Even the grandest ceremony must eventually come to an end.
As the last envoy from the vassal state, filled with awe and awe, respectfully withdrew from the Taihe Hall Square, and as the civil and military officials, led by the prime minister, left the court in order, the resounding ceremonial music and the thunderous shouts of worship finally subsided.
The hustle and bustle of the day recedes like the tide, returning this magnificent palace to the silent night.
The palace servants quietly tidied up the decorations for the celebration, and the distant sounds of celebration became a blurred background noise in the night of the capital. Xiao Che did not give the order to leave, so Lin Wanwan quietly accompanied him. The two of them still stood side by side on the terrace at the top of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, as if they wanted to engrave this rare tranquility into their lives.
A cool night breeze stirred the dazzling starry feather robe that Lin Wanwan wore. This divine object, which had absorbed immense light during the day, still shimmered with countless gentle and profound rays of light under the cool moonlight, as if draping the entire night sky over her, making her one with the stars in the heavens.
She looked down and saw that the white marble square, which during the day was filled with officials and envoys, was now empty and white, gleaming warmly in the moonlight. Further away, the palace lanterns of the imperial city stretched into a warm sea of light, echoing the myriad lights lit in every household in the capital, and finally merging into the boundless darkness in the distance.
At that moment, it seemed as if only the two of them remained in the world.
After experiencing the ultimate glory and excitement of the day, Lin Wanwan's heart finally settled down.
She leaned against the white marble railing beside her, the cool touch making her incredibly alert. Her thoughts drifted involuntarily back to a long, long time ago.
She recalled the moment she first arrived in this world, in that dark and oppressive Kunning Palace, facing a room full of trembling palace servants, and the impending arrival of the legendary, bloodthirsty "tyrant." At that time, her only thought was how to survive.
She recalled her first encounter with Xiao Che, the icy killing intent in his eyes, and the absurd contrast between it and the trembling emoji above his head. Back then, they were enemies testing each other, resentful couples wary of one another.
She recalled how, amidst the intrigues and power struggles of the imperial harem, she used those little emojis to dismantle conspiracies and see through people's hearts step by step; she recalled how, amidst the ever-changing political landscape of the court, they went from being tacitly "best frenemy friends" to "comrades-in-arms" who could entrust their backs to each other.
From the poisoning in Kunning Palace to the show of force in Cixi Palace, from the life-or-death struggle at the autumn hunting grounds to the raging inferno on the night of the palace coup... scene after scene, event after event, unfolds slowly before my eyes like a painting from yesterday.
Having survived so many life-and-death situations and navigated so many conspiracies, they have finally stood here, ushering in their own peaceful and prosperous era.
This prosperous era did not come easily.
However, the scene before her reminded her that it was not the end.
In the distance, the capital city was brightly lit, having regained its former prosperity and tranquility. But beneath that facade of prosperity lay the deep scars left by the palace coup, and the dire need for reconstruction of all sectors of society and the people's livelihood after the national treasury was emptied. This city, this country, was like a giant recovering from a serious illness; though it had stood up again, its body remained weak, requiring a long and careful recuperation.
As Lin Wanwan was lost in thought, a warm, large hand gently yet firmly grasped her slightly cool hand.
She snapped out of her daze and turned to look at Xiao Che.
He had withdrawn his gaze from surveying the landscape and was now intently staring at her. Gone was the daytime's imposing authority and the cold, ruthless intensity he displayed when facing enemies; only a deep, tender emotion, as profound as the stillness of the night, remained in his eyes.
He refrained from uttering those sweet words of love, nor did he mention the grand celebrations of the day. His gaze swept past her, turning to the distant land awaiting reconstruction. He took her hand and, in a tone filled with profound emotion and utmost solemnity, slowly spoke:
"Wanwan, I once thought that the end would be when I took back power from the Regent and completely took control of this country."
His voice was low, yet it carried an unprecedented clarity and understanding.
"But now I realize that protecting it, building it well, and ensuring that these lights shine in every home forever in peace and tranquility is the real beginning."
He turned back, his deep eyes locking onto her once more, as if trying to see into the depths of her soul.
"This road is more difficult and longer than any road we have traveled before."
His thumb gently caressed the back of her hand; the rough, calloused texture conveyed his most genuine emotions. He paused, then asked the question in an almost murmured tone:
Are you scared?
This question, like a feather, landed lightly yet with unparalleled clarity on Lin Wanwan's heart.
Is she afraid?
Lin Wanwan looked at him, at the clear understanding of the future in his eyes, the hidden heaviness, and that... secret expectation of her answer.
She suddenly smiled. Under the cool moonlight, that smile was like a night-blooming cereus quietly blooming in the dark, gentle yet full of breathtaking power.
She turned her hand around and gripped his hand tightly, her fingertips gently tracing across his palm as if to soothe him.
Her voice was soft yet carried an unshakable firmness.
“Before, when I was alone, I wasn’t afraid.”
She was telling the truth. Whether facing the threat of being buried alive, the Empress Dowager's刁难 (difficulties/challenges), or even the inferno of a palace coup, she may have felt fear and tension, but she never truly felt "fear." Because she knew she could only rely on herself.
Xiao Che's eyes flickered slightly, and he unconsciously tightened his grip on her hand.
Lin Wanwan met his gaze, her eyes filled with even greater tenderness, yet her fighting spirit blazed like a spark, dazzlingly bright. She spoke clearly, word by word:
"Now that you're here, I'm not afraid at all."
I wasn't afraid before because I had no other choice but to be strong.
Now I'm not afraid anymore; it's the fearlessness that comes from having something to rely on.
This simple sentence contains a power that seems heavier than a thousand troops. It represents complete trust, a commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder, and a determination to completely bind one's own future, his future, and the future of the country together.
With a resounding crash, Xiao Che felt the last trace of loneliness and heaviness in his heart caused by the heavy responsibilities ahead completely vanish with her words.
He had always known that his empress was intelligent, decisive, and even ruthless. But only at this moment did he truly understand that what he possessed was not just a lover, a wife, but a soulmate who could truly understand him and share the burden of this vast empire with him.
He was no longer the emperor who stood alone at the pinnacle of power.
Beside him stood his queen.
An unprecedented sense of peace and satisfaction filled Xiao Che's chest. Looking at the woman before him, whose eyes sparkled with dazzling light, all words of sweet talk seemed pale and powerless. He smiled, a smile no longer tinged with calculating cunning, nor with doting tenderness, but a genuine, heartfelt, and utterly relaxed joy.
He said softly, "Okay."
A simple word, yet it carries the weight of Mount Tai.
He raised his other hand and gently tucked a strand of hair, ruffled by the night breeze, behind her ear. His fingertips brushed against her warm earlobe, sending a slight shiver through him.
A glint of childlike cunning and anticipation flashed in his eyes.
"Then I will make an exception for you at the morning court tomorrow."
Lin Wanwan was taken aback, looking at him with confusion. An exception?
Xiao Che's lips curled into a meaningful smile. He leaned close to her ear and announced a decision that would once again shake the court, in a voice only the two of them could hear.
"You should come and see this imperial court for yourself."
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