The gates of the Bai Residence opened with a deep creak, letting in the afternoon sunlight — and the figures who had not stood together in seven long years.
Bai Yunchen stepped in first, tall and steady.
Bai Yanyu, now a graceful young scholar, followed behind him.
He meets his brother Yunchen at the front door.
And then—
Rouyuan saw them.
Her breath broke.
Her eyes blurred instantly. "Ge…Chen Ge…"
Before she could stop herself, she ran.
And the moment Bai Yunchen opened his arms, Rouyuan collided into his chest — trembling.
"Ah Yuan…" Bai Yunchen whispered, voice rough.
Bai Yanyu, unable to hold back, hugged her from the side.
"Gee!"
Then—
Warm, strong arms wrapped around all three of them.
Bai Longyuan.
Their father.
His voice broke as he pressed his forehead to Rouyuan's hair.
"Yuan Er… Daddy is home."
"We're all home."
Rouyuan burst into tears — not quietly, not politely —
But the deep, uncontrollable sobs of a child who had held her pain alone for far too long.
Bai Longyuan heart felt very sad and heavy.
He hadn't cried in decades — but now, tears glimmered in his eyes.
For a long moment, a family torn apart by war finally became whole again.
Wen Xianyi Joins the Family
Wen Xianyi, watching from the side, began crying too.
She wiped her tears aggressively.
"I-It's not fair. Why am I crying too?!"
Rouyuan laughed through her tears and hugged her tightly.
"This is Xianyi," she introduced, voice still shaking.
"My cousin. My best friend. My shadow."
Wen Xianyi straightened proudly and bowed to Bai Longyuan.
"Uncle Bai! I am Wen Xianyi — daughter of Wen Roushan and Bo Aimin,"
"The one who keeps your daughter safe!"
Bai Yunchen's eyebrow twitched, "Oh?"
"So, you're the one who keeps sending me strange drawings of Ah Yuan and Xiao Yu?"
Wen Xianyi gasped dramatically.
"They are masterpieces!"
"And you never said thank you!"
Rouyuan laughed so hard until she hiccupped.
Bai Longyuan chuckled for the first time that day.
"Thank you, Yi Er," he said sincerely.
"Thank you for staying by my children's side."
Wen Xianyi sniffed loudly and saluted like a tiny guard. "It was my honor!"
Meanwhile in the Capital… Murong Yexuan Returns
The victorious march back to the capital should have been glorious, but Murong Yexuan barely felt it.
Meetings.
War reports.
Border negotiations.
Internal investigations.
Court sessions.
Audit of military losses.
For two whole months, he had no time to breathe — let alone go to Bai Residence and search for Bai Rouyuan.
His promise remained unfulfilled.
But every night…
He opened her letters.
He smelled the fragrance she crafted.
And the longing grew harder to ignore.
Bai Rouyuan Opens Yunyan Pavilion — Capital Branch
Two months passed.
At last, Yunyan Pavilion (Capital Branch) opened its doors in Wuzhen City.
The shop was beautifully design, white walls, soft gold decorations, elegant lattice windows, fragrance drifting through the air,
Shelves filled with perfumes, soaps, powders, fragrance makeup, incense, oils and everything.
The moment it opened, customers flooded in.
Everyone in the capital already knew the name of Yunyan Pavillion — a self-produce fragrance product and perfume from Lingnan City.
Everything that had been created sold out in hours.
Bai Rouyuan and Wen Xianyi greeted customers with elegant smiles.
Business soared.
Trouble Arrives — The Bai Cousins & Zhao Shaoqin
But peace never lasted in Wuzhen City.
Zhao Shaoqin, the Prime Minister's spoiled daughter, arrived with Bai Zhenying, Bai Yuxin, and Bai Yulan.
Their expressions twisted in disdain.
Zhao Shaoqin lifted her chin arrogantly, "So, this is the famous Yunyan Pavilion?
"How disappointing."
Wen Xianyi stepped forward immediately, "Then you can leave."
Bai Zhenying scoffed, "So rude, who are you?"
Bai Yulan sneered.
"Rouyuan, do you think opening a shop makes you special?"
Zhao Shaoqin smirked, folding her fan. "As the Prime Minister's daughter,"
"I can shut this place down with one word."
Customers nearby gasped.
Bai Rouyuan remained calm behind her Mianjin veil.
Her voice was light, "Then say it."
"Just do it."
"Let us see if the Prime Minister truly wishes to embarrass himself."
Zhao Shaoqin's expression cracked. "You—!"
Before she could finish— a graceful figure entered the pavilion.
Perfumed breeze followed her arrival, and her beautiful sea-blue dress rippled like water.
Her guards stepped forward.
Everyone fell silent.
Its Princess Murong Qingshi.
Princess Qingshi Saves the Day
Murong Qingshi tapped her fan lightly against her palm.
"Oh my… What's going on here?"
Zhao Shaoqin stiffened. "Y-Your Highness— "What are you doing here?"
Murong Qingshi narrowed her eyes, "You're asking me why I'm here?"
"Of course I came to buy a perfume."
"And why are you shouting in my friend's shop?"
"F-Friend…?"
Zhao Shaoqin paled.
Wen Xianyi grinned maliciously.
Rouyuan bowed, "Welcome, Jiějiě."
Murong Qingshi linked arms with Rouyuan confidently.
"Let me be clear," she said coldly.
"Anyone who bullies Rouyuan…"
"is my enemy."
Zhao Shaoqin's face froze.
The Bai cousins flushed with shame.
Murong Qingshi raised an eyebrow.
"Well? Aren't you leaving?"
Without another word, Zhao Shaoqin and the Bai cousins fled the shop in mortification.
The customers burst into laughter.
Wen Xianyi nearly fainted from victory.
Bai Rouyuan smiled softly behind her veil.
The Capital Has Changed, But Some Promises Remain Unfulfilled…
Far across the capital—Murong Yexuan sat in the war council room, listening half-heartedly to yet another report.
But his thoughts drifted again, To a girl in a xuesha veil...
And a scent he could never forget.
Bai Rouyuan…
I will come to you soon.