In the palace, after Ji Zhaoxi ascended the throne, she abolished the grand New Year’s Eve banquet for the officials, telling them to go home and properly celebrate the holiday with their families. In truth, the real reason was that Ji Zhaoxi and Xiao Yanchen simply wanted to spend the New Year alone with each other.
The servants in Ruhui Palace were given time off. Xiao Yanchen was putting up couplets, while Ji Zhaoxi stood below directing him, a bucket of paste in her hand.
The first line was written by Ji Zhaoxi: “Seas calm, rivers clear, no wrongful cases.” The second line was written by Xiao Yanchen: “Year after year, peace with a good partner.” In the middle hung a large “fortune” character.
The two of them were wearing matching outfits that Xiao Yanchen had ordered the embroiderers to prepare long in advance. Anyone who saw them would know at a glance that they were husband and wife.
During the last morning court session before the New Year, Xiao Yanchen happened to be absent. Several ministers eagerly introduced their sons or other young noblemen to Ji Zhaoxi, subtly complaining that having just one imperial husband was too few and did little to demonstrate her majesty.
But after court, as that same minister was about to climb into his carriage to go home, he coincidentally ran into Xiao Yanchen.
Ji Zhaoxi arrived in time and dragged Xiao Yanchen away.
The small kitchen was warm and steaming. Xiao Yanchen had taken off his outer robe and was skillfully rolling out dumpling wrappers. Ji Zhaoxi darted around, poking her head in here and there, and at one point even tapped Xiao Yanchen on the shoulder like a playful punch.
Xiao Yanchen’s eyes curved into a smile as he continued his work.
He often watched Zhaoxi trade insults with the cat that lived in the palace—the cat would suddenly appear, swat her, and then run off the next second.
Now, he thought, she was just like that cat.
Their New Year’s Eve dinner wasn’t elaborate, but every dish was something they loved. With a flask of warm wine by their side, they ate noisily and happily, chatting and teasing each other.
The wind howled on the watchtower, biting at their faces. When the midnight bells tolled, countless fireworks exploded in the pitch-black sky—some gold like wheat fields, others purple like sunset clouds...
The two sat on the watchtower, their faces lit up and then fading into shadow with each burst of light.
Xiao Yanchen held her tightly. Every year since the first one, they had come to this watchtower to watch the fireworks. Once, they were even caught, and Head Eunuch Liu had to rush over to bring them back.
He pressed his cheek against her hair, gently holding her hand.
A single tear slipped silently down his face.
Over the years, he rarely cried anymore, but at this moment, gazing at the fireworks, he couldn’t hold back his tears.
The fireworks in the sky kept blooming—endless shapes and colors—and the palace was filled with cheers.
Ji Zhaoxi noticed his emotion. She pulled back slightly, looked at his reddened eyes, and kissed each of his eyelids.
Her eyes curved again. “We’ll watch the fireworks together every single year from now on!”
When they went back, just like the very first time, he carried her on his back. But unlike before, this year she didn’t fall asleep.
Back then, young Xiao Yanchen had staggered a little when carrying little Xiao Xizi. Now, as he held her, he no longer wobbled.
Moonlight cast their shadows on the bluestone path—longer and deeper than those of years past.
Day by day, life went on.
Ji Zhaoxi had gone out of the palace so often that the common people had carved her face into their memories, which became a major inconvenience when she tried to investigate cases incognito. Later, she went out less frequently, though she still often visited the Dali Temple.
She attended court sessions, but she never made it to the informal morning meetings because she simply couldn’t get up in time.
So Xiao Yan took her place. When he went to the morning court session, he would kiss her before leaving, and after the session ended, he would kiss her again, telling her he was back.
This habit continued for several decades and never once was broken.
Over the years, Ji Zhaoxi had seen many people off: Eunuch Liu, Aunt Song, Xiao He, the Imperial Noble Consort, and the palace maids who had been kind to her in her childhood.
When she bid farewell to Eunuch Liu, Ji Zhaoxi cried every day, unable to accept the departure of those around her. But as she sent more people away, her heart gradually calmed.
The harsh winter arrived as promised, and this year’s snow fell especially gently.
The charcoal fire in Ruhui Palace still burned strong, but Ji Zhaoxi was no longer the emperor who climbed walls every day to catch thieves. Wrinkles had etched themselves onto her face, and her movements had grown slow.
Xiao Yan no longer held a sword. His back was slightly hunched, but every step he took, he still tightly grasped Ji Zhaoxi’s hand.
“Xixi, walk slowly, the ground is slippery.”
He was still used to taking care of her, and he had taken care of her for an entire lifetime.
That night, Ji Zhaoxi felt her body grow unusually light. Lying beneath the covers, she looked over at Xiao Yan beside her.
Even in old age, he was still a very handsome old man.
“Xiao Yan,” Ji Zhaoxi said, her eyelids growing heavy, as though she sensed something. She called out to him.
Xiao Yan’s body stiffened. He threw back the covers and lay down on his side, a motion he had performed countless times in his life. He gently wrapped his arms around her body, whose warmth was already fading, and kissed her forehead.
“Xixi, don’t be afraid…”
The maids around them kept their heads lowered, biting their lips hard, letting their tears fall to the ground.
Xiao Yan calmly took the wine cup handed to him, drained it in one gulp, and then held Ji Zhaoxi tightly in his arms again.
As his consciousness began to fade, he saw her once more: a young Ji Zhaoxi, pushing open the door, bursting in like a beam of sunlight, looking at him fiercely and saying, “Eat!”
Xiao Yan closed his eyes fully, a single tear tracing from the corner of his eye, falling directly onto her face.
From the very first moment Xiao Yan saw Ji Zhaoxi, he knew that in this life, he would never let her go.
