"Flowers fall, water flows~" Yang Mei Qing picked up the wine cup on the stone table. "Come, let's toast to our shared fate~ Haha~" Without caring whether I wanted to or not, she forcefully placed the wine cup in my hand and tilted her own cup, pouring the wine into her mouth. In an instant, I seemed to see a glimmer pass over her cheek and quickly disappear.

Looking at the wine cup that was forcefully placed in my hand, I saw the dark red liquid inside. I felt a sense of suffocation in my chest. Was it impossible to change?

"General, please leave. The Empress is returning to the palace," Qiao Hui appeared outside the pavilion at some point, silently startling me. I didn't expect that there was such a formidable expert by the Empress's side.

"I take my leave," I felt that staying here would only make me lose self-control, so it was better to leave quickly. Without waiting for Yang Mei Qing to allow me to leave, I hastily exited the pavilion.

"Don't let yourself regret it. A true woman would not give up without trying," Yang Mei Qing's soft words once again halted my steps as I walked out of the pavilion. But I couldn't turn around and tell her. Was it because I didn't dare or couldn't?

As I pondered Yang Mei Qing's words, I walked absentmindedly. Why did I feel a sense of suffocation, acidity, and pain when I heard about his marriage? It repeatedly indicated that I had placed him in my heart, and even my devoted heart was left with him. If it weren't for his marriage and today's conversation with Empress Yang, I might still be lost. I had actually fallen in love with him, but now he had married another woman as his wife. I had no hope at all. Lost in my thoughts, I returned to the entrance of my residence. Looking at the three large characters "General's Residence" on the door, it stabbed my eyes and caused me pain. Without thinking, I used my exceptional lightness skills to disappear in front of my own door.

Late at night, when the night watchman struck the second watch drum.

"Miss, please go to sleep," Zi Zhu prepared the bed and stood by the window, looking at the exhausted face of the young miss. She was truly heartbroken and blamed Young Master for not standing up for the young miss, leaving her to bear the pain alone.

"You can leave. I will go to sleep by myself," Hong Ling was unaware of Zi Zhu's thoughts. They had been together since childhood, like sisters.

"Yes, then Zi Zhu will take her leave." After saying that, Zi Zhu quietly left. She thought that it would be better for the young miss to inform Madam. The General had not returned home even though it was already late at night, only the second day of their marriage. Zi Zhu contemplated for a moment and decided to inform Madam, turning around to call Zi Zhu.

"Young Master, you're still not resting at this late hour?" Zi Zhu turned around and saw the steward calling her. She thought she might as well ask about the whereabouts of the Young Master.

Before Zi Zhu could ask, the steward told her what she wanted to know. "Zi Zhu, go inside and inform Madam. The General will not be returning home tonight but will come back early tomorrow morning to accompany Madam back to her family's residence." The steward said the last sentence with uncertainty, hoping that the General would return early the next morning.

"Alright, then I will go in and inform Madam," Zi Zhu's mind was in turmoil after hearing the steward's words. How could the Young Master, who had just married, leave the young miss alone like this? Moreover, they haven't even...

"Okay, okay, okay. Then I will go back." The steward was relieved after Zi Zhu spoke and went back.

"Take care, Steward Lin," Zi Zhu said as she watched the steward leave, her mind filled with various thoughts.

"Knock, knock, knock. Miss, are you resting?" Without waiting for Hong Ling inside the room to answer, Zi Zhu knocked on the door and pushed it open. After closing the door, she saw Hong Ling sitting by the window in a daze, shaking her head helplessly, wondering why her mistress was so infatuated.

"Miss, the Master won't be coming back tonight. Just go to sleep peacefully," Zi Zhu said.

"Oh, I see." Hong Ling didn't care about anything outside her thoughts, her mind focused on her cousin.

"Miss, this isn't good for you. Your body won't be able to take it," Zi Zhu felt sorry for her mistress, who was tormenting herself like this.

"Zi Zhu, I understand your concern." Hong Ling interrupted before Zi Zhu could say anything else, still sitting motionless by the window.

"Ah~" Zi Zhu sighed deeply, realizing that her mistress had grown tired of her nagging. She sighed again and left the bridal chamber, feeling powerless to do anything for her mistress.

Hearing the sound of the door closing, Hong Ling knew that Zi Zhu had left. Her thoughts wandered again, thinking about her cousin, the child in her womb, and her newlywed husband. Everything made Hong Ling feel sad. She didn't want to disappoint her cousin, lose the child in her womb, or deceive her husband after their recent marriage. It was difficult, so difficult.

"Shopkeeper, bring me more wine." After leaving the residence, I ran to a small place five miles away to drink alone. The more I thought about it, the more absurd it seemed. I had actually married a woman. I found myself entangled in the same emotional ties as Empress Yang. Thinking about it, I picked up the wine on the table and poured it into my mouth.

I couldn't believe that I had feelings for him. Who would believe it if I said it out loud? He only saw me as his superior and subordinate, yet I foolishly fell in love with him.

"Haha~" I let out a helpless laughter, only I knew how much bitterness and sorrow were hidden in that laughter. Now he had married Luoyang's most beautiful woman, the youngest daughter of Yang Yan. What could I do? Forget it, I'll keep these feelings in my heart. No words, no speech, no thoughts.

"Hehe~"

"Guest, I think I should call it a night." The waiter cautiously asked the heavily intoxicated me.

"Hehe~ Bring me more wine~ hehe."

Just as the waiter couldn't understand what I was saying, a blue figure appeared beside me. He threw some silver on the table, lifted me effortlessly, and disappeared from the small tavern without a word.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

The waiter felt dizzy for a moment, as if everything had spun around, and I was gone. Only a few wine bottles and a silver ingot remained on the table. After a long time, the waiter finally muttered, "What the hell?"

Amidst the quiet green pine forest, the shadows of trees swayed gently.

"Mei, put me down." Oh, I feel dizzy.

Mei ignored my words and continued to carry me, leaping all the way.

"Bang, splash, splash," the tranquil lake water created large splashes. After being inexplicably thrown into the water, I sobered up a bit. I looked at my drenched clothes and then at Mei, who stood on the shore without saying a word.

"What are you doing?" I stood up from the water, feeling very displeased and asked.

"You're sober now," Mei's tone remained the same as before, coldly reminding me of my previous loss of composure.

"You—" After he said that, I actually became much more sober. What was I doing? I was a general, how could I be bound by emotions like this? If I truly lost myself like this, how could I justify the years of effort he put into nurturing me?

"I understand, you can go now." After regaining control of myself, I spoke in a cold and emotionless tone, sending a chill down Mei's spine.

"If you show the slightest sign of going astray, I will be the first to kill you." After Mei finished speaking, he disappeared into the dark woods, leaving me alone to savor indescribable feelings.

After a moment of contemplation in the serene green pine forest, I thought since I was already thrown into the lake, I might as well take a bath and then rest in the bamboo house, putting aside all the distractions in my mind. I took off the hairpin that held my hair and let the burden of a thousand worries fall behind me. I removed my clothes and armor, tossing them aside on the empty space by the shore.

Without the restraints on my body, I suddenly felt much lighter. I walked slowly towards the center of the lake and disappeared into the water, unaware that my actions were being observed by a pair of amused eyes.

"Hurry up, be quick, we need to move faster. Today is the day the Lady returns home," Lin An woke up early and directed the servants in the mansion to prepare the gifts for the Lady's return.

"Steward Lin, are the preparations ready?" Zi Zhu stood beside her young miss, asking on behalf of the absent Young Master.

"It's almost done. We're just waiting for the General to come back, then we can set off," Lin An said, regretting his words immediately. What did he say? It was because their General still hadn't shown up, and it was almost time to leave.

"Lady, I think the General will be back soon," Lin An said with no certainty.

"Uncle Lin, it's alright," Hong Ling replied calmly.

Seeing the Lady's indifferent attitude, Lin An thought it was over. She must be angry about the General not returning home all night. But little did she know what the Lady was truly worried about. She had only spent less than a day with her husband, and she barely knew him. They had only exchanged a few words, let alone understand each other.

Today was an unusually lively day in the Prime Minister's residence because it was the day the bride returned home. Early in the morning, everyone in the Prime Minister's residence was mobilized, cleaning and organizing rooms, and everyone had a smile on their face. The happiest person was naturally the Prime Minister, whose smile had not disappeared since morning. But some people's smiles were tinged with a hint of unease, worried that there might be another incident on this joyous day.

"Wife, what's the matter with you?" Hu Jiangling looked at his wife strangely.

"Ah~ Oh, nothing. I'm just wondering why Ling'er and her husband haven't arrived yet," the Prime Minister's wife replied absentmindedly.

"Hehe~ Wife, don't worry. It's still early. Let's wait a little longer," Hu Jiangling consoled her with words, but he himself was also anxiously looking outside.

"Lord, Lady, the young master is back with the young miss," just as the two elders were each lost in their thoughts, a servant ran into the hall, shouting incessantly.

"Hurry, hurry, let's go out to greet them," Hu Jiangling was overjoyed when he heard the news, and he grabbed his wife, who hadn't come back to her senses, and walked quickly out of the hall to welcome the newlyweds.

"Daughter, greet your father and mother," I gracefully dismounted and respectfully bowed to the two elders who came out to welcome us.

"Hehe~ My son-in-law, there's no need for so much courtesy. Come, come, let's go inside and talk," Hu Jiangling inspected his son-in-law once again, and in his heart, he was completely satisfied. Such a good son-in-law, it was truly hard to find even with a lantern. He felt even more delighted and believed that he had made the right decision for his daughter.

"Daughter, let your mother have a good look at you," Yang Shi pulled her daughter to look at her from left to right, her gaze momentarily lingering on her daughter's lower abdomen. But quickly, she averted her gaze, as it was just a momentary movement that didn't escape my eyes.

"Haha~ You, are you still worried about Ling'er being mistreated by the husband? Come, come, let's go inside," Hu Jiangling chuckled as he looked at his wife's expression.

Amidst the laughter and conversation of the patriarch, we slowly entered the gate. Once all the gatekeepers confirmed that everyone had entered the mansion, the gates were slowly closed.

On the same day, the wedding ceremony took place, and on the third day, the bride returned home. However, the gates of the Prince Qi's mansion remained closed, without any signs of celebration. Could it be that Qi Yuntian and his newlywed wife had some disagreements? This made the people in the mansion speculate.

"Princess, today is the day of your return home," Xiao Lian fanned her lady, who was lying on the noblewoman's chair, while conveying the words entrusted by the Master.

"Clap!" You fool, do I need you, a little servant girl, to command me? Mei Niang's good mood was once again ruined by her personal maid's words. Her spoiled nature couldn't tolerate anyone speaking to her in such a manner. Without delay, she swiftly delivered a hard and fast slap.

"Maid, I apologize, please forgive me, Princess." Xiao Lian, fearing that her actions had angered her lady, quickly pleaded for forgiveness. She trembled, remembering the cruel punishments her lady had given her before, unable to control her small, frail body.

"Report, Princess, the Prince has returned to the mansion," a servant's voice came from outside, rescuing Xiao Lian, who thought she would face more misfortune.

"Hmph, get up and help me with my makeup," Mei Niang, upon hearing that her beloved husband had returned, changed her attitude and didn't want to dwell on her maid's mistake.

"Thank you, Princess, for your forgiveness," Xiao Lian, relieved that her lady wasn't blaming her anymore, expressed her gratitude, hastily rising to help her lady with her appearance.

When Qi Yuntian arrived at the bedroom, he saw his enchanting bride, who was looking at him with a dreamlike smile. He had a momentary feeling that if he had such a wife, what else could he ask for? But soon he snapped back to reality, looking at Mei Niang with a half-smile.

"My love, I haven't properly greeted you for not coming to welcome me," Mei Niang, with a graceful bow, asked for forgiveness from Qi Yuntian, her body reclining on the love seat.

"It's alright, my love. There's no need to be overly concerned about etiquette with your husband," Qi Yuntian lifted Mei Niang's delicate body, comforting his remorseful wife, while his affectionate eyes never left the beauty in his arms.

"I thank you, my husband," Mei Niang's cheeks turned rosy as she felt the intense gaze of Qi Yuntian. Oh, how could she have mistaken such a man for someone incapable? She had almost given up on him, but in the end, he was truly hers.

"My beloved, today is the day of your return home. Shall I accompany you?" Qi Yuntian asked.

"Do you still remember the words Mei Niang spoke before?" Mei Niang inquired.

"How can I forget my beloved's vows?" Qi Yuntian played with Mei Niang's silky hair, looking into her eyes.

"In that case, why does my husband still bring up the matter of my return home?" Mei Niang seemed displeased, looking at Qi Yuntian with a hint of anger in her bright eyes, her vermilion lips slightly pursed.

"Beloved, do you truly..." Qi Yuntian asked, his expression unchanged.

"I am wholly yours, in life and in death," Mei Niang raised her head, meeting Qi Yuntian's gaze with a firm and resolute voice.

"I believe you," Qi Yuntian said, "Men, prepare everything. I will accompany the Princess back home."

"Understood, Your Highness," the servants quickly followed the orders and prepared everything. Qi Yuntian embraced Mei Niang and walked out of the bedroom, leaving