TNIBFT -Chapter 345 The End – Finale

After Qin Fengyi had purged the court, Lin Xianzhong stayed behind in Lindong City with Feng Jiaojiao, and the couple enjoyed a blissful life together.

At that time, no one dared to slack off.

Lin Xianzhong and Old Yang, along with the city’s soldiers, guarded the city gates overnight, checking the population of Lindong City.

“Erniu, so back then you already knew Ye Tian had something to do with the Empress?”

“Do you even need to ask?”

“Look at our eldest. Not the Crown Prince, but those features, that aura… I guessed it the moment I first saw him!”

Lin Xianzhong looked smug.

It wasn’t exactly a secret that the Empress had borne a child. Eventually, the influential figures in Dazhou all knew something about it, and they also knew the prince had gone missing…

Time passed in the blink of an eye—half a month had gone by.

Ye Yunting returned to Sifang City with Duan Qingshan.

The first reason for this return was to visit his teacher.

The second was to search for Shuangxue and Zhuangzhuang.

Along the way, Ye Yunting kept sending people to inquire, but news of Ye Shuangxue was like stone sinking into the sea—completely lost, with no trace at all.

“The city walls are just as they were when we left!”

Duan Qingshan squinted, looking at the towering walls with a proud, satisfied expression, nostalgia in his eyes.

“Back then, the master put a lot of thought into these walls. At that time, Your Highness was only this tall!” Seeing Ye Yunting glance over, Duan Qingshan gestured from his horse to show Ye Yunting’s height three years ago.

Ye Yunting was usually expressionless and didn’t talk much.

Duan Qingshan didn’t feel awkward; he just grinned. Seeing that many people were already waiting at the city gate, he became excited: “Your Highness, they’re waiting for us at the gate!”

“I’ll go take a look first!”

“Ride!” Duan Qingshan flicked his whip, and the horse surged forward.

A few days ago, Yingying had written, saying she was already three months pregnant. He was going to be an uncle! Children were a blessing; with a child, the Duan family had hope.

He had already prepared a gift for the child’s first meeting.

He had even chosen a name.

Watching Duan Qingshan ride ahead, Ye Yunting’s lips curved slightly. He looked down toward the city, where men and women in red and green were gathered.

As the carriage approached, everyone knelt and shouted, “Long live the Prince!”

Some imperial guards stepped forward, and only then did the people rise. Ye Yunting was escorted into the city amidst the crowd.

Among them, Tao Ling’er’s face was like a peach blossom, fair and rosy, her almond-shaped eyes shimmering with tears. Pushed to the back, she tiptoed anxiously, glancing left and right.

Following behind her, Zhao Kang watched her with a helpless sigh.

“Sister Ling’er!”

Ye Yunting waved at Tao Ling’er, and the crowd immediately made way.

Tao Ling’er clutched a pale yellow handkerchief, nodding excitedly as tears streamed down: “Yunting, you’ve grown taller… and grown up!”

Ye Yunting had some affection for Tao Ling’er. In their early years at Tao Lichun’s household, it was always Tao Ling’er who took care of his daily life.

He smiled shyly and nodded.

Zhao Kang, walking behind her, urged anxiously: “Ling’er, this is the Crown Prince!”

“Etiquette cannot be ignored; the Crown Prince is the lord—”

Tao Ling’er panicked but nodded, brushing the tears from her cheeks. Just as she was about to bow, Ye Yunting stepped forward and helped her up: “It’s just like before. I haven’t changed, and no one else has changed either.”

“How is Master?”

When asked about her father, Tao Ling’er’s eyes darkened with worry: “He hasn’t been well lately, thinking constantly of Your Highness. Now that you’re back to see him, he should be very happy.”

Ye Yunting nodded. “I’ll go see Master first.”

He turned to leave, but Tao Ling’er grabbed his sleeve, unwilling to let go.

Ye Yunting froze.

Her eyes flickered, and she lowered her head, whispering: “Are you the only one who came back? Your father… he…”

Her cheeks flushed as she quickly lowered her head. Ye Yunting nodded: “My mother is about to give birth, my father can’t return. Sister Ling’er, I’ll go see Master first.”

Tao Ling’er’s hand froze midair.

“Can’t come back?”

“Yes, that’s right. His position is different now; he handles countless affairs. It’s normal that he can’t return!” Tao Ling’er wiped her tears and turned her gaze to the setting sun outside the city, forcing a bitter smile.

As the Crown Prince entered the city, the people at the gates scattered.

Zhao Kang walked beside Tao Ling’er, unsure how to comfort her. He thought for a moment: “Ling’er, Master and Your Highness probably have a lot to talk about. Why don’t we go sit on the city wall today?”

“Get some fresh air?”

Zhao Kang looked hopeful.

Tao Ling’er shook her head listlessly, keeping her eyes lowered: “Not today. Yunting is back, there’s nothing more to expect. I’ll go home; if Yunting needs anything, I can handle it in time.”

Zhao Kang nodded, stunned.

For three years, Tao Ling’er had waited for Ye Tian!

He had waited with her, watched her for three years. Seeing her back, Zhao Kang felt a surge of helplessness.

That year, he came to the capital to study and was taken in by Tao Lichun as a disciple. He wore cloth shoes that exposed his toes and walked cautiously, afraid of being mocked. A group of students surrounded him and laughed, and it was seven- or eight-year-old Tao Ling’er who came to his rescue. The kind, gentle little girl made him vow to treat her well forever.

Later, when he came to Sifang City, Tao Ling’er was there at the gates to greet him. Among millions, she stood like a budding trumpet vine. From that glance, Zhao Kang could never look away.

Later, he saw Tao Ling’er love without receiving love in return, repeatedly rejected by Ye Tian. He silently guarded her. He had made his feelings known, and even his teacher could see his heart.

Only Tao Ling’er pretended not to know.

She said: “In this life, no one else can enter my heart.”

“Who says a woman must marry?”

“If he lives, I live. If he dies, I die!”

Yes, he was no different.

This lifetime, life moved slowly—ten years to love one person, a lifetime to wait for one person…

Zhao Kang forced a smile, pushing down his emotions, and caught up to Tao Ling’er’s back: “Ling’er, why don’t we have Doctor Qiu come see Master now that the Crown Prince is here?”

“Are you upset because Ye Tian didn’t come and ignoring me?”

“Ling’er…”

Under the setting sun, the streets of Sifang City buzzed with vendors’ cries and the flow of people. Zhao Kang and Tao Ling’er moved one after the other, disappearing into the crowd…

…

On the sparsely populated wasteland,

Ye Shuangxue carried a small bundle on her back, and perched atop it was a tiny little one. “You little rascal, we ran all the way here—why is there no one around?”

Flustered and exhausted from the journey, she finally remembered her younger brother.

“Old man!”

“Is Zhuangzhuang asleep?”

Ye Shuangxue tilted her head and shouted for Sun Wuji. His hair, pure white and still as messy as ever, piled atop his head. He blinked at the child on his apprentice’s back and scratched the back of his head. “He’s probably asleep. Let’s not wake him.”

“You travel the jianghu, yet you bring along such a little thing…”

Ye Shuangxue opened the bundle and realized that Zhuangzhuang wasn’t asleep—he had fainted.

“Master, did Zhuangzhuang faint from hunger?”

“Last night we ate roasted rabbit meat; Zhuangzhuang only took a bite. Today he hasn’t eaten a thing. Master, is he… going to die?”

Ye Shuangxue’s face turned pale with fear, clutching her brother tightly as tears streamed down.

Sun Wuji’s eyes darted nervously—taking care of a baby was clearly not his specialty.

Seeing his apprentice about to cry, Sun Wuji thought for a moment, then gritted his teeth and pulled a golden pill from his pocket. “Give him this. Just this one. I’ve been keeping it for sixty years—let the kid have it.”

“This… what is it?”

Ye Shuangxue held the golden pill, inspecting it closely.

Sun Wuji said, “A Life-Extending Pill.”

Without hesitation, Ye Shuangxue fed it to Zhuangzhuang. After a short while, the little one slowly regained consciousness. Both master and child finally smiled. Sun Wuji said, “We should find a reliable place to leave Zhuangzhuang for now. Such a tiny baby, with only two teeth, can’t eat meat or biscuits yet.”

“No!”

Ye Shuangxue refused to listen.

“Thud-thud…”

“Thud!”

“Giddy-up!”

From a distance, a troop of riders galloped toward them, dust swirling under the blazing sun. Ye Shuangxue and Sun Wuji exchanged a glance. Ye Shuangxue hugged her brother tightly, while Sun Wuji casually looked at the approaching riders.

The leader wore black robes, her face covered by a black veil. She gripped the reins tightly, her hands clad in black leather gloves. Her gaze was sharp. Spotting Ye Shuangxue and her master, her pupils constricted in surprise as she hurriedly dismounted. “Shuangxue?”

“Is it really you?”

Xiao Xun’er paid no mind to her horse, dropping the reins and running toward Ye Shuangxue.

Seeing Sun Wuji, she respectfully said, “And Master Sun—Ye Tian was right. You really are together.”

Hearing her voice, Ye Shuangxue’s face lit up. She smiled at the newcomer. “Sister Xun’er, you’re not here to drag me back for my father, are you?”

Xiao Xun’er’s eyes curved in a cheerful smile.

For the past three years, she had traversed the wastelands and snowfields with her troops. This world belonged to Ye Tian, and she would help him protect it, clearing all toxins from the land. Not a single day had she stopped.

She glanced at the little baby in Ye Shuangxue’s arms, not daring to speak through the veil. “This… this must be Zhuangzhuang, right?”

“Truly looks a lot like Ye Tian,” she murmured, her heart melting at the sight of him.

“Ba…ba…hug…” Zhuangzhuang babbled, reaching out for Xiao Xun’er. Xiao Xun’er, moved, looked at Ye Shuangxue. “Can… can I?”

Ye Shuangxue didn’t hesitate, handing her brother into Xiao Xun’er’s arms.

The little one began rooting around in her arms, too hungry…

Since leaving with his sister, he hadn’t had a proper meal for three days, starving through nine meals.

Zhuangzhuang opened his mouth and started gnawing at everything nearby.

Ye Shuangxue: …

Sun Wuji turned his head, awkwardly silent.

Under the veil, Xiao Xun’er’s cheeks flamed red. Sun Wuji pulled Ye Shuangxue aside. “Your brother needs milk. If he stays with us, he’ll starve to death. Better let Miss Xiao take care of him for now. We can return in a few days.”

Though reluctant, Ye Shuangxue agreed.

“City Lord, the child must be hungry!” one of the female subordinates said.

Xiao Xun’er, holding Zhuangzhuang, nodded. “Return to Heng City first. Find the best wet nurse, no—prepare goat and cow milk. Go handle it!”

After all, this child had been personally fed by the Empress herself. Eating from someone else felt… strange.

“Sister Xun’er, I entrust my brother to you for now!”

“I and Master need to deal with the remaining Goddess Palace remnants. We’ll come back later…”

Ye Shuangxue and Sun Wuji took this chance to snatch Xiao Xun’er’s horse, riding away…

A gentle breeze lifted Xiao Xun’er’s veil.

Backlit by the sun, she seemed bathed in light. Carefully gazing at the little baby in her arms, her eyes soft, she cooed gently, “Where’s your father?”

“Your father hasn’t seen you for three years. You came first, little one. Aunt will take you back to Heng City.”

“From now on, Aunt will take care of you!”

…

Meanwhile, inside the Dazhou Imperial Palace,

Panic filled the air. Imperial doctors and attendants rushed in and out. Qin Fengyi cried out in pain. Ye Tian, anxious at the door, muttered, “Not yet?”

“If it doesn’t work, I only want my wife…”

“Protect the mother, not the child!”

Ye Tian’s frantic rambling made little sense. Inside the birthing chamber, Qin Fengyi heard him and smiled faintly at Shangguan Ning beside her. “Did you hear that?”

“My husband is a hero of the age. No matter how much suffering I endure for him, I will gladly bear it!”

“Ah…”

Qin Fengyi screamed. Immediately, the sound of a newborn’s cry filled the room: “Waa…waa…”

The midwife shouted, “Your Majesty, she’s delivered!”

“She’s born!”

[The End]