When Qiao Mu left the house, it was very quiet outside—not a single person around.

She hadn’t intended to look for anyone either. She merely glanced at the side chamber next to her, then withdrew her gaze and stepped forward, walking out.

Qiao Mu walked out of the courtyard, and after a while longer, Yang Sheng came walking toward her.

“Qiao Mu, it’s almost time for the midday meal. Are you heading out?”

“Mm.” Qiao Mu nodded faintly, without stopping her steps.

Yang Sheng smiled and turned to follow her.

“Do you want to dine out? Every shop on the whole street is open today—it’s so lively!”

“Deputy City Lord Fu said we’re free to eat at any restaurant outside today, all expenses covered.”

Qiao Mu remained as cold and indifferent as she had been these past few days, no different at all.

Yang Sheng didn’t give up. He followed her and left the residence.

On the main street, people came and went in streams.

The red lanterns lining both sides of the street added a festive touch to the day.

The common people had all changed into new clothes; the children wore bright red padded jackets.

The street was still the same street, but in the span of a single day, it was as different as heaven from earth.

Yesterday, the whole city had still been gripped by unease.

Even on the eve of the new year, with the war not yet over, who could say whether enemy troops might break through again the very next moment?

Yesterday the city had been deathly silent; no one dared wander about carelessly.

Today was different. The enemy forces had been driven off, and peace had returned both inside and outside the city.

Once word reached the common people, their tightly shut doors opened. Everyone put on new clothes, and household after household hung out red lanterns—everything turned beautiful.

“Qiao Mu, what do you want to eat? I’ll take you, all right?”

Yang Sheng walked beside Qiao Mu, the smile on his face undiminished.

“I already made a round this morning—everything’s free, and I tried a good number of shops one by one.”

“Originally I meant to bring Miss Jiu’er and the others out to try some, but they said they had no free time at noon.”

“Qiao Mu, I know of a restaurant with very good food, truly authentic flavor. Why don’t we go eat there together?”

Qiao Mu finally turned her head and glanced at Yang Sheng.

“All right.” She nodded, giving a single-word reply.

Yang Sheng was overjoyed. He turned and searched around with his eyes for a moment.

He spotted someone coming out from a side path not far off, gave the person a look, then withdrew his gaze and kept walking forward.

“Straight ahead, then left at the next intersection. It’s not far—about the time it takes half an incense stick to burn.”

“Qiao Mu, what do you like to eat? Fish and shrimp, or poultry? Spicy, or not spicy?”

“What kind of soup do you like? They have quite a variety there too, and it all looks good.”

Along the way, Yang Sheng chatted and laughed the whole time.

All around, there were many passersby, and children playing and roughhousing.

Listening to Yang Sheng talk, and watching the innocent, carefree smiles on the children’s faces, Qiao Mu’s mood improved quite a bit.

Getting out for a walk wasn’t bad at all!

Yang Sheng brought Qiao Mu to a restaurant. When the waiter saw it was Yang Sheng, he grinned from ear to ear.

“Young Hero Yang, you’ve come. And this is…?”

“This is the City Lord’s right-hand woman, Miss Qiao,” Yang Sheng introduced.

The waiter smiled brightly and waved a hand. “Please, this way! Young Hero Yang, Miss Qiao, please go up to the second floor—it’s more comfortable up there.”

Yang Sheng glanced at Qiao Mu, then stepped toward the staircase.

Qiao Mu said nothing, simply stepped forward and followed.

The waiter led the two of them to an elegant seat by the window on the second floor, took their order, served tea, and then turned and left.

The entire second floor, like the first, had an open layout.

But the seats on the second floor weren’t packed so closely together—ample space was left between each table, further separated by hollow-carved wooden partitions over three feet tall.

Compared to the first floor, the second floor was truly far more comfortable.

Qiao Mu sat by the window. Looking down, she could see the bustling street below.

Watching the common people looking happy and content, she felt a measure of comfort in her heart.

Suddenly, a whooshing sound of something being launched came from below, followed immediately by a “bang”—a beautiful burst of sparks bloomed in the sky not far away.

The launching sound rang out again from below, and another burst of sparks bloomed in the sky.

Even in broad daylight, the brilliant sparks were still dazzling.

“Those are fireworks.” Yang Sheng stood up, somewhat excited.

“Qiao Mu, look, fireworks! Such big fireworks—if it were nighttime, they’d surely be gorgeous.”

Just as Qiao Mu stood up, she suddenly noticed a different set of footsteps approaching her.

She turned to look and saw a group of children of varying heights, all dressed in matching red clothing, holding bunches of colorful flowers, running toward her.

They were all children between three and six years old, some boys and some girls, at least ten of them in all.

Their arrival drew the attention of everyone in the second-floor seating area; people stood up one after another, looking in confusion toward the spot by the window.

Exactly ten children, each cradling flowers, surrounded Qiao Mu completely.

Qiao Mu looked at them with an expression of astonishment, still not quite grasping what was happening, when suddenly a “crack” sounded right by her ear.

A ladder appeared at the edge of the window.

She furrowed her brow slightly and stepped back.

The street that had just been full of people coming and going now had a crowd gathering around.

The two children standing outside made way, and Qiao Mu stepped forward again, looking down.

A handsome, striking face appeared in her line of sight.

This was exactly her type—and it seemed she had already fallen deeply in love with this face, unable to pull herself away.

Feng Jiang, holding a large bouquet of red roses in one hand, steadied himself on the ladder with the other, climbing up step by step.

He wore a clean, immaculate white robe that fluttered gently in the breeze.

A head of jet-black hair, each strand distinct, was also stirred lightly by the wind.

Yet the slight disarray didn’t detract from his handsome features—if anything, it added a touch of untamed, wild beauty to his look.

After a moment of being utterly captivated, Qiao Mu couldn’t help but feel a flicker of worry.

This man’s body hadn’t fully recovered yet, and the floor was so high—what if he fell?

When Feng Jiang was level with Qiao Mu, he stopped, smiled faintly, and continued climbing.

Qiao Mu was anxious but didn’t reach out to help.

This man—he never let anyone have a moment’s peace.

As Feng Jiang climbed, the people on the first floor and out on the street all began making their way up to the second floor.

Feng Jiu’er, Xiao Yingtao, Yue Qinchun, Duan Liuyang, Leng Xuepiao, and Qingqing had all come up as well.

They were all close sisters, and all wanted to witness Qiao Mu’s happiness.

While Qiao Mu’s heart was in her throat with worry, Feng Jiang finally made it up.

Yang Sheng, knowing there was nothing more for him to do here, stepped aside.

The ten children encircled the couple in the middle.

Feng Jiang pulled a box out from his sleeve and knelt on one knee before Qiao Mu.

In one hand he held the bright bundle of roses, and with the other he raised the open box.

“Qiao Mu, marry me! For the rest of my life, let me take care of you!”

Needless to say, this whole scene had been Feng Jiu’er’s idea.

When it came to a marriage proposal, the necessary formalities couldn’t be skipped, or else something would always feel missing.

Most girls would be moved to tears at a moment like this, but Miss Qiao was no ordinary girl—even Feng Jiu’er hadn’t been entirely certain how this would go.