Chapter Text
Later that evening, after a very hearty meal, everyone retired for the evening with Zhan Junbai and Yu Tangchun taking Jiang Yuelou’s old bedroom, Sun Yongren and Song Rong taking Keying’s, and Jiang Yuelou, Keying, and Chen Yuzhi taking Chen Yuzhi’s bedroom. As they laid there in Chen Yuzhi’s bed, with Keying sandwiched between Jiang Yuelou and Chen Yuzhi, Chen Yuzhi looked over at Jiang Yuelou.
“Jiang Yuelou—” he started, making Jiang Yuelou look over at him and raise an eyebrow.
“Yes Yuzhi?” he asked. Chen Yuzhi then smiled fondly.
“Thank you” he whispered. Jiang Yuelou frowned.
“For what?” he asked. Chen Yuzhi smiled.
“For everything. For saving me back then, for being there for me with Jian Bin, for helping me try and find Keying…just…everything” he explained. Jiang Yuelou smiled as he leaned forward, careful not to disturb a sleeping Keying, and pressed a kiss to Chen Yuzhi’s lips. Chen Yuzhi let out a soft hum of content before he pulled away and pressed his forehead against Jiang Yuelou’s, both men breathing in each other’s scent. They then laid down and carefully draped their arms over Keying, hugging her tightly as they both slipped off to sleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The next morning, after getting ready, Chen Yuzhi and the others headed out, heading to the entrance of the North Kingdom. As they made their way towards the gate, Chen Yuzhi handed Keying off to Jiang Yuelou, smiling slightly.
“I’ll catch up with you guys. I’m going to say goodbye to a friend” he stated. The others nodded and continued on as Chen Yuzhi turned and headed over to Chu Ran’s shop, knocking on the door frame as he stepped inside.
“Chu Ran?” he called out, the young woman quickly coming out of the backroom. The minute she saw Chen Yuzhi, she smiled and walked over to him.
“What are you doing here? Weren’t you just here a few days ago?” she asked. Chen Yuzhi sighed.
“Yes, but uh…some things happened in the past few days” he explained. Chu Ran nodded slowly.
“Oh…I see. Is everything alright?” she asked, tilting her head. Chen Yuzhi smiled and nodded.
“Everything’s fine. I just came to say goodbye. Again” he stated. Chu Ran nodded slowly, her eyes becoming glassy.
“Going home?” she guessed. Chen Yuzhi smiled.
“Yeah” he answered. Chu Ran nodded again before she stepped forward and threw her arms around Chen Yuzhi, hugging him tightly. Chen Yuzhi chuckled and hugged her tightly in return, Chu Ran burying her face in Chen Yuzhi’s shoulder.
“Be sure to come and visit now, hmm?” Chen Yuzhi urged. Chu Ran chuckled and nodded.
“I’ll try” she replied. Chen Yuzhi smiled and gave her another squeeze before he pulled away and looked at her, noticing the tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Aiyo…don’t cry. We’ll see each other again soon. Okay? Don’t cry” he soothed as he reached up, gently wiping away the tears. Chu Ran nodded and sniffled as Chen Yuzhi smiled softly.
“I have to go” he murmured. Chu Ran sniffled again.
“Be careful” she instructed. Chen Yuzhi nodded before he turned and headed out of Chu Ran’s shop, Chu Ran watching him leave as more tears streamed down her face.
“Be safe” she whispered.
~*~*~*~*~*~
After Chen Yuzhi left Chu Ran’s shop, he walked through the streets of the North Kingdom, smiling as he looked around at the place that he used to call home. He loved the city, and it would always been his home…but he now had a new life and a new home…and he couldn’t wait to see it again. When he finally reached the gate, Jiang Yuelou and the others were waiting for him, a gentle smile on Jiang Yuelou’s face as he walked over to his horse and got into the saddle, taking the reigns from him.
“Ready to go, Dr. Chen?” Zhan Junbai asked, smiling at him. Chen Yuzhi looked over at him and smiled, nodding.
“Let’s go home” he agreed.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Months later, after Keying’s rescue, everything was going great in the East Kingdom. Zhan Junbai and Yu Tangchun were ruling the kingdom with grace and kindness while also trying to help the poorer subjects of their kingdom, Sun Yongren, Song Rong, and Jiang Yuelou were doing their best to train and keep the kingdom safe, Keying was enjoying her time playing with Chu Min and Zining while also beginning her studies, and Chen Yuzhi, well…he did what he did best: help people.
~*~*~*~*~*~
As Chen Yuzhi was working in his clinic, packaging medicine for his patients, he didn’t even realize he had a visitor until there was a rap on his desk, making him look up in surprise to see Chu Ran standing before him, a smile on her lips.
“Chu Ran?!” he exclaimed, shooting to his feet. Chu Ran laughed as Chen Yuzhi shook his head.
“What are you doing here?!” he exclaimed. Chu Ran smiled as she reached into her robe and pulled out a letter, holding it out to him.
“I received a request for a “master seamstress” from an Emperor Zhan Junbai…seems he wanted me to move here and work for him” she explained. Chen Yuzhi read the letter before he smiled and looked at Chu Ran.
“So? How do you like the East Kingdom?” he inquired. Chu Ran chuckled.
“I like it. It feels like…a fresh start. And I have friends here” she replied as she gave him a play sock in the arm. Chen Yuzhi flinched and rubbed his arm before he laughed and shook his head.
“Well, I’m glad you’re here” he stated. Chu Ran grinned as she crossed her arms and looked at him.
“That Jiang Yuelou…you really love him, don’t you?” she asked. Chen Yuzhi looked at her with wide eyes.
“Ah?! Why do you say that?” he demanded. Chu Ran chuckled.
“I can just tell. He definitely loves you” she declared before she turned and walked out of the clinic, waving goodbye on the way out. Chen Yuzhi stared after her in shock before he laughed and shook his head, smiling fondly. It was good to have his friend there.
~*~*~*~*~*~
That evening, as Jiang Yuelou and Chen Yuzhi laid in bed, Chen Yuzhi looked at Jiang Yuelou and smiled.
“Did you have something to do with Chu Ran moving here?” he asked. Jiang Yuelou raised an eyebrow.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Yuzhi” he replied, but he had a small smile on his face, causing Chen Yuzhi to chuckle softly.
“Well thank you” he murmured. Jiang Yuelou smiled and wrapped his arms around him, pulling him close.
“You’re welcome” he replied. Chen Yuzhi hummed and snuggled against him before he sighed, making Jiang Yuelou raise an eyebrow.
“What’s the matter, Yuzhi?” he asked. Chen Yuzhi glanced at him before he looked away and shook his head, smiling.
“Nothing. I’m just happy” he replied as he looked up at him again.
“Here. With you” he declared. Jiang Yuelou smiled and pressed a kiss to his forehead before he tucked Chen Yuzhi’s head under his chin, holding him close.
“Do you think we would have ever met if I hadn’t come to your clinic that fateful day?” he asked. Chen Yuzhi hummed.
“No…I don’t think so. I think if you had just kept running past me after you bumped me…we would have just been passersby, never to have met” he replied. Jiang Yuelou hummed as he pressed another kiss to his head.
“Well then…I’m glad to have bumped into you and pointed my sword at you in your clinic” he declared. Chen Yuzhi chuckled.
“I’m glad you did too” he agreed. Jiang Yuelou chuckled as well before he and Chen Yuzhi both shut their eyes, sleep soon taking both of them. They were truly an odd couple: an assassin and general from the South Kingdom and a doctor from the North Kingdom, but they were happy. And with everything they went through together…they deserved a happy and peaceful ending.