As the Lunar New Year approaches, everyone's face is filled with happy smiles, welcoming the New Year that is just around the corner.

"What? You're getting married to Jiang Bai?" Yan Wan looked at Jing Xi and Jiang Bai holding hands in front of her. The sudden news really surprised Yan Wan, but it was also expected. After all, Jing Xi and Jiang Bai had been together for almost three years.

"Yes, Wan'er, let's set it for the sixteenth of the first month." Jing Xi happily pulled Jiang Bai to sit down on the chair opposite Yan Wan. She and Jiang Bai had finally overcome their hardships.

"So your good news is just around the corner! I'll start by offering tea in place of wine to congratulate Jing Xi on getting what she wanted, and congratulations to Jiang Bai on winning the heart of his beauty," Yan Wan said with a smile, raising her teacup in a teasing tone.

Jing Xi and Jiang Bai exchanged a smile and said, "Thank you, Wan'er. You must come!" Jing Xi took out an invitation from her bosom and handed it to Yan Wan, looking at her expectantly.

Yan Wan accepted the invitation with curiosity and said with a smile, "Don't worry, I will definitely be there on time. I also want to do some makeup for our lovely Jing Xi."

After chatting for a while, Jingxi and Jiang Bai took their leave. After all, the wedding was just around the corner, and there were still many things to prepare. Because Jingxi's birth mother had passed away early, she had to take care of everything herself, and she had been extremely busy lately.

Yan Wan did not return to the palace immediately after receiving the invitation. Instead, she went back to the Yan residence first, as there was a copy of the invitation given by Jing Xi for the Yan family, which she had to return first.

"Mother, Jingxi is getting married. This is an invitation to the Yan family," Yan Wan said with a smile.

Looking lovingly at the boisterous Yan Wan, Madam Yan asked, "Which young master is so fortunate to marry such a clever and capable woman as Jing Xi?"

"That's right, our Jingxi is the most amazing," Yan Wan said proudly. "He is Jiang Bai, the son of Jiang Yan, the richest man in Jiangnan."

"A merchant? That's too low a social standing. With Jingxi's intelligence, she should marry into a noble family." Madam Yan said after thinking for a while. Jingxi's father is now a sixth-rank official. Although it would be difficult for her to marry into a noble family, Madam Yan felt that such a clear-headed and intelligent woman had a great chance of marrying into a noble family.

“Mother, Jingxi yearns for freedom. If she were to be confined to that cramped inner courtyard, what a pity it would be for her life. Jingxi is so unrestrained and straightforward; she deserves to live a free and carefree life,” Yan Wan argued. Perhaps in her mother’s eyes, pursuing a good family background was more important, but for Jingxi, freedom was far more precious.

Looking at the somewhat agitated Yan Wan, Mother Yan said softly, "Alright, alright, Wan'er, no matter who Jing Xi marries, our greatest wish is for her to spend the rest of her life happily and grow old with the one she loves, isn't that right?"

"Yes, I hope Jingxi can be happy for the rest of her life," Yan Wan said happily.

"Oh, right, Mother, could you and my sister-in-law do me a favor?" Yan Wan asked coquettishly as she stood in front of her mother's chair, her bright eyes staring intently at her mother like a cute little puppy begging its owner for more freeze-dried food.

Mother Yan affectionately patted Yan Wan's head, completely powerless against her daughter's coquettishness. "You little devil, even if you don't say it, I know what you're going to say. You want your sister-in-law and me to go to the Jing residence to help Jing Xi prepare her dowry and wedding arrangements, right?"

Yan Wan happily threw herself into her mother's arms and said in a soft voice, "Mother, you are so smart. You knew what I wanted to say so quickly."

"Silly girl, even if you hadn't said anything, I was already planning to go to the Jing residence with your sister-in-law tomorrow to help Jingxi. After you left, Jingxi often came to the Yan residence to keep me company. She's a kind and loyal girl. Wan'er has made such a good friend." Mother Yan gently tapped Yan Wan's little nose and said with a smile.