Her expression was utterly relaxed, like a plant finally returned to its native soil, every leaf unfurling to breathe in the familiar wind.
It was a vibrancy he had not seen for many years in the deep palaces of the Capital City.
Li Yun suddenly found he couldn't recall if Ming Lingyi had ever looked so free-spirited back in the Capital City.
He wanted Ming Lingyi to live a life of peace and health, to be happy every single day. But if he forced her back with him, he might never see this side of her again within the walls of the Imperial City.
The decision he had made in his heart long ago had only grown more certain over the past few days.
The night before his departure, Li Yun stood beneath an old wintersweet tree in the courtyard.
Golden wintersweet blossoms bloomed in the snowy night, their rich fragrance filling the entire courtyard. Even Li Yun, standing beneath the tree, found himself inevitably steeped in their scent.
