According to custom, the coming-of-age ceremony should be held before a young woman’s marriage. Since Qiao Zhao had already left home for marriage, this ceremony would be more appropriately described as celebrating Qiao Zhao’s fifteenth birthday.

On the twenty-fifth day of the first lunar month, Xu Jinghong, Su Luoyi, and others from the Fushan Society who had good relationships with Qiao Zhao were invited to attend. From the Li residence, the Li Yan sisters couldn’t come due to Li Guangshu’s death, and among peers, only Li Hui came. He Shi didn’t need to come originally, but she happily came holding Ge’er Fu to celebrate her married daughter’s birthday, which made Li Guangwen quite jealous.

The reception hall of the Marquis Guanjun’s residence was spacious and bright, with a row of eight landscape sandalwood screens separating the male and female guests.

Every few steps in the hall, there were brightly burning charcoal braziers. The tables were piled high with fresh fruits, and there were even several pots of blooming fresh flowers.

At this time of year, chicken, duck, fish, and meat weren’t rare, but fresh fruits and potted flowers were uncommon sights.

Zhu Yán picked a grape and popped it into her mouth. After eating it, she sighed comfortably and whispered to Su Luoyi: “Sister-in-law, where do you think the Marquis Guanjun’s residence got these grapes?”

Su Luoyi, recently married, still felt shy when called this way in public. Blushing, she said: “Who knows? Being able to eat grapes at this time of year is truly rare. You can see how thoughtful the Marquis is toward Miss Li.”

Zhu Yán giggled: “Sister-in-law, if my Fifth Brother heard you say that, he’d be heartbroken. Don’t tell me Fifth Brother isn’t good to you?”

“Don’t tease.” Su Luoyi lightly tapped Zhu Yán.

These noble ladies had seen many fine things. After Zhu Yán’s brief exclamation over the grapes, she let it go. However, Xu Jinghong seemed distracted today, her gaze involuntarily sweeping toward the row of screens.

She knew that Grandfather intended to betroth her to the Qiao family’s young master, but thinking about marrying and living with a completely unfamiliar man filled her with unease.

What kind of person was Qiao Mo?

“Sister Xu, are you feeling unwell?” Zhu Yán’s sweet voice came through.

Xu Jinghong snapped back to attention and smiled faintly: “No.”

“I thought you were uncomfortable somewhere. I called you twice just now.” Zhu Yán smiled.

“I wasn’t.” Xu Jinghong was naturally aloof, maintaining her composure despite the many waves in her heart.

Soon, Qiao Zhao came over with a wine cup to thank everyone.

The simple yet exquisite banquet satisfied both hosts and guests. After the meal, Qiao Zhao had the maids guide Su Luoyi and others to the garden to admire the plum blossoms, while she stayed behind to have intimate conversation with He Shi.

Ge’er Fu had already fallen asleep, and He Shi handed him to the wet nurse to watch. She lovingly stroked Qiao Zhao’s long hair: “My Zhaozhao is fifteen years old. You should have had a grand and magnificent coming-of-age ceremony, but now—”

Qiao Zhao smiled and interrupted He Shi: “Mother, I already had a grand wedding. Missing a formal coming-of-age ceremony doesn’t matter.”

He Shi thought about it and nodded: “That’s true. The key is that your husband treats you well. From the fresh flowers and fruits prepared today, I can see he’s thoughtful toward you.”

Speaking of this, He Shi quickly glanced at the door and lowered her voice: “You two haven’t… yet, have you?”

Qiao Zhao’s smile stiffened: “No…”

He Shi patted Qiao Zhao’s hand: “Don’t be afraid. This hurdle must be passed sooner or later. Just remember the key points I taught you, and you’ll be fine.”

“Cough, cough, cough.” Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but cough.

After seeing everyone off, Binglu ran over with a gossipy expression: “Madam, today Miss Xu and Young Master Qiao spoke in the plum grove.”

“What did they say?” Concerning her brother’s future happiness, Qiao Zhao immediately became interested.

“It seems Miss Xu recited a line of poetry, and Young Master Qiao completed the next line from behind the plum tree.” Binglu blinked and covered her mouth with a smile. “Speaking of which, Young Master Qiao and Miss Xu didn’t meet face to face. Those who read many books are particular.”

“What was Miss Xu’s expression afterward, and what was Big Brother’s expression?”

“Ah, this servant didn’t notice any changes in them. Both maintained calm expressions throughout.”

Thinking of her brother and then of Xu Jinghong, Qiao Zhao felt it would indeed be difficult to expect such people to show emotions outwardly, and couldn’t help but smile.

Being able to converse meant both had expectations for their future life together, right?

Having expectations was a good beginning.

That night, Qiao Zhao bathed and changed clothes, putting on a light pink undergarment. Her long hair had been dried but not pinned up, flowing loose as she walked into the inner chamber.

Shao Mingyuan, who had already finished washing, waited in the room, holding a book. Hearing footsteps, he looked up with a smile and feigned composure: “Finished?”

Qiao Zhao’s gaze moved down to the book in Shao Mingyuan’s hands.

The beauty’s dark hair cascaded like a waterfall, her jade-white wrists like frost. Shao Mingyuan’s throat tightened, and he coughed lightly: “Just casually flipping through military strategy.”

As such a proper person, he definitely wouldn’t read frivolous books. He couldn’t let his wife misunderstand.

Accompanied by a faint fragrant breeze, Qiao Zhao walked over and lightly pointed at the book.

“What?” Shao Mingyuan’s entire body tensed further.

“It’s upside down.”

“Eh?” Shao Mingyuan looked down and saw that the book was indeed upside down. His ears quickly reddened.

This was bad. Zhaozhao would think he was impatient.

Although he indeed was already impatient—

Seeing Shao Mingyuan gripping the book tighter and tighter, his handsome face showing constantly changing expressions, Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but laugh softly.

She had originally been very nervous, but seeing someone even more nervous than her, she suddenly wasn’t nervous anymore.

The young woman’s soft laughter was like honey spun into silk threads, winding around one’s heart and stirring restlessness.

Shao Mingyuan threw the book onto the table and scooped Qiao Zhao up in his arms.

Qiao Zhao’s laughter stopped abruptly as she stared at the man above her.

“Let’s sleep.” The man’s voice carried a husky undertone, but his eyes seemed filled with starlight, shining brilliantly.

Qiao Zhao lowered her eyelashes and nodded gently.

Shao Mingyuan’s eyes brightened further. He gently placed the person in his arms on the bed, kicked off his shoes, and lay beside her.

The two lay head to head, gazing into each other’s eyes, their breathing audible.

“Did you use jasmine balm today?” After gazing at each other for a while, Shao Mingyuan randomly found a topic. “It smells so fragrant.”

“It’s rose essence.” Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but twitch her eyebrows.

This fool—didn’t he know to find a topic he was good at?

“Rose essence?” Shao Mingyuan blinked.

Qiao Zhao glanced at him: “Weren’t those boxes of essence gifts from you?”

“Let me smell.” Shao Mingyuan rolled over to cover Qiao Zhao, his hands braced beside the pillow embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in water, his gaze focused.

Under such tender, water-like gazes, Qiao Zhao felt as if her entire being was melting. As her eyes darted away, rosy clouds unknowingly climbed across her cheeks and snow-white neck.

Shao Mingyuan flicked his hand, and the candle flame instantly extinguished, leaving only a small night lamp that flickered once, casting the intertwined shadows of the two onto the heavy bed curtains.

The large bed made soft creaking sounds, the gauze curtains swayed gently, and embarrassing sounds came from within the curtains, making the bright moon in the sky hide bashfully in the clouds, causing the light in the room to become even more hazy and dim.

After an unknown amount of time, Shao Mingyuan suddenly sat up.