Uncle Bear’s home was on a distant mountaintop, where flowers bloomed everywhere and it was resplendent as a celestial palace. There were crystal-clear ponds with red-headed carp over ten feet long. There were beautiful women, and… candied hawthorns.

Just no roasted meat or rice noodles.

Xin Mei bit into a hawthorn berry, frowning from the sourness.

Uncle Bear sat across from her, holding a fan in an elegant pose, occasionally gazing at her affectionately and speaking in gentle tones: “Little Mei, your eyes sparkle bright as stars in the sky.”

She swallowed the hawthorn and looked at his face. Since he’d complimented her like this, she should think of something nice to say in return.

“You… uh, you’re also very good-looking, just a bit chubby, but very kind. Seeing you reminds me of Dahua in our backyard.”

She was feeling a bit homesick.

Uncle Bear was surprised: “Who is Dahua?”

“A handsome, dashing, graceful pig.”

“Snap!” The fan in his hand fell to the ground. Uncle Bear clutched his head and jumped up in agonized despair.

He hated it most when people called him fat!

Looking down at his bear claws, he wanted to scratch a few marks on that flower-like jade face. But… but she was looking at him so innocently, with her snow-white cheeks and dark, rolling eyes… cherishing and protecting beauty was truly a sin!

“Uncle Bear, the candied hawthorns are delicious. But I prefer roasted meat and rice noodles.”

Having finished two strings of candied hawthorns, Xin Mei felt even hungrier.

Uncle Bear pondered for a moment, then suddenly revealed a wicked, seductive smile, elegantly closing his fan: “Would Little Mei be interested in sharing a cup of fine wine with me?”

Drinking? Xin Mei rarely showed hesitation, but in the end she nodded.

Uncle Bear’s heart filled with wild joy. As the saying goes, wine is the matchmaker of romance. Once a woman is drunk, you can do whatever you want to her and she’ll only be dizzy with passion.

He turned back to instruct the female demons: “Go prepare roasted meat and rice noodles, and bring up a jar of ten-year-aged wine.”

Lu Qianqiao leaped forward, gliding over the vast sea of trees like a great bird.

In the afternoon, Tao Guoguo had come to Guihua Hall looking for him, his face full of hesitation. Finally, he just pointed at the courtyard—Xin Mei, who should have been tied to the tree, had disappeared.

“Who did this?” he asked.

Tao Guoguo refused to say no matter what, only stating: “Brother Qianqiao, that girl was taken by the bear demon from the northwest. You’d better hurry to rescue her.”

The bear demon in the northwest had long been notorious. Female demons caught by him might still survive barely, but if it was a mortal… she probably wouldn’t live.

Lu Qianqiao’s brows furrowed.

He felt somewhat anxious, unable to suppress it.

With another leap, he landed before the bear demon’s residence.

A resplendent golden palace—he certainly knew how to enjoy himself. Kicking down two palace gates with one foot, dust instantly rose. Inside went quiet for a moment. When the dust settled, Lu Qianqiao drew out his newly made wooden sword, planning to go on a killing spree, but saw that all the beautiful female demons kidnapped to serve as servants had bruised and swollen faces, eyes full of tears.

Seeing Lu Qianqiao, they acted as if they’d found a savior, crawling over to hug his legs and crying loudly: “It’s the General from the Imperial Tomb! We’re finally saved! Please… please drive away that disaster star!”

Lu Qianqiao had to step back two paces: “Where is that bear demon?”

The female demons cried even more sorrowfully: “The king is in the rear hall! General, if you don’t hurry to save him, he’ll be beaten to death by that disaster star!”

He was somewhat confused. Carrying his wooden sword, he charged into the rear hall. Everything he saw was chaos—vases shattered to pieces, the red-headed carp in the pond floating belly-up, curtains torn into disorder, and several female demons with bloody faces wailing.

He stood at the entrance to the rear hall, suddenly hesitating, not knowing what monster might appear behind the door.

Gently pushing open the heavy palace door with a “creak,” light poured into the dark inner room. He immediately saw Xin Mei sitting properly in a chair, head lowered, holding an enormous bronze wine goblet in her hands.

The legendary flower-picking bandit bear demon lay like a pile of dead meat at her feet, one claw resting on the table, already foaming at the mouth and unconscious.

Xin Mei had one foot on his soft belly, suddenly smiling sweetly as she poured herself a full goblet of wine, speaking in delicate tones: “Uncle Bear, let’s play finger-guessing again.”

She grabbed his claw and shook it vigorously, then laughed loudly: “You showed five again! I won again!”

With that, she slapped his face, and his bulky body went flying sideways, knocking over tables and chairs before landing right at Lu Qianqiao’s feet.

He fell silent.

Xin Mei carried her wine goblet over gracefully. When drunk, she actually seemed more ladylike than usual—her snow-white face flushed with color, her eyes both bright and confused, with a standard refined young lady’s smile at the corners of her lips.

Seeing Lu Qianqiao, she stared for a long time, then suddenly threw down the wine goblet and respectfully curtsied to him, her voice gentle and sweet: “Young master, facial paralysis is an illness that should be treated early. I know a doctor in Lushui Town with excellent acupuncture skills. Shall I introduce you? No need to thank me too much.”

Lu Qianqiao was so annoyed he almost laughed. He stepped forward planning to restrain her hands and drag her away. Who knew that when drunk, her strength was incredibly great—she grabbed a bronze candlestick taller than a person and threw it over, thoughtfully warning: “Careful, I’m throwing it now.”

He had to retreat several steps.

Several bruised and swollen female demons tugged at his sleeves tearfully: “She was fine when she first arrived. Later the king ordered us to prepare fine wine, saying that with wine’s help the mood would be more romantic. But who knew… who knew she’d go crazy after getting drunk, pulling the king to play drinking games. With one slap, all the king’s teeth were knocked out… Poor king! Will he die?”

Looking at the chaotic scene in the rear hall, Lu Qianqiao couldn’t help but sigh. He raised his hand to knock on the hall door and said: “If you want roasted meat and rice noodles, come to me.”

Xin Mei poked her head out from under the table, like a wild little rabbit full of wariness, trying to gauge how much sincerity was in his words.

He pretended to leave: “If you don’t want to eat, I’m leaving.”

The girl in the shadows immediately bounced out. Lu Qianqiao seized the opportunity to grab both her wrists, then gently chopped the side of her neck with his other hand. She softly collapsed into his arms.

The female demons rushed into the rear hall en masse, crying and wailing as they helped up the bear demon, loudly calling his name, but he showed no reaction whatsoever.

What a human tragedy…

Lu Qianqiao carried Xin Mei and silently left the bear demon’s residence.

Outside, the mountain wind blew and the alcohol fumes were overwhelming. He frowned, distastefully holding her away with one hand, looking around for a water source, planning to throw her in to sober up.

But she was like a little rabbit reeking of alcohol, slipping into his embrace with a “whoosh,” wrapping her arms around his neck and not letting go. Every so often she’d mumble in her sleep: “Father… husband… I bought…”

He couldn’t help but look down at her face—flushed all over, with a sweet smile at the corners of her mouth. What a carefree little girl.

There was a clear spring just ahead where he could throw her in to wash off the alcohol and wake her up. But for some reason he wasn’t quite willing. Her arms were softly hooked around his neck, her five fingers as soft and smooth as white clouds, her fevered cheek pressed against the skin of his neck, her breath warm and tickling.

He couldn’t bear to wake her when she was sleeping so sweetly.

Finally he supported her head properly, holding her with both hands again, slowly walking back to the Imperial Tomb step by step.

“Do you know you were wrong?”

Si Lan sat in a chair, face like ice, tone cold, interrogating Xin Mei who was half-lying on the bed.

Her entire body was curled up under the covers, only her head showing, her face somewhat pale and constantly sneezing—this always happened after drinking.

Rubbing her aching, swollen head, she murmured: “Wrong about what?”

Si Lan wanted to flip the bed over: “You beat the bear demon to a pulp! He’s demanding medical fees from us! That’s not even the worst part—you actually dared to trouble the General to carry you all the way back! What nerve!”

Xin Mei had no memory of it at all, only looking at him blankly.

“Tell me! Who let you go?”

Uh, about that… She thought for a moment: “I won’t tell.”

Sister Yinglian had secretly let her go—she absolutely wouldn’t betray her! That’s what you call loyalty!

Si Lan was so angry he saw stars dancing before his eyes.

The door suddenly opened and Lu Qianqiao walked in, signaling to him: “Si Lan, you go out.”

Si Lan left resentfully, flinging his sleeves. Why was heaven so blind? Actually letting this girl make the mutual love mirror show its power with the General!

Lu Qianqiao walked to the bedside and reached out his hand. Xin Mei instinctively tried to dodge, but the next moment his warm palm gently touched her forehead, staying for a moment before slowly withdrawing.

“Your constitution isn’t suited for alcohol. You always get fever after drinking.” He pulled over a chair to sit beside the bed. “Remember to take medicine later to break the fever early.”

Xin Mei stared at him in amazement for a while, then suddenly remembering what Si Lan had said about her getting drunk and him carrying her all the way back, whispered: “That… thank… thank you.”

He didn’t answer. After a long while, he said: “As for who let you go…”

Before he could finish, she immediately interrupted: “I won’t tell.”

He paused: “Fine if you won’t tell. This won’t happen again. When you recover, come with me and leave the Imperial Tomb.”

Since she’d still be imprisoned either way, what difference did it make where they went? Xin Mei pouted and said nothing.

Lu Qianqiao slowly drew out the talisman paper where Qiuyue dwelt from his bosom, waving it. Her heart trembled along with it.

“I won’t use the demon-binding rope to lock you up anymore.” He said expressionlessly. “Your spirit beast will stay with me temporarily. Every time you escape, I’ll roast one of its legs. Escape four times, and it will have no wings or legs left. Consider this carefully.”

Too… too vicious! Xin Mei was dumbstruck. Why had she just thanked this snake-hearted man?!

He seemed to smile slightly, walked out of the room, and the door closed softly.

Supposedly people with fever should get more sunlight. The next day, with her low fever still not broken, Xin Mei wrapped herself in a cotton blanket and sat in the courtyard sunbathing.

Lu Qianqiao was still in Guihua Hall. This time he hadn’t closed the window. He was writing something with his head down while talking, and the people around him kept nodding seriously.

He really did have the bearing of a general.

She rubbed her eyes that ached from the fever, planning to take a little nap, when she suddenly sensed a human figure crouched behind the tree, looking sneaky. Curiously stretching her neck, she saw Yinglian hiding behind the tree, eyes shining as she gazed at Guihua Hall, sometimes shedding tears at flowers, sometimes sighing in the wind.

“Sister Yinglian…” What was she doing?

Yinglian was greatly startled. When she turned and saw it was her, her face immediately darkened and she turned to leave.

Xin Mei waved at her briefly: “Don’t worry, I absolutely won’t betray you.”

These words were spoken with righteous loyalty.

Yinglian stumbled and fell.

Xin Mei scooted over and looked in the direction Yinglian had been gazing. She discovered this angle was really good—you could see clearly into Guihua Hall without being discovered. Looking at the window, the person standing there now was Si Lan.

She suddenly understood: “You have a secret crush on Si Lan?”

Yinglian’s face turned red and green alternately. Afraid she’d shout it out and embarrass her, she had no choice but to cover her ears in exasperation.

Xin Mei nodded understandingly: “I get it, I get it. The plays say that secret love is the most beautiful kind. Hiding behind trees every day to steal glances at him is also a form of love.”

That’s called being a voyeur… Yinglian thought tearfully. Actually, her secret crush on Lu Qianqiao all these years, never letting him notice even the slightest bit, hiding in dark places to spy on him whenever possible—that really wasn’t much different from being a voyeur either.

“This kind of thing still needs someone to play matchmaker.” Xin Mei grasped her hand very sincerely. “Let me help you. You were so kind to secretly let me go—I have to repay you somehow.”

Yinglian was dazzled by the brilliant kingly aura and saintly light flashing across her face.

Nothing in the world could be more disgusting than having your rival in love thank you for framing her, then offer to help you pursue someone else. She was disgusted to the point of tears.

“Sister Yinglian?” Xin Mei was puzzled.

Yinglian turned back as if to say something, but the words became a wailing cry at her lips. She stamped her foot hard and ran away.