Chapter 424
**Chapter 422: Epilogue**
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Autumn fades, winter arrives.
As spring approached, the marriage of the eldest princess, Le You, was brought to the forefront. Le You wished to marry Liang Huai Chuan, but Li Yuan Jing did not agree. Liang Huai Chuan was skilled in martial arts and was destined to lead troops into battle in the future.
If Le You married a military man, they would inevitably spend little time together after marriage, and Li Yuan Jing did not want to see his precious daughter suffer in her married life.
Seeing her father’s disapproval, Le You could only turn to Shen Wei for help.
In the cool pavilion by the water, where spring flowers began to bloom, Shen Wei held the "Tai Hua Zha Ji" (Notes on Tai Hua) and lifted her eyelids to Le You, who had rushed over for assistance. “Getting married is no trivial matter, my dear. If you marry the wrong person, it could ruin your life.”
Le You, like a child again, leaned on Shen Wei’s knee, her cheeks flushed, and replied, “I don’t know why, but every time I see him, I feel so happy and at ease. Mother, I really like Liang Huai Chuan, I like him a lot.”
Her relationship with Liang Huai Chuan had been smooth; they met in their youth and fell in love during their blossoming years. For the rest of her life, Le You wanted to be with him.
Shen Wei said, “The situation in Nan Chu is unstable. Your royal brother values Liang Huai Chuan and will surely send him to guard the borders of Nan Chu in the future. Out there, in the midst of battles, one misstep could cost him his life. Your father fears that you will often be left alone in an empty house after marriage, which is why he opposes this match.”
Le You looked at her longingly, “Mother, there are a hundred thousand soldiers guarding the borders of Da Qing, and countless men are separated from their wives. They don’t complain, so how can I? Besides, Liang Huai Chuan is protecting our homeland, ensuring the peace of millions of Da Qing citizens.”
Liang Huai Chuan was a man of talent; staying in Yan Jing would be a waste of his abilities. Le You hoped he could fulfill his ambitions.
Shen Wei gently patted her daughter’s back, “I will speak to your father about this. It will be settled.”
Le You joyfully replied, “Thank you, Mother.”
The mother and daughter talked for quite a while.
Just before leaving, Le You suddenly paused, turning back to look at Shen Wei. The spring sunlight was bright, and her mother’s features still resembled those of her youth.
Le You couldn’t help but say, “Mother... I always feel like you’re not happy.”
Shen Wei set down her teacup and smiled faintly, “Don’t think too much.”
Le You shook her head.
Perhaps it was the bond of blood, or maybe the instinctive connection between mother and daughter. As the years passed, Le You increasingly felt that her mother was not as content as she appeared.
Deep within Shen Wei seemed to lie a desolate wasteland.
Le You murmured, “Father loves you, and my brothers and I love you too. You are the most esteemed woman in the Kingdom of Qing, you should have everything... Mother, why aren’t you happy?”
Shen Wei had no words to respond.
She had the palace servants escort Le You away.
The waters of Luo Yue Lake flowed gently under the bright spring sun, where vibrant peach blossoms swayed in the breeze. Shen Wei turned the pages of the "Tai Hua Zha Ji," and a peach petal was blown over, landing on the cover of the notes.
Shen Wei picked up the pink petal, feeling she should be happy. Her children had grown up, Li Yuan Jing loved her, and she had a vast business empire with endless wealth.
Yet, in her dreams at night, she often found herself back in her modern life.
She would dream of the muddy paths from her school days, the cafeteria from her university years, and countless nights spent working late with her employees, but rarely did she dream of Li Yuan Jing or the children.
Shen Wei crushed the peach petal in her hand, gazing at the bright spring light in the distance, a line of poetry surfacing in her mind:
“If the spring breeze has a heart for the flowers, may it grant me youth once more…”
...
...
With Shen Wei’s intervention, Le You’s marriage was quickly settled. Li Cheng Tai issued a decree, granting the marriage between Princess Le You and the young master of the Liang family.
The wedding ceremony took place in the palace.
On the morning of the wedding, Le You had finished her bath early, and was called by the palace maids and elder matrons to get dressed and groomed.
Shen Wei prepared a whole box of hairpins and jewels, personally adorning Le You with hairpins and a phoenix crown.
The silver mirror shone brightly as Shen Wei gazed at her beautiful daughter, feeling as if time had flown by. Eighteen years ago, Le You was a chubby baby, and now she had blossomed into a graceful young woman.
Shen Wei was filled with mixed emotions.
Le You was the first bond between Shen Wei and this era, yet also the first chain binding Shen Wei’s ankles. But blood is thicker than water; familial love flowed in their veins. Seeing her daughter marry, Shen Wei felt a pang in her heart.
“Mother, don’t be sad. After I marry, I will often come to visit you and Father,” Le You held Shen Wei’s hand.
Shen Wei told Le You, “The world says that a husband is the guide for his wife, and a father is the guide for his son. Le You, I hope you won’t be bound by these rules. You are the most esteemed princess of Da Qing; you must put yourself first, understand?”
Le You nodded obediently.
Outside, the sound of drums and music had begun, and the prince’s procession had arrived at the palace gates. Shen Wei handed Le You a phoenix fan to cover her face, and Le You stepped out, holding the fan.
The wedding ceremony was grand, with officials, palace servants, and young boys busily organized under the guidance of the Ministry of Rites. The streets were filled with the vibrant colors of the wedding procession, and Yan Jing was bustling with excitement.
After the elaborate rituals, the prince rode a fine horse to escort Princess Le You from the palace to her new home.
Shen Wei and Li Yuan Jing stood atop the palace wall, watching the red silk fluttering outside.
“The wind is strong on the palace wall; don’t catch a chill,” Li Yuan Jing, also dressed in ceremonial robes, draped a cloak over Shen Wei’s shoulders.
Together, they watched Le You depart, the princess’s red sedan chair gradually fading from view. Shen Wei felt a mix of emotions and let out a soft sigh. Li Yuan Jing took Shen Wei’s hand and they descended from the palace wall.
After Le You’s marriage, Shen Wei’s niece, Shen Ming Yue, also set off back to Liang Zhou. Shen Wei heard that the Prince of Dong Lin had followed her all the way to Liang Zhou, where he was doing business with silver and often visited the general’s residence to see Shen Ming Yue.
Shen Wei wanted to know more, but Liang Zhou was remote, and news traveled slowly. She had to suppress her curiosity, take a break for a while, and plan to go south to Jiang Nan for the summer, then visit Zhao Yang in Yue Guo.
Li Yuan Jing had long wanted to escape the court and travel with Shen Wei every day, so he immediately made preparations.
The carriage was ready, and the guards were in place.
On a sunny day, Li Yuan Jing took Shen Wei into the carriage, embarking on their journey south. The long official road stretched into the distance, with guards and servants attending to them.
Shen Wei had stayed up late the night before and was too sleepy to open her eyes that morning, leaning back on the soft couch to rest. Li Yuan Jing draped a fox fur blanket over her, watching her sleeping face. In her deep slumber, Shen Wei’s cheeks were round, her eyelashes curled, and her lips were rosy.
Li Yuan Jing recalled a night many years ago at the Yan Wang residence, when he had walked through the dark courtyard to the yard where Shen Wei lived. The mist hung in the air as he lifted the gauze curtain and saw her delicate features.
From that moment on, Shen Wei entered his world.
The past was vivid in his mind; time had slipped away like sand through his fingers. The little maid he once regarded as a plaything had become his most cherished treasure.
As the carriage moved slowly, Li Yuan Jing gently traced Shen Wei’s fingertips and whispered, “Wei Wei, do you have me in your heart?”
Shen Wei was asleep and did not answer him.
Li Yuan Jing felt a twinge of regret.
He thought to himself, for the rest of his life, being able to grow old with Shen Wei would be wonderful.
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**[The End]**
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