Returning after a three-year escape from death, the tyrant has turned evil.

Chapter 357 Extra Chapter: Transmigration 7
This harsh winter has been exceptionally long.

News of the Empress's accident quickly spread throughout the palace. During this time, many people wanted to comfort Jiang Lanye, because in their eyes, Jiang Lanye was still just a child who had experienced such a great change and needed comfort and companionship the most.

But Jiang Lanye was much stronger than anyone imagined.

Everything was normal except that he would never forgive his father and would never see him again.

However, occasionally, he would still reveal that vulnerable side of his heart to Song Yi.

Another heavy snowfall.

Song Yi had been by Jiang Lanye's side for so long that the palace servants around her had become accustomed to her presence.

She stood by the window, pushed it open, breathed out a breath, and watched as a cloud of white mist instantly filled the air. Seeing Jiang Lanye return in the distance, she quickly closed the window, took something out of the small stove beside her, put it in her bosom, and ran out.

"Brother Lanye!"

She ran towards them from afar, wearing a thick red cloak trimmed with white fur, her small figure like a leaping flame in the swirling snow.

The hood of her cloak slipped down as she ran, revealing her head and rosy cheeks.

Her shoes crunched through the thick snow as she ran quickly. Jiang Lanye watched her anxiously and quickened his pace to catch up, opening his arms to pull her into his embrace: "Slow down, the ground is covered in snow, it's easy to slip and fall."

The cold wind blew the strands of hair from her forehead against her cheeks, but Song Yi paid no attention. She carefully pulled a roasted sweet potato wrapped in a handkerchief from her bosom.

"Look, this is the best and most perfect one I baked. I haven't been able to bear eating it, so I'm saving it for when you come back from the study."

Since the Empress passed away, Jiang Lanye has been locking himself in his study every day. At first, Song Yi was a little worried and secretly followed him to check on him. She found that he was really just reading and practicing calligraphy, and would occasionally whisper to the Grand Tutor next to him.

So Song Yi stopped bothering him. When he went to the study, Song Yi would find something to do.

Jiang Lanye looked down at the roasted sweet potato she was holding and couldn't help but chuckle: "Really? Are you sure you didn't just eat it all yourself?"

Song Yi said without any hesitation, "It really was specially reserved for you."

Jiang Lanye raised his hand and wiped her mouth: "Remember to wipe your mouth clean next time before saying such things."

Song Yi's face suddenly turned red.

He took the roasted sweet potato, holding it in one hand and taking Song Yi's hand with the other, leading her back.

Song Yi was somewhat surprised:

"Brother Lanye, your hands are so warm. I didn't expect you to be so hot after walking such a long way outside."

Her hands were soft and small. Jiang Lanye listened to her words silently and couldn't help but squeeze her hand tighter.

He has already lost his mother and younger brother, and he will never lose Song Yi.

The two sat around the small stove. Song Yi unbuttoned her cloak, casually smoothed her messy hair with her hand, sat down opposite Jiang Lanye, and stared intently at him, urging him:

"Try it quickly."

As soon as Jiang Lanye peeled off the charred outer skin, revealing the golden, soft, and steaming sweet potato flesh inside, a rich, sweet aroma instantly filled the air.

Song Yi stared intently at the alluring color, her throat bobbing involuntarily.

Just as Jiang Lanye was about to take a bite, he noticed Song Yi's gaze, paused for a moment, and handed over the roasted sweet potato.

Song Yi didn't take it with her hands; she just lowered her head, quickly leaned in, and took a bite.

She squinted her eyes contentedly: "Mmm, it's really sweet."

Jiang Lanye lowered his eyes to look at the roasted sweet potato that had been bitten off. He hesitated for a moment, then took another bite from the spot where she had already taken one. Immediately afterward, his ears turned bright red. He couldn't taste what it was, but it was probably very sweet.

With Song Yi by his side throughout the winter, Jiang Lanye's expected difficult period passed by unnoticed.

When spring arrived, he adjusted his mood and carefully sorted through his mother's belongings again, locking everything into a wooden box.

Song Yi slipped out early in the morning.

It was springtime, and she knew the flowers in the Imperial Garden must be in full bloom. Jiang Lanye had a rare day off and was planning to sleep in, so she got up before he woke up, intending to pick some flowers and give him his first surprise after waking up.

Upon entering the Imperial Garden, Song Yi's petite figure was almost completely hidden by the tall bushes. She ran along the path for a while, then stopped to catch her breath, looking at her short legs with some distress:
"It's not good that it's shrunk. After running for so long, it turns out it hasn't gone very far."

Song Yi spotted a cluster of delicate pink roses in full bloom, but it was on the opposite side. She pushed aside the bushes in front of her, lowered her head, and ran out, only to bump into someone.

"Hey! Where did this wild child come from! Can't you see?!"

Before Song Yi could react, she was shoved hard and stumbled to the ground.

She looked up and saw a young concubine dressed in gorgeous clothes and adorned with pearls and jade, her eyebrows furrowed and her face full of anger glaring at her.

"Whose wild child is this? So ignorant of manners! He has offended me, what should be his punishment!"

Song Yi was about to stand up, feeling somewhat lost, when Jiang Lanye's voice suddenly came from behind her: "Song Yi, are you alright?"

He helped Song Yi up.

The person in front, seeing that it was the eldest prince, softened his expression slightly: "Your Highness, you mustn't mistake just anyone for your sister. This kind of person of unknown origin should be expelled from the palace."

Jiang Lanye's innocent face instantly turned icy cold: "She is from my palace."

"Never mind, let's go."

"Yes."

Watching the concubine leave, Song Yi stared blankly at Jiang Lanye: "When did Brother Lanye wake up?"

"I woke up as soon as you woke up, and I followed you quietly all the way, just to see what you were going to do."

Song Yi immediately stood on tiptoe, stretched out her small hand and tried her best to reach the lowest rose, handed it to Jiang Lanye, and smiled brightly: "This is for you."

Jiang Lanye was in a daze for a moment before taking it.

Before Song Yi could say anything more, everything suddenly spun around her, and she felt the world around her distort. Realizing that the dream was about to collapse and end, she quickly grabbed Jiang Lanye's hand and spoke rapidly:
"Brother Lanye, you must believe me. One day in the future, we will meet again. Wait for me. I am your queen, and we will meet again!"

Jiang Lanye looked at her, as if realizing that Song Yi was about to leave, and immediately said, "Okay, I will definitely wait for you."

Song Yi rushed up and hugged him.

Before she could even fully savor the embrace, Song Yi suddenly vanished in an instant.

Jiang Lanye looked at the empty space before him, then looked down at the flower in his hand, and inexplicably felt a sense of anticipation for the near future.

She rushed into his world, bringing a bouquet of flowers, and from then on, his world was filled with the warmth of spring.

He didn't know exactly what the future held, but he was absolutely certain that she would come.

And he will wait.

(End of this chapter)