1
General Xiao Cen, the gyrfalcon, had been serving as a messenger pigeon for quite a long time.
At that time, Cen Yelan had just returned to the northern border, and Yuan Zheng used both messenger pigeons and the gyrfalcon to send messages. It’s only because he’s now become emperor, and Cen Yu is still in the capital, that he’s holding back; otherwise, going by his old temperament, he would’ve long tossed aside state affairs and the grand plan, patted his butt, and charged straight to Hanzhou already.
Yuan Zheng had already learned to endure the kind of endurance unique to an emperor, where nothing is allowed, nothing permissible. He endured the incessant chatter of upright ministers in court and endured his separation from Cen Yelan.
Things in the world are always like this, there is gain and loss. Just like he enjoys this supreme power, he must bear the shackles of power that came with it.
The same is true between him and Cen Yelan.
Fortunately, there was still Cen Yu. At that time, Cen Yu was not yet a year old, she was just a tiny infant, unable to endure the rigors of a long journey, so she was left in the capital. And it was a good thing she stayed, for if not, Yuan Zheng might truly not have been able to endure it all.
Yuan Zheng kept Cen Yu by his side and took care of her almost every step.
The whole capital knew that General Cen Yelan had a daughter, and the child’s hundred-day banquet was held with great fanfare. Even the emperor himself attended the event, and rewards flowed into the general’s mansion like water. The child was granted the title of Princess Changning, enjoying a fiefdom and salary.
What is surprising is that the identity of the child’s biological mother is unknown. Some curious people once asked about it, but Cen Yelan avoided the question. After a long time, no one cared about it anymore.
Yet no one had expected that this child would be so dearly loved by Yuan Zheng. Not only did he bring her into the palace, but he also ate and lived with her every day. Even toward his own flesh and blood, he might not have shown such meticulous care either, it was as if the child were his own.
When Cen Yu was young, she was very well behaved, didn’t like to cry, and only babbled, very cute. But after all, she was a baby, and it was not easy to take care of her. Yuan Zheng didn’t trust the nanny, so he had to do everything himself, which was really tiring. This actually distracted Yuan Zheng from his sadness of separation.
So, when the young emperor drove all the palace people out, rolled up his sleeves, and changed his daughter’s diaper himself, he couldn’t help but hum and say, “See? It’s still Emperor Father who loves you most. That heartless father of yours—once he left the capital, not even a single word has come from him.”
Heaven be merciful, Cen Yelan had only been away from the capital for five days.
Cen Yu opened her bright, round eyes and smiled at Yuan Zheng. Yuan Zheng instantly lost his temper, let out a sigh, and said, “How could your father not love you? You are the one he loves most.”
Fine, if the mountain won’t come to me, then I’ll go to the mountain!
2
Just two days later, Cen Yelan, who had just given the order to set up camp, heard an eagle’s cry in the sky. Looking up, he saw a gyrfalcon spreading its wings and coming towards him, looking extremely heroic.
Cen Yelan looked at it and couldn’t help laughing.
General Xiao Cen felt very aggrieved. It fluttered on Cen Yelan’s shoulder, as if complaining, It! The supreme ruler of the skies! The fierce predator! The mighty gyrfalcon! How magnificent!
Now reduced to a messenger pigeon!
It truly is unreasonable!
Cen Yelan gently touched the gyrfalcon’s wing, only to be pecked a few times—not too hard, but still a little painful. It was more and more like its master. So, Cen Yelan had someone bring fresh meat to feed it.
The message tube was tied to the gyrfalcon’s leg. When Cen Yelan unrolled it, it revealed Yuan Zheng’s elegant and flowing handwriting.
The letter began with “Ah Lan, seeing the letter is like seeing the person.” The next line was—”You really don’t miss me at all!” And so, so, so much more resentment.
When the deputy general came to find Cen Yelan, he saw their usual stern, unyielding general unexpectedly laughing at something. “General?”
Cen Yelan quickly tucked the letter away, straightened his expression, and asked, “What’s wrong?”
The deputy general was left puzzled, but he simply reported a few trivial matters as usual and then left.
The letter was written like this.
Ah Lan,
Seeing the letter is like seeing the person.
You truly don’t miss me at all! Truly, your heart is as hard as iron. How pitiful it is that Yu’er and I are stuck in the imperial city, gazing with eager anticipation, yet we can’t even receive a single word from you. How truly miserable!
General Cen, you must reflect on yourself, examine your actions thoroughly, and reconsider them again and again. Draft and submit the memorial for Zhen to review soon.
Ah Lan, how have these days been for you?
Yu’er is doing well. She can now sleep soundly through the night, so there’s no need to worry. The little thing has been quite mischievous and clingy these past few days, unwilling to leave my side. She won’t stop crying unless I personally hold her. Even the several nannies can’t handle her, and they’re all on edge, handling her with extreme care every day.
Our Yu’er is already showing signs of becoming a little troublemaker.
Ah Lan, I miss you so much.
The journey north is long. I hope you take care and return home soon.
Qi Lang.
3
The next day, General Xiao Cen flew into Yandu, landing by the window of Yuan Zheng’s imperial study. Along with him came a letter sealed in a bamboo tube tied to its leg.
Yuan Zheng was absolutely overjoyed. He put down his imperial brush and rushed to grab the letter, not even getting upset when General Xiao Cen pecked him several times. With a cheerful smile, he waved off the eunuchs and palace attendants waiting in the hall. He tossed his robe aside, sat on the vermilion steps, and unfurled the letter.
What met his eyes was Cen Yelan’s precise and elegant handwriting, written with the boldness of an iron brush and silver hook. Cen Yelan had carefully written: Qi Lang, hope this letter finds you well. Yuan Zheng couldn’t help but grin, his smile spreading across his face.
Before him, the image of Cen Yelan standing at the desk, sleeves rolled up and brush in hand, surfaced uncontrollably. When he thought about it, it had been nearly three years since they had been together, and in the past two years, they had spent almost every day together. Their habits had become even more familiar with each passing day.
Yuan Zheng could almost see the curve of Cen Yelan’s lips and the slight furrow of his brow as he hesitated over where to place the brush on the paper. With his naturally thoughtful disposition, he could only pause and ponder again and again.
Yuan Zheng laughed out loud with happiness.
Qi Lang,
Hope this letter finds you well.
Six days have passed since leaving the capital, and the march has been slow. We are currently camped in Huai’an County, resting for the night. We will set off again tomorrow.
Everything is going smoothly.
I failed to think of sending you a letter and caused you to worry, that was my mistake. I hope Qi Lang can forgive me. After all, it’s Yu’er’s first time being away from me. I imagine there must be many things she’s not yet used to. I’ve already given instructions to the nannies—still, I must trouble you to take extra care of her.
After the patrol in the northern border is over, I’ll ride back at full speed.
Words cannot fully express my thoughts. Qi Lang, take good care.
Cen Yelan.
4
Before even reaching the northern border, Cen Yelan received Yuan Zheng’s second reply.
Ah Lan, my dearest,
Seeing the letter is like seeing the person.
I was so happy to receive Ah Lan’s letter that I could only write back to express my joy. It’s not that I’m impatient or frivolous.
Alright.
Ah Lan, I miss you even more.
I tossed and turned, unable to sleep under the cold quilt and pillow. It is true that it is easy to go from frugality to luxury but difficult to go back from luxury to frugality. The ancients were right. The road to the northern border and the capital is long. I wish I could turn into General Xiao Cen and go to the northern border with Ah Lan, never leaving you.
Words have their limits, but feelings are boundless. May the moon in the heavens carry three parts of my longing to you.
Qi Lang.
Cen Yelan looked at the increasingly direct words on the letter, his ears slowly turning red. His fingertips curled, as if holding a handful of blazing fire. Yuan Zheng had always been this way. Ever since he had openly expressed his feelings, Yuan Zheng never concealed his passionate love. He always presented it unreservedly, dazzling in its intensity, making it impossible to look away and even harder to refuse a single part of it.
5
Qi Lang,
Hope this letter finds you well.
I arrived in Quxian today.
Everything is going smoothly.
As we passed through the borders of Quxian, a splash of vivid color appeared among the roadside branches—it was a blooming cotton flower, petals pale pink and snowy white, stunning in its beauty.
I plucked a single blossom to invite you to admire it with me.
Cen Yelan.
T/N: Hello, fellow readers, it’s me again xD so I scrolled through Weibo last night and realized that the author has posted a few more extras on their Weibo. This chapter is to celebrate the completion of the audio drama, and there are 3 more extras~~~
I’m overjoyed knowing there are some more extras yaaaaay ❤️