Morning light fell in a thin veil through the pine grove, and the glow of qingyao stone wavered softly with the mist.
Outside Sacred Feather Residence, after a night of vigil, the Five Yao were scattered along the corridor—while the Three Generals—Garo, Lianyu, and Tutan—had not moved a single step away.
Garo stood at the foot of the stairs. His armor was still on, yet he was so still he looked like carved stone.
Lianyu sat along the railing, fingers naturally relaxed at his knee. His eyes were half-lidded, as if resting—but his awareness was drawn taut like a bowstring; the slightest shift of wind would not escape him.
Tutan leaned against a pillar. He hadn't slept once, his stubble thicker than the night before, tiger eyes fixed on the eastern chamber door.
None of them left—because inside that room lay—
their Imperial Daughter.
Just then, gentle footsteps sounded from behind the pine shadows.
"Miss Ding. Miss Li… and Miss Xie," Garo said first, voice low, warning the others.
When the three women stepped onto the eastern corridor, the Three Generals and the Five Yao instinctively softened their presence at once—
not out of ceremony, but out of fear of disturbing the two who still hadn't awakened.
The morning mist hadn't fully lifted. Qingyao light spilled down through the pines, soft as breath.
Cang Yuan leaned against a column. His robe was stained with blood, yet he still wore that lazy, unruly air of his.
Then a familiar fragrance rushed close.
"A-Yuan—are you hurt?!"
Xie Wenyun didn't have time to keep any noble composure. She hurried to him and seized his arm.
Cang Yuan swayed with her grip, paused for half a breath—then laughed.
He raised his free hand and let his fingertips rest, gentle, against her cheek.
"How could your husband be hurt? Don't worry."
Wenyun's ears went crimson at that single word—husband—and she scolded him under her breath, flustered.
"You're mouthy again…"
But she didn't let go.
Ding Yuxuan turned and spotted Lin Lie on the stairs—
the young man hadn't slept all night; the dark circles beneath his eyes had almost become shadows.
She walked up at once, her voice soft as morning fog.
"A-Lie… are you alright?"
Lin Lie's shoulders, which had been clenched for hours, loosened a fraction the moment he saw her.
He lifted his gaze, lightly taking the hand she offered—like he'd finally found something he could breathe against.
"I'm fine," he said, calm—yet his brow eased without him noticing.
"Sang Qi!"
Li Furong came in quick, small steps, urgency nearly bouncing in her voice the instant she saw him.
"Are you hurt?!"
Her heart had been stuck in her throat for days. Only after hearing that Ling Dang was safe and the Five Yao had returned did she truly dare to exhale.
Sang Qi smiled, mild and warm. "Just a small wound. I'm fine."
Instinctively, he lifted a hand to tuck a loose strand of hair at her neck behind her ear—
but Furong caught his hand instead.
"A healer can't heal himself. Let me look."
"Later," Sang Qi murmured.
"No—now. Let me take your pulse first."
She was already dragging his wrist into position.
Sang Qi: "…"
(And somewhere inside, sweetness overflowed so fast it nearly drowned him.)
At the side, Li Yan watched all these paired-off scenes and, without meaning to, Si Yirou's face surfaced in his mind.
And the moment he was thinking of her—
a servant's voice sounded from outside.
"Your Highness, this way."
The Eldest Princess Si Yirou swept in, her sleeves and hem flickering like wind—and her eyes locked onto him instantly.
She strode up, worry sharp in her tone.
"Li Yan. Are you injured?"
Li Yan had just been thinking of her, and now she was here.
On the face that was usually hard as stone, a faint smile appeared.
Si Yirou frowned. "I'm asking you a question. What are you smiling for?"
Li Yan answered, steady as iron, and yet softer than anyone expected.
"I'm fine. If Your Highness is here… then naturally, I'm fine."
Si Yirou's ear tips reddened, almost imperceptibly.
Garo crossed his arms and looked over the corridor—now practically overflowing with couples—then sighed louder than he had all night.
"Hah… early morning and you're all paired up, with no regard for us who no one cares about."
Lianyu lifted one eyelid. "I care about you."
Garo went rigid. "...Shut up."
Tutan looked like he'd discovered a new continent.
"I think the Imperial Daughter is right—Garo really should find us an auntie!"
Garo choked so hard he couldn't form words, only shot Lianyu and Tutan a monumental eye-roll.
The "four yao" nearby snickered under their breath, and the four young women each blushed—stealing secret looks at their chosen "someone."
Along the outer corridor of Sacred Feather Residence—
warmth spread everywhere, shy and spring-bright.
The Side Courtyard
The room was quiet as a morning lake.
Pine shadows pressed pale light onto the bed—and onto Luo Ye.
All night, he hadn't moved from that spot.
He sat at the bedside, eyes red as if his fire had been burned dry.
Ling Dang lay on the bedding, her brow still knotted—her soul-thread not yet fully stabilized.
Luo Ye cradled her hand and whispered hoarsely,
"Dang'er… wake up… If you don't wake up, I… I don't think I can hold on."
He pressed her hand to his forehead, as if trying to pin down the heartfire that had raged all night.
"I really won't be harsh with you anymore… Wake up and scold me, even. Anything's fine…"
Just then—
Ling Dang's fingertip… twitched.
Luo Ye froze like he'd been struck by lightning.
He snapped his head up, the red fire in his eyes flaring bright.
"Dang'er?!"
Her lashes trembled. Her breath caught—then, slowly, she opened her eyes.
At first her gaze was fogged, as if she still hadn't climbed out of the nightmare.
But when she saw the face by her bed—tense enough to shake—
a single word squeezed out, faint as dust.
"…Luo… ge…?"
Luo Ye's heart shattered on the spot.
He lunged forward and wrapped her up tight—careful and yet unhinged, like someone clutching a miracle.
"Dang'er!!!"
Her voice was still weak, rasped by exhaustion.
"You… came…?"
"I came. I brought you back…"
His words broke in his throat. Tears dropped onto her shoulder.
Ling Dang blinked—
It was the first time she'd ever seen Luo Ye cry.
Slowly, she lifted a hand and patted his back, weak but steady.
"Luo-ge… you won't leave me again… right?"
Luo Ye lifted his head at once, his eyes igniting like he'd been lit from within.
"Never! Never again! Wherever you go, I go!"
She jolted at his volume—then laughed, faint but real.
"Then you'll become a little tagalong…"
Luo Ye lowered his head and kissed the sweat-damp center of her brow.
"I'll be your ox, your horse—what's there to fear about being a bug?"
A sharp inhale came from the doorway.
"Hey— I thought something serious happened in here—"
Li Furong braced a hand on the doorframe. "So Ling Dang woke up—and you're showing off romance to my face?!"
Behind her, Sang Qi sighed. "Furong. Lower your voice."
Luo Ye shot them a glare. "What are you yelling for? She just woke up!"
Ling Dang smiled, tugging Luo Ye's sleeve lightly.
"Luo-ge… I want water."
Luo Ye instantly panicked. "Water! I'll get it right now! And none of you come within three steps—don't scare her!"
At the door, Tutan muttered, half offended,
"Why are we being pushed back three steps everywhere we go today?"
Lianyu crossed his arms, expression flat.
"Because you're loud."
Garo sighed again. "Another pair reunited…"
Laughter rippled outside—but no one dared let it grow too loud.
Because on the bed—
Ling Dang was being held with a care so fierce it bordered on worship,
as if Luo Ye were cradling the whole world he'd just gotten back.