Pingting, please stop your footsteps and don't drift around any more. Don't forget your good friend, Yangfeng. Go and see her.

I will wait for you there, catch you, hug you, kiss you and apologise to you. I beg you to forgive me – for the feelings that had spread like clear water, lingered like fragrance in the air. I look forward to our love that can be as firm as a mountain.

I already understand what is the greatest power, the end of the world and what is—to never turn against each other.

Yun Chang capital was full of singing and joy throughout the night. Multicoloured fireworks ascended to the sky with a bang, illuminating the delight on all of the peasant's faces in the capital.

The Princess and the Prince Consort returned.

The luxurious carriage had all of its curtains raised. Yaotian revealed a happy smile and was nestled in He Xia's arms. This touching and comforting scene was deeply imprinted in the hearts of the citizens.

Following behind the two were the thousands of Yun Chang soldiers, safely returned to their home. They had departed with certain death on the battlefield, but the skies had mercy on them. There was no test of war in the end.

What waited for them were cheers and a sky full of dazzling fireworks.

And finally, good alcohol.

"This cup is dedicated to Senior Official."

The colourful dance maids crossed the main hall as the hundred, somewhat drunk, officials laughed carefreely. He Xia's laughter was rich as he gulped down cup after cup of the endless cups the officials dedicated to him. He then took the jar of alcohol himself and stepped towards Gui Changqing who had been sitting at one side, smiling all along.

Gui Changqing was a bit stunned by this, hurriedly lifting his own cup. "I dare not, this cup is still dedicated to Prince Consort. Prince Consort led the troops on such a faraway expedition. It must've been tough."

He Xia drank quite a lot, his handsome cheeks slightly flushed. His dark eyes had no trace of tipsiness, however, as he said, "Senior Official is too modest. Leading troops to war is simply manual labour. Senior Official is the one who truly worked the hardest, handling affairs from the capital."

Gui Changqing had never been one to drink, but the moment the threat of war had been eliminated, it was such great news that even people who didn't like to drink had to celebrate with a couple of drinks. He collected his pride together and raised his cup, "Fine, a cup to the Prince Consort. I also wish my Princess Yaotian will be blessed with longevity, hm, as well as heirs soon."

He Xia laughed at this, "Such an honest wish, thank you Senior Official!" He raised his head to drain the cup in a single gulp.

"Prince Consort."

"Luyi?" He Xia turned around and saw Yaotian's personal maid. He looked around at the various noisily celebrating officials, bustling with activity, before taking her to one side and lowering his voice, "Did the Princess summon me?"

Luyi shoo her head, biting onto her lower lip as she smiled. "No. The Princess told me to tell Prince Consort that she had been subject to a long bumpy ride and is very tired. She took a bath before going to sleep and would like Prince Consort to see her tomorrow. The Princess also said to be careful of your own body and not to drink to much alcohol. Prince Consort has also travelled for a long time and too much alcohol can easily damage your health."

He Xia broke into a laugh. "I was worried that I wouldn't be able to last the alcohol here. Now that the Princess has given her Order, then it's perfect timing to send them all back home to sleep."

He immediately then used Yaotian's words to break up the officials that still wanted to celebrate and left the Royal Residence first, to go to the Prince Consort Residence.

The Prince Consort Residence long had its entrance wide open, with many servants waiting outside. Dongzhuo was leading them and had his neck strained. He saw a figure swaying in the distance before hearing the sound of hooves. Several people then stepped forwards.

"Welcome back, Prince Consort!"

"Welcome back, Prince Consort!"

The horse stopped and Dongzhuo immediately went forwards to take the reins. He raised his head, "Master, you're back."

"Yeah." He Xia answered once before dismounting. Just when he was about to walk through the door, he saw the several maids that had stepped forwards to welcome him back. His eyebrows creased slightly, "Why are there so many people in the doorway? You can all go."

Dongzhuo took the reins and threw it at a manservant waiting aside. He dismissed the other servants and followed his Master.

He Xia's strides were large and did not have any hint of stopping. Dongzhuo hurried behind him. He Xia headed straight for the rear courtyard and turned two or three corners before reaching the room where Pingting had lived in. He suddenly stopped, stood outside the door, and for the longest time remained frozen.

Dongzhuo quietly watched him stare at Pingting's door, as if like a statue of wood. From what he saw, he just felt desolation.

He had thought He Xia was heartless back then and so when Yaotian had revolted, he had turned a blind eye and let Pingting go. However, seeing He Xia today, he realised that he truly felt miserable.

Dongzhuo felt guilty as well as sad. He couldn't help but walk towards him and softly calling, "Master."

He Xia returned to his senses when he heard his call. He absentmindedly looked at him before slowly walking towards the door, raising his hands to push lightly on the door.

Squeak...

A slight sound was produced from the rotating door shafts. The room's furnishings entered his eye little by little.

The flowers on the window sill had already withered, and the bed had been cleaned properly, the mantle pulled to the side. There was a pair of embroidered shoes placed underneath the bed. On the dressing table, a bronze mirror stood and beside it, the gilded box that he had specifically ordered to be made for Pingting stood quietly. The qin was still there. It sat silently on the table, yet already had a thin layer of dust.

He Xia strode into the room, his footsteps were very light, as if afraid to break something. He sat on the icy-cold chair, placing his precious sword from his waist down onto the table.

He had used that very sword to sword dance.

Here, he was in this Prince Consort Residence.

His sword gently came out of his scabbard like a dragon entering water, smoothly gliding in, shedding its dirty half which floated on the water like a quilt.

Pingting was there. She remained seated at the pavilion, silently watching.

Her eyes were like watery smoke and her fingertips played the piece "Nine Days." The moment the qin sound began, he almost thought that everything had not changed.

He almost thought that the days had not passed, the seasons had not changed and death was non-existent.

He had been wrong.

In the depths of He Xia's eyes, there was a cold light flashing. He was wrong, the days had passed and overturning the seasons did not exist.

Schemes and ability was not powerful enough.

He had painstakingly used all of his energy to protect this beautiful illusion of the past, yet just a single light-hearted Order from the Princess wiped it all way.

Yaotian, his wife, the master of Yun Chang.

He Xia was deeply jolted awake by facing the room that had lost Pingting and the Prince Consort Residence that had lost its warmth.

As long as Yaotian existed, he would always be the Prince Consort.

A Prince Consort that was unable to keep his own maid.

"Master, this guqin...shall I pack it away?"

"No need." He Xia gazed at the dusty guqin and the corners of his lips quivered slightly. "Leave it, so it can wait for Pingting to come back."

Pingting will definitely return, return to my side.