Changwu County was far from the capital, so the Lu family’s household registry could only locate where Lu Rou was buried.

Ke Chengxing died under unclear circumstances, and Old Madam Ke left hastily. The Ke family’s funeral arrangements were handled by one of Old Madam Ke’s former nannies, making it even more shabby than Lu Rou’s funeral. But precisely because of this shabbiness, Lu Rou was not buried together with Ke Chengxing.

Lu Long then had someone bring back soil and earth from Changwu, and together with the Lu family’s past belongings he had painstakingly gathered, he erected a cenotaph in front of Lu Rou’s grave.

This way, the family could be together.

Pei Yunying’s situation was different. After Pei Di’s death, the Pei family scattered like sand. He returned to the Zhuang family once, took his mother’s memorial tablet from the ancestral hall, and moved it to be with his maternal uncle’s family. From then on, his mother and the two siblings completely severed ties with the Zhuang family and had no more connections with Duke Zhaoning’s manor.

Lu Tong and Pei Yunying went to both grave sites, burned the marriage contract, and informed their deceased family members of their mutual promise. Then they busied themselves with preparations. When summer was half over, West Street’s tailor shop Ge began stocking silk fans. “On the summer solstice, all officials have three days off,” and it was during this summer festival that Lu Tong’s wedding dress was delivered to the medical clinic.

When Qing Feng delivered the wedding dress, Du Changqing was buried in his head eating “summer solstice cakes” in the shop. Seeing Qing Feng arrive, the shopkeeper’s mouth fell open and the half-eaten cake dropped onto the table with a “thud.” He didn’t bother with it, just looked at the visitor and spoke without good humor: “What are you here for again?”

Du Changqing truly had no pleasant expression for Pei Yunying.

Pei Yunying was scheming and deep, with that handsome face somehow bewitching Lu Tong into being completely taken in. Setting that aside, ever since the engagement, he’d become increasingly brazen, coming to Renxin Medical Clinic every day after finishing his duties at the imperial city to find Lu Tong, conveniently bringing along pastries and sweet drinks.

The people of West Street had never seen much of the world. When he stood at the medical clinic entrance in his official robes, tall and handsome, striking and attention-grabbing, how could the aunties of West Street resist? They said he was even more captivating than Dai Sanbu at the temple entrance.

This infuriated Du Changqing, who cursed behind his back: “This is ‘Renxin Medical Clinic,’ not a ‘medicinal wine house’! Daily crowds of women standing there gawking – what kind of unseemly spectacle is this!”

Widow Sun, stirred by spring feelings, gave him a push: “Nonsense, this Pan An is younger than that Pan An.” Du Changqing was speechless.

This wasn’t all. Pei Yunying’s daily uninvited visits were bad enough, but even worse was when he came to the medical clinic one day to deliver betrothal gifts – dozens of loads of betrothal presents with a gift list longer than a belt, leaving all the neighbors of West Street wide-eyed.

Good heavens, dozens of loads of betrothal gifts!

Previously, Du Changqing had told others about this matter: “The richer people are, the more stingy they become. Haven’t you seen how those wealthy households calculate every needle they use? Their face is all for show to outsiders. Who knows, they’ll probably hastily send some paltry betrothal gifts in the end.”

However, when the gifts actually arrived, he could no longer speak such disparaging words.

Looking at the gift list again – my goodness, what grand generosity! Fields, manor houses, shops, and residences were listed clearly and generously. To be honest, if he weren’t a man, just for this wealth alone, Du Changqing would have wanted to marry into the family himself.

In any case, that day’s betrothal gifts truly caused a sensation on West Street, and later the news even spread to the imperial city, where Pei Yunying’s colleagues privately called him a “spendthrift.”

As fellow spendthrifts go, Du Changqing deeply agreed, while secretly cursing in his heart – he said this person was scheming and deep, deliberately parading around West Street like this to win people’s hearts.

Lu Tong had no dowry of her own; her dowry was just the monthly salary Du Changqing paid her, and even this small salary was mostly spent on her habit of buying sweet syrup for everyone at the medical clinic to drink. Speaking of which, Lu Tong was quite free with money, truly not understanding frugal household management.

Qing Feng placed the heavy box in his hands on the table in the inner shop, saying solemnly: “My lord ordered me to deliver the wedding dress to Madam.”

Du Changqing frowned: “She hasn’t married into the family yet – what’s with this improper address?”

Qing Feng acted as if he hadn’t heard.

Lu Tong and Yin Zheng lifted the felt curtain and came out. Miao Liangfang smiled: “Little Lu, you’ve come at just the right time. Come quickly and see the wedding dress made for you.”

Lu Tong’s wedding dress was prepared by Pei Yunying.

According to Great Liang’s wedding customs, a woman’s wedding dress was mostly embroidered by the bride herself before marriage, a process that might take several years. However, Lu Tong was truly too busy – sitting in the clinic daily and also going to the Imperial Medical Bureau to organize prescriptions. As for her embroidery skills… Pei Yunying was perhaps worried that her random stitching might create an embarrassing situation at the wedding ceremony, so he specifically commissioned the best embroidresses to rush the sewing.

Lu Tong walked to the table and, under everyone’s gaze, opened the wooden box, lifting out a heavy wedding dress – it was an extremely beautiful bridal outfit.

A red long dress with gold-threaded wide sleeves, paired with a matching sash, along with a pearl and jade coronet with flowing ribbons, a gold-threaded veil… and a pair of red upturned-toe shoes.

The dress was adorned with embroidery and precious stones, with gold thread embroidered into exquisite and neat patterns of flowers, plants, phoenixes, and birds. The neighboring tailor shop Ge also had ready-made wedding dresses, but none as thoughtfully detailed as this.

“What beautiful embroidery,” Yin Zheng praised. “I haven’t even seen such styles in the Ge tailor shop.”

Qing Feng nodded: “The wedding dress pattern was personally drawn by my lord.”

Lu Tong was surprised.

She already knew that Pei Yunying was skilled in painting and calligraphy. But she hadn’t expected that the wedding dress design also came from his hand. With his daily duties at the court and sometimes handling official documents at night, he still found time to draw such a pattern – Lu Tong felt somewhat ashamed.

A’Cheng flattered: “Young Master Pei draws so well! With such skill, even if he doesn’t serve in the Palace Guard in the future, he could still support himself.”

Miao Liangfang secretly pinched him.

After the wedding dress was delivered, Qing Feng returned to report. That night, when the medical clinic’s main gate closed and Miao Liangfang and Du Changqing each went home, Yin Zheng took the wedding dress out of the wooden box and had Lu Tong try it on to see if it fit.

When Lu Tong changed into the dress and emerged from behind the screen, Yin Zheng’s eyes lit up.

The woman wore a wide-sleeved gold-threaded dress with intertwining peony patterns. The dress was voluminous, and under the lamplight, her complexion was as lovely as a flower. She usually wore plain, light-colored dresses, but today, rarely dressed so brilliantly, even without makeup and with her long hair simply hanging down, she looked completely different from usual.

Yin Zheng exclaimed in admiration and pushed Lu Tong in front of the bronze mirror.

Lu Tong gazed at the woman in the bronze mirror – the woman in the wide-sleeved red dress looked back at her, with gentle and soft features, strange like another person.

She hesitated a bit, turned and asked Yin Zheng: “Does it look good?”

“Beautiful!” Yin Zheng smiled until her eyes curved, watching Lu Tong turn in a circle, nodding: “The size is perfect, no alterations needed. On your wedding day, when you wear the gold jewelry and hair ornaments with an elaborate hairstyle, you’ll definitely be as beautiful as a fairy descended from heaven!”

Her words were exaggerated, and Lu Tong blushed, letting Yin Zheng help her sit by the bed.

“Miss, you’ll be going to the Zhuang manor soon.” Yin Zheng’s fingertips traced over the embroidery on Lu Tong’s sleeves, her tone somewhat wistful. “Time passes so quickly.”

Even though Lu Tong would still sit in Renxin Medical Clinic after marriage and they could still see each other daily, Yin Zheng still felt somewhat reluctant.

She and Lu Tong had supported each other since first meeting at Luomei Peak all the way to the capital. She had watched Lu Tong go from having nothing to achieving great revenge, and had also seen Lu Tong gradually gain ordinary life’s warmth on West Street. She was happy that Lu Tong had found a good man, but when Lu Tong was actually about to marry, her feelings were quite complex.

It was probably like a little sister she had watched grow up was about to leave home – even though she understood the other party was clever and decisive, and others would find it hard to wrong her, she couldn’t help worrying.

“Yin Zheng,” Lu Tong looked at her, “after I marry, you should move to the Zhuang manor too.”

Yin Zheng was startled and instinctively waved her hands: “How could that work?”

“I discussed this with Pei Yunying – you living alone at the medical clinic usually isn’t safe enough. Besides, I’ll still be sitting at the clinic on West Street, so after you move over, we can travel back and forth together every day.”

Yin Zheng protested: “How can I tag along when you’re getting married…”

“Why should we distinguish between you and me?” Lu Tong smiled. “If you find someone you care for in the future and want to move out, it won’t be too late to leave then.”

When “someone you care for” was mentioned, Yin Zheng’s gaze flickered.

Seeing this, Lu Tong asked: “What about you? With Shopkeeper Du, are you still planning to continue as before?”

Since returning from Jiangnan to the medical clinic, Lu Tong had noticed that everything seemed no different.

Life appeared to continue as usual – Du Changqing remained the sharp-tongued but soft-hearted shopkeeper, Yin Zheng helped Miao Liangfang organize medicinal materials, and the two got along normally, as if nothing had happened before. Only occasionally when joking, Du Changqing showed some awkwardness.

Yin Zheng began to smile.

This smile was different from the bitterness of every previous mention of this matter – instead, it carried some lightness.

“Miss, I used to think one shouldn’t only focus on the present without considering the future. In my youth at the Jiangnan pleasure house, I also saw wealthy customers and noble families, but they were nothing special either. Originally, I had no interest in these matters.”

“However, seeing you now has changed my thinking somewhat.”

“Me?” Lu Tong asked.

Yin Zheng nodded.

“Previously, I thought you were like me, Miss – with matters weighing on your heart, which is why you kept refusing Young Master Pei. I didn’t expect that after returning from Jiangnan, you suddenly understood. Perhaps both you and I had been taking this matter too seriously before. Actually, no matter how far-sighted a person is, how far ahead can they really see?”

She sighed: “In one lifetime, like grass and trees in one autumn, taking care of what’s in front of you is the real business.”

Lu Tong’s eyes brightened: “So you…”

Yin Zheng smiled and shook her head: “I haven’t decided yet, Miss. We’re nowhere near that point. I think Shopkeeper Du may not necessarily want to spend a lifetime with me, and similarly, I’m not yet so fond of him that I can’t do without him – at most, I think he’s a decent person.”

“Things are fine as they are now. As for the future, whether we become family, friends, or lovers – those are all future matters. In any case, West Street’s Renxin Medical Clinic won’t be disbanded.”

Lu Tong was silent for a moment. Before she could speak, Yin Zheng had already pulled her up and pressed her shoulders to make her sit before the mirror.

“Let’s not talk about these things. Our urgent business is to figure out how to style your hair for the wedding day. I’ve never done an elaborate hairstyle before.”

She chattered on, taking jewelry from the jewelry box to compare against Lu Tong’s hair. Lu Tong watched for a while, then shook her head inwardly.

Never mind – what Yin Zheng said made sense. In this world, love and hate are as unpredictable as drifting clouds. Each person has their own fate – there’s no need to force it. Getting what one seeks is best.

When the embroidered wedding dress was delivered to West Street, the Zhuang manor was also bustling day and night.

The furniture and household items in the manor had been completely replaced from inside out. Regarding Zhuang Yunying’s marriage, Pei Yunshu handled everything very carefully. With Pei Yunying’s court duties being complex and the Zhuang family no longer having parents, and Pei Yunshu originally being an unhurried person, who knew that when it came to Zhuang Yunying’s wedding, even her slow temperament suddenly became urgent.

The six wedding rites had complicated procedures. Sometimes when too busy, if Pei Yunying couldn’t be found at the palace, Pei Yunshu could only go to the Palace Guard herself to find someone to pass messages.

Duan Xiaoyan was often absent, but Xiao Zhufeng could often be encountered. Moreover, Xiao Zhufeng was on good terms with Pei Yunying. Though he was a man of few words, he had a good temperament. Sometimes he helped deliver things to the manor, and today was the same.

Pei Yunying was on duty at the palace and couldn’t get away when the wedding wine he had ordered arrived, so he asked Xiao Zhufeng to help deliver it to the manor. That heavy load of wedding wine had each bottle decorated with silk netting and adorned with bright silver ornaments, beautifully wrapped in red silk – commonly called “bound silver red.”

When Pei Yunshu saw him arrive, she quickly had people receive the wine load and brought tea from the table to offer him. After Xiao Zhufeng thanked her and drank the tea, he was about to take his leave.

“Vice Commander Xiao,” Pei Yunshu called to stop him.

Xiao Zhufeng turned around. Pei Yunshu looked at him with some difficulty on her face: “There’s something I’d like to ask you to help with.”

He stopped and turned around: “Miss Pei, please speak freely.”

“It’s about the wedding guest list.” Pei Yunshu said: “A’Ying’s wedding is approaching. He previously wrote a guest list for Palace Guard members. These past few days I’ve been preparing the menu, and I’m looking at the list wondering if it’s appropriate. Since you’re from the Palace Guard, why don’t you help take a look.”

At this point, she felt somewhat embarrassed: “Actually, the steward is handling these matters, but I’m always worried… Am I troubling you too much?”

This wasn’t Xiao Zhufeng’s first time helping out at their door.

Even though he was Pei Yunying’s good friend, troubling him like this every time made Pei Yunshu feel bad. She could see how busy the Palace Guard was from Zhuang Yunying’s example – this Vice Commander must also have it tough. Yet every time she called, he came. Pei Yunshu felt that although Vice Commander Xiao appeared somewhat cold and aloof, he was actually a warm-hearted good person.

“It’s no trouble, just a small matter,” Xiao Zhufeng said.

Pei Yunshu felt relieved and handed the prepared menu to Xiao Zhufeng.

Each dish for the wedding banquet was carefully selected – she just wanted to check if there were any inappropriate or offensive items. Pei Yunshu wasn’t very familiar with Palace Guard people after all. The most familiar ones were just Xiao Zhufeng and Duan Xiaoyan.

Just as she was thinking this, Xiao Zhufeng reached out, hesitated a moment, then pointed to one dish name: “Remove this one.”

“Hundred-flavor mixed soup?” Pei Yunshu didn’t understand. “Is this dish not acceptable?”

“It has clams.” Xiao Zhufeng said briefly, then added: “Someone in the Palace Guard is allergic to clams.”

Pei Yunshu smiled: “I see. Speaking of which, I also can’t eat clams – I get rashes all over when I do.”

Xiao Zhufeng made a sound of acknowledgment.

He then pointed to another dish – water dragon fish, washing-hands crab, pointing out several dishes in succession, all ones that Pei Yunshu couldn’t eat. Pei Yunshu’s gaze gradually changed.

One dish could be called coincidence, two dishes, three dishes – all picking ones she usually couldn’t eat might be somewhat strange.

Xiao Zhufeng kept selecting dishes, then suddenly noticed Pei Yunshu’s odd expression, paused, and abruptly stopped talking. After a moment, he matter-of-factly returned the menu to Pei Yunshu: “That’s all.”

This made it even more obvious that he was trying to cover something up.

Pei Yunshu looked at him, gradually becoming suspicious.

Her dietary preferences – Pei Yunying knew them clearly, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Pei Yunying told Xiao Zhufeng. But first, Pei Yunying usually had proper boundaries and wouldn’t tell an outside man about her private matters. Second, Pei Yunying had left home at a young age, and some of these dishes were ones she had stopped eating later – things even her own brother wasn’t clear about, so how did Xiao Zhufeng know?

Now that she thought about it, besides this, he also seemed to understand her very well. Every time he came to the Zhuang manor, he would conveniently bring fruits or pastries that all suited her taste. Getting along with Xiao Zhufeng felt like being with an old friend of many years – his deep understanding of her made it surprisingly natural.

Pei Yunshu looked at the man before her. The man wore the Palace Guard uniform, tall and neat, his figure somehow looking familiar. However, she was certain that apart from at the Palace Guard, she had never had deeper interactions with him. So after hesitating a moment, she asked softly: “Vice Commander Xiao, before you joined the Palace Guard… have we met before?”

Xiao Zhufeng’s body stiffened. “No,” he said.

Pei Yunshu became even more suspicious.

As if unable to face her inquiring gaze, Xiao Zhufeng turned away: “If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave first. If there are other matters, Miss, you can come to the Palace Guard to find me.” With these words, he hurriedly left.

Pei Yunshu watched his retreating figure thoughtfully. Fang Zi led Bao Zhu in, and little Bao Zhu could now walk. Upon entering, she called out: “Uncle—Uncle—”

Fang Zi smiled: “Little Miss heard Vice Commander Xiao had come and insisted on coming out to find him. Has he already left?”

Pei Yunshu nodded, picking up Bao Zhu to sit on her lap.

“Coming every few days – it’s clearly a case of ‘the drunkard’s interest lies not in wine,'” Qiong Ying was straightforward and said upon hearing this: “He’s just taken a fancy to our Miss.”

“Qiong Ying,” Pei Yunshu scolded: “Don’t speak nonsense.”

“This servant also thinks Qiong Ying isn’t speaking nonsense,” Fang Zi smiled and moved closer, whispering to her: “The Palace Guard duties are so busy, yet Vice Commander Xiao can find time – you call and he comes. He helps with what should be helped, and actively helps with what shouldn’t be helped. Every time he comes, he brings gifts for Little Miss. If you say he’s just an ordinary friend, or doing it for the young master’s sake, it wouldn’t be to this extent. Haven’t you noticed how much Little Miss likes Vice Commander Xiao? Vice Commander Xiao clearly wants to raise Bao Zhu as his own daughter.”

“You!” Pei Yunshu pretended to be angry and tried to hit her. Fang Zi giggled and ran away, laughing together with Qiong Ying. Meanwhile, Bao Zhu was still in her arms, pulling at Pei Yunshu’s collar and calling in her baby voice: “Mama—Uncle—”

Pei Yunshu was helpless. Beyond helplessness, her cheeks couldn’t help but flush slightly.

She wasn’t a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl just coming of age. What excessive favoritism and patience represented – even though she hadn’t thought in that direction before, being pointed out by observers made it clear.

However, there was still one point of confusion: why was Xiao Zhufeng so familiar with her preferences and habits? Where did that inexplicable yet vaguely familiar feeling come from?

When Pei Yunying returned home that night, Pei Yunshu told him about the day’s events. At the end, she asked: “I lived at the Zhuang family since childhood and rarely went anywhere else. I don’t remember ever meeting Vice Commander Xiao, but why does he know all my affairs? Did you tell him?”

Pei Yunying shook his head. “Then why?”

He raised his eyebrows, deliberately teasing as he said unhurriedly: “That’s a long story. If Sister wants to know, go ask Vice Commander Xiao yourself.”

“I asked him, and he said no.”

“Then ask him several more times.” Pei Yunying didn’t explain: “Ask several more times, and he’ll be willing to tell you.”

“A’Ying!”

The young man stretched lazily: “Speaking of which, I’m about to be a married man, yet Vice Commander Xiao is older than me and still alone – truly pitiable and desolate.”

These words sounded familiar. Pei Yunshu glared at him: “Pei Yunying…”

“Next time Sister goes to Wansi Temple to pray for blessings, remember to also pray for Vice Commander Xiao’s romantic fortune,” he winked: “He would definitely be very pleased.”