“Father, are you taking Huanqin out to play?” Zheng Xiangyi hadn’t seen her father in a long time. Seeing him holding her little sister, awkward and unsure where to put his hands, she took the initiative to break the silence.
Upon hearing her inquiry, Marquis Pingyang’s face immediately brightened with joy. “Your little sister kept clamoring for hibiscus cakes, so I brought her out to buy some. Didn’t expect to coincidentally run into you and…”
He cautiously glanced at Feng Jue, momentarily unsure how to address him.
“Sir,” Feng Jue replied indifferently.
“Right, Sir.” Marquis Pingyang hurriedly corrected himself. Zheng Huanqin in his arms turned her large, round eyes, curiously sizing up this sister she had seldom seen.
Zheng Xiangyi didn’t have many thoughts about this half-sister. Seeing her staring directly at her, she only politely complimented, “Haven’t seen her for a while. Huanqin looks smarter and smarter.”
Marquis Pingyang smiled. “Children change every day. You rarely come home…” As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized they were inappropriate and awkwardly fell silent. Xiangyi had lived in the palace since childhood. Saying “rarely come home” almost sounded like a complaint that His Majesty prevented them, father and daughter, from seeing each other.
Feng Jue had felt displeased since Marquis Pingyang’s appearance. Although he always considered himself the closest to Xiangyi, compared to Marquis Pingyang, he ultimately lacked the bond of blood. Even as the emperor, he had no grounds to prevent Xiangyi from being close to her biological father.
He couldn’t accompany Xiangyi for a lifetime. Xiangyi would always need other support. Feng Jue convinced himself this way and slowly released Xiangyi’s hand.
But Xiangyi seemed to sense his thoughts and instead tightened her grip on his hand. She said to Marquis Pingyang, “I heard my younger brother will have his full-month banquet in a few days. I’ll go back to see him then. Is Mother recovering well?”
Upon hearing she would return for the full-month banquet, Marquis Pingyang’s eyes immediately lit up. “Your mother is fine. It’s just that your younger brother was a bit frail at birth. The doctor said he needs careful nurturing.”
Zheng Xiangyi remembered that in her previous life, this youngest brother indeed grew up constantly taking medicine. Although her relationship with her stepmother was cold, she felt a rare pity for her sickly younger brother—if not for her own mother’s difficult childbirth back then, she should have had a full-blooded younger brother too.
Feng Jue knew about Xiangyi’s heartache. Although he didn’t have any love for the child by association, he also didn’t want to see Xiangyi sad. So he said, “Imperial Physician Zheng is exceptionally skilled in treating childhood illnesses. Perhaps we could arrange for him to visit your residence to examine your son on a chosen day.”
Marquis Pingyang’s face was full of pleasant surprise. “Thank you, Sir!” Imperial Physician Zheng’s medical skills were superb, and he usually only served the imperial family and relatives. He knew this favor was due to his eldest daughter and looked at Xiangyi with even more affection.
At that moment, Zheng Huanqin, who had been quiet for a long time, suddenly reached out and tugged his beard, pointing at the glass hairpin on Zheng Xiangyi’s head. “Daddy, I want this!”
Zheng Xiangyi’s eyes lifted slightly, only to see her father quickly grasp her sister’s hand and coax in a low voice, “Good girl, that’s your sister’s thing. Daddy will buy you something else later.”
“No! I want this!” Zheng Huanqin hugged Marquis Pingyang’s neck coquettishly, refusing to give in.
Marquis Pingyang flusteredly tried to soothe her, fine sweat beading on his temples. All the accessories on Xiangyi were bestowed by the Emperor. This single hairpin alone was more valuable than his entire outfit. Moreover, His Majesty was right before his eyes. How could he dare ask his eldest daughter for something to give to his younger daughter?
Feng Jue watched coldly, feeling indignant for Xiangyi. Marquis Pingyang couldn’t even control his younger daughter properly, yet still dared to covet Xiangyi’s belongings.
He was about to speak but was gently stopped by Xiangyi. She smiled slightly, her tone calm yet distant. “Sir and I have other matters. We won’t disturb Father and little sister anymore.”
Marquis Pingyang looked extremely embarrassed, not daring to look at His Majesty’s expression at that moment. He hurriedly replied, “Sir, take care.”
As Zheng Xiangyi turned to leave, she heard her little sister still crying and throwing a tantrum behind her, a sense of irritation rising in her heart.
This glass hairpin on her head was a gift from His Majesty for her coming-of-age ceremony, a unique piece in the entire country, with no duplicate to be found. Zheng Huanqin certainly had good taste. Hmph, if it weren’t for her young age and sharing half her bloodline, she wouldn’t have let it go so easily.
“There, there, don’t be angry.” A hand landed on her head, gently ruffling her hair. “No one can take Xiangyi’s things.”
Zheng Xiangyi stopped, humming, “Of course. The things Your Majesty gave me, I won’t let anyone else have them. Not even my sister.”
The corners of Feng Jue’s lips lifted slightly. “Mm, they’re all Xiangyi’s.”
He really loved seeing Xiangyi in this possessive state, her cheeks puffed out, eyes bright and shining—the proudest, most radiant little girl in the entire capital.
Zheng Xiangyi turned around and looked at him. “I’m not angry. With Your Majesty here, what can’t I have? Why bother getting upset with a child?”
She was just a somewhat willful child. When she was little, she was much more spoiled than this. His Majesty would give her the stars if she asked, not the moon, and could find any rare treasure for her. Remembering how her sister had hugged their father coquettishly earlier, Zheng Xiangyi tightened her grip on his hand. “I want to eat crabapple blossom pastries! Your Majesty, buy them for me!”
Feng Jue said dotingly, “Alright, I’ll buy them.”
In a fit of pique, Zheng Xiangyi bought a whole pile of trinkets. Although not very valuable, her mood gradually improved during the shopping.
By noon, the two found a restaurant and asked the proprietor to open a quiet private room in the loft for them to sit. Zheng Xiangyi took a sip of the tea on the table and set it down, disliking it as too astringent. Knowing she was picky, Feng Jue ordered several dishes she usually liked for her.
While waiting for the food, Zheng Xiangyi looked at the large and small items she had bought, remembering how His Majesty had paid without a word earlier. A secret sense of pride arose in her heart.
Indeed, His Majesty is still the best!
Seeing her beaming expression, Feng Jue finally felt relieved. It seemed the earlier incident hadn’t affected her mood too much. He hoped Xiangyi could remain carefree forever, doing whatever she wanted without hesitation. Even if she made mistakes and things didn’t go as hoped, he would still be there to support her.
Zheng Xiangyi met his indulgent gaze and felt a bit embarrassed, her face flushing. Clearly, after being reborn, she wanted to repay him and bring him joy by his side. Yet, unconsciously, she was still relying on his favor to act willfully.
This wouldn’t do. She couldn’t follow the old path of her previous life again.
“Today, it was all me doing the buying. Wasn’t there anything Your Majesty liked?” Zheng Xiangyi touched her bulging little purse. Besides bestowing jewelry and silks, His Majesty also gave her gold and silver, which she had made into gold leaf and gold beans to carry with her.
She said grandly, “Whatever Your Majesty wants, I’ll buy it for you.”
“Hmm…” Feng Jue lowered his head, pretending to think, then curved his lips slightly. “What if the thing I want is something Xiangyi can’t afford?”
“How could there possibly be something this Princess can’t afford?” Zheng Xiangyi’s eyes immediately widened, sparkling in the sunlight like a little wildcat. “Your Majesty, tell me quickly, what is it?”
This was the first time His Majesty had told her he wanted something. No matter how difficult to obtain, she wanted to fulfill His Majesty’s wish.
Feng Jue looked at her and smiled. “I hope my Xiangyi can be safe and carefree for a lifetime.”
With a boom, as if a mountain had collapsed and a tsunami erupted, Zheng Xiangyi’s heart shook violently, her nose tingling slightly. She blinked, her eyes rimmed red. “Your Majesty, why not change it? Change it to something for yourself…”
In her previous life, he had passed away before her. Having been reborn, Zheng Xiangyi had come to terms with her own life and death. But she hoped he could live longer.
He was a wise ruler through the ages; he deserved a long life.
“Me?” Feng Jue gently shook his head. “In this life, all I cannot set my heart at rest over are this land and you.”
As emperor, he had done his duty without shame towards his subjects. Once a suitable heir apparent was settled, he could abdicate with peace of mind. As for what level of achievement the new ruler ultimately reached, that was not within his control. In previous dynasties, there were emperors who were wise in the first half of their lives and foolish in the latter half. All he could do was choose the best candidate at present.
But how could he set his mind at rest about Xiangyi? She had been pampered since childhood and couldn’t bear the slightest grievance. While he was alive, he could protect her. But after he was gone, what would she do? He didn’t trust Marquis Pingyang. Xiangyi had lost her mother. His only hope lay in her future husband.
It was just a pity that he had witnessed her grow from a sweet, naive child into a radiant young woman, but might not see her with white hair.
He believed that even with white hair, his Xiangyi would be the most beautiful girl in the entire capital.
“If Your Majesty cannot set your mind at rest, then stay with me forever.” Zheng Xiangyi grasped his hand firmly. “You’re only eighteen years older than me. When you’re one hundred, I’ll be eighty-two. By then, if you can’t walk, we can still support each other.”
She imagined the scene of two elderly people with white hair, slowly walking while supporting each other, and couldn’t help showing a yearning smile.
“When I was little, you helped me walk. In the future, we’ll switch roles.”
“Silly girl.” Feng Jue laughed softly. “How many people in this world can live to be one hundred?”
He knew his body wasn’t particularly robust, likely not destined for a long life, similar to the late Emperor. Over the years, although he paid attention to health preservation, he occasionally felt a sense of restless anxiety.
“I say you can.” Zheng Xiangyi thought of his passing three years from now in her previous life, her heart aching as she bit her lip. “At worst, I’ll go with you.”
Anyway, once he was gone, no one would treat her as well as he did. The remaining years wouldn’t hold much joy.
“Xiangyi.” Feng Jue’s tone was serious. “You are not allowed to have such thoughts.”
Zheng Xiangyi lowered her head without a word. Once you’re gone, no one else can control me. Even if I have such thoughts, can you crawl back from the underworld to stop me?
Feng Jue knew her all too well. His voice softened. “You must be well. Don’t make me worry.”
Zheng Xiangyi thought again of the question he asked her on his deathbed in her previous life. Even then, he still worried about her. She wondered if he saw her ending, would he be so angry he’d want to hit her?
“I know.” Zheng Xiangyi decided to humor him for now. After all, what she chose to do after he was gone was beyond his control. Seeing his worried expression, she lightly snorted. “You’re more like a real father than my father.”
She suddenly paused, her eyes shifting, then lifted her smiling face and deliberately called out, “Daddy?”
The trailing tone curled and twisted like a little hook.