On the day when Helian Qi returned triumphantly to the capital, the common people lined the streets, bowing in reverence to this king who had brought them a peaceful life.
On top of the imperial city wall, Dongfang Yi was eagerly waiting for him.
From afar, Dongfang Yi caught sight of Helian Qi galloping on his horse. Without a second thought, she rushed down the wall. At the palace gate, she finally stood face - to - face with the man she had been waiting for over three months. Tears welled up in her eyes.
"You're back..." she murmured. After the man in front of her called her "Xiaodong", she flung herself into his arms like a dart. Then, with a choking voice, she said, "Do you know how worried I was about you? Why didn't you send me any letters for so long? Why did you come back so late..."
In Xiguan, an unexpected poisoning incident had dampened their morale. Fortunately, Bai Juechen had arrived in time to save the lives of the soldiers in the army.
After that, Helian Qi came up with a plan. He decided not to spread the news that the poison had been cured, making the Southern Neighbor think that they were a poisoned army.
As he had expected, the Southern Neighbor's army relaxed their vigilance, thinking their opponents were poisoned. But on the battlefield, they encountered a powerful and unstoppable enemy. Only then did they realize they had been deceived, but it was too late. Their army was finally defeated by the united soldiers of the Eastern Victory and fled in a hurry.
Six months later.
"Your Majesty! The Empress has given birth! It's a little prince!" The mid - wife shouted as she ran out holding a little boy. But Helian Qi just glanced at the baby and immediately rushed into the delivery room. Looking at the pale - faced woman on the couch with beads of sweat on her forehead, he couldn't help but feel heartache. Then he said, "Dong'er, you've suffered!"
Hearing this, Dongfang Yi gave a soft smile and then said, "Have you come up with a name for the child?"
Hearing this, he nodded heavily and replied, "His name is Helian Siyi, which means Helian Qi misses Dongfang Yi."
After saying that, he lowered his head and kissed the forehead of the woman in front of him. For a moment, the delivery room was filled with warmth.
In the blink of an eye, a year had passed. After Dongfang Yi gave birth, Helian Qi dissolved the harem and announced to the world that from then on, the emperor would dote on only the empress. For a while, the people were excited, all praising the emperor's deep affection.
Before leaving, Concubine Shu said to the woman in front of her, "I've longed for freedom all my life. After entering the harem, I gave up that thought. I didn't expect I'd still have a chance now..."
After hearing this, Dongfang Yi stroked her hair and then said, "You should live a good life and try to find your ideal husband soon!"
Donghua and Ruyi got married as soon as possible. Dongfang Yi was their matchmaker. Now they had established their own mansion in the capital. Donghua could enter the palace whenever he wanted, and the family was still united.
Now the Southern Neighbor Country was much weaker than before. After that defeat, Yaoji completely lost her prestige and was finally killed by the people who had always believed in her. Ye finally committed suicide in the palace.
Now the lord of the Southern Neighbor Country was Yi'er, the son of Princess Shangyang. Since a country couldn't be without a king for a day, an elder who had served the former emperor of the Southern Neighbor took out a secret letter, which stated that the former emperor had a son, who was the son of Princess Shangyang of the Eastern Victory Country.
It turned out that Qiao had known that the woman he loved deeply was pregnant, but he still followed her last wish and never saw her again until he died.
Now the prime minister of the Southern Neighbor Country was Zhu Qing. He was always talented, and Princess Shangyang had the foresight to keep him. Presumably, he wouldn't fail to live up to this kindness.
Now in the imperial garden of the Eastern Victory Country's palace.
In a small pavilion, Dongfang Yi leaned in Helian Qi's arms. She played with his hair absent - mindedly, as if she was struggling with something. Then she sighed and began to speak.
"I have something to tell you," she said, staring intently at the man in front of her.
Helian Qi raised his eyebrows, signaling her to continue.
Dongfang Yi lowered her eyes and said in a very soft voice, "Actually, I'm not from this world. I mean, I wasn't originally Dongfang Yi. It's just that my soul entered her body..."
Her voice got smaller and smaller, and she even dared not continue.
After hearing this, Helian Qi stroked the hair of the woman in front of him, then smiled and said, "I've already guessed it."
How could a person change so much overnight? The former Dongfang Yi was a weak and useless person, but later she became interesting, strong, and likable. Unless she was replaced by someone else, there was no other possibility.
So he had long suspected something strange but never pointed it out, because he was waiting for the woman in front of him to tell him herself.
"Ah?! You've already guessed it?!" Dongfang Yi widened her eyes in surprise.
Then, as if thinking of something, she continued to ask, "Will you be afraid of me? After all, I'm a strange person..."
The reason she had always been afraid to tell all this was that it was too strange and special. Even though Helian Qi was extremely smart, he was an ancient person with limited knowledge. So she was very afraid that he would dislike her.
Helian Qi looked at the self - pitying woman in front of him, couldn't help frowning, and then said a little unhappily, "Do you think I'm so timid? Or are you doubting my determination towards you?"
After saying that, he stared intently at the woman in front of him.
Dongfang Yi didn't expect him to suddenly throw these two questions at her. Wasn't she the one asking questions now? How did it become him interrogating her?
"Helian Qi! I'm asking you something serious!" she shouted.
The man in front of her immediately regained his firm look. He grabbed her shoulders with both hands and then said, "Dongfang Yi, listen carefully. Helian Qi loves you. He loves your soul, the charm in your bones. It has nothing to do with your appearance!"
He rarely looked so confident. After being surprised for two seconds, Dongfang Yi felt a warm feeling in her heart. But she still didn't forget to tease him, saying, "So you're saying my appearance is not good - looking!"
"You!" Helian Qi shook his head, stroked the woman's head in front of him, and then continued with a smile, "Tell me about your world!"
Hearing his question, Dongfang Yi's lips curved into a smile. Then she replied, "My world is wonderful. There's TV, that thing where you can see people in a box. And there's air - conditioning, which keeps me from feeling hot in summer. And there's also..."
— The End