Reborn to marry, she no longer wants to be the young master's mother

As night fell, the candlelight in the palace flickered, illuminating Chu Heng's resolute but slightly tired face. He gently raised his hand, signaling the maid standing beside him to leave. His eyes were gentle but with unquestionable power, and he turned to the Queen Xie Chaochao who was sitting beside him. Xie Chaochao, wearing a luxurious phoenix robe embroidered with complex golden patterns, shone brightly under the candlelight, but it could not hide the faint worry and reluctance in her eyes.

"Chao Chao," Chu Heng's voice was low and magnetic, and every word seemed to flow slowly from the bottom of his heart, "You should go back to the palace and rest first. I'm very busy these days, and I'm afraid I'll have to stay up late to review these memorials." His fingers gently slid across the mountain of memorials on the table. Each one carried major issues of people's livelihood inside and outside the court. The rise and fall, honor and disgrace of the country all depended on them.

Xie Chaochao frowned slightly when she heard this. She knew very well that as the queen, her every move was related to the peace of the harem and the harmony of the previous dynasty. She also understood the heavy burden on Chu Heng's shoulders. But she couldn't help it. She stood up gently, walked towards Chu Heng, and gently put her hands on his shoulders, her eyes full of tenderness and heartache: "Heng, you should also pay attention to rest. Health is the foundation of governing the country."

Chu Heng felt the warmth and care from his wife, and a warm current surged in his heart. He gently held Xie Chaochao's hand and said with a smile: "Don't worry, I know what to do. But you have been overworked in the past few days preparing for the autumn banquet. If you don't rest early, how can I feel at ease?"

Xie Chaochao heard this and forced a smile on her lips. She knew that at this moment, the only way for her to support him was to obey. So, she nodded slowly and said softly, "Then I will go back to the palace first. You... should also go to bed early." After that, she turned around and walked lightly towards the palace gate. Every step seemed to express her deep attachment and reluctance to leave Chu Heng.

After Xie Chaochao's figure completely disappeared from the palace gate, Chu Heng's smile gradually faded, replaced by a solemn and resolute expression. He sat back at the desk, his eyes sharp as torches, and began to read through the memorials concerning the fate of the country one by one. Under the candlelight, his figure seemed particularly tall, as if he was an unshakable mountain, guarding this land and its people.

As the night deepened, the palace was silent, with only the rustling sound of Chu Heng reviewing memorials and the occasional drum beats, playing a nocturne about responsibility and sacrifice. In this endless night, the story of Chu Heng and Xie Chaochao, like the candlelight, was small but warm, illuminating each other's hearts and the road ahead.

Xie Chaochao nodded gently, with a gentle smile on her lips, like the spring breeze blowing across the lake, with a hint of imperceptible warmth. Her eyes fell on Chu Heng, and her bright eyes were full of care and love for the person in front of her. Chu Heng was sitting at the desk, concentrating on reviewing the documents in his hands, with a frown on his face, as if the whole world had been left out of his mind, and only the work in his hands was his only concern at the moment.

On the table, a plate of exquisite pastries was quietly placed, exuding an alluring sweet aroma. It was specially prepared by Xie Chaochao for him. The pastries were attractive in color and in various shapes, like exquisite works of art, making people reluctant to eat them. However, Chu Heng seemed to be completely immersed in his work and turned a blind eye to this kindness.

Seeing this, Xie Chaochao couldn't help but feel tender and helpless. She slowly walked to Chu Heng's side, gently patted his shoulder, and said softly: "Heng, finish these cakes before working. You have been working overtime for several nights in a row. Your health is important." Her voice was like the gurgling of a stream, gentle and firm, with a force that could not be ignored.

Chu Heng raised his head and looked at Xie Chaochao, a trace of guilt and gratitude flashed in his deep eyes. He smiled slightly and wanted to say something, but finally just nodded, put down the documents in his hand temporarily, picked up a piece of cake and tasted it carefully. The sweetness of the cake bloomed on the tip of his tongue, as if a warm current flowed into his heart, relaxing his tense nerves for a moment.

Xie Chaochao watched him quietly, her eyes full of tenderness and satisfaction. She knew that although this man was always busy with work, he always had a place for her in his heart. This tacit understanding made their relationship deeper and stronger.

When Chu Heng finally finished the last bite of pastry, he picked up the file again and prepared to continue working. However, Xie Chaochao gently pressed his hand and said, "Heng, let's stop here today. You are very tired and need to rest. No matter how important the work is, it is not as important as your health."

Chu Heng felt a warm current in his heart when he heard this. He looked at Xie Chaochao deeply, then nodded, closed the document and stood up. The two smiled at each other, as if at this moment, all the fatigue and troubles disappeared. They walked out of the study side by side. Xie Chaochao was alone, standing quietly in the courtyard, looking up at the bright and flawless moon, with ripples in his heart. The moonlight was like a veil, gently brushing across his face, bringing a hint of imperceptible coolness, but also gently soothing the fatigue between his brows. All around was silence, with only the occasional cry of night birds and the faint gurgling of the stream in the distance, interweaving into a quiet and distant night hymn.

He took a deep breath of the cool night wind, as if it could sweep away the depression that had been pent up in his chest for a long time. The wind, carrying the fragrance of wild flowers and the simplicity of the soil, whispered quietly in his ears, telling the endless secrets and freedom of nature. Xie Chaochao's eyes reflected the brilliance of the moonlight, flashing with complex and unspeakable emotions. He sighed softly, and the sigh seemed particularly long in the quiet night, as if telling his endless feelings about life.

"Life is so tiring." These words flowed from his lips quietly, with a hint of bitterness and helplessness that was barely noticeable. He recalled the daytime events, the tedious affairs, the complicated interpersonal relationships, and the never-satisfied desire deep in his heart, which were like invisible mountains, pressing him so hard that he could hardly breathe. In this quiet night, all the defenses and strength seemed to become fragile, leaving only the truest self, talking to the loneliness under the vast starry sky.

However, just when this heaviness and exhaustion reached its peak, a sudden breeze blew away the fog in front of his eyes and blew into his heart. He suddenly realized that even though life was full of challenges and difficulties, it was these experiences that shaped who he is now and taught him to be resilient and grow. The long shadows under the moonlight seemed to silently tell him that after every dark night, there must be dawn.