Wish You All the Best - Chapter 112

Chapter 112

At the end of the third month, the Jiangnan mist curled around the willow branches, and the mountain mulberry trees by the roadside were in full bloom—it was the most beautiful time of the year. Yet, Pei You’an and Jiafu had no heart for the scenery. After departing Quanzhou, they hurried north immediately, racing toward the capital.

Pei You’an was naturally anxious to return to the capital, but he worried that Jiafu would not be able to withstand the grueling journey. At first, he kept to a normal, measured pace.

Jiafu had not seen her son for several months. Driven by deep longing and hidden anxieties, she burned with the desire to fly back to his side. She feared no exhaustion and constantly urged him to move faster, leaving Pei You’an with no choice but to accelerate their pace.

Finally, on this day, the couple arrived back in the capital and went straight to the imperial palace to request an audience. Their entry was smooth. The couple was guided to the Chengguang Palace, where the Emperor’s study was located. They waited for a moment under the empty terrace and eaves before they heard the sound of hurried footsteps running out from within. Looking up, they saw it was Ci’er sprinting toward them.

"Father! Mother!"

Ci’er crossed the high threshold, a joyful smile on his face, as he rushed toward them at full speed.

Jiafu could no longer concern herself with court etiquette or protocol. Leaving Pei You’an aside, she dashed forward, scooped her son into her arms, and held him tightly. Kisses fell like raindrops upon Ci’er’s forehead and face.

Ci’er was delighted to be kissed repeatedly by his mother, but he snuck a glance at his father to the side. Seeing him gazing back, the boy couldn't help but feel a touch of shyness. When his mother moved to kiss him again, he dodged slightly, leaned to her ear, and whispered, "Mother, Father is watching..."

Jiafu suppressed the complex whirlwind of emotions rising in her heart, turned, and seeing her husband walking slowly toward them, finally set her son down.

Ci’er walked up to Pei You’an. Just as he was about to bow and pay his respects as he usually did, before his knees could even touch the ground, Pei You’an reached out with both arms, pulled him into his embrace, and held him tight.

Not only was Ci’er surprised, but even Jiafu felt a wave of astonishment.

Jiafu knew that Pei You’an loved his son deeply, but in Ci’er’s presence, he had always been reserved and stoic.

This was the first time Jiafu had ever seen him express his emotions for their son in such a way.

Held tightly in his father’s arms, Ci’er was initially startled, but gradually, a joyous smile broke across his face. Tentatively, he slowly extended his small arms to wrap them around his father’s neck. Resting his small face against his father’s shoulder, he whispered, "Father, you went away for so long to fight the bad people. Ci’er and Mother missed you very much..."

The corners of Pei You’an’s eyes turned slightly red. He held his son even tighter, unwilling to let go for a long time.

"Lord Pei, His Majesty says you are to let the Lady Zhen take the young master to the West Garden. Lord Pei is requested to enter; His Majesty has words for you..."

Cui Yinshui, who had just followed them out, stood to the side, carefully observing Pei You’an’s expression as he spoke with caution.

Jiafu’s heart skipped a beat, and she glanced at her husband.

Pei You’an handed their son back to Jiafu. After sharing a brief look with her, he said in a low voice, "You take Ci’er first."

He let out a slow breath, turned, and walked inside.

...

Xiao Lie no longer possessed the vigorous spirit he once had when facing Pei You’an. Currently, he wore only a loose outer robe and leaned against a couch, holding a memorial he was reading.

Pei You’an knelt and performed the rites of a subject before his sovereign.

Xiao Lie told him to rise, slowly got off the couch, and returned to his usual throne. He stared at Pei You’an, saying, "You’an, among the memorials I have received from ministers recently, two topics appear most often. The first is the great victory in the northern war. You smashed the Hu cavalry and captured several members of their royal family; now, the Xiongnu court is inclined to seek peace. In this battle, your contribution is immense. Very good."

Pei You’an replied in a calm tone: "By the boundless grace of Your Imperial Majesty. Your subject merely performed his duty; I dare not claim credit."

Xiao Lie smiled, staring at the man before him. "The second matter is the urgent inquiry regarding the successor to our Great Wei."

He tossed the memorial in his hand, along with the stack sitting on the corner of the table, in front of Pei You’an. They landed with a sharp thud.

"Too many things have happened recently. My previous thoughts have changed as well. I originally intended to welcome back Xiao Yu and fulfill the promise I made to the people of the world years ago. Unfortunately, as you saw for yourself, the child has no heart for this and refuses to return. I have taken a liking to Ci’er. With proper cultivation, one day, Ci’er will surely become a sage monarch of our Great Wei."

"Tomorrow, I will have the Imperial Astronomical Bureau select an auspicious date. I will take Ci’er to worship at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, acknowledge his lineage, and name him the Imperial Grandson of our Great Wei."

"You’an—"

Xiao Lie called his name, his eyes locked on Pei You’an: "The reason you and I drifted apart in the past stemmed entirely from Xiao Yu. Now, I have done my utmost for Xiao Yu. I want you to take a step back; that is not too much to ask, is it?"

He said this, word by word.

Pei You’an stared at Xiao Lie, and Xiao Lie stared back, neither yielding an inch.

Their gazes clashed.

"Your Majesty, you knew all along that Yu’er would not return. When he was willing to return to the capital to offer his neck for the blade back then, you were already clear on that point. You did not kill him then; you imprisoned him on Golden Dragon Island. If your subject may be so bold, I fear this was not out of a lack of ruthlessness, but to hold him as leverage against me in the future, was it not?"

Pei You’an’s expression no longer held the rage of the past; his features were weary and his tone was flat.

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Xiao Lie’s eyes, but it vanished quickly.

He stared at Pei You’an: "I did indeed anticipate that Xiao Yu would not return. I will also tell you the truth: years ago, I had already thought of establishing my own grandson as the successor to Great Wei. Unless you and your wife failed to produce a son in my lifetime, your son would have been a worthy candidate. Even if he lacked the aptitude of a sage, he would have been more than capable of being a stable, presiding monarch. My choice to keep Xiao Yu was indeed with your considerations in mind. But today, when I choose to establish Ci’er, it is no longer to hold leverage over you! My intent is firm; I will never change! This child has extraordinary aptitude, the likes of which I have never seen in my life. If he is taught well, who is to say he will not become a sage king for the ages!"

As Xiao Lie spoke, his eyes flashed with excitement. He closed his eyes, slowly regained his composure, and opened them once more.

"You’an!"

He called his name again, gazing deeply at him.

"That you and I could not be father and son in this life is a misfortune in my fate, and I will force it no longer. But to have a son like this is the fortune of Great Wei, and even more, the fortune of all the people under heaven. Why can you not cast aside personal feelings, align your heart with mine, and for the sake of Great Wei and the vast world, join hands with me to nurture a sage monarch who will shine through history and leave his name in the annals of time?"

Pei You’an stood motionless, his silhouette stoic.

...

Jiafu had returned to the Banana Garden with Ci’er. She spoke with her son, yet she could barely suppress the anxiety in her heart. She waited urgently for Pei You’an’s return, feeling entirely distracted.

"Mother, that day I asked Imperial Grandfather what the 'world' was, and he took me out of the palace. Grandfather said he wanted me to help him continue being the Emperor in the future. Mother, will you and Father agree?" Ci’er finally brought up the events of that day. Once he finished, he opened his eyes wide and looked at Jiafu.

Although she had long been mentally prepared, when she actually heard these words spoken from her son’s mouth, the blood in Jiafu’s entire body seemed to freeze instantly. Her chest felt heavy, and for a moment, she couldn't breathe.

She knew all too well what it meant for Ci’er to become the Crown Prince of Great Wei.

She stared fixedly at Ci’er’s face, unable to utter a single word.

"Mother? Are you unhappy?"

Ci’er quickly sensed the strangeness in his mother and looked at her with concern.

"Don’t be angry, Father and Mother. Ci’er will listen to you!" Ci’er urged quickly, his arms wrapping tightly around Jiafu’s neck.

Jiafu gazed at the pure, innocent eyes of her son, still so ignorant of the world. She suppressed the reluctance and heartbreak in her heart and shook her head: "Ci’er, don’t worry, Mother is not unhappy..."

Halfway through the sentence, the rest became lodged in her throat.

"Father!"

Ci’er suddenly called out.

Jiafu turned abruptly and saw that Pei You’an had returned when she didn't notice. He stood outside the door, his eyes fixed on her and Ci’er, his figure standing perfectly still.

Hearing Ci’er’s voice, he seemed to finally snap out of his thoughts. He crossed the threshold, walked inside step by step, and stopped before Jiafu and Ci’er.

He gazed at Ci’er for a long time, a trace of a smile slowly forming on his lips. He reached out to gently stroke the boy's head and ordered Cui Yinshui to take Ci’er away to play.

Led by Cui Yinshui, Ci’er kept turning back every few steps as he walked away.

Finally, only Jiafu and he remained in the room.

His expression was somewhat despondent as he gazed at Jiafu, saying nothing.

They stood in silence. After a long time, Jiafu slowly walked toward him and said in a trembling voice: "Cousin, there is no way to change the Emperor’s mind?"

Pei You’an said softly: "Fu’er, I have failed you..."

Jiafu buried her face in his shoulder. She closed her eyes, and tears began to flow.

...

Three months later, in the seventh year of Zhaoping, the month of June, the question of the imperial succession—which had left the ministers guessing for so long—finally came to a conclusion after a long period of silence. The matter was settled.

The Emperor took the child, who had accompanied him to the Meridian Gate tower that day, to worship at the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

The next day, the court issued an imperial decree: the Emperor named the child the Imperial Grandson, to inherit the throne once he passed away.

At the same time, the Emperor issued another edict.

Pei You’an, having achieved great merit in the war against the Hu and remaining unfailingly loyal to the imperial court, was restored to his original rank effective immediately. Beyond the restoration of all his previous titles and ranks, he was granted the additional position of Grand Preceptor to the Imperial Grandson. From this day forward, he was tasked with the grave responsibility of tutoring and guiding the Imperial Grandson. It was hoped that he would be diligent and conscientious, failing neither the Emperor’s expectations nor the trust of the world.

That day, Jiafu, who had returned to the Duke’s mansion days ago, busied herself hosting the endless stream of court ladies and noblewomen who came to offer their congratulations after the news spread rapidly.

Lady Pei was in the prime of her youth, her beauty at its peak. There was not the slightest mark of the harsh, cold life of the borderlands upon her face. Compared to years past, she had only gained a more graceful and dignified air. Everyone who saw her whispered praise, whether they were flattering her or attempting to cultivate a connection. She wore a smile, neither arrogant nor servile, and was impeccable in her reception of guests.

Late at night, Pei You’an returned to the mansion.

Since Jiafu had returned to the Duke Wei mansion days ago citing their return from the border, Ci’er had also moved out of the Banana Garden, where he had lived for a year and a half. Xiao Lie, fearing he would not be accustomed to the change, had brought him to live personally in the Chengguang Palace, personally overseeing all his daily needs.

Tonight, Pei You’an had remained in the palace until this very moment, finally leaving to return home.

Candlelight still illuminated the room. Pei You’an pushed open the slightly ajar door. As he entered, he saw Jiafu welcoming him with a smile, helping him remove his outer robes and urging him to bathe. She didn't mention Ci’er, acting as if nothing was wrong.

After Pei You’an had finished bathing and come out, Jiafu, who had not yet gone to bed, picked up a robe and personally helped him put it on. She lowered her head to tie the sash at his waist and said: "Cousin, I noticed you have grown thinner recently. I made you a late-night snack. Wait here; I will have someone bring it over, and you can eat before you sleep."

After speaking, she gave him a faint smile and turned to hurry toward the door.

Pei You’an watched her retreating figure, unable to bear it any longer. He stepped forward, hugged her waist tightly from behind, and kissed the top of her hair, saying in a hoarse voice: "Fu’er, I know how much you have suffered in your heart during these days. If you want to cry, just cry; do not force yourself to endure it in front of me."

He turned her body around to face him.

The smile on Jiafu’s face vanished. She bit her lip hard, and her eyes slowly grew red.

"How has Ci’er been these past few days?"

Pei You’an gazed at her. In his mind, he saw the scene from tonight when he had separated from his son—Ci’er following him closely, clutching his sleeve refusing to let go, his eyes brimming with tears as he asked if, from now on, he could still call them Father and Mother in private if he wasn't allowed to do so in public. This man of iron, who had navigated the treachery of the imperial court for half a lifetime, having once held the power to cover the sky with a flick of his hand, could not help but feel his own eyes grow red.

He forced his tears back: "The Emperor said he hopes Ci’er can become a sage monarch one day. I have no such expectations. But once Ci’er grows up, he should be able to become a competent king for all people. If that comes to pass, then what you and I have lost today will not have been in vain."

Jiafu sobbed silently, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

Pei You’an picked her up, carried her to the bed, and lay down with her. He raised a hand to gently stroke the soft, cloud-like dark hair of his beloved wife: "Rest assured, although Ci’er is young, he is very sensible. I will be free to enter and leave the palace in the future. If you miss him, you can enter the palace at any time."

"Cousin, when Ci’er grows up, will he resent you and me for giving him away just like that?"

Jiafu asked through choked sobs, her eyes clouded with tears.

Pei You’an was silent for a moment, then gave a faint smile: "To embrace the blue sky is a matter of boundless scope; whether we gained or lost is a matter for the heart. When Ci’er grows into a man, he will have thoughts of his own."

Jiafu gazed at him intently.

Pei You’an’s face leaned slowly toward hers. With gentle, loving care, he kissed away the tears from her face, one by one. Finally, he pulled her into his embrace and held her close.