For those of us who liked Yuan Shen a lot, there is a bit at the end of his epilogue that I will share. You find out that he never shared with his family who his real love was. They knew all along that his wife and concubines were not his loves. He just didn't talk about it. You find also that one of his kids marry one of the Huo kids, giving him the excuse that they are inlaws for his continuod visits to their household, despite Cheng Sha Gong's best efforts, after they moved back to the capital (after Emporer Wens passing).
Excerpt from epilogue 11, note I did edit for English flow of language a bit:
Young Gong, don't feel bad for me, Shao Shang does not. Choosing the wrong person, Huo Budo treats her very well. He has kept her in his heart for decades, and he is not busy with promotion and making a fortune like me. However, in this way, His Majesty must value the Huo family more so. A sensible old minister, when it's time to help, he wilI help the government with all his might, and when His Majesty has a firm footing, he will walk cleanly and neatly.
After speaking, Yuan Shen laughed at himself, "I am indeed a layman, and l don't think about working hard all the time. ." Shao Gong wiped his face and smiled: "It's good to know that you are a layman! You can manage your family's children's career well, make friends, and win over prominent people in the world.." Yuan Shen muttered to himself, as if a woman's annoyed voice sounded in his ears
You don't brag about making me a third lady, if I was born a man, l would be a third prince, you do madam'!
Thinking about it, Yuan Shen chuckled and said, "Young Master, I'Il sing you a tune."
Cheng Shaogong was dumbfounded, so he listened to the first-class official of the dynasty as he began to sing it to the east wall of the Huo family mansion. Begin to sing "Out of its east gate, there are women like clouds. Although they are like clouds, l miss them. Wear clothes and scarves, and chat with my staff.
Go out of the city, there are women who are in full swing. Although they are in full swing, l don't see them. Ruyi, chatting and entertaining.
I walked out of the east gate of the city and saw that there were a lot of women. Although there are many women, they are not my sweetheart. People in white clothes and green skirts make me happy and close.
When I walked out of the outer city gate, I saw that there were as many women as flowers. Although there are many women like flowers, they are not the ones l love. Wearing white clothes and red scarves makes me love and rejoice.
His voice was warm and rich, but there was an indescribable vicissitude and disappointment. Singing and singing, Yuan Shen burst into tears in explicably. He covered his eyes with his palms and pursed his lips tightly.
He had also vigorously loved a woman, but the one surnamed Huo was more vigorous than him.
For her sake, he spent five years in vain, abandoned his excellent marriage, and offended manypeople in vain; he also waited for her to open the gate of Yongle Palace under the scorching sun, ignoring everyone's eyes,
She ran hard against the palace wall that was too long to see the end, just to chase after her flying figure, even the whole palace showed surprised and ridiculed expressions.
In his whole life of weighing interests and int
erests, he also had an earth-shattering true love once.
He has no regrets, he tried his best and tried
his best to love someone.
That's it.
See, see, see, never see.