That night, the moon was dark, the wind fierce, and the silence absolute.
Xin Mei lit an oil lamp and solemnly unfolded the small cloth bundle Xin Xiong had given her. With utmost enthusiasm and reverence, she prepared to diligently study the secret techniques of marital relations.
Inside the bundle were four worn-out books. The first one had bold characters on its cover: [Must-read treasure book for newly married women who are tossed about by the red waves]. Flipping through it casually, she found densely packed tiny characters that were exhausting to read. After a few pages, she tossed it aside.
The second book—[Husband-Controlling Technique]—was similarly filled with cramped small text.
The third—[A Twenty-Year History of Exclusive Favor in the Harem: Empress Xianghui's Personally Illustrated Twenty-Four Styles of Lovemaking]—had fewer words and more pictures. Within just a couple of pages, there was an extremely crude illustration, barely discernible as a man and a woman. As for what exactly they were doing… Xin Mei guessed they might be fighting.
The fourth book was the thickest, with a pale red hardcover sprinkled with faint gold dust and neatly tied with a red silk ribbon. Though aged, it exuded a warm yet not lewd, fresh yet not cold fragrance—clearly a valuable item, entirely different from the previous three.
Untying the red silk, she found an ancient inscription inside: [Collection of Orchid Musk and Delicate Stamens—Gongzi Qi].
Flipping further, her eyes fell upon a painting. A beautiful woman leaned against a window, her fair wrist extended gracefully, her gaze brimming with tender affection as she loosened half of her sash. Beside the painting was a poem inscribed by the legendary poet Ji Yue from centuries past: How might we meet? Extinguish the candle and untie the silken robe.
The artistry was exquisitely delicate. The woman’s eyes shimmered, her demeanor serene yet irresistibly alluring, as if she might step right off the page. The calligraphy beside the painting was elegant and refined, rivaling any master of the craft.
Xin Mei stared at it for a long time before hesitantly turning to the next page. The second painting depicted the same beauty, now embraced by a man, her lips parting slightly in response.
The third painting—her robe half-slipped, revealing jade-like skin.
The fourth…
The oil lamp flickered as a slender night breeze slipped through the window cracks. Xin Mei silently finished the last painting, silently closed the book, silently washed up, blew out the lamp, and climbed into bed, pulling the covers over herself.
After a long while, a muffled, frustrated groan escaped from beneath the blankets.
…Had she—had she—done anything unspeakable to Lu Qianqiao before? Surely not, right? Right?!
She rolled back and forth under the covers, wishing she could shrink into a tiny cotton ball and disappear forever.
Mid-roll, she suddenly heard a soft knock at the window. Xin Mei peeked out from under the blankets and cautiously asked, “Who’s there?”
A letter slipped through the window crack and fluttered to the floor. Xin Mei jumped out of bed, hurriedly pushed open the window, and saw a familiar little Demon floating in midair. It bowed respectfully to her before flying away.
This little Demon… seemed to be from the Imperial Mausoleum?
Xin Mei picked up the letter and tore it open. Inside was a single line of bold, forceful handwriting: Meet at the Sinister Clan on the fifteenth of August.
Signed with a single character: Qiao.
…Lu Qianqiao was coming on the fifteenth of August?!
The letter slipped from her fingers and fluttered back to the floor. Xin Mei clutched her head in panic.
She didn’t want to see him!
No, that wasn’t it…
She didn’t want to see him so soon!
That wasn’t it either…She... she, she really needs some mental preparation right now! Absolutely, utterly, completely—needs mental preparation, ahhh!
Xin Mei suddenly turned around, staring at the books on the table, then dashed over in a fluster to grab them, looking around frantically for a safe place to hide them. There was no way she could let him see these! No way at all!
Under the bed—no! Too common a hiding spot, he’d definitely find them!
In the wardrobe—no! What if they accidentally fell out while she was changing clothes?
Then her eyes landed on the dusty jewelry box on the dressing table, and she brightened immediately. She dumped out all the long-unused jewelry inside, stuffed the books in, then covered them with the jewelry before closing the lid... Perfect.
Relieved, Xin Mei shut the window and went back to bed, chanting "I saw nothing" a thousand times in her head before finally drifting off into restless sleep.
A night of spring dreams.
August 15th, the full moon, the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Having learned early that his son-in-law would be visiting, Xin Xiong was so overjoyed he could barely keep his jaw from dropping. He had prepared thousands of mooncakes in all sorts of flavors, from round to square to irregular shapes, piled up into a small mountain.
"Xiao Mei, does your husband prefer sweet or savory?"
The old man was constantly worried that he hadn’t prepared enough mooncakes, that there wouldn’t be any his son-in-law liked, and was running himself ragged with anxiety.
"Dad, he’s your son-in-law. It’s his job to please you, so why are you so worried?"
"You brat!" Xin Xiong burst into tears. "You’ve already offended him, and he sent you back to your parents to reflect! Do you want him to write you a letter of divorce on Mid-Autumn Festival?!"
"...I think divorce letters and mooncakes are two entirely different matters..."
"Ah, right! And the dishes for the banquet! Xiao Mei, does your husband prefer meat or vegetables?"
"Dad, how on earth did Mom put up with you for so many years?"
"It must be meat, right? He’s a general, always fighting battles—he must love meat!"
Xin Xiong scribbled down a full page of menu items and handed it to his second disciple outside, solemnly instructing, "And bring out the twenty-year-old vintage from the cellar to mix with the new wine! Be careful! Tonight’s guest is a VIP!"
Her father had gone mad again.
Xin Mei shook her head and stepped outside for some fresh air, only to see her eldest senior brother sprinting from the main gate, shouting in alarm, "He’s here! The general has arrived with a whole entourage!"
The Sinister Clan instantly descended into chaos. Xin Mei was swept up in the crowd, dizzy and disoriented, and dragged to the main gate just in time to see Lu Qianqiao dismount from Qiu Yue. Behind him were dozens of people—no, dozens of demons, all disguised as ordinary humans, standing respectfully in formation. Each led a spirit beast, some carrying chests, others bearing ornate boxes, a dazzling sight.
Lu Qianqiao looked... well, unusually different today, as if he’d deliberately dressed up. His usual pale blue robes had been replaced with a snow-white outer garment, his long hair meticulously tied back. Only his eyes were covered with a black cloth, yet it didn’t make him seem disheveled at all—instead, it added a touch of mystery to his already striking appearance.
Was he afraid his red eyes would scare her father?
He was seriously underestimating her father’s tolerance. Even if he had eight arms, her dad would probably be overjoyed, calling it a divine gift.Xin Xiong trembled as he stepped forward, still unsure of what to say first, when Lu Qianqiao strode up steadily, bowed deeply, and spoke in a composed voice: "This humble one, Lu Qianqiao, greets Master Xin."
Xin Xiong's tears fell instantly.
He... he called him "Master Xin," not "father-in-law."
He turned his head resentfully to glare at Xin Mei: Look! What a fine son-in-law! How could you have angered him so much that he won’t even call me father-in-law?!
Xin Mei averted her gaze, pretending not to notice. Out of the corner of her eye, she felt someone watching her. She subtly shifted her gaze and immediately met Lu Qianqiao’s face. Though his eyes were covered by black cloth, it seemed he could still see. He was facing her, the corners of his lips slightly upturned in a smile.
I’m here. His expression seemed to say.
Xin Mei’s neck burned with warmth. She coughed softly and lowered her head but couldn’t bring herself to step forward and take his hand as she used to, nor could she find the words to say. After hesitating for a long while, she shook her head and turned away.
She still needed a little more mental preparation...
The arrival of the little demon star’s husband at the Sinister Clan was like water splashed into hot oil—nearly everyone in the manor crowded outside the main hall, peeking through cracks in the doors and windows.
The eldest senior brother, seeing Lu Qianqiao’s dignified bearing despite the black cloth over his eyes, was both envious and jealous: "My future wife would never choose such a pretty boy!"
The second senior brother smirked with a wicked charm: "Average at best. Still falls short of me."
Xin Mei sat beneath the window, hugging her knees, too lost in thought to speak, pondering how to steel herself.
Inside the main hall, Lu Qianqiao suddenly spoke: "Master Xin, today this humble one brings betrothal gifts. I hope you will accept them graciously."
A flurry of Demons outside the door carried in chests, boxes, and trays—silver, antiques, calligraphy, paintings, and fine silks—an exceedingly standard and lavish array of betrothal gifts.
Xin Xiong’s tears turned to laughter in an instant, and he stammered: "S-son-in-law, there’s no need for such courtesy... We... we’re already family! It’s just that my daughter is so unruly, causing you... causing you trouble... I hope you won’t hold it against her."
Lu Qianqiao smiled. "This humble one wishes to take Miss Xin as my wife, to have and to hold for life, forsaking all others. May Master Xin grant this request?"
Xin Xiong nodded vigorously. "Granted! Absolutely granted!"
...But it was strange. He was already the son-in-law—what more was there to grant?
Lu Qianqiao stood and bowed deeply once more, this time finally changing his address: "Qianqiao thanks his father-in-law."
That night, Xin Xiong was in such high spirits that he accidentally drank himself into a stupor and had to be carried back to his room. Xin Mei had no choice but to personally escort Lu Qianqiao to the guest quarters.
A full moon hung overhead, casting a bright, crystalline light everywhere. The familiar corridor she had walked countless times felt inexplicably long tonight. The cool breeze brushed against her face, and Xin Mei touched her cheeks. Afraid of mishaps, she had only drunk two small cups of wine today, yet her body burned, her skin feverish.
"Xin Mei."
Lu Qianqiao called her name softly from behind and stopped walking.
Startled, she turned around and realized he had removed the black cloth covering his eyes. Once again, those crimson, luminous eyes stared back at her—truly eerie in the night. She hurriedly glanced around, rushed over, and covered them with her hands: "Be careful! Someone might see!"
He grasped her wrist and lowered it, asking, "You don’t like them?"
"Wasn’t it you who didn’t want to be discovered?" She pouted. "You think too little of my father!"He shook his head: "Not about that. I came to propose marriage... You don’t like it?"
"Of course I like it!" She giggled. "Lu Qianqiao, I like it very much! And wow, you’re so rich! I thought you were a penniless general!"
He smiled too, pulling her into his arms. "How could a general be penniless?"
...He was holding her! Mental preparation, mental preparation!
Xin Mei’s mind instantly flashed with the illustrations from the Collection of Orchid Musk and Delicate Stamens , and her entire body stiffened like a rock. She looked up with a forced grin. Her mental preparation—she had to get ready now!
"What’s wrong?" Lu Qianqiao noticed her odd behavior and frowned.
Xin Mei hesitated, then carefully spoke: "Um, Lu Qianqiao... Actually, I’m quite reserved, elegant, and virtuous. Don’t you think so?"
"......"
He stayed silent. Truly, silence was golden at times like this.
"Just say yes!" She hopped in agitation.
Still silent, his hand resting on his chin as if holding back laughter, refusing to answer.
"Humph! I’m going back to my room!"
Her cheeks puffed in anger as she turned to leave.
He swiftly grabbed her wrist. The moment their skin touched, she flinched as if burned and yanked her hand away.
...Uh-oh.
Not daring to look back at his expression, Xin Mei shouted, "Time to sleep!"
With that, she bolted. But before she could run far, she heard his steady footsteps catching up. Panicking, she leaped and, in her haste, punched a hole through the corridor wall, scrambling inside to keep running.
The usually tranquil night at the Sinister Clan was anything but peaceful that evening, filled with intermittent crashes and splintering sounds. Everyone tactfully pretended not to hear—absence makes the heart grow fonder, after all. They all understood.
After smashing through four walls in a row, Xin Mei finally tripped over a tree root, stumbling forward and smacking face-first into a tree.
The next moment, her wrist was pinned. Lu Qianqiao pressed close—but why?! Why from behind?! Her face was hurting against the tree!
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