"The… The war is over?* Li Yan said in disbelief.
With a delighted smile, Lady Wang said, "Yes! Something major happened on the battlefield."
Not able to cope with the sudden news, Li Yan blurted in disbelief, "W-what happened?"
Lady Wang sat on the chair with elegance and said, "Prince Jing of Xia orchestrated a hasty retreat, luring the enemy to pursue his forces but it was a trap. The forces of Wei pursued him for three days and nights, he was injured and even almost killed. However, it all turned out to be a huge trap. He lured the foe into a difficult terrain where the Xia forces had been lying in wait. The trap worked and Eastern Wei suffered grave casualties and had to retreat."
Lady Wang went on the recite all the details she had heard when the messenger had arrived with the news. She explained every detail with fervor, praising Prince Jing for his bravery now and then.
"Then what happened?" Li Yan asked.
"The winter is coming. Both Eastern Wei and The Great Xia have been spent in this long war of attrition. Therefore, the Xia Emperor sent the terms for negotiations and Wei Emperor accepted. And strangely so, miraculously both countries are now going to form a marriage alliance for the prolongation of peace."
Li Yan stepped back in shock and then the reality truly dawned on her. The war was over. That meant that the situation in Tianze would be relieved somewhat if not too much. This also meant that Li Yan could go back home. She could finally show her son to Li Junwei.
In pure ecstasy, she exclaimed, "Wonderful! That's wonderful! Shijie, did you hear? We can now go home!"
Shijie coughed and smiled at his mother as he saw her brimming with happiness, Shijie was a child who had known only his mother who had taken care of him and raised him. This had innately reflected in the affection and respect he had for Li Yan.
At this moment, Lady Wang spoke in a stern voice, "You can't leave just yet."
"Why?!" Li Yan blurted in aggravation.
Narrowing her eyes, Lady Wang said calmly, "Li Yan! Get a hold of yourself! Shijie is not well right now! Will you make him travel in such a condition?!"
Li Yan's eyes opened wide in realization as she came out of her flurry. Smiling bitterly, she muttered, "You are right… I Lost my cool. I would never do something harmful to him."
Sensing his mother's dampening mood, Shijie thought for a moment and said, "Mother… I will be fine, let's go home. I want to meet father."
As he said this, a silence ensued which was broken by Lady Wang's solemn voice, "Do not be hasty, the war was between Wei and Xia. The chaos that happened in Tianze was the result of the turbulence and the warlords who took advantage of it. The war may have stopped but it will take some time for Tianze to calm down."
Li Yan nodded in regret and contemplated as she said, "You are right, I am certain that husband will surely send word when he sees our return to be safe. It may take up to a year."
Lady Wang smiled and said teasingly, "Look at that, who would have imagined that the fierce Lady Yan is so impatient to meet her husband?"
Li Yan blushed and said, "W-what, it's. It's for Shijie. He hasn't seen his father yet."
"But of course." Lady Wang said and giggled.
Li Yan's cheeks flushed red and she looked away from embarrassment. Seeing his mother's face red like a tomato, Shijie remarked bashfully, "Tomato… Why is mother's face like a tomato?"
Hearing this, Lady Wang couldn't control herself and burst into laughter while Li Yan's brows twitched. She extended her hands toward Shijie with a 'smile' on her face and Shijie became terrified.
Before he could run, he shrieked, as Li Yan pulled his ear with a very very kind smile on her face.
Lady Wang laughed even more and then Li Yan also began laughing freely for the first time in a long time. Only poor Shijie was shrieking in misery.
***
One year passed in yearning and waiting, in letters and messages, then only one day in the summer, a letter arrived that read, "Escort Sent, I await your arrival. Come home safely," - Li Junwei.
Soon after, the cavalry of the Li Family once again appeared outside the Purple Lotus City.
The luggage was ready and everything had been prepared for this very day. On this sunny day, the guest who had been staying with the Wang Clan were leaving at last.
In the first square of the Wang Estate, everyone stood together to give Li Yan and Shijie farewell.
There was a sense of melancholy and sorrow in the air but everyone seemed genuinely happy at the same time. The servants and maids would miss shijie's playfulness, Lady Wang would miss the womanly gossiping with Li Yan, the Wang Clan's knights would miss the friendly duals with Yao Wuhan and others, Wang Fang would miss the discussions with Old Huo and the City's inhabitants would also miss this unexpected guest.
As Li Yan and her people were leaving. They looked back in the past few years and found themselves more sorrowful than expected. They would, too, miss the Wang Clan.
Li Yan looked sincere and filled with gratitude as she looked at all the people standing before her. Shijie, who was now four years old looked as carefree as well, but with a sense of sadness in his gaze.
Li Yan and Shijie both bowed deeply facing all the people who had been nothing but kind to them. Shijie had vowed that he would never forget this kindness in his life, that's what Li Yan had taught him.
In the time of departure, there was no need for words. Everyone understood everything. With this final goodbye, Li Yan and Shijie turned around with their followers to leave.
As they took one step ahead, suddenly a ruckus sounded from behind. When Shijie looked back to see, he felt like he was bumped into something. Upon closer inspection, he found out that it was Wang Xue who was holding onto him tightly in her embrace. He could then feel his chest getting wet from her tears.
Shijie, who was taller than Xue'er grabbed her shoulders and released himself from her embrace gently. He then wiped away the tears falling from her big eyes, holding her hands and said in a low voice, "Xue'er don't cry, or mother will punish me again."
But Wang Xue still kept crying softly.
Shijie suddenly propped her chin up, forcing her to look at his tranquil yet vibrant eyes. Seeing his calm gaze, Wang Xue calmed down somewhat.
Shijie then brought out a broach from his pocket which had the characters 'Li' engraved on it and handed it in Wang Xue's hand.
"This is a gift. If you cry, I will not give it to you!" He said.
Hearing this, it was as if a bolt had gone through her, Wang Xue quickly wiped her tears and closed the broach in her fist as if she was afraid that it would disappear.
Shijie smiled and then stepped back. He wished to stay in this place if possible but he knew that his mother's heart was not here. So how could his be? And so he had to leave.
"Wait! You… Will you come back to fulfill our promise?" Wang Xue said as she tugged on Shijie's robe.
"Oh… Yes. I will." Shijie said firmly but who knew if he truly meant it.
Hearing this, Wang Xue forced a smile as she stepped back with great reluctance.
"Come along, its time." Li Yan whispered.
Shijie smiled and then turned around. He then held his mother's hand and left with the others such as Old Huo and such. Never to look back even once.
As they left, Wang Xue and others watched their disappearing silhouettes. When their figures completely vanished into obscurity, Wang Xue couldn't hold it any longer as she sobbed uncontrollably in her mother's arms.
Seeing this, the entire Wang Clan sighed regretfully with bitter smiles.