Tang Zhuyun had a very long dream.
She dreamed of her childhood.
At that time, her mother was already sick, and her father took her to a big city for treatment, while she stayed with her maternal grandparents.
There's a small flower bed downstairs at my grandma's house, filled with gardenias, and their fragrance permeates the entire street.
She and her friends were playing soccer downstairs.
That's right, there was a period when Tang Zhuyun was a big fan of football when she was a child.
She boasted that she was the best at boxing among girls who played soccer, and the best at soccer among girls who boxed.
Tang Zhuyun could see her grandmother cooking on the balcony whenever she looked up.
"Tangbao, come back for dinner!"
"No, Grandma, I want to play a little longer! Grandpa isn't back yet!"
My maternal grandfather was a researcher at the provincial museum; he was a rigid and serious old man.
They live in the staff quarters of the Provincial Museum, so it's very close. My grandfather would come home for lunch every day.
Tang Zhuyun wasn't particularly close to him, because she always felt her grandfather was serious, and she wasn't allowed to enter the room where he kept his "treasures" without permission.
Even when we invite her in, she won't come in.
The things inside looked rather eerie and terrifying to children, carrying an aura of hundreds or even thousands of years, making them difficult to approach.
Of course, these were all collected by my grandfather himself out of his hobby.
Tang Zhuyun was not interested in those things.
She preferred the magnificent exhibition halls of the provincial museum to these simple or poorly maintained items.
Because she frequently visited the provincial museum, she developed a very strong fondness for pearls.
She knows every single one of the exhibition halls in the provincial museum like the back of her hand.
Her grandmother called her to eat, but she wanted to play with her friends a little longer, so she used her grandfather as a shield.
However, no sooner had Lai Pi finished speaking than his maternal grandfather appeared at the alley entrance on his electric scooter.
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
While serving soup, Grandma said, "I'm going to visit Sister Xu who's sick this afternoon. You take Tangbao to work."
Grandpa grunted in response.
Tang Zhuyun said timidly, "Grandpa and Grandma, can't I play downstairs?"
"No," her grandmother interrupted, "It's not safe for you to be home alone."
"Oh."
Grandpa remained silent.
After lunch, she rode on her grandfather's electric scooter and followed him to his office.
My grandfather seemed very busy; he was in a meeting with his graduate students, discussing something.
Tang Zhuyun played with the toys for a while, then got bored and secretly went over to take a look.
"This seal is very meaningful. Look at this side—" Grandfather explained to everyone, holding up a strangely shaped seal.
The blinds formed a backdrop; his hair was already gray, his face remained serious, yet he lectured with utmost dedication...
When she got off work, her grandfather bought Tang Zhuyun a balloon and a box of freshly cooked takoyaki.
She tied the balloon to her hand, attracting envious glances from many children.
Under such gazes, Little Tangbao straightened her back, obediently holding the little meatballs, waiting to go back and eat them...
The scene then shifts again, to the day she finished her middle school entrance exam.
After leaving the examination hall, she was picked up by people from her maternal grandfather's workplace and taken to the hospital.
Amidst the pungent smell of disinfectant, she saw her grandfather, who was on the verge of death.
Grandpa wanted to smile at her, but for him, that was already very difficult.
Her grandfather, whose body was covered in tubes, looked at her crying with a worried expression.
Then her uncle comforted her and handed her a box, saying it was a birthday present her grandfather had prepared for her, but unfortunately she wouldn't live to see that day.
With tears in her eyes, Tang Zhuyun opened the box and saw a miniature replica of a seal, made into a pendant and tied to a platinum chain.
She recognized it at a glance; it was the ancient imperial seal that she had seen her grandfather explain to others when she was a child, and which was the one she had become fascinated with.
Her uncle told her on behalf of her grandfather that this emperor held a high position and great power, but he only loved his own wife throughout his life.
This contains her grandfather's deep blessings for her future.
That day, Grandpa passed away. Tang Zhuyun wore this pendant around her neck until she was gone...
Grandpa!
I know that although I find you serious and old-fashioned, you have always loved me very much.
I have always loved you very much.
But it was too late to say those words.
Unrequited love—this was probably her deepest regret from her past life.
Tang Zhuyun dreamed of her maternal grandfather again.
Grandpa placed the pendant in her hand, smiling as he looked at her, "Tangbao, may you be happy."
Then his figure gradually disappeared into the distance, seemingly about to vanish into the darkness.
Grandpa, I love you, I love you so much!
Tang Zhuyun shouted with all her might, tears streaming down her face.
Then he was woken up by the worried Emperor Wen.
She clenched her fists tightly, only to find them empty. She stood there, tears streaming down her face, saying nothing.
Emperor Wen was terrified by her. He got up and hugged her tightly. "Tang Zhuzi, don't be afraid. You were having a nightmare, weren't you?"
"It wasn't a nightmare..."
It was a beautiful dream, a very, very good dream.
She dreamt of her long-lost relatives.
Tang Zhuyun spoke to Emperor Wen in detail, and her emotions gradually calmed down.
Emperor Wen breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Since you didn't bring it, how about I have the craftsmen make you a new one? Just describe what it looks like, and they'll definitely be able to make an exact replica."
If you can't make it, just cut it off; it's useless.
Tang Zhuyun shook her head. "No need."
Even if it looks similar, it's not the one her grandfather gave her.
Emperor Wen coaxed her, saying, "It's different, but at least you'll have something to remember us by."
"No need." Tang Zhuyun struggled out of his arms, lay on the bed, and remained silent for a long time.
Emperor Wen put his arm around her shoulder and Jingjing stayed with her.
A few days later, Xiao Ye brought back Linlin's latest letter from Liaodong.
The letter reached Emperor Wen, who, after reading it, fell into deep thought.
It's that same kind of seal!
Just like what Tang Zhuzi said, is it a coincidence or...?
Emperor Wen hid the letter and did not show it to Tang Zhuyun, so as not to let her overthink things.
He figured that when the items were returned and she saw them, she would naturally know whether they were the same or not.
However, if it was truly her maternal grandfather who brought her to live with him, then he felt only deep gratitude towards him.
Emperor Wen obtained his maternal grandfather's name from Tang Zhuyun, and had a memorial tablet made for him, with an ever-burning lamp lit for him to be worshipped day and night.
Emperor Wen even personally went to offer incense to his maternal grandfather.
Grandpa, I hope you will always bless Tang Zhuzi, granting her peace, good fortune, and good health.
Tang Zhuyun was already a mother of several children. Although she had a dream and many feelings, they faded after a while. After all, life had to go on day by day.
Lei Qun's grandmother was executed, marking the complete defeat of the White Lotus Sect.
This year has been blessed with favorable weather and a bumper harvest.
As the academy gradually grew in size, Tang Zhuyun would go there to teach every two days.
Everything is moving in a positive direction.
Apart from the fact that her children are still far away in Liaodong, Tang Zhuyun is very satisfied with the current situation.