Shi Fa Ke didn’t know whether Lu Aunt had actually gone to see that Yu Qi Niang the next day, because she was already extremely busy.

With the wedding date set, Shi Fa Ke as the matchmaker naturally needed to run between both sides. The three documents and six ceremonies all required the matchmaker’s presence, and Shi Fa Ke was practically stretched to her limit.

It was only after her mother gave her some pointers that Shi Fa Ke gradually became more composed and started to show some proper matchmaker demeanor.

After matching the birth charts, it was a match made in heaven.

Only when she saw the marriage compatibility document placed before her dressing mirror did Grand Madam Zhu finally put down her constantly worried heart. She believed her decision was correct.

Putting away the marriage document, Grand Madam Zhu looked at herself in the mirror and discovered that her face already showed undeniable signs of weathering, and her complexion was no longer as fresh and tender as in her youth. She raised her hand to touch the silver threads at her temples that could no longer be hidden, and stared at herself in the mirror in a daze.

“Caiyun, am I getting old?” After a long while, she said softly.

Caiyun, who was standing nearby, quickly shook her head and said gently, “Madam is still young.”

Grand Madam Zhu laughed at herself. She was being foolish, asking such a question.

Probably… it was because of A Qiong.

She thought again of the scene when she saw A Qiong that day.

Though they hadn’t seen each other for over twenty years, and while she had lived a life of luxury, she had ultimately worried too much, and time had left indelible traces on her face. But A Qiong, who had been “declared dead,” was still radiant and beautiful. Even more so, through time’s settling, she had been polished by the years into a unique charm. One could tell at a glance that she had been carefully cherished and treasured.

That Master Lu had a full beard and looked quite fierce, but when he looked at A Qiong, his eyes were like those of a gentle big cat… She had been quite possessed at the time to think of such a comparison, and even now thinking about it made her want to laugh.

Speaking of which, she had been discourteous. Throughout Yanyan’s marriage arrangements, she had never informed her own husband from beginning to end, because she knew he wouldn’t care or interfere. But now that her old friend had come with her husband, while her own husband wasn’t home, she felt somewhat sorry… Yet Master Lu had magnanimously waved his hand saying not to mind him, that he would wait outside, letting the sisters talk by themselves. She felt this was improper and against etiquette, but A Qiong, unchanged after so many years, had immediately dragged her away without giving her a chance to speak.

Because of this opening, despite not seeing each other for over twenty years, they didn’t feel distant at all, holding hands and talking just like in childhood.

A Qiong told her everything about what had happened back then in great detail, telling her how he had arbitrarily changed the stronghold’s name to Feiqiong Stronghold to coax her into marrying him, and how on her wedding day, when she learned that Master Lu had a son from before, she immediately took off her embroidered shoes and chased him around until he fled with his head in his hands. Grand Madam Zhu was absolutely dumbfounded.

…This was possible?

“Weren’t you afraid?” Grand Madam Zhu couldn’t help asking.

Those were bandits! What if he flew into a rage and killed her?

Xu Feiqiong burst out laughing, and after laughing, she spaced out for a while. After a long time, she shook her head and said with a smile, “Perhaps I was fearless because I had something to rely on, trusting that he liked me.”

Grand Madam Zhu actually felt a bit envious.

After feeling envious, she realized, “The one who saved Yanyan back then was your stepson?”

What kind of fate was this?

Xu Feiqiong nodded, “That child is called Zhushi, he’s a good child.”

Grand Madam Zhu looked at her with a somewhat subtle expression.

Xu Feiqiong showed no embarrassment at all and said very straightforwardly, “Why are you looking at me like that? You should know why I came.”

“After over twenty years, you’re still just as direct,” Grand Madam Zhu shook her head and laughed.

“I know your concerns. Although Feiqiong Stronghold of Thousand Cliffs Mountain has a bad reputation, the entire Thousand Cliffs Mountain territory actually belongs to the Lu family. There’s no highway robbery or such activities, and they get along well with the surrounding villagers. It’s not some disreputable bandit stronghold.”

At these words, Grand Madam Zhu’s expression became even more subtle, “…But you were abducted during your wedding procession.”

What about the promise of no highway robbery?

Xu Feiqiong choked, then snorted softly, “That scoundrel… had seen me in the capital earlier and had been harboring thoughts. He actually had the shamelessness to come propose marriage, but how could my father possibly betroth me to a commoner?”

Grand Madam Zhu was stunned, then laughed. Indeed, A Qiong’s father had sold A Qiong for a good price, but unfortunately A Qiong was abducted midway, and her father’s wishful thinking came to nothing.

“That scoundrel caused great harm. The bad reputation of Feiqiong Stronghold of Thousand Cliffs Mountain spread because of this.” Xu Feiqiong held her forehead, “What a grand procession my wedding was back then, yet I was abducted. This incident caused quite a stir at the time. The authorities even sent people to suppress the bandits. Later, it was only when Lu Ting’s father produced the imperial edict from the founding emperor that the matter was settled, but by then the bad reputation had already spread and became more and more exaggerated.”

“The founding emperor’s imperial edict?” Grand Madam Zhu was somewhat surprised.

“Yes, the Lu family’s great-grandfather was once a great merchant. When the founding emperor was fighting for the throne, he gave half his family fortune to the emperor. Later, when the founding emperor ascended the throne and wanted to make him an official, that great-grandfather had rather special interests… he said he yearned for the swift justice and revenge of the martial world. The founding emperor was greatly pleased and with a stroke of his imperial brush, allowed him to be king of the mountain, granting Thousand Cliffs Mountain area to the Lu family.” Speaking of this, Xu Feiqiong’s expression was somewhat indescribable.

This was… being a bandit by imperial decree?

Grand Madam Zhu’s expression was also somewhat indescribable.

After a long while, she sighed, “Forget it, children have their own fortune.”

For the sake of a little vanity, would she force her daughter to death?

Back then, A Qiong was abducted during her wedding procession and later was declared dead, yet now A Qiong was the most comfortable among all her sisters.

Her Yanyan could also have a smooth life.

“A Qiong, all these years… have you never thought of returning to the capital to have a look?”

“A married daughter is like spilled water. If I returned, my father would probably lose sleep.” Xu Feiqiong shook her head, her expression somewhat indifferent.

Grand Madam Zhu glanced at her. It seemed she didn’t know about being “declared dead.”

Since she didn’t know, there was no need to mention those troubling past events. Grand Madam Zhu changed the subject, “By the way, do you know what happened to that prefect’s son later?… I heard that one day after getting drunk, he mistakenly entered a male brothel and was taken for one of the male prostitutes there. He suffered violence and afterward became… impotent.”

Grand Madam Zhu had just been casually changing the subject, but hearing this, Xu Feiqiong’s expression at the time looked somewhat strange… as if she wasn’t unaware of it.

Grand Madam Zhu was now pondering that this matter was probably done by that Master Lu who loved his wife dearly.

That Master Lu was also quite mischievous.

Grand Madam Zhu shook her head and came back to her senses, “How is the young miss?”

“The young miss’s health has improved. She even went to the small garden to look at the camellias today.” Caiyun’s face showed a trace of joy as she smiled.

“That stubborn debt-collecting girl.” Grand Madam Zhu shook her head and sighed, “She finally got her wish. I probably owed her in my previous life, so I have to be tormented by her in this life.”

“Having such a good mother as Madam, the young miss is truly blessed,” Caiyun said with a laugh, seeing Grand Madam Zhu’s words didn’t match her heart. Then she boldly added, “This servant thinks the new son-in-law is also good. Knowing that the young miss likes camellias, a few days ago he had someone send several pots of precious camellias. They’re blooming now. Among them is a pot of scarlet-clawed hibiscus that blooms beautifully, and a pot of golden camellias that bloom golden yellow flowers. At first glance, they look crystal clear and translucent, truly beautiful and elegant.”

Caiyun spoke pleasingly, and Grand Madam Zhu couldn’t help but laugh as well.

The day after the wedding date was set, that child called Lu Zhushi came to pay a visit. He seemed to act generously and spoke substantively, much better than those dandies from the capital.

Compared to superficial glory, she hoped more that her daughter could have a smooth life.