Faced with her son's gaze, filled with adoration and admiration, Lin Wanwan simply smiled calmly.
A pillar that stabilizes the sea?
She doesn't deserve such high praise.
All she did was turn the rain she had been drenched in into an umbrella, creating a sky where those who came after her could run freely.
"Alright," she laughed, patting her son's shoulder with a hint of teasing in her voice, "Stop flattering your mother. I've given you the plan, but whether you can seize this 'publicly funded romance' opportunity depends on your own abilities."
"Your subject... Your subject understands!" Xiao Tuan's cheeks flushed red instantly, but his eyes shone with unprecedented confidence and light.
With his mother's support, he felt as if he had suddenly gained the courage to fight against the whole world!
...
After seeing off her son, who had arrived gloomy but left full of fighting spirit, Lin Wanwan felt exceptionally cheerful.
She returned to the restaurant to clear the table, only to find that the leftover food had already been cleaned up.
Meanwhile, the retired emperor, who should have been "secluded" in the vegetable garden, was sitting at the table, holding a bowl of... osmanthus cake that she had specially reserved.
He ate slowly and attentively, as if it were not an ordinary pastry, but some rare delicacy.
Hearing footsteps, Xiao Che looked up.
The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the window lattice onto his handsome face, which had long since shed the coldness of his youth and had matured into a steady and charming figure.
He was no longer the sinister emperor who needed to wear a cold mask to disguise himself.
He is now a handsome middle-aged man, with a calm demeanor that reflects the passage of time, yet his eyes still hold a galaxy of stars.
"Is everything resolved?" he asked, his voice as deep and pleasant as ever.
"Mm." Lin Wanwan sat down opposite him and nodded with a smile.
She didn't say how she solved it.
Because she knew that he could definitely guess it all.
“‘Royal Female Scholar’?” Xiao Che raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile playing on his lips. “You always come up with these kinds of ideas that leave those old fogies jumping up and down in frustration.”
"You flatter me," Lin Wanwan said, raising an eyebrow as she mimicked him. "It's mainly because His Majesty's 'female official system' is such a fine example."
The couple looked at each other and smiled.
All the unspoken understanding is left unsaid.
Children and grandchildren have their own blessings.
They knew that from now on, Tuanzi's path was his to walk alone.
And they can finally put their minds at ease and live their own "little life".
...
Dusk is the most beautiful time of day in the villa.
The setting sun, like blood, dyed the western sky a magnificent crimson.
The sunset glow, layer upon layer, looked like a spilled palette of colors from the gods.
Xiao Che and Lin Wanwan sat side by side on the top of the mountain behind the villa.
This is their favorite place to be.
Yes, you can overlook the pastoral scenery of the entire villa, or you can gaze at the bustling skyline of Beijing in the distance.
The evening breeze, carrying the fresh scent of the mountains and fields, caressed my face.
Neither of them spoke; they simply watched in silence as the enormous red sun slowly sank into the embrace of the western mountains.
Time has left its mark on them.
Fine lines had already appeared at the corners of Xiao Che's eyes, and a few strands of silver hair that could not be dyed black had also appeared at Lin Wanwan's temples.
They are no longer young.
Yet, never before have we felt so connected, so peaceful and serene, as we do now.
"Wanwan."
After a long silence, it was Xiao Che who broke it first.
He didn't turn around, but simply reached out and grasped Lin Wanwan's hand, a hand that was still well-maintained.
His palms were warm and dry, just like many years ago, on that thrilling night of the wedding.
His already highly sophisticated "artificial voice package" system automatically switched to "reporting" mode at this moment.
“I’m thinking…” His voice was low and calm, as if he were stating a perfectly ordinary fact, “Tuanzi, he doesn’t need us anymore.”
Lin Wanwan felt the warmth from her palm, and a gentle smile appeared on her lips.
She turned her head to look at his profile, perfectly outlined by the setting sun, and softly replied:
"Yes, he's grown up."
He grew up to be an emperor capable of standing alone.
He has grown into a man, capable of supporting his beloved.
Xiao Che slowly turned his head, his deep phoenix eyes appearing exceptionally gentle in the afterglow of the setting sun.
“I’m thinking again…” he continued his “report.”
This time, there was a hint of...nostalgia in his voice.
"Back then, when we went to Jiangnan, wasn't it... a bit too rushed?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Wanwan's heart stirred.
Her mind involuntarily drifted back to that trip to Jiangnan more than ten years ago.
At that time, they seemed to be enjoying themselves, but in reality, they were proceeding cautiously at every step, and were constantly on edge.
There were too many beautiful sights to see in detail.
There was so much delicious food that I didn't have time to try it all.
There are also too many regrets left on that land shrouded in mist and rain.
"Yes..." she murmured with a sigh, "It left quite a few regrets."
For example, I haven't had a chance to go to West Lake to see the real "Three Pools Mirroring the Moon".
For example, I haven't had a chance to go to Hanshan Temple and listen to the bell that has been ringing for thousands of years.
For example...
She hadn't had a chance to tell the man who shielded her from the poisoned arrow how terrified she truly was back then.
Having gained his wife's approval, a glint of triumph flashed in Xiao Che's eyes.
He held Lin Wanwan's hand, tightening his grip slightly.
A sly, mischievous smile played on his lips, hinting at a restless, eager anticipation.
He looked at Lin Wanwan, his voice filled with hints and...invitations that only she could understand.
"So, I'm thinking..."
He paused deliberately, then spoke clearly, word by word:
"My dashing and debonair 'Master Xiao,' and my beautiful 'Lady Lin'..."
"Isn't it time for me to 'make a comeback'?"
The moment the words left her mouth, Lin Wanwan's heart skipped a beat!
In an instant, her eyes shone with a light as bright as stars!
Back in action!
These four words, like a key, instantly unlocked the long-sealed door in her heart, a door called "freedom" and "adventure"!
yes!
How long has it been since they've had a day like that?
Freed from the constraints of their identities as emperor and empress, they were simply an ordinary, wealthy merchant couple.
Yes, you can haggle with vendors on the streets for just a few coins.
Yes, you can stay in a country inn, listen to various dialects, and eat simple meals.
Alternatively, one could share a cup of sake on a painted boat in Jiangnan, under the moonlight.
Those days...
She thought, she had missed it for a long time.
Lin Wanwan slowly turned her head.
She looked at Xiao Che, at his eyes, which were as deep and affectionate as the sea in the setting sun.
Clearly reflected in there was her smiling face at that moment.
She smiled.
She smiled, her eyes crinkling like the morning sun.
"good."
She readily agreed.
Then, a sly glint flashed in her eyes, exactly the same glint she had back then in the Imperial Garden when she was preparing to confront Consort Shu head-on.
"but……"
She deliberately drew out the last syllable, looked at Xiao Che, and slowly said:
"This time, 'Master Xiao'..."
"This accountant, the bookkeeper..."
"I'm afraid it'll be your turn to take the position!"
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