An Jing was eating the seeds Xiao Changyi had peeled for her while joking with An Baobei, "When you were little, I wanted you to wait a bit longer before getting married. But now you’re almost nineteen, and I can’t wait for you to find soone you like and get married."
An Baobei was eating peanuts and said seriously but indistinctly, "When the ti cos for to really get married, you’ll be reluctant and won’t want to go."
"You think you know everything!" An Jing imdiately laughed and lightly poked her. After a while, An Jing added, "When your fifth brother and the others go to the Imperial City during the New Year, you should go with them. You’re at that age, always by our side, and your father and I are worried about when you’ll find soone. There are many people in the Imperial City; maybe you’ll find soone you like as soon as you get there."
An Baobei snorted, "It’s not like I haven’t been to the Imperial City over the years. It’s just like that. I still feel it’s better to stay at ho with you and dad."
An Jing laughed, "Although your father and I want you to stay with us always, nothing would make us happier than to see you married with children. Your seven brothers are all married, leaving just you. Your father and I now only have this one concern."
But An Baobei remained optimistic, "When fate cos, there’s no stopping it. Anyway, for now, I just want to stay ho with you and dad. I don’t want to go to the Imperial City."
In the eyes of others here, An Baobei being nineteen is already considered quite old; she should have been married long ago. But to An Jing, a modern person, An Baobei is still young. So, when An Baobei said this, An Jing laughed, "It’s up to you then. Your father and I have said all we need to say. If you get anxious in the end, don’t bla us."
An Baobei laughed and said, "Why would I bla you? I’m living well now. Even if I never get married, I’d still have a good life. You, dad, and my brothers and sisters-in-law all love so much. I can’t even live badly if I tried."
An Jing chuckled, "It’s because we love you that we let you have your way."
An Baobei just leaned into An Jing’s arms again, this ti simply being coy, making An Jing, her mother, smile all over.
Nearing dawn, An Baobei finally couldn’t stay awake and fell asleep. An Jing and Xiao Changyi didn’t send An Baobei back to her own room; they just let her sleep in their room.
The sky gradually brightened.
An Jing and Xiao Changyi were still full of energy, not at all sleepy. Without An Baobei chatting with them, their eyes only held each other, gazing at one another.
As the dawn slowly broke, An Jing leaned on Xiao Changyi’s shoulder, looking at the red sunrise outside the window, and spoke softly, "Husband, is it truly peaceful now?"
Xiao Changyi nodded slightly, "Yes, it is truly peaceful."
...
On the third day of the new year, An Jing and Xiao Changyi received a letter from Su Chengyu.
In the letter was a passage: "I once thought about becoming the ruler of this world, but I never acted on it. Compared to taking over the world, the well-being of the people is my utmost concern, as it was my father’s. I have always kept this close to my heart. Now that the great order has been established, I hope the people will live in peace and prosperity, and the world will never fall apart again."
An Jing and Xiao Changyi shared the sa hope.
...
During Su Chengyu’s reign, Xiyun unified the world. It was as if it was destined by heaven; Xiao Changyi and Su Chengyu, one a king and the other an emperor, beca the rulers of this world. Hence, Xiyun was renad ’Tianyun,’ to be passed down for generations.
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