Unfastening a jade token from her waist, Gu Xuejian offered it to Li Yuan. “If something urgent happens, show this token at the inner gate, and they’ll announce your arrival to me.” 0

Then she said, “Ping’an, go say farewell to your parents and family.”0

The young boy stood. Though his eyes were resolute, he broke down in tears as soon as Xue Ning pulled him into her arms. She stroked his hair softly. “Our Ping’an has become a young man with ambitions far and wide,” she murmured soothingly.0

Tears streaming, Ping’an glanced at Sheng'er in the distance, and both children began to cry together. Li Yuan came over to his son. “You remember all the stories I told you, right?”0

“Y-yes,” the boy managed between sobs.0

“And that little verse I had you memorize in secret?”0

“I remember.” His tears kept rolling, but he began reciting in a shaky voice—0

“Come swiftly, spare...1