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It was then that a cup of water appeared in front of her.

She was coughing quite badly and did not notice the person who handed the water to her. She took the cup and drank the water in a gulp.

Hexin was shocked by what happened and quickly helped pat Yuan You’s back.

Yuan You finally stopped coughing. She put the cup down and glanced at Hexin with an aggrieved look. “Cousin Hexin, you almost caused my death in a foreign country.”

Hexin had been feeling slightly guilty, but frowned when she heard Yuan You’s words. She berated Yuan You in a low voice. “Don’t be ridiculous!”

Yuan You shut her mouth awkwardly and looked to the right while holding the empty cup. It was then that she noticed Qi Heng was the person sitting on her right.

She looked at the cup in her hand and astonishment flashed in her eyes as this reminded her of something.

“You… You…”

Qi Heng glanced at her. “What’s wrong?”

“Were you the one who poured the cup of water for me just now?” Yuan You bit her lip and asked softly.

“Yes, I was,” said Qi Heng. He teased, “You’re sitting right next to me. I can’t just watch you choke to death, could I?”

Yuan You lost all friendly sentiments toward him when she heard this. She put the cup back in front of him and said with a stoic expression, “Well, thank you very much for not watching me choke to death.”

Qi Heng turned silent as the girl’s pretty face fell. He could not help beating himself up. He was not usually like this, but whenever he faced this girl, he could not help teasing her.

“Alright, please don’t be mad. It was my fault. I was just kidding with you. I don’t mean any harm.” Qi Heng put a piece of meat in her bowl to express his sincerity while speaking in a very friendly tone.

Yuan You was taken back, but immediately took the meat and placed it back into his bowl. She said stubbornly, “I don’t want to eat anything you give to me.”

The look Qi Heng gave her turned deeper. A small smile appeared on his lips as he used his chopsticks to pick up the piece of meat returned from her to his bowl. He said gently, “I’ll eat it if you don’t. What a coincidence that this happens to be my favorite food. I really should thank you for this, Miss Yuan.”

Yuan You was annoyed when she heard that.

Hexin leaned in close to her ear and whispered, “Didn’t you just eat with your chopsticks? Yet, you used it to put food in his bowl.”

It was only after hearing Hexin’s words that this realization dawned on Yuan You. She suddenly turned to look at Qi Heng.

Yuan You’s face quietly turned red when she witnessed this.

Everyone had enjoyed themselves at lunch and the laughter did not stop.

Lu Liangwei was in a great mood and she drank a small cup of wine despite Long Yang trying to talk her out of it.

As he had expected, she got a little drunk after they were done with the meal.

In order to preserve Lu Liangwei’s dignity, Long Yang quickly sent them away and later carried Lu Liangwei in his arms toward the bedchamber.

Qi Heng was on his way out of the Palace, so Hexin requested his help to escort He’an and Yuan You back to the coaching inn.

It was only after watching them leave that Hexin returned to the Eastern Palace with Long Yin.

She had just sat down when Long Yin’s hand suddenly began caressing her thigh.

The heat from the man’s palm could be felt through her dress. She was surprised by the touch and blushed as she quickly grabbed his hand.

“Don’t, Big Bro Long Yin…”

Her voice stopped suddenly.

It was because it was not what she thought. Long Yin was just trying to give her a massage.

“When you were carrying Xin’er back at the Grand Phoenix Palace, I noticed your legs trembling. Does it hurt a lot?” Long Yin lifted his eyes and looked at her tenderly.

Hexin calmed down and the blush on her cheeks slowly disappeared. She bit her lips. “It doesn’t feel that painful, I just feel a little weak and sore…”

Long Yin was silent. He knew he must have gone a little overboard at the thought of last night.

He felt a little embarrassed at this thought. His dark eyes shut slightly and he said in a low voice, “I’ll be more careful next time.”

His words warmed Hexin’s heart and it felt like the soreness caused by him and dissipated a little. She held his hand and blinked as she looked at him with the same tender look. “Alright.”

She was quite understanding of him in this sense. After all, he had not been with any women before this. It was only natural that he would be enthusiastic about being in bed with her after their wedding. However, he was able to show his concern for her and held himself back for her sake, and that was enough for Hexin.

Long Yin kissed her on the forehead and pulled her into his arms.

Yuan You and He’an had to return to the Yan Kingdom after a few days. What was worth mentioning, was that Qi Heng had volunteered for the job of escorting them home.

Long Yin and Hexin knew his intentions but said nothing about it. It was all up to him if he was able to succeed in marrying the girl of his dreams.

Beitang You and Yaoyao did not stay long either. They returned to the Yan Kingdom after half a month.

Lu Liangwei was initially worried about the long journey as Yaoyao was only a little more than a month pregnant. Fortunately, she was considered quite healthy and did not suffer much morning sickness, and as Yaoyao had insisted on returning, Lu Liangwei had no choice but to let her be.

A few days after they left, Chu Qi returned to West Water Frontier with his wife and daughter.

They were grown up and married, and could not stay by her side often.

Long Yang could tell that she was a little sad. He reached his hand out and hugged her in his arms as if no one was watching them. His hand patted her gently on the back. “Don’t feel bad about them leaving. You’ll see them again after a while.” He brushed her nose gently as he spoke and teased, “You’ll be a grandmother again after a few more months. Cheer up. When the time comes, I’ll accompany you to the Yan Kingdom to visit Yaoyao.”

Lu Liangwei had not expected to be suddenly held in his arms. Her sad mood from watching both her daughters leave was suddenly uplifted. She blushed as she berated him in a soft voice, “What are you doing?” Did he not notice that Yin’er and Hexin were right next to them? What was he doing hugging her like that?!

Long Yang lowered his eyes and glanced at her. His almond-shaped eyes narrowed when he saw the blush on her cheeks. A small smile appeared on his lips. Not only did he refuse to let her go, but he also held her even tighter in his arms.

Lu Liangwei glanced at her son and daughter-in-law. She felt quite embarrassed. When he acted even more brazen than before and she could not berate him in a loud voice, all she could was reach out to quietly pinch his waist, hinting at him to back off a little.

However, Long Yang ignored her and lowered his head to kiss her on the forehead instead.

Lu Liangwei, “…”

Was he drunk? However, he did not drink at all today.

Hexin felt a little awkward when she witnessed this. She felt a little surprised. She did not expect to see her parents-in-law behave so intimately in front of her.

She had always been aware that her father-in-law doted on her mother-in-law a lot, but he had always acted stern and dignified in front of the younger generation and had never revealed this side of himself at all.

It was the first time she had seen them behaving so intimately in public and it made her forget to turn her gaze away.

She was much too astonished!

Hexin snapped out of it after a while and she tugged on Long Yin’s sleeve.

Long Yin felt a little exasperated to see his parents act so intimately. Could they not keep it together a little in front of the younger ones who were with them?

It was only after Hexin tugged at his sleeve that he got her hint. He coughed gently and said respectfully, “Father, Mother, if there is nothing else, I’ll be leaving with Hexin.”

“Go ahead.” Long Yang nodded.

Lu Liangwei finally gave a breath of relief after watching her son and daughter-in-law leave. Her cheeks were still red from blushing and she glared coyly at Long Yang. “What was wrong with you just now? Aren’t you afraid of being a joke in front of the children?”

Long Yang refused to let her go from his hug and he said with feeling, “I’m just feeling happy, Weiwei.”

“What are you feeling happy about?” Lu Liangwei was a little surprised and did not understand why would he feel that way. It was not easy for his two daughters to finally return home and they had to leave after the family got together in a very short time. She was still feeling sad about it, but he was actually feeling happy.

“Our children are all grown up now and they have their own families. It’s time for me to retire from the throne too,” Long Yang suddenly said with feeling as he put his arms around her shoulders and walked toward the garden.

Lu Liangwei looked at the blooming flowers all over the garden and blinked when she heard his words. She lifted his head and looked at her. “Are you really planning to retire from the throne?”

Long Yang smiled. “Do you think I’m lying?”

Even though Lu Liangwei had always known that he did not enjoy holding on to power, he was only just forty-eight this year and was at the prime of his life. Yet, he was choosing to give up power, which was quite a feat.

“I just think that you’re still considered pretty young.”

Long Yang was cheered up by her words. “Do you really think so? To think that I kept feeling that I’m really old now.”

Lu Liangwei darted a look at him. “You aren’t considered old unless you’re at least seventy or eighty.”

Long Yang smiled and his expression was filled with happiness. He reached out to rub her head but suddenly tilted his head to glance at her. His voice lowered. “Weiwei, gray hairs are beginning to appear on my head and I’m really not getting any younger. I want to use the rest of my time to accompany you. I want to watch the sunrise and sunset with you, go to the ends of the earth with you, and travel everywhere with you.”

Lu Liangwei felt a little sad and touched when she heard this. It turned out that the reason for wanting to retire from the throne was because he wanted to spend more time with her.

Her heart softened immediately despite her berating him, “Nonsense. You’re still very young. You aren’t old at all.”

Long Yang laughed softly. “Yes, I’m not old at all, but Weiwei, I’ve done enough for Great Shang all these years. It’s time for me to relax. Yin’er is now able to hold his own. Not only is he married now, but his capabilities are also acknowledged by everyone. If I keep making delays on retiring from the throne, it might not be a good thing for him. He might lose his will to do well if he is dragged down by time, and could end up becoming either mediocre or extreme. I can fully well let go of all matters and pass Great Shang over to him.”

The most important thing for him was to use his remaining time to accompany Weiwei. He wanted to journey the world by her side and enjoy the most beautiful scenery with her. She had kept herself closed up in the imperial harem all these years because of him and could not go anywhere she wanted to. It was time for Long Yang to take her traveling around the world and live a quiet life together.

Lu Liangwei listened to him quietly. She knew how he felt about this. She was touched but did not say much. Instead, she held his hand and said, “Alright. I’ll respect your decision since you’ve made up your mind.”

“Okay.” Long Yang held her in his arms as they took an elegant walk through the flowers and headed deep inside the garden.

…

Long Yang announced his decision to retire from the throne that year and let his son, Long Yin inherit it.

After retiring as the Emperor, Long Yang stopped getting involved with the imperial court. His burden was lifted and he went traveling everywhere with Lu Liangwei in a free and relaxed manner as they lived a life of carefree leisure.