Elder Feng was somewhat stunned. This girl was usually carefree and easygoing, with a bold and forthright nature.

But marriage was a serious matter — how could she just decide to marry someone on a whim?

Yanu, furious, shoved her hard. Though he said nothing, the disgust on his face made his aversion to the whole affair unmistakably clear.

Zhao Xiaoxiao laughed. “I know you don’t want this right now — that’s only because you haven’t spent time with me yet, you don’t know me.”

She seemed remarkably confident in herself, patting her chest as she said, “Don’t worry, I’m definitely easy to get along with.”

“Stay by my side from now on, and I’ll treat you well. I’ll never wrong you.”

“Let go!” Yanu’s face turned red with anger as he tried to push her away again, but he simply had no strength to do it.

How could he, a grown man, be forced into marriage by a woman?

“Aiya, don’t be so angry. Once we’re married, you’ll see how good I am to you.”

Zhao Xiaoxiao didn’t care at all about his resistance. She looked at Elder Feng, seeming a little anxious.

“Elder Feng, go quickly and tell them. I’ll bring him straight in for the wedding ceremony shortly. Have them prepare the bridal chamber.”

“Xiaoxiao, this isn’t something to joke about.” Elder Feng naturally disagreed.

Zhao Xiaoxiao pouted, looking quite unconvinced.

“Who’s joking? I genuinely want to marry him. He… hey, what’s your name?”

She looked at Yanu, but he turned his face away, refusing to look at her or speak, ignoring her completely.

“Xiaoxiao, look at him — how could he possibly marry you? Stop this nonsense!”

This girl was usually a bit wild and domineering, but she’d never been this unreasonable before.

What was going on today — could she really have fallen for this boy that hard?

Granted, the young man in front of them really was extraordinarily handsome, fair-skinned and clean, his features as fine and perfect as a sculpture.

But for a man, looks were usually the least important thing.

This wasn’t an age that judged by appearance — that mattered for women. For men, what counted was strength and a sturdy build.

And this young man — where was the strength in him? He clearly couldn’t even lift a chicken.

“Xiaoxiao…”

“I don’t care! I want him!”

Seeing that Elder Feng wouldn’t take her side no matter what, Zhao Xiaoxiao stamped her foot in frustration and pointed at the two women standing behind her.

“You two, help me carry him to the room. I’ll go tell Father — tonight, I’m sharing the bridal chamber with him.”

A murmur of shock rippled through the crowd. How could a young woman so casually say the words “bridal chamber”?

Yet the girl said it without a hint of embarrassment, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Yanu was so angry he nearly fainted — and yet those two maids, upon hearing the order, really did move to support him, one on each side.

“Let go of me!” As a man, this was nothing short of humiliating!

The two girls giggled, holding him up as they led him toward the row of rooms in the back.

“Now, now, just behave. Our young miss is sure to treat you well.”

“That’s right, don’t bother resisting. Once our miss has set her eyes on something, there’s no escaping it.”

“You’ll come to like our miss eventually. Be good now!”

Yanu was carried off, and Zhao Xiaoxiao stormed into the main hall.

Elder Feng remained, eyes fixed on the crowd, his face dark with thought.

The auspicious hour had arrived.

The wedding itself wasn’t grand — quite simple, in fact.

The groom was dragged along by several brothers, half-pushed, half-pulled into the main hall.

Though he truly disliked this whole arrangement, true to what his parents had predicted, he was, in fact, an obedient son at heart.

Even though he didn’t want this, things had already gone this far, and he wouldn’t make things difficult for his parents or turn himself into the laughingstock of the whole stronghold.

So, angry as he was, his face remained sullen, but he still let himself be brought in.

When Zhao Xiaoxiao burst in, the bride hadn’t arrived yet.

Zhao Xiaoxiao walked straight up to her father. “Father, I want to get married too.”

Everyone froze in shock. She wanted to marry too — what did that mean?

The Old Madam spoke up at once. “Xiaoxiao, today is your brother’s wedding day. Don’t make a scene.”

For all this time, when had anyone ever heard of this daughter having a man she liked?

Hadn’t she always complained that the men in the stronghold were crude and unattractive?

It had only been a few days — and now she had someone?

“I’m not making a scene. I want to marry that white-robed young master outside. I’ve already had him sent to my room!”

White-robed young master?

That wasn’t… Yanu, was it?

Feng Jiu’er, who had just reached the doorway outside, froze, wanting to turn around and look, but two old women guarding her promptly turned her head back forward.

“Miss, on your wedding day, you mustn’t look back!”

“That’s right, looking back is bad luck. Don’t act recklessly, miss.”

Inside, Zhao Xiaoxiao kept pressing. “I want to marry him, I like him! Father, Mother, tonight I’m getting married too, together with Big Brother!”

“Fine! If you want to get married, get married together!”

Zhao Yusheng was actually delighted. Weren’t his parents the ones who didn’t care at all about his own wishes, forcing him to marry?

Then let Xiaoxiao have her moment of recklessness too.

Xiaoxiao wasn’t like him, always having to think things through carefully — once she decided something, she acted on it right away!

This was getting interesting!

“Yusheng, don’t encourage her!” Madam glared at him, having already noticed the bride standing just outside the door.

She said hurriedly, “Let’s discuss this matter later, shall we? Xiaoxiao, the auspicious hour has come, your sister-in-law is waiting outside, we mustn’t delay.”

“And what about my marriage?” Zhao Xiaoxiao looked unwilling to back down.

“That matter…” Madam glanced at the Old Patriarch, secretly pressing down on his hand to keep him from losing his temper.

Though Xiaoxiao’s behavior was indeed a headache, the auspicious hour really had arrived — no matter what, they needed to let Yusheng complete the ceremony first.

“We’ll discuss this properly tomorrow. Even if you do get married, I want to prepare things properly. My daughter’s wedding can’t be done carelessly.”

“Mother, are you trying to placate me? I’m not that foolish. Tonight, I’m sharing the bridal chamber with him first!”

A girl of sixteen or seventeen, speaking of such things without a trace of shame.

“Xiaoxiao, no more of this nonsense!” The Old Patriarch was furious now.

Zhao Xiaoxiao scoffed. “Once the rice is cooked, there’s no stopping it — you can object all you like, but the wedding ceremony itself can always be made up later!”

Zhao Xiaoxiao turned and went to sit down elsewhere.

Once she made up her mind about something, nothing would change it.

For now, she’d watch her brother’s wedding through to the end, and tonight — she would go conquer that young gentleman! Hmph!

The Old Patriarch and his wife exchanged a glance, utterly at a loss over their daughter.

The two old women hurried Feng Jiu’er forward into the hall, and Elder Feng also returned to his seat.

He glanced at the subordinate beside him, and that subordinate slipped around behind the crowd, quietly making his way toward the seats across the hall…