The people from the merchant's association didn't know that this "son-in-law living with his wife's family" was part of a couple who slept separately, so they made quite a racket after the banquet had ended.

The children of the bodyguards, in groups of threes and fives, chased each other and swarmed over, eager to make a commotion for the bridal chamber.

Tree shadows swayed, flowers bloomed for the first time...

The bodyguards, maids, and aunties followed the children, laughing as they moved like a night-raid army from the corridor to the courtyard door.

Song Cheng had drunk quite a bit today.

Because it was good, and because he usually couldn't afford to drink like this.

Thinking of marrying a rich and beautiful girl, and considering the hard work he'd have to put in at the merchant's association to make this place his home, he felt both happy and full of anticipation.

At that moment, the surging drunkenness dredged up the repressed pain and suffering from deep within his memories.

It had been quite a stumbling journey to get here, and it certainly hadn't been easy.

He hoped everything would get better from now on.

Everything would have to be changed by his own hands and his own mind.

Seeing that a crowd was about to surge into Miss An's courtyard, Song Cheng laughed heartily with the help of his drunkenness and then stretched out his arms to block both sides of the arched gate, almost as if he was the lone man holding the pass against ten thousand.

"Thank you all, let's call it a night," he said.

The aunties were not willing to give up and clamored, "The groom is getting anxious, he's anxious!"

The bodyguards laughed heartily.

The children shouted, "Make a fuss of the bridal chamber, make a fuss!"

While speaking, a mischievous boy suddenly seized the opportunity, crouched low, and quickly ran in front of Song Cheng, attempting to slip under his arm.

But how could he succeed?

Song Cheng grabbed the boy's back with one hand, applying a clever force, and with a light toss, sent the child back into the crowd.

The crowd was stunned, and a woman in particular looked worriedly at the boy.

In just a moment, the boy landed on the ground, also stunned, but then excitedly said, "I'm fine!"

Then, with eyes shining, he charged towards Song Cheng again, shouting, "Fun! Do it again!"

The woman let out a sigh of relief, just about to stop him, but then saw her son being thrown out again—looking utterly joyful—and so she let it be.

Seeing that it was indeed harmless fun, the other children also found it enjoyable and started charging at Song Cheng one after the other.

Song Cheng opened his arms wide, like an "eagle catching chicks," catching and tossing each one as they came.

He would throw one away, and another would immediately rush at him.

The children suddenly realized that this was the funniest part of the evening.

After Song Cheng had been tossing kids around for the duration of an incense stick burning, Ying came out of the courtyard and said, "That's enough fun for today, everyone should head back and rest. The city still has its dangers; we must not be negligent."

Ying's face was stern, and her martial prowess was high. She even had the nickname "Willow Leaf Blade" in the Martial Arts World, and because she was close to Miss An, she usually commanded respect. So when she spoke, everyone scattered with chuckles.

In Shanghe County, under the cover of clouds, they managed to find a bit of joy amid the hardships.

Ying looked at Song Cheng and said, "I didn't expect the new son-in-law to be so childlike."

Song Cheng, still basking in the joy of marriage, had a smile lingering on his face.

"I'm drunk, I'm drunk," he said, then headed off to the side house.

Although he had told Madam Tong the previous day that he wouldn't sleep with her tonight, he was still her husband in name. Now that everyone had left, there was no need for him to squeeze into the main house and share a bed with Miss An.

Watching his retreating figure, Ying's pretty face showed a hint of complexity, and she suddenly bit her lip, then coughed softly.

Song Cheng stopped and turned back, "Ying, caught a cold? Later, ask Madam Tong to prescribe you some medicine."

Ying pointed to the main house and said coldly, "Go in there."

Song Cheng thought for a moment, then nodded, "All right, as the son-in-law here, I'll follow your arrangements."

Ying hesitated to speak and pursed her lips.

The ritual had to be completed.

Song Cheng approached the entrance of the main house and knocked gently. Upon hearing an "Enter" from inside, he went in and saw An Chenyu sitting on the bed, exquisitely beautiful.

Her skin was like ice and jade, her features as delicate as a bloom, and the cold and aloof air she usually had seemed to have melted away, like a perpetually frozen peak that had at last welcomed the spring day.

The candlelight flickered with the opening of the door, setting in motion the lithe and mature body wrapped in a bridal gown, twisting and changing continuously in the firelight.

Upon her snowy skin flowed the candle's crimson glow, as if liquid fire was quietly trickling over her.

Her neck, cheeks, arms, and small feet all seemed thus adorned.

Women are made of water.

In this regard, Song Cheng had felt it to some extent with Madam Tong, but...the woman before him truly embodied this saying even more.

Being a normal, healthy man, although they had agreed to be husband and wife in name only, the woman before him was just too feminine, and he felt his mouth go dry, his breath quickening.

An Chenyu quietly watched him, then suddenly stood up and said, "Song, get on the bed, and sleep on the inside."

Song Cheng's breathing hastened as he sat down and moved over.

An Chenyu got up and gently blew out the candle.

With the candle extinguished, the room became pitch black, the window as if pasted with special wax paper, blocking all light from outside, so much so that one couldn't see their own hand before them.

And in this darkness, the sound of the door creaking suddenly reached his ears.

Song Cheng's heart pounded as he burrowed into the bridal bedding.

He had drunk too much, his thoughts starting to drift.

When the door closed again, he felt a body soft and aromatic like flowers, slick as a fish, suddenly slide in next to him, and the gentle warmth of spring waters instantly engulfed him.

...

...

After a long while...

Song Cheng comfortably closed his eyes.

He felt the woman in the bedding slowly move away.

He didn't mind, letting sleepiness, drunkenness, and a sense of relaxation carry him into slumber.

The one who had come was, of course, not Miss An, but... Ying.

The two had similar body types and heights, which made it hard to distinguish between them in the dark of night, but then, who could see through data and had once pretended to be blind?

This was an additional compensation from Miss An, adding a slight bond to their "nominal marriage" while also solidifying the reality of his role as "husband."

...

...

The next day, early in the morning...

An old maid came to clean up the "battlefield of the wedding night," and she paused upon seeing the bloodstained sheet.

She had been sent by the lady of the house to take care of Miss An and, of course...to observe as well.

Seeing real blood on the sheet, the old maid was indeed stunned for a moment, a shadow passing over her face, and then she silently collected the sheets and left.

Song Cheng had changed into a new robe, full of energy, practicing sword techniques in the courtyard with Madam Tong.

Not far away, Ying walked past with an icy expression, as if pretending nothing had happened the previous night.

Song Cheng looked at Ying, a softness rising in his heart, and said, "Good morning, Miss Ying."

"Good morning, son-in-law," Ying's tone was even.

Song Cheng said, "You practice 'Willow Brushing Force,' don't you?"

"Yes."

"Let me teach you," Song Cheng said with a smile, feeling a tenderness for Ying.

Ying's face was stern as she replied, "I'm almost at Perfection. There's no need to teach me."

"It's not 'Willow Brushing Force.' I will teach you something else," Song Cheng pondered and added, "It's based on 'Willow Brushing Force,' but it's a more complete power."

Ying looked surprised.

Meanwhile, Ling stepped out, still dressed in her pink short dress, and said with a smile, "Yingying, the son-in-law dotes on you. Last night, did you think he didn't know it was you? Hee hee hee..."

Ying's icy face flushed red with embarrassment as if on fire, and she sharply rebuked, "Don't talk nonsense, it's not good if outsiders hear!"

After speaking, she walked away stiffly, quickly circling the courtyard and heading towards the door; it was only after she was outside that her suppressed heartbeat began to race wildly. Suddenly, she quickened her pace and bolted, dashing towards the dining hall.

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