An Youyou saw the Empress, and excitedly ran over, "Mother, look at the sword Guard Lin gave me."

Then she began to brag endlessly.

"Guard Lin crafted it himself. Isn’t it beautiful?" An Youyou boasted.

"It’s alright." An Ning looked at the exquisite Treasure Sword with an indifferent tone.

"Not ’alright,’ it’s ’fantastic.’" An Youyou was a bit upset by her mother’s dismissive response. Her round eyes stared at An Ning, "Mother, are you jealous?"

An Ning frowned.

"You must be jealous because Guard Lin gave me a gift and not you, that’s the only reason. Mother, you’re so petty." An Youyou wrinkled her little nose.

"An Youyou!" An Ning got angry.

An Youyou was always good at judging people’s moods, so she immediately ran behind Lin Zichan, hugging his leg and poking her little head out, "Guard Lin, protect me."

Lin Zichan chuckled indulgently.

He directly picked An Youyou up in his arms.

An Youyou wrapped her arms around Lin Zichan’s neck.

"Is it time to hit the road, my Lady?" Lin Zichan asked.

"Yes."

"Then I’ll take the Princess to the carriage first."

With that, he left with An Youyou.

An Ning watched their backs leaving her behind.

Yan Jinyao muttered beside her, "Isn’t Guard Lin a bit too casual with Youyou? No matter how young Youyou is, after all, there should be a distinction between men and women..."

"Youyou likes Lin Zichan, just let them be." An Ning said calmly.

Yan Jinyao nodded.

Is it an illusion?!

She couldn’t help feeling the boss was... overly lenient with Lin Zichan! 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

...

The group left Wenzhou.

It was still Guan Yu and a few others, along with Lin Zichan, escorting them back to Xun City.

Only after returning this time, Guan Yu and the others wouldn’t stay in Xun City. After escorting them, they would return to Wenzhou.

In the sedan.

An Youyou was somewhat unhappy, "Mother, I don’t want to go back."

An Ning looked out, feeling a bit emotional.

"Can’t we stay in Wenzhou for a few more days? I haven’t had enough fun." An Youyou continued to complain.

"We’ll come again next time." An Ning reassured, "We’ve been away from the Imperial Palace for almost half a month, I’m not comfortable leaving your father alone in it."

An Youyou pouted.

Although dissatisfied, she didn’t throw a fit. Instead, she climbed out of the carriage, sitting next to Lin Zichan out of boredom.

An Ning did not stop her.

She too was feeling a bit down.

She indeed wasn’t at ease leaving Fu Xingyi alone in the Imperial Palace, but at this moment of returning, she felt a deep sense of resistance.

In all, conflicted!

This time on the way back, it still took five days, but with smooth travels, nothing particularly happened along the way.

Arriving at Xun City.

An Youyou suddenly tightened her grip on Lin Zichan’s sleeve.

Lin Zichan gently asked, "What’s the matter, Princess?"

"Is it true that you’ll leave after we return to Xun City?"

"No." Lin Zichan said, "Resigning also takes time, moreover, I made a promise to someone not to leave quietly."

"What promise did you make to whom?" An Youyou asked curiously.

Lin Zichan smiled, "In any case, if I have to leave, I’ll definitely tell the Princess in advance."

"Don’t lie to me." An Youyou’s little face was very serious.

"I won’t lie to you." Lin Zichan replied indulgently.

An Youyou, reassured by the answer, smiled sweetly.

An Ning sat in the carriage, listening quietly to their conversation.

Her lips seemed to lift slightly.

The carriage arrived at the Imperial Palace.

By then, it had gotten dark.

The palace had turned quiet.

After Guan Yu and the others escorted An Ning to the palace gate, they departed after completing their duty.

Only Lin Zichan continued to drive the carriage, escorting them into the palace.

As they just entered the Imperial Palace.

What was initially a dim palace suddenly lit up brightly with candlelight.

Lin Zichan’s eyes subtly moved.

An Ning and An Youyou were both drawn to the sudden brightness, and An Ning lifted the drape to look around.

Seeing the path the carriage was about to take, candles were being lit one by one, as if lighting the way, guiding her to where she needed to go.

An Ning pursed her lips.

Somewhat romantic... something only some people would do.

The carriage followed the candlelight, heading forward.

The three on the carriage remained silent.

An Youyou was captivated by the scene, her face full of curiosity, wanting to see what lay at the end of the candle path.

An Ning and Lin Zichan...

Perhaps they were just accepting.

Accepting the occurrence of many things.

The carriage followed the candlelight and stopped.

Before their eyes lay a ground covered in flower petals, red rose petals scattered everywhere.

In a heart shape spread out on the ground.

"My Lady." Eunuch Ping stood before the petals, greeting An Ning, "Your servant salutes you, my Lady."

An Ning’s eyes subtly moved.

In the darkness, it was impossible to see who was at the end of the petals.

An Ning got down from the carriage.

An Youyou also followed, getting off the carriage.

Curiously stepping on the petals, bounding and bouncing.

Lin Zichan just stood by the carriage, looking indifferently at An Ning, stepping away with Eunuch Ping.

An Ning seemed to glance back at Lin Zichan.

"My Lady, the Emperor is still waiting for you." Eunuch Ping said respectfully.

An Ning pursed her lips, ultimately stepping onto the petals.

Upon just crossing over.

Wind suddenly came from all around, lifting the petals, letting them dance in the air.

An Ning stood amidst the falling petal rain.

Beautiful like a painting.

An Ning suddenly remembered when they were in the apocalypse.

She and Fu Xingyi watched TV at home, seeing the proposal scene on television.

An Ning couldn’t help asking Fu Xingyi, "Would you propose to me?"

Fu Xingyi just smiled without saying anything.

"If you ever propose to me, you should arrange lots and lots of candles, and spread lots and lots of petals, making me feel like a flower fairy..."

It was a joke at the time.

After all, during an apocalypse, there weren’t so many fresh petals...

She never expected that here, Fu Xingyi would fulfill the proposal scene she once desired.

An Ning’s eyes subtly moved.

Finally, she saw the end of the petals, Fu Xingyi lit under the candlelight.

He stood there dignified and imposing.

His eyes full of smiles, brimming with expectant warmth and love.

He took steps towards An Ning.

An Ning’s heart slightly stirred.

Under the candlelight, Fu Xingyi’s overly handsome face, enchanting.

"Do you like it?" he asked her.

An Ning looked at Fu Xingyi, slowly nodding.

"Back then, conditions were limited, now making up for past regrets." Fu Xingyi said.

The look in his eyes, so tender his voice, that she had no way to refuse him even a little...

"Xiao Ning." Fu Xingyi called her.

An Ning lightly bit her lip.

"Given my current status, I can’t kneel on one knee."

He was explaining that being the Emperor now, a kneel to the Empress was against protocol.

An Ning looked up at Fu Xingyi.

Seeing the deep love in his eyes.

"Will you marry me?" Fu Xingyi asked her.

A gentle voice, deep as the sea.

Back in the apocalypse, they had actually reached the point of discussing marriage.

But back then, it was then.

Before they could get married, Fu Xingyi "died."

Now, they were both here.

Even though technically married, they weren’t truly wedded.

So Fu Xingyi chose to propose once more.

Bringing an unexpected romance when she returned from Wenzhou.

An Ning chose silence.

Silent, not knowing how to respond.

She truly hadn’t expected, upon returning to the Imperial Palace, that Fu Xingyi would give her such a "surprise"!

Leaving her, at a loss.

"Let’s start anew." Fu Xingyi whispered into An Ning’s ear, "The feelings we lost in those years, I’ll help you find them back."

With those words.

Fu Xingyi lifted An Ning’s chin.

A kiss, gentle, lowered upon her.