After Di Wu Ya and Feng Jiu’er, it was two others’ turn.

Feng Jiang sat in the position of honor, seeming somewhat nervous, sweat beading at his temples.

At that moment, with everyone watching him, Qiao Mu finally couldn’t hold back any longer.

“What is this thing of yours? You said you’d give it away, and you’re still clutching it—what’s going on?”

A piece of paper—Feng Jiang held one corner, Xing Zizhou held the other—and neither moved, the scene both awkward and amusing.

Only then did Feng Jiang snap out of it and release the item he’d meant to give away.

He turned his head to look at Qiao Mu and said quietly, “I was just thinking about whether I should say something.”

“But the words wouldn’t come out when I opened my mouth, so…”

Feng Jiang pressed his lips together, his gaze shifting to Xing Zizhou, who knelt before him.

“Xing Zizhou, this is the deed to a residence I own in the capital.”

“If you and Xiao Yingtao ever get the chance to live in the capital, you can go take a look—it’s a good place.”

“If you don’t end up living in the capital, you could sell it. It’s worth about a million taels of silver right now.”

“Hiss!” Qiao Mu, who was holding a gold bracelet, sucked in a breath of cold air.

She cleared her throat lightly to steady herself and said, “Deep affection is as solid as gold—I hope you two love each other dearly until you’re old.”

“Such a precious gift, I can’t accept it,” Xing Zizhou said upon hearing Feng Jiang’s words, holding the deed back out to him.

Xiao Yingtao stared at the deed too, forgetting to take the gold bracelet from Qiao Mu.

Qiao Mu looked at Xiao Yingtao, Xiao Yingtao looked at the deed, Xing Zizhou looked at Feng Jiang, Feng Jiang looked at Xing Zizhou, and finally his gaze returned to Qiao Mu.

Qiao Mu: “…”

Qiao Mu pulled Xiao Yingtao’s hand over, pressed the gold bracelet into her palm, and turned back to look at Feng Jiang.

“Why are you looking at me?”

“Xing Zizhou doesn’t like it.” Feng Jiang looked a little troubled.

“It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s that the gift is too precious, we can’t accept it,” Xing Zizhou explained.

“They can’t accept it,” Feng Jiang repeated.

His gaze never left Qiao Mu, and his hands, which had been resting on his legs, curled slightly into fists.

Qiao Mu glanced at him, then turned her eyes to Xing Zizhou.

“Just take it, he’s got plenty of houses, no need to be shy!”

“When the time comes and I have nowhere to live, just remember to leave me a room.”

Xiao Yingtao took the deed straight from Xing Zizhou’s hand and bowed to Feng Jiang.

“Thank you, brother-in-law! Wishing you and my sister a hundred years of happiness together!”

After bowing, Xiao Yingtao looked at Feng Jiu’er standing beside Qiao Mu and gently waved the deed.

From now on, this would be their home in the capital—and whether it was Jiu’er or Qiao Mu, she’d keep a room for them.

Feng Jiu’er gave Xiao Yingtao a thumbs up, and with her other hand, gently patted Qiao Mu’s back.

She leaned in close to Qiao Mu and murmured, “Worried he’ll squander the family fortune? I’d say you’d best marry in sooner rather than later, and get your hands on all the money first.”

Qiao Mu glanced at Feng Jiu’er but didn’t argue.

Giving away a house worth a million taels just like that, even to Xiao Yingtao, still made Qiao Mu’s heart ache a little.

Money wasn’t easy to earn—in all her years, she’d never lived in such an expensive house.

After Xing Zizhou bowed to Feng Jiang as well, Feng Jiang and Qiao Mu withdrew, their part done.

“Bow to each other as husband and wife!” the wedding matron’s voice rang out again in the modest house.

Xing Zizhou and Xiao Yingtao knelt facing each other, exchanged a glance, and lowered their heads together.

Xiao Yingtao looked especially beautiful today; even beneath the red veil draped over her, her fair, delicate face was still clearly visible.

Her smile was full of happiness, and everyone who saw it, especially the unmarried girls, began to dream of their own futures.

Every proper ritual was observed, not one omitted.

But today’s wedding was a little different from usual.

After being led into the bridal chamber and having her veil lifted by the groom, the two were escorted out of the room together by the crowd.

The bride would join everyone for the evening meal, sparing her the misery of waiting alone in the room.

At the wedding matron’s command: “Begin the meal.”

Everyone within earshot in every household called out in response: “Begin the meal.”

Soon, throughout Panlong Stronghold, inside and out, whether locals or brothers who’d just arrived, everyone raised whatever cup, bowl, or vessel was in hand.

Some drank liquor, some drank water, all as a blessing for the bride and groom.

The wedding was held at the largest house in Panlong Stronghold, and tables were set up everywhere—inside, outside, even along the road.

Today was Xing Zizhou and Xiao Yingtao’s wedding day, and nearly everyone present had once belonged to the Tianji Hall.

People took turns coming up to toast Xing Zizhou, and though his tolerance for alcohol was decent, he soon grew a bit tipsy.

Seeing this, before the next group arrived, Qiao Mu filled her own bowl to the brim with wine.

“Are you all still going to let them have their wedding night tonight? Starting now, I’ll drink in Xing Zizhou’s place!”

Qiao Mu was generous, and the brothers didn’t mind.

But Qiao Mu hadn’t drunk much before her hand, reaching for the wine jar, was seized by Feng Jiang.

Qiao Mu looked up at Feng Jiang, brows furrowing tightly.

“What are you doing?”

“Stop drinking.” Feng Jiang took the wine jar from her.

Qiao Mu reached out to grab it back, but Feng Jiang’s long arm stretched out, lifting the jar high.

Qiao Mu wasn’t tall enough to reach; her whole body pressed almost against his, and still she couldn’t reach the jar.

“Give it to me!” She withdrew her hand and glared at Feng Jiang.

Feng Jiang lowered his gaze to meet hers, then with a sweep of his long arm, pulled her into his embrace.

He looked at the brothers gathering around and said, “Thank you all for your blessings for Xing Zizhou and Xiao Yingtao.”

“I’ll finish this jar myself! Everyone else, drink as you please.”

“All right!”

“All right!”

“Well said!”

The brothers cheered, laughter and shouts ringing out continuously.

Feng Jiang glanced down at Qiao Mu, a faint smile curving his lips, then tilted his head back and began pouring the wine down his throat.

Held forcibly against Feng Jiang’s chest, Qiao Mu no longer struggled.

She stared at him without blinking, and the hand that had been restless moments ago slowly wrapped around his waist.

There was no denying it—sometimes, this man really was rather charming.

Qiao Mu felt a sudden rush of intoxication in her chest, blurring her vision slightly.

She held him tightly in return, not moving at all.

With a clank, Feng Jiang set the emptied wine jar back down on the table.

“Well done, Young Master Jiang!”

“Young Master Jiang can really hold his liquor!”

“Young Master Jiang…”

The brothers cheered again.

Feng Jiang paid them no mind. He set down the jar, lowered his gaze to the crimson lips before him, and leaned down to kiss her.

Everyone who witnessed this froze for a moment before erupting into even louder cheers.

The noise outside was deafening, yet Qiao Mu could still hear the man’s heartbeat.

The thudding of a heart—perhaps not only his, but hers as well.

At some point, Qiao Mu let go of everything and closed her eyes.

Gradually, in her world, there was only the sound of his rough breathing.

Feeling the woman in his arms stop breathing, her face flushed deep red, Feng Jiang reluctantly let her go.

He released her lips but kept her wrapped protectively in his embrace.

It seemed he couldn’t bear to let anyone else see how captivating she looked in this moment.

—