When my vicious stepmother mistakenly married me to the Immortal Lord

At this time, the Jiang family's carriage stopped at the palace gate. Jiang Buli got off the carriage and walked towards the Xie family couple. "Brother Guangting, I have something to tell you."

Xie Guangting looked at him coldly, "Lord Jiang, I don't seem to have anything to say to you."

Jiang Buli seemed oblivious to the coldness in his words. "Brother Guangting, after all, you and I are relatives. Even if there were any misunderstandings before, our relationship shouldn't be severed because of them, right?"

Xie Guangting's face became even gloomier as he thought about the cold reception his son received when he went to visit the Jiang family.

"Lord Jiang, you are wrong. Ever since you married your concubine's daughter to the Xie family, our two families have been at odds. In-laws? Humph, that word sounds really ironic now."

"However, the concubine daughter you have discarded like a piece of trash is cherished by my Xie family. Now that the child has drawn a clear line between herself and your Jiang family, please do not address her as a relative in the future to avoid embarrassment."

Jiang Buli's face turned pale and blue. He suppressed his anger and put on a smile. "No matter what, I am still the biological father of that girl. Brother Guangting, what you said is..."

"Yu'er, you're finally out!"

Xie Changyu walked out of the palace gate at the right time and interrupted Jiang Buli's words. He bowed to his parents and his eyes swept lightly over Jiang Buli without stopping.

"Father, Mother, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

Seeing that his son was fine, Chu Jinghong felt relieved and said with a smile, "That's good. Let's go back home now."

Xie Guangting nodded slightly to Jiang Buli as a greeting, then helped Chu Jinghong into the carriage.

Xie Changyu also got on the carriage, and it slowly drove away from the palace gate, leaving Jiang Buli alone there with a gloomy look on his face.

"Yu'er, did the Empress Dowager make things difficult for you?" Chu Jinghong asked with concern in the carriage, his eyes gently falling on Xie Changyu.

Xie Changyu smiled softly, "Don't worry, mother. The Queen Mother only asked for some details about the birthday gift. There's nothing else."

Chu Jinghong shook his head. "I'm glad you're okay. What happened today was truly thrilling. Fortunately, you and Song'er were well prepared, so we were able to escape danger."

"Why didn't you tell me in advance? I was so worried."

Xie Changyu was slightly startled, then explained, "Mother, this matter is of great importance. We didn't tell you in advance because we were afraid that the news would leak out."

"Sister-in-law is very thoughtful and has long noticed that something is wrong with the Shen family, so we decided to make preparations in secret just in case."

Chu Jinghong's eyes flashed with admiration, "Song'er is a very smart, brave and resourceful child. Our Xie family is so lucky to have her as a wife."

Xie Guangting also echoed, "Yes, Song'er is not only talented, but even more rare is her composure and wit. If she hadn't predicted today, it would probably be our Xie family that was raided."

Xie Changyu nodded, "Sister-in-law is indeed a wonderful person. Last time she helped our family win the title of Imperial Merchant, and this time she helped our Xie family avoid a disaster. She can truly be said to be our Xie family's lucky star."

"Yu'er, I wanted to remind you earlier that Song'er is your sister-in-law after all. If you're only getting close to her for family matters, that's fine, but don't have any other inappropriate thoughts..."

A blush crossed Xie Changyu's face, and his heartbeat accelerated involuntarily. He quickly lowered his head, fearing that his parents would notice something was wrong. "Mother, you're overthinking it. I just admire my sister-in-law's talent and wisdom. I have no other thoughts."

"Of course I believe you. But you young people should always be tactful when interacting with each other. Don't let outsiders spread any gossip. It won't be good for you, Song'er, or our Xie family."

"Even if your brother is gone in the future, we will still treat your sister-in-law as our daughter. Yu'er, you still have to keep a proper distance from her and treat her as a sibling. Do you understand?" Chu Jinghong said earnestly.

"Jinghong..." Xie Guangting called his wife, his eyes filled with tenderness and helplessness, "Why bother saying all this? Yu'er knows her limits."

"Father, Mother, I understand." Xie Changyu nodded seriously, but he felt mixed emotions.

From now on, as long as he can see Jiang Song, he will try his best to restrain himself, just to protect her and let her live a safe and comfortable life in the Xie family.

*

On the Queen Mother's birthday, the curfew was lifted throughout the capital, and the city was brightly lit, looking prosperous.

Jiang Song finally persuaded Xie Changyan to come out and walk with her in the dimly lit capital city at night.

The two walked side by side in the bustling crowd. Occasionally, fireworks bloomed in the night sky, colorful and reflected on their faces, adding a bit of warmth and romance.

Jiang Song was wearing a simple and elegant light blue dress with a white jade hairpin simply inserted in her bun. Although there were not too many decorations, she had a pure and elegant temperament.

Xie Changyan was dressed in a white brocade robe with a jade belt around his waist. He looked stunningly beautiful, and often attracted passing women to stop, look back, and whisper to each other.

Jiang Song was embarrassed by being disturbed by passers-by, and hurriedly took out a cloak from his storage bag and put it tightly on Xie Changyan.

"It seems my husband is right. I shouldn't have brought you out. You look too conspicuous. You've caused me to be watched by others."

Xie Changyan smiled softly and held Jiang Song's hand as she adjusted his cloak. "Madam, you are wrong. I am only borrowing your light to make this night a little brighter."

Jiang Song was amused by him, with stars twinkling in his eyes, "You, you only know how to say these sweet words to make me happy."

"These are not sweet words, but my sincere words."

The two continued walking, passing through the bustling streets and coming to a quiet alley.

This place is far away from the hustle and bustle, with only occasional laughter and the sound of fireworks exploding in the distance. The brilliant lights flicker at the entrance of the alley, adding a touch of dreaminess to this quiet place.

"Husband, have you released the river lanterns?"

Jiang Song suddenly stopped and looked at the slowly flowing river not far away. The river was dotted with stars and many river lanterns floating on the surface, carrying people's wishes.

Xie Changyan shook his head. "I never let him go. Madam, do you want to let him go?"

Jiang Song nodded gently. "When I was little, every Ghost Festival, my mother and I would release river lanterns together and pray for the safety of our family. After I married into the Jiang family, I never had the chance to do that again."

Xie Changyan held her hand lovingly, "Then let's light one today, to make up for Madam's childhood regret."

As he spoke, he pulled Jiang Song into a stall selling river lanterns and carefully selected a river lantern with a lotus pattern painted on it.

Holding river lanterns, the two men walked slowly along the stone steps to the riverside.

The night is gentle, the moonlight is like water, and the river surface is sparkling, reflecting the lights on both sides of the river and the stars in the sky. It is as beautiful as a moving painting.

Jiang Song took the pen from Xie Changyan and wrote her wish on the river lantern: "May my husband be healthy and safe every year."

Xie Changyan smiled slightly and picked up the pen to write on another river lantern: "May Song'er get what he wants and always smile." After writing, he gently blew dry the ink and looked at Jiang Song tenderly.

The two smiled at each other, then carefully placed the river lanterns into the water.

The river lanterns swayed gently with the flow of water, slowly drifting forward and blending into the bright lights, as if carrying their wishes and drifting away into the distance.