My wife, Wei Gui, was 1.9 meters tall and fought against the Tang dynasty for the throne.

After Li Ju finished checking the accounts for the last batch of grain ships, he put down his pen, leaned back in his chair, and let out a long sigh.

For four whole months, he lived and ate at the Water Conservancy Bureau, slept on a military cot, and wore official clothes. He couldn't even find time to go back to his residence.

I miss home.

Changsun Wuji sat opposite him, engrossed in organizing documents. He glanced up at him, put down his pen, and said softly, "Your Excellency, you should go back and take a look."

Li Ju looked at him.

"With Supervisor Du and I keeping an eye on things at the Water Conservancy Bureau, nothing will go wrong," Changsun Wuji smiled. "The young mistress is alone in the mansion, so someone should keep her company. Besides—" He paused, "you've lost weight."

Li Ju was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Okay. I'll go back." He stood up, straightened his clothes, walked to the door, then turned back, "When I get back, you should also go home and spend some time with your family."

A hint of warmth flickered in Changsun Wuji's eyes. He cupped his hands in acceptance, nodded with a smile, and said no more.

Li Ju rode out of the Water Conservancy Bureau, with Chen Wu following beside him.

As dusk deepened, lanterns along the street lit up one by one.

Luoyang City remained unchanged, the lively atmosphere of the market streets spreading in the early summer twilight, with the sounds of vendors hawking their wares, chatting, and children playing blending together.

When they reached the alleyway near Jishanfang, Li Ju reined in the reins.

A familiar figure stood by the roadside—Wei Nizi.

She was wearing a light yellow jacket and holding a bag of candied fruit. She was about to put it in her mouth when her movement froze in mid-air.

She saw him, her eyes wide open, her hand still around her mouth, completely still.

Li Ju saw it too—her eyes reddened, tears welled up in her eyes, then spilled out and streamed down her cheeks.

"Wow--"

The bag of candied fruit in Wei Nizi's hand fell to the ground, and the candied fruit rolled all over the ground.

She ran towards Li Ju without a care in the world, threw herself into his arms, and burst into tears.

"Li Huairun! You're finally back!"

Li Ju was knocked back slightly, squatted down, and raised his hand to wipe away her tears.

But her tears flowed like a broken string of pearls, and she couldn't wipe them away no matter what she did.

"Don't cry, I'm back now, aren't I?"

"You're lying!" Wei Nizi sobbed, her mouth still full of uneaten candied fruit, and slurred, "You said you'd come back after you finished, but you've been busy for four months! Four months! I waited for you at the entrance of the Water Conservancy Bureau every day, but you never showed up..."

Li Ju's heart softened, and he pulled her into his arms, patting her back.

"Alright, alright, you're back. I won't keep you waiting this long next time."

Wei Ni buried her face in his shoulder and sobbed for a long time before slowly stopping.

She looked up, her eyes and nose red, tears still wet on her face, but she reached out to tug at his sleeve: "Li Huairun, you've lost weight. If your older sister sees you, she'll definitely cry."

Li Ju smiled, stood up, picked her up, and placed her on the horse's back.

Wei Nizi hugged the horse's neck, bursting into laughter through his tears, and turned to shout at Chen Wu, "A-Wu, pick up my candied fruit!"

Chen Wu obediently squatted down and picked up the scattered candied fruits one by one and put them back into the bag.

The lanterns at the entrance of the Li residence were already lit.

Wei Gui and Yuwen Yue were having dinner at the table opposite each other.

Zheng Guanyin sat in the guest seat, dressed in an elegant autumn-colored dress, her demeanor dignified, quietly drinking her soup.

A maid rushed in, her eyes red-rimmed and her voice trembling, "Madam... the master is back! The master is back!"

Wei Gui put down his chopsticks and suddenly stood up.

Yuwen Yue also stood up, and Zheng Guanyin slightly raised her eyes and gently put down the bowl and chopsticks.

Li Ju entered through the gate of the mansion, carrying Wei Nizi on his back.

The little girl clung to his back, tears still glistening in the corners of her eyes, but a smile had already crept onto her lips as she clutched the bag of candied fruit in her hand, like a victorious general.

Wei Gui strode forward and stopped in front of him. Looking at his thin face and the dark circles under his eyes, his lips moved, but he swallowed back all the words he wanted to say.

She simply held his hand; his fingertips were icy cold, but his palm was burning hot.

"Liulang," she said softly, her voice slightly hoarse.

"Ze Niang." Li Ju took her hand and gently squeezed it.

Wei Nizi slid off Li Ju's back, tugged at Wei Gui's sleeve, and muttered, "Sister, I brought Li Huairun back for you."

Wei Gui glanced down at her, his eyes slightly red, but he didn't shed a tear.

Yuwen Yue whispered to the maid, "Add two more sets of bowls and chopsticks."

The maid curtsied and went to the kitchen.

Zheng Guanyin rose half a step from her seat, curtsied, lowered her eyes, and turned aside to avoid the seat.

Li Ju saw her and said softly, "There's no need for formalities here in the mansion. Please have a seat, Madam Zheng."

Zheng Guanyin responded and returned to her seat, but remained seated upright, her eyes fixed straight ahead.

Five people sat around a table.

Wei Nizi sat next to Li Ju, shoveling rice into her mouth while chattering on and on: "Li Huairun, do you know that your older sister talks about you every day? She sits on the veranda for a long time every night. I tell her it's cold outside, but she won't listen..."

Wei Gui reached out and gently patted her: "Nizi, don't talk nonsense. Liu Lang has official business to attend to."

"I'm not lying!" Wei Nizi retorted, his mouth full of rice, his words muffled. "You said it yourself, when Liu Lang was coming back. I'm not deaf."

Wei Gui blushed slightly, glanced at Li Ju, and lowered his head to drink his soup.

Yuwen Yue sat opposite him, a smile playing on her lips, listening quietly.

Wei Nizi continued, "And what about the milk custard you promised me? The osmanthus cake? The milk pearl tea? You didn't deliver on any of them!"

Li Ju placed a piece of food in her bowl with his chopsticks: "I'll make it for you next time, with everything."

"Really?" Wei Nizi's eyes lit up.

"real."

"Pinky promise."

Li Ju extended his little finger and hooked it with hers.

Wei Nizi was satisfied. He ate a few more mouthfuls of rice, then suddenly quieted down and yawned.

I'm tired of talking, so I'll stop now.

Zheng Guanyin was a guest, and she ate quietly the whole time, occasionally glancing at Wei Nizi with a slight smile on her lips.

She didn't interrupt or glance at Li Ju; she simply behaved as a dutiful guest.

Halfway through the meal, a maid came in to report: "My lord, Madam Gao has arrived with Miss Changsun, saying they wish to see you."

Li Ju put down his chopsticks: "Please come in."

Lady Gao led her eldest grandson, Wu Gou, into the main hall.

Empress Zhangsun wore a pink jacket and had grown taller, already showing the beginnings of a young woman.

She followed behind her mother, her steps light, her head down, somewhat shy.

Li Ju stood up: "Madam Gao, Miss Wugou, please sit down. Let's have dinner together."

Madam Gao quickly replied, "You're too kind, Supervisor Li. We've already eaten." She paused, her eyes slightly reddening, "I just heard that Supervisor Li has returned, and I wanted to... ask about Wuji. That boy of his, he doesn't even send a letter home."

Li Ju said gently, "Madam Gao, rest assured, Wuji is doing a very good job at the Water Conservancy Bureau. He is meticulous and reliable. In the battle of Liyang, he made great contributions through his strategic planning. His future is limitless."

Gao's tears finally fell, and she quickly wiped them away with her sleeve, nodding repeatedly, "That's good, that's good."

Empress Zhangsun stood behind her mother, her lips pursed, her eyes red-rimmed.

Li Ju glanced at her and then said, "Wuji should also go home tomorrow; I've already approved his leave."

Madam Gao could no longer hold back her tears, which streamed down her face. She bowed deeply and said, "Thank you, Supervisor Li, thank you, Supervisor Li..."

Empress Zhangsun also curtsied, her voice soft: "Thank you, Supervisor Li."

Li Ju waved his hand, indicating that they didn't need to be so polite.

Wei Nizi put down her chopsticks and ran over to grab Changsun Wugou's hand: "Sister Wugou, let's go see the flowers! The magnolias in the courtyard are in bloom!"

Empress Zhangsun glanced at her mother, and Lady Gao nodded.

Two small figures, hand in hand, ran towards the courtyard. In the candlelight, one tall and one short, they skipped and jumped, becoming the most vibrant warmth in the courtyard.

As night deepened, the charcoal fire inside the house burned brightly, and only Li Ju and Wei Gui remained in the main hall.

Wei Gui stood in front of him, took off his outer robe, and hung it on a hanger.

Li Ju watched her busy figure from behind, then suddenly reached out and took her hand.

"Sixth Brother?" Wei Gui turned around.

Li Ju did not answer, but gently pulled her into his arms.

Wei Gui paused for a moment, then reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist.

The two embraced like that, neither of them saying a word.

The candlelight flickered, casting the shadows of the two people on the wall, nestled close together, like a tree and its roots.

After a long while, Wei Gui said softly, "Sixth Brother, you've lost weight."

"You've lost weight too." Li Ju released her and looked up at her. "But here—" He raised his hand and gently placed it on her lower abdomen.

It was already slightly raised there, and through the fabric, one could feel its gentle curve, like willow buds in early spring, like a new moon in the sky, like the only comforting warmth in this chaotic world.