Chapter 98: The End of the Main Text

Chapter 98: The End of the Main Text

Cheng Yiyan had already raised his wine cup, but noticed the tepid response from those around him.

"What’s going on here?"

Pei Ji, as the eldest brother-in-law, was the first to respond. He picked up a cup and saluted Cheng Yiyan with a bow,

"Wine... I won’t be drinking tonight. This cup is in honor of the eldest brother-in-law."

Pei Ji chose a cup of fruit wine.

Cheng Yiyan frowned, "On such a beautiful evening, wouldn’t it be a shame not to drink?"

Pei Ji didn’t respond, instead he clinked his tea cup with Cheng Yiyan’s and drank it himself, considering it done.

He had just returned to the capital from Mingzhou late last night, having not seen Cheng Yixin for three days. Tonight is Qixi, and he must spend it well with her.

What’s the point of drinking? Drinking only leads to trouble.

Seeing Pei Ji’s lack of interest, Cheng Yiyan turned his cup towards his second brother-in-law, Meng Ruchuan. Meng Ruchuan was much more straightforward than Pei Ji. He stood up with a cup of fruit wine in hand and waved his hand first, "Eldest brother-in-law, I can’t drink tonight either, Qiao Qiao doesn’t like the smell of alcohol."

How could he hold the sweet and soft Qiao Qiao to sleep with the smell of alcohol on him?

Cheng Yiqiao: .... She pinched his waist lightly in anger.

He’s so clumsy.

Meng Ruchuan laughed in pain.

Cheng Yiyan shook his head, took a sip with him, and then looked at Lu Xusheng.

Lu Xusheng said leisurely, "I can’t drink either, Jiu Si can’t stand the smell of alcohol."

More importantly, Cheng Yian doesn’t like the smell. He was more experienced than the second brother-in-law and couldn’t say it outright.

Cheng Yiyan wouldn’t let him off, "Jiu Si will sleep with me tonight."

"Aren’t you drinking too?"

Cheng Yiyan looked around for someone to take care of Jiu Si. At this moment, someone pulled his arm. Cheng Yiyan turned around to see the matriarch smiling at him,

"Jiu Si will sleep with me tonight."

Last time Cheng Yian brought little Jiu Si back, the matriarch had him stay in her own green gauze cabinet. The child was very well-behaved, not crying or making a fuss all night.

Cheng Yiyan smiled, "Grandmother is still the best to me." Then, he raised an eyebrow at Lu Xusheng, "Well, no excuses now, right?"

Lu Xusheng stood up with a cup of fruit wine in hand, leaned over and clinked it with Cheng Yiyan’s, "Wishing the eldest brother-in-law a perfect conclusion in Jiangnan."

Cheng Yiyan: ....

He was determined not to drink.

Cheng Yiyan unconsciously looked towards his father sitting in the south.

"Father, they're all being stubborn and won't drink. How about you have a drink with me? I'm feeling great today."

Today, with all three brothers-in-law gathered, Cheng Yiyan felt really happy, making a dream of his come true.

But Cheng Mingyu didn't even have a wine cup in front of him, only a tea cup. He raised his tea cup to his son as a gesture.

Cheng Yiyan couldn't take it, "Dad, you always have a drink at family dinners, don't you?" Plus, Dad can't sleep without a few drinks.

Cheng Mingyu didn't reply; a father doesn't owe his son an explanation.

He had plans tonight.

Cheng Yiyan felt let down and gave his wife a pleading look, Lu Shi, who was already sipping her fruit wine, "If we both drink too much, who’ll look after the kids?"

At that moment, Grandma tugged his sleeve again,

"Come on, I’ll have a drink with you."

Cheng Yiyan sat down, looking at his grandmother with a frown, "You sure you can handle it?"

Grandma gave him a sidelong glance, "Your grandma can handle anything. It’s just a little wine; I won’t even get tipsy."

Cheng Yiyan couldn’t help but laugh and sigh, so he clinked glasses with his grandmother.

Grandma and grandson each downed three cups and called it a night.

After drinking, Cheng Yiyan encouraged his brothers-in-law to dig in, and everyone had a great time at the family dinner.

After the meal, everyone sat with Grandma in the open hall drinking tea, and little Jiu Si was also fed. Grandma had the wet nurse bring him over to play.

Jiu Si was so cute, like a little cherub from a New Year’s painting, that Cheng Yiqiao quickly got up and took him from the wet nurse's arms,

"His eyes are like shiny black gems, so pretty."

Cheng Yiqiao and Meng Ruchuan had been married for nearly a year, and she was actually very eager for a child.

She wanted to hold Jiu Si more to soak up some of his good luck.

Meng Ruchuan had heard her talk about it and knew she was anxious, whispering to console her,

"What's the rush? We're still young."

He loved living a carefree life with his wife too much; why hurry to have a child? Meng Ruchuan was still young and had no thoughts of children.

Cui'er curiously came over to look at her little brother, and Jiu Si opened his big, watery eyes to gaze back at her.

Cui'er exclaimed in surprise, "Huh, little brother looks like grandfather."

Meng Ruchuan, sitting to the side, couldn't help but laugh,

"Silly Cui'er, it's fine to think that, but don't say it out loud."

Everyone knew this was a sore spot for Lu Xusheng.

Meng Ruchuan's comment made everyone laugh.

Cheng Yian, still concerned for her husband, gently squeezed his hand in comfort.

Cui'er also wanted to hold the child but was too afraid, so she tugged at her mother's sleeve, and Cheng Yixin had to reach out to take him.

"Let me hold the little lucky one too."

Cheng Yiqiao stood up and cradled the baby in her arms. As soon as she handed him over, Cheng Yixin was surprised and turned to Cheng Yian, saying,

"Wow, Jiu Si doesn’t look that strong, but he’s pretty heavy."

Cheng Yian chuckled, "He’s sturdy, just like his dad."

Jiu Si’s got long limbs and flips over easily, showing off his strength.

Cheng Yixin, holding the baby, glanced at Pei Ji, urging him to take a look at Jiu Si.

At his age, Pei Ji surely wants a child.

But he whispered to Cheng Yixin, "No rush."

When he says no rush, he means it—he’s still enjoying life.

Cheng Yixin got his meaning and blushed a little, then turned to Cui'er, letting her play with Jiu Si.

Jiu Si spotted the silk flower on Cui'er’s bun and reached for it. Cui'er took one off and handed it to him, but Jiu Si instantly tried to pop it in his mouth, startling Cheng Yixin, who yanked the flower from his hand. She couldn’t get it out on the first try,

"Wow, this kid’s got some grip!"

Cheng Yian chuckled, "Takes after his dad."

Lu Xusheng, now reassured, smiled and pointed at his youngest, asking Cheng Yian, "I thought you said he’s shy with strangers?"

Just then, Cheng Yiyan scooped Jiu Si into his arms, "Of course he’s shy—he only trusts the Chengs."

Lu Xusheng: "... Can’t he give me a break for once?"

Cheng Yiqiao laughed until she was breathless, "Second brother, your mouth is something else."

She asked Meng Ruchuan, "Does second brother pick on you?"

Meng Ruchuan shook his head, "He only messes with General Lu."

Cheng Yixin didn’t buy it and glanced at Pei Ji, "Did my brother go easy on you?"

Pei Ji said coolly, "I don’t bother with his games."

Lu Xusheng felt heartbroken.

At this time, Cheng Mingyu returned to his room to change clothes and then sat down next to the matriarch. The matriarch pointed at little Jiu Si and said to him,

"That little guy, though he doesn’t make a sound, has these little black eyes looking around everywhere, from one to another, even this smartness is like you."

Cheng Mingyu, rarely curious, said to Cheng Yiyan, "Bring him over for me to see."

Cheng Yiyan handed the child to Cheng Mingyu.

Cheng Mingyu held little Jiu Si, letting him stand on his knees, and Jiu Si opened his mouth wide, looking at his grandfather.

Lu Xusheng glanced at Cheng Mingyu, then at that little face, one big, one small, like two peas in a pod.

His heart felt even more broken.

The matriarch compared the grandfather and grandson beside her, "Only the eyebrows are not quite similar; everything else is just like him."

Cheng Yiyan started teasing Lu Xusheng again, "No choice, the only thing worth remembering about Jiu Si's father is that eyebrow, so he picked it."

The matriarch laughed so hard she couldn't close her mouth and gave Cheng Yiyan a tap.

Meng Ruchuan, being an honest child, couldn't stand it anymore, "Brother-in-law, you can't always pick on General Lu."

Cheng Yiyan was displeased, "Who said I'm picking on him? You didn't see when he was picking on me. Hey, hey, brother-in-law, are you closer to me or to him? Why are you speaking up for him?"

Meng Ruchuan rubbed the back of his head, "You are my brother-in-law, we are naturally close, but I am also brothers-in-law with General Lu."

"What about being brothers-in-law?"

"Brothers-in-law share the same fate."

Cheng Yiyan gritted his teeth at his disappointing brother-in-law, "What same fate?"

Meng Ruchuan said, "The same fate of 'being bullied by the brother-in-law'!"

Cheng Yiyan: "..."

As Cheng Yiyan's handsome face gradually turned green, Lu Xusheng happily rubbed his hands and bowed to Meng Ruchuan, showing admiration, "Brother-in-law is indeed brother-in-law. The brother-in-law usually kills Buddha if Buddha blocks, kills gods if gods block in the official district, the most unoffendable figure in the official district. Today he finally lost to brother-in-law, my respects."

The most feared person in the entire official district is not Chief Councilor Cheng Mingyu, nor the troublemaker Lu Xusheng, but definitely Cheng Yiyan, who manages the national treasury. No one can expect to squeeze an extra penny out of him. Whoever comes to report accounts will surely be skinned by him.

Privately, many officials refer to Cheng Yiyan as "the grandfather of the official district."

This is called low position but great power.

Cheng Yiqiao was afraid her husband would fall into Lu Xusheng's trap and said to Cheng Yian, "An An, you manage brother-in-law, he is stirring up trouble, trying to incite your brother-in-law against your brother."

Meng Ruchuan showed his straightforward side, "No one can incite me, I am just stating the facts."

Lu Xusheng really admired him and bowed again, "Lu respects brother-in-law as a true man, from now on I will follow brother-in-law's lead."

Cheng Yian smiled and gathered his arm, "That's enough from you."

Pei Ji said to Cheng Yixin, "This is called diverting trouble, those who play tactics have dirty hearts."

Poor Meng Ruchuan has boarded Lu Xusheng's pirate ship.

Cheng Yiyan was so angry he didn't want to speak, supported his waist and glared at Meng Ruchuan, "Is it because I treat you too well, take too much care of you, that you don't know the height of the sky and the depth of the earth?"

Meng Ruchuan was unafraid, "Don't bully me, I have my father-in-law to protect me."

Cheng Mingyu always protects the honest.

Cheng Yiyan was really defeated by him.

One thing conquers another.

Cheng Mingyu found them noisy, "Alright, there will be a fireworks banquet later, go and digest."

They were making his head hurt with their noise.

Pei Ji, who preferred tranquility, was the first to rise and take Cheng Yixin's hand. "Then I’ll take my leave."

Cui'er stayed in the ancestral courtyard to play with her brothers.

Seeing her sister leave, Cheng Yiqiao asked Meng Ruchuan,

"Should we head to the water’s edge to make flower boats? Later, we can go to the center of the lake to pray for blessings?"

Meng Ruchuan nodded.

As Cheng Yiqiao stood up, she said to Cheng Yian, "We’ll call you over once we’re done."

"Alright, I’ll come over after putting Jiu Si to sleep..." Cheng Yian replied, noticing that Lu Xusheng had subtly tugged at her sleeve.

Cheng Yian liked to tug at his sleeve when she was being playful, and Lu Xusheng would do the same when he wanted something from her.

What could Lu Xusheng want?

Ignoring his pitiful look, Cheng Yian got up to carry Jiu Si.

Meanwhile, Cheng Yixin and her husband were back in their courtyard, where the maids were preparing the incense table, fruits, and embroidery needed for the Qixi Festival. A dozen people were carrying items to the Cheng family’s rear lake.

The Cheng family’s main branch backyard had a large expanse of water. Cheng Mingyu, wanting to preserve the scenery, never built an island in the lake’s center. Instead, he built a spacious water platform at the narrow, elongated waterway in the northeast corner, with a crescent-shaped floating bridge connecting the two banks. The Cheng family used to gather here to admire the moon and scenery, and the upcoming fireworks banquet would also be held here.

The maids carried the items away.

Cheng Yixin went back to her room, disliking the smell on her clothes, and changed. When she came out, she found Pei Ji practicing calligraphy in the study. Cheng Yixin walked over to look at his writing, which read "Tranquility leads to profound thoughts" in bold, powerful Yan-style calligraphy.

After finishing, he put down the brush and looked at Cheng Yixin. She had changed into a multi-colored skirt and a water-red coat, her snow-white neck adorned with a pearl and red agate necklace that complemented her complexion. As their eyes met, Cheng Yixin knew what Pei Ji was thinking after just six months of marriage.

In just six months, he had filled the void of her past six years, and now Cheng Yixin felt a bit afraid when she looked at him.

"Second sister is making flower boats and waiting for us to join her."

Pei Ji remained silent, placing the scroll on the long table under the window to dry. He noticed a small painting hanging there, clearly the work of Cui'er. "Cui'er’s gotten better. When did she paint this?"

Pei Ji asked casually.

Cheng Yixin leaned against the desk where he had just been practicing calligraphy and replied casually, "Yesterday, her father taught her how to paint it."

After divorcing He Qingyun, Cheng Yixin went through a painful period. Cui'er often asked for her father, and Cheng Yixin felt she had let her down. Later, when she established the art academy, He Qingyun repeatedly pleaded, and Cheng Yixin agreed to let him come often to teach the child to paint, which eased her mind.

Cui'er still had feelings for her father, and Cheng Yixin didn’t feel she was neglecting her child.

Hearing this, Pei Ji paused and walked over to her. "You went too?"

This was clearly jealousy.

Cheng Yixin knew how to comfort her husband. She took the initiative to place her hands on his shoulders and smiled at him. "I just handed the child over to him and came back home. What, are you unhappy?"

Pei Ji had no reason to be unhappy, though he did feel a bit jealous.

"Then I won’t see him anymore."

There was no need to let someone else harm their marital relationship.

Her decisiveness made Pei Ji feel small, but he still agreed.

"Alright."

Cheng Yixin gently tugged at his wrist and whispered, "Should we head over to the water platform now?"

Pei Ji didn't respond but instead picked her up without hesitation and placed her on the desk. Cheng Yixin's face flushed, "Dad told us to walk off our meal..."

"This is just as good for digestion."

"..."

His intense dark eyes locked onto hers as Pei Ji covered Cheng Yixin's mouth, kissing from her cheeks down to her earlobe, softly biting out a few words, "I'll make it quick."

His version of 'quick' was different from hers.

Cheng Yixin smiled wryly, trying to push him away and coax him, "Don't mess around, tonight, I'll let you have your way, alright?"

Pei Ji knew just how to 'convince' Cheng Yixin, pulling her body towards his waist, he leaned down, kissing her, giving her everything.

The untouched ink in the inkstone began to ripple.

Cheng Yian was the final one to leave, carrying Jiu Si into the ancestral grandmother's green gauze cabinet. As soon as she settled by the small couch, three little heads popped up all at once—the eldest brother, the second brother, and Cuijie all gathered around to watch Jiu Si sleep.

Jiu Si pursed his lips slightly, refusing to sleep.

Cheng Yian felt a headache coming on, stroking his cheek, "It's bedtime for Jiu Si."

Little Jiu Si had this habit; when he was unhappy, he would give them a 'serious' look, neither crying nor making a fuss, expressing his dissatisfaction.

Cheng Yian gave the ancestral grandmother a defeated look.

The ancestral grandmother quickly waved her hand, "Just let me handle him, didn't I manage quite well last time he was here?"

"I just don't want to wear you out, you're getting on in years, you can't deal with the kid's antics."

"No trouble," the ancestral grandmother pointed to the wet nurse standing by, "You hand the child over to the wet nurse, let him play with his brothers and sister for a while, he'll nod off when he's tired."

Cheng Yian reluctantly handed over the child.

Lu Xusheng waited outside for her, and they headed towards Yi Ning Garden together.

Cheng Yian kept glancing back every few steps.

Lu Xusheng took her hand, "Stop looking, your son is probably having a blast with his brothers, he probably doesn't even miss you."

"It's true he doesn't miss you, but not missing me is hard, I worry he might cry when he doesn't see me at bedtime."

Lu Xusheng thought of how his son wasn't shy at all and snorted, "Then let him cry it out."

Cheng Yian glared at him.

Lu Xusheng said displeasedly, "Now that you have a son, you're discarding the bridge after crossing the river?"

What a "discarding the bridge after crossing the river," how could he say that.

Cheng Yian felt embarrassed for him.

Arriving at Yi Ning Garden, Ming Mama had also prepared some flower baskets and embroidery pieces, sending them to the water platform.

Cheng Yian entered the room, took off her socks and embroidered shoes, and went straight to the backyard bath pool.

"Don't take too long," Lu Xusheng entered the bathroom.

Cheng Yian didn’t take his words to heart. She stepped into the warm pool, enveloped by the soft, soothing water, and had no intention of leaving anytime soon.

Lu Xusheng guessed she wouldn’t be done so quickly. He put on his inner robe and entered the warm bath chamber, sitting on the lounge chair beside Cheng Yian. Cheng Yian’s jet-black hair was neatly pinned up with a hairpin, revealing a graceful swan-like neck. Her shoulders were beautifully shaped—not sloping, but just right to carry off any outfit. Her shoulder blades, faintly visible beneath the water, were as white as jade.

Her cheeks were flushed a delicate pink from the warm bath. She didn’t look at all like a woman who had given birth.

Seeing Lu Xusheng staring intently at her, Cheng Yian instinctively covered her chest.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

“An An,” Lu Xusheng’s deep, dark eyes gazed at her. “At the banquet today, your brother was beaming, your two brothers-in-law were glowing, and even your father looked thoroughly satisfied. How can you bear to neglect your husband?”

Cheng Yian glared at him for even dragging her father into this.

“Nonsense.”

Lu Xusheng reached out to her.

“Be good. While Jiu Si isn’t here, show me some affection.”

Lu Xusheng usually never liked staying out overnight. The reason he readily accepted Cheng Yiyan’s invitation today was because he had a grievance.

He and Cheng Yian hadn’t been intimate for too long. From the late stages of her pregnancy until Jiu Si was four months old, the imperial physician repeatedly advised against intimacy. Lu Xusheng didn’t dare take any risks. Finally, when Jiu Si turned four months old, their first attempt ended with Cheng Yian in unexpected pain, and she rarely refused him. Lu Xusheng had to endure.

The second time went smoothly, but then Jiu Si suddenly woke up beside them, lifting his little foot and kicking him. The soft, slippery sensation nearly scared Lu Xusheng to death. In that moment, he thought of his mother-in-law’s hundred snakes, fearing they hadn’t all left.

He turned to meet his son’s dark, curious eyes.

Defeated again.

He clearly sensed that Cheng Yian valued their child more than him. That's why he brought the child to the Cheng family, entrusting him to them, so he and Cheng Yian could have a carefree moment together.

Seeing the man’s pitiful expression, Cheng Yian swam toward him.

“I had a dream last night.” She reached out, and Lu Xusheng helped her out of the water, immediately wrapping a large towel around her. Cheng Yian sat on his lap.

“What dream?” Lu Xusheng asked while drying her.

“A dream of a past life.”

Lu Xusheng was no longer interested in past lives. He held her and turned her to face him.

A woman soaked in a warm bath was different—her body soft, her gaze as if it could pull out threads of water.

Lu Xusheng leaned comfortably on the lounge chair, watching her collapse onto his chest, and ordered,

“Get down!”

Cheng Yian was still struggling, her hands barely supporting herself on his chest as she shook her head. “I’m afraid it’ll hurt.”

It was strange. After such a long period of abstinence, she couldn’t adapt to him anymore.

Lu Xusheng held her chin, and his kiss quickly followed. Cheng Yian’s hands gradually lost strength, letting him hold and guide her. Her mind was spinning from his touch. Lu Xusheng’s broad hand rested on her slender waist, slowly pulling her down.

“You... really don’t want to hear...?” Cheng Yian spoke in broken sentences.

Lu Xusheng completely silenced her.

Once wasn’t enough; he kept claiming Cheng Yian owed him a great deal.

Cheng Yian gazed softly at him, her blushing, delicate face reflected in his dark eyes.

She dreamt that in her past life, after Fan Yulin was imprisoned, a newly appointed inspector relentlessly pursued him, and like pulling up a radish brings out the mud, several of Fan family’s relatives were also implicated. She entered the prison with a divorce agreement, demanding he sign it. Fan Yulin stubbornly refused, but Cheng Yian pressured him until he finally signed.

After securing the divorce agreement, she went to the government office to dissolve the marriage. She sold the house, leaving the Fan family homeless and forcing them back to their cramped old residence. Cheng Yian planned to leave, gradually liquidating her assets and shops. During this time, the Fan family did everything they could to obstruct her and stir up trouble. Fortunately, the stewards and guards her father had assigned to protect her were formidable. They forcefully loaded her dowry onto carts and escorted her out of Yizhou.

After leaving Yizhou City, Cheng Yian felt adrift. Where could she go?

The chaos in the capital hadn’t yet settled. Cheng Yian thought of her mother’s hometown, Gusu, and decided to follow the river downstream to Jinling.

The journey was rough, taking nearly two months to reach Jiangxia.

By some miracle, in Jiangxia, she unexpectedly ran into Cheng Yiyan, who had come to fetch her.

The fall of Cheng Family Fortress was a fact, but not all the male members of the Cheng family had perished. Before his death, Cheng Mingyu had devised a plan, like a cunning rabbit with three burrows, secretly stockpiling food, gold, and jewels. Cheng Yiyan exhausted the family fortune to gather troops and rallied all the righteous officials to help Prince Ning stabilize the situation. Lu Xusheng was dead, and Qiu Qing rallied the old troops to strike back at the capital. To avenge Lu Xusheng, he slaughtered the entire Wang and Cui families, the main instigators of the chaos.

The capital was drenched in blood.

The emperor died during the turmoil. Prince Ning ascended the throne, posthumously granting Lu Xusheng the title of Prince of Jing'an and burying him in the imperial mausoleum. Her second brother, Cheng Yiyan, assumed control of the central government. Once the situation stabilized, Cheng Yiyan finally contacted his sister, who was far away in Yizhou, and personally went to bring her back to the capital.

"An An, come home with me."

In her dream, Cheng Yian clung to her brother and wept.

Comparing the dream to the living Lu Xusheng before her, how could Cheng Yian refuse?

She hugged him tightly, "I’ll do as you say."

Cheng Yiqiao and Meng Ruchuan waited and waited on the flower boat, but their two brothers-in-law never showed up.

"What are they doing? Why haven’t they come yet?"

Cheng Yiqiao pouted, "Let’s not wait for them, we’ll row the boat ourselves."

Meng Ruchuan pushed the pole to row the flower boat towards the center of the lake, stopping at a suitable spot. Cheng Yiqiao began to scatter petals from the basket onto the water, filling the air around the boat with the fragrance of flowers. When she entered the awning, her whole body was enveloped in a captivating aroma.

On the table was a glass lantern and a pot of tea. Meng Ruchuan sat upright on the small stool, staring intently at her.

"Why are you looking at me? Haven’t you seen enough after a year of marriage?"

Cheng Yiqiao had styled her hair in a falling horse bun today, her eyes sparkling with an indescribable charm and beauty.

Meng Ruchuan suddenly realized, "Guess why our eldest brother-in-law and third brother-in-law haven’t come?"

This question was like poking through a window paper.

Cheng Yiqiao blushed and glared at him, "What’s it to you?"

Of course, it concerned him; he couldn’t fall behind others.

Meng Ruchuan reached out and pulled Cheng Yiqiao into his arms. Cheng Yiqiao panicked, her eyes darting towards the shore through the boat's opening, "Don’t mess around, we’re outside."

Meng Ruchuan, at the peak of his youthful vigor, couldn’t suppress his desires when they arose. He blew out the lantern.

Not long after, the petals were shaken off, creating ripples that spread out in circles.

The fireworks feast finally began. Lu Shi knew her two sons loved excitement and planned to bring the children from the ancestral courtyard. Cheng Yiyan had set up a tea banquet alone on the water platform, but these three unruly individuals were nowhere to be seen despite waiting. Cheng Yiyan drank a cup alone and chuckled to himself.

Finally, halfway through the fireworks, the three brothers-in-law showed up late with their sisters.

Cheng Yian felt a bit embarrassed at first, noticing her sisters had changed their outfits and their hair was noticeably damp.

Everyone silently understood.

Cheng Yiyan could joke with his brothers-in-law but not his sisters, so he steered clear of mentioning what had just happened and ordered a banquet to honor the Seven Stars.

Soon, Lu Shi brought the three children, and Cheng Yian asked her, "Sister-in-law, is Jiu Si asleep?"

Lu Shi replied, "He's sound asleep, and grandmother has also gone to bed."

Cheng Yian breathed a sigh of relief.

A giant peony shot up into the sky, its petals falling like shooting stars onto the lake, and the kids excitedly darted around the water platform.

Meng Ruchuan, worried they might fall in, was busy running after them, trying to keep an eye on each one.

The second boy ran too fast and accidentally stomped on Cui'er, who yelped in pain. Cheng Yiyan quickly called over his youngest son to scold him and made him say sorry to his sister. Pei Ji picked up the crying Cui'er and took her aside to pick some fruit, soothing her.

Cheng Yiqiao and Cheng Yixin stood by the viewing post, pointing at the lanterns across the shore and guessing riddles, chatting and laughing.

Cheng Yian stood by herself on the steps, taking in the lively garden scene, her emotions welling up.

In this life, the Cheng family stayed whole, her father was alive, and her mother had come back to the capital. Lu Xusheng was by her side, and they even had a lovely little Jiu Si.

All she ever wished for was to have her parents alive and a happy marriage.

Cheng Yian couldn't help but feel her eyes welling up, not wanting anyone to notice, she quickly rubbed her eyes and opened them again, only to see Lu Xusheng handing her a flower wreath.

"Where did this come from?"

Lu Xusheng pointed to the flower branches on one side of the water platform, "I just picked these and made this bracelet for you."

It had to be said, Lu Xusheng's craftsmanship was quite good. The flower stems were twisted into strands forming a bracelet, with colorful flowers clustered together, looking quite beautiful. Cheng Yian reached out her hand, and Lu Xusheng put it on her, its brilliance and delicacy even outshining the string of coral beads.

"This doesn't seem like something you could do in a day? When did you learn this?" This man didn't seem like the type to be so meticulous.

Lu Xusheng stood beside her, his tall figure gently leaning towards her, "I learned it in the frontier in my past life. The soldiers there told me that if you weave this bracelet, you can marry the girl you love."

"An An, this wreath is for you." His gaze was calm yet intense.

Was this his confession?

Cheng Yian smiled shyly, her lips pursed, like a newlywed girl.

Faintly, a melody of a zither could be heard crossing the mountains and waters, and Cheng Yian blinked,

"Could that be father playing the zither?"

Cheng Yian pinched Lu Xusheng, "Husband, when will you play a tune for me?"

Lu Xusheng's fingers were long and well-defined, seemingly suitable for playing the zither.

Lu Xusheng said seriously, "Apart from playing the zither on you, I won't bother with anything else."

Cheng Yian: "........"

(End of main text)

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