I started as a concubine, and I made the crown prince cry with my delicious food.

The news of Xiao Jingshi's awakening once again caused a stir throughout the Jiangzhou camp.

The soldiers cheered and jumped for joy, as if they were even happier than if they had won a battle. In their hearts, the safety of His Highness the Crown Prince was more important than any military achievement.

Xiao Jingshi lay on the bed, quietly listening to the cheers coming from outside the tent, but his eyes were somewhat vacant.

Most of his memory has returned.

From his time as the crown prince to his leading troops into battle, and then to his fall off a cliff and loss of memory... scene after scene clearly returned to his mind.

But he always felt that something was missing.

Especially about that woman named "An An".

He could clearly remember the image of her packing his bags, the "King Kong" bread she made, and every word she wrote in her letters.

But he just couldn't remember her face.

Her face, in his memory, was always a blurry halo, gentle, yet unattainable.

This feeling made him panic, as if he had lost something extremely important.

"Your Highness, you're awake!" Zhao Yi entered, carrying a bowl of ginseng soup, his face beaming with undisguised joy. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine." Xiao Jingshi struggled to sit up. "Any news from the capital?"

What he wants to know most right now is news about her.

"Your Highness, the messenger has been sent out and should arrive soon," Zhao Yi said. "A letter has also arrived from the capital. It is a secret letter from the Empress, saying... that after your 'incident,' the Fu and Zhang families attempted to covet the Eastern Palace, but were swiftly suppressed by His Majesty."

"The Fu family?" A cold glint flashed in Xiao Jingshi's eyes.

Zhang Qinghe's face instantly became clear in his mind. He remembered this woman, who had always been infatuated with him and had repeatedly caused trouble for An'an.

What audacity!

"I understand," he said calmly. "Send the order: the army will rest for three days. After three days, we will break camp and return to the capital!"

He couldn't wait another day.

He had to go back immediately, back to her side. He wanted to see her with his own eyes, to see the woman who haunted his dreams, yet whose face he could never quite recall.

Three days later, the victorious army embarked on its return journey.

The army that came with 30,000 soldiers from the capital region camp was reduced to less than 20,000 when they returned. But every one of the survivors carried with them an aura of steely resolve born from countless battles.

They escorted the prince's entourage, heads held high, returning home in glory.

Meanwhile, the capital city was already awash in jubilation thanks to the news that the Crown Prince was still alive and had decisively defeated the barbarian army.

The people spread the news and celebrated with open arms.

The joyous news of the birth of twins, a boy and a girl, brought the happiness to its peak.

The crown prince was not dead, and they even won a great victory.

The Crown Prince was overjoyed to receive another auspicious omen of dragons and phoenixes.

Everyone felt that this was a sign from heaven that the Great Liang Dynasty was about to usher in an unprecedented golden age.

Only Ye An'an, after the initial joy, fell into a new round of waiting and torment.

He's alive, he's coming back.

But when will he come back?

Was he injured? How badly was he injured?

Every day, she would sit by the window, holding her two crying babies, longingly waiting.

Time passed day by day, and winter arrived in the blink of an eye.

The capital city welcomed its first snowfall.

That night, the snow fell heavily, turning the whole world into a silvery white.

Ye An'an had put the two babies to sleep, but she herself was wide awake. She put on a thick cloak, pushed open the door, and went into the courtyard.

She reached out and caught a cold snowflake.

Jing Shi, where are you...?

Just as she was lost in thought, a soft sound of footsteps on the snow came from outside the moon gate of the courtyard.

Who could it be so late?

Ye An'an looked over warily.

A tall and familiar figure, covered in snow, stood quietly outside the door.

He was dressed in a dusty black suit, much thinner than when he left, and his face was somewhat pale, but his deep eyes, like the brightest star in the night sky, were fixed on her without blinking.

Eyes facing each other.

Time seemed to stand still once again at this moment.

Ye An'an's mind went completely blank.

She thought she was dreaming.

She blinked, but the figure didn't disappear.

He was still there, quietly watching her, his eyes filled with complex emotions she couldn't understand. There was longing, apology, confusion, and a hint of... the trepidation of returning home.

"Jing Shi...?" she asked tentatively, calling out softly.

The sound, like a feather, gently landed on Xiao Jingshi's heart.

That's the sound.

The voice that awakened him from the darkness countless times after he fell off the cliff, when he lost his memory, and when he was in the most pain and despair.

He is back.

He finally found the owner of the voice.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say "I'm back," wanting to say "I'm sorry for making you worry," wanting to say "I missed you so much."

But all those words, when they reached his lips, only amounted to a hoarse, trembling sentence:

"...An An."

Hearing him call her name, Ye An'an could no longer control herself.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

She lifted her skirt and, disregarding everything, ran towards that figure!

She threw herself into his cold, snow-scented embrace, holding him tightly, as if trying to meld herself into his very bones.

"You're back...you're finally back..." She buried her face in his chest and cried loudly, turning all the grievances, longing, and fear of the past few months into hot tears that soaked his clothes.

Xiao Jingshi stood frozen in place.

He held a soft, warm body in his arms, and smelled that familiar and comforting fragrance.

This is the embrace.

He finally found it.

He slowly and somewhat awkwardly raised his hand and hugged her back.

His hand gently stroked her long hair, feeling her real body temperature and heartbeat. His heart, which had been wandering for so long, finally found a harbor to dock in at this moment.

"I'm back," he said softly, his voice filled with an unprecedented tenderness and reverence.