Goodbye, hodgepodge!
Li Chengxun served as an official in Longzhou for two years and achieved remarkable political success.
Princess Qingyun returned to the capital with them and found a handsome and capable husband, which made her extremely proud.
However, after returning to Lin'an, Princess Qingyun discovered that her husband's attitude towards her had changed; he no longer fawned over and pampered her.
Does this mean that now that Li Chengxun has a high position and the Empress Dowager has lost power, he no longer takes her seriously?
Princess Qingyun sent people to investigate and found that the prince consort did not have any extramarital affairs outside the palace; he only went between the palace gate and the princess's residence every day.
It's Emperor Wusu's birthday again.
Ji Qingwu was newly pregnant, and she personally organized the Longevity Festival, which was very successful. Unlike in the past, there were no performances, but many novel folk programs were added.
Everyone watched with great amusement, afraid of missing any interesting details.
Only Princess Qingyun was distracted. She glanced at her husband and noticed that his gaze was fixed on the sandalwood chariot in front of him.
This vehicle is ingeniously constructed, with a built-in magnet that attracts iron filings to create art, and the iron filings on the top layer constantly change shape with the magnetic force.
The image transforms from the entire Phoenix Palace to the vast landscape, then gradually reveals the handsome profile of Emperor Wusu, and finally coalesces into the four characters "Long Live the Emperor".
At Ji Qingwu's request, Yuan Heng and Qiu Qiu dressed up as a cute boy and girl and shouted in their childish voices, "Wishing Father Emperor a long life!"
The people at the palace banquet applauded and cheered, and even Princess Huachang had a smile on her face.
After bestowing the titles and rewards, Emperor Wusu leaned over to the Empress's desk and asked her something with a smile.
Ji Qingwu whispered something in his ear, and Emperor Wusu's smile deepened. The two sat for a while before leaving their seats.
On Emperor Wusu's birthday, a platform was set up in front of the Zhaoyang Palace.
Ji Qingwu changed into a light red dance dress, raised her water sleeves, and the ribbons on her gazing-moon bun fluttered.
Zhao Mingyan stood below the stage, and he finally witnessed this dance.
In the past, they worked together to make up for the imperfections between them.
Meanwhile, the performance inside the hall continued.
Li Chengxun no longer concealed his admiration, and Princess Qingyun drank her wine in frustration.
These folk trinkets were exactly to Yuchi Lianping's liking, and his loud laughter, slapping the table, could be heard throughout the hall.
Princess Huachang glanced at him helplessly, but seeing how hard he had been taking care of Xiao Tingnan at night lately and hadn't been able to get a full night's sleep, she didn't discipline him and let him be.
Tao Wanyin had suffered a lot to protect her pregnancy, and she still had aftereffects after giving birth, such as back pain that prevented her from sitting for long periods. Prince Yong quickly took Tao Wanyin away from the banquet, saying that he would take her to the hot spring resort in the south of the city to recuperate the next day.
Only the two princesses and their husbands remained in the palace.
Princess Qingyun was a little tipsy. She looked enviously at Princess Huachang sitting opposite her. Yuchi Lianping's heart and eyes were full of her.
Another half hour passed, and Princess Huachang also got up to leave, with Yuchi Lianping following her eagerly.
Only Princess Qingyun and Li Chengxun remained in the hall.
Seeing that she was quite drunk, Li Chengxun helped her up, saying, "Qingyun, let's go back."
Princess Qingyun shook off his hand and said, "Don't worry about me, you go back first, I need to go see my mother."
The Empress Dowager is still imprisoned in Cining Palace. Only after Prince Yong and Qingyun pleaded with Ji Qingwu were they allowed to visit her.
Li Chengxun said, "Come back with me."
Princess Qingyun said, "I will not return."
Unlike before, Li Chengxun no longer patiently coaxed or persuaded her; he simply got up and left the table.
Princess Qingyun called out from behind him, "My consort!"
Li Chengxun stopped in his tracks and said coldly, "What exactly does the princess want?"
Princess Qingyun said, "Can't you even keep up the pretense anymore?"
Li Chengxun was no longer the retainer who needed to climb high and look far, but a high-ranking official surrounded by people in the court.
He calmly said, "One cannot be greedy and want both this and that. The princess should understand this principle better than I do."
Princess Qingyun watched his departing figure and smiled sadly.
Everyone has things they can't have; she was, and so was he.
But Li Chengxun knew what he needed most. Princess Qingyun briefly lost her senses that night, only to be woken up by his touch.
Afterwards, Princess Qingyun and her husband resumed their former relationship. To outsiders, they appeared to be a harmonious couple and even had a daughter.
Li Chengxun pursued fame and fortune, and devoted himself to assisting the Empress. He passed away at the age of forty-two.
Princess Qingyun wept bitterly before his coffin, but two years later, she came to terms with it and began keeping male concubines, all of whom were handsome.
*
[Mini Quiz]
Participants in the examination:
Emperor Wusu, Yuchi Lianping, Lu Juan, Duan Mingfeng, Wei Ting
Exam Questions:
Please answer the following question:
1. Knows how to coax and stop.
2. Can coax but won't stop.
3. It won't coax you, but it will stop.
4. It won't stop unless you coax it.
Emperor Wusu was the first to answer, pondering for a moment: "Of course, I'll choose number 1."
"...the number 2 below."
Yuchi Lianping waved his hand and said, "Choose 4."
Then he burst into laughter: "Of course it's impossible! If I choose 4, the princess will lose her life. If I choose 333, it's not that I don't want to coax her, it's that I don't know how. The more I coax her, the angrier she gets."
Lu Juan: "Can I choose option 5 for this question? I've done all of the above."
Duan Mingfeng blushed and said, "1." Then he used his light-footed skill to fly away.
When it was the last person's turn, Wei Ting stroked his chin and said, "I almost missed it. Thank you for allowing me to enter the examination room, but the questions were a bit too unconventional."
He said helplessly, "Choose 1. It's not easy to have a wife like this, so of course we should cherish her."
*
Author's Closing Remarks.
Thank you to the patient, gentle, and meticulous editor.
Thank you to all the readers who have accompanied this book to the end.
With you guys, it's truly, truly, truly amazing! (Makes a heart shape with hands and feet)
Strangely enough, the original ending of this book wasn't going to be like this, but when I was writing chapter 481, a voice inside me told me that it was time to end it.
The male and female protagonists will no longer separate due to misunderstandings and setbacks, nor will they doubt the fact that the other loves them.
Their story will not end, but I don't need to elaborate further.
The "what if" scenarios in the side stories are meant to fill in many gaps from the previous ones.
The female protagonist wasn't coerced by a pregnancy system, and when she first showed her true feelings, she didn't face rejection; instead, she was treated with sincerity and care. Therefore, her emotions were bold and passionate, not cautious and fearful. The male protagonist, unlike the female protagonist, didn't become moody due to uncertainty about her feelings; instead, he indulged and pampered her, becoming a guiding partner.
In the main storyline, both Qiuqiu and Yuanheng experienced the absence of one parent in their childhood, which indirectly led to their twisted personalities as adults.
In the "If" scenario, the two children grow up in a warm environment full of love and security after their birth. Qiuqiu won't need a comfort blanket to fall asleep, and Yuanheng won't be prematurely mature and suppress his feelings. They will both find it easier to achieve happiness.
Ah Wu and Ming Yan, look, there are so many people witnessing your happiness.
Please continue to love me forever!
A melodious song and a full cup of wine, life is full of unexpected encounters, the end!
Thank you all!
See you in the next book!
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