Chapter 697: The Emperor and Empress (End)

Chapter 697: The Emperor and Empress (End)

Bai Li Hongxuan remained silent.

Just as Chang Xing was about to say something, he suddenly stood up and walked out without a word.

Chang Xing was stunned: "Where is Your Majesty headed?"

"Where else? The Jinghai Marquis Mansion."

With that, Bai Li Hongxuan left the Imperial Study.

Chang Xing thought about how aloof His Majesty used to be before getting together with Xiao Feiyan, and then about how he now chased after her, and couldn’t help sighing.

Your Majesty, what’s the point of all this? If you had known you would like Xiao Feiyan this much, the two of you wouldn’t have missed so many years.

In the Jinghai Marquis Mansion, when Xiao Feiyan heard that Hua Qingyun had returned, the first thing she thought of wasn’t Hua Qingyun himself, but the sharp little girl who used to be by Yue’er’s side.

Fang Fei was now married, but she still remembered the divine appearance of Hua Qingyun from back then, and couldn’t help but wonder what he looked like now.

A hint of melancholy flashed in Xiao Feiyan’s eyes. She no longer had any interest in admiring Hua Qingyun’s beauty, but she still wanted to meet him, after all, it was he who had taken Xiao Zi’s ashes away.

"Hua Qingyun has just returned to the Capital and is likely swamped. If we want to see him, we’ll probably have to wait for some time."

Xiao Feiyan wasn’t planning to see Hua Qingyun right away, but she didn’t expect Bai Li Hongxuan to suddenly start visiting the Jinghai Marquis Mansion every day these past few days.

Actually, he used to come often before, but Xiao Feiyan was always afraid of being discovered, so she would remind him to come less frequently.

But these past few days, he came almost every day except when he had court sessions. After a while, Xiao Feiyan found it rather tiresome.

"Your Majesty, could you skip coming tomorrow?"

"Do you have something to do tomorrow?"

Xiao Feiyan, of course, had nothing to do, but to get some free time, she had to come up with an excuse: "I need to go out tomorrow."

"Alright, I’ll stay away tomorrow." Bai Li Hongxuan seemed to have no objections and agreed gently.

Xiao Feiyan finally let out a sigh of relief. She was truly afraid that if someone found out Bai Li Hongxuan was coming here every day, she would be finished.

So the next day, she hurriedly went to find Su Youyue, to make her excuse believable.

To her surprise, Xie Yuan was planning to take Su Youyue to the Hua Mansion, and since she had the same intention, they decided to go together.

Hua Qingyun was at the Hua Mansion that day.

Compared to more than a decade ago, his face had barely changed, but he had developed a mature gentleness that came from experiencing the world.

The "Great Sheng Mountains and Rivers Record" he brought back had created a stir throughout Yanjing City within just a few days of its release. Everyone was eager to read it, and in these few days, people were rushing to visit the Hua Mansion, making him famous once again in Yanjing City.

Xiao Feiyan came to see Hua Qingyun, but she didn’t expect that on the day she finally managed to escape from Bai Li Hongxuan, she would see him again beside Hua Qingyun.

For a moment, she couldn’t help wanting to facepalm.

But the man seemed to have just coincidentally come to see Hua Qingyun, so what could she do?

If she had known Bai Li Hongxuan would be so clingy in private, that night she...

Su Youyue, on the other hand, raised an eyebrow, her expression meaningful.

The Emperor had already summoned Hua Qingyun twice in the past few days, so why did he personally come to visit again? It seems his intentions were not just about the wine.

She saw through it but kept it to herself, unable to suppress a smile.

She also didn’t expect that Feiyan would be with the Emperor in this lifetime.

In her past life, up until the Lu family killed her, the Emperor’s harem had no other women.

It was a stroke of fate that brought them together again.

The group chatted with Hua Qingyun at the Hua residence for a long time, and as night fell, they were still not satisfied, so they decided to dine together at Su’s tavern outside.

After dinner, they strolled through the present-day Capital.

The Capital had transformed significantly over the past decade, reflecting the nation’s growing prosperity. The entire city was filled with buildings of blue bricks and gray tiles, the streets were smooth limestone roads, and the shops along the streets were densely packed and dazzling, far more prosperous than the sacred capital of Dongrong.

The citizens strolled leisurely, relaxed and content, radiating happiness.

Although there were countless bustling shops, there were no longer any brothels or gambling dens, as these places had been outlawed entirely six years ago.

Next to the women’s medical clinic stood an orphanage, a court-built institution dedicated to raising orphans. As they passed by, the children inside were setting off Kongming lanterns, filled with laughter and joy.

Hua Qingyun strolled through the Capital, taking in the changes.

In fact, his family had already informed him of these changes in letters, and many policies had already been implemented throughout the mighty Sheng. Yet, seeing it all firsthand, he couldn’t help but smile.

Had Sheng not averted a crisis and grown strong, these orphans would still be as they were a decade ago—beggars, dying alone in the snow, or barely scraping by.

Now, they could eat white rice when hungry, drink milk or goat milk from the orphanage, use coal stoves crafted by the Ministry of Works in winter, and wear cotton clothes promoted by the Ministry of Revenue.

Ordinary families no longer had to sell their children, and their homes overflowed with surplus grain.

Hua Qingyun gave a faint smile.

Su Youyue noticed the hint of gloom in his eyes. She sighed softly and asked, “What are your plans, Hua Qingyun? Will you leave again after this return?”

All eyes turned to Hua Qingyun.

Hua Qingyun nodded: “Having traveled all across mighty Sheng, I heard while in the South Sea of countless foreign lands overseas, bringing seeds and technology unknown to Sheng. I plan to journey overseas next.”

Su Youyue was taken aback, not anticipating such plans.

Yet, it must be said, Hua Qingyun’s plans aligned with those of the Capital’s residents.

Earlier, Lu Xixue had informed everyone that beyond the three kingdoms lay countless overseas nations with advanced technology and formidable ships. Sooner or later, they would land on Sheng’s shores, and by then, Sheng must be strong, not weak.

Now that Sheng has had time to recover, it’s time to open sea routes.

As expected, once Hua Qingyun finished speaking, BaiLi hongxuan and Xie Yuan turned their gazes to him.

Su Youyue knew that it seemed Hua Qingyun was planning to continue traveling.

As for his marriage, presumably the Hua residence had also been concerned, but now they had been persuaded by him. For ten years, he remained alone.

It seems that in any lifetime, this person is destined to bear great responsibilities.

Suddenly, hot air balloons with lanterns were released into the sky above the Capital, surrounded by many Kongming lanterns, countless lights floating in the sky above the Capital, incredibly beautiful.

Su Youyue was suddenly overwhelmed with longing for Xiao Zi.

She wanted to ask Hua Qingyun if he had ever had feelings for Xiao Zi.

But she suddenly saw clearly that Hua Qingyun was lost in thought as he gazed at the hot air balloon in the sky, with a strand of white hair faintly visible by his temple.

A sudden wave of melancholy washed over her, and ultimately, she did not voice her question.

Whether he had been moved or not no longer mattered.

There was no doubt about it.

Xiao Zi must have held a very special place in his heart.

Su Youyue looked back at the sky lanterns, which had once played a crucial role on the battlefield and were now used as decorations in the Capital. As she listened to the laughter and chatter around her, tears suddenly welled up in her eyes.

Xiao Feiyan, seeing this, couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.

After returning to the Jinghai Marquis's estate, she gradually came to understand one thing.

Cherish those who are with you now.

From then on, she seldom turned down the Emperor's visits to the estate.

BaiLi hongxuan was a bit puzzled, thinking she had come to terms with Hua Qingyun's departure again, but he was pleased and could hold her and their child every night.

They had already agreed that once Xiao Feiyan retired, they would reveal their relationship.

A century later, they would be buried together as Emperor and Empress.

As for now, let the ministers investigate all they want; if they uncover the truth, they win!

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