As the flower sedan departed from Renxin Medical Clinic on West Street, the Pei manor was also bustling with activity.

The residence was decorated everywhere with lanterns and festive ornaments, covered with “happiness” characters.

This courtyard had always seemed cold and empty, with not a single flower in the garden plots. Now that someone was getting married, everything became lively. Not to mention the garden full of wooden planters, just the colorful decorations alone had increased considerably, causing the Palace Guards who came to whisper among themselves: “Who would have thought that Commander, so stern and serious at the Palace Guard headquarters, actually loves flowers, plants, and precious ornaments at home – truly, one cannot judge by appearances.”

Qing Feng, pinning a red flower to his chest: “…” Pei Yunying’s wedding was quite lively indeed.

Setting aside personal connections, Pei Yunying was now a trusted confidant relied upon by the new emperor. There were plenty of people wanting to curry favor with him. Even before the wedding invitations were sent out, some had already spontaneously delivered gifts to the Zhuang manor, saying: “When Commander gets married, please don’t forget to save a cup of wedding wine for me.”

This kept Pei Yunshu so busy she couldn’t finish writing thank-you cards.

Not counting those seeking favor, among Pei Yunying’s guests, the Palace Guard members were the most numerous.

Five hundred guards made noise all the way from the Palace Guard headquarters to the Zhuang manor, causing veins to throb on Xiao Zhufeng’s forehead.

An unfamiliar guest, seeing that Xiao Zhufeng had been carrying a little girl in his arms without putting her down, joked: “Vice Commander Xiao, when did you get married? How is there no news at all, and you even have a child? When I saw you at the training ground before, you looked so heroic and spirited. I never expected you to be such a devoted father. Speaking honestly, if it were me, I definitely wouldn’t have such patience.”

Xiao Zhufeng: “…”

Pei Yunshu, who accidentally overheard this, was startled. She quickly took Bao Zhu from Xiao Zhufeng’s arms and hastily explained with a red face.

“Oh,” the guest suddenly understood, perhaps feeling awkward, and stiffly tried to make amends: “I see. Looking at the little girl, I thought she resembled Vice Commander in features, so I assumed she was the Vice Commander’s daughter.”

This blatant nonsense made both of them even more embarrassed.

Xiao Zhufeng had come early in the morning to help at the Zhuang manor. Pei Yunshu was busy, and Bao Zhu clung to Xiao Zhufeng upon seeing him. So Xiao Zhufeng took on the duty of the little girl’s guardian, conscientiously taking care of the child.

Those who didn’t know indeed thought this was Xiao Zhufeng’s daughter.

“Thank you, Vice Commander Xiao,” Pei Yunshu held Bao Zhu, saying uncomfortably: “The front is finished. You can go sit in the hall for a while. I estimate A’Ying and the others will arrive soon.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the sound of firecrackers erupted outside – the wedding procession had returned. Pei Yunshu’s eyes lit up, and she hurriedly carried Bao Zhu toward the entrance.

At the main gate of the Zhuang manor, people watching the excitement had already gathered. He Xiazi stood to one side, holding a large winnowing basket filled with grains, beans, money, and fruits, praying and blessing while scattering them in all directions.

Yin Zheng helped Lu Tong down from the sedan. Lu Tong wore a veil and couldn’t see anything, only feeling someone place a unity knot ribbon in her hands.

Pei Yunying held the other end of the ribbon. Sensing her nervousness, he gently tugged one end. Lu Tong paused, then also tugged once in acknowledgment. He chuckled softly and led her over the saddle and artemisia grass placed before the door, symbolizing “peace and safety.”

Cheers and applause erupted all around. The Palace Guards’ voices were especially loud. Although the fact that Physician Lu had ultimately married their superior was indeed disappointing, the guards later thought that at least with their commander taken by Physician Lu, any future young ladies coming to the commander’s manor wouldn’t fancy a married man. This way, they would have their chances – wasn’t this another kind of perfect outcome?

Therefore, it was better to offer blessings.

Pei Yunshu handed Bao Zhu to Xiao Zhufeng and personally led the couple to the hall. Lu Tong and Pei Yunying faced each other, bowing three times, completing the wedding ceremony.

Throughout the entire process, Lu Tong tightly clutched the unity knot ribbon. The gold-threaded veil blocked everything, and the outside was too noisy – she had no idea what was happening. She had watched many people marry in Changwu County, Jiangnan, and West Street, but when it was her turn, she couldn’t remember what to do.

The moment the ceremony was completed, cheers and celebrations erupted all around. Some lively guests urged Pei Yunying to lift the veil, but after receiving one glance from him, they shivered and fell silent, not daring to say another word.

The couple was then escorted into the bridal chamber.

There were many rituals inside the bridal chamber. Pei Yunshu specifically invited women with loving marriages to scatter gold coins and colored fruits, calling it “spreading the tent.” Pei Yunying and Lu Tong, with others’ help, each cut a lock of hair to bind together.

Pei Yunshu smiled: “Having cut the clouds and silk, and divided the strands of hair, seeking a place with no one around, binding them into a unity knot.” “Binding hair in unity, tying together the marriage knot!”

Duan Xiaoyan’s voice squeezed through from behind the door: “Quick, now they should drink the nuptial wine! Why is marriage so complicated?” Today he had specifically changed into date-red brocade robes, full of youthful innocence. During the wedding ceremony, his voice had been the loudest. Zhuang Yunying glanced at him, but perhaps because there were many people, this glance had little intimidating effect. Duan Xiaoyan urged: “Hurry up, what are you waiting for?”

Pei Yunshu laughed and pushed Pei Yunying: “A’Ying, it’s time to drink the nuptial wine.”

Pei Yunying looked at the person before him.

Lu Tong sat by the bed with the veil over her head, showing an obedience rarely seen on ordinary days. She had been calm throughout, and if not for nearly tripping when crossing the threshold earlier, one could hardly detect any nervousness.

He picked up the wine pot, filled two silver cups, which were also connected by colored ribbons. He took one cup and gently placed the other in Lu Tong’s hands, softly reminding: “Hold it steady.”

Lu Tong’s hand touched the silver cup. His voice was close to her ear, so she instinctively looked up, but all she could see was the dim light filtered through the gold-threaded veil.

She felt someone’s arm reach across her body, firmly supporting her. Though they were in separate positions, it was extremely intimate – like the unity knot ribbon they had held before entering, originally two unrelated people, yet somehow entangled together, becoming one.

She lowered her head, her lips touching the cup’s rim. The wine seemed to be honey wine, sweet and mellow, without any harsh bite. After draining the nuptial wine, Lu Tong and Pei Yunying simultaneously released their hands. “Clang!”

Both wine cups fell to the floor at the same time, one face up, one face down. Pei Yunshu looked and immediately said joyfully: “Great auspicious fortune!”

Since ancient times, nuptial wine was also called “jiao cup wine.” After drinking, the cups were thrown to the ground to divine good or ill fortune from how they landed. This omen was truly excellent.

Duan Xiaoyan was first to applaud: “Naturally! A match made in heaven, a perfect pair – they’re bound to love each other until their hair turns white!”

Xiao Zhufeng, holding Bao Zhu, looked at him suspiciously: “Why are you so eloquent today?”

The young man whispered: “I collected a bunch of auspicious phrases before coming.”

At this point, all wedding ceremonies were complete. Pei Yunshu arranged the bed curtains and drove the celebrating crowd from the room. Pei Yunying wanted to stay and talk with Lu Tong, but before he could reach her, Pei Yunshu pushed him away, saying: “Rules cannot be broken – you go to the front hall to accompany the guests first!” She then turned to whisper instructions to Yin Zheng: “Finally time to rest a bit. Miss Yin Zheng, after we leave, let Tong’er eat something. She’s been busy all day without rest – today has truly been hard on her.”

Yin Zheng nodded in agreement, and only then did Pei Yunshu push the door and leave.

After she left, no one else remained in the room. Lu Tong unceremoniously pulled off the veil from her head and let out a long sigh of relief. Yin Zheng wanted to stop her, but seeing her suddenly relaxed expression, thought better of it and let Lu Tong set the veil aside.

“It was indeed tiring,” Lu Tong said.

Actually, before the wedding, she had found the complicated procedures troublesome and discussed with Pei Yunying to simplify everything. Today’s wedding had already omitted all possible steps, much simpler than when Pei Yunshu married into Prince Wendou’s manor. Yet when actually going through it, Lu Tong still felt dizzy and overwhelmed.

Perhaps it was because as the remaining poison in her body gradually cleared, and living comfortably at Renxin Medical Clinic without worries, her constitution had become more delicate, unable to handle even a little fatigue?

Yin Zheng picked up some unity fruits from the scattered bedding and handed them to Lu Tong: “Miss, eat something first. You must be hungry after being busy so long.”

When she mentioned it, Lu Tong did feel somewhat hungry. She and Yin Zheng selected some pastries and fruits to eat. After having some sweets, she felt more energetic. After resting for a while, she had time to look around the room.

The bridal chamber was decorated very festively, with colored ribbons adding brightness everywhere. Beside the rosewood bed were paired lotus vases, symbolizing the birth of noble children, and a statue of the Harmony Immortals, representing marital love.

Lu Tong was staring at the Harmony Immortals statue when Yin Zheng suddenly approached from behind, whispering: “Miss.”

Lu Tong turned around.

Yin Zheng’s face suddenly became bashful, stammering: “That… there’s something I want to tell you…”

Lu Tong looked at her uncomprehendingly.

“Well, when a woman marries, on the wedding night, the pleasures of the bridal chamber are a first experience. When families have daughters marrying, they all read certain books to learn, otherwise they’d be completely clueless… I previously asked Widow Sun for a few books. I estimate Young Master Pei hasn’t come yet – Miss, would you like to… would you like to…”

As Yin Zheng spoke, she herself blushed. Actually, she wasn’t shy – it just felt strange discussing these things with Lu Tong. However, Lu Tong had no one else around her to discuss such matters.

“I don’t need to read them,” Lu Tong said. “I know what to do.”

Yin Zheng’s prepared words died in her throat, and she stared dumbfounded: “Ah?”

“I’m a physician,” Lu Tong looked at her strangely, as if Yin Zheng’s reaction was abnormal. “Naturally I know these things.”

Yin Zheng was stunned: “Is… is that so?”

“Yes, so there’s no need to show me. I’m very familiar with the human body.”

Yin Zheng suddenly felt somewhat absurd.

Though she knew Lu Tong treated everything calmly and didn’t take things to heart, wasn’t this a bit too calm? With those four words “human body,” it seemed tonight wasn’t a tender, romantic wedding night, but like handling a piece of dead pork in the courtyard.

Frighteningly composed.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside. The two exchanged glances, and Yin Zheng said: “Young Master Pei is back – quick!”

Lu Tong sat back on the bed, and Yin Zheng helped replace the gold-threaded veil. Pei Yunying pushed the door and entered.

Behind him, Duan Xiaoyan and Xiao Zhufeng followed. Xiao Zhufeng was fine – he left after delivering the person. But Duan Xiaoyan persisted: “Can I look again? At least let me see what’s under the veil before I go.”

Pei Yunying impatiently told him to “get lost.”

“Then I can’t even disturb the bridal chamber?”

The young man gave him a cold look, and Duan Xiaoyan sullenly turned around: “Fine, I won’t look. I’ll just leave.” He dragged Xiao Zhufeng away with him.

Yin Zheng stood up, curtsied to Pei Yunying, and whispered: “I’m leaving too. Please take good care of Miss, Young Master Pei.” With that, she fled hastily and shut the door with a “bang.”

The room suddenly became quiet.

Lu Tong: “…”

When others were present, she hadn’t felt it, but now with only two people in the room in the deep of night, she inexplicably felt uncomfortable. She lowered her head and saw a pair of black leather boots stop in front of her.

Lu Tong gripped the bedding tightly.

A gentle hand reached over, lifting the veil from her head. Lu Tong looked up and immediately met a pair of deep, dark eyes.

Pei Yunying stood before her.

From morning until now, only at this moment could she truly see him. He wore a bright red silk robe. Lu Tong was accustomed to seeing him in official robes – this vibrant color made his entire bearing bright and distinguished, different from his usual composed manner.

He looked at Lu Tong with a smile, but his gaze was like summer sun, making Lu Tong’s face burn slightly.

“You seem nervous, Physician Lu,” as if noticing her momentary embarrassment, Pei Yunying’s lips curved upward. “Would you like some wine for courage?”

Drink wine… for courage? What courage?

These words carried a somewhat threatening tone, yet the threat was tinged with sensuality, making one’s imagination run wild. All sorts of thoughts, appropriate and inappropriate, flooded her mind at once. Lu Tong never knew she was such a lascivious person.

She tried to maintain calm composure, as if showing the slightest timidity would mean defeat, saying only: “What’s there to need courage for? There’s nothing frightening… wait.” Lu Tong suddenly looked up, eyeing Pei Yunying suspiciously: “Why aren’t you drunk?”

Lin Danqing had said that on wedding day, the groom inevitably gets forced to drink heavily. A drunk person naturally couldn’t do anything. Lu Tong had been prepared for this, especially since Pei Yunying’s alcohol tolerance wasn’t good. However, looking now, he was clear-eyed and alert – where was any trace of drunkenness? He was frighteningly sober.

“Why should I be drunk?”

“Isn’t your alcohol tolerance poor?”

Pei Yunying found this amusing: “I don’t think I ever said my alcohol tolerance was poor.”

Lu Tong was astonished.

During Renxin Medical Clinic’s shop celebration, Pei Yunying hadn’t drunk much before showing signs of intoxication. Lu Tong had thought his tolerance was even worse than hers. But come to think of it, during New Year’s night in Jiangnan, when Chang Jin and other Medical Bureau colleagues had also plied him with alcohol, he seemed unaffected. So this person’s alcohol tolerance was actually quite good?

Lost in thought, she didn’t notice Pei Yunying had sat down beside her. When she came to her senses, his crisp “Moonlight Cold” fragrance mixed with faint wine scent surrounded her like soft, moist clouds.

“Lu Tong,” Pei Yunying stared at her, his expression ambiguous. “The beautiful night is brief, a good person hard to find. At a time like this, you wouldn’t plan to spend tonight discussing alcohol tolerance with me, would you?”

The words “good person” made Lu Tong’s face redden. Her gaze wandered to the celebration candles on the table. The tall red candles dripped wax like flowers, accompanied by the flickering flames of the copper lamp nearby.

“The wick is getting long,” Lu Tong made an excuse. “You should trim it.”

He followed Lu Tong’s gaze, was silent for a moment, but said nothing in the end. He leaned over to take the silver scissors, trimmed the candle wick, and added lamp oil.

Lu Tong secretly sighed in relief and looked at him.

The young man in red robes bent his head, seriously tending the lamp wick. That flickering candlelight was warm and golden, with pearl curtains hanging down, making his eyelashes seem like butterfly shadows, especially gentle.

For some reason, Lu Tong suddenly remembered that lamp they had lit together in the ruined temple in Jiangnan years ago. He had told her then: “When lamp flowers smile, all things bring joy – you and I will have good fortune ahead.”

But that night in Jiangnan was bitterly cold with heavy snow. She had just returned from examining corpses at the execution ground, while he was seriously injured and still being pursued. Both were in their worst, most difficult times. She thought it was just casual comfort, never daring to hope too much. Who would have expected fate to turn and twist – though late, it finally delivered the great fortune the lamp flowers had foretold.

Pei Yunying looked up to find her staring at him without speaking, and raised an eyebrow: “Good-looking?”

Lu Tong’s gaze fell on his face – his beautiful, profound eyes, thin lips curved in a smile… As if bewitched, she involuntarily said: “Good-looking.”

This person was never entirely proper. When wearing official robes, he could still suppress it somewhat, but now in this red robe with that half-smiling expression, he carried a seductive charm.

It was impossible to say with a clear conscience that he wasn’t attractive.

Pei Yunying paused, then smiled more deeply: “I was asking about the lamp.”

Suddenly realizing she’d been teased, Lu Tong coughed lightly and covered by adding: “I was also answering about the lamp.”

He stared at her for a moment, finally unable to hold back his laughter.

Lu Tong turned away in annoyance. After thinking, she poured herself a cup of honey wine and drained it, for the first time hating her good alcohol tolerance.

Seeing this, Pei Yunying pushed the copper lamp to the table corner, stood up and sat beside Lu Tong, taking the silver cup from her hands: “Really need courage?”

“I’m not afraid.”

He nodded lazily: “I know. Physician Lu is a medical expert, naturally knowing these things.”

“You…”

He raised an eyebrow, his dimples especially charming in the lamplight, deliberately speaking slowly: “You’re very familiar with the human body, naturally knowing what to do.”

“Pei Yunying!”

Lu Tong was exasperated. These were the words she’d spoken with Yin Zheng earlier. He had clearly heard everything and was deliberately teasing her.

He stared at Lu Tong, his smile playful: “Unfortunately, I’m not a physician and don’t know anything. Tonight I can only rely on Physician Lu’s help.”

Lu Tong could bear no more and pushed toward him with one palm, but Pei Yunying caught her wrist.

She still wore the green jade bracelet Pei Yunying had given her. The jade bracelet was cool and cold, but where he gripped her wrist burned hot. The young man looked down at her, those dark eyes falling on her face. When their gazes met, his expression gradually deepened as he slowly leaned closer.

She reached up to embrace Pei Yunying’s neck.

The crisp fragrance mixed with the sweet wine scent drifted over. Lu Tong couldn’t tell if it was from the honey wine she’d just drunk or something else entirely. She could only instinctively cling to him as he drew down the ribbon-tied bed curtains.

The night deepened. The celebration candles on the table burned shorter and shorter. In the flickering candlelight, the beautiful night was still long.

Moonlight like water shrouded the fragrant chamber, golden rings softly chimed as doors first closed. Cold shadows fell from high eaves, curtains hung like a single screen. Blue smoke lightly curled, red candles smiled with lamp flowers. This very place was paradise, behind screens autumn dreams stretched long.