"Good child, you've finally come to your senses!" Gongsun Jing was in high spirits.
No matter what, her disciple was Liang Xiao's first woman!
"Xiao Qinyan, from now on you must treat your husband well. When you have children, your parents will also be gratified. And make sure I get to hold them..."
Listening to Gongsun Jing's "earnest teachings," Jian Qinyan quickly covered herself with the quilt, too embarrassed to be seen.
Even though nothing had happened between them, she had shared a bed with Liang Xiao, and they had even gone through the ceremony!
Even Liang Xiao blushed.
Gongsun Jing and Qin Jiu finally remembered Liang Xiao, who had been left to one side, and reassessed him.
Seeing that Liang Xiao only had slight dark circles under his eyes, the master and servant were surprised. "Did you two... have a rough night?"
"Mhm, yes..." Liang Xiao nodded.
Gongsun Jing said with a serious face, "It's good for young people to have abundant energy, but you must also exercise restraint. We've prepared medicinal meals for you, so you should replenish your bodies. You must have many children and grandchildren. You can split the children's surnames equally between Liang and Jian, or if not, then seventy-thirty!"
"Oh, okay." Liang Xiao nodded again.
Seventy-thirty? That would mean having ten children!
Jian Qinyan, hidden in her quilt, wished she could disappear into a crack in the ground with her bedding, escaping this world. She dared not make a sound.
Gongsun Jing seemed to have become twenty years younger overnight. She looked with satisfaction at Jian Qinyan, all bundled up on the bed, and then at Liang Xiao.
"Since you are now my son-in-law, we can go and see the Sunset Bow later, as well as the famous sword 'Ephemera' left by Xiao Qinyan's father on Mount Tianqin."
Gongsun Jing and Qin Jiu exchanged a few more simple words and stopped teasing Liang Xiao and Jian Qinyan, leaving the room.
Liang Xiao sat by the bed and said softly, "Bodhisattva."
"What is it..." Jian Qinyan's response was clearly trembling.
"No matter how much you forget tomorrow, you are forbidden to forget that you are Liang Xiao's woman."
"It's already etched into my heart, how could I forget?"
Jian Qinyan replied without thinking, then suddenly woke up and quickly corrected herself, "This young lady will reluctantly remember it!"
Liang Xiao smiled tenderly and sat by the bed, watching Jian Qinyan.
That day, when he heard her play the zither on Mount Tian, Liang Xiao vaguely realized: she had gradually fallen in love with him and had no other thoughts.
Perhaps at first, this Bodhisattva had become his personal bodyguard because she suspected he was the Heavenly General. But later, she even avoided mentioning the Heavenly General in front of him.
While she admired the Heavenly General, like Luo Qingxue, she knew her boundaries. The Heavenly General was an idol, and only an idol. Unlike Cristi, who was truly infatuated with and had loved the Heavenly General for a long time, Liang Xiao would not bother Cristi as "Marquis An Guo, Liang Xiao," even though the Heavenly General was himself.
A brief silence fell in the room.
Jian Qinyan quietly lifted the quilt and saw Liang Xiao sitting beside her. Her heart flustered, and she chided, "If you stay here, how can I get out and get dressed..."
She was only wearing a single layer of clothing, with her red silk bodice faintly visible. She felt utterly ashamed.
Liang Xiao blinked and teased, "I saw enough of you last night, didn't I?"
"You, you, you... my, my sword, hurry and help me find it, I want to draw it and hack you!"
Seeing that he had pushed his luck, Liang Xiao quickly left, closing the door and guarding it outside.
"Young Master?"
Yue Lian walked in with a basin of hot water containing two towels, her expression complex.
Seeing Yue Lian's slightly swollen eyes, Liang Xiao whispered, "Yue Lian, you've been crying."
"Young Master, I was crying tears of joy..." Yue Lian stammered.
Liang Xiao whispered in her ear, telling her the truth.
Yue Lian couldn't help but complain, "Young Master, you're such a fool. Such a good girl..."
Liang Xiao quickly covered Yue Lian's mouth, looking around nervously, afraid that the Saint of Qin might be nearby.
"In any case, she's already my woman, she can't run away, no one can take her from me!"
Yue Lian finally felt relieved and whispered, "No matter what, I'll treat her as the young madam. Young Master promised Yue Lian that you would take care of them first, and not fail them..."
When Jian Qinyan came out, she saw Yue Lian, and her face turned bright red.
"Young Madam, I'll..."
Before Yue Lian could finish, Jian Qinyan covered her face with her hand and said with a trembling voice, "Yue Lian, I've told you several times already, just call me Sister Qinyan. I don't want to be outdone by that impudent disciple of mine, and actually, I and the flower thief..."
"Oh, alright!" Yue Lian quickly interrupted Jian Qinyan and helped the shy Jian Qinyan, who dared not lift her head, wash her face.
Inside the yurt, Gongsun Jing sat in the main seat, while Qin Jiu sat upright on the left.
Because Gongsun Yu was still a child, Gongsun Jing was not in a hurry to have her meet the newcomers. She just wanted the child to know that Liang Xiao was now officially her brother-in-law.
Liang Xiao and the other two entered. Jian Qinyan had changed back into a purple dress.
Gongsun Jing and Qin Jiu's expressions changed simultaneously, and their eyes narrowed.
Stare!
Watching Jian Qinyan walk as if nothing had happened, Gongsun Jing and Qin Jiu exchanged glances, their eyes full of suspicion.
Thinking of the drop of blood on the bedsheet, Gongsun Jing seemed to understand something.
Since Gongsun Jing was the "high dignitary" whom Liang Xiao and Jian Qinyan had bowed to, the two paid their respects to her as usual.
Gongsun Jing said with a solemn expression, "Son-in-law, originally I planned to show you the Sunset Bow and the famous sword Ephemera today, but I've changed my mind temporarily. We'll consider it tomorrow."
Liang Xiao and the other two were stunned.
Gongsun Jing then said, "Don't rush to leave. Stay here for a few more days. Firstly, you can continue to discuss cooperation between the two families with Qin Jiu, and secondly, you can consolidate the fruits of victory with Xiao Qinyan."
Consolidate the fruits of victory??
Jian Qinyan quickly turned and covered her face.
Liang Xiao's eyelids twitched.
He knew, of course, that Gongsun Jing had seen through the charade.
"Alas, there's nothing I can do about seniors," someone muttered, completely unaware of his shameless expression.
"What did you call me?" Gongsun Jing pretended to be displeased.
"Master." Liang Xiao quickly corrected himself.
Gongsun Jing's expression then eased slightly as she asked, "Good son-in-law, do you think your bride is beautiful?"
"Beautiful," Liang Xiao blurted out.
Jian Qinyan, standing beside him, was secretly delighted.
"Xiao Qinyan, is your groom handsome?" Gongsun Jing asked again.
"Handsome..."
Gongsun Jing then beamed, "Then tonight, you will continue to wear your wedding dress, and he will continue to wear his groom's attire. Sleep in the bridal chamber."
Liang Xiao, Jian Qinyan: ...
Seeing their speechless state, Gongsun Jing huffed, "What? Newlyweds should be inseparable, shouldn't they?"
Jian Qinyan then turned and hugged Liang Xiao's arm, her face flushed, and dared not speak.
"They are truly a match made in heaven!" Gongsun Jing and the Saint of Qin, master and servant who had been united for many years, couldn't help but exclaim in unison.
Gongsun Jing regained her solemn expression and asked, "Son-in-law, she is your wife. You will never fail her in this life, right?"
"Of course!" Liang Xiao nodded, replying resolutely.
Jian Qinyan lowered her head, even more afraid to speak.
Gongsun Jing opened the clay pot on the table and personally ladled a bowl of steaming, fortifying soup for the two of them.
Liang Xiao looked at the soup in his hand, then at Jian Qinyan, who was obediently drinking the soup beside him, and fell into thought.
Those medicinal ingredients Gongsun Jing mentioned earlier, could there be something to help conceive added to this?