Remarried to a top-tier playboy, her reborn ex-husband is filled with regret.

Yun Shuyao looked down at the two wooden horses on the table, one exquisite and the other clumsy.

"I don't hate anymore."

"I correspond with my mother, and her words are always filled with joy."

It is evident that he spent a great deal of time in Beijing fulfilling his filial duties to his mother.

I used to hate him, firstly because I hated his cold-heartedness and how he didn't treat me like a sister.

Secondly, I hate that he looks down on my mother the most.

His mother gave birth to him and raised him, yet he treated her like an object, using her with obvious disdain.

However, now that he is willing to change and can make his mother happy, it can be said that he has relieved his mother of a worry.

As long as he continues like this, I won't hate him anymore.

Xiao Fang reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair from Yun Shuyao's temple behind her ear.

"It all depends on your attitude."

Xiao Fang picked up Yun Shuwen's wood carving.

"This rocking horse may be a bit ugly, but it'll be useful for my daughter to grind her teeth."

Yun Shuyao laughed.

"You certainly know how to ruin people."

Xiao Fang scoffed.

"I'm giving him a chance."

Life on the border was tough, with a lack of everything and a harsh climate, but Chun Tao never complained.

She stayed by Yun Shuyao's side, mending clothes, preparing medicine, and arranging meals, keeping herself busy all day long.

That afternoon, Mingrui had a rare half-day of leisure.

He left the camp before dawn and rode alone to a town dozens of miles away.

When they returned, there was an extra bag of snacks on the horse's back.

The pastry was wrapped in oil paper, with the four corners pressed tightly together.

Mingrui held it and spun it around in front of the Chuntao tent twice.

Chuntao came out to pour water.

"Mingrui? What brings you here?"

Mingrui handed the oil paper package forward.

"I bought this on the way, for you... to eat."

Chun Tao's eyes lit up, and she took it and opened it.

"It's osmanthus cake!"

She smiled, her eyes crinkling.

"It's still warm! I'll take it to Chunzhi and the others to try!"

Mingrui opened his mouth as if to say something, but then slowly closed it again.

"Well... you're busy."

"Thank you so much, Brother Mingrui!"

Chuntao happily ran off, carrying the snacks.

Mingrui stood there, watching Chuntao run away, but he never said, "I bought this for you."

Yun Shuyao was being helped out of the tent by Xiao Fang and saw this scene clearly.

She looked at Xiao Fang.

Xiao Fang was also looking at her.

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Xiao Fang lowered his voice.

"Mingrui is a meticulous and thorough person, and he doesn't even blink when he's on the battlefield."

Giving the girl a bag of pastries felt like a death sentence to him.

Yun Shuyao said softly.

"He was afraid that if he spoke out, it would put a burden on others."

"I'm bad at talking."

Xiao Fang chuckled.

"He's even dumber than me."

Yun Shuyao glanced at Xiao Fang.

"You're not stupid. You were quite shrewd when you snatched that person away."

Xiao Fang put his arm around Yun Shuyao's shoulder.

"To get a wife, you need to be thick-skinned; Mingrui still has a lot of work to do."

Yun Shuyao smiled and shook her head, then glanced at Chun Tao again.

Chuntao was distributing pastries to Chunzhi and several little maids.

Mingrui stood at a distance, pretending to wipe the horse, but his eyes never left Chuntao.

Kyoto.

The day before New Year's Eve, Long Yuanqi was announcing folded paper.

He suddenly covered his sleeve and coughed.

The palace servants rushed forward, but he waved them away.

He lay alone on the table, his shoulders and back trembling. After a long while, he pulled a handkerchief from his sleeve.

The handkerchief was stained with blood.

He glanced at it, then slowly folded it and tossed it into the charcoal brazier beside him.

"Go and invite the Taoist priest from Qingfeng Temple."

His voice was weak.

The chief eunuch accepted the order and left.

The Taoist priest arrived very quickly.

He took a few steps forward, glanced at Long Yuanqi's face, and sighed softly.

"Your Majesty, these pills cannot be taken like this anymore."

"It's alright."

Long Yuanqi smiled.

"I know what I'm doing."

"This...this is impossible to predict. Your body is almost completely drained."

"It's alright, please leave me a few more boxes, Taoist priest."

Long Yuanqi said firmly.

"I have to hold out until Xiao Fang returns. Daoist Master should understand my thoughts."

The Taoist priest opened his mouth, but ultimately did not try to persuade him further.

He got up, took three small wooden boxes from his medicine chest, and gently placed them on the table.

"Here are thirty, Your Majesty... please don't add any more..."

"Thank you, Taoist priest."

Long Yuanqi did not respond, but simply nodded.

After the Taoist priest left, Long Yuanqi placed the three wooden boxes side by side.

"I have to pave the way for Qing'er and the child."

He murmured softly.

"At least let me see the child once."

He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again, revealing his usual gentle demeanor.

When the Empress entered, the wooden box had already been hidden away in a secret compartment.

Long Yuanqi sat in a wheelchair, with several unfinished folding papers spread out on his lap.

His face was terribly ashen, but the corners of his lips were still curved.

"The Empress has arrived."

The empress did not speak, but walked to the table and gently took the folding book from his hand.

"Your Majesty, tonight is New Year's Eve."

Everything in the palace is ready; I'll take you to see it.

Long Yuanqi was very compliant.

"it is good."

He reached out, and Empress Ren placed a hand warmer into his arms.

The Empress did not summon any palace servants.

She went around behind him, slowly pushed the wheelchair, and went out of the palace gate.

Palace lanterns were hung densely on both sides of the long steps.

A palace maid is lighting the last few cups.

When the emperor and empress came out, some people wanted to pay their respects.

The Queen shook her head.

The palace servants then retreated far away, leaving only a corridor full of red shadows.

"These lamps, I had them hung up all day."

"The Queen said softly."

"I have a feeling that His Majesty will like it."

Long Yuanqi raised his head and looked at the warm red expanse.

"I like it, I like it very much."

He spoke with a smile on his face.

"Like the year we got married."

The Empress smiled as well.

"Your Majesty still remembers."

"Of course I remember."

It was also New Year's Eve when I met you watching the lanterns on the long street.

Long Yuanqi's voice was very soft, as if it were drifting from a very far place.

"At that time, I thought that after I married you, I would accompany you to see the lanterns every year."

The Empress did not respond.

She pushed the wheelchair and continued walking forward.

There was some thin ice on the bluestone path, and she walked very slowly and steadily.

"Among the New Year's gifts that Xiao Fang sent was a small wooden horse."

The Empress suddenly spoke.

"He seemed genuinely looking forward to having a child."

Long Yuanqi smiled.

"He looks the coldest, but he's actually the most sentimental."

If you ever need anything in the future, go to Xiao Fang.

Of all the military and civil officials in the court, anyone could turn against you, but he alone will not betray you.

The Empress did not stop walking.

"Your Majesty has remembered it. I know Your Majesty trusts him."

"I believe."

Long Yuanqi said in a low voice.

"I have misjudged many people in my life, but Xiao Fang is not wrong."

The Empress pushed her wheelchair slowly past one palace lantern after another.

No one spoke again.

The wheels made a very soft rustling sound as they rolled over the thin snow.

"Is Your Majesty cold?" the Empress suddenly asked.

Long Yuanqi shook his head.

"It's not cold."

As he spoke, he reached out and adjusted his cloak.

"I want to stay with you again and see the palace lanterns you hung along the way."

The Empress's eyes welled up with tears, but she managed to hold them back.

"it is good."

She gently pushed him toward a brighter area.

Long Yuanqi did not speak again.

He stared intently at that expanse of red, as if trying to memorize every single one of them.