The West Mausoleum was filled with mourning.

The wedding attire for Lingyue Manor was also prepared quickly. It was initially agreed that it would be picked up on the 29th of the lunar year, but someone was sent to deliver the message on the 27th. However, the Tang and Zhou families were all extremely busy these past few days and simply didn't have time. Tang Feng, in particular, had been taken into a small, dark room by the matchmaker for several days to be taught the rules and procedures. With the 29th of the lunar year fast approaching, there was still no one to pick up the wedding attire. Qin Jiujiu was also very anxious; the household felt disorganized without anyone present. The wedding was coinciding with the New Year, requiring both ancestral worship and preparations for the wedding within the mansion. But Tang Feng wasn't in a hurry; he figured things would work themselves out. However, problems always have a way of being solved. On the 29th, seeing Qin Jiujiu busy, Tang Feng said, "Sister Jiu, don't worry. I'm just bored anyway, why don't I go?" Tang Feng had originally planned to go get it himself; such an important matter was naturally better handled by himself. Besides, looking around the entire mansion, he was the only one with so much free time. A couple of days ago, Tang Feng visited Han Jiuhua, took the invitation out of his pocket, and placed it on Han Jiuhua's table. After all, tracing back to the source, it all came down to Han Jiuhua's saying, "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, for ye may ye have nothing left to pluck."

“Miss Han, I know you don’t usually show your face in public, but you are, after all, my friend Tang Feng, and have done me a favor. I’ve left the invitation here; whether you go or not is up to you!” Han Jiuhua said with a light laugh. “Master Tang and I have a deep connection, and because of your word ‘friend,’ I will definitely be there on the day.”

Tang Feng carefully examined the invitation distribution list. Seeing Qin Jiujiu enter carrying offerings, he said, "Sister, today is the 29th of the lunar year. I'll go pick up the wedding attire later, so don't wait for me tonight." Just as Tang Feng was about to leave, Qin Jiujiu grabbed him. "What are you going to do! Stay and decorate the bridal chamber. Mo Bai and Yang Fei will be here soon. What kind of talk is that? Just send Liu Liu. After we're done, and Liu Liu gets the wedding attire, my godfather said we should go to Xiaoyao Tower for a meal. We have a lot of people, so it'll be a lively gathering." Tang Feng thought for a moment, "Okay, I'll give the list to Liu Liu and have Liu Yiwan go with her."

"Don't even think about it! We're already short-handed in the manor, and now we've sent Liu Yiwan away. Liu Liu is so old, and he still can't even retrieve something!" Qin Jiujiu scolded playfully. Everyone in the Tang manor knew that Tang Feng doted on Qin Liu Liu, but in Qin Jiujiu's eyes, Tang Feng was protecting Qin Liu Liu way too much. "Keep spoiling him! When he marries and leaves you, won't that be enough to make you heartbroken?" After saying this, Qin Jiujiu called out to Qin Liu Liu's room, "Liu Liu, come out! Go get your brother's wedding dress, do you hear me?" "No!" Qin Liuliu ran out of the room, naturally happy to do things for Tang Feng. Moreover, Qin Liuliu had always looked forward to Tang Feng marrying into the Zhou family. In Qin Liuliu's opinion, Tang Feng not only doted on him, but his son Ziliang also doted on him. Once he went to the Zhou family, wouldn't he be pampered to the heavens? Qin Liuliu took the list from Tang Feng's hand. "Brother, I'll go now and come right back." Tang Feng wanted to give some more instructions, but seeing that Qin Liuliu was almost out of sight, he had no choice but to turn around and follow Qin Jiujiu into the bridal chamber to set up the room.

Zhang Mobai and Yang Fei had arrived long ago. The two were directing the servants at the door to put up the double happiness character. "Don't put it crooked, move it a little to the left." When Zhang Mobai saw Tang Feng coming over, he quickly went over and said, "Little brother, are you nervous about getting married the day after tomorrow? According to the rules, you and Ziliang can't see each other these two days, so I called Yang Fei over to help. Just let me know if you need anything."

Tang Feng chuckled as he looked at the lanterns and double happiness characters already hung at the door. "What else is there to be busy with? Everything's almost ready. Come inside and rest! It's awfully cold outside." Tang Feng and Zhang Mobai went inside together. Zhang Mobai had brought Li Lin'an along today, saying that the child had suffered since birth due to the loss of both parents and wanted to share in Tang Feng's good fortune. After these few days, Zhang Mobai had become quite adept at taking care of the child. Holding the child, he watched Tang Feng play with Li Lin'an. "Yang Fei and I have discussed it. We'll let this child take Yang's surname. If he keeps calling himself Li Lin'an every day, it'll cause trouble if word gets out." Tang Feng pinched Li Lin'an's little cheek and smiled. "That's right! And you know what, An'an is quite quiet, he doesn't cry or fuss!"

"We're so sensible, aren't we, An'an?" The two were teasing the child when they heard Qin Jiujiu knocking on the door. "Xiao Feng, let's go to Xiaoyao Tower first! It's getting late. My godfather said Liu Yiwan can wait for Liu Liu to come back at the manor later." Tang Feng was a little worried, but there was nothing he could do. Zhang Mobai had the wet nurse take Yang Lin'an back, while he and Tang Feng got into the carriage together. "After the assassination attempt at Xiaoyao Tower last time, I haven't been there again." Tang Feng lifted the curtain and looked at the noisy crowd outside before continuing, "Why don't you walk over? It's quite lively today." "Sigh, we're still taking care of the two old men. How could they walk that far? Besides, we're the younger generation. If we arrive later than them, we'll get scolded."

Master Tang had invited quite a few people this time, enough for at least two tables. Tang Feng, along with Zhang Mobai, was downstairs listening to the waiter recommend Xiaoyaolou's signature dishes when Liu Yiwan rushed over in a panic, "Young Master! Young Master!" Tang Feng frowned when he saw Liu Yiwan return, "Didn't I tell you to wait for Liu Liu at the manor? Why are you the only one back?" Liu Yiwan caught his breath and, afraid Tang Feng would be anxious, said, "Oh dear, I waited at the manor for ages but Liu Liu didn't come back, so... I went to Lingyue Manor to wait for him... but I didn't see him either." Tang Feng glared at Liu Yiwan, "You hurry up and go wait at the manor. In case he's slow and you two miss each other, Mobai and I will go to Lingyue Manor to check again." Tang Feng was about to leave when Zhang Mobai grabbed him, "Little brother, don't rush, I'll call Yang Fei. He's on horseback, it'll be faster."

After leaving the house, Liu Yiwan went straight to the Tang residence to wait for news, while Tang Feng and Zhang Mobai headed towards Lingyue Manor. Although they didn't find Qin Liuliu, Tang Feng wasn't particularly anxious. That child was playful by nature, and after getting her wedding dress, she probably went off to find something else.

Tang Feng and Zhang Mobai retraced their steps, hoping to encounter Qin Liuliu. However, they hadn't gone far when they saw a crowd gathered ahead. Zhang Mobai noticed Yang Fei's horse was tethered nearby and a bad feeling crept into his heart. "Little brother, wait here for me, I'll go check," Zhang Mobai said without waiting for Tang Feng's reply, rushing into the crowd. What he saw was Qin Liuliu lying in a pool of blood. Yang Fei, crouching nearby, shook his head when he saw that Tang Feng wasn't following Zhang Mobai. "It's too late, she's already dead. An arrow... straight through her throat." Zhang Mobai looked at Qin Liuliu lying on the ground, clutching her wedding dress. Because of the arrow piercing her neck, she could only turn her head to the side, her eyes wide open, her clothes mostly stained with blood. Seeing such a tragic scene, Zhang Mobai's eyes welled up with tears. Qin Liuliu was nine years old when Tang Feng took her in, and everyone doted on this child. Now that Qin Liuliu had died tragically in the street, how could Zhang Mobai not be heartbroken? "Baibai, don't cry, this... what about your little brother?" Yang Fei wiped Zhang Mobai's eyes and looked at Tang Feng standing in the distance. "This can't be kept secret..." Zhang Mobai nodded. "I'll go tell my little brother..." Tang Feng watched Zhang Mobai emerge from the crowd, her eyes red. He already had a bad feeling, but he still couldn't believe it. He smiled at Zhang Mobai and forced a joke, "Little crazy girl, did Liuliu get into trouble...? My sister said I spoiled her, but I didn't believe it. Now she's in trouble..."

"Little brother... Liu Liu... Liu Liu..." Zhang Mobai felt a pang of pity seeing Tang Feng like this. Yang Fei, standing beside him, straightened Tang Feng and said, word by word, "Little crybaby, don't cry after I finish... Qin Liu Liu... is dead." Tang Feng stood there stunned for a while before slowly pushing Yang Fei aside and walking into the crowd. Zhang Mobai was afraid that Tang Feng wouldn't be able to bear seeing Qin Liu Liu like that, and tried to stop him, "Little brother! Don't look! Don't..." But it was too late. Tang Feng saw Qin Liu Liu's body lying on the ground, and suddenly his ears seemed to ring, and he couldn't hear any sounds around him, only his own breathing and heartbeat. Tang Feng didn't know how he got there, but he slowly squatted down and knelt beside Qin Liu Liu, looking at the red wedding dress that had been carefully chosen by him, which had become Qin Liu Liu's burial clothes. Tang Feng tried to pull the arrow out of Qin Liuliu's neck, but found his hands trembling uncontrollably. He had to grip his right hand tightly with his left, but the trembling wouldn't stop. Qin Liuliu had a penetrating wound; the gourd hanging around his neck had been shattered by the arrow. Tang Feng clearly remembered buying the gourd from the shopkeeper in Shanghan after he heard him say, "With this gourd, fortune, prosperity, longevity, and happiness will all come." Now, the gourd was broken, and Qin Liuliu was gone. Yang Fei was busy dispersing the crowd, while Zhang Mobai stepped forward, knelt down, and patted Tang Feng's shoulder, choking back tears, saying, "Little brother... why don't you go back first? Yang Fei and I are here." Tang Feng seemed not to hear, kneeling motionless beside Qin Liuliu. "Mobai... I should have died. I should have been the one to die." Tang Feng looked at Zhang Mobai, his eyes revealing a despair Zhang Mobai had never seen before. A tear slid down Tang Feng's cheek. Zhang Mobai looked at Tang Feng with heartache. With lifeless eyes, he knelt there dejectedly, holding Qin Liuliu's stiff hand. Tang Feng suddenly felt something icy cold land on his forehead. He slowly looked up and saw that it was snowing in Xiling City. Goose feather snowflakes swirled in the sky through the lamplight before finally settling on the ground. Seeing that the snow was falling heavier and heavier, Zhang Mobai forcibly pulled Tang Feng up and said sternly, "Little brother, don't let Liuliu get cold outside. Let's take him home." Only when Tang Feng heard Qin Liuliu's name did he slowly raise his head. "Home?"

"Yes! Go home..."

Tang Feng couldn't remember how he got back, only that he stumbled and was helped back to the manor by Zhang Mobai. He spent the night in a daze. When Tang Feng opened his eyes again, Zhou Ziliang was already sitting by his bedside. "Xiao Feng... are you awake?" Tang Feng slowly sat up, gently hugged Zhou Ziliang, and rested his forehead against Zhou Ziliang's neck. Zhou Ziliang gently patted Tang Feng's back and said softly, "Xiao Feng, cry it out. Crying will make you feel better. Don't bottle it up, it'll make you sick." But Tang Feng didn't shed a single tear. Instead, he was even more awake than the night before. Tang Feng said in a hoarse voice, "Ziliang... I need to go to the mourning hall."

"Xiao Feng... It is currently the mourning period for the Princess, and no funeral hall can be set up in Xiling for burial within three months."