The wide, soft cloak enveloped Ye Jiao and the child. The innocent child lay against Li Ce's left shoulder, while the tear-streaked Ye Jiao leaned against his right, her delicate fists beating against his chest again and again. Only when exhaustion began to claim her did she raise her head in frustration, her peach blossom eyes glaring at him."Are you still planning to confess your guilt to His Majesty on your own?"
"No." Li Ce looked at her deeply, his eyes brimming with tenderness like a surging tide. "From now on, I will consult you first. I won't act on my own anymore."
So that was why she had been angry all along—because he always tried to shoulder everything by himself.
Ye Jiao wiped her tears on Li Ce's shoulder, her voice trembling with emotion."My father disappeared when I was very young. Mother said he had no choice, that he did it for the family. Maybe that's true, but I was still heartbroken. I thought it was because I was too young, too weak, and that's why he had to leave. So, ever since I was a child, I dreamed of growing up, so I could protect my family and friends. But now—" her eyes welled with tears again—"I want to protect you, and yet you keep pushing me away, doing everything on your own. I don't want to love a man who's just like my father!"
She raised her hand to hit him again, but Li Ce quickly tightened his embrace.
"You've protected me so many times—so many," he whispered hoarsely.
Only then did Ye Jiao feel a trace of comfort. She nuzzled closer into his arms and turned her gaze to the child.
"What about him?"
The child, not yet able to speak, could only babble incoherently. He smeared his face with syrup while eating candied fruit. In the past few days, he hadn't cried for his mother or wet nurse. Oblivious to the world's turmoil, he simply ate and slept peacefully.
Li Ce fell silent for a moment before speaking with hesitation."He's Baili Xi's grandson."
"What will His Majesty do with Baili Xi's family? He's just a baby... must he be punished too?" Ye Jiao asked anxiously.
"I don't know," Li Ce said after a pause. He lifted his eyes and added, "When we enter the palace later, don't plead for him."
"Why not?" Ye Jiao wiped the child's face with a handkerchief. "Look at him—so adorable. Who could bear to harm him?"
"It's not about what we can bear. It's about whether His Majesty can."
Li Ce's voice was grave, a shadow passing over his handsome face. The Emperor had once sent his own newborn to the imperial tomb. Would he now show mercy to a traitor's grandson?
But people do change. The iron-hearted ruler of twenty years past might have softened with time.
They boarded the carriage together, heading toward the palace.
The storyteller's tale had concluded, but the guests lingered, savoring the warmth within. None were eager to leave. At the entrance, Yan Congzheng stood silently, clutching Ye Jiao's cloak in his arms, his eyes fixed on the departing carriage. Bai Xianyu stood beside him.
"So, they've reconciled?" Bai Xianyu muttered, his molars aching. "Even our martial General cries? Curls up in a man's arms to pout? Am I dreaming or cursed?"
"Indeed," Yan Congzheng replied gloomily. "Lovers, united at last."
"And what about us?" Bai Xianyu hugged his arms and shivered. "Are we the cursed ones, doomed to witness it?"
Yan Congzheng handed him the cloak slowly."Wait by the palace gates. Deliver this to her."
The cloak, crafted from crimson fox fur, was soft, radiant, and warm—just like her.
"Don't worry," Bai Xianyu smirked, eyes narrowing. "I saw Prince Chu's cloak—it's huge. She's nestled deep inside. She won't freeze."
Yan Congzheng turned away, unwilling to say another word. Every sentence from Bai Xianyu felt like a thorn; better not to hear any more.
The storyteller, now behind the screen enjoying tea, rose respectfully upon seeing Yan Congzheng and yielded his seat.
"Was the tale to your satisfaction, young master?"
Every storyteller in the capital was recounting the tales of Duke Anguo's household. The rumors varied, but the version told at this inn had been scripted according to Yan Congzheng's instructions.
He placed a few silver pieces on the table and nodded. "Very good."
"Then may I invite you to listen again another time?" the storyteller asked, beaming as he accepted the payment.
Yan Congzheng shook his head. "Just give me your manuscript."
The storyteller hesitated but eventually retrieved a thin booklet from his sleeve and handed it over. He watched in confusion—was this elegant noble going to become a storyteller too? Heaven forbid. This line of work was hard enough without competition.
Before he could dwell further, Yan Congzheng had already departed.
He stepped through the corridor, left the inn, and entered the swirling snow. Brushing the flakes from his saddle, he rode slowly down the long street. No matter who Ye Jiao was with now, he held one truth close to his heart—the ending he had once dreamed for them both: childhood sweethearts, a harmonious marriage, a lifetime together.
Inside the imperial hall, the Emperor stared at the two figures kneeling before him, one holding a child. He deliberately put on a stern expression.
"So, the ones hiding the kin of a convicted traitor… were you two?"
His voice was not loud, but each word was clear and heavy, like a thundercloud pressing down. The courtiers trembled with unease.
Yet the chief eunuch, Gao Fu, remained unshaken. He replaced the memorials on the imperial desk with fruits and tea, bowed, and silently withdrew with a smile.
Li Ce respectfully explained the child's origins."It was my oversight, Your Majesty. I failed to grasp the significance. I will return Baili Xi's grandson immediately."
But the Emperor didn't rush to take the child back. Instead, he said coldly,"So you've taken to guarding gates at Mingde Gate? Absurd! Did I assign you to that? A prince, reduced to this?"
Before Li Ce could respond, Ye Jiao spoke."Your Majesty, it was I who asked Prince Chu for assistance."
The Emperor squinted at the pair kneeling before him, sipping tea and nibbling fruit, slowly savoring the moment. Watching their apprehensive faces, he almost chuckled.
He'd been in poor spirits lately, too preoccupied to ask after Ye Jiao's situation. Who would've thought the answer would deliver itself?
Look at these two—had Li Ce not rejected the marriage proposal back then, perhaps they'd already have a child of their own by now.
Well, perhaps not quite so fast.
Regardless, it seemed Li Ce had read the letter aloud in court and won Ye Jiao back.
What was so impressive about coaxing Ye Jiao? The Emperor was still angry.
He set down his teacup and spoke gently to Ye Jiao.
"Rise, Minister Ye. The case of Baili Xi has been resolved. Have you heard?"
"Not yet, Your Majesty," Ye Jiao answered as she rose.
The Emperor nodded."Baili Xi tried to sabotage the peace negotiations between Tang and Tibet, fabricating a plot against your family. He claims there was no mastermind. I'll believe him for now. But if he dared use your family in his schemes, it must be because I haven't favored you enough—so much so that others think you're fair game."
His voice was stern, yet laced with deep regard, forcing Ye Jiao to bow once more in gratitude.
The Emperor frowned slightly."Must you bow so much? Come now—bring a cushion for Minister Ye. I have more to discuss with her."
Gao Fu quickly presented a mat. Ye Jiao knelt gracefully, awaiting the imperial decree.
The Emperor raised his brows."I've thought of a new position for you. Would you be willing to accept it?"
A promotion? Ye Jiao beamed instantly.
"That's more like it!" the Emperor laughed. "Young people should be cheerful. The new position is… Consort to Prince Jin. What say you?"
Ye Jiao froze, thunder roaring in her ears.
Then she heard Li Ce's voice."Father, you mustn't!"
He stood abruptly, setting the child down.
The Emperor glared."What now? You refused her once. Now that I'm bestowing her on Prince Jin, you object again? Since when is this your concern?"