While Wang Chang was enjoying his new life and had started recovering from his broken heart, a different story was occurring in a separate place.
Luo Nuying stood under a tree. Her face was no longer ordinary. Her sharp and distinct eyebrows accentuated her pale, oval face, and her lips provided a contrast to her shapely nose.
Her red pupils focused into the distance as her white and pink dress swayed with the cold wind. Her long hair fluttered gently and with an otherworldly charm.
Her body was still the same as before but it was further revealed due to her tight-fitted silk dress.
If Wang Chang saw her right now, he would barely recognize her. Her aura and appearance had changed, only her heart had not.
She could feel Wang Chang's existence far, far away. She wanted to look with her powerful senses but her furrowed eyebrows gave a hint that something was stopping her.
"Senior Immortal Lord, the Ancestor is requesting your due return. He wants to find out about the result of your heart tribulation."
A young man with unmatched facial features landed behind her. He wore silver armor with intrinsic runes etched onto its surface.
"Tell him to scram."
"S-Senior… I…"
"We are both equals in cultivation. If he wants to see my improvement in techniques, I will show him."
Her voice sharply conveyed her thoughts to the young man. It gave him no room for refusal.
"I, I will communicate it word for word."
The young man hurriedly flew away and disappeared.
As she became alone once more, Luo Nuying opened her mouth.
"Sigh. My heart wants to spoil you, Chang'er, but the underworld does not want me to alter your karma. If you die in this life, the throne will feel empty… please come soon."
A tear fell from Luo Nuying's eye and hit the ground. She wiped her face with a handkerchief and resumed staring in Wang Chang's direction.
She could see him if she tried, but she knew she wouldn't be able to stop herself from spoiling him once she did. She was not the only Immortal Lord in existence and there were many that could threaten her such as the rulers of the underworld.
Her blatant twisting of rules had angered a few, and they expressed their disapproval of her. If she tried to interfere with Wang Chang, they would ascend to the world from the underworld.
"Chang'er, I miss you."
Luo Nuying's words fell into no one's ears but the wind. She hoped that it would bring her love to him even if they were separated by a great distance.
. . .
In the middle of the night, Wang Chang opened his eyes. He couldn't help but stare outside the window. His heart thumped fast as he sensed something.
What is going on?
Wang Chang looked at himself, feeling weird. He glanced at his mother, who was soundly asleep.
The room was empty with only the two of them inside. His father was a busy man and rarely came home.
With nothing to do, Wang Chang carefully slipped out of bed. His socks touched the cold floor, and he balanced himself. His baby body had grown stronger, and it wasn't as squishy as it used to be.
He walked to the bedside and observed his mother's beautiful face.
It's not her.
Wang Chang touched his chest and didn't feel anything weird.
He glanced outside, and he felt the throbbing sensation again.
Could it be…?
Wang Chang made a guess, and he stepped onto the chair beside the window. He stared outside and the cool breeze brushed against his cheeks. The moon was high above the sky and the stars twinkled.
Ying'er, do you miss me?
Wang Chang didn't know why he thought she missed him. He had made no contact with her ever since his death a year and a half ago.
His heart had never felt like this ever since he reincarnated.
I need to move on.
Wang Chang closed his eyes and shut his heart. He already gained a new life. He had a family and an empire. It was so much different compared to his past life.
There was still a piece of him that wanted to see her, but he suppressed it. After all, he didn't know if she was the reason he reincarnated. He believed in the back of his mind that this was something random that happened to him.
It didn't have to happen because of her.
Wang Chang might have believed she did it in the past, but he gained a clearer understanding of cultivators recently. They were beings who could live a little longer and use supernatural magic.
They weren't that much different compared to normal humans he was familiar with.
Still, I wonder how strong she is.
Wang Chang never would have guessed that Luo Nuying was an Immortal Lord with the ability to interfere with the natural rules of the underworld. His worldview of cultivators was limited to the point of view of the Jin Empire and the Four Grass Sect.
I will find her if I can but I won't look for her.
Wang Chang told himself. He took one last gaze into the night sky and returned to bed. He snuggled closer to his mother and relished in her body heat after exposing himself to the cold wind outside.
In this manner, Wang Chang's life proceeded smoothly.
. . .
Two years and a few months after being born, Wang Chang stared at his mother who was riding a horse. It was early in the morning, and he had just woken up.
He raised his hands up, feeling fully like a baby. Anatolia stood beside him, and she pulled him back.
"Jiayi, I shall return after a few months."
The Empress smiled warmly at Jin Jiayi and at the same time there was sadness in her eyes. After spending two full years with each other, the two had grown attached to one another.
"Mama!"
Wang Chang uttered.
He rarely spoke as it might reveal he was reincarnated, but at this moment, he felt like he had to.
"Jiayi…"
The Empress bit her lower lip.
"Your Imperial Majesty, we need to leave soon. The Morning River will be impassable by afternoon."
Qian Gang reminded her as he reigned his horse. He stared at her and knew he needed to persuade her or she would be controlled by her motherly instincts.
"Crown Prince Jiayi, the Empress will be visiting the Wen Kingdom. She will be back with your father."
Anatolia spoke up. She also sensed that the two would be unable to separate if they were left alone.
At the mention of his father, Wang Chang nodded at Anatolia and reluctantly waved at his mother as he had grown to love his family. His father brought gifts whenever he could return. Even if he wasn't always there, he could sense his care and love when he came back.
"Jiayi… I will come back in a month!"
The Empress declared and smacked her horse, causing it to rush forward, away from Jin Jiayi.
"..."
Wang Chang stared at her departing figure with sadness. His somber appearance touched Anatolia, and she hugged him from behind.
"Your mother will be back, Jiayi," she whispered.
"Mm."
Qian Gang glanced at Jin Jiayi once more then followed after the Empress.
"Your Imperial Majesty, a month is impossible!"
"We will make it possible!"
The Empress responded in the distance.
He sighed and shook his head as he faintly smiled. He turned back and nodded at Jin Jiayi to show his acknowledgment and respect for the love between the mother and son.
He then left with the squad of imperial soldiers and the Empress.