A life of ups and downs is pure joy

"Please take it, sir." Chu Xia stepped forward and respectfully presented the jade pendant. Ning Sijue took it the moment he saw the pendant. He looked at the pendant with a smile on his face, as if he had come back to life. It was obvious that this jade pendant was extremely important to him.

Lin Qinghuan looked at his joyful expression of regaining what he had lost, and smiled from the bottom of her heart unconsciously. How could she be so happy if it was not a beloved thing? Ning Sijue raised his head and saw Lin Qinghuan's faint smile. He was stunned for a moment. The faint smile of this fairy-like woman was like a clear spring, washing away the haze in his heart, like a wisp of spring breeze, blowing across his lost heart. The smile with dimples instantly warmed his dark first half of life.

"Who are you?" Ning Sijue asked as he watched Lin Qinghuan walk forward. The beauty was so frightened that she quickly took a few steps back.

"Sir, please stay. This is the young lady of the Xiao family." Yun Xiang hurriedly stopped her and said.

"Xiao Yi?" Ning Sijue looked at Lin Qinghuan and asked.

Yun Xiang looked back at Lin Qinghuan, then bowed and nodded in affirmation towards Ning Sijue.

Lin Qinghuan timidly looked at the man who looked at her like this without any scruples, then pulled Chu Xia and Yun Xiang and hurried in the opposite direction.

Back at the banquet, Lin Qinghuan sat next to Xiao Yi with lingering fear. The way the man looked at her just now was too abrupt. Even though he knew who she was, he was still so straightforward and unrestrained.

"What's wrong with you?" Xiao Yi noticed that something was wrong with Lin Qinghuan.

Lin Qinghuan was about to look up to speak when she saw the man who lost the jade pendant sitting right across from her and Xiao Yi. She quickly lowered her head and whispered that it was okay.

Xiao Yi poured a cup of tea for Lin Qinghuan, then looked at Ning Jinyang who was sitting in the seat of honor. He didn't notice that Ning Sijue opposite him was looking at Lin Qinghuan who was drinking tea with his head down. Everything has contrast. Originally, Lin Qinghuan was like a mouse seeing a cat when she saw Xiao Yi, but now that Ning Sijue looked at her like this, Lin Qinghuan suddenly felt that Xiao Yi gave her a full sense of security.

"Where are you going?" While Lin Qinghuan was thinking, she suddenly felt Xiao Yi standing up. She was nervous and asked hurriedly, pulling his sleeve.

"I... I'll stand up and offer a toast." Xiao Yi looked at Lin Qinghuan, who had completely ignored him, with a look of astonishment.

"Yeah." Lin Qinghuan awkwardly let go of Xiao Yi's sleeve and said in a low voice.

"Having such a lovely wife, Yi'er is really enviable." Ning Jinyang said jokingly.

After hearing this, Lin Qinghuan felt her face flush all the way to her neck. It was so embarrassing. She must have thought she was... clinging to her new husband like this.

Ning Junze noticed that something was wrong with Lin Qinghuan. From the moment she came in, she gave him a sad smile, and her expression was completely different from the sister in the Lin family.

"Old Four?" Ning Jinyang called out, but he saw Ning Junze staring at Lin Qinghuan who had his head lowered.

"Fourth brother." Ning Chengxian called softly from the side. He had always mistakenly thought that Ning Junze liked Lin Qinghuan, so at this moment he was looking at his beloved with infatuation.

"Second brother." Ning Junze came to his senses and found that Ning Jinyang was clinking glasses with him from a distance, so he stood up and returned the greeting.

Su Yuefei, who was sitting in the seat of honor, glanced at Lin Qinghuan, who had an indifferent expression, as if this banquet had nothing to do with her, and then smiled helplessly. This most beautiful woman in Kyoto had many admirers. She glanced at Prince Ning Jinyang again. If Lin Qinghuan was a few years older, the position of Crown Princess would probably be hers.

"Sixth brother, you have been away from home for many years and suffered for the peace between Dasheng and Dayan. Not only will the people of Dasheng thank you, but father will reward you. The brothers here will definitely make up for your absence over the years. If there is anything you like, just tell your brother, and I will do my best to satisfy you." Ning Jinyang said to his brother with true feelings.

"Thank you, second brother. I'm rather vulgar and don't have any other hobbies. I only like fine wine and beautiful women." Ning Sijue stood up and said.

"Sixth brother's love is everyone's love, hahaha." Ning Jinyang laughed and said. Everyone thought it was just a joke made by his younger brother, and then raised their glasses to clink glasses with this great hero. No one noticed that Ning Sijue smiled evilly at Lin Qinghuan who was fidgeting next to Xiao Yi.

During the banquet, Lin Qinghuan learned that the Sixth Prince was an extraordinary man with extremely high martial arts skills. What was even more surprising was that all his martial arts skills were forced upon him by the Sixth Prince of Dayan. The hardships he had endured were not something that ordinary people could endure, but this legitimate prince of extremely noble birth had to endure them. Suddenly, she felt pity for him.

Lin Qinghuan secretly glanced at Ning Sijue who was drinking with his head down, and found that his eyes were similar to Xiao Yisheng's. She was so panicked just now that she didn't see his appearance clearly. He did have a good appearance. But when Ning Sijue raised his head and met Lin Qinghuan's eyes for a moment, the little bit of pity in Lin Qinghuan's heart instantly turned into panic, and she quickly turned her head to look away.

After the welcoming banquet, Lin Qinghuan and Xiao Yi returned to the Xiao Mansion in silence, only to see Liu Ji and Liu Rong waiting for them in the front yard.

"Mother, why are you still not asleep so late?" Xiao Yi stepped forward and asked softly. Lin Qinghuan followed suit, bowed and greeted, then stood aside.

"I heard that you went to the East Palace. I couldn't sleep, so I waited for you to come back." Liu Ji glanced at Lin Qinghuan beside her, then walked up to her, took her hand and said softly.

"Then I'll take you back to the courtyard." Xiao Yi said, and then he instructed Yun Xiang, "Send the young lady..."

"No need, you can go back to the yard. Your aunt Liu Rong is here." Liu Ji said to the two of them while looking in the direction of Luoyi Pavilion. Luo Yun told Liu Ji that Xiao Yi had not set foot in Luoyi Pavilion for a year since their wedding night. Liu Ji was very anxious. It happened that the two of them finally returned home together today, so she waited for them here and took the opportunity to let her eldest son stay overnight in Luoyi Pavilion.

"Then mother should go to bed early." Xiao Yi naturally understood what Liu Ji meant, so he went to Luoyi Pavilion with Lin Qinghuan. Lin Qinghuan was frightened along the way and became uneasy and had difficulty walking. When he arrived at the door of Luoyi Pavilion, he felt a sense of despair.

The maids and servants of Luoyi Pavilion were delighted to see the eldest son arrive at the young lady's courtyard. Only Chuxia and Lixue felt anxious and helpless when they saw their daughters looking so uneasy. After helping the two wash up, Yunxiang and Luhua quickly pulled Chuxia and Lixue out of the room.

"The eldest master has finally come to see the lady, how can you two be so tactless?" Yun Xiang said to Chu Xia and Li Xue with a complaining look all the way.

"Yes, Madam treats you two so well. You should pray to the Bodhisattva on her behalf so that the eldest young master can come to Luoyi Pavilion every day." Lu Hua said.

"You two don't understand anything..." Before Li Xue could finish her words, Chu Xia slapped her on the back and scolded her.

"Shut up, you two sisters are doing this for the good of the Madam. You can't take advantage of the Madam's favor and act disrespectfully here."

Li Xue pouted and looked at Chu Xia unhappily, but saw Chu Xia shaking her head at her.

"Let's go, let's go. We are all doing this for the good of the Madam." Yun Xiang stepped forward and pulled Li Xue and Chu Xia to the small courtyard next door.

Xiao Yi stood up from the round table in the middle and walked towards the bed. Seeing this, Lin Qinghuan retreated back into the bed as if to escape. Then, she felt that she seemed a little inappropriate and could only look at Xiao Yi in confusion. Xiao Yi slowly leaned down and looked at Lin Qinghuan without saying a word. He suddenly found the beauty's terrified expression endearing and funny. Seeing Xiao Yi's face getting closer and closer, Lin Qinghuan was so scared that she quickly covered her eyes. Then, she felt something being pulled away from her body. She slowly opened her eyes and saw Xiao Yi holding a piece of white silk cloth in his hand. She was confused when she found such a thing on her bed.

Xiao Yi picked up a dagger and lightly cut his hand. Lin Qinghuan looked at Xiao Yi's bleeding hand and panicked. "Brother Xiao, what are you doing?" She kept thinking to herself, "Did I marry a masochist? He even cut himself with a knife in front of her."

Xiao Yi glanced at her, then smeared the blood from his palm onto the white silk cloth. The glaring blood-red color quickly spread, and Lin Qinghuan's face also turned red. She sat there, biting her lips and looking at Xiao Yi with innocent eyes, but a strange feeling arose in her heart.

Xiao Yi lay on the outside of the bed, then closed his eyes and said, "Just sleep peacefully. I won't do anything inappropriate to you."

Lin Qinghuan curled up on her side, her face flushed with shame. With mixed feelings in her heart, she closed her eyes and slowly fell asleep.

The maid who came in to serve the next day looked at the two people who got out of bed together, each with her own thoughts. Yun Xiang saw the red-dyed silk cloth and took it with a red face.

In Qingyin Pavilion, Liu Ji looked at the scarf in Luo Yun's hand with surprise, then covered her face with her hands and laughed.

"These two children are finally becoming more sensible."

"Eldest sister, you will soon have your grandson as you wish." Liu Rong said happily to Liu Ji.

"Huan'er has always been in poor health, and Yi'er is young and energetic now. I'm afraid that she can't handle it because of her young age. You must take good care of her carefully and attentively on weekdays, and give her supplements that are good for her body every day." Liu Ji spoke to Luo Yunjiao for a few more words and then let her go back to Luoyi Pavilion.

"You can rest assured now. I told you that the two of them will definitely fall in love with each other. They look so well-matched." Liu Rong said as she changed a cup of hot tea for Liu Ji.

Liu Ji nodded at her happily, and the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes almost flew out of her eyes due to laughing.

In Luoyi Pavilion, Lin Qinghuan dismissed everyone and left only Chuxia to massage her back, which was very painful from maintaining a stiff sleeping position all night.

Chuxia looked at Lin Qinghuan, seeming to want to say something but stopping herself.

"If you have something to say, just say it. Isn't it uncomfortable to keep it in?" Lin Qinghuan sensed Chu Xia's doubt and spoke first.

"Girl, did the eldest master force you? Did he bully you? Are you feeling uncomfortable or hurt?" Chu Xia asked with concern. She also saw the blood-stained handkerchief in the morning.

"Come here and I'll tell you." Lin Qinghuan called Chuxia and put her ear closer.

"Really? The eldest master...he treats you so...so considerately." Chu Xia said in surprise, then she became happy again and continued to massage Lin Qinghuan's sore shoulders and back happily.

"Maybe this way, no one will keep staring at us anymore." Lin Qinghuan also knew the purpose of Xiao Yi's actions. He would not have to come to Luoyi Pavilion reluctantly in the future. It would be quite embarrassing for two people who had no feelings for each other to face each other.

"Miss, tomorrow is the general's 50th birthday. Logically, the eldest master should accompany you back home..." Chu Xia looked at Lin Qinghuan and stammered.

"Are you worried about how I'm going to talk to him about this?" Lin Qinghuan felt very complicated.

"Miss, let Chuxia tell you." The little girl looked at Lin Qinghuan worriedly and said.

"I...I can go back by myself. He doesn't have to go with me, right?" Lin Qinghuan said tentatively.

"Miss, he is your son-in-law, and he must be with you, otherwise outsiders will talk about it." Chu Xia said.

"In that case, why don't you come with me to find him? It's not something shameful. Where does he live?" Lin Qinghuan thought for a while and said, if she accompanied him to the East Palace, he would naturally give her face.

"Miss, the eldest young master's residence is called Qingbo Courtyard, which is in the southwest of the mansion, just opposite to Luoyi Pavilion." Yun Xiang happily led Lin Qinghuan on the way and introduced the scenery of the Xiao Mansion to her along the way.

The maids and nannies along the way bowed their heads in greeting, and then whispered to each other about the new lady who never left the yard. The Xiao family had made an exception for Lin Qinghuan, exempting her from the daily morning and evening greetings to Liu Ji.

"Madam, it seems that the young lady is in front." Li Jiaxin and her personal maid Ruyi, who were carrying food boxes and wanted to go to Qingbo Courtyard to look for Xiao Yi, saw Lin Qinghuan crossing the villa.

"I have never met her before. My husband told me not to bother her. I will go up to her and pay my respects today." Michelle Reis was also very curious about this young lady.

"Young Madam, please stay." Lin Qinghuan vaguely heard someone calling her from behind. She stopped and looked back curiously, only to see a woman a few years older than her walking towards her with a maid carrying a food box.

"Madam Li." Yun Xiang bowed to Michelle Reis.

"Since you entered the mansion, I have always wanted to pay my respects to you, but my husband has told me that the young lady likes quietness, so Jiaxin was able to see the young lady only today. Please don't blame me for my late greetings." Li Jiaxin stepped forward and bowed deeply to Lin Qinghuan.

"I have never liked these empty formalities, and you don't have to do this in the future." Lin Qinghuan stepped forward to help Li Jiaxin up and said.

"Is the young lady going to look for her husband?" Li Jiaxin asked curiously when she saw that Lin Qinghuan was heading towards Qingbo Courtyard.

"Well, I'll go discuss things with him." Lin Qinghuan said casually.

"Even so, I'll bother you again later." Michelle Reis said awkwardly.

"Ah? Don't bother me. Just go find him. I'll tell him something." Lin Qinghuan saw the food box in the hand of the accompanying maid and knew that she was going to serve Xiao Yi, so she quickly said.

"Young Madam, I..." Michelle Reis hesitated and stammered awkwardly.

"Sister Li, let's go." Lin Qinghuan thought to herself that she had never wanted to mess up Xiao Yi's good fortune.