Chapter 796 Grand Finale (Part 2)

Chapter 796 The Grand Finale (Part 2)

Although Wei Shiyan had already been granted the title of Prince Cong, he still lived in the palace because the Prince Cong's mansion had not yet been completed.

However, since Wei Shiyan had already been granted the title of prince, he no longer lived in the princes' quarters. Instead, he stayed in a vacant palace residence near Zhaoyang Palace.

After leaving Empress Nie, Xingxing made her way to Wei Shiyan's place.

Wei Shiyu, taking long strides, was about to follow Xingxing to his second brother's place when Empress Nie, smiling, grabbed her youngest son by the collar.

Wei Shiyu: "?"

"You're so clueless," Empress Nie sighed. "I worry you'll never find a wife."

Wei Shiyu: "?"

Empress Nie thought for a moment. "That Princess Youluo—you really don’t like her, do you?"

Wei Shiyu nearly jumped out of his skin. "How could I?! Mother, stop trying to matchmake!"

Empress Nie looked at her flustered youngest son and nodded. "Alright, I understand."

...

Wei Shiyan's injuries were originally not too severe, but after getting hurt, he didn’t take them seriously. He hastily treated them and then carried Xingxing over a long distance, causing his wounds to tear open badly and making his injuries worse.

When Xingxing went to visit, the imperial physician was changing Wei Shiyan's bandages.

Xingxing stepped forward and took over for the physician, her lashes fluttering slightly as she carefully replaced the bandages.

Wei Shiyan turned his head to look at her.

Neither spoke.

The physician stood nearby with his medicine box, feeling oddly out of place.

After the physician left, Xingxing sat down beside Wei Shiyan.

For a moment, neither seemed to know what to say.

Xingxing thought for a while and then mentioned what happened to the Duke of Xinguo's household: "...Yu Chongjie has taken the consort and took an assignment outside the capital. Yu Chongen has gone to the mountains for spiritual cultivation. Yu Chongting has taken Miss Sun to see the world..."

After saying this, Xingxing fell silent again.

Wei Shiyan raised his hand as if to brush Xingxing's hair.

But his shoulder was injured, making it hard to move.

Xingxing gently pressed Wei Shiyan's arm and instead leaned her head against his shoulder.

Wei Shiyan froze completely.

Xingxing whispered, "Brother Yan, I already have the best family in the world. So, it’s only natural that I'm not fated to be close with my blood relatives."

Wei Shiyan, still tense, nodded. Then, realizing Xingxing couldn’t see it, he said softly, "You still have me."

Xingxing's face flushed slightly, but a sweet warmth filled her heart.

She wasn’t foolish—she noticed and cherished every kindness Wei Shiyan had shown her.

She couldn’t choose her blood relatives.

But in life’s long journey, she could still choose the family she wished to walk alongside.

Through life and death, we pledged our vow.

To hold your hand and grow old together.

Xingxing had barely returned to the Yu family from the palace when the imperial decree granting her marriage to Prince Cong arrived.

Xingxing accepted the decree with a joyful smile.

The eunuch announcing the decree beamed and congratulated her: "Congratulations, my lady. This is truly a joyous occasion. You and His Highness Prince Cong are a match made by the heavens."

Seeing Xingxing’s eyes brimming with happiness, the Yu family knew she was willing—both delighted and wistful.

They were overjoyed—Xingxing had found a fine match. They had all witnessed how Prince Cong treated her, and Xingxing clearly adored him. Their marriage would be nothing short of harmonious bliss.

The wistfulness came from pure reluctance. Our Xingxing had grown up, and in no more than two years, she would marry into another family.

After the eunuch left, the Yu family gathered around Xingxing, taking turns to congratulate her.

Li Chunhua chuckled, "Ah, we’ve married off your brothers—all bringing brides into our home. But marrying off a daughter, this is the first time..."

As she spoke, Li Chunhua began wiping away tears, clearly overcome with emotion. "Xingxing was only this big when she came to us, and now she’s getting married? Already getting married?"

Bai Xiaofeng teased, "Sister-in-law, save those tears! This is a joyous occasion..."

Yet even as she spoke, she couldn’t help turning away to dab at her own eyes.

Wei Pozi cut in firmly: "Enough, no more crying. Xingxing isn’t even married yet! Weeping over such a blessed match? That’s hardly fitting! We should all be happy Xingxing has found such a good future."

"Yes, yes, Mother is right," the daughters-in-law agreed.

Her sisters-in-law soon crowded around Xingxing, holding her hands and offering their congratulations.

"Back when Xingxing first went missing, the look on Prince Cong’s face terrified me—like he’d slash anyone in his way."

"Exactly. My husband told me how Prince Cong shielded Xingxing all the way out of the caves, despite his own injuries. Right then, I knew—his devotion to our Xingxing left no doubt!"

"Truly, Xingxing and Prince Cong standing together—they’re a match made in heaven. But here’s a thought—once Xingxing marries Prince Cong, will she call me sister-in-law, or will I call her sister-in-law?"

The room erupted in laughter.

Blushing but beaming, Xingxing accepted her family’s blessings.

When the imperial marriage decree spread throughout the capital, reactions were mixed—envy here, congratulations there, and of course, there were those who muttered sour words.

But to Xingxing, none of it mattered.

Later, word trickled out from the prison that Yu Mingzhu, imprisoned there, wished to see Xingxing.

After a pause, Xingxing decided to see her.

Yu Mingzhu, guilty of multiple murders, treason, and stealing state secrets, had been sentenced to execution in autumn.

Her execution date loomed just days ahead.

When Xingxing saw Yu Mingzhu, although her face was deathly pale, her eyes burned with a cold fire.

She lunged for the bars, clutching them white-knuckled, her gaze fixed fiercely on Xingxing.

Xingxing stood on the steps some distance from the bars, gazing down at her. "You wanted to see me?"

Yu Mingzhu clutched the bars, her voice hoarse. "You're loving this, aren't you?! You stole my life without even trying! Yu Xingxing—you—I hate you!"

Xingxing watched the hysterical Yu Mingzhu calmly.

"Why should I be pleased?" Xingxing said softly. "You were never worth a second thought."

Yu Mingzhu reeled like she'd been shocked, rattling the bars wildly. "Yu Xingxing—you, you—"

Her voice was ragged, but she could utter nothing more.

Xingxing let her eyes linger one final moment on Yu Mingzhu before turning to leave.

This wasn't about rubbing it in; she'd only come to see Yu Mingzhu one final time.

Seen enough. Time to leave.

As Xingxing stepped out of the prison, Wei Shiyan was waiting for her.

She hurried over to him, smiling. "Ready?"

Under the dappled sunlight of the afternoon trees, the young man smiled at her and extended his hand. "After you."

...

Ten years later.

"Are you sure it’s really here?"

"I saw it last time! It was definitely in this box!"

Two children in fine robes, butts sticking up, were sprawled over an open chest, digging through the contents.

So engrossed were they that they didn’t notice the figure peering over their shoulders.

Finally, they let out a triumphant cry. "Found it!"

"Found what?"

A dry voice from behind startled them so badly that they face-planted straight in.

By the time they scrambled out, messy-haired, their father stood with arms crossed behind the chest, watching them impassively.

The children paled, their voices trembling as they called out, "Father."

Their stomachs dropped.

Wei Shiyan frowned at the object in their hands and reached for what they held.

Still standing in the chest, the children, thinking he meant to help them out, beamed, offering their pudgy palms—only for their father to ignore them and pluck the treasure from their fingers instead.

Their father examined the prize: an exquisite crane-shaped kite.

The kids blinked in confusion. "Hey—that's ours!"

"Good thing it wasn’t crushed." Wei Shiyan inspected the crane-shaped kite in his hand before placing it atop the sandalwood bookshelf. Only then did he turn to face the two little rascals before him.

Under their father's calm yet intimidating gaze, the two children shrunk like scared quails inside the box: "*Sniffle*."

Wei Shiyan hauled them out one in each hand, lifting his son and daughter out of the box and plunked them down by the wall.

"Stand properly."

The two little ones stood as stiff as recruits under their uncle Yu Yonghuai, Great Xia’s War God.

They stood at perfect attention.

"Why were you rummaging through my study?"

Wei Shiyan asked sternly.

The two exchanged glances.

The younger brother, Wei Qihong, surreptitiously nudged his twin sister, Wei Qiya.

Little Wei Qiya got the hint right away. She lowered her head, then looked up again with eyes welling up with crocodile tears: "*Papa... Mama has been so tired carrying our little sister. She hasn’t played with us in so long. We just heard this kite was made by Mama, so we wanted to play with it... like she was right there with us...*"

As she spoke, her tiny body trembled pitifully. Yet Wei Shiyan didn’t even blink: "Oh? Then what about the butterfly kite and the butcherbird kite in your room—weren’t those made by your Mama too?"

Wei Qihong and Wei Qiya froze, caught red-handed.

Just as Wei Shiyan was about to say more, Empress Nie's voice floated in: "Hong'er, Ya'er..."

The twins' eyes lit up with hope, but under their father's stern gaze, they didn’t dare move. They could only whined pitifully: "*Grandmother, Grandmother, we're here!*"

Empress Nie swept in and took one look at the pair before realizing they’d been caught and punished by their father again.

She tittered. "What mischief have you gotten into this time?"

"Mother," Wei Shiyan said with a headache, "they barged into my study and ransacked the wooden chest where I keep my things. They nearly ruined the kite Xingxing made for me."

Hearing Xingxing's name mentioned, Empress Nie coughed lightly. "...Well, these two little rascals were also Xingxing’s gifts to you. There’s no need to be so harsh on them."

Wei Qihong and Wei Qiya nodded frantically behind their grandmother, then turned pleading, puppy-eyed looks toward their father: "*Daddy...*"

Wei Shiyan hesitated.

In the end, he relented.

"Don’t go rummaging around like this again," he said. "Otherwise, you’ll stand against this wall for a full hour."

Wei Qihong and Wei Qiya nodded like bobbleheads.

They had only seen their parents flying that kite together once—it went up so high!

Much higher than their butterfly kite or butcherbird kite!

It was strange. *But Mama made them all, didn’t she?* Why did Daddy’s kite fly so much higher?

They were just curious!

And their father was so possessive of that kite—

The two little rascals exchanged a sneaky look, clearly not ready to give up. They were already scheming their next move.

Wei Shiyan, as a father, could easily see through the little schemes of his son and daughter. Just as he furrowed his brows to issue a warning, Wei Qihong and Wei Qiya clung to their grandmother’s legs, cooing sweetly:

"Grandmother, Grandmother, you didn’t finish the story you told us last time!"

"Yes, yes! Grandmother, please tell us more!"

"Alright, alright. Come, let’s go to the pavilion and continue." Empress Nie was delighted, holding a grandchild in each hand as she led them away.

Wei Shiyan silently watched the trio’s figures disappear around the corridor’s bend before turning to the inner chamber.

Xingxing was already well into her pregnancy and often drowsy. When Wei Shiyan entered, she had just roused sleepily: "Brother Yan."

Even after years of marriage, Xingxing still called him by her childhood nickname.

Wei Shiyan propped a large pillow behind her. "…Any better today?"

Xingxing gave him a sleepy smile. "You massage me every day, so it’s much better now. My back isn’t as sore. Where are Aya and the others?"

"Mother is here. Aya and the others misbehaved and, afraid of being punished, badgered her to tell them stories in the pavilion."

Xingxing couldn’t help but laugh. "…Those two little ones are such little schemers."

Wei Shiyan began pondering a question he had revisited many times over the years.

Even though they were also twins, his elder brother and sister-in-law’s children, Xiaoshi and Jiao Jiao, were never as mischievous as these two, who were hell-bent on daily mischief.

Among the dozen children of the Yu family’s uncles, not a single one was as unruly as Hong’er and Ya’er.

Both he and Xingxing were calm and steady by nature, yet their children seemed born to test them.

The Prince Cong’s residence was in perpetual chaos because of them.

Perhaps it was because, from the moment they were born, these two had been spoiled rotten not only by Emperor Jiazheng and Empress Nie but also by the elderly couple of the Duke of Xinguo’s household. The Yu family elders, too, spoiled them rotten, denying them nothing.

Growing up in such an environment of boundless affection, was roof-climbing and causing mischief… still somewhat forgiven?

At least, the one thing he could take comfort in was that the children’s one saving grace was reserved for Xingxing.

Wei Shiyan studied Xingxing. Over the years, time seemed to have left no mark on her. Despite having borne a son and daughter and now carrying another child, she still had the freshness of a girl.

Noticing his gaze, Xingxing tilted her head with a smile. "What’s the matter? Are you thinking that this one in my belly better not be as mischievous as their older siblings?"

Wei Shiyan thought for a moment. While the kids’ antics vexed him, he shook his head. "No. As long as our child is healthy, that’s all that matters. Whatever their temperament, it’s fine. I just want you and the child to be safe."

Xingxing smiled softly, squeezing his hand. "That’s what I think too."

The afternoon sunlight draped over their shoulders.

Husband and wife shared a smile.

In this long journey of life, having you by my side is truly the greatest blessing.

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