Di Wu Ya, Feng Jiang, Tang Xiaohua, Yue Jianfei, Xing Zichou, and the others walked in just in time to hear the women’s conversation.

Feng Jiu’er’s face was half-hidden by the person standing beside her, but Di Wu Ya spotted her immediately anyway.

“Right, a showdown till dawn!” Feng Jiu’er said, looking thoroughly pleased with herself.

She hadn’t played mahjong in a long time, and today really was turning out to be a good day.

Di Wu Ya looked at the woman who seemed to have completely forgotten about him, shook his head slightly, and walked straight over.

Seeing this, Tang Xiaohua coughed loudly as she walked forward as well.

The circle of women finally noticed and looked up.

Gong Xinyue saw it was Di Wu Ya, turned, and gently nudged Feng Jiu’er.

“Jiu’er, Sister Xiaohua brought the Prince back.”

Tang Xiaohua had been overseeing all the formalities.

Many matters had needed the groom’s attention just now, so she’d called Di Wu Ya over to handle them.

“Good, you’re back.” Feng Jiu’er had just picked up a tile and was busy studying it — she didn’t even glance at her own husband.

Gong Xinyue composed herself and made room as Di Wu Ya approached.

“Your Highness, Jiu’er’s luck has been excellent!”

“Is that so?” Di Wu Ya stood beside Feng Jiu’er, resting his long arm on the back of her chair, leaning slightly to look at the woman still studying her tiles.

“Are you tired?” he asked gently.

Feng Jiu’er glanced up at him, shook her head, and looked back down.

“Jiu’er, it’s your turn to draw,” Yue Qinchun said, looking up — and only then noticed Di Wu Ya.

“Your Highness, you’re here?”

“Brother-in-law, hello!” Xiao Yingtao gave Di Wu Ya a casual cupped-fist salute.

“Brother-in-law, hello!” Everyone else followed suit, cupping their fists and calling out as well.

“Mm.” Di Wu Ya glanced around the room and nodded slightly.

“Sister Qiao Mu, it’s your turn,” Feng Jiu’er said, discarding a tile, and Yue Qinchun immediately reminded Qiao Mu.

Since it was her first time playing and she’d already won some silver, the little one was a bit too excited.

“Bonk.” Yue Qinchun’s head got flicked by someone.

She looked up, somewhat in disbelief at her own mother.

“Mother, why did you hit me?”

“That’s exactly why I hit you — a showdown till dawn, of all things. Do you know what day it is?” Tang Xiaohua frowned.

Jiu’er had no mother of her own, so Tang Xiaohua had taken on the role of both elder sister and mother, and she’d been busy the whole day.

“Today is the wedding day of Sister Jiu’er and Brother-in-law the Prince.” Yue Qinchun pouted, leaned forward, and drew a tile.

“Great tile! Mother, do you know? This is the best tile — I had two and four of bamboo, and I just drew three of bamboo. Perfect, I’m about to be ready to win.”

“No way.” Xiao Yingtao bit her finger. “My tiles are still terrible — I’m going to lose this round too.”

Someone rubbed the top of her head, and Xiao Yingtao pouted and looked back.

“Xing Zichou, I’m about to lose all the red envelopes I collected today.”

“Doesn’t matter.” Xing Zichou doted on her, pulling out his own collected red envelopes and handing them over.

Xiao Yingtao took them eagerly and opened them up to look. “Why is there so much? Way more than what we collected during the day.”

Xing Zichou patted her shoulder gently and said softly, “Play as much as you like — winning or losing doesn’t matter.”

“Mm-hm.” Xiao Yingtao nodded and reached out to draw a tile, her expression instantly brightening.

“I drew a great tile too. Xing Zichou, you’re my lucky star.”

“How’s your luck?” Feng Jiang leaned down, half-embracing Qiao Mu.

Qiao Mu shrugged him off with a hint of annoyance, trying to wriggle free of his touch. “Is Little Jiang asleep? Why do you have time to come by?”

“He’s asleep,” Feng Jiang said softly. “Wife, you should go rest too.”

“Jiu’er said the same — you need more rest.”