In winter, along both sides of the ancient road, the scenery was desolate. The morning glow broke through the layers, and all things between heaven and earth were bathed in brilliance.
The little maid, dressed in a pink silk skirt, fluttered like a colorful butterfly, her small head bobbing. The pair of cherry-red beaded hair ornaments were the most vibrant flowers of winter.
Qingyao and Murong Liuzun exchanged smiles, naturally holding hands and gripping them tightly.
From this day forward, no one could separate them again. With vows of eternal love, they would find joy in each other’s presence, holding hands until old age.
The two leaped onto the carriage. Mingyue was driving the carriage in front.
Mo Chou, Bing Xiao, and the others consciously rode their horses trailing behind, keeping a considerable distance.
This was a rare occasion for the Emperor and Empress to reunite as a family, enjoying the sweet fruits of happiness obtained through countless hardships.
Laughter soon filled the carriage, the proud voice of Xiao Yu'er spilling out, following the path north.
Inside the carriage, Murong Liuzun tightly held Qingyao's hand. Only at this moment did his unease fade. The cold edge around him receded, the metallic taste in his mouth slowly disappeared. He had taken Mingyue's calming medicine and felt much better.
Xiao Yu'er looked at her father and mother sitting together, her heart suddenly at ease. The waiting of past lives and present moments was suddenly released.
She even thought that perhaps their momentary distraction in a past life was meant for her to be reborn here, to meet this man. This was their shared destiny.
Her heart surged with emotion, and she suddenly felt something was missing, letting out a surprised cry.
"Mother, Xiaobai is left at that family's home. I wonder if they will take good care of it."
As Xiao Yu'er spoke, she recalled the aunt's pale face and a smile naturally curved her lips. Although the aunt was very frightened, she had promised to take care of it, and she would surely do so. When she returned to the capital, she would definitely pick it up.
"They promised you, they will take good care of it."
Qingyao soothed her, truly admiring the little girl's sudden anxieties. However, remembering how she had desperately saved her last night, she couldn't help but reach out and clasp her hand, placing both into Liuzun's palm, and spoke in a deep voice.
"From now on, we as a family must love each other dearly and stay together forever. Liuzun, we will always be by your side."
Murong Liuzun's clear, indifferent eyes filled with brilliance, and he nodded vigorously.
At this moment, his heart, once filled with thorns, bloomed with vibrant flowers. The shadows receded further from him. Fleeting, blurry images flashed in his mind, so fast that he couldn't grasp them. He decided to stop thinking about them.
Now that he had his wife and daughter, he was content.
The carriage galloped onward, heading towards the Heavenly Mountain.
In the following days, some amusing incidents arose. The carriage was always filled with incredibly affectionate words, causing even Xiao Yu'er to blush and her heart to race. In the end, she insisted on riding with Mo Chou.
She simply couldn't stand her father's clinginess. She was still a child...
Inside the carriage, Liuzun again clung to Qingyao, holding her arm with a smile, calling out, "Wife, let's play kissy-kissy. Let's play kissy-kissy."
Qingyao's face turned red, knowing that everyone outside could hear everything. At this moment, she wished for a hole to swallow her. She, who had always been as cold as ice, had truly fallen from grace.
That night, it was only to awaken his reason that she had a sudden idea and kissed him. Who knew this man would now be thinking about that kiss all day long? Whenever he felt uncomfortable, he would ask for a kiss, saying it would stop the pain.
"What's wrong this time?"
Qingyao muttered softly, glaring at him with dissatisfaction. After a few days of observation, this man was no longer afraid of her anger, looking more and more pitiable.
He clutched his chest and feigned a sigh, "Wife, my chest feels so tight. A kiss from you would make it better."
"You?"
Qingyao glared at him angrily and flicked his forehead. Liuzun immediately let out a cry of surprise but did not back down. Since they were sitting in the carriage the entire time, they had plenty of time to wear down his wife. Now, he was increasingly fond of kissing.
When his wife kissed him, he felt that she loved him. When he kissed his wife, he felt she smelled so good. Regardless of who kissed whom, they were both very happy.
Qingyao rolled her eyes at his shamelessness. Several times she had prepared to abandon the carriage and leave him behind alone.
However, Mingyue declared that the Empress should accompany the Emperor, as it was beneficial for the Emperor's recovery. He said this while struggling to suppress a smile.
Qingyao had no choice but to accompany Liuzun in the carriage, enduring his torment all the way. Who said he was simple-minded? He was clearly very cunning.
At this moment, his handsome face leaned in when she wasn't paying attention, stealing a kiss and smiling triumphantly, "Wife, you smell so good."
"You..."
Qingyao could only resign herself to it. The carriage fell silent. Everyone outside simultaneously thought, it seemed the Emperor had successfully stolen a kiss.
The Heavenly Mountain was covered in perpetual snow, the white snow blanketing the heavens and earth, crystal clear and incomparably pure.
Qingyao and the others alighted from the carriage, gazing up at the towering mountain. Those who could reach the summit needed extremely profound internal energy.
Among their group, besides the Emperor, perhaps even the King of Nan'an might not be able to ascend.
Qingyao glanced at Liuzun beside her, then turned to instruct the King of Nan'an, "You all stay at the foot of the mountain. I will accompany the Emperor up. That Crimson Cloud Elder is an extraordinary recluse, likely eccentric in nature. If so many of us were to ascend, we would surely incur his displeasure."
"Alright."
The King of Nan'an nodded and accepted the order. He looked back at the people behind him, who were all looking up at the Heavenly Mountain piercing the clouds, sighing inwardly at its sheer height.
Mingyue first administered a pill to the Emperor, reporting to his master, "Besides climbing the mountain, do not use your internal energy again. You have already experienced a significant internal upheaval during the prison break recently. If it happens again, your life would be in grave danger."
Qingyao nodded with a grave expression. As long as she could meet the Crimson Cloud Elder, she would implore him to save Liuzun. Moreover, she had heard that the Crimson Cloud Elder cherished his disciple above all else, so he would surely treasure his life and not refuse to help.
"Alright, we are going up the mountain."
Seeing that Qingyao had finished speaking, Liuzun happily reached out and embraced her, exclaiming, "Wife, let's go up the mountain."
With that, he tapped his foot, and like a roc, lightly touched the cliff face and began to climb, disappearing in a blink of an eye into a small black speck.
Xiao Yu'er watched the two figures disappear into the high mountains, her heart filled with emotion.
"I hope the Crimson Cloud Elder can restore Father Emperor's internal energy, so he can deal with that despicable Shangguan Hao. Just thinking of him living in the palace wearing Father Emperor's face makes me so angry I want to curse."
Xiao Yu'er said with hatred. Mo Chou stood beside her, gently comforting her, "Princess, please rest assured. The Emperor has a natural talent for luck and will be fine."