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GSY 2024 New Year Extra

Sharing the Gentle Glow of Lamplight Together

November 21st, the Winter Solstice—a day auspicious for blessings and rituals.

 

In Yandu, King Xuanping’s mansion was brightly lit. The current Emperor Chengming, Yuan Zheng, sat across from Princess Changning, Cen Yu—or rather, they were both sprawled across a low table.

 

Cen Yu poked a jade-carved toy soldier forward on the board with her little finger and asked, “Emperor Father, didn’t Father say in his letter that he’d be back today?”

 

Yuan Zheng moved a piece as well and let out a long sigh. “He did.”

 

Cen Yu asked, “Then where is my father?”

 

Yuan Zheng said, “Where is my general? Where is my empress?”

 

The father and daughter looked at each other, then sighed in unison. Yuan Zheng hooked his finger, and Cen Yu came closer. Then she heard Yuan Zheng say, “Changning, I have a task for you.”

 

Cen Yu blinked. “Huh?”

 

Yuan Zheng said, “Whether it’s by acting spoiled or throwing a tantrum, even pretending to be sick, whatever it takes, how about keeping your father in the capital this year?”

 

Cen Yu asked, “Why doesn’t Emperor Father go instead?”

 

Yuan Zheng glanced at Cen Yu, sighed, and said, “Your father’s long tired of my tantrums and tricks. He just scolds me, saying things like ‘A ruler should act with dignity’ or ‘Such behavior is unbecoming of an emperor.’ But you? You’re his darling, his precious sweetheart—nothing works better than you.”

 

“Last time I pretended to be sick, he even got mad. Didn’t go to court for two whole days and ignored me completely.”

 

Yuan Zheng sighed with a faint, wistful tone. “Back in the day, when I was just a teen, all I had to do was call him ‘gege’ with a little pout, and your father couldn’t resist anymore, he’d agree to anything. No wonder people say affection fades with age and beauty… ai.”

 

Cen Yu blinked and counted on her fingers, saying, “But last time you pretended to be sick, you really scared Father. As soon as the palace sent word, he handed me off to the nanny and rushed straight to the palace.”

 

“Father stayed in the palace to look after you.” Ceng Yu puffed out her cheeks at the memory, leveling an accusatory gaze at Yuan Zheng. “And you! You actually told the Imperial Tutor to give me more homework, left me all alone, and sneaked off to Chunhe Garden to enjoy the flowers!”

 

Yuan Zheng rubbed the tip of his nose and gave a small cough. “Holding grudges makes kids short, you know.”

 

Cen Yu huffed. “Uncle Chenzhao already said I’ll grow tall, real tall. Emperor Father, you can’t trick me!”

 

Yuan Zheng: “……”

 

“Yu’er, clever children aren’t always the most lovable.” Yuan Zheng said with a sigh.

 

But Cen Yu grinned cheekily. “But Father likes me clever!”

 

Yuan Zheng let out another sigh, though his eyes were already soft with a smile. He rose from the couch and swept her into his arms, saying, “That’s right. Father likes your cleverness. And Emperor Father loves his clever little princess too. Emperor Father will take you to fetch your father home.”

 

Cen Yu let out a cheer, throwing her arms around Yuan Zheng’s neck as he bundled her up in thick winter robes and draped a fluffy fox-fur cloak over her shoulders.

 

“Let’s go get Father!”

 

The moon hung above the treetops as Cen Yelan rode swiftly toward Yandu, leading a handful of cavalry. Over the past two years, he had been working to establish a new heavy cavalry force. Though the northern frontier already had mounted troops, they were no match for the Hu people’s cavalry, hence the years of persistent border harassment.

 

Since ascending the throne, Yuan Zheng had abolished corrupt practices and focused on the well-being of the people. The court was upright, the realm tranquil, and signs of a flourishing era had begun to emerge. Yet Cen Yelan had never forgotten his long-cherished wish—to one day plant the Dayan dynasty’s banner upon the Hu royal court. No emperor would pass up the chance to expand his domain and earn a place in the annals of history, and Yuan Zheng was by no means a ruler content with merely maintaining what he had inherited. As the state treasury grew more prosperous, he consulted with Meng Tan and other high-ranking officials, and together, they resolved to rebuild Dayan’s cavalry forces.

 

This task was naturally entrusted to Cen Yelan, who took charge of selecting generals, training soldiers, and overseeing all the complex matters of military equipment and logistics. He was kept busy for quite some time. Originally, he had planned to return to Yandu the day before the winter solstice, but unexpectedly, as he was about to leave the northern frontier, he encountered a heavy snowstorm. The harsh wind and snow, along with the snow-covered and muddy roads, delayed him for several days. As he traveled south, the snow gradually cleared, and Cen Yelan urged his horse forward, pushing to make up for lost time. Finally, on the day of the winter solstice, he arrived in Yandu.

 

At Fengbo Pavilion, ten miles away from Yandu.

 

Cen Yelan had intended to ride past quickly, but he saw a carriage parked by the roadside, surrounded by several dozen riders as guards. The lanterns hanging from the horse’s glowed softly, like distant beacons in the long night, seemingly waiting silently for someone to return. Cen Yelan hastily reined in his horse and looked at the carriage in the center. Without a second thought, he was certain of who was arriving.

 

Only Yuan Zheng, capable of such audacity, would carry out such an absurd act, bringing his daughter and arriving late at night outside the city gate to welcome him.

 

Cen Yelan couldn’t help but smile wryly.

 

As expected, the people in the carriage had already disembarked. One tall and one short, they jogged towards Cen Yelan, one calling “Father,” the other calling “Ah Lan.”

 

Cen Yelan dismounted from his horse, and after taking a few steps forward, the taller Yuan Zheng reached out and embraced him, calling out, “Ah Lan.”

 

The two had been close for several years, but Cen Yelan still wasn’t accustomed to such public displays of affection. He allowed himself to indulge in the warmth for a moment before gently patting Yuan Zheng’s arm and whispering, “There are people looking.”

 

Yuan Zheng hummed in protest, “Who dares to look?”

 

Who dares to look? Whether it was Cen Yelan’s escorts or Yuan Zheng’s personal guards, all of them lowered their heads.

 

Yuan Zheng said, “We’ve been apart for a whole month. What’s wrong with a hug?” He wrapped his arms around Cen Yelan’s slim waist and added, “You’ve lost weight.”

 

Cen Yelan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

 

Yuan Zheng sighed with a touch of grievance, “Ah Lan, you must not have missed me. Otherwise, how could you want to let go so soon after not seeing me for a month?”

 

Cen Yelan whispered, “I miss you.”

 

Yuan Zhi looked at Cen Yelan, his eyes bright and fixed on him, causing Cen Yelan to feel a bit flustered. The atmosphere between them was tender and affectionate, so much so that they were on the verge of sharing a kiss when suddenly a frustrated voice interrupted, “Me! There’s me as well! There’s Yu’er as well!”

 

“Father didn’t even miss Yu’er!”

 

Cen Yu was short and wore thick clothes, so she was not as fast as Yuan Zheng. When she ran over, both her fathers were already in each other’s arms. She grabbed one sleeve of each of them, trying her best to remind them that she was there too.

 

Cen Yelan quickly pulled away from Yuan Zheng, a bit embarrassed, and bent down to pick up Cen Yu. He coaxed her gently, “How could Father not miss Yu’er?”

 

Cen Yu pouted, saying, “Father only sees Emperor Father and doesn’t even notice me.” She huffed, but her arms tightened around Cen Yelan’s neck, the warm and tender cheek rubbed against Cen Yelan’s cold cheek, “Yu’er misses Father so much.”

 

Cen Yelan’s heart melted into a ball. Yuan Zheng looked at the two of them, smiled gently, and said, “Alright, the wind is strong, let’s get on the carriage first.”

 

Cen Yelan replied, “Alright.”

 

The three of them walked towards the carriage. Cen Yu complained to Cen Yelan, “Father, just now Emperor Father let go of Yu’er and ran away. Yu’er felt that Emperor Father dressed Yu’er in so many clothes when he came out, wrapping me up like a ball just so that he could meet Father first.”

 

Cen Yelan said with a smile, “Really?”

 

Cen Yu: “That’s right, because Father wants to compete with Yu’er. Whoever reaches Father first can sleep with Father tonight.”

 

Yuan Zheng: “Little Princess, you are wrongly accusing people. I was obviously worried that you would get a cold.”

 

Cen Yu: “I already said that I wasn’t cold, but Emperor Father said no, no, it’s cold outside, I should wear an extra pair of pants. If I wasn’t wearing such heavy clothes, I would definitely be the first one to reach Father!”

 

“I don’t care, I want to sleep with Father tonight!”

 

Yuan Zheng: “You should accept the loss ah. This is what the Imperial Tutor taught you. A person without faith cannot stand.”

 

With Cen Yelan holding her, Cen Yu made a face at Yuan Zheng and said, “Tonight doesn’t count. If I can’t sleep with Father for now, then I won’t get up anymore. I’m already in Father’s arms, so technically, I never stood up in the first place.”

 

Yuan Zheng laughed angrily, “Who taught you to be so shameless?”

 

Cen Yelan glanced at Yuan Zheng and said, “Isn’t this all thanks to Your Majesty’s teachings by word and example?”

 

Yuan Zheng complained, “I didn’t, why would I teach her these?” He said to Cen Yu, “How old are you? How can you still insist on sleeping with Father?”

 

Cen Yu: “Emperor Father, how old are you? How can you still insist on sleeping with Father?”

 

Yuan Zheng said, “Your father is my wife, it’s only natural for us to sleep together.”

 

Cen Yu: “Father is my father. I will have a nightmare tonight. How can a child not sleep with their father when they have a nightmare?”

 

Yuan Zheng: “……”

 

For the first time, he felt that Cen Yu was even more troublesome than he had been as a child. Tsk, why couldn’t she be a bit more like Cen Yelan!

 

Watching Yuan Zheng deflated like that, Cen Yelan couldn’t help but chuckle. The exhaustion from the long journey was swept away completely in the midst of their playful banter.

 

Cen Yu said, “Father, Emperor Father and I made lots of dumplings today, waiting for you to come home and eat them.”

 

Cen Yelan asked, “What kind of dumplings did you make?”

 

Yuan Zheng answered first, “Your favorite, lamb and scallion dumplings. I chopped the meat myself.”

 

Cen Yu added, “And crystal shrimp dumplings that I love, and beef ones for Emperor Father. We made so, so many.”

 

Cen Yelan smiled. “Good. Let’s go home!”

 

It was the perfect scene for the Winter Solstice—just in time for the return of a cherished one, sharing the gentle glow of lamplight together.

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