~ 𝑪𝑶𝑴𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑺𝑶𝑶𝑵 - In the heart of an ancient Chinese dynasty, a young emperor reigns with wisdom beyond his years but carries a heart heavy with unresolved grief. Years ago, he lost his beloved under mysterious circumstances, a loss that has...
Months passed slowly, each one more peaceful than the last, and with every day, I watched Lian—growing the life that would soon join us in this world. He was everything I had ever wanted, even after the trials we faced together, the pain of my deceased lover's past, and the difficult truth that eventually came out.
When justice was finally served, especially concerning my mother, he stood beside me, unwavering, protecting me when I needed him most, like on that fateful day when we were attacked. Now, as I watched him move around with the servants, hanging garments and preparing the baby's nursery, I couldn't help but realize that life had finally settled into a calmness that felt unbreakable.
Mei's father—once entangled in an affair with my mother, whose actions led to the tragic loss of his own daughter, my lost love—remained in the palace, now working as a guard. His life was steeped in sorrow and regret, and while no one remained in his life, he had given us everything he had in his own way. In return, I made sure to give him a home, a warm place to sleep, hot meals, and a purpose.
He was no longer tasked with protecting us, as his years were nearing their end. Instead, I moved him to work with my father, who needed someone with sharp accounting skills and a keen mind to manage the palace's resources. For all that he had been through, he deserved some peace too, in his final years.
As the emperor now, overseeing everything that had unfolded, I realized that being with Lian was the best decision I'd ever made. He was my partner, the one who had stood beside me through everything, and I knew we would soon formalize it—he would become my partner for life. We would marry, and I had made a solemn promise to myself that no matter what, I would make him mine forever.
I watched him cradle his visible bump, a sight that filled me with awe every time. He looked so proud, so content, and there was a deep sense of joy in his expression. It was as if he, too, knew that we were entering a new chapter, one filled with love, peace, and the family we were building together. The nursery he and the servants were preparing felt like a symbol of that, a space that would soon welcome the new life we had created.
