“Xiao Yingtao, just forgive her.” Feng Jiu’er shook her head.

“It’s not easy finding a man willing to have her — we should just offer our blessings.”

“Right! Just give us your blessings, no more nagging!” Qiao Mu hooked her arm through her man’s.

“Let me tell everyone the good news — Xiao Jiang and I are getting married. New Year’s Eve is a lucky day, so all of you get here early that day.”

“You two are really getting married?” Xiao Yingtao’s eyes went wide, a look of startled delight spreading across her face.

“Yes.” Qiao Mu nodded, smiling.

Miss Qiao really was that straightforward — the way she was now, it was as if she were some mountain man who’d never been able to find a wife and had finally found someone willing to marry him.

Whatever bashfulness a girl was supposed to have, it simply never showed up in Miss Qiao.

“Xiao Jiang and I have decided — we’ll marry first, and once the Prince returns, we’ll hold a grand wedding then.”

“Wait a moment.” Suddenly, Xiao Yingtao turned serious.

“Miss Qiao, this New Year’s Eve you’re talking about — it’s not tomorrow, is it? Isn’t tomorrow New Year’s Eve?”

“It is tomorrow. What’s the problem?” Qiao Mu raised an eyebrow.

“We don’t even know how long this battle will drag on. Jiu’er’s right — I just can’t wait any longer.”

She took hold of Feng Jiang’s hand on the table and clasped it tightly in both of hers.

“Anyway, I can’t wait. A man this good — if I don’t lock him down and someone takes him away, then what?”

“Xiao Jiang.” Miss Qiao turned her head, gazing at Feng Jiang with eyes full of tender feeling.

“Will you keep being good to me, from now on?”

Feng Jiang held her hand back in his, leaned down, and kissed her slightly pouting lips.

“For this life, I will never change.”

“Mm.” Qiao Mu took a deep breath. “Don’t worry! I’ll personally end your life before you ever get the chance to be unfaithful.”

“Huh?” Xiao Yingtao, who had just been moved, immediately frowned. “Third Prince, maybe you should think this over a little more?”

“If something happened to you, Jiu’er wouldn’t have such a good brother anymore.”

“No need.” Feng Jiang shook his head with a smile, stretching out his long arm to pull Qiao Mu into his embrace.

“Ahem…” Feng Jiu’er coughed hard. “Since you two have already decided, what do you want? As long as I can provide it, it’s yours.”

Qiao Mu leaned into Feng Jiang’s arms like a docile little bird, looking at Feng Jiu’er.

“I’m marrying an imperial prince — do I still need your little contribution?”

“Qiao Mu, I’m terribly sorry! Did I forget to mention that my third imperial brother is actually quite poor?” Feng Jiu’er picked up the teapot and poured herself a cup.

“Ask him — in his pocket, is there more money on him, or on you?”

“He hasn’t got a cent on him.” Qiao Mu shook her head. “It’s all with me.”

“Including his land deeds, his property deeds, his fields — all in my possession. From now on he’ll have to depend on me to support him.”

“But then again.” Qiao Mu turned to look at her man, her fine crescent brows knitting slightly.

“When it comes to keeping a man, I, Qiao Mu, can certainly afford to keep one.”

“Qiao Mu, you really do have a way about you!” Xiao Yingtao gave Qiao Mu a thumbs up.

She leaned in and asked quietly, “By the way, care to share just how much the Third Prince is actually worth?”

“If there are a lot of houses, give me one, how about that?”

“Xiao Yingtao, it’s my wedding — shouldn’t you be the one gifting me one?” Qiao Mu sat up and shot Xiao Yingtao a look.

“You all go ahead and prepare gifts — I’ll accept every single one of them. Then when it’s your turn to marry, I’ll mingle a bit and send back everything I received.”

Just as Qiao Mu’s hand reached for a piece of fruit, Feng Jiang picked it up first and began peeling it.

Feng Jiu’er took a light sip of tea and said, “Third Imperial Brother, your wife is quite the accountant — from now on you won’t need to worry your head over these numbers anymore.”

“Mm.” Feng Jiang nodded, bringing a piece of fruit to Qiao Mu’s lips.

“The Third Prince has laid everything bare — aren’t you worried Qiao Mu might run off?” Xiao Yingtao asked, picking up a piece of fruit herself.

Eating fruit was, after all, better than choking down secondhand sweetness.

“I’m not worried at all!” Xing Zizhou, who had just walked in from outside, said with a smile, looking at his girl.

He walked straight over to Xiao Yingtao and sat down beside her.

While Xiao Yingtao was still somewhat startled, Xing Zizhou took hold of her hand.

“Xiao Yingtao, when will you be willing to accept me? I can’t wait any longer either.”

Xiao Yingtao frowned and tried to pull her hand back.

Her face, suddenly flushed red, had already given him the answer.

“Xiao Yingtao, say yes to me, won’t you?” Xing Zizhou tightened his grip on her small hand.

Xiao Yingtao glanced around at everyone present and lowered her head, her face burning red beyond recognition.

“Xing Zizhou, let go of me first.”

“Just say yes.” Qiao Mu waved a hand. “If you like him, you like him — is nodding really so hard?”

“It’s bound to happen sooner or later,” Feng Jiu’er chimed in.

In truth, that was something she was saying to herself as well.

If she and her Ninth Imperial Uncle had even a fraction of the boldness Qiao Mu had, wouldn’t they have a child by now?

Compared to her Third Imperial Brother, Feng Jiu’er felt her own man had it so hard.

Once he came back, shouldn’t she give him a surprise too?

“I…” Xiao Yingtao finally stopped shaking her head.

Xing Zizhou watched the girl slowly lift her head, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it might leap out of his throat.

Xiao Yingtao met the man’s gaze, took a deep breath, and nodded.

“Xiao Yingtao, you really agree?” Xing Zizhou pulled the little girl tightly into his arms.

He had waited so long for this, hoped for it for so long, and finally it had come.

Xiao Yingtao said nothing, which was as good as agreeing.

She buried her face deep in Xing Zizhou’s chest, eyes closed, not daring to look at anyone.

Her small face was red all over — pretty, and very endearing.

Xing Zizhou’s face was flushed too, though it probably wasn’t from shyness so much as excitement.

Suddenly, he looked at the man sitting across from him and asked, “Third Prince, what are your plans for tomorrow?”

“If you don’t mind, I was thinking Xiao Yingtao and I might pick tomorrow too — what do you all think?”

“Xing Zizhou, aren’t you being a little too eager?” Qiao Mu frowned.

The moment Qiao Mu finished speaking, Xiao Yingtao pushed Xing Zizhou away.

Just as she was about to refuse, Xing Zizhou blurted out a line.

“Takes one to know one.”

Xiao Yingtao turned her head to look at Qiao Mu and couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“I won’t do it!” Qiao Mu shook her head. “If I’m not the only bride tomorrow, I’m not getting married at all.”

Now it was Feng Jiang’s turn to worry.

He took Qiao Mu’s hand and looked at the couple across from them.

“Xing Zizhou, why don’t you two wait until the day after? New Year’s Day is a fine day too.”

“We’re not in a hurry.” Xiao Yingtao knitted her brows and waved a hand.

“We are in a hurry!” Xing Zizhou pulled her tightly into his arms.

“Jiu’er.” He looked toward the woman in the main seat. “New Year’s Day — would that work?”

“Jiu’er, Xiao Yingtao’s agreed! I’ve finally been waiting for this!”

Every word out of Xing Zizhou’s mouth brimmed with excitement.

“Jiu’er, you’ll be our witness of the marriage. New Year’s Day — let’s start getting ready.”