Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 310 The Emperor and Empress's Deep Affection

The 24th day of the twelfth lunar month in the fifth year of the Qiming era. A day for sweeping

The festive atmosphere in Chang'an is growing stronger every day.

Every household was sweeping and cleaning their courtyards, clearing away the year's accumulated dust. Children, dressed in new clothes, chased and played at the alley entrance, holding newly bought firecrackers in their hands, lighting one every now and then with a crisp "pop," eliciting laughter. Adults were busy buying New Year's goods, and the east and west markets were packed with people. The sounds of vendors hawking their wares, haggling, and greetings between acquaintances blended together, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

Inside the Taiji Palace, the palace servants were also busy. Wiping window frames, sweeping the eaves, changing lanterns, and pasting paper-cut window decorations—everyone's feet barely touched the ground, yet they all wore smiles. It was the New Year, and even the busiest were joyful.

However, on a high platform in the northwest corner of the imperial city, all was quiet.

That was a viewing platform built by Chen Xing after he ascended the throne. It wasn't high, only three zhang (approximately 10 meters), but its location was excellent. Standing on the platform, one could overlook the entire city of Chang'an—the palaces to the east, the streets to the west, the Zhongnan Mountains to the south, and the Wei River to the north, all within sight.

At this moment, Chen Xing stood alone on the stage.

I heard soft footsteps behind me.

He didn't turn around, but the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

"Zitong, what brings you here?"

Murong Mingyue walked to his side and stood shoulder to shoulder with him.

"Your Majesty, I have come to see you. It's almost the New Year, and Your Majesty is still standing here alone in a daze. I am worried about you."

Chen Xing turned his head and looked at her.

She wasn't wearing an elaborate formal dress today, just a simple everyday outfit. Her hair was styled in a simple bun, adorned with a jade hairpin. Her face was bare of makeup, and a hint of weariness lingered in her eyes—she had been busy handling the New Year's affairs in the inner palace and taking care of several children these past few days, and she was truly exhausted.

But when he looked into her eyes, those eyes were still as bright as they had been twenty years ago.

"Zitong," he said softly, "you've grown old."

Murong Mingyue was slightly taken aback, then smiled.

"His Majesty is getting old."

Chen Xing touched his face. Yes, he was getting old. The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and the gray hair at his temples were all traces left by the years.

But he doesn't regret it.

"Come," he said, extending his hand, "stand with me for a while."

Murong Mingyue took his hand and stood beside him.

The sun is setting in the west.

The enormous fireball slowly descended towards Zhongnan Mountain, dyeing the entire sky golden red. The clouds were edged with gold, spreading out layer upon layer like thousands of brocade ribbons.

The city of Chang'an appeared exceptionally peaceful amidst this golden-red hue.

To the east, the palaces, their glazed tiles reflecting the setting sun, shone brilliantly. To the west, wisps of smoke rose from the streets, merging with the evening glow. To the south, the Zhongnan Mountains stood out clearly, like a silent barrier. To the north, the Wei River shimmered, like a flowing golden ribbon.

Chen Xing stared at all of this, remaining silent for a long time.

Murong Mingyue remained silent.

Twenty years have passed.

Twenty years ago, they first met in a small town in the north. At that time, he was an insignificant leader of displaced people, and she was the daughter of a military family, sent to investigate his true abilities. She remembered how he greeted her at the city gate—wearing old clothes, his face covered in dust, but his eyes shone with an astonishing light.

At that time, she never imagined that this person would become her husband.

What I never expected was that they would work together to conquer such a vast territory.

"Your Majesty," she suddenly spoke, "I'm thinking about something."

"What is it?"

Murong Mingyue gazed at the golden-red sky and slowly said:

"I'm wondering what I would be doing now if I hadn't gone to the North and met Your Majesty back then."

Chen Xing was silent for a moment, then said:

"Maybe somewhere, I'll marry a general, have a few children, and live a simple, ordinary life."

Murong Mingyue nodded.

"Maybe."

She paused, then suddenly smiled:

"But that certainly wouldn't be as good as it is now."

Chen Xing turned his head and looked at her.

The setting sun cast its last rays on her face, making the fine wrinkles stand out vividly. But her smile remained the same as it had been twenty years ago—bright, resolute, and brimming with an indomitable spirit.

He suddenly remembered that year, before he set off for the northern desert, she stood on the city wall to see him off. She had the same smile then, as if saying: Go with peace of mind, I'll take care of things here.

He squeezed her hand.

"Zitong, you've had a tough time all these years."

Murong Mingyue shook her head:

"Your Majesty has worked hard. I'm just staying in the palace, what's so hard about that?"

Chen Xing looked into her eyes and spoke slowly and deliberately:

"Staying in the palace is more arduous for you than it is for me to fight battles outside."

Murong Mingyue was stunned for a moment, then remained silent.

Chen Xing continued:

"When I'm out there, all I need to do is win. You're in the palace; you have to manage the harem, raise the children, deal with those noblewomen, and keep things stable at home for me. Winning depends on swords; keeping things stable depends on the hearts of the people. The hearts of the people are much harder to win than swords."

Murong Mingyue's eyes reddened slightly.

She lowered her head and whispered:

"Your Majesty... I only did what I was supposed to do."

Chen Xing gently put his arm around her shoulder.

"You did more than just what I was supposed to do. You did what I couldn't do."

He paused, then looked into the distance:

"I was able to conquer this land, and half of that is thanks to you."

Murong Mingyue leaned on his shoulder without saying a word.

The sun gradually sank below the horizon.

The last ray of light fell on them, casting long shadows that merged together, making them indistinguishable from one another.

into the night.

One by one, the lights of every household in Chang'an City came on.

The lights, stretching from palaces to streets, from neighborhoods to the outskirts of the city, formed a continuous expanse that extended to the horizon. From afar, it resembled a flowing ocean of light.

Chen Xing and Murong Mingyue remained standing on the high platform, gazing at the sea of ​​lights.

"Zitong," Chen Xing suddenly asked, "do you remember when we first watched the lanterns together?"

Murong Mingyue thought for a moment and said:

"It was the first year of the Qiming era, the Lantern Festival. His Majesty's first Lantern Festival after ascending the throne."

Chen Xing nodded.

"That day, I stood here, and you stood beside me. I asked you, how long will these lights burn? You said, they will burn for a very long time."

Murong Mingyue smiled softly.

"Your Majesty still remembers."

Chen Xing gazed at the sea of ​​lights, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

"I remember. I remember every word you said."

He paused, his voice so soft it was almost inaudible:

"Because those words let me know that there are people with me, guarding this light."

Murong Mingyue remained silent.

She simply squeezed his hand gently.

A night breeze blew by, causing the hems of their clothes to flutter.

The lights swayed in the wind, flickering on and off, but never went out.

After a long silence, Chen Xing suddenly asked:

"Where are Qi'er and the others?"

Murong Mingyue said, "They're all in the Lizheng Hall. Qi'er is setting off firecrackers in the courtyard with Heng'er and Ke'er, accompanied by Fenghuang. Xiaoxiao and Wan'er are preparing New Year's goods inside the house."

Chen Xing was slightly taken aback: "Phoenix is ​​going to accompany us to set off firecrackers? Isn't she most afraid of noise?"

Murong Mingyue smiled:

"She was afraid of the noise, but her son wanted to set them off. So she stayed with him. She covered her ears while handing him the firecrackers."

Chen Xing smiled too.

"This phoenix."

He paused, then suddenly said:

"Let's go back and take a look."

The courtyard of the Lizheng Hall was brightly lit.

Chen Qi was teaching his two younger brothers how to set off firecrackers. He held a long incense stick, carefully lit the fuse, and then pulled his two younger brothers back.

"Run! It's going to explode!"

Chen Heng ran incredibly fast, laughing as he went. Chen Ke, who was slower, was picked up by Chen Qi and darted to the corridor in a few steps.

"Snapped!"

Firecrackers exploded, sending debris flying. Chen Ke, clinging to his brother's shoulder, stared wide-eyed, a mixture of fear and excitement in his eyes.

"Brother! Brother! More! More!"

Chen Qi smiled and put him down:

"Let's put one out later. Let your second brother put one out first."

Chen Heng had already picked up a new firecracker and, imitating his older brother, shakily lit the fuse. Lan Fenghuang stood to the side, covering her ears, but her eyes were fixed on her son.

"Heng'er, be careful! Don't let it explode on your hand!"

Chen Heng lit the candle, turned, and ran. After taking a couple of steps, he remembered something and looked back—

"Snapped!"

He was so startled that he fell to the ground with a thud, then got up and laughed so hard he almost fell over.

Lan Fenghuang rushed over, picked him up, and carefully examined his hands.

"Are you alright? Does it hurt?"

Chen Heng shook his head, still smiling:

"It doesn't hurt! Mom, this is so much fun!"

Lan Fenghuang glared at him, but couldn't help laughing.

Under the eaves, Su Xiaoxiao and Lin Wan'er stood to the side, watching the scene in the courtyard, and smiled.

"Qi'er is starting to look more and more like an older brother," Lin Wan'er said softly.

Su Xiaoxiao nodded:

"Yes. In a few years, it'll be time for me to get married."

Lin Wan'er was stunned for a moment, then smiled:

"Your Highness, you're thinking too far ahead."

Su Xiaoxiao smiled slightly, without offering any explanation.

She recalled the first time she met Chen Qi. The child was only five years old, standing at the entrance of the Lizheng Hall, quietly looking at her with eyes exactly like his father's. At that moment, she knew that this child was no ordinary person.

Now, he is ten years old.

In ten years, it will be their turn.

She gazed intently at the boy in the courtyard who was teaching his younger brother how to set off firecrackers.

Chen Xing and Murong Mingyue witnessed this scene as they entered the courtyard.

Chen Ke was the first to spot them and shouted:

"Father! Mother!"

Then he took off running towards them. Chen Heng also ran over, with Chen Qi following behind, unhurriedly, a smile on his face.

Chen Xing squatted down and took the two little ones into his arms.

"Why aren't you asleep yet?"

Chen Ke leaned on his shoulder and said in a childish voice:

"Wait for Father! I won't sleep until Father comes!"

Chen Heng nodded in agreement:

"Yes! We'll wait for Father!"

Chen Xing smiled and patted their heads.

"Alright, Father is here. Can we go to sleep now?"

The two children looked at each other and shook their heads together.

"No! We also want to set off firecrackers!"

Chen Xing looked at Lan Fenghuang. Lan Fenghuang spread her hands, looking helpless:

"I cannot handle this. Your Majesty, please handle it yourself."

Chen Xing smiled and put the two children down.

"Okay, then put one more in. We'll go to sleep after that, okay?"

The two children nodded vigorously.

Chen Qi walked over and handed them a new firecracker:

"Be careful."

Chen Heng took it, and Chen Ke came over. The two of them held the firecracker together, waiting for Chen Xing to light it.

Chen Xing took the incense from Chen Qi, squatted down, and carefully lit the fuse.

"run!"

The two children took off running. After a couple of steps, Chen Ke tripped and almost fell, but Chen Qi caught him.

"Snapped!"

The firecracker exploded, and the two children turned around and looked back, bursting into laughter.

Chen Xing stood up, looking at this scene with a smile in his eyes.

Murong Mingyue walked to his side and stood shoulder to shoulder with him.

"Your Majesty," she said softly, "it's time to let them sleep."

Chen Xing nodded.

"Okay. Go to sleep."

He walked over, picked up Chen Ke with one arm, and took Chen Heng's hand with the other.

"Come on, Father will take you back to sleep."

Chen Ke leaned on his shoulder and whispered:

"Father, can we release it tomorrow?"

Chen Xing smiled and nodded:

"Yes. We can continue showing it tomorrow."

Chen Ke closed his eyes with satisfaction.

Chen Heng, holding his father's hand, walked a few steps and suddenly asked:

"Father, will you join us in setting off firecrackers every New Year from now on?"

Chen Xing remained silent for a moment, then looked down at him.

Under the moonlight, that little face was full of anticipation.

He laughed softly.

"Okay. I'll accompany you every year."

Chen Heng smiled happily.

The moonlight shone on them, on the snow in the yard, and on the firecrackers that hadn't finished being set off.