General, you should rest now; the lady is even more ruthless.

After Shen Luo finished the wedding ceremony, he was pushed around to offer toasts to everyone, making empty promises to his colleagues and being teased by familiar soldiers.

Everyone was both excited and enthusiastic.

Shen Luo was a little confused. It was his wedding, so why did everyone seem happier than him?

During a break from toasting, Nineteen came over to report: "I've checked the dowry, Master. The items inside are all small trinkets, nothing suspicious. But there was a person in the last box."

"Ok?"

“An injured woman was hidden in a trunk and brought in along with the trunks containing the dowry.”

Shen Luo narrowed his eyes: "Keep an eye on what she's planning to do, and make sure she doesn't get near the study."

Nineteen replied, "Yes, Master."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Fifteen minutes later, Jiang Qiqi patted the villainous debris stuck to her hands.

Well, it's not as good as modern egg tarts, cookies, or small cakes, but it's passable.

The plum blossom cake was delicious, but it was still slightly inferior to the osmanthus cake next door. The chestnut cake was too sweet and cloying; she had to pinch her nose to swallow the last piece.

The noise outside was still deafening. Jiang Qiqi sat in front of an empty plate, propping her chin up and looking out through the half-open window.

The rain had long since stopped, and the damp air was filled with the fragrance of flowers. The sun was about to finish its task and was doing its final work, with only a few rays of sunset remaining in the sky.

Sigh, I wonder if things are going well with Xiang'er.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Xiang'er inquired along the way and finally found the dowry that had accompanied her in the storeroom in the backyard.

She knocked on each box, asking, "Lin'er, are you here? Are you here? Here? Here? Here?"

Good heavens, there's no sound. Could he be dead?

When they finally knocked on the last box, a faint sound came from inside.

Xiang'er quickly opened the box and took the person out: "Thank God you're alright."

She can now explain things to the young lady.

one day ago.

"Xiang'er, Zheng Lin'er will be hidden in the dowry chest. After it gets dark, find an excuse to go and check the dowry to bring her out."

"Miss, I... I've never done anything like this before. I'm scared."

"Don't be afraid, Xiang'er. I know you're a smart girl, you can definitely do it! Even if you get caught, it doesn't matter, I'm here for you."

"If things go well, after it's all over, go to the window of the bridal chamber and imitate the hooting of an owl twice."

"You actually trust me so much, Miss!" Xiang'er's eyes welled up with tears. "Yes, Miss! I will definitely do it!"

The servants' quarters in the general's mansion were arranged in pairs. Xiang'er settled the servants in her own room and then went to report to her mistress.

Xiang'er arrived at the window of the main room as agreed.

But, how does an owl hoot?

Xiang'er, Miss said you are a clever girl, you must be able to figure it out, believe in yourself!

It got completely dark.

One by one, candles were lit in the room, and the noise in the front yard became much quieter.

Jiang Qiqi found it uncomfortable to sit on the stool, but the bed was covered with peanuts, red dates, and almonds, so she couldn't lie down. She could only lean against the bedside and count the beads dangling from her phoenix crown.

Just then, a rustling sound came from outside.

She perked up.

The sound paused for a moment, then a soft voice came from the window: "Owl, owl."

Jiang Qiqi: ?

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The wedding feast in the front yard was still going on.

Shen Luo was surrounded in the middle, and the deputy generals, who were used to being trained a lot, were determined to drink their general under the table.

As Twelve's personal bodyguard, many who couldn't get a turn would come to him, drinking until he was completely drunk. When he saw that no one was paying attention, he quickly crawled under the table to hide from the alcohol.

"Nineteen? What are you doing here?" The two people under the table stared at each other.

"Shh, you don't want to get dragged out for drinking, do you?"

"You little brat, you skipped the drinks without telling me. Are you even a good brother anymore?"

By this time, people outside were already looking for them: "Where are Twelve and Nineteen? Those two kids must be hiding. Brothers, look for them."

A group of people started to churn.

The big and small eyes under the table: "..."

Nineteen gave Twelve a deep look, and the latter immediately felt a chill run down his spine: "Nineteen, you dare... Ah!"

Twelve was kicked out from under the table.

"The Twelve Generals are here."

"Your subordinates, the Twelve Generals, offer you a toast."

Just as the atmosphere in the courtyard was reaching its peak, a carriage stopped at the gate, and a person dressed as the chief eunuch of the palace stepped down: "Imperial edict has arrived."

The group, who had been fooling around, stopped instantly and knelt down in unison.

Shen Luo went to the front, sat in his wheelchair, and bowed, saying, "Your subject, Shen Luo, receives the imperial decree."

"By imperial decree, I am delighted with General Shen's new marriage. I hereby bestow upon him a thousand taels of gold, a hundred bolts of silk, a pair of jade locks symbolizing love, two glass vases, a pair of auspicious flowers and a full moon, a pair of auspicious couples, a luminous pearl, and two corals from the Western Sea..."

As the eunuchs read out the names one by one, the ministers attending the wedding banquet exclaimed in admiration, "The Emperor is so good to the general!"

Shen Luo remained with his hands clasped and eyebrows lowered throughout, seemingly listening attentively.

"General, His Majesty's message has been conveyed, and I also wish you a happy marriage."

Shen Luo smiled and said, "Thank you, sir."

"Then we'll head back now, without disturbing the general's wedding night." Zhou Gonggong spoke the last few words very slowly, with a hint of teasing and sarcasm.

Shen Luo's expression remained unchanged, but her ears turned red: "Please take care, Father-in-law."

Zhou Gonggong left with a smile, and the crowd surrounded Shen Luo again, clamoring to continue drinking.

Outside the door, Nineteen called out to the eunuch who was about to leave: "Eunuch Zhou, please wait."

"So this is the nineteenth steward of the General's Mansion. What brings you here?"

“My father-in-law went through a lot of trouble, but he didn’t even get a cup of wedding wine. The general specifically asked me to prepare some wedding candy for him.”

Nineteen then slipped a few small pieces wrapped in oil paper into Zhou Gonggong's hand.

When Eunuch Zhou pinched the soft nail, he immediately beamed with joy: "General, you are so kind. I thank you for letting us servants share in your happiness."

"Of course, it's not easy for my father-in-law to work."

……

After several rounds of drinks, the guests finally let Shen Luo leave, though they didn't forget to tease him before he went. Even after Shen Luo's wheelchair had gone quite a distance, they could still hear people calling after him:

"General, a moment of blissful night is worth a thousand pieces of gold!"

Those people didn't hold back at all, and they really made Shen Luo drink a lot of alcohol. Even though he usually has a high alcohol tolerance, he was feeling a little dizzy now.

A fleeting moment of spring night, ah.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

This wedding was so boring. I was tired, hungry, and now I'm starting to feel sleepy. It's true that being too idle isn't good either.

Just as Jiang Qiqi was getting so bored that she was about to start counting the floor tiles, there was finally some noise outside the door.

"You all go down."

"Yes, General."

Jiang Qiqi instantly perked up; she was about to meet the legendary war god general.

Xiang'er had previously found her many storybooks, most of which featured male protagonists based on this young general—of course, the young general before he became disabled.

The book describes him as having an astonishingly handsome appearance, unparalleled in the world, causing a sensation whenever he went out; in daily life, he was elegant, humble, and courteous, treating even ordinary people with gentleness and courtesy; on the battlefield, he was decisive and ruthless, a master strategist who could easily thwart any conspiracy or trickery the Northern Ming Dynasty devised...

In short, he was the God of War of the Southern Yue Kingdom, the idol of all young men, the dream lover of all women, and even the princes were less popular among the common people.

Those storybooks portrayed him as unparalleled in the world, and she wanted to see for herself what kind of person this General Who Protects the Nation really was.

Just then, the door creaked open.