The clear sound of jade ornaments announced the arrival of a maid in red clothing, who lifted the gold-embroidered auspicious satin curtain. Behind her appeared a slender young woman with a delicate figure. In her fine hand, she held a plain silk fan, half-covering her face. Her thick eyelashes were lowered, adding an air of solemnity. As she stepped over the threshold, her floor-length purple silk skirt rippled like water.

Ning Fei went to greet her, taking her hand, “Come, meet my parents.”

“Ling Xueying pays respects to—Uncle!” Xueying suddenly exclaimed, almost dropping her fan.

Ning Shuchen finally couldn’t hold back his laughter. Xueying blushed and tried to hide behind Ning Fei, who pulled her out firmly, “What’s wrong? Why are you hiding?”

Yun Moxin reproachfully came forward and swatted Ning Fei’s hand away. “Can’t you see? Your father must have teased her earlier.” She then linked arms with Xueying, “Your name is Xueying, right? Don’t be afraid. When these two get together, they’re never serious, always causing a commotion in the house…”

Xueying said embarrassedly, “It was Xueying who was rash…”

Ning Fei asked in confusion, “What exactly happened?”

Under his wife’s stern gaze, Ning Shuchen tried to keep a straight face and explained, “It’s nothing. I ran into her in the backyard earlier. She thought I was a guest here for the ceremony, and I thought she was a servant of the General’s mansion.” He couldn’t help grinning again, “We just chatted a bit, and then you all arrived.”

“I thought Uncle was like… that too, so…” Xueying mumbled.

Ning Shuchen curiously pressed, “Like what?”

“Like Ning Fei, of course,” Xueying blurted out.

Ning Fei’s eyes immediately widened, “What am I like?”

Xueying glanced at him and lowered her head without speaking.

“Fei, how can you lose your temper so easily?” Yun Moxin lightly scolded. Not allowing Ning Fei to explain, she turned to comfort Xueying, “He’s been spoiled by me since he was little, resulting in this bad habit of speaking loudly. The last time he came home and went to a restaurant with some friends, I happened to pass by outside. I could hear him arguing in the upstairs private room from the street. I thought he was fighting with someone, but when I went up, it turned out they were just chatting.”

“Mother—” Ning Fei awkwardly rubbed his hands, “Can’t you say something nice?”

“Oh, now you know how to feel embarrassed?” Yun Moxin raised her chin proudly, “It seems your father wasn’t wrong. You’ve settled down after getting married. In the future, stay home more often to keep Xueying company. Don’t learn from your father when he was young, always running off to brothels under the pretext of discussing business…”

Ning Shuchen and Ning Fei both started coughing loudly at the same time. Yun Moxin, realizing her slip, quickly changed the subject, “Ah, Xueying, come look, there are many things here for you.” She began pulling Xueying towards the door, “When we heard Ning Fei was getting married, relatives started sending gifts to our home one after another…”

The curtain fell behind the two women, leaving the father and son, who had been ignored, staring at each other. After a long moment, Ning Fei rubbed his nose and smiled wryly, “Suddenly I feel that both Dad and I have pretty good taste.” Ning Shuchen burst into laughter, patting Ning Fei’s shoulder, “Of course, that’s because we’re father and son.”

Xia Jingshi put down his brush, tiredly rubbing his brow. He stood up and opened the door. Outside, the lights were dazzling, yet it was so quiet that only the footsteps of the night patrol soldiers could be heard.

There wasn’t a single star in the sky; it was pitch black. It seemed another heavy rainstorm was coming.

He closed the door, sat back at the desk, and continued writing rapidly. Sure enough, within half an incense stick’s time, a fierce wind arose outside, accompanied by thunder and lightning. Suddenly, the wind blew open the window, extinguishing the candle and scattering the papers on the desk.

Xia Jingshi had to put down his brush again, picking up the scattered letters one by one, arranging them neatly, and weighing them down with a paperweight. He stood in a daze for a while before sighing and walking out of the study.

The wind, carrying large raindrops, lashed against Xia Jingshi’s body. Miraculously, all the stuffiness and oppression dissipated, replaced by a wave of coolness. He leaned on the railing, letting the rain fall on him.

In two or three days, it would be Ning Fei and Xueying’s wedding. After that, he would take Feng Xi Yang to the Holy City to pay respects to the Holy Emperor. For some reason, ever since returning from Shu Sha, he had felt uneasy. Sometimes he even felt suffocated by an inexplicable gloom.

At first, he had been worried that something had happened to Yi Xiao, at least until Xueying burst into his study asking for Yi Xiao’s glass hairpin.

And now? Now he knew his previous worries were unnecessary. Although Feng Suige was impulsive and hot-tempered, he had proven himself to Xia Jingshi the moment he returned to Yi Xiao.

He was a man with enough strength and courage to protect Yi Xiao, and also one who could make her happy. But why was there still this suffocating heaviness in his heart?

A flash of lightning struck nearby, truly frightening. In the past, whenever there was such a thunderstorm, Yi Xiao would eagerly watch the sky. With each flash of lightning, she would let out a long, loud cry, continuing until the rolling thunder that followed the lightning had completely faded, then put her hands on her hips and laugh heartily.

As long as Ning Fei was around, he would join in her craziness. Wei Ran once asked them why they shouted like that. Yi Xiao, laughing carefreely, answered that the Heavenly Lord sent such thunder to eliminate evil spirits plaguing the human world, but often carelessly killed some earthly creatures by mistake. So she would shout during the thunder to let the Heavenly Lord know there were still people on the ground. This way, the Heavenly Lord would be more careful, and there would be fewer wrongfully killed souls in the world.

Thinking of this, Xia Jingshi couldn’t help but shake his head and smile gently. Only Yi Xiao would have such strange ideas in this world.

Suddenly, he thought of Feng Xi Yang. He hadn’t seen her for several days. Deep down, he was still troubled by her frenzied attempt to kiss him.

Seeing her pale and frightened face that day, he felt somewhat guilty. Once a vibrant and proud young woman, her face now showed only sorrow and melancholy. Although what she asked for wasn’t much, he couldn’t bring himself to deceive her.

He should go see her. They would have to attend Ning Fei’s wedding banquet together.

Feng Xi Yang leaned by the window, reaching out to catch the raindrops falling from the eaves. Not just her clothes, but her heart too was in turmoil.

It seemed there was an invisible wall around Xia Jingshi. If you didn’t touch it, it seemed not to exist, but as soon as you got close, you would unexpectedly bump your head. But she didn’t understand—even though Father loved Mother Consort dearly, he didn’t abandon the entire harem for her. Although Father was the ruler of a country and Xia Jingshi was just a marquis, why…

Was it just because she was from Shu Sha?

“Xi Yang,” only in her dreams would he call her like this, then look at her tenderly with those obsidian-like eyes—Xi Yang touched her lips in a daze. His lips were thin and soft, as fresh as new lotus leaves in summer. Once touched, she couldn’t help but kiss deeper and deeper. She stubbornly pursued that elegant softness until she finally angered him. Such a gentleman, when angered…

“Xi Yang,” she trembled all over. It didn’t seem like a dream; the voice in her dreams was never so clear.

“Xi Yang?” She turned her head slowly, not daring to believe it. Suddenly feeling wronged, large tears began to fall.

It was him.