There's Something I Have To Tell You (Rise of the Phoenixes)

Epilogue

Ya Le returned to Tiansheng once Ning Qi had been locked up in Zhongzheng Temple with Ning Sheng for at least half a year.

Ning Yi served as Crown Prince another three years, continuing to strengthen his political alliances with the southern cities. Zhiwei continued to split her time between the Capital City and Minhai, as she oversaw the assimilation of what remained of Dacheng into Tiansheng. They continued to search for other survivors quietly, to avoid suspicion with the Emperor. Many bandit groups were dissolved and relocated to Minhai.

Yan Huaishi married Hua Qiong in a ceremony in Minhai with a court celebration in the Capital City within the year. The couple remained in Minhai full-time, keeping a close eye on the Dacheng settlement and making sure that there was no risk of a coup.

Helian Zheng's father, the King of Jinshi, passed of natural causes shortly after the Prince married Shaoning. Together, they ascended the throne of Jinshi and began a new era, one that eventually merged with Tiansheng. Even after they were wed, Helian Zheng did everything he could to make Shaoning's transition comfortable. He allowed her freedom to pass to and from Tiansheng to visit her family. Shaoning, despite her initial disdain for Helian Zheng and his people, learned to love her husband and grow out of her bratty ways. There was a much bigger world outside of Tiansheng's Imperial Palace, where her father had kept her sheltered and naïve most of her life. She spent some time with Xin Ziyan at Qing Ming, learning what she could in the ways of court, so she could best serve the empire.

By Ning Yi's second year as the Crown Prince, the Emperor finally consented to his marriage to Zhiwei. There was a gathering of Ning Yi and his closest allies at the Prince of Chu residence once permission was granted.

Preparations for the marriage ceremony itself took a while longer, but once everything was in order, Helian Zheng and Shaoning travelled to Tiansheng for the festivities.

Ning Yi unveiled the weaving project he had worked on tirelessly for months – a wedding garment for Zhiwei that honored their history. The bottom was black, symbolizing the death of the Dacheng Empire. The next layer was brown and orange, twisting into the image of flames, symbolizing Zhiwei's growth from but away from her roots. The base of the remaining two-thirds of the robe were red – as all wedding garments were. The orange flames melted into blue fire with a golden phoenix rising from it, symbolizing the peace and restoration Zhiwei stood for as well as her position as the bride of the Crown Prince.

By Ning Yi's third year as Crown Prince, the Emperor formally abdicated due to failing health. He chose to live out the remainder of his days with Lady Wang and his trusted aide Zhaoyuan. They travelled the countryside in the first year of Ning Yi's reign to avoid any power struggles in the transition time.

Once Ning Yi had settled on the throne, he and Zhiwei had a very brief conversation about the Imperial Harem.

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"Absolutely not," Zhiwei snapped, eyes flashing angrily at the topic of discussion.

She and Ning Yi were talking over breakfast in their chambers.

Ning Yi kept his face a mask as he sipped his tea.

"Which one of our allies is offering a daughter to you?" Zhiwei demanded.