Duan Liuyang’s small face flushed red, and she lowered her head.

“Zhao Yusheng isn’t bad.” Xiao Yingtao looked at Duan Liuyang too. “And he’s really good to you.”

“Liuyang, put in more effort!”

Duan Liuyang lifted her eyes to glance at everyone, then looked away again.

“What a pity! I don’t deserve him.”

“I said you can do it!” Feng Jiu’er went over and gently patted her shoulder.

“Let the past be the past. Only when you walk out of the shadow yourself can you welcome a better future.”

“Jiu’er is right, and Xiao Yingtao put it well too.” Qiao Mu nodded slightly.

“Although Zhao Yusheng’s thinking can be a bit naive sometimes, he’s steady and knows a lot.”

“Liuyang, you’re excellent too — well-versed in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. You suit Zhao Yusheng very well.”

Duan Liuyang pressed her lips together and nodded.

“I… will try my best. I’ll live happily either way, and I won’t disappoint you all.”

“Good, then.” Feng Jiu’er nodded lightly. “As for Xinyue, do you want me to ask around for you?”

“I heard quite a few of the brothers secretly look at you now and then — or do you have someone you already like? Let me vet him for you first.”

“Jiu’er, I like Long Qi.” Xiao Tian blinked and stepped out from behind Leng Xuepiao.

“Jiu’er, I really do like Long Qi. He’s very funny, but I don’t know if he likes me. Can you help me find out?”

Feng Jiu’er looked at the simple, adorable Xiao Tian and gave her a thumbs up.

“Sure! No rush — I’ll go sniff around and see what the wind says.”

“Thank you, Jiu’er.” Xiao Tian smiled brilliantly, showing a pair of rabbit-like front teeth.

Feng Jiu’er nodded, glanced around the group, and asked, “Anyone else who needs my help?”

After waiting a moment with no one speaking, Feng Jiu’er waved her hand.

“If not, let’s go get things ready for Qiao Mu. If anyone’s too shy to say it out loud, you can tell me privately afterward too.”

“Let’s go.”

“Sure thing.”

“Let’s move.”

“Jiu’er, where are we headed now?”

The girls all perked up at once — shopping for supplies, and for the upcoming wedding no less. Who wouldn’t love that?

“I’m coming too.” Suddenly, Qiao Mu stood up.

Gong Xing’er saw Qiao Mu stand and abruptly stood up as well.

“Sister Qiao is going, so I’m going too.”

“You’re coming too?” Feng Jiu’er turned to look at Qiao Mu.

“Why not?” Qiao Mu raised an eyebrow.

“Didn’t say you couldn’t.” Feng Jiu’er smiled faintly.

“How about we go have some soup first?” Gong Xinyue went over and helped support Qiao Mu.

“I made a lot of soup. Everyone should have a bowl before we head out, all right?”

“Sounds good.”

“I’ll have some too.”

“I’ve been wanting to try Sister Xinyue’s cooking for a while.”

After everyone had finished a whole pot of soup, the group set off again, still followed by two carriages.

After a while, the group split into two — one returned to the city lord’s household, the other headed to the Night Prince’s estate.

Before nightfall, Jian Yi led the group returning to the Night Prince’s estate over to Magistrate Xing’s place.

That evening, at Xing Zizhou’s residence, nearly twenty men and women gathered together for a meal, and the atmosphere was lively.

At the Night Prince’s estate, Di Wu Ya, Feng Li, Feng Jiang, and Zhao Yusheng sat together to eat.

Under the very same bright moon, the city lord’s household was bustling with noise, while the Night Prince’s estate could be described as utterly silent.

Zhao Yusheng set down his chopsticks, picked up a square cloth, and wiped his mouth.

He looked up, glanced at Feng Jiang, and said quietly, “Third Prince, Jiu’er said you can’t go over there.”

“You and Qiao Mu must wait until tomorrow’s wedding procession to meet — that’s the proper way.”

Zhao Yusheng saw Di Wu Ya set down his chopsticks and give a light cough.

“Your Highness, the same goes for you. Jiu’er said…”

Before Zhao Yusheng could finish, Di Wu Ya stood up and turned to leave, without so much as a glance back.

“Your Highness.” Zhao Yusheng reached out a hand and stood.

But he didn’t chase after him — he only let out a soft sigh and sat back down in his seat.

“No matter.” Feng Li picked up the teapot and poured Zhao Yusheng a cup of tea.

“We still haven’t finished discussing our matters. Neither of them has any time to spare tonight.”

Hearing Feng Li’s words, Zhao Yusheng finally let out a breath of relief.

He raised his teacup, toasted it toward Feng Li, then toward Feng Jiang, before taking a sip.

Jiu’er really was just making things hard for him — it was already an achievement that he’d managed to keep the Third Prince here. As for His Highness, he hadn’t had a shred of confidence at all.

Fortunately, His Highness still had a father-in-law here to keep him in check.

More and more people kept arriving at Xing Zizhou’s residence — not only people from the Heavenly Mechanism Hall, but even members of the Twelve Feilong Riders who were off duty came as well.

Everyone ate together and made merry together, laughter ringing out until it slowly faded away deep into the night.

The next day was the main event.

The girls got up early, and besides doing their hair and makeup and tasting the delicacies prepared ahead of time, the most important task was tending to the bride.

With Feng Jiu’er around, Qiao Mu seemed perfectly fine today — she could eat, sleep, and joke around without any trouble.

For today’s midday meal, both households had prepared everything in advance so as not to delay the auspicious hour for the wedding procession.

The bride had nothing much to prepare either — she just needed to rest and conserve her energy; everything else was being handled by others.

After the midday meal, Qiao Mu rested for about an hour, and then everyone gathered in her bridal chamber once more.

Including Feng Jiu’er, there were nine of them in total, all dressed in matching styles of clothing.

Today, they were the sisters of Qiao Mu’s wedding party.

“Tsk, tsk…” Qiao Mu looked at everyone and shook her head. “Not bad, all dressed up like this.”

“Hurry up and wash up.” Xiao Yingtao took a basin of water from a maid’s hands.

“That’s right, that’s right, there’s not much time left.” Yue Qinchun headed straight for the bridal gown the moment she walked in.

Gong Xinyue and Gong Xing’er followed after Yue Qinchun. Duan Liuyang and Leng Xuepiao took other items from two other maids and followed behind Xiao Yingtao.

“Qiao Mu, come here quickly.” Xiao Yingtao set down the basin and looked at the person sitting on the edge of the bed.

Feng Jiu’er went over and gently helped support Qiao Mu.

“How are you feeling? Any dizziness, any nausea?”

“I’m doing fine.” Qiao Mu answered softly.

She had just sat down in front of the mirror stand when Xiao Yingtao brought over a cup of water.

“Here, rinse your mouth quickly. Your skin tone is nice, but we still need to add a bit of rouge.”

“The wedding attendant said other brides start doing their hair and makeup from the moment the sun rises, but you’re only starting now.”

“Jiu’er, you have way too much confidence in Qiao Mu, huh? Giving us so little time — ugh!”

Xiao Yingtao took the cup from Qiao Mu’s hand and set it down, then took the towel Duan Liuyang handed over.

Feng Jiu’er sat not far away, plucked a grape from the plate, and popped it into her mouth.

“Plenty of time, no rush!”

Feng Jiu’er certainly wasn’t in a hurry, but Xiao Yingtao was anxious, and so was everyone else, in fact.

Working together, in less than forty-five minutes the group had Qiao Mu’s outfit and makeup all ready.

Supported by two of them, she stood and turned around.

“Everyone, come look.” Xiao Yingtao finally let out a breath of relief. “Take a look at our bride — isn’t she beautiful?”