Chen Anzhi, his body hunched, wandered alone through the bustling crowd. Though it was early winter, he was wrapped in a thick coat but still couldn’t fend off the chill emanating from within, coughing intermittently. Despite his young age, he looked sickly and old.
His aimless steps halted, and he turned to look at a few people he had just passed. From their snippets of conversation, he learned the reason for today’s commotion. It was the Empress’s birthday, and the Emperor and Empress had gone to the racetrack, attracting many onlookers.
Emperor and Empress?
Chen Anzhi felt a moment of dizziness. His hand, hanging at his side, suddenly clenched into a fist. The existence of those two was a colossal joke to him, constantly reminding him of his foolishness. After a while, his clenched hand lost its strength and relaxed.
What could he do?
He could do nothing.
He exhaled a breath of white air, filled with frustration. Feeling exhausted, he randomly found a place to sit on the stone steps, staring blankly at the bustling crowd. By now, he had become numb to the scrutinizing gazes upon him, no longer caring about what they whispered behind his back.
Before long, the Emperor and Empress’s convoy passed by, and the crowd jostled to get a look.
Chen Anzhi looked over from a distance and saw You Yuji and Si Que. Seeing Si Que dressed as a man made him frown and feel a surge of nausea. He turned his gaze to You Yuji, and the disgust in his eyes faded, replaced by regret. If only he hadn’t been deceived by Fang Qingyi back then, if only he had cherished her…
Chen Anzhi didn’t dwell on it further, because he saw Yushu and Queyuan sitting in the rear carriage. They even had children now. Calculating the children’s birth dates, it seemed they had been together since he was in the army! Although he and You Yuji had signed a separation agreement by then, he chose to ignore that fact. He could only sit there, powerless and angry.
You Yuji and Si Que were chatting and laughing, not noticing the destitute Chen Anzhi in the corner. However, You Jiamu saw him. Watching Chen Anzhi stand up and leave, You Jiamu’s lips curled into a cold smile.
Chen Anzhi avoided the crowd, choosing a secluded path to return home.
Until he heard barking.
The fierce barking was unusually loud on the quiet path. Startled, Chen Anzhi turned around in surprise.
You Jiamu sat on horseback, not holding the reins but instead gripping the leashes of two large dogs, Dahuang and Dahei. You Jiamu looked down at Chen Anzhi, a smile slowly appearing on his face, and called out affectionately, “Brother-in-law.”
You Yuji hadn’t enjoyed such a thrilling horseback ride in a long time, feeling like she had returned to her years on the grasslands. Yet, it was different now, as Si Que was by her side.
You Yuji slowed down, bent over, and patted Xuanying’s neck, speaking in a pampering tone, “Xuanying is tired.”
Xuanying was no longer as young as before.
Si Que also stopped, lifting his foot from the stirrup and lightly touching the side of You Yuji’s boot. He sighed and said, “Some people only worry about whether the horse is tired.”
You Yuji smiled, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him, deliberately coughing lightly before speaking, “Unlike you, who only worries about whether your sister is tired.”
Si Que was taken aback, then realized You Yuji was mimicking his tone. He seriously pondered for a moment before asking, “Do I really sound that sarcastic?”
“No,” You Yuji shook her head, “they call it the art of brewing tea.”
You Yuji laughed and spurred her horse forward.
Si Que galloped after her, shouting, “So, does my sister like it?”
The gentle breeze carried the faint, elegant scent of irises from You Yuji, brushing against Si Que’s face, providing the answer in place of You Yuji’s words.
While the two of them raced across the endless racetrack, Yushu and Queyuan, guarded by the attendants, sat on their ponies for a brief trot. Being so young, they could only play for a short while. As soon as the appointed time arrived, the guards immediately lifted the two young princes off the horses.
They returned to the pavilion to drink hot tea. Queyuan looked around repeatedly, asking countless times, “Where’s Uncle?”
The maidservants couldn’t answer. On the way here, You Jiamu had suddenly turned his horse around without telling anyone where he was going.
Queyuan swung her little legs and hummed, “Even Dahuang and Dahei are missing.”
“Are you looking for Uncle?” You Jiamu rode over with a smile, holding the reins in one hand and two skewers of candied haws in the other. Dahuang and Dahei followed behind him.
He dismounted and handed the skewers of candied haws to Yushu and Queyuan.
“Uncle, did you go to buy candied haws for us?” Queyuan’s eyes curved in delight, “Uncle is so good.”
You Jiamu patted her head.
Yushu also thanked him, “Thank you, Uncle.”
“Let’s go, I’ll take you around the racetrack.” You Jiamu picked them up one by one, placing them on the horse’s back, and led the horse towards the racetrack.
Queyuan opened her mouth wide, biting into a candied haw, filling her small mouth with the sweet and sour treat. As she ate, she looked back at Dahuang and Dahei.
With her mouth full of candied haw, she mumbled, “Uncle, what are Dahuang and Dahei eating? Do they get candied haws too?”
You Jiamu glanced back and said casually, “I bought them a sheep from a mutton soup shop we passed by.”
Queyuan stopped asking, pointing at the birds flying in the sky for her brother to see.
The children’s laughter echoed around them, making You Jiamu feel at ease. He squinted his eyes, gazing at the birds in the sky. He felt like a bird that had finally grown strong wings.
He was no longer that eleven-year-old boy, filled with hatred but powerless. Forced to smile and call Chen Anzhi “brother-in-law” while seething with murderous intent inside, he had to repeatedly tell himself that these years of temporary endurance were like a painful nightmare.
Fortunately, he had finally grown up.
Chen Anzhi would never know that, six years ago, the boy who smiled and called him “brother-in-law” had done so many things in the army to weaken him, causing his current frailty.
Being bitten to death by two dogs was an excruciating experience. After dying, Chen Anzhi’s soul became a wandering ghost, constantly enduring the pain of being torn apart. He fled home in despair. But at home, his parents couldn’t see him and were happily chatting with his brother, continuously praising him for being so good and understanding.
Chen Anzhi floated above, watching his happy family, wanting to ask if they had forgotten him. But he didn’t ask and couldn’t ask.
He drifted and drifted, arriving at a small courtyard. He saw Hongzan holding her one-year-old daughter, talking to her husband. Chen Anzhi stared at the happiness on Hongzan’s face, feeling confused. He still didn’t understand why Hongzan had left him to marry a farmer.
The weightless soul of Chen Anzhi was easily carried away by the wind. He saw Chunxing again, the maid he once thought dull and boring, only notable for her obedience. Now, she was the young mistress of the Zhou family, sitting in an armchair and giving orders, looking quite the part. Wangjiang came in from outside, and Chunxing immediately ran over to him with a smile.
Chen Anzhi saw Lin Yingying next. For a long time, he believed that Lin Yingying would be unhappy marrying into the Jiang family. What kind of family was the Jiang family? At the Jiang residence, he saw Jiang Yunche’s strict mother instructing a maid to call a doctor for Lin Yingying, who had caught a cold. There was indeed dissatisfaction, but in a family with upright traditions, narrow-mindedness had no place. Human hearts are made of flesh. Six years had passed, and any dissatisfaction had been worn away by daily interactions, turning them into a family.
As night fell, Chen Anzhi’s soul was uncontrollably drawn to the Cui family. Cuiyu must be doing poorly, right? Would she be thinking of him? Today, Cuiyu had been busy during the day and had gone to bed early. Chen Anzhi was stunned to see her bedding. Her mattress was densely embroidered with gold and silver ingots, and her quilt was adorned with banknotes. She turned over, hugging the quilt and kissing it.
Chen Anzhi felt that his soul would soon be dispersed, and eventually, the winter wind blew his soul into the palace. Chen Anzhi, in a state of panic, wondered if, in his final moments, he was meant to see the two most important women in his life.
Palace lanterns swayed, and the moonlight stretched You Yuji’s shadow into a captivating silhouette. Fresh from her bath, every gesture and movement exuded an enchanting beauty.
Chen Anzhi’s soul clung to a palace lantern, watching You Yuji appear at the hall entrance and then walk gracefully towards Si Que.
Si Que was seated behind a jade table, seemingly reviewing memorials. He extended his hand towards You Yuji, and she leaned into his embrace. The intimate candlelight merged their shadows.
Chen Anzhi watched as Si Que leaned down to kiss You Yuji. Frustration built up inside him, and he couldn’t release it. A gust of wind struck the eaves, scattering his last wisp of soul completely.
Si Que frowned, feeling a chill, and called for someone to close the hall doors. The palace attendants closed the doors and then withdrew.
You Yuji lay her head on Si Que’s lap, looking up at the memorials on the desk. After spending most of the day outside the palace, many matters remained unresolved.
Si Que glanced at the documents following You Yuji’s gaze and asked casually, “Sister, are you surprised that this land has survived six years under someone as unreliable as me?”
“Who says you’re unreliable?” You Yuji pinched his cheek. “My Ah Que has always been reliable.”
She had gotten to know him early on through his poetry and essays. If it weren’t for his childhood experiences, he would have grown into an upright and exemplary prince. Despite his unconventional words and actions, she had always known he was a gentleman among gentlemen.
Feeling that pinching his cheek wasn’t enough, she leaned in to kiss him and said softly, “You handle the state affairs first. I’ll go check on Yushu and Queyuan.”
You Yuji had just stepped out when she encountered Yushu.
“Mother…” Yushu looked troubled.
After a brief inquiry, You Yuji learned that earlier, Si Que had given Queyuan some pearl flowers and had also given Yushu a set. Yushu had hesitated for a long time before seeking out You Yuji. “Mother, I understand Father’s intentions, but I have no use for these. It’s a waste to give me an extra set. It would be better to use the money for something more useful.”
You Yuji was silent for a moment before speaking gently, “Your father must envy you very much.”
Yushu’s tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed. He asked in confusion, “Did Father’s father treat him poorly?”
You Yuji smiled.
“I understand now.” Yushu nodded heavily.
You Yuji also nodded, caressing his face and speaking tenderly, “Keep it. There will be times when you’ll need it, for your future wife or daughter.”
“Alright, I’ll keep them all!”
Before leaving, Yushu hugged You Yuji. He hesitated for a moment, then ran back into the hall. Seeing that his father wasn’t busy, he ran over to hug him as well before leaving.
“Did he come in just to hug me?” Si Que frowned.
“Well…” You Yuji leaned against the jade table, “Maybe he felt that if he hugged me, he had to hug you too.”
Si Que fell into deep thought.
You Yuji glanced at the memorials spread out on the desk. One of them proposed establishing a crown prince soon. She had always known what was troubling Si Que. Smiling, she said, “I have a fair way to decide who should inherit the throne.”
Si Que immediately looked up.
You Yuji leaned over, slowly opened a drawer under the jade table, and took out a copper coin, playing with it between her slender white fingers. “Heads or tails, both have equal chances. Naturally, that’s the fairest.”
Si Que was momentarily stunned, then laughed.
Indeed, he had been flipping coins for years, how could he forget it at such a critical moment!
Having suddenly resolved a major issue, Si Que felt elated and pulled You Yuji into his arms. He took the copper coin from her fingers, leaned close to her ear, and whispered, “We’ll decide the throne another day. Tonight, let’s flip to decide our positions in bed.”
꒰ The End ꒱
Dear Readers,
Thank you so much for sticking with me all the way to the end of this novel 💕 Whether you purchased, read along quietly, or left comments and feedback, I’m truly grateful for your support. You made this journey so much more fun and meaningful.
If you enjoyed the story, I’d really appreciate it if you could drop a review or rating on Novel Updates. It helps more readers find their way here.
Thanks again for all the patience, encouragement, and love — I hope you enjoyed reading this novel as much as I enjoyed translating it for you!
With love,
All Things Fluff 💗