Chapter 263: Morning Light Brings Joy, and a New Journey Ahead
In Prince Rong's bridal chamber, the embers of a red candle still glowed faintly in the copper tray. The morning light filtered through the window paper, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Xiaoyanzi rolled over, her nose brushing against warm skin. She suddenly opened her eyes and met Yongqi's smiling gaze.
"Awake?" Yongqi's voice was hoarse as if he had just woken up. He reached out and brushed away the loose hair on her forehead. The warmth from his fingertips made her cheeks numb.
The little swallow huddled up in the quilt, revealing only a pair of dark eyes: "The sun is shining on my butt..." Just as she finished speaking, she was interrupted by the sound of birds singing outside the window. The clear singing seemed to be congratulating the newlyweds.
Yongqi chuckled softly, and when he stood up, he pulled the quilt closer to her: "Stay a little longer, I'll ask the kitchen to warm the lotus seed soup." He put on his outer robe, and the morning light outlined his tall figure, and the jade belt around his waist reflected a soft light.
Xiaoyanzi looked at his back and suddenly remembered that he was so nervous during the wedding ceremony yesterday that he almost lost control of his hands and feet. She couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"What are you laughing at?" Yongqi turned around, his eyes full of indulgence.
"I'm laughing at you for walking like a stupid penguin yesterday." Xiaoyanzi raised her eyebrows and deliberately imitated his stiff steps yesterday. Yongqi reached out and tickled her armpit, and she rolled over with laughter.
Just as they were arguing, Mingyue came in with a basin of water. Seeing this, she blushed and lowered her head: "Princess, it's time to get up and wash up. The Fang family sent someone to say that the master and the mistress are waiting for you and the prince to return home."
"I understand." Xiaoyanzi responded, but Yongqi held her shoulders.
"Let her rest for a while," Yongqi said to Mingyue, "Put your things down and you go out first."
When they were the only ones left in the room, Xiaoyanzi tugged at Yongqi's sleeve and asked, "Where are Sister Qing'er and my brother? Isn't it time for them to go home?"
"The Fang family reported that Xiao Jian had taken Qing'er to offer tea to his father-in-law and mother-in-law early this morning." Yongqi picked up a comb and clumsily tried to comb her hair, but it got tangled up. "Qing'er also sent a message saying that the Empress Dowager of the Cining Palace had sent a gift: a pair of jade ruyi."
Xiaoyanzi remembered Qing'er's red eyes when she got married yesterday, and her heart softened. "The Empress Dowager loves Sister Qing'er the most, and she will definitely be reluctant to let her go." She suddenly grabbed Yongqi's hand, her eyes sparkling. "By the way, where are Ziwei and Erkang? Shouldn't they also go to the Fu family to return home?"
"Uncle Fu sent someone to ask about it early this morning, and he said to wait for us." Yongqi finally untangled his tangled hair and breathed a sigh of relief. "You, you're thinking about others right after waking up."
After washing up, Xiaoyanzi changed into a crabapple-red dress with paired mandarin ducks embroidered on the hem, making her walk as light as a bird. Yongqi wore a moon-white brocade robe. The two of them stood in front of the mirror, looking indescribably well-matched.
"Look," Xiaoyanzi pointed at the two people in the mirror and smiled proudly, "Everyone says I look good in red. They're right, aren't they?"
Yongqi put his arms around her waist from behind and rested his chin on the top of her head: "Yes, she looks good in anything."
In the palace courtyard, the crabapple blossoms were in full bloom, their pink and white petals scattered all over the ground. Xiaoyanzi stepped on the petals as she walked forward. Suddenly, she remembered something and pulled Yongqi towards the side door. "Come on, let's go check out that corner gate!"
The corner door was ajar and opened with a gentle push. Behind the door was the Fang family garden. Fang's mother was directing the maids to trim the flowers. Seeing them come in, she greeted them with a smile: "Finally you're here! Your father is waiting in the main hall."
"Mom!" Xiaoyanzi rushed over and hugged Fang's mother's arm, her eyes sweeping across the garden. "Our crabapple trees are blooming too, and they're even prettier than the ones in the palace!"
Fang's mother tapped her forehead and said, "You're just sweet-talking. Come on, go see your father with Yongqi. He was still talking about it yesterday, saying he wanted to teach this kid who kidnapped his precious daughter a lesson."
Yongqi smiled and bowed, "Father-in-law is right. I will listen attentively."
In the main hall, Fang Zhihang, wearing a navy blue robe and holding a collection of poems, deliberately put on a stern face when he saw them come in: "Yongqi, although my daughter is naughty, we have spoiled her since she was a child. Now that she is in the palace, you must not bully her."
"Don't worry, Dad!" Yongqi said solemnly, "I will treat Xiaoyanzi well for the rest of my life. If there is any mistake, I will accept the punishment from my father-in-law and mother-in-law."
Xiaoyanzi listened at the side, feeling sweet in her heart. She secretly pinched Yongqi's palm, in return receiving a gentle look from him.
At this time, Xiao Jian and Qing'er also came out from the inner room. Qing'er was wearing a water-green dress, which made her look even more gentle and charming. When she saw Xiao Yanzi, she greeted her with a smile: "Awake? I thought you were going to sleep until noon."
"No way!" Xiaoyanzi pouted unconvincedly, "Yongqi and I got up a long time ago."
Xiao Jian looked at his sister, his eyes full of relief: "Okay, stop making trouble, Ziwei and Erkang will be here soon, let's have breakfast together."
Sure enough, not long after, Ziwei and Erkang arrived. Ziwei was wearing a lavender dress, with a blush of happiness on her face, and Erkang was always by her side, with a gentle look in his eyes.
The whole family sat around the dining table, chatting and laughing, the atmosphere lively and warm. Xiaoyanzi looked at the scene before her and suddenly felt her eyes warm. In her previous life, she had never dared to imagine that there would be a day like this, with her family and close friends all around her, the sunlight shining through the window lattice onto everyone's face, the warmth so warm that it made her want to cry.
Yongqi noticed her strangeness and quietly held her hand. Xiaoyanzi looked up at him and happened to meet his eyes full of smiles. The bitterness in her heart was instantly replaced by sweetness.
She knew that in this life, she had finally grasped the happiness she wanted.
After breakfast, Xiaoyanzi took Ziwei and Qing'er for a stroll in the garden, while Yongqi, Erkang, and Xiaojian chatted in the study. Sunlight filtered through the cracks between the crabapple blossoms, casting tiny specks of light on the ground. Birds sang happily in the branches. Everything was as beautiful as a painting.
"That's great," Ziwei said softly, "We have all found our own home."
Qing'er nodded, with a gentle light in her eyes: "Yes, the days to come will definitely get better and better."
Xiaoyanzi looked at them, then towards the study, a bright smile on her face. She knew this was just a new beginning, and there was still a long way to go in the future, but as long as she had these people by her side, no matter what difficulties she encountered, she had the courage to face them.
Because, in this life, she is no longer alone.
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