“First bow to heaven and earth—”

In the grand red wedding hall, the perfect couple bowed together toward the outside amid the cheers of imperial relatives and nobles. Song Zhenshan, in his wedding robes, and Li Zhaoying, with her head full of pearls and emeralds, bowed in unison.

Firecrackers exploded, red silk fluttered, and the air was filled with sweet wine fragrance.

Ruyi suddenly realized that Song Zhenshan was also a divine lord. For him to marry a mortal, he must have broken his fate.

Trading an immortal’s eternal days for no more than a hundred years of romantic joy—was it worth it?

She had such doubts in her heart, but Song Zhenshan was clearly without hesitation. At the call of “second bow to the high hall,” he turned and bowed together with Li Zhaoying.

“Husband and wife bow to each other—”

The two held the unity knot and turned to face each other. Song Zhenshan’s eyes were rarely filled with smiles.

Unfortunately, Zhaoying was covered by her bridal veil and didn’t see it.

After the couple completed their final ceremony, the surroundings suddenly became even more lively. Gongs, drums, and firecrackers rang out together, children shouted and ran about, elderly aunts escorted the bride to the bridal chamber, and though the groom looked back with every step, he was still dragged to the banquet by his brothers.

Ruyi looked over the men who had dragged him away.

Everyone who came today was familiar with Song Zhenshan. Shen Qiyuan should naturally be present, but scanning the crowd, she didn’t see his shadow.

Thinking that this person didn’t like crowds, Ruyi looked around again.

The front few tables of close relationship seating were already full, but none of them was Shen Qiyuan.

She couldn’t help but purse her lips, thinking Song Zhenshan didn’t take people seriously. Even if their relationship wasn’t particularly close, Shen Qiyuan was still a first-rank important minister—how could he not be seated at the front tables?

As she continued searching toward the back, her shoulder was suddenly patted.

Ruyi turned around to see Little Lotus Leaf emerging from somewhere, smiling as she called: “Boss, boss.”

Her expression softening, Ruyi picked her up and asked: “How are you here alone?”

“The lord went to change clothes, so I’m walking around here.” Little Lotus Leaf tilted her head and touched the side of her face. “It’s only been a few days since we’ve seen each other—why has the boss gotten thinner?”

Ruyi sighed deeply: “Perhaps the recent meals haven’t suited my taste.”

“Does the boss want to see Lord Shen too?” she said softly. “Lord Shen tossed and turned for half the night yesterday. I heard he only rested at dawn—I think he wants to see the boss too.”

Children’s innocent words were the purest and most touching. Ruyi’s heart, which had been harboring anger, suddenly felt sour.

She pouted, saying aggrievedly: “He doesn’t want to see me at all.”

Little Lotus Leaf shook her head, saying seriously, “He does want to. If you don’t believe me, I’ll go ask him for you. Boss, just wait here for me, don’t move around.”

With that, she struggled down from her embrace and ran quickly in one direction.

Ruyi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: “What’s the point of asking such a thing? It would be seeing ghosts if he answered.”

Though she said this, she stood in place without moving again.

The banquet was lively with many people coming and going. Occasionally, when someone bumped into her, before they could speak, Ruyi would sweep them with a cold glance: “Don’t you watch where you’re going?”

The other party would respond with wry laughter: “Miss, this is the middle of the path. Even if you’re waiting for someone, you should move to the side.”

“Oh.” She nodded but didn’t lift her feet.

A person with snow-white skin and charming bones was naturally very eye-catching, especially standing still like this.

The whispered discussions around her grew more numerous, the content gradually shifting from friendly to malicious and venomous.

After two incense sticks’ time, Little Lotus Leaf finally ran back, but her expression was very panicked. As soon as she arrived, she grabbed her dress hem and said: “Boss, Lord Shen’s wound has reopened and he’s bleeding a lot. We can’t stop it—please come with me quickly to see!”

Ruyi was startled and instinctively followed her for two steps, but after those two steps, she came to her senses and stopped with a dark expression: “What use is finding me for bleeding? You should find a doctor.”

Little Lotus Leaf turned back, extremely surprised: “Boss, you… You don’t love Lord Shen anymore?”

“I never loved him.” She raised her chin. “It was just acting for the occasion.”

Turning around helplessly, tears welled up in Little Lotus Leaf’s eyes: “Then, then what should I do?”

This was still a small child. When she had saved her, she had made up her mind to take good care of her. It was starting with her that she had begun to realize the need to cherish human life.

After a long silence, Ruyi said helplessly, “Let’s go take a look first. If it’s really bad, we’ll call Lord Song.”

Little Lotus Leaf broke into a smile through her tears and led her toward the back.

Due to Shen Qiyuan’s connection, Little Lotus Leaf had come to play at the Song manor quite often, so she was familiar with the back courtyard. However, the further back they went, the fewer people there were. Ruyi couldn’t help asking: “Are you sure you haven’t gone the wrong way?”

Little Lotus Leaf said with certainty: “It’s just ahead, not far. We’ll be there once we pass through this garden.”

The garden was covered with many fallen leaves, piled thickly on the ground. When Little Lotus Leaf ran in, her legs were buried halfway. Ruyi found it amusing and bent down to pick her up.

“No, no, I’ll walk myself.” She showed some resistance.

Ruyi pinched her nose tip: “There are too many dry leaves—be careful not to step on stones and fall.”

Little Lotus Leaf hesitated, instinctively glancing ahead.

Ruyi had things on her mind and didn’t pay much attention to her expression, nor to what was underfoot.

So after a few steps, she suddenly stepped into a dry well.

Both fell with lost weight, fallen leaves rustling down after them. Little Lotus Leaf in her arms screamed, her voice somewhat shrill.

Ruyi was startled and pulled out one hand to sweep downward.

Wood appearing from thin air caught both of them. The fallen leaves all settled, and she frowned as she looked down.

Sharp bamboo spikes covered the entire bottom of the well. With the force from this height, anyone hitting them would surely die.

Drawing a sharp breath, she asked: “How could there be such a thing in the Song manor’s garden?”

Little Lotus Leaf seemed frightened, sobbing against her chest without answering.

Ruyi patted her back, borrowed force from the wood to leap up, bringing her away from the deadly dried well. However, in the breath before landing, Ruyi suddenly felt her heart turn cold.

Sharp pain exploded without warning, spreading from her heart to all her limbs. Rich demon blood gushed out, staining half of Little Lotus Leaf’s face.

She looked down in disbelief to see Little Lotus Leaf gripping a dagger, opening her eyes from within the blood, looking at her expressionlessly. Her distinct black and white pupils held no innocence or naivety, only indelible hatred.

She released her hands in panic, staring blankly at the child before her.

“You… want to kill me?”

Little Lotus Leaf stared at her, resentment gathering around her like black fog: “You killed my father—what’s wrong with me wanting to kill you?”

Her father?

Ruyi clenched her fists.

Her father was one of the dozen-plus servants on Cang’er Mountain who had wanted to kill her. Counting him among those she had killed wasn’t inappropriate. If Little Lotus Leaf’s father hadn’t died, Little Lotus Leaf wouldn’t have been bullied so badly in Binggu Village.

But Ruyi couldn’t understand: “How did you know?”