The Li residence, separated from Prince Zhenbei’s mansion by only one street, was particularly lively today.

Inside and outside the residence were decorated with lanterns and colored silk. Every path was swept spotlessly clean. Carriages arrived in an endless stream, and neatly dressed, smiling servants frequently led arriving guests inside.

Today was the day for the Li residence’s Old Madam’s grand birthday celebration.

Though Master Li was not some high official or nobleman, being Prince Zhenbei’s father-in-law alone was enough to bring all the prominent figures from Baoping City and even the surrounding counties to celebrate her longevity.

The men handled entertaining the guests. Old Madam Deng, being advanced in years and impatient with such social obligations, received blessings from the younger generation in a courtyard also named Qingsong Hall.

“Ze Ge’er wishes Great-grandmother happiness like the Eastern Sea and longevity like the Southern Mountains.”

Old Madam Deng’s eyes were clear, and her ears were sharp. Looking at the small young man below, who increasingly resembled her grandson-in-law, joy spread from the bottom of her heart. She asked with a beaming smile: “What gift has Ze Ge’er prepared for me?”

Ze Ge’er held up a brocade box in his hands: “Great-grandmother, this is something Ze Ge’er carved with his own hands.”

Old Madam Deng quickly ordered a maid to present Ze Ge’er’s gift.

Opening the brocade box revealed a longevity star holding an immortal peach. The figure had a high, protruding forehead and a white beard reaching his waist, carved entirely from white jade. Even the wrinkles on the face and the folds of the clothing were carved lifelike.

Old Madam Deng praised endlessly: “Our Ze Ge’er is truly capable.”

Qiao Zhao sat beside Old Madam Deng, secretly amused.

If Shao Mingyuan heard this, he’d worry again.

Their eldest son didn’t like studying but enjoyed tinkering with these things, earning countless beatings from his father for it.

Ze Ge’er quickly glanced at Qiao Zhao and, seeing his mother’s smile, quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Good, he’d finally passed successfully. As the elder brother went first to wish Great-grandmother longevity, the pressure was enormous.

Next to wish Old Madam Deng longevity were the twins—the sister’s pet name was A’Zao, and the brother’s was Chun Ge’er.

Time flew like a shuttle—this pair of twins was now six years old.

“A’Zao (Chun Ge’er) wishes Great-grandmother: may Mount Tai never age, may the sea of fortune be boundless, may you have today every year, and this day every year.”

Old Madam Deng laughed continuously: “Our A’Zao and Chun Ge’er have such sweet mouths. Get up quickly.”

“Great-grandmother, this is Buddhist scripture that Chun Ge’er copied by hand. Please accept it,” Chun Ge’er said obediently.

Old Madam Deng quickly ordered a maid to receive and examine it. Before she could speak, others began praising her.

“The young master’s calligraphy is truly excellent—he inherited it from the Princess Consort.”

Chun Ge’er’s most loved hearing others praise his resemblance to his mother. Upon hearing this, he couldn’t help grinning, but seeing his elder brother’s warning look, he behaved himself.

His brother was best at striking back—he’d better keep a low profile.

“Has A’Zao prepared a gift for Great-grandmother?” Old Madam Deng asked deliberately, seeing A’Zao empty-handed.

A’Zao leaped up and cupped her fists: “Great-grandmother, let A’Zao perform a set of boxing techniques for you. A’Zao just learned them and hasn’t shown anyone yet.”

“Wonderful,” Old Madam Deng said with a smile.

A’Zao assumed a starting stance.

Seeing this, Ze Ge’er quietly twitched his lips.

Having such a sister made life impossible. Whenever he wanted to put on airs as the elder brother to discipline her, he ended up being the one disciplined.

“Great-grandmother, how was A’Zao’s boxing?” After finishing a flowing set of techniques, A’Zao wasn’t red-faced or breathless, standing perfectly straight.

“A’Zao has her father’s style—she’ll be a female general in the future.”

Hearing Old Madam Deng’s praise, A’Zao was extremely pleased and looked triumphantly at her brothers.

“There’s also me! I want to celebrate Great-grandmother’s birthday too!” A little child with hair in upright braids squeezed forward.

This little one was only three years old—Fourth Miss Li Yan’s young daughter.

“No rush, no rush, one at a time,” Old Madam Deng sat in her grand chair, watching the little beans and smiling so wide she couldn’t close her mouth.

A house full of descendants, peaceful and harmonious—this was her greatest hope, and now it was all realized.

Such stable days she had never imagined before.

Old Madam Deng shifted her gaze to Qiao Zhao at her side.

Just as she had never imagined that her granddaughter could have such a fortune.

“Alright, you all go play in the garden. Don’t disturb Great-grandmother anymore,” Qiao Zhao spoke up to shoo them away.

After the group of children left, the room finally became quiet.

The group accompanied Old Madam Deng in conversation for a while longer. Seeing the old lady showing fatigue, they quickly asked her to rest inside, then gathered in twos and threes in the flower hall to chat casually.

Second Madam Liu Shi cracked sunflower seeds rapidly and glared at her youngest daughter Li Chan: “Chan’er, I see something’s not right with your expression since you returned this time. Did you and your husband quarrel?”

Li Chan looked around and, seeing only close family in the room, stopped hiding. Clutching her handkerchief, she said: “That heartless man kept a mistress behind my back!”

“What?” The sunflower seed shell at Liu Shi’s lips fell.

The laughter and conversation stopped.

He Shi and Qiao Zhao exchanged glances, very surprised.

Li Yan looked at her sister with concern.

“Didn’t you say your husband had gone out, which is why he couldn’t come celebrate your grandmother’s birthday?”

Li Chan pursed her lips: “That was just to placate Grandmother. I beat him into a pig’s head, so he couldn’t show his face in public.”

“Uh, that’s not right either. If you’re going to beat him, at least don’t hit the face,” Liu Shi muttered. After all, it was a son-in-law getting beaten, not a son. Then she gritted her teeth: “Hmph, someone who usually seems so honest keeps a mistress—he’s a scoundrel.”

Li Chan tugged forcefully at her handkerchief: “I sold that mistress. This time I’m planning to stay for a while.”

“Stay, stay, stay as long as you want,” He Shi and Liu Shi said in unison.

Li Chan was somewhat confused.

Didn’t people usually urge married daughters to hurry back? Why were her mother and aunt-in-law like this?

Remembering how Liu Shi had countless times told her to seek Third Sister’s opinion on matters, she looked at Qiao Zhao: “Third Sister, what do you think?”

Qiao Zhao smiled slightly: “Sixth Sister should stay for a while. Return when you feel better.”

“What if I don’t want to go back? Just thinking about that bastard keeping a mistress makes me not want to live with him!”

“If you can’t live together, we’ll divorce. In the north, three-legged toads are hard to find, but two-legged men are everywhere,” Liu Shi unhurriedly cracked a sunflower seed, sighing inwardly.

A woman’s confidence comes from her natal family. In the end, only by following the Third Miss could one have good days.

Liu Shi raised her hand to tuck loose hair behind her ear, feeling that today’s sunflower seeds were particularly sweet.

People live in this world seeking nothing more than to have everything go as they wish.

The fine cloth curtain embroidered with “Five Blessings Coming to the Door” lifted, and a maid hurried in: “Princess Consort, the young masters are fighting!”

“What’s the situation?”

The maid looked embarrassed: “The young miss went to the privy and frightened a little girl who was also going there. That little girl called the young miss a lecher and summoned her brother to defend her…”

He Shi quickly urged: “Zhaozhao, go take a look quickly. All the birthday guests are visitors—it wouldn’t be good if our A’Zao seriously hurt someone.”

Qiao Zhao silently sighed.

Later, she’d prepare a washboard for Shao Mingyuan to kneel on, telling him not to teach A’Zao martial arts!

Shao Mingyuan, who was drinking with his father-in-law and others in front, suddenly sneezed.

“Did son-in-law catch a cold?”

“No.” Shao Mingyuan wiped his nose with a handkerchief, feeling pleased.

His wife was probably thinking of him. When the banquet ended, he’d go home and hold his wife.

That evening, the main courtyard of Prince Zhenbei’s mansion was brightly lit as father and daughter stared at each other.

“Father, A’Zao has implicated you again.”

Shao Mingyuan patted his daughter’s head: “It’s fine, I’m used to it.”

“But today wasn’t A’Zao’s fault…” The little girl still felt wronged, thinking about what happened in the garden during the day.

Shao Mingyuan sighed deeply: “Daughter, even if you weren’t wrong at first, you shouldn’t have knocked out two of that boy’s teeth.”

A’Zao sighed along: “I understand. I’ll be gentler next time.”

“How long are you father and daughter going to keep sighing? Time for bed,” Qiao Zhao called out lightly from behind the bead curtain.

Shao Mingyuan quickly stood up: “A’Zao, you should go to sleep too. Father won’t keep you company anymore.”

Looking at the swaying bead curtain, little A’Zao rubbed her face and thought: Father loves sleeping so much—why doesn’t he get fat?

The gauze curtains fell. Shao Mingyuan embraced Qiao Zhao and smiled: “Our A’Zao is just like this. If you’d like a more obedient daughter, we could work hard to have another one.”

“Shut up and go to sleep.”

“Alright, sleeping now.”