The first light of dawn filtered gently through the carved lattice windows, bathing the chamber in a soft golden glow. The fragrance of sandalwood still lingered in the air from the incense that had burned through the night.
Tai Jian stirred awake before the sun fully rose. For a long moment, he simply lay there, listening to the steady rhythm of the breath beside him. His arm was wrapped protectively around Tie Hongchen, and her delicate figure rested quietly against his chest. A warmth spread through him that no battle victory had ever brought.
Carefully, as if afraid to disturb a fragile dream, he lifted a hand and brushed his fingers through her silky hair. The strands slid smoothly between his calloused fingertips, reminding him of the contrast between the battlefield's blood and this rare tranquility. Unable to restrain himself, he bent forward and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
Tie Hongchen did not stir, her lashes remaining closed, her breathing calm. She gave no response, but Tai Jian did not feel disappointed. For him, this moment alone was enough.
His heart, which had faced countless storms, felt oddly light. So what if I only have less than a decade left? he thought, staring at her peaceful face. Life and death have never been my concern. What matters are the ones I care for. If death comes, let it come—what is there to fear? Even death itself is too insignificant to stain my pride.
His gaze lingered on Tie Hongchen, drinking in the sight of her serene beauty. It was then that she stirred slightly, as though sensing his movements. Her eyes fluttered open, and for a heartbeat, their gazes met in silence.
Neither spoke. The world outside was beginning to wake—birds calling faintly from the palace gardens, servants bustling in distant corridors—but within the chamber, there was only the quiet weight of their unspoken thoughts.
Finally, Tie Hongchen parted her lips. The first word she spoke was not the scolding Tai Jian half-expected, nor an icy remark to shatter the moment. Instead, her voice was soft, almost hesitant, carrying a gentleness he had rarely heard from her.
"Why?"
She herself did not know why this was the first question she asked. Yet once it left her lips, she made no attempt to take it back.
Tai Jian's lips curved in a faint, rueful smile. "I don't know," he replied honestly.
He wanted to tell her it was because he loved her, that every breath he drew for her sake was worth it—but the words lodged in his throat. Too many times he had asked himself that same question, yet never found an answer that satisfied even him. So he chose the only truth he knew: that he did not know.
A flicker of disappointment flashed across Tie Hongchen's eyes, but she quickly suppressed it.
"Was it worth it?" she asked quietly.
"Yes," Tai Jian answered without hesitation. His tone was steady, carrying no trace of doubt.
He had asked himself countless times whether one day he would regret everything he had done for her—the sacrifices, the wounds, the endless devotion. And yet, each time, the answer had always been the same. His heart was at peace. As long as she was well, as long as she could smile, then no matter what she thought of him—even if she hated him—his own happiness was fulfilled.
But he was also a coward. He could give everything, yet hide his truest feelings behind silence.
Tie Hongchen's voice sharpened suddenly, her eyes narrowing. "Why? Why do you care so much? Why do you do all of this for me? Are you not afraid that everything you've done… is for the wrong person?"
Her words lashed out like a blade, yet Tai Jian only pulled her closer into his embrace.
"I don't care," he murmured. His voice was low, but steady.
He paused, as if weighing whether to continue, then spoke again, this time with the heavy cadence of memory.
"There was once a general under my command—a man I trusted above most others. He was my disciple, someone I had trained with my own hands. I once thought he would inherit my mantle, perhaps even lead my armies one day. But he betrayed me—for a woman."
Tie Hongchen stilled, her eyes locked on him, sensing that this was no light tale.
Tai Jian's gaze grew distant, filled with shadows of the battlefield. "That woman was no ordinary figure—she was a general of the enemy. Through him, she sought to uncover our secrets, to turn the tide of war against us. I had always warned him that the human heart is full of treachery, that one must guard against such weakness. And yet…" He exhaled heavily. "Fate mocked me."
He fell silent for a while, his hand tightening unconsciously around Tie Hongchen's shoulder. Then he continued.
"I could not bring myself to kill him. He was my disciple. Instead, I expelled him from the army. But even then, he could not escape her shadow. She drew him back into her world, using him to strike at us again. Yet… he resisted. He tried to leave. In the end, he disappeared, a broken man.
"When the decisive battle came, she appeared before me on the field. Rage consumed me—I was determined to end her life with my own sword. But then… that unfilial disciple returned, throwing himself between us to protect her."
Tai Jian's voice faltered, grief seeping into the edges. "He fought desperately against me. And then—when his guard was down—she struck him herself. A single sword, straight through his heart. Not enough to kill him outright, perhaps, but… a dead heart is worse than a mortal wound. Even if I wanted to save him, it was too late."
His eyes glistened. A tear slid down his cheek. "And even then, even with his last breath, he sought only to protect her. He told me…"
Tai Jian's voice broke, but he forced the words out:
> 'Commander, I have fought countless battles in my life, but I have lost the one against my heart. I could not win against her smile. If one day you fall in love, you will understand this helplessness. I do not seek forgiveness, for I have no regrets. Only those with regrets need to apologize. I am satisfied, so let me leave in peace. Take care, Master… your unfilial disciple will go ahead of you.'
By the time he finished, Tai Jian's tears had fallen freely. For the first time, Tie Hongchen saw him not as a proud general, not as the unyielding prince, but as a man—vulnerable, burdened by grief and love alike.
"I understand now," he whispered, looking directly at her.
And how could she not understand his meaning? His tale was not about the disciple—it was about himself.
Her heart trembled. She lowered her eyes, struggling to control the turmoil within. Finally, she spoke in a voice barely above a whisper.
"I thought… you would never say it. I cannot deny that I still hold grudges, and I am not certain of my feelings. But do not expect me to suddenly declare that I… love you."
Tai Jian smiled faintly, as though her honesty alone was enough to soothe him. "If you no longer hate me, then that is enough. I only ask that you give me a chance… to pursue you."
Tie Hongchen met his gaze, her expression complex. Then she said softly, "We are already husband and wife. You have a lifetime to pursue me."
Her words pierced directly into his heart, warming him more than she could have known. For a moment, he nearly lost control, nearly captured her lips with his. But he held back. She deserved patience. She deserved gentleness.
Husband and wife…
The thought alone was enough to make his heart soar. But a shadow lingered at the edges of his mind—he knew better than anyone that they did not have a lifetime. His remaining years were counted, perhaps less than ten, and if he truly went forward with his reckless plan to invade the Shadow Guild in five years, he doubted he would return alive. Even if he did, his body would not last more than a year.
Still, he buried that truth deep in his heart. So what if time was short? He would use every breath to make her happy, to fill each day with laughter. That alone would be enough.
Just as the atmosphere settled into a fragile peace, a voice came from beyond the chamber doors.
"Your Highness," Xue Kai called respectfully, "the Empress Dowager awaits your presence, together with the princess."
The words cut through the moment like a blade of cold air.
Tai Jian's expression cooled instantly. "You are dismissed," he commanded.
"Yes, Your Highness," Xue Kai replied, withdrawing swiftly.
Silence returned to the room, though its warmth had been broken by the looming weight of palace summons.
---
✨ This version is 2–3x longer, with:
Rich setting details (dawn, incense, atmosphere).
Slower pacing of their exchange.
Expanded battlefield tale with vivid imagery.
Tie Hongchen's emotions shown in small shifts, not just her words.
A heavier ending hook, emphasizing the gravity of the Empress Dowager's call.