“It’s only about a two-hour journey — you think I need two days to walk it?” Qiao Mu raised an eyebrow. “Let’s just set off together tomorrow morning.”

Feng Jiu’er saw that her complexion looked good, with no signs of morning sickness, and felt somewhat reassured.

“All right then. Those with things to do, go handle them; those with nothing to do, go rest.” She stood up.

“Tomorrow, if you two can get up early, we’ll all set off together. If we can’t wait for you, we’ll head out first.”

“Xiao Yingtao, Qinchun, Rong’er, let’s go talk things over. Jian Yi, let’s go.”

The five of them left and walked into another courtyard.

Jian Yi went off alone to a side chamber, while the remaining four women walked into the same room.

“Jiu’er, we really should make a list of everything we need to prepare — with only a day to spare, what if we forget something?”

Xiao Yingtao, seeing Feng Jiu’er casually looking through something without urgency, grew anxious.

“Right.” Feng Jiu’er sat down at the desk inside.

“I’ve called you all here to write up a list, and to think of some special ideas too, if you can.”

“I’ll cover the costs, you three put in the effort — that’s fair, isn’t it? I still have other things to handle.”

“But none of us has ever been married before,” Shen Rong’er said, a little wistful.

Feng Jiu’er looked up and glanced at the three of them.

“You don’t need to have slaughtered a pig to have seen one run, right? Qiao Mu is like an elder sister to all of us — her wedding has to be one of a kind.”

Feng Jiu’er frowned slightly, then looked away.

“Xiao Yingtao, go find brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. I’ll give you all some ideas.”

“Write the ideas down as I say them, then add your own suggestions on top. We’ll all go over everything together before bed.”

“Does that work for everyone?”

“Works for me!” Xiao Yingtao turned and headed for the side room.

Soon, she, along with Yue Qinchun and Shen Rong’er, had gathered close together, settling down.

Feng Jiu’er set down one letter and was about to open another when she noticed the room had gone unusually quiet. She looked up.

She found three pairs of round eyes staring straight at her.

“Jiu’er, the ideas!” Yue Qinchun reminded her.

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er nodded. “Let me think, let me think.”

She scratched her head and looked up again.

“Write this down — I’m only going to say it once.”

The truth was, she herself didn’t remember all that much anymore.

Having been in this world for so long now, her memories weren’t just growing hazy — they felt more and more distant.

Feng Jiu’er’s fresh, novel ideas were very well received by Xiao Yingtao, Yue Qinchun, and Shen Rong’er.

The three of them hit it off more and more as they talked, growing more and more excited.

Once Feng Jiu’er finished handling her own matters, she went out with Jian Yi.

She still needed to check on Wang Yutang’s condition, since they’d be heading back to Pingyuan City the next day, and everything that needed handing off had to be properly arranged.

By the time Feng Jiu’er returned, the three girls in the room pulled her over, eager to share their ideas.

That night, everyone stayed up quite late before finally resting.

The next day, it was Jian Yi — under strict orders — who served as their alarm clock, rousing them all from bed.

On the way back, the girls who had been dragged from their beds and put onto the carriage soon fell fast asleep again, Feng Jiu’er included.

By the hour of Si, they had already returned to the Night Prince’s Estate.

The night before, Feng Jiu’er had already sent someone ahead to give notice.

This morning, nearly everyone at the Night Prince’s Estate was busy at work.

After Feng Jiu’er and the others returned and finished breakfast, they headed straight back out.

A group of women walked out in front, while Jian Yi and Feng Yinan each pulled a carriage behind them.

“Jiu’er, what do you think of this hairpin?”

“Buy it!”

“Jiu’er, I think this rouge is nice — we can adjust the shade ourselves once we’re back.”

“Buy it!”

“Jiu’er, of these three bolts of cloth, which one is best?”

“Buy them all!”

“Jiu’er, the shopkeeper says the wedding attire should be ready in time.”

“Add more money! I need it guaranteed to be finished!”

“Jiu’er, these wedding cakes are the best — delicious and good-looking too.”

“Buy them!”

“Jiu’er, do you think red or gold suits better here?”

“Get both!”

“Wow! The headscarves here are so pretty.”

“Pick out a few, we’ll take them back.”

“Jiu’er, we still need red dates, lotus seeds, peanuts, melon seeds, candy, and things like that.”

“Buy it all, keep moving!”

“Jiu’er, should we hire a wedding matron? I nearly forgot.”

“Hire one!”

“Xiao Jiang’s shoes and belt still haven’t been bought.”

“Let’s go find them.”

“Jiu’er, those small cloth pouches you mentioned for wrapping candy — will this kind work?”

“That’ll work!”

“Jiu’er, the meat at this shop is good — let’s order from here.”

“Good, do it!”

“Jiu’er, the clothing styles at this shop are quite distinctive — should we…”

“Sure, pick whatever you like, I’ll pay for it!”

Two hours later, the group of men and women walked into an inn, had lunch, and continued strolling through the streets.

Before long, everyone in town knew there was a joyous occasion happening at the Night Prince’s Estate.

The common folk didn’t know many details, and everyone had their own guesses.

But one thing was certain — whoever was marrying the next day, their status must be quite distinguished.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have qualified to hold the wedding at the Night Prince’s Estate.

Qiao Mu and Feng Jiang arrived a little late, having gone to City Lord Xing’s residence instead of the Night Prince’s Estate.

“Qiao Mu, you’re back.”

“Sister Qiao, please, come in!”

The ones who came out to greet them were Gong Xinyue and Gong Xing’er.

The two of them had been arranged by Feng Jiu’er to stay at Xing Zizhou’s household, which now essentially served as Qiao Mu’s maiden family.

Gong Xinyue and Gong Xing’er had arrived early. The Night Prince’s Estate had already been decorated on that end, so this side couldn’t be too plain either.

The two sisters each took one of Qiao Mu’s arms, leaving Feng Jiang with nothing to do.

“Qiao Mu, we’ve already gotten your room all set up,” Gong Xinyue said with a smile.

“It’s decorated so beautifully,” Gong Xing’er said, hopping along as she walked, thrilled beyond words.

“A lot of the things were picked out by Jiu’er and the others and sent over, but the decorating itself was handled by me and my sister.”

“Jiu’er said you’ll be staying here tonight, and the sisters here will all keep you company.”

“Tomorrow, once the auspicious hour arrives, Mister Jiang will come with a group of his brothers to escort you to the wedding.”

“Xing’er.” Feng Jiang strode forward, stepping in front of the three of them.

“Don’t walk so fast! Xiao Qiao isn’t in a condition for that right now.”

“I’m sorry!” Gong Xing’er panicked. “I didn’t mean to walk so fast, I was just excited, I was happy, I… I’m sorry!”

“It’s fine,” Qiao Mu said, glancing at her, and pulled her hand free from between the two sisters’.

“Besides, there’s really nothing wrong with me — I don’t need to be supported.”

Gong Xing’er looked up, met her eyes, and smiled.

“We all know Sister Qiao Mu has a baby in her belly.”

“Young Master Jiang, you should head to the Night Prince’s Estate now. Jiu’er said the two of you really shouldn’t be seeing each other today.”

“Don’t worry! I’ll take good care of Qiao Mu, and I won’t let Xing’er be careless again,” Gong Xinyue said.

Gong Xing’er pouted, murmuring again in a low voice, “I’m sorry! I really didn’t mean it.”

“When has Xing’er ever walked that fast?” Qiao Mu glanced at Feng Jiang. “You’re the one overthinking this!”

“Go on, we’ll see each other tomorrow.”

“But I don’t want to be apart from you.” Feng Jiang caught hold of the hand Qiao Mu had just pulled away.

His gaze landed on Gong Xing’er. “It was my fault for being too anxious. Sorry!”