When Spring Returns, the Garden Will Bloom

* Childhood sweethearts / reunion after a long separation / mutual devotion / ensemble cast / sweet and angsty romance

* Slow-witted sunshine girl and straight-as-a-rail tomboy vs. cool, gentle, but ruthless and calculating

[Reader's Guide]

1) A slow start with a bit of melodrama.

2) Both leads are each other's only partners; happy ending.

3) An alternate history, not tied to any specific dynasty. It draws inspiration from several dynasties.

4) The leads are underage as children, so there is no romance then. The early part focuses more on the plot. The romance begins after they grow up, around the "Green Years" arc (Chapter 17 onward).

Previously titled: Childhood Sweetheart, the Young General Somehow Becomes an Enemy Nation's Prince Consort?

Blurb:

Everyone said that Zhou Heng, the young lord of the Northern Marquis's household, was cold by nature and disliked socializing.

Only Li Muyao disagreed. In her eyes, this neighbor and older brother was neither cold nor withdrawn. He was lively, joked around with her, teased her, had excellent taste, and always bought things she liked.

Most importantly, whenever she got into trouble, he could always protect her from harm.

It was only one day that she learned her brother Zhou Heng could also be merciless.

At a palace banquet, when she was nearly harmed, he carefully shielded her behind him. Then he turned around and glared coldly at the culprit, beating them until they were unrecognizable. It was a terrifying sight.

It was the first time in all these years that she had seen him lose control like that.

Later, the Grand Princess fell for him. Although he treated her with cool indifference, Li Muyao couldn't understand why she felt inexplicably irritable.

The Grand Princess called him in a coquettish voice, "Brother Zhou Heng..."

She was calling him that too? Li Muyao felt inexplicably annoyed and turned to leave, but a large hand caught her by the arm.

Zhou Heng looked pleased with himself. "Please return, Your Highness. There's no need to visit again. I'm afraid my future wife would be displeased."

Li Muyao was startled. "Since when did you have a future wife? I've never met her."

Zhou Heng pinched her chubby cheek and gritted his teeth.

"You little liar. You see her every day."

"Is the future wife you mean... me?"

"Who else would it be?"

*

Later, after surviving several brushes with death, the two understood each other's feelings. After they married, Zhou Heng led his troops to battle, only to discover that the border defenses had already collapsed. Urgent military reports had been deliberately withheld...

In less than three months, news arrived that Zhou Heng, the Northern Marquis, had died in battle.

Three years later, a young general led an army to attack the capital of Nanqi. It was Zhou Heng.

Only now, he had become the prince consort of Beiqiang.

Li Muyao remained remarkably calm and looked up at him.

"So you're... the prince consort everyone is talking about?"

"Do you believe me?"

"Believe what? That you went over to Beiqiang despite the enmity between our nations? That you led an army to attack Nanqi for no reason? Or that you let everyone surround you and call you their prince consort?!"

"Li Muyao!"

After a long silence, he gently took her hand and held her tightly. Two hot tears silently fell onto her shoulder and neck. The usually ruthless and decisive general showed a hint of weakness. "Wait for me, all right? Please."

He would give her a peaceful world, everything in it.

This story is also titled When Spring Returns and the Garden Is Full of Blossoms, Childhood Sweetheart, the Young General Somehow Becomes an Enemy Nation's Prince Consort?, and Waiting for Spring.

When spring returns and the garden is full of blossoms, the east wind rises and spring draws near. Every day, I wait for your return.

Bonus Scene:

[2]

When they were young,

Li Muyao: "Brother Zhou Heng, I don't know why, but I really want to hug you."

Zhou Heng: "What a coincidence. I really want to, too."

Li Muyao: "But why? We're together every day. Why do I still want to be closer to you?"

"Silly girl, that's what it means to like someone."

Theme: Trade one person's regret for the everlasting light of a thousand fires.