That night, under a dark moon with fierce winds, all was silent.
Xin Mei lit an oil lamp and solemnly unwrapped the small cloth bundle Xin Xiong had given her. With extremely enthusiastic and pious feelings, she planned to earnestly study the secret techniques of marital harmony.
The bundle contained four worn books. The first had bold characters on the cover: “Essential Guide for Young Wives in Spring Chambers – Turning Red Waves.” Opening it to flip through casually, she saw densely packed tiny characters that were extremely difficult to read. After flipping through a few pages, she tossed it aside.
The second book—”The Art of Managing Husbands”—still had densely packed small text.
The third book—”Twenty Years of Imperial Favor: Palace Chronicles – Twenty-Four Positions of Cloud and Rain by Empress Xianghui’s Own Hand.” Few words, many illustrations. After opening just two pages, there was an extremely crude drawing showing what appeared to be a man and woman. As for what exactly they were doing… Xin Mei guessed they might be fighting.
The fourth book was the thickest, with a light red hardcover sprinkled with faint gold powder, neatly tied with red silk. Though aged, when brought close one could smell a warm but not lewd, clear but not cold fragrance—clearly a valuable item, completely different from the first three books.
Untying the red silk, inside was a line of ancient characters: “Orchid Musk Tender Pistil Collection—Master Qi.”
Turning the page, her eyes met a painting of a beautiful woman standing by a window, her pale wrists extended gracefully, her gaze soft and full of spring passion, having untied half her sash. Beside the painting was a poem by the immortal poetess Ji Yue from hundreds of years ago: “How can we meet face to face? Extinguish the candles and remove silk garments?”
The painting style was exquisitely delicate. The beauty’s eyes flowed with charm, her manner refined yet full of seduction, as if about to step down from the paper. The accompanying calligraphy was elegant and beautiful, not inferior to any great calligrapher of the current era.
Xin Mei stared for a long time before couldn’t help turning to the next page. The second illustration showed the same beauty, now embracing a man, her vermillion lips parted in tender yielding.
The third illustration—silk robes half-removed, jade skin slightly exposed.
The fourth illustration…
The oil lamp flickered in the thin night breeze seeping through window cracks. Xin Mei silently finished viewing the final illustration, silently closed the book, continued silently through her ablutions, blew out the lamp, went to bed, and covered herself with blankets.
After a long while, a muffled and dejected wail emerged from under the blankets.
…She, she, she—she hadn’t done anything unseemly to Lu Qianqiao before, had she? She shouldn’t have, right? Right?!
She rolled around wrapped in blankets, wishing she could transform into a little cotton ball that could burrow in and never come out.
Halfway through rolling, she suddenly heard someone gently tapping the window. Xin Mei poked her head out from the blankets and asked carefully, “Who is it?”
A letter was pushed through the window crack, floating gently to the ground. Xin Mei jumped down from bed and hurriedly pushed open the window to see a very familiar little demon floating in midair. It bowed respectfully to her before turning and flying away.
This little demon… seemed to be from the Imperial Tomb?
Xin Mei picked up the letter and quickly tore it open. Inside was only one line in strong, powerful handwriting: “August 15th, see you at Xinxie Manor.”
The signature was a single character: “Qiao.”
…Lu Qianqiao was coming on August 15th?!
The letter paper fluttered from her hands back to the ground. Xin Mei clutched her head in panic.
She didn’t want to see him!
No, that wasn’t it…
She didn’t want to see him so soon!
That wasn’t it either…
She… she, she needed psychological preparation! Considerably, extremely, tremendously, especially—needed psychological preparation!!!
Xin Mei suddenly spun around, staring at those books on the table, rushing over in a burning panic to grab them, looking around trying to find a secure hiding place. These things absolutely couldn’t be seen by him! Absolutely not!
Under the bed—no good! Too common a hiding spot, would definitely be discovered!
In the wardrobe—no good! She might accidentally drop them while changing clothes.
She suddenly spotted the dusty jewelry box on her dressing table. Her eyes immediately brightened as she dumped out all the jewelry she never used, put the books inside, covered them with jewelry, and closed the lid… perfect.
Xin Mei closed the window with relief, returned to bed to sleep, silently recited “I saw nothing” a thousand times, and fell asleep with her mind wandering.
A night of spring dreams.
August 15th, full moon, Moon Cake Festival.
Having learned early that his son-in-law would come, Xin Xiong was so delighted his jaw nearly couldn’t close. He prepared over a thousand varieties of moon cakes—round ones, square ones, irregular-shaped ones—piled into small mountains.
“Little Mei, does your husband prefer sweet or savory flavors?”
The old man constantly worried his moon cake preparations weren’t sufficient, that there wouldn’t be any his son-in-law liked, running around frantically busy.
“Father, he’s your son-in-law. He should be the one trying to please you. What are you worried about?”
“Nonsense!” Xin Xiong wept. “You’ve already offended your husband! He sent you back to your maternal home for self-reflection! Do you want him to write divorce papers on Moon Cake Festival?!”
“…I think divorce papers and moon cakes are completely unrelated matters…”
“Oh right! There’s also the evening banquet dishes! Little Mei, does your husband prefer meat or vegetables?”
“Father, how exactly did Mother endure you all those years?”
“Definitely meat, right? He’s a general who frequently fights battles—he must love eating meat!”
Xin Xiong swiftly wrote a full page of menu items, handing it to the second senior brother outside with solemn instructions: “Also bring out the twenty-year aged wine from the cellar and mix it with new wine! Be careful! Tonight’s guest is VIP!”
Her father had gone mad again.
Xin Mei shook her head and walked outside for fresh air, when suddenly she saw the eldest senior brother running frantically from the main gate, shouting loudly: “He’s here! The general has come with many people!”
Xinxie Manor instantly became chaotic. Xin Mei was surrounded by a group of people, led in a dizzy state toward the main gate, just in time to see Lu Qianqiao jump down from Qiuyue’s back, followed by dozens of people—no, dozens of demons—all disguised as mortals, standing respectfully behind him. Each led a spirit beast carrying either boxes or cases, creating a dazzling display.
Lu Qianqiao today looked… well, particularly different from usual, as if deliberately dressed up. His usual light blue robes were replaced by snow-white outer garments, his long hair meticulously bound behind his head. Only his eyes were covered with black cloth, yet this didn’t make him appear embarrassed—instead it added a touch of mystery to his elegant bearing.
Perhaps he was afraid his red eyes would frighten her father?
He truly underestimated her father’s tolerance. Never mind red eyes—even if he had eight arms, her father would probably be delighted and consider it exceptional talent.
Xin Xiong tremblingly went forward to greet him. Before he could think of what to say first, Lu Qianqiao had already walked over steadily, bowing respectfully, his voice calm: “This junior Lu Qianqiao pays respects to Boss Xin.”
Tears immediately streamed down Xin Xiong’s face.
He… he called him Boss Xin, not father-in-law.
He glared resentfully back at Xin Mei: Look! What a good son-in-law! How could you anger him so much he won’t even call me father-in-law?!
Xin Mei turned her head away, pretending ignorance, but felt someone watching her in her peripheral vision. She secretly moved her eyes and immediately saw Lu Qianqiao’s face. Though his eyes were covered by black cloth, he seemed still able to see. He was looking at her, lips slightly upturned in a smile.
I’m here, his expression seemed to say.
Xin Mei’s neck began burning. She lowered her head and coughed softly, unable to rush forward and grasp his hand like before. After hesitating for a long while, she still shook her head and walked away.
She still needed some psychological preparation…
The little demon star’s husband arriving at Xinxie Manor was like dropping water into hot oil. Nearly everyone in the manor gathered outside the main hall, peering inside through door cracks, window gaps, and similar openings.
The eldest senior brother saw Lu Qianqiao’s imposing bearing despite the black cloth, feeling both envious and jealous: “My future wife would never choose this type of pretty boy!”
The second senior brother smiled with wicked charm: “Average, average. Still inferior to me somewhat.”
Xin Mei hugged her knees, sitting under the window, too lazy to speak, only pondering how to prepare herself psychologically.
In the main hall, Lu Qianqiao suddenly spoke: “Boss Xin, this junior has come today to present betrothal gifts. Please accept them.”
The demons outside brought in piles of boxes, cases, and packages—silver, antique paintings and calligraphy, silks and satins—extremely standard and extremely generous betrothal gifts.
Xin Xiong immediately broke into tears of joy, stammering: “Son-in-law, why be so formal… we, we’re already family! It’s just that my daughter is naughty and has troubled you… please don’t hold it against her.”
Lu Qianqiao smiled: “This junior wishes to marry Miss Xin as wife, for this entire life only one person, never to part or abandon. Would Boss Xin grant this?”
Xin Xiong nodded vigorously: “Grant it! Absolutely grant it!”
…Only, how strange—he was already the son-in-law, so what needed granting?
Lu Qianqiao rose and bowed respectfully once more, this time finally changing his address: “Qianqiao thanks his father-in-law.”
That evening Xin Xiong was so happy he accidentally drank too much and was carried back to his room. Xin Mei had to personally escort Lu Qianqiao to the guest quarters.
A full moon hung overhead, everything around bright and clear. The corridor she usually walked seemed particularly long today. A small breeze on her face felt cool, and Xin Mei touched her cheeks. Afraid of making mistakes, she had only drunk two small cups of wine today, but her body still burned, her skin scalding hot.
“Xin Mei.”
Lu Qianqiao called her name softly from behind and stopped walking.
She turned in surprise, only then noticing he had removed the black cloth covering his eyes. Again those red eyes that glowed in the light—they really looked quite eerie in the night. She quickly looked around and rushed over to cover them with her hands: “Be careful someone might see!”
He grasped her wrists and lowered them, asking: “You don’t like it?”
“It’s you who doesn’t want people to discover it, right?” She pouted. “You think my father is too fragile!”
He shook his head: “I don’t mean that. I came to propose marriage… you don’t like it?”
“No, I really like it.” She grinned. “Lu Qianqiao, I really like it! Also, you’re actually so rich! I thought you were a penniless poor general!”
He also smiled, putting his arm around her shoulders: “Since I’m a general, how could I be penniless?”
…He put his arm around her! Psychological preparation, psychological preparation!
Xin Mei’s mind instantly filled with the many illustrations from the Orchid Musk Tender Pistil Collection. Her whole body immediately stiffened like stone as she looked up with a dry laugh. Her psychological preparation! Hurry up and get ready!
“What’s wrong?” Lu Qianqiao noticed her abnormality and felt puzzled.
Xin Mei thought and thought, finally speaking carefully: “Um, Lu Qianqiao… actually, I’m quite reserved, quite noble, quite virtuous. Don’t you think so?”
“…”
He remained silent. At such times, silence was indeed golden.
“Just say ‘yes’!” She jumped around anxiously.
Still silent, his hand on his chin as if suppressing laughter, refusing to answer her no matter what.
“Hmph! I’m going back to my room!”
Her face puffed up angrily as she turned to leave.
He quickly grabbed her wrist. When their skin touched, she seemed scalded and jerked away.
…Uh oh, that was bad.
Xin Mei didn’t dare look back at his expression and shouted: “Sleep!”
With that, she ran off. After just a few steps, she heard him steadily pursuing from behind. Frightened, she leaped up, running without looking where she was going, punching a hole in the corridor wall and diving through to continue running.
The quiet evening at Xinxie Manor was not quiet that night, with constant sounds of “bang” and “crash.” Everyone very tactfully pretended not to hear—after all, a brief separation makes reunion sweeter! Everyone could understand.
After consecutively smashing through four walls, Xin Mei was finally tripped by tree roots, stumbling forward and hitting her head against a tree.
The next moment, her wrists were pinned down and Lu Qianqiao pressed close against her—but why?! Why did he press against her from behind?! Her face pressed against the tree hurt!