Leng Xuepiao met the man’s gaze, and her eyes finally regained some focus.

“Husband?” She reached out on her own and touched Yu Jingfeng’s face.

Yu Jingfeng nodded vigorously. “Yes, I’m your husband.”

“I have no husband.” Leng Xuepiao shook her head, expressionless.

Yu Jingfeng’s small, smug smile faded, and his expression turned serious.

“I’m Yu Jingfeng. I’m back. I’m fine.”

There was no denying it—hearing the little girl call him “husband” a moment ago had made his heart sweeter than honey.

But she still had no husband.

“Yu Jingfeng, are you alright?” Leng Xuepiao gently stroked Yu Jingfeng’s face.

“I’m fine.” Yu Jingfeng shook his head.

What a gentle lady! Whether she was ill or not, he’d never mind—he’d cherish her for the rest of his life.

“Good, that you’re fine.” Leng Xuepiao’s small hand suddenly dropped.

Right after that, her body went limp as well.

Yu Jingfeng snapped to attention and caught her, laying her flat on the bed.

“Xuepiao, are you alright?”

Leng Xuepiao pursed her lips, pulled up the blanket, turned her back to Yu Jingfeng, and closed her eyes.

“Don’t make noise. I’m exhausted.”

Yu Jingfeng’s outstretched hand never came down.

He quietly watched her until he heard her breathing grow even and steady, and only then did the heavy stone in his heart finally settle.

She was alright now, wasn’t she?

She’d just been startled, that was all. She was fine.

Yu Jingfeng pulled up his own blanket and lay down on his side as well.

He had a wife now. From today on, he was no longer alone in the world.

When would be the right time to ask the Prince for leave? Something as important as getting married—he’d need at least ten days off.

His wife belonged to Miss Jiu’er, he belonged to the Prince, Miss Jiu’er belonged to the Prince, and the Prince belonged to Miss Jiu’er…

Thinking about how he’d get to be with his wife morning and night from now on, Yu Jingfeng drifted happily off to sleep.

Meanwhile, Feng Yinan led Yue Qinchun on a stroll through the back courtyard before finally going to knock on Yue Jianfei and Tang Xiaohua’s door.

By the time they’d finished walking, the swelling around Yue Qinchun’s eyes had gone down, and nothing but a smile remained on her face.

Knock, knock, knock…

“Father, Mother, it’s me.” Yue Qinchun said softly.

“Come in.” Tang Xiaohua’s flat voice sounded from within.

“Master Yue, Madam Yue, and it’s me, Feng Yinan.” Feng Yinan said before pushing open the door.

“Come in.” Yue Jianfei responded.

“Yes.” Feng Yinan nodded, pushing the door open with one hand while still holding Yue Qinchun’s hand with the other.

The two entered together, turned to close the door together, and turned again to walk inside together.

“Father, Mother.” Yue Qinchun stood in the hall, looking at the two seated at the head of the room.

“What is it?” Tang Xiaohua looked up, her eyes carrying a hint of indifference.

Feng Yinan tugged Yue Qinchun forward half a step.

“Master Yue, Madam Yue, Qinchun hopes to head west with us. Please give your consent.” Feng Yinan said respectfully, looking at the two seated above.

“You’ll take care of her?” Tang Xiaohua met Feng Yinan’s eyes.

“Yes.” Feng Yinan knelt on one knee. “Master Yue, Madam Yue, my true name is Tasang Nan. I am of the Ruhe people.”

“I was later saved by Jiu’er. Feng Yinan is the name Jiu’er gave me.”

“For the rest of my life, I belong to Jiu’er, but I will still do everything I can to make the person I love happy.”

“Master Yue, Madam Yue.” Feng Yinan looked up at the two of them. “I like Qinchun, and I want her to be happy.”

“She likes making medicine, and she wants to stay by Jiu’er’s side. I will do everything in my power to protect her.”

“Master Yue, Madam Yue, please rest assured! I will absolutely never do anything to hurt Qinchun.”

“Please give your consent—let her continue west with everyone. Please, agree!”

“A man spending every night alone with my daughter—how am I supposed to feel at ease with that?” Yue Jianfei did not agree.

Back in the day, he too had sworn solemn oaths, and in the end, hadn’t he still wronged Xiaohua before their wedding?

“Master Yue, I give you my word!” Feng Yinan raised three fingers.

“Even once you consent, before Qinchun and I are married, I will absolutely cherish and protect her—I will not harm her in the slightest.”

“If I go back on what I’ve said today…”

“Brother Feng.” Yue Qinchun clutched Feng Yinan’s arm and pulled his hand back.

“Don’t say such things!”

Feng Yinan glanced sideways at the girl beside him, then turned his gaze back to the Yue couple.

“Master Yue, Madam Yue, I…”

“Qinchun is yours to look after, then.” Before Feng Yinan could finish, Tang Xiaohua waved a hand.

Her own daughter’s temperament wasn’t so different from her own.

Back then, if she hadn’t consented herself, they wouldn’t have had a child before marriage either.

Forget it—once a grown daughter has made up her mind, there’s nothing left to say.

Fortunately, this was someone Jiu’er approved of, and he seemed gentle and refined too.

Whatever his background, as long as he stayed true to her and cherished Qinchun well, that would be enough.

“Xiaohua.” Yue Jianfei was somewhat anxious. “Qinchun’s sixteenth birthday hasn’t even come yet, this…”

“I wasn’t much older than Qinchun back then either.” Tang Xiaohua shot Yue Jianfei a glance, her eyes sweeping across the hall.

“Besides, I think Yinan is far more reliable than you were.”

“Yinan, don’t disappoint me. Do you understand?”

Consent had been given, but a warning still had to come with it—if things came too easily, who knew whether he’d cherish it.

Tang Xiaohua’s words made clear that if Feng Yinan ever wronged her daughter, the entire Yue family would not let him off.

“Thank you for your trust, Madam Yue.” Feng Yinan placed his hands before him and bowed his head to the floor with a resounding thud.

“Brother Feng.” With a “thump,” Yue Qinchun’s heart ached at the sound.

She hurried to hold his arm and pull him back up.

Seeing that his daughter’s heart was set on this young man, Yue Jianfei had no choice but to let it go.

He sighed softly, thinking to himself: fortunately, he still had a good wife.

“Get up.” Tang Xiaohua certainly wasn’t going to pay any attention to Yue Jianfei.

Half a year of being coldly ignored—she’d never forget it for the rest of her life.

“Brother Feng, my mother said to get up.” Yue Qinchun held onto Feng Yinan’s arm.

At least the girl was still obedient, Yue Jianfei consoled himself.

Feng Yinan and Yue Qinchun both stood, and Feng Yinan bowed once more to the two seated above.

Sensing someone approaching, Tang Xiaohua waved her hand again.

“Alright, go on and rest now.”

“Yes.” Feng Yinan nodded in response.

Yue Qinchun, all smiles, held onto Feng Yinan’s arm affectionately.

“Father, Mother, we’ll head back now.”

“No sleeping together!” Yue Jianfei warned sternly.

He was a man himself—he certainly knew what was on a man’s mind.

That little rascal! His daughter was still so young!

“Rest assured, Master Yue! I know what to do.” Feng Yinan cupped his hands respectfully.

“It’s getting late—I’ll take Qinchun to rest now.”

“Go on, then.” Before Yue Jianfei could say anything more, Tang Xiaohua tossed out those two words.

Once you’ve agreed, you have to trust. If she didn’t trust him, she wouldn’t have agreed in the first place.

That being so, trust would have to do.

“Mm.” Feng Yinan nodded.

“Father, Mother, good night.”

Yue Qinchun said her farewell and happily walked off, arm in arm with Feng Yinan.