Let’s go to my old house [new version]

...

It was after lunchtime when Liu Wei finally awoke. Her entire body ached from the previous day's activities, yet she felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.

The picnic had been an undeniable success, everything had gone perfectly, leaving her with nothing to complain about.

She stretched her arms and legs slowly as she watched the soft, shy rays of the sun begin to fill her room. Rising from her bed, she walked over to the window, opened it wide, and took a deep, refreshing breath of fresh air.

Today, she thought, was definitely going to be a good day.

After dressing and applying a light touch of makeup, she decided to head to the kitchen to join Mrs. Chun for a meal.

Meanwhile, Wang Zheng had been awake for several hours already, immersed in the mounting workload accumulated over the last few days. With a weary sigh, she reflected on how many tasks had been forced to take a back seat because of the ongoing Bloody Spring crisis, especially the joint decisions required from the councils. It was truly problematic to let the councils make decisions and deliberate on matters among themselves in the absence of the queen.

At the same time, the popular parliament was locked in fierce conflicts with both the merchants and the clergy.

These groups were constantly at odds over issues like tax cuts versus tax increases; while the parliament argued for paying less, the merchants and clergy demanded more, justifying their stance by pointing out that the country's per capita income had risen significantly since the last readjustment. The entire atmosphere was utterly exhausting.

As the second stage of the Bloody Spring was about to begin and with the feast marking its opening already in the planning stages, Huan Yang finally reported for duty.

He had slept like an angel, taking every opportunity to rest, and now he stepped into his role with quiet determination.

"Majesty…" a cautious voice called out.

The queen, seated at a massive pile of paperwork, appeared noticeably troubled. With a long, exasperated sigh, she glanced at the seemingly endless documents. Huan Yang, the young alpha, knew well that one of the hardest parts of her reign was appeasing the council members, there was always someone dissatisfied, always a new source of trouble waiting to ignite.

"Huan Yang, you've arrived at just the right time," she said, her tone both commanding and gentle. "I want you to have the car prepared immediately. Let's go out."

"Certainly, Your Majesty. May I ask where you would like to go?" Huan Yang replied.

A shy smile crept over the queen's face. "Let's go to my old house."

"Very well, I'll have the car ready right away," he responded promptly.

"Excellent."

Without wasting another moment, Huan Yang quickly went in search of the queen's car. In less than half an hour, Wang Zheng was already seated inside, the vehicle smoothly carrying her toward the designated destination.

As she glanced over some documents she hadn't even managed to finish at the office, a troubled thought crossed her mind, if certain suspicions turned out to be true, they could spell significant problems. However, she decided that now wasn't the time to worry; caution would suffice.

"I want you to prepare a detailed report on Chow Niu, the vice president of parliament…" the queen instructed firmly.

Huan Yang couldn't help but feel curious about her request.

Was there an issue brewing within the people's parliament? It wasn't entirely surprising, though: while the three traditional councils boasted high ambitions, the people's parliament, meant to represent the common folk before the queen, still sought respect and an equal footing with the nobility.

Their demands and involvement were often more cautious and subtle.

At present, Chow Niu had been making headlines with her outspoken views against the monarchy system and the councils, and the queen was eager to meet her.

"Your Majesty, is something amiss?" Huan Yang inquired.

The queen shook her head slowly, though she remained pensive. "I have a feeling that meeting her might prove useful for me in the future," she explained softly.

"I see… And today, Your Majesty, you still have a meeting scheduled with Lord Hui Xu," Huan Yang observed.

The queen ran her hand through her hair roughly, clearly not fond of Hui Xu. Ever since she had succeeded her father on the throne, the old omega had never made her life easier. Currently, as the leader of the council of elders, he was the one who most persistently pressed her about producing an heir. With a deep, regretful sigh, she admitted,

"Yes, he must be eager to know how I feel about alphas…"

Huan Yang knew all too well what the queen thought about the old omega.

Hui Xu had once been a close friend of Wang Chu, the queen's father, but since the king's death, he had been determined to fill that void, a determination that the queen found extremely irritating.

Coming from an exceedingly rich and prestigious noble family in the country of Wang, Hui Xu, as the current leader of the council of elders, wielded immense influence over most of the nobles and was, in fact, the one who had initiated the Bloody Spring.

Perhaps, in some future moment, Wang Zheng might even consider thanking him, for without him, she might never have met Liu Wei.

"Your Majesty," Huan Yang ventured cautiously, "are you implying that you have an interest in an omega?"

The queen frowned at the question. "No. The less he knows, the better," she replied curtly.

"Understood," Huan Yang said, and the queen set down her paperwork on the seat beside her, turning her gaze out the car window as the journey continued peacefully.

Wang Zheng couldn't help but think that she might never return to that old house, the same house Liu Wei had chosen for their very first date. There was an ironic twist of fate in that decision that made her smile happily. Meanwhile, Huan Yang trailed quietly behind, observing the building.

He had become familiar with its condition over the years through frequent visits. Although the queen had never ordered any renovations, the house had always been in a state of disrepair, until his most recent visit revealed a remarkable change.

"The princess has done an exceptional job in less than a week," he remarked in surprise.

The queen smiled proudly. "Yes, she even went so far as to add a security structure." The house now looked much cleaner and noticeably safer, though it still required a complete overhaul to be truly perfect for use.

"Your Majesty, would you like me to arrange further work on this house?"

Wang Zheng nodded. "Ensure that this place remains clean and fully operational."

Huan Yang, still curious, asked, "Does Your Majesty have a personal attachment to this house?"

She offered him a mysterious smile. "In time, you'll understand."

He nodded obediently, accepting her answer as final.

As they neared the large opening between the garden and the kitchen, the queen paused and said, "Please request that a temporary bathroom be installed. We are going to completely renovate this house, I hope that one day I can use this place with my family."

Huan Yang was taken aback by the mention of family. Was the queen really considering heirs? For her, notions of children, grandchildren, or any semblance of a family had always seemed like distant dreams.

"Yes, Your Majesty," he replied quietly.

Wang Zheng's mind buzzed with ideas for the house as she smiled, imagining the fate that awaited it. "Have professionals inspect the structure to ensure it's completely safe, and replace any damaged furniture with new items," she instructed.

She then added, "…And on this wall, install a glass door, I quite like the way this opening looks."

The queen carefully examined the details while Huan Yang took copious notes to pass along to the engineers and contractors. "Would you like to change the table and the cushions as well?" he asked.

Shaking her head, she replied, "Keep them as they are; Liu Wei chose them. Also, do not change the lighting, just modify it so that it chimes before turning on at night." The queen recalled all too well the shock she had experienced when the lights had turned on abruptly without any warning.

"Right," Huan Yang agreed.

After one last scrutinizing look, the queen quickly left the building. Deep down, she hoped to return to that place one day accompanied by Liu Wei.

"Good. We can return to the palace now," she said.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Huan Yang replied, and soon the queen was speeding off in her car, already poring over half a dozen additional papers in preparation for her next meeting. Huan Yang quickly closed the door behind her as the queen cast him a pointed glance.

Before they reached the palace, the queen called out once more, "I also want you to speak with the gardener. Instruct him properly regarding the new greenhouse and ensure that it remains in place, my new rose will stay there."

Huan Yang smiled in satisfaction. Earlier, he had visited the queen's room and retrieved the flower, a cherished gift from Liu Wei. "Miss Liu Wei has managed to secure a great seedling," he noted.

The queen chuckled softly, "You did mention the rose, didn't you?"

"Maybe" he replied modestly.

The queen let out a subtle laugh. It was evident that Huan Yang had developed genuine affection for the little princess, a thought that warmed her heart. "Well, thank you for that."

"It's nothing. If Your Majesty is happy, then I'm happy as well."

"Good," she murmured.

Despite his youth, Huan Yang understood that the queen had endured many unhappy years. If Liu Wei were the one to bring happiness back into her days, he would do everything in his power to ensure her wishes were fulfilled.

In less than an hour, the queen was back at the palace, already secluded in her office with Huan Yang by her side, ready to face the challenges that lay ahead.