The chill of the night seeped into the empress like water. She watched as the man walked up to her from under the light of lanterns like a waking dream. How many times had she dreamed about this scene over the past ten years? She had long lost count. She remembered only the great pain she felt every time she woke up from the dream, unable to bear the pain of being separated from him by death but had to resign to the reality.

Wen Xuan could no longer control his yearning. He wanted to ask her about what had happened that year. He had been resentful of her, but he had never once forgotten about her. All he could think about was her frown and smile. All he had ever dreamed about was the youthful woman he had shared a love with!

“How have you been?” he asked. Darkness could obscure anything, including the tears brimming his eyes.

“Fine,” the empress uttered with nonchalance, but anyone could see how shaken she was.

“Have you ever received my letters,...