After giving her contraceptives, she went mad, criticizing the prince for turning white-haired overn

Shen family.

In the Wutong Garden, Shen Wan was leaning against the window reading a book.

The sunlight streaming through the window fell softly on the pages of her book, which she read intently.

A short while later, the calls of cuckoos could be heard outside the window.

Shen Wan was slightly taken aback, then quickly put down the book in her hand and got up to walk to the window.

Then, under a tree by the window, a dark figure could be vaguely seen disappearing into the corner of the wall.

Shen Wan was a little puzzled. Just as she was about to turn around and call Liuli, she caught a glimpse of a delicate little box on the windowsill.

She reached in, took it, and opened it.

Inside the box was a jade pendant and a letter.

Shen Wan slowly unfolded the letter, glanced at its contents, and then her expression suddenly darkened.

"Girl, who's here?"

Liuli entered the room at some point and asked in a low voice:

Shen Wan raised her head and said in a low voice, "It is the heir of the Su family, Prince Yi."

She paused, then folded the letter.

"Liuli, get me some clothes changed, I need to go out for a bit."

Liuli nodded: "Yes, miss."

After changing into simple clothes, Shen Wan took Liuli out the door, and the carriage headed towards Buqi Lake in Yanjing.

Upon arriving at the lake, Shen Wan alighted from the carriage, leaving Liu Li to wait on the shore, while she walked alone towards the pavilion in the center of the lake.

A gentle breeze rustled the willows, and the lake surface rippled with delicate waves.

Shen Wan walked into the pavilion and saw the young man in red leaning lazily against the pavilion railing.

Sunlight fell on his shoulders, making him seem as if he were enveloped in a thin layer of golden light.

Shen Ning held her breath and walked in step by step.

"Young Marquis."

"No... I should call you Prince Yi now."

Seeing the young girl walk in, Su Linfeng smiled and slowly walked towards her.

His gaze fell on the little girl's face.

Shen Wan's eyes were a little red, and her eyes were watery and filled with tears as she looked at him.

Su Linfeng said in a low voice, "A young lady's tears are precious; how can she shed them so easily?"

Shen Wan bit her lip, her voice trembling: "Young Master, are you going to the southwest?"

Su Linfeng nodded: "Mm."

"Now that I have to observe three years of mourning, our wedding will also have to be postponed for three years."

"Shen Wan, if you can't wait..."

"I can wait," Shen Wan interrupted him, her eyes red-rimmed.

"I will not call off the engagement!"

"I will stay at the Shen family and wait for the young marquis to return after achieving military merit."

"I will grow up and won't be like this anymore, just crying and being bullied and manipulated by others."

As the little girl spoke, tears finally welled up in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.

Su Linfeng looked at her, but his heart ached terribly.

"Shen Wan, don't cry."

He walked up to her and looked down at her.

"Have you thought it through? You won't regret waiting for me for three years?"

"I'll be gone for three years. If you fall in love with another man while you're in Yanjing..."

"I won't!" Shen Wan bit her lip, her voice soft but firm.

"I only like the young marquis."

Seeing the little girl's pitiful state, Su Linfeng felt a mix of emotions.

He slowly reached out and gently wiped away the little girl's tears with his fingertips.

The boy's fingers were slightly warm, causing Shen Wan to stiffen slightly.

She gripped the hem of her skirt tightly, her cheeks flushing red.

Just as she was about to shrink back, she felt the red-clad boy in front of her slowly lean down.

Warm, thin lips landed on her lips.

Shen Wan was so nervous that goosebumps rose all over her body. She subconsciously reached out and grabbed the hem of her clothes, freezing in place.

Su Linfeng kissed for a moment before slowly pulling away from his lips.

"In that case, let's make it a three-year agreement."

"I will come back to marry you in three years."

The little girl was so nervous during her first kiss that her cheeks turned bright red, and even the tips of her ears were tinged with rouge.

She nodded gently: "I will stay at the Shen family and wait for the young marquis to return in Yanjing."

Su Linfeng smiled and said, "Since we've made a three-year agreement, little girl, you can't go back on your word."

Shen Wan simply nodded obediently.

Su Linfeng looked at the jade pendant in her hand and smiled, "You can keep this jade pendant for now."

"Three years later, when I marry you, I will return you to your rightful owner."

Shen Wan looked up at him: "Young Marquis, you must keep your word."

"Mm." Su Linfeng nodded.

Perhaps because it was the first time he had kissed her, Shen Wan clutched the jade pendant tightly in her hand and turned to walk out of the pavilion.

Watching the little girl's departing figure, Su Linfeng smiled gently:

"Shen Wan, I think I've fallen for you."

-

The new emperor ascended the throne and granted a general amnesty.

The female relatives of the Shen family who had been exiled were relocated to the countryside of Pingzhou, so they no longer had to go to such a harsh and cold place.

Madam Shen, Zhao from the third branch of the family, and Shen Yue and Shen Ran, have heard that the newly enthroned emperor is the current regent.

The Empress was Shen Ning, who had married Young Master Ling.

That young master Ling is the regent.

Upon hearing the news, Old Madam Shen sat on a low stool in the dilapidated house, feeling as if a large stone was lodged in her chest.

She pounded her chest in frustration, "That Young Master Ling is just a merchant, how could he be the new emperor?"

"Sister Ning, how come you're so lucky?"

Zhao came over and helped Old Madam Shen to the bedside.

"I heard that the eldest son of the main branch has also been found. He is the General of the Cavalry, who guards the southwest, and the heir of the Huo family."

"Madam, how come the eldest sons are so promising?"

When Shen Yue and Shen Ran heard that Shen Ning had become Empress, they couldn't hide their dissatisfaction.

"Grandmother, when can we go back to Yanjing?" Shen Ran bit her lip, unwilling to give up.

"Why did my second sister become the empress?"

Zhao sighed, "Ran'er, the new emperor has pardoned us from exile. We should be content to be alive in this rural Pingzhou."

"Your grandmother insulted His Majesty and treated the Empress so badly back then. If she went back, she would probably lose her head."

Shen Ran was unwilling to accept it: "But I just can't understand why Shen Ning and Shen Wan are so lucky?"

"She just casually married a merchant, and the result was the current emperor?"

"Enough!" Zhao shouted.

"If anyone else hears this, we'll all die."

As she spoke, she helped Old Madam Shen lie down.

Madam Shen felt a pain in her chest and tossed and turned, unable to sleep, cursing the entire eldest branch of the Shen family in her heart.

At this moment, the Shen family was filled with joy and harmony.

After returning to the Shen family, Madam Ye personally taught Shen Wan how to manage the household affairs.

Huo Tingchuan and Shen Li received Shen Ning's letter and rushed back from the border on New Year's Day.

Shen Li arrived home first.

As he entered the courtyard, he saw Madam Ye sitting by the window, and his eyes immediately welled up with tears.

"Lan Yi..."

Upon hearing the sound, Madam Ye slowly raised her eyes and saw a tall general entering from outside the door.

"General..." She stood up, her eyes red, and threw herself into Shen Li's arms.

Shen Li held her tightly, his whole body trembling.

He felt both guilty and relieved to see Ye alive.

The two embraced in the side room, choked with sobs and unable to speak.

From noon until dark, Ye Shi and Shen Li talked for a long time in the side room, and Shen Li's emotions did not calm down until late at night.

It wasn't until several days later, when he confirmed that Ye was alright, that he gradually felt relieved.

On New Year's Day, Huo Tingchuan also rushed back from the southwest.

Ye was sitting by the window, looking tenderly at Shen Li teaching Shen Feng military tactics not far away.

The sunlight shone on the father and son, creating an indescribable sense of peace.

"Mother."

A familiar voice rang out, and Ye was slightly startled. She looked up and saw Huo Tingchuan standing outside the door.

"Chuan'er".

Ye's eyes instantly reddened, and she quickly stood up.

Huo Tingchuan strode in and said gently, "Your son is back, Mother, you don't need to worry anymore."

Ye nodded, took his hand, and looked him up and down.

"Are you injured?"

"No," Huo Tingchuan said in a low voice.

"That's good, that's good." Mrs. Ye patted his hand with relief.

"Today is New Year's Day, and we've finally got Chuan'er back."

When Shen Ning and Shen Wan heard that their older brother had returned, they also ran over.

Upon entering the room, Huo Tingchuan was seen.

"Big brother, you're finally back!"

Huo Tingchuan smiled and said, "Yanjing is my home, and you are my blood relatives, so of course I have to come back."

"The southwest is relatively peaceful now, so I can stay longer this time."

"Now that the new emperor has ascended the throne, my mother and I no longer need to hide like before."

Shen Ning nodded: "Mm."

The siblings gathered around Ye's house, chatting and laughing.

Today is New Year's Day, and snow is falling outside the Shen family mansion.

As night fell, a banquet table was set out in the Shen family's flower hall.

After finishing his official duties, Xie Linyuan also went to the Shen family.

Everyone enjoyed the meal and the atmosphere was lively and harmonious.

Looking at her children, Mrs. Ye felt a mix of emotions, both bitter and sweet, and couldn't quite describe it.

This was the first time in fifteen years that she had spent New Year's Day with them.

After the banquet, Madam Ye took out a statue of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy who grants children, and handed it to Shen Ning and Xie Linyuan.

Shen Ning took it, somewhat surprised:

"Mother, is this... Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy who grants children?"

Lady Ye smiled and said, "You've been married to His Majesty for half a year now, so it's only natural that you should be thinking about having children."

Xie Linyuan took the Guanyin statue of the Goddess of Mercy from Shen Ning's hand and looked at Madam Ye with a smile:

"Thank you for your kind words, Mother-in-law."

"However, Ning'er is almost seventeen now. If she gets pregnant too early, it may harm her health."

"We'll consider having children once she turns eighteen."

In her previous life, Shen Ning became pregnant at the age of sixteen.

Furthermore, because Shen Rou poisoned her, she suffered a difficult childbirth and nearly lost her life.

In this life, he will wait until she is fully recovered before having children.

Madam Ye frowned: "So, during this time, will Ning'er have to take contraceptives?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Shen Ning coughed lightly.

Xie Linyuan smiled and said, "The contraceptive medicine is mine..."

"Mother," Shen Ning interrupted Xie Linyuan.

"Mother, please don't worry about this."

Mrs. Ye sighed, "How can I not worry? I'm just looking forward to holding my grandson soon."

Shen Ning: "Having a grandchild is inevitable, there's no rush this year."

Ye waved her hand: "Never mind, you can handle it yourselves."

-

As night fell, the wind and snow outside grew heavier and heavier.

Shen Yan brought a jar of osmanthus wine for Xie Linyuan and Shen Ning to warm them up.

Shen Ning, being a heavy drinker, drank several cups too much and sat drunk in the flower hall, clinging to a pillar and refusing to let go.

She spoke incoherently: "You have no idea, that imposter Shen Rou, together with Granny Fang, when they pinned me down in the lotus pond..."

Upon hearing this, Xie Linyuan's expression changed slightly, and he quickly went over and squatted down.

The little girl's cheeks were flushed, her eyes were unfocused, and she was quite drunk.

He reached out and covered her mouth, lowering his voice: "A-Ning, don't talk about your past life."

Shen Ning raised her blurry eyes and looked at the handsome man in front of her, dressed in black.

She reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Ah Yuan, I want to see fireworks. I want to watch fireworks with Jing'er."

"Ah Ning, you're drunk." Xie Linyuan looked down at her and picked her up from the ground.

"Okay, let's go see the fireworks."

Wrapped in wind and snow, after leaving the Shen family, Xie Linyuan carried the person onto the carriage.

The carriage didn't head towards the palace, but instead went to Wangjinglou.

Shen Ning nestled drowsily in his arms, suddenly feeling a bit hot.

Her eyes were glazed as she looked at the man's handsome profile. She reached out and hooked her arms around his neck, then dazedly brought her lips to his.

"Ah Yuan, I regret it."

Xie Linyuan's heart skipped a beat, and he looked down at her.

"Do you regret marrying me?"

"Or...do you regret becoming empress?"

Shen Ning exhaled, and the faint scent of osmanthus wafted into his nostrils.

I regret... hurting you.

"Prince Chen lied to me, saying that as long as I shot that arrow, he would allow Jing'er's remains to be buried in the imperial mausoleum..."

"In my past life, I actually... liked you a little."

"But I just can't forget Father's death, I can't forget the way Wan'er was violated and died. I thought it was all because of you."

In the dim light inside the carriage, Xie Linyuan quietly watched her.

He slowly reached out and pulled the person into his arms, holding them even tighter.

"Ah Ning, this is our second life."

"It's not a past life."

"Everything starts from scratch."

"Let's go to Wangjing Tower to watch the fireworks."

Shen Ning looked up at him, and nodded drunkenly: "Okay."

The room in Wangjing Tower was dimly lit.

Brilliant fireworks lit up outside the window, exploding one after another in the night sky.

Shen Ning was half asleep when Xie Linyuan carried her to the window. When she looked up, she saw a sky full of stars and fireworks.

Xie Linyuan held the person in his arms and watched the fireworks outside the window.

He hadn't watched fireworks with her at Wangjing Tower for a long time.

It was about half a year ago.

"A-Ning..."

Xie Linyuan leaned down, his thin lips pressed against hers, and gently kissed her.

I want to hear... to hear you say you like me.

Shen Ning groggily raised her eyes to look at him.

In the dim light, the man's features were clearly defined, and his eyes were so deep in the night that they seemed bottomless.

She dazedly tiptoed and placed her lips on his thin lips, giving him a kiss.

"A-Yuan, I am already your wife."

"She is your queen now."

"I love A-Yuan..."

As Shen Ning finished speaking, a firework exploded in the night sky with a "pop" outside the window.

Xie Linyuan lowered his head and smiled bitterly, tears welling up in his eyes.

He took her hand and gently kissed it.

"Ah Ning, thank goodness it wasn't a dream."

——End of the full text.

[I'll write an extra chapter tomorrow, about the male and female leads, Jing'er, and Shen Wan and Su Linfeng getting married three years later.]