Chapter 34: Resolving the Heart’s Knots in Dreams

Shen Yunran had spent much of the past few years traveling, rarely returning home. But every time she did, she would see General Su playing chess with her father. She assumed it was just the pastime of two old friends and never thought much of it.

Yet every time, Su Jinye was always by his father’s side.

She had believed Su Jinye’s thoughts were never on her, so she could only watch him from afar.

“Su Jinye, if you liked me, we were engaged—why did you avoid me? Why did you hide from me?”

Su Jinye smiled slightly, his long fingers gently ruffling her hair. “There was a little girl who once said she would never marry into a noble family, nor did she like royalty or aristocrats.

“She said the man she loved would be the most manly man in the world. She didn’t care if he protected the world, as long as he could protect his people and keep them safe.”

Shen Yunran was stunned, staring at him in disbelief. “That’s…”

“That was your birthday wish, when you were eight years old, Shen Yunran.”

He was there.

Watching the stubborn little girl on the rooftop, he had been mesmerized and captivated.

And from that moment, he resolved to become a general, to protect her, the country, and the people.

Shen Yunran’s eyes welled up with tears. He had been there, and he had remembered every single word she said.

The night air was cool, the wind quietly chilly.

Su Jinye carried Shen Yunran on his back as they descended Mount Taibai. Perhaps due to the exhaustion and chaos of the night, Shen Yunran slowly dozed off on his back.

In her dreams, it felt like she had gone back five years.

Laughter echoed around her, and when she looked up, it was Yunlai Teahouse.

“Heh, even if every woman in the world died, I, Su Jinye, would never fall for Shen Yunran, the Marquis’s daughter.” A cold voice sounded in her ear, and Shen Yunran froze.

She stopped in her tracks and peered into the room from the corner of the hallway. Inside, she saw Su Jinye sitting with two or three friends.

That voice—it was unmistakably Su Jinye’s.

She remembered now!

Back then, she had overheard Su Jinye saying those words to his friends. That was why she had believed he didn’t like her.

She had left disheartened, and ever since, she had kept her distance, always remaining silent around Su Jinye.

Shen Yunran’s heart trembled. Just like back then, she wanted to turn and leave, but then she remembered—this was her own memory.

For some reason, her feet felt glued to the ground, unable to move.

She could only stand there in a daze.

“Xu Yangyang, you were the one who spread this rumor?”

“Hahaha, well, everyone was saying it! Jinye, is it true?” Xu Yangyang chuckled.

Su Jinye swung a fist at Xu Yangyang’s face. “Su Jinye, are you crazy? Why are you hitting me?”

Su Jinye’s cold, phoenix-like eyes radiated a chilling, iron-blooded aura.

Xu Yangyang, trembling with fear, swallowed hard after losing two of his front teeth. “Hey, what’s with that look?”

“Shen Yunran is my fiancée, and will be my only wife in the future. She is the one I cherish the most. Now, tell me—do you think I should fight you for this?”

“We’ve been childhood friends!”

“Not anymore, starting today.” Su Jinye brushed off the dust on his clothes. “If I ever hear you slander Shen Yunran again, it won’t just be one punch.”

With that, Su Jinye stepped out of the room, his retreating figure exuding loneliness and coldness.

Shen Yunran watched his departing figure and let out a bitter laugh.

So, it was all just a misunderstanding on her part.

The dream ended.

The stars dimmed as the autumn breeze carried warmth.

Shen Yunran looked at Su Jinye in front of her. Heaven had shown mercy, allowing her to resolve her inner turmoil through the dream.

“Aye…”

Su Jinye’s body stiffened for a moment, then he smiled. “Yes, I’m here.”

—

In the swaddle, little Ah Bao stretched her tiny body, wrinkling her nose as the scent of sugar figurines wafted through the air.

She opened her sleepy eyes and saw the bustling streets filled with vibrant colors.

After a nap, she felt much more energetic.

[Wow! Brother, sugar figurines! They’re sugar figurines!]

[I want one, I want one! Buy it, buy it!]

After descending the mountain with Ah Bao, the sky was still dark, and the lantern festival hadn’t ended yet. So, Di Zian decided to take her to enjoy the festivities.

As soon as they arrived, little Ah Bao was woken up by the delicious smells in the air.

“I’ll buy you a sugar figurine, but you can only look at it, not eat it. You’re still small, and you don’t have teeth yet. If mother finds out, she’ll kill me.”

Ah Bao pouted her tiny lips.

[Just looking is fine, but it’d be better if I could take a bite.]

She held up the sugar figurine and wobbled it around.

It looked so pretty!

It must taste amazing, too!

Her grape-like eyes blinked as she said, [Brother, the dark energy over your head is gone.]

Di Zian instinctively touched his head. “Sister, you really are my little lucky star. Ever since we left the palace, I feel so much lighter.”

[See? With Little Beauty Ranran’s life saved, the dark energy around you naturally disappeared! Hahaha!]

[Wow! Spicy… spicy rabbit head! And braised pork! Waaah, Brother, I want meat! I’m starving to death!]

Little Ah Bao poked her tiny head out from her swaddle, her big eyes fixated on the meat.

Di Zian couldn’t resist her greedy little expression, but how could a three-month-old baby eat meat?

“Sister, be good. You’re still too young, you can’t eat this yet.”

[I want to eat, I want to eat! Waaah, brother, please just let me have one bite! Even just smelling it would be fine.]

Di Zian: “…”

“Sister, grow up quickly. When you’re six months old, you can start eating solid foods. At seven or eight months, you can have a little minced meat.” Even as he said this, he couldn’t handle Ah Bao’s pleading. So, he stood in front of the food stall, letting her sniff the aroma for a while.

Ah Bao: “…”

Brother!

You’re definitely my real brother!

[Little bunny, little piggy buns, little flowers, brother, buy buy buy!]

Di Zian: “…”

Alright!

“Sister, here, your brother bought you toys.” Di Zian bought a whole bunch of toys and took Ah Bao all around the lantern festival.

The boy carried Ah Bao in his arms, with toys strapped to his back.

This sight caught everyone’s attention.

Ah Bao peeked out from his arms, sucking on her little hands, her big eyes shining with excitement at everything she saw.

“Wow, that must be the boy’s little sister. She’s so cute!”

“Whose child is this? She’s so beautiful.”

“She’s so tiny! Her mother must have been reluctant to let her out. Her brother must have snuck her out, right?”

“Mom, I want a little sister too! Hurry up and give me a little sister.”

In the crowd, some kids saw Ah Bao and started tugging on their mothers’ arms, begging for a baby sister.

Di Zian felt incredibly proud.

Hehe, that’s his sister. So proud.

“Oh no! I just remembered something important! Sister, we have to return to the palace tonight. Tomorrow is our imperial grandmother’s birthday.”

[Oh right, I haven’t seen our imperial grandmother since she returned to the palace.]

[Brother, I remember last time during her birthday, you were getting your head treated at the Imperial Hospital and couldn’t attend. She wasn’t very happy about that.]

Di Zian’s handsome face stiffened o(╯□╰)o.

Don’t bring up that unlucky incident.

Every time he left or entered the palace, something unfortunate happened to him. Sigh.