The Eastern Chu imperial palace was brightly decorated and bustling with activity that day. It was the coming-of-age ceremony for their Crown Prince, Xuanyuan Xi.
Not only did Xuanyuan Zhan and Su Xuening make ample preparations for this important event well in advance, but Emperor Su Yun'an of Northern Wei also arrived several days ahead of time with his empress. Furthermore, Empress Duanmu Junyu of Western Liang and her consort Su Renzhong even arrived in Eastern Chu a month in advance.
The two of them had lived in Dongchu for a long time, so when they arrived in Dongchu, they spent half their time in the palace and the other half in their old house, which was a way of reliving the warm and cozy times of the past.
Bai Fuya, who had been traveling, returned to Dongchu a month early so as not to miss her beloved grandson's coming-of-age ceremony.
Even Pei Luo, You Yi, and Dao Yi moved into the palace a few days in advance, just to celebrate Xuan Yuanxi's birthday.
Everyone had arrived, except for the main character, Xuan Yuanxi, who hadn't returned.
Duanmu Yao would spend half a day every day at the Shili Pavilion outside the capital city, just to wait for Xuanyuan Xi to return to the capital.
Seeing that the wind was starting to pick up, Huangfu Jue took a cloak and draped it over Duanmu Yao: "It's getting windy, let's go back soon!"
Duanmu Yao pouted unhappily: "Why isn't my brother back yet? Is he not coming back this time?"
Huangfu Jue gently comforted him, "Tomorrow is his coming-of-age ceremony, he will definitely come back."
So many people have arrived, just waiting for him to come back. How could he not come back!
"Then I won't go back. I'll wait for him here. My brother will definitely come back today."
No sooner had Duanmu Yao finished speaking than the sound of galloping hooves came from ahead again.
Duanmu Yao's hope was rekindled, and she looked ahead with anticipation.
Even Huangfu Jue was looking forward to Xuanyuan Xi's return to the capital this time, because he knew that if he didn't come back, she wouldn't go back either, and he couldn't bear to see her waiting like this forever.
The rider on horseback gradually came into view ahead, and his dashing posture really did look a bit like Xuanyuan Xi.
"It's my brother!" Duanmu Yao recognized Xuanyuan Xi at a glance and rushed out, before Huangfu Jue could even stop her.
"Brother!" Duanmu Yao called out as she ran, as if afraid that Xuanyuan Xi wouldn't see her.
Xuanyuan Xi had actually seen her long ago. As he passed by Duanmu Yao, Xuanyuan Xi deliberately slowed down and scooped Duanmu Yao into his arms with a sideways movement.
In the blink of an eye, Duanmu Yao was on horseback, where she was held in Xuanyuan Xi's arms.
Duanmu Yao hugged Xuanyuan Xi happily: "Brother, you're finally back! You have no idea how long I've been waiting for you here every day. I've been waiting for over a month, and my legs have gotten so thin from waiting!"
As soon as Xuanyuan Xi returned, Duanmu Yao started to act coquettishly towards him.
Just like when they were little, every time he came back, she would snuggle in his arms and complain to her father, asking him to make decisions for her. Every time, this would infuriate her father!
"Let me see." Xuan Yuanxi pretended to bend down and pinch her calf, then said in a serious tone, "It really has become much thinner."
Duanmu Yao's "Of course, I didn't lie to you, did I?" expression instantly made Xuanyuan Xi both laugh and cry.
He quickly pulled a wooden box from his pocket: "A gift for you."
"What is it?" Duanmu Yao asked expectantly as she took it.
Her brother would bring her different gifts every time he came back, giving her a wonderful surprise each time.
When Duanmu Yao saw the gift in the box, her eyes lit up with surprise and delight. "It's a thousand-year-old snow lingzhi!"
This is a rare and precious medicinal herb that she has always wanted to collect but has never been able to.
Seeing Duanmu Yao's delighted expression, Xuanyuan Xi smiled and said, "I guarded the snow mountain for more than a month and even killed a strange beast to get this thousand-year-old snow spirit mushroom."
He knew this girl liked to collect all kinds of rare medicinal herbs, so he specially went to the snow mountain to find them for her.
Upon hearing this, Duanmu Yao was immediately moved: "I knew my brother was the best to me."
Although her brother was always traveling, it did not affect their relationship at all, nor did it diminish his affection for her.
Every time her brother comes back, he brings her his favorite gift.
It can be said that the person who understands her best in this world is not her brother Jue, who is with her day and night, nor her father and mother, who love her the most, but her brother!
Looking at the girl snuggling in his arms and acting coquettishly, Xuan Yuanxi's heart melted.
Looking up at Huangfu Jue again, she saw his envious and jealous expression and couldn't help but purse her lips.
He even became envious and jealous. This was his precious little sister, whom he had cherished since she was very young, and this kid had just snatched her away. How dare he be envious and jealous?
"Brother Jue." Xuan Yuanxi greeted Huangfu Jue with a forced smile.
Upon hearing this title, Huangfu Jue felt a chill run down his spine.
Even though he was only a few days younger than him, he kept calling him "Brother Jue" to annoy him, but he also had his own ways of getting back at him.
Huangfu Jue stepped forward and respectfully bowed to Xuanyuan Xi: "Your Majesty."
...It has to be said, Huangfu Jue knows how to deliver a critical hit.
Every time Huangfu Jue called him "Royal Brother," Xuan Yuanxi's expression would turn sour.
That brat is really infuriating! Little Star isn't even married to him yet, and he's already calling me "Royal Brother"!
Duanmu Yao was completely unaware that the two were fighting: "Brother, Brother Jue, let's go back to the palace. This thousand-year-old snow spirit mushroom needs to be processed. Father and Mother have been waiting for a long time."
"Go!" Xuan Yuanxi flicked his whip and galloped away with Duanmu Yao.
Helpless, Huangfu Jue could only watch as Xuanyuan Xi ran away with his Xing'er, and he quickly mounted his horse and chased after them.
When Xuanyuan Xi brought Duanmu Yao into the capital city, they immediately attracted the attention of the city's residents.
"The Crown Prince has returned to the capital!"
"Tomorrow is his coming-of-age ceremony, shouldn't we return to the capital?"
"Is that the princess in the prince's arms? The prince and princess really look like the emperor and empress!"
"Of course! The child is the Emperor and Empress's own flesh and blood, how could he not look like them?"
"This princess was betrothed right after she was born, but I wonder if the crown prince has been betrothed yet."
"The Crown Prince has come of age, it's time for him to consider marriage. All the noble ladies in the capital are waiting for him to choose a wife!"
Upon hearing this, Duanmu Yao immediately turned to look at Xuan Yuanxi: "You've heard the people's voices, haven't you? Do you have someone you like?"
Upon hearing this, a figure involuntarily flashed through Xuan Yuanxi's mind, and even his handsome face couldn't help but blush slightly: "And you, you've set your sights on that kid?"
Duanmu Yao knew perfectly well who he was talking about, and said shyly, "Brother Jue is very good. Not only do I like him, but Father and Mother also like him."
As if remembering something, Duanmu Yao suddenly turned to look at Xuanyuan Xi: "But you, do you not like Brother Jue?"
Xuan Yuanxi remained noncommittal, flicked his whip, and galloped away with Duanmu Yao: "Don't worry, even if I don't like him, I'll still love everything about him!"
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