The bright moon hangs high, beckoning him down from his pedestal.

At the end of the long street, a winding river flows quietly, with countless lotus lanterns floating on its surface, reflecting the starry sky above, creating a dreamlike and enchanting scene.

Many men and women were squatting by the river, devoutly placing their lanterns into the water and closing their eyes to make wishes.

Shen Wangxi never believed in such illusory wishes; he believed more in the authority and power in his own hands.

But seeing Shen Qingruo holding the lotus lantern she had won, gazing longingly at the river, he still took her hand and led her to a less crowded bank.

"Go ahead." He released his hand, his voice exceptionally gentle in the night.

Shen Qingruo squatted down, placed the lotus lantern in the water, clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and looked devout.

Shen Wangxi stood behind her, watching her back, thinking that he didn't care what she wished for, because as long as she wanted something, she didn't need to wish for it, he would give it to her.

He also hoped that she could always have a happy smile like tonight, without having to live in fear or suffer any more grievances.

At this moment, many thoughts were flashing through Shen Qingruo's mind:

I hate Wulan Yun, I hate Shen Jingyan;

They wanted Shen Wangxi's favor, to surpass all of them, and to give birth to the little crown prince so that they could all be trampled underfoot.

I hope that chaos will never come, that today's lively lantern festival will last forever, and that the people will live in peace and prosperity.

I hope to have the opportunity to meet my father and grandfather.

My final hope is that Aruo can live a good and peaceful life.

After making her wish, Shen Qingruo quietly opened her eyes and watched the lotus lantern, which carried her many thoughts, drift away and merge into the river of light. She felt a little uneasy.

Isn't she being too greedy? Making so many wishes.

"Don't be greedy! Don't be greedy!" Xiao Jiu's loud voice immediately rang in her mind, and the ball of light spun excitedly.

"Our Aruo deserves the best, and these wishes can all be fulfilled." As soon as the words were spoken, its aura instantly vanished without a trace.

After all, the powerful protagonist of the world was right next to it, so it dared not be too presumptuous.

Shen Qingruo composed herself, stood up, and returned to Shen Wangxi's side.

"What did you wish for?" Shen Wangxi naturally took her hand and asked casually.

Shen Qingruo immediately shook her head, her voice playful through her veil: "I can't say it, or it won't work."

Shen Wangxi chuckled softly, not forcing her, but simply tightening his grip on her hand: "Alright, then I won't say."

He took her hand and turned to leave the noisy riverbank. "It's getting late, we should go back."

Just as the two turned and slowly walked away, a figure weathered by time saw the scene unfold from the shadows of the willows on the opposite bank of the river.

Wei Zheng was dressed in unremarkable cloth clothes, and his face looked more weathered and resolute than before.

He had heard that Aruo's background had been exposed and that he had secretly infiltrated the capital for some time. Relying on his old subordinates and connections, he had managed to build up a little power. He had hoped to find an opportunity to help his daughter.

However, Shen Wangxi's methods were swift and decisive, and his control was extremely strong. His small power could not be developed at all, and he has recently begun to consider retreating and preparing to return to the border.

He originally thought that his daughter's awkward status would inevitably make her situation in the palace difficult.

But what did he just see?

Shen Wangxi, the Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, carefully protected his frail daughter in his arms.

Wei Zheng felt a sudden dizziness and a tightness in his chest, making it hard to breathe.

The two of them don't seem like a simple emperor and princess relationship at all; they seem more like lovers, or even more than that.

When Wei Zheng thought of Shen Wangxi's unabashed intimacy with A Ruo, an even more terrifying thought rushed into his mind: Shen Wangxi, has he already slept with A Ruo?

This realization made Wei Zheng clench his fists.

Shen Wangxi! He killed so many members of the Wei family and seized the foundation of the Great Liang. Now, knowing that A Ruo is his Wei family's daughter, he still took her to bed?

What is he thinking? Does he really like her, or is he just enjoying the thrill of humiliating the enemy's daughter?

Aruo at least grew up by his side, he's worse than an animal!