When Lin Wanwan's question, as light as a feather, reached Xiao Che's ears, his hand, which was holding a wine glass, paused almost imperceptibly.
Did you see that?
What do you see?
If anyone else had asked this seemingly random question, the former emperor probably wouldn't have even given them a second glance. But the one who asked the question was Lin Wanwan.
It was Lin Wanwan, who had been with him for half his life and with whom he had a tacit understanding that required no words.
Countless thoughts flashed through Xiao Che's mind in an instant. Of course, he couldn't see anything; his head was completely empty except for his hair ornament. But he understood almost immediately that Lin Wanwan wasn't asking about what he could see.
What she asked was the secret between them that was no longer mentioned, but would never be forgotten.
He remembered years ago, on that moonlit night, when she confessed everything to him, those eyes that were both brave and vulnerable. She told him that she could see all sorts of "emojis" above his head.
From that moment on, he knew that his wife could see a "world" that belonged to him, a world that he himself could not see.
Later, he learned that the "world" had disappeared.
Later, he vaguely sensed that the "world" hadn't completely disappeared, but rather occasionally flashed by in a more mysterious way. For example, on the night of Tuanzi's birthday, when she looked at him, her eyes lit up with surprise.
Just like... exactly the same as before.
Xiao Che understood.
He didn't ask, "What do you see?", nor did he foolishly answer, "I didn't see anything."
That would be such a spoilsport.
For a former "male chauvinist" who has long since learned how to express affection, that is the most foolish answer.
He slowly put down his wine glass, turned his head, and looked at Lin Wanwan, who was still leaning on his shoulder. He didn't look at the center of the banquet she was gazing at, but instead stared deeply into her eyes.
Then he smiled.
It was a smile so gentle it could melt ice and snow.
He reached out and gently, precisely, took her hand under the table, and in an incredibly confident yet gentle tone, activated his "perfect artificial voice package":
"I saw it."
Lin Wanwan's heart skipped a beat. She looked up at him with some surprise.
Xiao Che's eyes were filled with the most genuine emotions she could understand. He didn't give her a chance to ask further, but continued in his deep, pleasant voice, slowly and clearly speaking:
“I see…our son has grown up.”
A single sentence, simple yet more powerful than a thousand words.
He didn't mention that he saw the meme "My son has grown up." However, he perfectly "translated" the core meaning of the meme in his own words.
He saw their son grow from a child who needed their protection into a towering king.
He witnessed the handover of responsibility and the passing down of time.
He saw everything she saw and felt.
Lin Wanwan smiled.
It was a genuine, radiant smile. She knew that from this moment on, the magical cheat code, whether it still existed or not, was no longer important. Because the man beside her had long since become her most understanding "human-made emoji."
There were no more secrets between them, no more barriers.
“Yes,” she echoed softly, squeezing his hand in return, “our son has grown up. From this moment on, this empire belongs entirely to him.”
She spoke of it casually, as if she were not shedding an absolute position of power, but merely an old garment she had worn for a long time.
Looking at the relieved smile on her face, Xiao Che finally let go of the last bit of worry in his heart.
He downed the sake in his glass in one gulp, and then, in an unprecedentedly relaxed tone, delivered a long-planned "retirement declaration" to Lin Wanwan:
"Wanwan, our son is getting married, and he's handed over the reins of the family business. Shouldn't we... retire completely?"
His voice carried a subtle, boyish anticipation and excitement, as if he had been pondering and longing for this word for a long time.
"Retire?" Lin Wanwan raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise, but her eyes were already brimming with laughter. "Your Majesty the Retired Emperor, are you willing to give up your vast empire and your supreme power?"
"What's there to be reluctant about?" Xiao Che snorted lightly, his tone carrying a hint of arrogance. "No matter how good the country is, it's not as good as being with you in your leisurely life. I've already decided that after Tuanzi's wedding, we'll move to a villa in the suburbs of the capital and never have to worry about these troublesome matters in the court again."
Lin Wanwan was amused by his "eager to quit" appearance. She knew that he didn't not love this country, but loved her even more. He had spent half his life fighting to conquer this country as a betrothal gift for her; now, he wanted to spend the rest of his life with only her, seeing all the ordinary scenery in this country.
"Okay." Lin Wanwan agreed readily, a sly glint in her eyes, and proposed a new "agreement" to him, "Since we're retiring, we should act like it. I remember we still have a vegetable garden in our villa in the suburbs of Beijing. Your competition with General Zhang next door is still undecided!"
The "Old Zhang" she mentioned was the old general who had his heart healed by Tuanzi and later volunteered to become Grand Tutor. He had now retired to his hometown and, like them, was enjoying his old age in a villa on the outskirts of Beijing, becoming their neighbor.
Upon hearing the word "competition," a look of unwillingness to admit defeat immediately appeared on Xiao Che's face.
Last time, in both vegetable gardening and fishing, he was utterly humiliated by Old Zhang, a former soldier, with overwhelming superiority. This was a profound disgrace to him!
"Hmph!" Xiao Che's "artificial voice pack" instantly switched to "high-spirited" mode. "That old bastard is just relying on the fact that he's been digging the land for decades longer than me! This time, I'll definitely show him what the talent of a 'dragon seed' is!"
Seeing his eager, battle-ready expression, Lin Wanwan laughed even harder. She knew their "retirement" was destined to be anything but boring.
Inside the hall, the wedding banquet continued.
The new Emperor Xiao Tuan and the new Empress Su Qiaohui are receiving blessings from the officials hand in hand. They are the new sun of this era, shining brightly.
In this quiet corner of the palace, the sun and moon of the previous era are quietly preparing to retire gracefully.
Xiao Che refilled the glasses for Lin Wanwan and himself. He raised his glass, looked intently at her, and solemnly said:
"It's a deal!"
"It's a deal." Lin Wanwan smiled, raised her glass, and gently clinked it against his.
The crisp clinking of cups and goblets, drowned out by the noisy drumming, played in their hearts the prelude to a new life.
And so, in a corner of their son's grand wedding banquet, they quietly raised their glasses in a toast. All the noise and extravagance around them seemed to fade into the background. In their eyes, there was only each other.
Their expressions, their tacit understanding, and the tranquility and gentleness that had settled after weathering storms made them seem as if they had instantly traveled through time and space back to more than ten years ago.
I returned to that misty, rainy town in Jiangnan, to that small, simple teahouse.
At that time, they were still posing as a wealthy merchant couple, known as "Master Xiao" and "Lady Lin".
Now, they are about to become "Old Man Xiao" and "Grandma Lin" again.
My identity may change, but the people around me have remained the same.
very nice.
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