More than a month has passed. Huo Xiaolong watched as they planted the chili peppers, which gradually grew branches. Miao Cuifang and her mother-in-law bid each other farewell inside the house.

“Grandma, come with me to the brothel. Aunt Zhi will take care of things in the village. After you’ve seen me and Liu Xu get married, you can come back whenever you want.”

The mother-in-law shook her head and said

"Why should I, an old man like me, exert myself? You guys..."

"Grandma, the carriage is already prepared at the foot of the mountain. It won't be a hassle to go back and forth. You can just enjoy the scenery inside."

Back when the priestess was still a saint, she was a young girl who had ridden through the flowers of Chang'an. Seeing Liu Xu's radiant smile as she invited her to the brothel, the old woman nodded.

"Then I'll have to trouble you all."

"What's the big deal about bothering you? We're all in-laws. Let me tell you, our little Miao is a very capable young man. It's just that our Liuxu is so lucky."

Now, Cen's mother speaks these mother-in-law's words so fluently. Before, she thought that these girls might get married one by one, and she didn't know how sad and heartbroken she would be then.

As a result, starting with Manto, these children never left her side; instead, one man after another brought them home to marry.

Even those who married out were no different from those who married into the family.

Ruyi, riding her horse outside the willow catkin carriage, joked...

"I've finally won the heart of my beauty!" She deliberately imitated Liu Xu's Jiangnan accent, making the young lady in the carriage blush.

The wedding of Liu Xu and Miao Cuifang was a bit rushed. It should be said that neither of them cared much about these formalities, so they hurriedly held a wedding before the New Year, just five days after arriving home.

Master Miao thought at the time, "Although I can't give Liu Xu great wealth and status, and I may never be able to surpass her even if I work hard all my life, as a man, I want to do my best to give her the best I have."

When it came time to prepare for the wedding, Miao Cuifang chose a large pearl over a grand spectacle.

Because Liu Xu told her that her pearl must not be smaller than the other sisters in the building.

So Miao Cuifang made a special trip to Hujia Village, and just then, he bought one of the trees that was going to be sold.

The lamplight casts a dim, yellow glow, and a pearl from the East is presented to a beautiful woman.

The moment the man placed the pearl in front of Liu Xu, the beauty didn't cry; instead, she hugged Miao Cuifang and laughed incessantly.

"Are you that happy?"

"Yes, I'm happy."

"But I don't have the money for the wedding. How about you wait for me for another two months?"

Two months' worth of allowance from Fengyuelou, plus the occasional tasks Huo Xiaolong and Cen Ang would give him, was enough to host a wedding.

Liu Xu pretended to be angry and said to him

"You really want me to wait that long?"

"I didn't... but..."

The rest of the words were drowned out by the young lady's lips. In the end, the wedding was arranged by the priestess. Unlike the weddings in the border town, Miao men had to bring their dowry with them when they got married.

However, the cotton quilts in the Miao village are not used for daily chewing; they have all been replaced with Gu worms by Miao Cuifang.

As the couple, dressed in their bright red new clothes, presented their dowry to the guests, the martial arts practitioners who were attending the Fengyuelou wedding for the second time moved back a little in unison.

Only the two adults and two children of Zhanchenlou remained unmoved, focused on the dishes on the table in front of them.

"Senior brother, what are they afraid of? It's just a few toads, centipedes, and snakes."

Eleven then placed another piece of squid on Liu Xiaohua's plate and said...

"It's really nothing, these are all things you can see. The real poison is in the little bugs you can't see."

"Anyway, if you ever encounter Miao people and have a conflict with them, just run away," the woman said to the little girl after wiping Jiang Tianyang's mouth.

"Okay, I got it."

"Jiang Tianxin, is my family's food good?" Huo Xiaolong came over cheekily and secretly slapped the little girl's bottom before asking.

"It's delicious. Since you hit me just now, I'm punishing you by giving me ten more grilled sausages." Jiang Tianxin turned around and said to the person who came in with a grin.

"Did you eat the ten?" the little dumpling asked.

"Absolutely."

Huo Xiaolong ran to the kitchen to bring her a plate of grilled sausages, but before the girl could even touch it, the masked man and the woman with flowers in her hair took half the plate.

Why is your senior brother wearing a mask when he comes out?

"Because I've offended too many people."

"Where did your senior sister get those fresh flowers in the dead of winter? They're so red!"

"It's fake, my senior brother made it."

Looking at the two aloof and sharp-tongued adults in front of outsiders, and then at the two leaders of Zhanchen Tower fighting with the children for food at the dinner table, Huo Xiaolong gradually retreated a little, muttering to himself.

"Are there any normal people out there?"

The biting wind cut through the silence of the night, but as the lanterns began to glow, a unique warmth and joy permeated the Fengyue Tower. Strings of red lanterns hung under the eaves of the mansion, swaying gently in the cold wind, fluttering in anticipation of the upcoming celebration.

Inside the bridal chamber, the fireplace burned brightly, its orange flames licking every inch of the room and dispelling the chill of the winter night. Several exquisite incense burners sat in the four corners of the room, emitting a faint sandalwood scent that mingled with the joy of the newlyweds, creating an exceptionally warm atmosphere.

On the bed, a red brocade quilt was neatly folded, embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in the water. Festive pastries were laid out on the table in the room.

Outside the window, snowflakes fluttered down, shimmering in the moonlight.

The two sat facing each other on the bed, unsure of what to say.

Miao Cuifang grabbed Liu Xu's hand first.

From now on, I will be good to you, and only to you.

The smile in her eyes was irrepressible. Liu Xu leaned into the man's arms and could feel the heat of his chest even through her wedding dress. Her face turned red, as if it were as hot as the spot her hands were touching.

"Then you must never go back on your word for the rest of your life."

No regrets.

—————Miao Cuifang's monologue

I think I probably fell for her on a very windy night; that day, she told me...

"Master, aren't you cold wearing such thin clothes? I'll buy you some clothes tomorrow."

The Miao village is very poor, and I am also very stingy. I try to save money wherever I can. At least at the brothel, I can eat meat for all three meals a day, but at home, I can't. Even two meals a day are a luxury.

My apprentice seemed to sense my embarrassment, and she smiled and said...

“I am your apprentice, so it is only right that I show you respect. Just wait to wear it.”

Later, she did fulfill her duty as an apprentice, adding clothes for him and practicing swordsmanship for him.

Outsiders say that Chunying, the girl from Fengyue Tower, is an exceptional swordswoman, but in his eyes, Liuxu's sword dance is the most beautiful.

Until one day, she had to go with her sisters to defend the city.

I don't know why, but I gave her the Life and Death Gu. I thought that this kind of woman should live longer, at least longer than me, after all, she is so radiant and beautiful.

It wasn't until she kissed me that I understood what love was—the kind of love for which I would die for her.

Now, I have achieved my wish and have no regrets.