Chasing His Runaway Mariée (en anglais)
▶ Chasing His Runaway Bride (English-dubbed)
Chasing His Runaway Mariée (en anglais). épisodes complets en français. #FilmComplet #DramaFrançais #SérieDrama
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▶ Chasing His Runaway Bride (English-dubbed)
Chasing His Runaway Mariée (en anglais). épisodes complets en français. #FilmComplet #DramaFrançais #SérieDrama
#FilmComplet #DramaFrancais #SerieComplete #ShortDrama #ReelShort
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Court métrageTranscription
00:00Every night before falling asleep, I kiss the forehead of this skeleton.
00:03I paid a fortune to have it made as an exact replica of that bastard emperor's skeleton.
00:08Holding it is like holding on to my dead love.
00:10Inside this creepy coffin, I sleep more soundly than anyone else.
00:14After all, the dead are the most obedient.
00:16They won't take concubines or lie, let alone make you feel ashamed for being pregnant.
00:20Pushing the coffin lid open, the sunlight stings my eyes.
00:23Time to go back to the living world.
00:25I'm Rosalie, the wealthiest person in Norland.
00:27Right now, I'm squatting on a freezing street corner, holding a freshly made wonton wrapper.
00:32Ma'am, two bowls of your signature wontons.
00:34Coming right up, sir.
00:35Just a moment.
00:35I expertly smear the meat filling onto the wrapper.
00:38My fingers fly, and an ingot-shaped wonton takes form in seconds.
00:41The shop behind me is magnificent.
00:43That's my Ashford exchange.
00:44The two rows of storefronts on the street to my left are entirely my Ashford silks and Ashford apothecary.
00:49But I just love selling wontons.
00:50I guess that's just a weird quirk of the rich.
00:52Seeing those people in mink coats having to respectfully call me Lady Rosalie
00:56gives me extra energy to wrap these wontons.
00:58Mom, a crisp child's voice interrupts my thought.
01:00I look up to see my five-year-old little money-burner Gabriel
01:03wearing his custom golden nanlu backpack and strutting toward me with total swagger.
01:07He's followed by two burly men carrying all sorts of bags.
01:10Those are his spoils for the day.
01:12Gabriel, you skipped school again.
01:13I slam my rolling pin on the table.
01:15Gabriel isn't scared at all.
01:17He climbs onto a high stool, pulls out a small solid gold abacus from his jacket,
01:20and starts clicking away at it.
01:22Mom, you underestimate me.
01:24Today the teacher was teaching the Analects.
01:26I said a gentleman loves wealth but doesn't steal.
01:29The teacher couldn't out-argue me and got so mad he had to take his heart pills.
01:33While he was doing that, I went to inspect our rice shop
01:35and found the manager under-reported the books by three tails of silver.
01:39He lifts his adorable little face.
01:41Those peach blossom eyes are an exact copy of that man's.
01:44He says in all seriousness,
01:45Mom, three tails might not seem like much, but it adds up.
01:48If every shop is short by three tails, with our 800 shops, we'd lose 2,400 tails a day.
01:54Do you know how many candied hogs that could buy me?
01:57My mouth twitches.
01:58Son, you're only five.
01:59Can you act like a kid for once?
02:01Can acting like a kid put food on the table?
02:03Gabriel curls his lips and hops off the stool.
02:06He leans in and asks mysteriously,
02:08Mom, I want to ask you something.
02:09My heart skips a beat.
02:10Did you miss me?
02:11No.
02:12Gabriel gives me a look of disgust.
02:14I heard Billy from next door say,
02:16His dad came back from the south and brought him a huge box of toys.
02:20Mom, where the hell is my dad?
02:21If he's still alive, can we ask him to pay off all these years of child support?
02:25I almost choked on my own saliva.
02:27Cough, cough.
02:28Your dad, huh?
02:29I let out a fake deep sigh and looked up toward Chesati City.
02:32The grass on his grave is probably taller than you by now.
02:35Back then, our family was poor and struck by disaster.
02:38To get food for us, he sold himself to human traffickers,
02:41but he didn't make it, and Gabriel looked at me suspiciously.
02:44Mom, last time you said he died from overeating.
02:46The time before that, you said he drowned in an outhouse.
02:49That's not important.
02:50I immediately covered his mouth.
02:52What matters is that we're rich now and we don't need a man.
02:55Men will only slow down the speed at which I draw my sword.
02:58Oh wait, count my money.
03:00Gabriel pulled my hand away and sighed like a little adult.
03:04Fine.
03:05We're rich anyway.
03:06If we really need a man, I'll buy you a few obedient ones later.
03:09As long as they aren't as poor as my short-lived dad.
03:11If Stephen, who was far away in Chesati City, heard this,
03:14he'd probably be so angry that he'd cough up a gallon of blood on the spot.
03:18At this moment, in the Imperial Palace of Chesati City,
03:21a thousand miles away, Imperial Study.
03:23Achoo!
03:24The new Emperor Stephen, who ascended the throne just two years ago,
03:27let out an earth-shattering sneeze out of nowhere.
03:30His head eunuch Edgar shivered in fright beside him
03:33and hurriedly handed him a handkerchief.
03:35Oh my, your majesty, did you catch a cold?
03:37No need.
03:37Stephen waved his hand and rubbed his itchy nose.
03:39He was wearing a black dragon robe,
03:41and his once exceptionally handsome face was now full of gloom.
03:43He casually threw a memorial onto the desk.
03:45It clearly stated that the state treasury was empty
03:47and requested the Emperor to cut the harem's expenses.
03:50Cut my ass.
03:50Stephen cursed.
03:51There isn't even a female fly in my harem.
03:53How else can I cut expenses?
03:54Do they want me to starve?
03:55Edgar shrunk his neck and didn't dare to make a sound.
03:57Stephen stood up in frustration
03:59and walked over to a painting in the corner of the study.
04:01In the painting was a young girl in a light green dress,
04:04sitting on a small folding stool, washing clothes.
04:06Her side profile was peaceful and beautiful,
04:08but her eyes revealed a hint of cleverness.
04:10Stephen gently stroked the cheek of the person in the painting.
04:13His gaze instantly softened from his previous rage,
04:15but then quickly turned into a deep, gritted teeth glare.
04:17Stephen gently stroked the cheek of the person in the painting.
04:20Rosalie, you have a lot of nerve.
04:21You took my child, stole my personal savings,
04:24and ran away for five whole years.
04:25You better hope I don't catch you,
04:26otherwise Stephen looked at the empty imperial study
04:28and let out a cold laugh.
04:30I will lock you in the treasury,
04:31make you count money until your hands cramp,
04:33and then make you pay me back
04:34for all the lovesickness I've suffered these years with interest.
04:36Edgar, hear your majesty.
04:37Any news from Norland?
04:39Stephen's voice was as cold as ice.
04:41Your majesty, the shadow guard sent word that in Norland,
04:43they seem to have spotted a figure
04:44resembling the person in the portrait.
04:46But that area is now the territory of a wealthy businesswoman.
04:49Our men can't get in.
04:50A wealthy businesswoman?
04:51Stephen narrowed his eyes,
04:53his mouth curling into a dangerous smirk.
04:55Interesting. Pass down my decree.
04:56This autumn's imperial exam will not be restricted by social status.
05:00I will go see for myself.
05:01Is there anywhere in this world I cannot go?
05:03Far away in Norland,
05:04I suddenly felt a chill down my spine.
05:06The reason I'm not interested in men
05:07is mostly due to the trauma from my last job.
05:10Six years ago,
05:11I wasn't the all-powerful richest woman in Norland.
05:13I was just a lowly bedmaid in the Hawk family.
05:16My boss, who is now Emperor Stephen,
05:18was still the all-powerful Regent Hawk back then.
05:20Rumor had it that he was cold, ruthless, and decisive.
05:23Some even said he practiced virgin martial arts and shunned women.
05:26But as the bedmaid who served him intimately for four years,
05:29I have the most say in this.
05:30He shunned women.
05:31Then how did my back get so wrecked?
05:32Honestly, I was pretty content.
05:34I came from a poor family
05:35and was sold to the Hawk family by my parents for three tails of silver.
05:39I was lucky enough to become his bedmaid.
05:42Even though Stephen had a bad temper,
05:44he was very generous.
05:45As long as I pleased him in bed,
05:47he'd casually reward me with gold and silver nuggets.
05:49My life plan was very clear.
05:51Save up enough money to buy my freedom,
05:52and when the official wife married in,
05:54I'd take my severance pay and go back to my hometown,
05:57buy a couple of acres of land,
05:58and be a happy little landlord.
06:00As a bedmaid with professional ethics,
06:02I knew my place very well.
06:03I was the employee, and he was the boss.
06:06Our relationship was purely transactional,
06:08with no emotional entanglements.
06:09That is, until that fateful morning.
06:11That day, I was hiding in the small kitchen,
06:13secretly eating some pork knuckle.
06:15The chef in the Hawk family was top-notch,
06:17especially with his crystal pork knuckle,
06:19which was fatty, but not greasy.
06:21But just as I took a bite,
06:22an indescribable feeling of nausea suddenly hit me.
06:25Blah!
06:25I threw up all the meat I had just eaten.
06:28My roommate, a young maid named Maisie,
06:30happened to walk in and was startled by the sight.
06:32Rosalie, what's wrong? Could you be?
06:34She didn't finish, but I understood.
06:36My heart instantly sank.
06:38In the Hawk family,
06:39a bedmaid getting pregnant was a massive taboo,
06:41especially before the prince had married his official wife.
06:43If the princess imperial or the empress dowager found out,
06:47keeping the child and killing the mother
06:48would be getting off easy.
06:50Most likely, they'd force a bowl of safflower down my throat,
06:52and I might even lose my life.
06:54Furthermore, Stephen absolutely hated trouble.
06:56I touched my stomach.
06:57It was still flat,
06:58but it was carrying a little time bomb
07:00that could kill me at any moment.
07:01What should I do?
07:02Go tell Stephen?
07:03Bet on the chance that he had some feelings for me?
07:05Give me a break.
07:06In his eyes, I was nothing but a tool to relieve his desires,
07:09who just happened to be easy on the eyes.
07:11He was about to discuss marriage
07:12with the daughter of the minister of the personnel office.
07:15Having an illegitimate eldest son pop up right now
07:17would only be a huge nuisance to him, right?
07:19I, Rosalie, value my life above all else,
07:22and I absolutely refuse to put my life
07:24in someone else's hands.
07:25So, I made a drastic decision.
07:27Run, and not just run,
07:28but run with the money.
07:29Over the next three days,
07:30I acted exceptionally obedient.
07:32When Stephen came back at night,
07:34I used all my acting skills
07:35to be as sweet and gentle as possible,
07:37serving him until he was perfectly satisfied.
07:39Afterwards, he leaned lazily against the headboard,
07:41playing with a strand of my hair,
07:43and asked in a good mood.
07:44Why so passionate today?
07:45What kind of reward do you want?
07:47I blushed and gave him a flirtatious look.
07:49Your Highness,
07:50I heard the Guan Yin statue in the storehouse
07:52is made of pure gold.
07:55I don't mean anything by it.
07:57I just want to admire it.
07:59Stephen let out a chuckle and pinched my cheek.
08:01You little money grubber.
08:03That's an antique from the previous dynasty,
08:05so I can't give it to you.
08:07But the box of gold leaves on the table
08:08is yours.
08:10Thank you, Your Highness.
08:11I accepted it with great joy.
08:12By the fourth day,
08:13it was exactly Valentine's.
08:15The whole mansion was busy with the festival,
08:17and the guards were at their most lax.
08:19Stephen went to the palace for a banquet.
08:21Rumor had it the Empress Dowager
08:23would arrange a marriage for him that day.
08:24It was a godsend.
08:25I changed into rough men's clothes
08:27and sewed all the gold, jewelry,
08:28and banknotes I had saved over the years
08:30into my close-fitting vest.
08:32That vest was as heavy as a bulletproof vest,
08:34but it made me feel secure.
08:35Before leaving,
08:36I looked at the little turtle in Stephen's study
08:38that he loved the most.
08:39It was his only pet.
08:40I thought for a moment,
08:42found a piece of paper,
08:43and wrote a crooked farewell letter
08:44with my left hand.
08:45To Your Highness.
08:46I know I am of lowly status.
08:48To make it look real,
08:49I even squeezed two drops of eyedrops
08:51onto the paper.
08:53After writing,
08:54I put the letter under a paperweight,
08:56carried my heavy bundle,
08:57and crawled out through the dog hole
08:59I had scoped out long ago.
09:00Looking back at the towering mansion
09:02at that moment,
09:03I felt no nostalgia at all.
09:05Forget the prince,
09:06forget the wealth and glory,
09:07none of it was as real as the baby in my belly,
09:09or the banknotes in my arms.
09:11Son,
09:11I touched my belly and whispered,
09:13Mom's taking you to a better life.
09:15From now on,
09:15we'll depend on each other.
09:17We have money,
09:17and each other,
09:18we won't need anyone else.
09:20Only,
09:20I didn't expect that B-star Steven
09:22wouldn't be as calm as I imagined
09:23after I left.
09:24I heard he went crazy looking for me,
09:26even turning Shafati City upside down.
09:28Of course,
09:29that's a story for later.
09:31At that time,
09:32I was already in a carriage heading to Norland,
09:34throwing up my guts from the bumpy ride,
09:36but smiling happier than anyone.
09:38Because I knew,
09:38from today on,
09:39I Rosalie was free.
09:41Winter in Norland came even earlier than I imagined.
09:43It snowed in September,
09:44and the chilling wind cut like a knife,
09:46bundled up in a thick padded jacket.
09:48I rolled off the carriage like a bull,
09:50feeling like my snot was going to freeze.
09:51This is a bitterly cold wasteland,
09:53and a place where the court exiles criminals.
09:55But because of that,
09:56it's far from the emperor's reach.
09:58Steven's hands can't reach here.
09:59I have money,
10:00but I can't just sit around and eat through my savings.
10:02More importantly,
10:03being a single mother with a child in this world
10:05is like walking through a busy market,
10:06holding a gold brick.
10:07It's way too dangerous.
10:09I need helpers,
10:09the kind who can take on 10 guys at once.
10:11Maybe God saw how hard it was for me to run away pregnant,
10:14and gave me the ultimate cheat code for picking up strays.
10:16On my third day in Norland,
10:18at the entrance of the abandoned house I bought,
10:20I found two old men who were freezing to death.
10:22One was pale and beardless,
10:23shivering in the corner.
10:24The other was covered in blood,
10:26with a hideous scar across his face,
10:27gripping a chipped steel blade in his hand.
10:29I was pretty bald back then,
10:31or maybe it was the pregnancy hormones
10:32making my maternal instincts kick in.
10:34I insisted my newly bought maid drag them inside.
10:37We poured two big bowls of ginger soup down their throats
10:39and called for a doctor,
10:40pulling them back from death's door.
10:42After they woke up,
10:43the pale old man told me his name was Uncle Edgar.
10:45He used to be a head eunuch in the palace,
10:47but was being hunted because he knew too many secrets.
10:49The scarred old man was old iron.
10:51He used to be the top assassin in the martial arts world,
10:53later recruited by the court as a royal secret agent.
10:56He was also on the run after offending the wrong people.
10:59Good lord,
10:59did my little courtyard turn into a shelter for wanted fugitives?
11:02But I didn't kick them out.
11:03I gave them the best medicine and the best food.
11:05I told them,
11:06I don't care who you used to be.
11:07Now that you're here,
11:08you're part of Rosalie's family.
11:10I'll take care of you in your old age,
11:11and you help me guard the house.
11:13How about it?
11:14These two old men,
11:15who spent half their lives living on the edge,
11:17looked at my pregnant belly,
11:18and the piping hot meat buns I handed them,
11:20and teared up.
11:21From then on,
11:21I, Rosalie,
11:22had two top-tier sidekicks.
11:24Uncle Edgar was an expert in palace schemes and managing accounts.
11:27He had a sharp eye.
11:28Anyone who tried to scam me out of my money
11:30would be seen right through instantly.
11:31All giant martial arts were unmatched.
11:33He could work wonders with that broken blade.
11:35With him around,
11:36the local thugs within a 10-mile radius
11:38all had to take a detour around my house.
11:40With the help of these two,
11:41one brains,
11:42one brawn,
11:43plus the advanced modern business mindset in my head,
11:45my business in Norland snowballed,
11:47growing bigger and bigger.
11:48I monopolized the fur trade in Norland,
11:50reselling them to the South,
11:51and then shipped silk from the South
11:52to sell to the nomads in Norland.
11:54I opened the first chain supermarket in Norland,
11:56the very first chain supermarket,
11:58the first hot pot restaurant,
11:59and even started real estate development.
12:01In just five years,
12:02the once desolate border town of Norland
12:04has actually become bustling and prosperous because of me,
12:06and I, Rosalie,
12:07have become widely known as the respected Rosalie.
12:09Gabriel was born right here on this dark soil.
12:12The day he was born,
12:13Mr. Iron stood guard at the door,
12:14and Uncle Edgar paced anxiously outside the delivery room,
12:17worrying more than a real grandpa would.
12:19This kid has been smart since he was little.
12:21On his first birthday,
12:22he completely ignored the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.
12:25Instead,
12:25he grabbed the gold abacus on Uncle Edgar's waist,
12:27refusing to let go.
12:29Uncle Edgar smiled so hard his face wrinkled up.
12:31Good, very good.
12:32This child is destined to control the world's wealth in the future.
12:35Life would have been quite pleasant if it continued like this,
12:38until the year Gabriel turned five,
12:40and his education became the top priority.
12:42Although Norland is wealthy,
12:43it doesn't have a strong academic atmosphere.
12:45To prevent Gabriel from growing up into a bumpkin
12:47who only knows how to count money,
12:49I spent a fortune to send him to a teenist academy.
12:51The headmaster of the academy is a reclusive great scholar.
12:54Rumor has it that he used to be the emperor's tutor,
12:56with profound knowledge.
12:58I originally thought this would just be a normal educational journey.
13:01Until this afternoon,
13:02when Gabriel brought back a shocking piece of news.
13:04At the dinner table,
13:05Gabriel picked at the braised pork in his bowl and mumbled,
13:08Mom, my teacher said he's taking me to Chasate City tomorrow.
13:11My chopsticks dropped to the floor.
13:13Where?
13:13My voice trembled.
13:15Chasate, Gabriel said, blinking his big eyes.
13:17My teacher said the current emperor is holding a special imperial exam,
13:20and some kind of prodigy contest.
13:22He says I'm uniquely talented and brilliant,
13:24so he insists on taking me to see the world.
13:26He also said the emperor specifically asked to see the legendary prodigy of Norland.
13:30My blood instantly ran cold.
13:32Chasate City, that's Stephen's turf.
13:34The emperor specifically asked,
13:36Could that bastard Stephen have already figured something out?
13:38No way you can't go.
13:40I stood up abruptly.
13:41Gabriel listened to me.
13:42We're not going.
13:43What's so good about Chasate City?
13:44It eats kids alive.
13:46Gabriel tilted his head looking puzzled.
13:48But Mom, my teacher said it's a great honor for our ancestors.
13:51Besides, I even prepared a big gift for the emperor.
13:54What big gift?
13:55Gabriel pulled something out of his pocket and presented it to me like a treasure.
13:59Look, it's a wooden bead bracelet I carved myself.
14:01I read in a picture book that the emperor prefers this kind of plain and simple stuff.
14:05Mom, look at the patterns on these beads.
14:07Don't they look familiar?
14:09The moment I saw that bracelet clearly, my vision went dark and I almost fainted.
14:13Those beads were carved exactly like the love token I gave to Stephen back then.
14:16What's worse, this kid Gabriel looks exactly like a miniature version of Stephen.
14:20If he were to take this bracelet, wearing this face, and walk right up to Stephen,
14:24I don't even want to picture it.
14:26Prepare my horse.
14:27Hurry.
14:27It's hard to disobey an imperial decree, especially when the great scholar used his status as the
14:31emperor's teacher to get it.
14:32Watching Gabriel pack his bags, my heart bled.
14:34To prevent his highly recognizable face from causing trouble, I got some disguise potion
14:38from old iron and painted a huge mall right between his eyebrows.
14:41Son, I said earnestly, pressing down on his shoulders.
14:44Once you reach Chisate, there are three ironclad rules you must remember.
14:49Gabriel hugged his little backpack to his chest and said seriously.
14:52Tell me, Mom.
14:53First, no matter who asks, you must say we slaughter pigs for a living and are dirt poor.
14:58Second, if you see a man in a yellow robe, stay away from him.
15:01He has rabies and will bite.
15:02Third, and most importantly, never, ever mention my name.
15:06Gabriel checked that mall in the mirror and curled his lip in disgust.
15:09Got it, Mom.
15:09Do you owe that man in the yellow robe money?
15:12Don't worry.
15:12I've heard of a son paying his father's debts, but I'm not paying off my mother's.
15:16I was so mad I wanted to hit him, but seeing old iron in the convoy, I felt a little
15:19more
15:20at ease.
15:20I had old iron disguise himself as a carriage driver to tag along.
15:23Watching the carriage drive away, my eye twitched wildly.
15:26Little did I know, he wasn't going out to see the world.
15:29He was a lamb walking right into the lion's den, serving himself up with his own cumin and
15:32chili powder.
15:33Rose Palace, Chisite.
15:34According to the message old iron later sent back by a carrier pigeon, the scene that day
15:39was truly heart-stopping.
15:40Stephen sat high on the dragon's throne, looking bored as a group of child prodigies bobbed
15:44their heads reciting poetry below.
15:46He had zero interest in their literary jargon, until his gaze landed on a corner.
15:50Standing there was a little boy, with a comical big black mole on his forehead, drooling as
15:55he stared at the golden dragon pillar in the hall.
15:57Intrigued, Stephen waved for someone to bring the child forward.
16:00Kid, what are you looking at?
16:01Gabriel wasn't shy at all.
16:03He looked up, pointed at the pillar and asked,
16:05Is this pillar solid gold?
16:07If it's just gold-plated, then this palace is way too shabby.
16:10All the officials gasped, but Stephen was stunned.
16:12Not because of the child's blunt words, but because the moment the boy looked up, even
16:16with that matchmaker's mole, his features, his demeanor, and even his little look of
16:20disgust, looked exactly like he did when he was young.
16:23A strange surge of familial connection exploded in Stephen's heart.
16:26As if possessed, he stepped down from the throne, crouched in front of Gabriel, narrowed
16:30his eyes and asked,
16:31You think I'm poor?
16:33Gabriel nodded honestly, pulled a top-quality white jade pendant from his pocket, and waved
16:37it.
16:37The quality of this jade is much better than the one on your waist.
16:40Mister, if you need money, I can lend you some.
16:42Forty percent interest deal?
16:44Stephen stared at that face, and in a daze, he seemed to see someone else, that little
16:48bedmaid back in his mansion, who used to haggle with him over a few tails of silver.
16:52What's your name?
16:53Stephen's voice suddenly grew tight.
16:55Gabriel Jung.
16:56Jung?
16:56Stephen's eyes suddenly darkened.
16:58He grabbed Gabriel's tiny hand.
16:59Who is your mother?
17:00These past few days in Norland have felt like an eternity.
17:03Every day, I waited at the door for Old Iron's carrier pigeon.
17:06Terrified the letter would say the scion was captured and needed rescuing.
17:09To ease my anxiety, I spent a fortune on the latest storybook from the capital.
17:13This book was dedicated to royal scandals.
17:15They say the author is a retired eunuch from the palace.
17:17I casually flipped to a page and found a piece of gossip about the current emperor.
17:21It said that although the emperor's harem is empty, he is a deeply devoted man.
17:25Whether holding court or resting, he always wears a crudely made string of wooden prayer
17:28beads on his left wrist.
17:29Rumor has it that they were a gift from an old friend, and the emperor treasures them.
17:33Once, a maid accidentally touched them, and she was immediately banished to the hard labor
17:37camp.
17:37The sunflower seeds in my hand clattered to the floor.
17:40Wooden prayer beads, crudely made.
17:41The memories suddenly flooded back to me.
17:43It was Stephen's 20th birthday.
17:44I was dead broke back then and couldn't afford an expensive gift, but I still wanted to
17:48suck up to my boss for a raise.
17:50So I went to the back mountain, found a piece of lightning-struck wood, and sanded it for
17:53three whole nights until my hands were covered in blisters, just to make that ugly string
17:57of beads.
17:58When I gave them to him, he picked them up in disgust with two fingers and sneered,
18:01Rosalie, are you really trying to fool me with this garbage?
18:04I acted all submissive, but in my head, I cursed him for being snobbish.
18:08But now this book says he treasures them, and wears them all the time, my heart suddenly
18:11skipped a beat, followed by a chill that shot straight to my head.
18:14If he really kept that thing all this time, it means he's still holding a grudge over
18:18what happened back then.
18:19If he sees Gabriel wearing that wooden pendant made of the exact same material, coo, coo.
18:23A pigeon called from outside the window.
18:25Old Ian's letter had arrived.
18:27With trembling hands, I opened the bamboo tube and unrolled the note.
18:30There was only one scribbled line on it, but it made my blood run cold.
18:33Emperor met Sion.
18:34Gifted royal chillin' lock.
18:36Asked about mother.
18:37Suspicions raised.
18:38Flee immediately.
18:39Pack everything up.
18:39Hurry.
18:40Only take the gold bars and banknotes.
18:42Leave the antiques and paintings.
18:43While I directed Uncle Edgar to pack, I stuffed a thick stack of banknotes into my waistband.
18:47Just then, there was a commotion at the front door.
18:49Mom, I'm home.
18:51Gabriel's carefree voice rang out.
18:52My heart skipped a beat.
18:53Before I could slip out the back door, he had already skipped into the main hall.
18:57A heavy golden chillin' lock hung around his neck, and he cradled the jewel-encrusted
19:00dagger in his arms.
19:01He sparkled all over like a walking treasure chest.
19:04Mom, look, that mister gave me all this.
19:06Gabriel pulls out the dagger as if showing off a prize.
19:08He said it's called an imperial sword.
19:10It can slay corrupt officials and be traded for lots of money.
19:13My vision went black.
19:14An imperial sword?
19:15Is that something you just give away?
19:17What else did he tell you?
19:18I grabbed Gabriel's shoulders.
19:19My voice trembling.
19:20Gabriel tilted his head and thought for a moment.
19:22Oh, right.
19:23That mister asked me, is your mom's favorite food pork knuckle?
19:26Does she pick at her fingers when she's nervous?
19:28And is your family really rich?
19:29Spot on.
19:30That bastard Steven even remembers my nervous little habits perfectly.
19:33So what did you say?
19:34I said, of course.
19:35My mom is the richest woman in Norland.
19:37Gabriel had a proud look on his face.
19:39I closed my eyes in despair.
19:41He's no son of mine.
19:42He's clearly a mole sent by Steven.
19:43Mom, why are you shaking?
19:45Gabriel suddenly leaned in mysteriously.
19:47By the way, the mister also said he's an old flame of yours.
19:50He's right outside the door, saying he wants to come in for tea.
19:52What?
19:53Right outside the door?
19:54I snapped my head up to look at the tightly shut front door.
19:56It felt as though just outside that heavy mahogany door
19:59stood a giant beast with its bloody jaws wide open.
20:02Uncle Edgar, seal the door.
20:03Old Iron, take the young master through the secret passage.
20:07Before I even finished my sentence,
20:08a deep, magnetic chuckle suddenly came from outside,
20:11piercing straight through my skull.
20:13Rosalie, I haven't even had my tea yet.
20:14Are you already rushing to kick out your guest?
20:16In that instant my blood ran cold.
20:19I'd recognize that voice anywhere, even after six years.
20:22Throwing dignity out the window,
20:24I scooped up Gabriel and bolted for the backyard like a frightened rabbit.
20:27Mom, that's our rich backer.
20:29Why are you running?
20:30Shut up.
20:31That's the grim reaper.
20:32I dashed to the hidden door in the backyard.
20:34I'd built that escape route specifically for a day like today.
20:37With trembling hands, I unlatched the door and shoved it open.
20:40But there was no air of freedom waiting for me outside.
20:42Only a sea of torches that lit up the pitch black nightlight day.
20:45Dozens of imperial guards in uniform, swords at their waists,
20:48blocked the alley in a tight formation.
20:50Not even a fly could escape.
20:52Right in the center of the firelight stood a tall steed.
20:54The man on horseback wore a dark cloak.
20:56He looked weather-beaten, his hair slightly disheveled.
20:58But it didn't take away from his outrageously handsome face.
21:01Right now though, his deep eyes swirled with emotions I couldn't decipher.
21:05There was anger, ecstasy, and a fierce hunger that looked ready to devour me whole.
21:09Stephen was really here.
21:10He stared down at me, his gaze sweeping over my panic-stricken face
21:13before finally landing on Gabriel in my arms.
21:15Rosalie.
21:15He dismounted and slowly approached me.
21:18His boots crunched on the snow and every single step felt like he was stomping right on my heart.
21:22You made quite a run for it, didn't you?
21:24He stopped barely a foot away from me.
21:26An overwhelming presence suffocated me.
21:28As he reached out his hand, I instinctively closed my eyes and flinched,
21:31thinking he was going to strangle me.
21:32But the pain never came.
21:34Instead, his cool fingertips gently brushed a snowflake from my hair.
21:37This time, he leaned close to my ear, his voice low and raspy like a demon from hell.
21:41If you dare run away again, I'll turn Norland upside down
21:44and chain you to the throne so you can never leave again.
21:47Just then, Gabriel poked his head out of my arms and cheered,
21:50Wow, rich mister, you really came.
21:53I was on the verge of tears.
21:55Son, forget about the mister and start screaming for help.
21:58Fifteen minutes later, Stephen swaggered into my mansion,
22:01followed by a fierce squad of the Imperial Guard.
22:03This wasn't a reunion of old friends, it was a raid.
22:06He sat on the velvet sofa I'd imported from Persia at great cost,
22:09crossed his long legs and looked around with disgust.
22:11These nanmu wood pillars are so tacky.
22:13This wall carpet is too scratchy.
22:15Rosalie, is this how you live after leaving me?
22:17He frowned, wearing a, you really are miserable without me expression.
22:21How can anyone live in this dump?
22:23It's worse than the royal stables.
22:24I stood to the side, my mouth twitching wildly.
22:27One of these nanmu pillars is worth half of the Imperial Kitchen.
22:30This Persian carpet costs more than his dragon robe.
22:32This beast art is still as toxic and tasteless as ever.
22:35If your majesty is uncomfortable here, you can go back to your palace.
22:38I snapped.
22:38Our humble home is too small for someone of your stature.
22:42Stephen's eyes turned cold, his gaze locking once again on Gabriel,
22:45who was leaning over the table counting his gold beans.
22:48Feeling his stare, Gabriel immediately shielded his bag of copper coins
22:51and looked at Stephen warily.
22:53Mr. Business is business.
22:54You can't take back a gift once you've given it.
22:57Stephen let out an exasperated laugh.
22:59He stood up, walked over to Gabriel, ignoring the kid's protest,
23:02and picked him up effortlessly by the collar, like a little chick.
23:05Similar?
23:06Very similar, Stephen muttered, staring at Gabriel's face.
23:09My heart raced.
23:10I was about to rush over and grab my child back.
23:12What are you doing?
23:12Let him go.
23:14Stephen snapped his head toward me, his eyes as sharp as daggers.
23:17Rosalie, let's not beat around the bush.
23:18This kid has my eyebrows.
23:20And my nose.
23:21Even his obsession with copper coins, though unlike mine,
23:24is definitely nothing like your so-called dead husband's.
23:27He pulled a dagger and a white porcelain bowl from his robes,
23:30slamming them onto the table with a loud clank, a blood test.
23:33Stephen said concisely, his tone leaving no room for argument.
23:36If the blood blends, I'm taking you both back to the palace.
23:38If it doesn't, he sneered, bearing his stark white teeth.
23:42I'll charge you with deceiving the emperor
23:44and confiscate both you and your copper coins.
23:47Hearing that his copper coins would be confiscated,
23:49Gabriel burst into tears.
23:51Mom, just let him test it.
23:52Let him stab you.
23:53Just don't let him stab the copper coins.
23:55I don't need this ungrateful son anymore.
23:57The dagger glinted coldly, but Stephen's eyes were even colder.
24:00I knew I couldn't escape this today.
24:01Gab, don't be afraid.
24:02It'll just be like a mosquito bite.
24:04I gritted my teeth and reluctantly offered up Gabriel's little hand.
24:08Stephen made a swift, precise, and ruthless cut.
24:10Two drops of bright red blood fell into the bowl of clear water.
24:13The air seemed to freeze.
24:14Everyone craned their necks to stare at the bowl.
24:16The two drops of blood swirled in the water,
24:18like long-lost brothers, and instantly blended together.
24:21Ironclad proof.
24:22Stephen stared fixedly at the water, his eyes instantly turning red.
24:25He jerked his head up and grabbed my wrist,
24:27gripping it so hard it felt like he was going to crush my bones.
24:30Rosalie, what do you have to say for yourself?
24:32Secretly bearing royal offspring and deceiving the emperor.
24:35Do you know this is a crime punishable by the execution of your entire family?
24:39He roared like an enraged lion.
24:41I gasped in pain, but the fire inside me was also ignited.
24:44Execute my entire family?
24:46Fine.
24:46Gabriel and you are the only family I have left anyway.
24:49You might as well execute yourself along with us.
24:51I forcefully shook off his hand, took a step back, and looked straight into his eyes.
24:55Stephen, stop pulling your emperor rank on me.
24:58Back in the prince's estate, under those strict rules,
25:00wasn't it common to force-feed mothers poison just to keep their children?
25:04Should I not have run?
25:05If I hadn't run, was I supposed to just wait and die along with my unborn child?
25:09I have money, hands, and feet.
25:10Why should I let my son be born a second-class citizen, living at the mercy of others?
25:15Stephen froze.
25:16He didn't seem to expect that the submissive little bedmaid who only knew how to say
25:20greetings your highness, would dare point at his nose and yell.
25:23Seeing this, Gabriel immediately hugged my leg and bared his teeth at Stephen.
25:26You bad man.
25:27Don't you bully my mom.
25:29If you dare lay a finger on her, I'll, I'll report you to the authorities.
25:32I'll say you're trespassing.
25:34Stephen looked at my son and me standing united against him.
25:37The anger in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a complex, indiscernible sense of defeat.
25:42He moved his lips, his voice softening.
25:44Even to save your life, you shouldn't have hidden this from me for five years.
25:47The atmosphere in the room was a bit eerie.
25:49The imperial guards had all been kicked out into the yard.
25:51Only the three of us were left inside.
25:53Stephen sat in the main seat, resuming his aloof imperial demeanor.
25:57But the way he kept rubbing his old prayer beads revealed his inner turmoil.
26:00Come back to the palace with me, he said, sounding like he was granting me a favor.
26:04For the child's sake, I won't punish you.
26:05I'll make you noble consort and grant you the solar palace.
26:09Gabriel will be my eldest prince and in the future.
26:11Stop, stop, stop.
26:13I bluntly interrupted his empty promises.
26:15Your majesty, are you misunderstanding something?
26:17I looked around my magnificent mansion,
26:19casually picking up a luminous pearl from the table to roll around in my hand.
26:23How much is a noble consort's monthly allowance?
26:25500 tails or a thousand?
26:28Stephen frowned.
26:29Palace expenses have their own rules.
26:30How can they be measured by money?
26:32So you don't have money?
26:33I sneered.
26:34Your majesty, the cash flow I have right now is thousands of tails a minute.
26:37I live in a sprawling mansion and sleep on a warm jade bed from the west.
26:41I have top chefs taking turns cooking whatever I want to eat.
26:44I walked up to him, looking down at him.
26:46Why would I give up being the wealthiest person around just to go to your harem
26:49and fight with 3,000 women over your single cucumber?
26:53Am I out of my mind?
26:54Or do I just have a death wish?
26:57Stephen's face instantly darkened.
26:59Rosalie, how did you become so, so money-grubbing and vulgar?
27:03Vulgar?
27:03I sneered.
27:04It's called being realistic.
27:06Late affection is cheaper than dirt.
27:07Your majesty, I don't care about your noble consort title.
27:11Stephen's chest heaved violently with anger,
27:13and the finger pointing at me was trembling.
27:15He probably hadn't been rejected like this in his entire life.
27:18Just when I thought he was going to fly into a rage and order my arrest,
27:21he suddenly took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing his anger.
27:24Good, very good.
27:25Stephen let out a furious laugh, a stubborn glint in his eyes.
27:28You don't care, right?
27:29I'd like to see how long you can keep up this tough act.
27:31With a flick of his sleeve, he turned to leave.
27:33At the door, he stopped again, looked back, and dropped a chilling remark.
27:37I can't take Gab away, but I'm staying in Norland for good.
27:41Stephen was a man of his word, and he went all out.
27:44Early the next morning, I found out the mansion next door,
27:47which used to belong to Mr. Leland, had changed hands.
27:50Mr. Leland moved out overnight.
27:51Rumor had it the buyer offered a price so high he questioned his reality,
27:55enough to buy half the street.
27:56Soon after, I faced relentless harassment from this new neighbor.
27:59At breakfast, knock, knock, knock.
28:01Uncle Edgar opened the door.
28:03Stephen, dressed casually, held an exquisite food box,
28:06followed by the miserable-looking chief eunuch, Edgar.
28:08Rosalie, I, I heard your chef makes good crab bro buns.
28:11Stephen swaggered in and sat at the dining table, making himself right at home.
28:15The imperial meals are too greasy.
28:17I'm here for a change of pace.
28:19I rolled my eyes.
28:20If you want to eat, pay up.
28:21Ten tails of silver for one bun.
28:23Put it on my tab.
28:24Stephen waved his hand grandly.
28:26He didn't just eat, he also bossed Gabriel around.
28:29Eat up son, you're growing.
28:31To please his son, Stephen took a scroll out of the food box.
28:34Gabriel, this is an authentic piece by the former dynasty's master painter, Jackson Pira.
28:38It's the 100 steed, and it's priceless.
28:41I'm giving it to you to hang in your study.
28:43Stephen looked smug, sure that this time, he'd win over this mother and son who hadn't
28:47seen much of the world.
28:48Gabriel's eyes lit up.
28:49He snatched the scroll and unrolled it.
28:51I thought he'd be amazed.
28:52Instead, the prodigal son spread the painting on the table and put his greasy bowl on it.
28:57Wow, this paper is pretty thick, Gabriel said happily.
29:00Mom, our tablecloth happens to be dirty, so this is perfect for the bowl, and it's oil-proof.
29:05Stephen's smile instantly froze on his face.
29:07He looked like he'd been force-fed a fly.
29:09It's a famous painting.
29:10Stephen gritted his teeth.
29:12It's worth a fortune.
29:13Oh, so it's a very expensive tablecloth.
29:16Gabriel calmly picked up a bun, casually wiping his greasy fingers on the head of a
29:19fine horse in the painting.
29:21Seeing Stephen heartbroken to the point of suffocating yet not daring to lash out, I
29:24almost laughed out loud.
29:26Stephen took a deep breath and forced himself to look away.
29:28His gaze landed on Uncle Edgar, who was standing behind me pouring tea, and Old Iron, who
29:33was chopping wood in the yard.
29:34He narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze instantly sharpening.
29:37Rosalie, these two servants of yours are quite interesting.
29:39Stephen gave a half-smile.
29:41One walks silently with steady breaths, and the other chops wood like he's slicing tofu.
29:45They have profound inner strength.
29:47The mansion of Norland's wealthiest really is hiding some serious talents.
29:50Stephen seemed determined to crash at my place, even going so far as to sell his looks.
29:55To prove he wasn't the weak, useless man rumors made him out to be, he actually started
29:58practicing martial arts bare-chested in my yard the next morning.
30:01I have to admit, the bastard does have the goods.
30:03Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and lean, well-defined muscles.
30:07Sweat dripped down his abs, oozing pure testosterone.
30:10But who am I?
30:11I'm Rosalie, a businesswoman.
30:12I immediately sent an urgent message to my Norland ladies' circle.
30:16Come quick, we have an absolute hunk.
30:17Tickets are fifty tails.
30:18First come, first served.
30:20In less than an hour, a whole row of heads was peeking over my wall.
30:23Mrs. Zane was practically drooling.
30:25Oh my, look at that core strength.
30:27Mr. Zeke's concubine waved her handkerchief.
30:29Those pecs make me just want to grab them.
30:31I grabbed a small stool, sat at the door, and collected the money.
30:35Line up, look, but don't touch.
30:36If you want a front row VIP seat, it's an extra one hundred tiles.
30:40Steven was really getting into it, trying to show off his masculine prowess to me.
30:44But when he turned around, he saw a wall full of women pointing at him like they were picking
30:48out livestock.
30:49Especially when he heard someone say, this guy is handsome.
30:51Wonder how much he costs for a night.
30:53Steven's face instantly turned black as a skillet.
30:55He grabbed a shirt, threw it on, and stormed over to me murderously.
30:59Rosalie.
31:00What do you take me for?
31:01A gigolo in a brothel?
31:03I counted the banknotes in my hand and smiled, slipping him an ingot of silver.
31:07Don't be mad, here's your cut.
31:09Your majesty, with a body like yours, you're a rare commodity in Norland.
31:13Why not consider a debut?
31:15Steven gripped the silver so hard his knuckles cracked, and finally squeezed out through gritted
31:19teeth.
31:20Women and petty men are impossible to deal with.
31:22Probably realizing that seduction wasn't working, Steven switched to a new tactic.
31:26The family card.
31:27He insisted on picking up and dropping Gabriel off at school.
31:30The folks in Norland are tough.
31:31Gabriel doesn't have a father.
31:32He'll definitely get picked on at school.
31:34Steven looked dead serious, as if he were going into battle.
31:37I'm going to back him up.
31:38I couldn't talk him out of it, so I just let him go.
31:40When school ended, Steven, wearing an understated yet luxurious robe, stood like a guardian deity
31:45at the school gate.
31:46As soon as he saw Gabriel come out, he rushed over, putting on the airs of a loving father.
31:50Gabriel, did anyone pick on you today?
31:52Tell God, tell me, I'll stand up for you.
31:55Gabriel looked at him like he was an idiot.
31:57Behind him, a group of lackeys swarmed out.
31:59Some were carrying Gabriel's bag, while others were wiping his shoes.
32:02One was even attentively massaging Gabriel's back.
32:05Boss, what do you want to eat tomorrow?
32:07I'll have my mom make it for you.
32:08Boss, here's a dagger my dad brought back from the West.
32:11It's for you to play with.
32:12Gabriel waved them off calmly.
32:13All right, scatter, and remember to hand in the homework you owe me tomorrow.
32:17Steven watched, dumbfounded.
32:19This, this is getting picked on.
32:22Gabriel sighed and patted Steven's thigh, since he couldn't reach his shoulder.
32:26Mister, you really don't understand how things work nowadays.
32:28I have money, so they all fight to be my friend.
32:31You on the other hand, dress so flashily.
32:33Standing here makes you an easy target for kidnapping.
32:36Steven's desire to show off his fatherly authority shattered into pieces.
32:40On the way home, Steven still wouldn't give up and insisted on carrying Gabriel on his back.
32:44But after just a few steps, he was panting heavily.
32:46I watched from behind, highly amused.
32:49It seemed the rumors weren't entirely false.
32:51After years of being the emperor and doing paperwork every day,
32:53his stamina really isn't what it used to be.
32:55He can't even carry a five-year-old?
32:57Steven seemed to hear my inner thoughts.
32:59He turned and glared at me,
33:00gritting his teeth as he hoisted Gabriel higher.
33:02I'm plenty strong.
33:03The accident happened without any warning.
33:05It was the day of the Norland Temple Fair, and it was packed with people.
33:09Steven volunteered to take Gabriel out for a stroll,
33:11promising he wouldn't let the kid out of his sight for a second.
33:14I wanted to give them a chance to bond, so I didn't tag along,
33:16keeping busy at my wanton stall.
33:18Right around sunset, just as I finished cooking the last bowl of wantons,
33:21I saw Steven's head guard stumbling over to me.
33:23He was pale as a ghost.
33:25My lady, something terrible happened.
33:27What happened?
33:28My heart skipped a beat,
33:29and the skimmer in my hand dropped into the pot with a clatter.
33:31The young master, the young master is gone.
33:34My mind went blank, and my vision went dark for a second.
33:36By the time I rushed to the temple fair like a madwoman,
33:39I saw Steven standing in front of a tiger head hat stall,
33:41clutching a tiny hat tightly in his hand, trembling all over.
33:44His usually arrogant and aloof face was now filled with panic and helplessness.
33:48Seeing me approach, he looked like a child who had done something wrong.
33:51His voice was incredibly hoarse.
33:53Rosie, I just turned around to buy a hat.
33:55I just glanced at the hat, and he was gone.
33:56I only let go of his hand for a second.
33:58My sanity completely crumbled at that moment.
34:00He is my life.
34:01I carried him for nine months and nearly died giving birth to him.
34:04I rushed up and slapped Steven across the face with all my might.
34:08The crisp sound instantly quieted the noisy crowd around us.
34:11Steven's head jerked to the side, a trace of blood seeping from his mouth,
34:14but he didn't dodge.
34:15He didn't get angry either.
34:16He just looked at me with red eyes.
34:18Steven!
34:19I grabbed him by the collar, tears streaming down my face,
34:21and screamed like a banshee.
34:23If anything happens to Gabriel, I'll kill you.
34:25I'll never forgive you for the rest of my life.
34:27Get out of my sight.
34:28Go find my child.
34:29That was the first time I showed such bone-deep hatred toward him.
34:33At that moment, I was no longer some long-suffering single mother.
34:36I was the richest madwoman in Norland.
34:38Uncle Edgar, I said, wiping my tears, my voice hoarse but firm.
34:42Pass down my order.
34:43All of Zhang's rice shops, banks, and silk stores are to close immediately.
34:47Have all the managers, clerks, and the brothers from the beggar gang
34:49we've helped hit the streets in search.
34:51Whoever finds Gabriel gets a thousand tails of gold.
34:53Whoever provides a clue gets 500 tails of silver.
34:56At my command, the entire city of Norland awoke like a slumbering beast.
34:59Countless lanterns lit up, and the streets echoed with people shouting Gabriel's name.
35:03This level of mobilization would make even the local magistrate tremble.
35:06Steven wasn't idle either.
35:08He mobilized all the shadow guards and imperial guards and locked down all four city gates.
35:12It looked as if he were fighting a siege in this small border town.
35:15As every minute and second ticked by, my anxiety was eating me alive.
35:18Just as I was about to break down, an imperial guard sprinted over.
35:21Report.
35:22We found a trail in the dark alley on the west side.
35:25An old man in black is carrying a child into a dead end.
35:28The dark alley on the west side?
35:30That's a hope for human traffickers and the black market.
35:32Steven and I exchanged a look, both seeing overwhelming murderous intent in each other's eyes.
35:36Without a word, Steven grabbed a fast horse, slashed the tether, and shouted,
35:39Hiya!
35:40I couldn't care less about my image.
35:41I hiked up my skirt, jumped into the carriage, and desperately urged the driver to keep up.
35:46Gabriel, please be okay.
35:47By the time I reached the dark alley, I heard the sounds of a fight inside,
35:50along with the heavy thuds of things hitting the ground.
35:52Frantic, I stumbled inside.
35:54By the dim moonlight, I saw a burly figure, pinning Steven down and wiping the floor with
35:59him.
35:59Yes, it was a completely one-sided beatdown.
36:01The figure moved like a ghost.
36:02With one left hook, Steven stumbled back three steps, clutching his eye.
36:05Then a sweeping kick sent Steven face first into the dirt.
36:08Where did this pretty boy come from?
36:10How dare you sneak attack me?
36:11The old man's voice boomed.
36:13With one foot planted on Steven's back, you clearly didn't ask around.
36:16Everyone in Norland knows who I am.
36:18Though beaten black and blue, Steven was still struggling desperately, roaring,
36:21Give the child back to me.
36:23I, I'll kill you.
36:24I looked closer.
36:25The trafficker trampling the emperor under his foot was actually my head bodyguard,
36:28old Tate.
36:29And my dear son Gabriel was sitting on a haystack nearby, holding a half-eaten tongue hulu,
36:33enjoying the show and cheering him on.
36:35You're amazing, Grandpa Tate.
36:37That black tiger punch was so cool.
36:38My vision went dark.
36:40This, this is treason.
36:41Stop, stop it right now.
36:42I screamed as I rushed over.
36:44When old Tate saw it was me, he quickly pulled his foot back and scratched his head sheepishly.
36:48Boss, what are you doing here?
36:49This mad dog suddenly sneak attacked me from behind.
36:51My hands were itching for a fight, so I taught him a lesson.
36:54On the ground, Steven struggled to lift his head.
36:56One of his eyes was already swollen like a panda's, and blood was trickling from the corner
36:59of his mouth.
37:00He saw me, then saw that Gabriel was safe and sound.
37:03He let out a sigh of relief and collapsed completely.
37:05Not a trafficker?
37:06He muttered to himself.
37:07In the back hall of the governor's office, the atmosphere was incredibly awkward.
37:11Mr. Governor knelt on the ground shivering, not daring to look up at the son of heaven,
37:14who had been beaten to a pulp.
37:16Feeling a bit guilty myself, I kept my head down and handed Steven a handkerchief.
37:20The truth was actually quite simple.
37:21That little brat Gabriel was greedy, so he chased a candied hawthorn vendor into an alley
37:25and got lost.
37:26He happened to run into old Tate, who was out patrolling, and old Tate just brought him
37:30along.
37:30Who knew Steven would be so desperate to protect his son that he rushed up and attacked without
37:34a word?
37:34As for the result, even though the palace's top martial artist had retired, beating up a
37:38pampered emperor who rarely practiced was child's play.
37:41Old Tate stood aside, completely oblivious to the fact that he had just beaten up the son of
37:45heaven.
37:45Instead, he kept critiquing his slow footwork and unstable stance.
37:49Boss, where did you pick up this pretty boy?
37:51He's so frail, he needs some serious nourishment.
37:53Otherwise, how is he going to protect his wife and kid?
37:56Steven trembled with anger, which aggravated the wound on his mouth.
37:59He sucked in a sharp breath.
38:00His, I, I was just careless.
38:02If we did it again, you'd still lose.
38:04Gabriel chimed in honestly, delivering the final blow, while handing his half-eaten candied
38:08hawthorn to Steven.
38:09Mister, eat something sweet.
38:10It'll make you feel less bitter.
38:12Steven stared at the saliva-covered candied hawthorn, then looked at his innocent biological
38:16son.
38:17Finally, he actually took it, and took a vicious bite.
38:19Is it good?
38:20Gabriel asked.
38:21It's awful, Steven said.
38:22His eyes turning red as he chewed, his tears nearly mixing with his nosebleed.
38:26Watching this, my resentment suddenly dissipated.
38:28This high and mighty man was willing to cast aside his dignity for his child.
38:31Even after being beaten like this, his first reaction was still relief that the kid was
38:35safe.
38:36At that moment, I felt he was no longer that cold distant symbol, but a clumsy flesh-and-blood
38:40father.
38:41Back home, I kicked everyone else out and got out the first-aid kit to patch Steven up.
38:45The candlelight flickered, and the room was perfectly quiet.
38:47Steven sat on the edge of the bed and took off his shirt.
38:50Looking at the black and blue bruises all over his body, I felt somewhat guilty.
38:53Bear with it, I said, dabbing some ointment on the bruise by his mouth.
38:57Steven hissed and instinctively tried to pull back, but I held him down.
39:00Don't move.
39:01Now you feel the pain?
39:02Why didn't you feel it when you were fighting tapes?
39:04I scolded him in annoyance.
39:05Steven stared at me intently.
39:06Both eyes, usually full of calculation and intimidation, were as clear as a child's right
39:10now.
39:11Rosie, he suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse.
39:13I'm sorry.
39:14My hand paused.
39:15You've already said that a million times.
39:16It's not enough.
39:17Steven grabbed my hand and pressed it to his cheek.
39:20It's my fault I didn't watch the kid today.
39:21I'm useless.
39:22In that moment, I was truly terrified.
39:24I was terrified of losing you both again.
39:26For five years it's haunted my dreams.
39:28His cheek was burning hot, so hot that my fingertips trembled.
39:31I tried to pull my hand back, but he gripped it tighter.
39:33He buried his face in my palm and mumbled, hit me or curse at me, but don't drive me away.
39:37I don't want to go back to that cold, lifeless palace.
39:40I want to stay here, even if I get beaten up every day.
39:42Looking at this bruised, battered and pitiful emperor, my final line of defense completely
39:46crumbled.
39:47Fine.
39:47I sighed, pulled my hand away and poked his forehead.
39:50You big baby, you can sleep here tonight.
39:52Steven's head snapped up, his eyes as bright as light bulbs.
39:55Really?
39:56On the floor, I added coldly.
39:57Yes, your majesty, the empress.
39:59Steven smiled like a total idiot.
40:01I told him to sleep on the floor, but he's incredibly thick-skinned.
40:04In the middle of the night, I groggily felt some body heat getting closer.
40:07I opened my eyes and saw Steven rubbing his head against my pillow.
40:10Get down.
40:11I kicked him.
40:11The floor is cold, and I'm injured.
40:13Steven pitifully clutched his chest.
40:15What if my wounds get worse and I get a fever?
40:18Norland's doctors might not be able to treat my royal body.
40:21I was speechless.
40:23In the end, I gave in and let him sleep on the outer edge of the bed, separated by two
40:27thick blankets.
40:28That was our strict boundary, but tonight, neither of us felt sleepy.
40:31Rosie, do you remember the first time we met?
40:33Steven suddenly asked, staring up at the canopy.
40:36I do.
40:36I splashed footbath water all over your boots.
40:38I couldn't help but laugh, remembering that awkward moment.
40:41At the time, I thought, why is this girl so clumsy?
40:44Steven turned on his side, looking at me across the blankets.
40:47But later, you were the only one who would drape a blanket over me when I fell asleep in
40:50the study.
40:51The only one who remembered I didn't eat cilantro.
40:53And only you dared to hand me a piece of Osnance's cake when I was mad.
40:57I felt a bit of a pang in my chest.
41:00That's all in the past.
41:02I can't move past it.
41:04Steven reached out and gently held my hand over the blanket.
41:07For the past five years, I've thought every day about how great it would be if you were
41:10still here.
41:11I moved everything from the manor into the palace.
41:13I even kept having your bedmaid's room cleaned.
41:16The furnishings haven't changed a bit.
41:17Rosie, I didn't understand love back then.
41:19I thought it was just royal favor.
41:21It wasn't until you left that I realized you were my life.
41:24He kept rambling in the dark, talking about his loneliness in the palace, his guilt towards
41:28Gabriel, and how he would stare blankly at my portrait late at night.
41:31I listened quietly, tears silently rolling down my face.
41:34All my past grievances and fears seemed to slowly fade away in this tender late night
41:38talk.
41:38After a while, his voice gradually trailed off into steady breathing.
41:41I turned my head and looked at his sleeping profile in the moonlight.
41:45Even with a face full of bruises, he couldn't hide that long-lost sense of peace.
41:48Perhaps giving him a chance is also giving myself a chance.
41:51I closed my eyes and squeezed his hand in return.
41:53This night actually turned out to be the most peaceful sleep I've had in five years.
41:57The next morning, I was walking up by a strange chopping sound.
42:00I opened the door to see the majestic son of heaven wearing my apron embroidered with
42:04wealth and prosperity, clumsily chopping cucumbers in the kitchen.
42:07You're awake?
42:08Stephen turned around, a streak of soot smeared across his face.
42:11He smiled like a golden retriever, begging for a treat.
42:14Old Tate said you like smashed cucumbers.
42:16I, I tried making some.
42:17Looking at the uneven cucumber pieces on the cutting board that looked like they'd been
42:21gnawed by a dog, I was speechless.
42:24Gabriel was sitting on the threshold, munching on a steamed bun.
42:26Seeing me come out, he leaned in and whispered,
42:29Mom, I think this senior disciple isn't too bright, but he's got good stamina.
42:33What makes you say that?
42:34Look, he got beaten up so badly by Grandpa Tate yesterday.
42:37But he's already up and working today.
42:39Plus, Gabriel shook his new toy, a solid gold nine-ring puzzle.
42:43He's really rich and obedient.
42:44He does exactly as he's told.
42:46If you tell him to chop wood, he wouldn't dare slack off.
42:49The little guy blinked his big eyes, looking at me seriously for the first time.
42:53Mom, actually, having a dad like him doesn't seem too bad.
42:56At least we'll have someone to do the heavy lifting from now on.
43:00Watching that busy figure in the kitchen, my heart stirred slightly.
43:03Back in the prince's mansion, he was the unreachable master, and I was a lowly servant.
43:07But now, he's trying hard to learn how to be a husband and a father.
43:10This kind of simple everyday life makes me feel more secure than any gold or silver.
43:14But these cozy days were like a bubble, bursting at the slightest touch.
43:18On the afternoon of the third day, a carrier pigeon, foaming at the mouth from exhaustion,
43:22crashed onto the dining table.
43:23Right after, the shadow guard commander knelt in the courtyard, speaking urgently.
43:27Your Majesty, an urgent report from the border.
43:30The enemy is mobilizing.
43:32Several senior ministers have been kneeling in the imperial study,
43:35begging Your Majesty to return to the capital immediately and take charge.
43:38The freshly peeled shrimp in Stephen's hand dropped into the bowl with a plop.
43:42The air in the room instantly froze, and I instinctively held Gabriel tighter.
43:46That thought popped into my head again.
43:47He's leaving.
43:48Will he take the child away, or will he drag us back to the palace by force?
43:51Stephen slowly stood up.
43:52His previously gentle expression instantly took on the chilling aura of an emperor.
43:56But when he turned to face me, the hostility in his eyes vanished in an instant,
44:00leaving only deep exhaustion and bloodshot eyes.
44:02Rosie, his voice was hoarse.
44:04I have to go.
44:04I took a wary step back.
44:06Ah, are you taking Gabriel away?
44:08Stephen watched my reactions, gave a bitter smile, and slowly walked over to me.
44:12Instead of reaching out to grab me, he crouched down to my eye level.
44:15I do want to take you with me.
44:16I dream about it.
44:17But I know you don't want to go back to that cage.
44:19Stephen didn't let the imperial guard step in.
44:22Instead, he silently packed his few simple bags.
44:24Before leaving, he called Gabriel and me over to the carriage.
44:27He pulled a heavy dark iron token from his robes and shoved it into my hand.
44:30Carved with a fierce five-clawed golden dragon, it emanated a deadly aura.
44:34This is the military tally representing my presence, Stephen said flatly,
44:37as if he were just giving me an ordinary lump of iron.
44:40With this, you can command Nolan's army of 300,000.
44:42If anyone dares to bully you too, or if the Huns attack, just smash them to death with this token.
44:47My hand trembled and I almost dropped it, giving military power to a woman who wants to run away.
44:52Is he crazy?
44:53Stephen, you don't be afraid.
44:55Stephen reached out to tuck a stray hair behind my ear.
44:57His eyes so gentle you could drown in them.
44:59I'll go back to provide for our family and guard this empire.
45:01If you and our child ever get tired of staying here, come to Chesade any time.
45:05I'll keep the keys to the city gates for you, and the doors to the inner palace will never close.
45:10With that, he leaned down and gave Gabriel a tight hug, then mounted his horse.
45:14He left without looking back, spurring his horse onward.
45:16His vigor quickly disappeared into the swirling snow.
45:19I stood in the cold wind, gripping the token that still carried his body heat,
45:22subtly feeling empty inside, as if a piece of me had been carved out.
45:25Mom, Gabriel tugged at my sleeve.
45:27I think the mister was crying.
45:29Stephen may have left, but his presence hasn't faded one bit.
45:32Half a month after he returned to the capital, my days of being harassed began.
45:36The courier stations in Norland used to deliver military intelligence,
45:38but now they deliver the emperor's love letters.
45:41Almost every three days, I receive an urgent express delivery from Chesate,
45:44the kind of urgent that literally runs horses to death.
45:47But when I open them, they're just filled with trivial nonsense.
45:49Rosie, the peonies in the imperial garden bloom today,
45:52but they're a tacky red, not as pleasing to the eye as the green onions you grew.
45:56Rosie, the new chef in the imperial kitchen makes wantons that taste like pig slop.
46:00I miss the ones you made, I only ate one bowl of rice today and lost weight.
46:04Rosie, has Gabriel grown taller recently?
46:07I had some wooden puzzles collected and sent to him.
46:09Along with the letters come all sorts of random things.
46:11Fresh petals from the imperial garden that dry up before reaching Norland.
46:15The latest cosmetics from Chesate City, even though I never wear makeup,
46:19and even a hand-carved wooden figurine, ugly but full of character.
46:22At first I threw all these letters into the stove as kindling.
46:27But eventually I started getting used to them.
46:30I got used to taking a break from counting money to open those ambergris-scented letters.
46:34Reading his whining and playing the victim, I'd catch myself smiling without realizing it.
46:38He's really mastered the art of slowly winning me over.
46:41Two months later, I was inspecting businesses on the Norland frontier during a massive snowstorm.
46:45I was sitting in my carriage reading the ledger,
46:47when I suddenly heard the frantic galloping of horses outside.
46:50Through the crack in the carriage window, I saw a travel-worn figure.
46:53The man was riding an exhausted warhorse, wrapped in a thick cloak with a stubbly face and dark circles under
46:58his eyes.
46:59He looked as haggard as a vagabond.
47:01It was Stephen.
47:02Why was he here?
47:03Didn't he say he was busy with state affairs?
47:05I was about to call out, but he didn't approach, instead pulling his horse up at an inconspicuous alley corner.
47:10He stared greedily at my carriage, his gaze seemingly trying to pierce through the curtains to see me.
47:14He just watched quietly for a long while, until my carriage turned the corner and was out of sight.
47:18Your majesty, it's time to head back, his guard whispered.
47:21We can't delay the morning assembly for too long, and we've already ridden three horses to death.
47:26Your body won't hold up if we don't go back now.
47:28Stephen withdrew his gaze with a bitter smile, and pulled a still-warm greaseproof paper package from his coat, handing
47:34it to a roadside beggar.
47:35He said, Excuse me, please deliver this to Ashford Snacks, and tell the proprietress it's from a passerby.
47:41It was the most famous Osmanthus cake from Chisati City, which only tasted good when hot.
47:46He had kept it tucked in his coat to keep it warm with his body heat, riding thousands of miles
47:50just so I could have a warm bite.
47:51The guard took it, and Stephen took one last deep look in that direction, before turning his horse around.
47:56Hiya!
47:57In the snowstorm, his back looked so lonely and resolute.
48:00Sitting in my carriage, tightly clutching the Osmanthus cake he had delivered,
48:03My tears finally broke free like a flood, what a fool, he's the emperor, how could he, just for a
48:08woman reduce himself to such a state?
48:10And it was at that very moment that I heard the solid ice in my heart shatter.
48:14As days went by, my business empire expanded to the outskirts of the capital, with money comes good information.
48:19Recently, a huge piece of gossip came from the capital.
48:22The old fogies in the court started acting up again.
48:24It said the Minister of Rights and 88 officials submitted a joint petition, claiming His Majesty is in his prime,
48:29but his harem is as empty as a snow cave, which is bad for the nation.
48:33They threatened suicide to demand he immediately hold a concubine selection.
48:36When the news reached Norland, I was checking the accounts.
48:39The red pen in my hand paused, and my heart inexplicably felt heavy.
48:42Right, he's the emperor.
48:44A massive harem is standard for him.
48:45It's a miracle he stayed faithful to me for five years.
48:48Can I really expect him to stay faithful his whole life?
48:51Just as my mind was racing and I was about to tear the ledger apart,
48:54the latest official gazette from the capital arrived.
48:56I opened the gazette, which clearly recorded the spectacle in the court that day.
49:00Facing the minister's pressure, Stephen had an armchair brought out, sat at the throne room's entrance,
49:05and burned that pile of petitions on the spot to roast sweet potatoes.
49:09While peeling a sweet potato, he slowly told the ministers kneeling on the ground,
49:12I have a wife and a son.
49:14My wife has a bad temper, gets jealous easily, and controls the finances.
49:17If you dare to shove women into my harem and my allowance gets cut off,
49:20who's going to fill the void in the national treasury?
49:23Also, whoever dares to mention concubine selection again,
49:26I'll appoint him as the Norland bean planting ambassador,
49:29and banish him to plant potatoes for my empress.
49:32At that moment, the entire court was speechless.
49:34Looking at this outrageous record in the gazette, I laughed until tears streamed down my face.
49:39This madman, he really intends to spread his reputation as a hentect husband to the whole world.
49:43Another spring arrived, and Gabriel turned seven.
49:46This child resembles Stephen more and more, not just in looks,
49:48but in the strategy and dominance hidden in his bones.
49:50He was no longer satisfied with just counting money in Norland.
49:53He started reading statecraft, and began asking Uncle Edgar about the court situation.
49:57A great scholar came to me and said earnestly,
49:59Miss Ashford, this child is a hidden dragon.
50:01The shallows of Norland can no longer hold him.
50:04He belongs in that position.
50:05Looking at Gabriel practicing swordplay in the yard, my heart ached as if cut by a knife.
50:09I am a mother, selfishly, I wanted to keep him by my side forever, but I knew better.
50:13Love is in possession, it's fulfillment.
50:16That night, I was packing Gabriel's bags.
50:17Gabriel grabbed my hand, his eyes read, Mom, I'm not going to Chisate, I'll just stay with you.
50:23I held back my tears, smiled, and flicked his forehead.
50:26Silly boy, you're going to Chisate to be the crown prince,
50:29to help your idiot dad look after the family business.
50:31I have money, I can go wherever I want.
50:33You think I'd let you hold me back?
50:34When you get to Chisate, remember to tell your dad not to just focus on reviewing memorials,
50:38but to eat on time.
50:40Also, keep an eye on him for me, don't let him be seduced by those vixens.
50:43On the day of farewell, the wind in Norland was fierce.
50:46The great scholar took Gabriel onto the carriage.
50:48The child leaned against the window, crying his heart out and calling for me.
50:51I smiled and waved until the convoy disappeared over the horizon,
50:54and only then did I dare to crouch down, crying like a soulless fool.
50:58Now I am truly all alone.
50:59After sending my son away, I closed all my shops and went on a spontaneous trip.
51:03This was my dream back then, to roam the world with a sword and see its breathtaking landscapes.
51:08The first year, I went to the water towns in the south.
51:10The second year, I went to the vast desert.
51:12The third year, I went to the ancient villages of the southern tribal.
51:15It seemed like a carefree solo journey, but I always felt something was off.
51:19In the south, when I craved base soup, I had just walked into the inn when the owner said
51:23they had exactly one portion left and even gave me a discount.
51:26In the desert, I got lost and was starting to worry when I ran into a passing merchant caravan
51:30that graciously escorted me out.
51:32In the southern tribal, I wanted to attend a bonfire party.
51:35The village chief not only saved the best seat for me, but also gifted me a gorgeous set of
51:39silver jewelry.
51:40No matter where I went, I always stayed in the best rooms and ate meals that perfectly suited my taste.
51:44Even the things I wanted to buy would be prepared in advance.
51:47At first, I thought it was just good luck.
51:49Until one day, under an inn's ledger, I found a familiar note.
51:52It read,
51:52She can't handle spice, add more sugar.
51:54The sprawling handwriting was uniquely ugly.
51:57It was Steven.
51:58Turns out he never really left.
51:59He was weaving a gentle web in his own way, silently guarding my every step.
52:03He gave me the freedom I wanted, but was afraid that this freedom might hurt me.
52:07Standing on a stilt house in the southern tribal, looking at the full moon,
52:10I suddenly felt that no matter how vast the world is, without that idiot by my side,
52:15it's somehow meaningless.
52:16On the winter solstice of the third year, before I knew it,
52:19I had reached 30 miles outside Chisati city.
52:21Heavy snow began to fall, just like the night I fled the manor while pregnant.
52:25At that time, I was running for my life, filled with fear.
52:28And this time, looking at the towering silhouette of the city walls, what welled up inside me,
52:32was an indescribable sense of belonging.
52:35I stopped at an inn, and laid out some writing paper.
52:37I hadn't written back to him once in the past three years.
52:40I knew he was waiting cautiously, afraid that pushing me too hard would make me run away again.
52:44I picked up my pen.
52:45A thousand words rushed to my mind, but they all boiled down to one simple sentence.
52:49I wrote,
52:50Steven, I'm hungry.
52:51The moment I handed the letter to the courier, I felt as if flowers were blooming in my heart.
52:55I'm hungry.
52:56I want to eat your smashed cucumber salad.
52:58I want to hear you nagging in my ear.
52:59I want to go home.
53:01The carriage creeped through the snow.
53:02Finally, at sunset, it arrived at the gates of Chisati city.
53:05The city gates were quiet.
53:06There was no grand procession, or kneeling officials as I'd imagined.
53:10Just a lone man standing in the snow.
53:11He wasn't wearing his dragon robe, but a patched up black cotton robe.
53:15It was the old one I made for him at the manor years ago.
53:17The stitches were crooked and ugly as sin.
53:19He didn't have an umbrella, and snow covered his head and shoulders,
53:22looking like a silent stone statue.
53:24He was scruffy, but his eyes were strikingly bright.
53:26Seeing my carriage stop, he shifted his stiff body as if to step forward,
53:30but stopped in his tracks.
53:31Overwhelmed by the moment, he rubbed his hands together awkwardly.
53:34I lifted the curtain, jumped down, and walked toward him step by step.
53:37Rosalie, he began, his hoarse voice carried away by the snowstorm.
53:41You're back.
53:41I looked at his red frozen nose, and tears instantly blurred my vision.
53:45Yeah, I'm back.
53:46I sniffled, putting on a relaxed smile.
53:48The food out there was awful.
53:50Nothing beats the free meals at home.
53:51Steven froze for a second, then his eyes turned red as his lips curled into a huge grin.
53:56He gave a smile that looked worse than crying.
53:58He lunged forward and pulled me into a fierce embrace.
54:00He held me so tight it was like he wanted to crush me into his bones.
54:03The wonton stand is set up right outside the imperial study.
54:06He choked out in my ear.
54:08I won't charge you a booth fee this time.
54:09As long as you stay, my life is yours.
54:11I hugged his warm body back, feeling his heartbeat trembling in the snow.
54:15I won't leave, I whispered.
54:16I'm really staying this time.
54:17We held each other tightly in the snowstorm.
54:20Later, history books recorded that Steven, the great emperor who revived the Zhou dynasty,
54:24dedicated his life to ruling well, with his only flaw being that he was henpecked.
54:28Rumor has it that his wife, Lady Ashford, was as rich as a nation and monopolized the Silk Road,
54:33while the dignified son of heaven only got a monthly allowance of two tails of silver
54:37and had to earn extra money by shelling walnuts for the empress.
54:41But that's a story for another time.
54:42Right now, the snow is falling heavily, and my love has come home.
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