Shen Yun paid no mind to the Grand Princess's teasing.
Instead, he looked at Ji Chenggang.
He saw Ji Chenggang's eyes flicker, and he raised his cup towards Shen Yun.
Shen Yun understood his intention and also raised his cup in congratulation.
On the way back, Su Xiaoqi asked Shen Yun curiously, "What riddle were you playing with Commander Ji earlier?"
Shen Yun replied, "I was congratulating him."
Su Xiaoqi frowned, not understanding the meaning of his congratulation.
Shen Yun asked, "Has my wife prepared a congratulatory gift?"
Su Xiaoqi blinked, seeming to understand, "So you're talking about the Grand Princess and Commander Ji."
In modern times, both of them were free and it was natural for them to be together.
Furthermore, the first time she saw Ji Chenggang by the Grand Princess's side, she already knew there was a story between them.
As the Grand Princess divorced Liu Junsheng, Ji Chenggang grew closer to her.
Su Xiaoqi knew that the two of them would definitely get together.
Therefore, she had always regarded them as a couple.
So when she saw them together, she was not surprised at all.
That was why her attention was not focused on that matter.
Moreover, she had already prepared the gift for the Grand Princess and had given it to her today.
Shen Yun was curious about what she had sent.
Every gift Su Xiaoqi gave to the Grand Princess was more beautiful than those given to others.
"A pair of rings," Su Xiaoqi blinked.
She drew a design and made a pair of diamond rings for the Grand Princess and Ji Chenggang using diamonds from Nanyang.
A diamond is forever, and one lasts for all time.
It symbolized that their love would never fade, even if the seas dried up and the rocks decayed.
Shen Yun's heart stirred. With such a good meaning, he wanted a pair too.
"Didn't my wife prepare a pair for herself?" Shen Yun leaned in.
Su Xiaoqi lowered her head and chuckled mischievously.
She knew Shen Yun would ask.
Of course, she had prepared one.
And it was on her person right now.
As she thought this, her eyes involuntarily glanced towards her waist.
A sachet hung there, containing the diamond rings.
Shen Yun had been paying attention to her. Seeing her gaze wander, he followed her eyes and reached out to take it down.
Without even opening it, he held it in his hand and squeezed lightly. Two ring-shaped objects were inside.
Su Xiaoqi smiled charmingly, "Take them out and let me see."
Shen Yun went along with it, opened the sachet, took out two diamond-encrusted rings, lifted the curtain, and shone them under the sunlight outside. They gleamed brilliantly.
"Are they beautiful?" Su Xiaoqi asked softly.
Shen Yun looked at the smiling Su Xiaoqi, understood her unspoken thoughts, and put one on her middle finger.
Su Xiaoqi dodged slightly and pointed to her ring finger.
Shen Yun understood immediately, put it on again, and then asked her if there was any significance to wearing rings on specific fingers.
Su Xiaoqi said, "Wearing it on the index finger means you are single and unmarried. Wearing it on the middle finger means you are engaged and have a partner. Wearing it on the little finger means you don't want to get married."
"And this finger," Shen Yun pinched the tip of Su Xiaoqi's ring finger with great interest, "does it mean married?"
"Clever. It means married. It is said that there is a blood vessel on this finger that leads to the heart. Wearing the wedding ring on it allows the hearts of the couple to be connected and never separated..."
Before Su Xiaoqi could finish her sentence, Shen Yun, overcome with emotion, kissed her lips.
Having witnessed Shen Yun's deep affection and how he couldn't help himself in front of her, Su Xiaoqi wasn't surprised.
Moreover, facing such a handsome man, when her emotions ran high, it was difficult for her to control herself.
After a period of tenderness, the two began preparing for the upcoming Duan Yang Feast.
It was Duan Yang Festival again. The difference was that last year, Su Xiaoqi and the others had just arrived in the capital, and their foundations were unstable.
This year, however, much had changed.
They were even invited to the Duke of Yu's mansion to attend their family banquet.
The Duke of Yu's mansion was very lively that day.
Except for the Duke of Yu and his son who were still stationed in the northern frontier.
Even Yu Changfeng, who rarely appeared, had returned.
He looked somewhat travel-worn, with sunken eyes and dark circles.
His tall stature made him seem a bit thin.
He must have rushed back just to make it to the Duan Yang family banquet.
Su Xiaoqi couldn't bear to see it and gave him a bottle of pills enhanced with spiritual medicine to refresh and invigorate him.
Upon receiving her medicine, Yu Changfeng quickly thanked her, "Sister Xiaoqi's medicine is still the most effective."
Su Xiaoqi knew he was referring to the time when she collaborated with the Ministry of Revenue to make clothes, and a cartload of pills was sent with the supplies to the soldiers in the northern frontier.
At first, everyone looked at the dark pills and dared not use them.
It wasn't until the heir of the Duke of Yu was injured on the battlefield.
He developed a high fever.
The Duke of Yu remembered Yu Changfeng's letter stating that Su Xiaoqi's pills were effective against wound infections and fever.
Out of trust, the Duke of Yu was the first to administer them to him.
Within a few hours of use, his fever subsided. With the application of the ointment she sent, the inflammation of his wound healed instantly.
The Duke of Yu, as if he had discovered a treasure, ordered all soldiers with symptoms similar to Yu Changqing to use Su Xiaoqi's medicine.
The wounds that had stumped the military doctors were immediately treated.
The Duke of Yu blamed himself for initially listening to the military doctors and not trusting Su Xiaoqi's medicine immediately, which resulted in the loss of some soldiers to their injuries and illnesses.
He also wrote to Yu Changfeng, hoping he could buy more similar pills for him.
Yu Changfeng naturally prioritized this.
Now that he had just returned and saw Su Xiaoqi, he took the opportunity of her gifting medicine to discuss it with her properly.
"No problem, I have plenty more. I'll have someone send them over when I go back." Su Xiaoqi made those pills in her spare time.
She heard that continuous and frequent warfare occurred.
Although there were mostly small-scale skirmishes in a short period, fighting on the battlefield was a real clash of swords and spears.
Humans were flesh and blood, and they couldn't withstand frequent injuries.
Su Xiaoqi had read about ancient battles before.
Because penicillin had not been discovered in ancient times, once a wound became infected and festered, it was difficult to treat.
This led to high fever, and sometimes, people could only wait for death.
However, she knew about penicillin and fever-reducing prescriptions. As long as she could save people, she was happy to make them.
Moreover, the clothes and pills she made for the northern frontier soldiers had brought her tangible benefits – the spiritual medicine in her space had accumulated to three doses.
She was naturally willing to foster good karma this way and obtain spiritual medicine.
Su Xiaoqi readily agreed, not even haggling over the price.
This made Yu Changfeng feel a little embarrassed.
He was worried that the pills would be too expensive, as the northern frontier army's funds were limited, and the Ministry of War had always been stingy.
Often, when money was insufficient, the Duke would dip into his private coffers.
No matter how much the Duke of Yu's mansion had accumulated, it couldn't withstand such continuous expenditure.
Therefore, it was best to save wherever possible.
"How about one wen per pill?" Su Xiaoqi smiled.
She actually wanted to say she would give them to them for free.
But fearing that it might startle them, she gave a minimum price.
When Yu Changfeng heard that it was so cheap, he was overjoyed.
"Great, great!" One wen per pill, how wonderful that would be.
The old madam glared at him, telling him he shouldn't take advantage of his sister.
Yu Changfeng heard this and agreed, saying he would also use his private funds to make up the price difference for Su Xiaoqi.
Su Xiaoqi politely declined, saying it wasn't necessary, as the cost of her self-made medicine was truly not high.
As they were talking, Du Wenqian arrived with Yu Rong and Du Yiyi.
After exchanging greetings, they each took their seats.
As the only male member of the Duke of Yu's mansion present at the moment, Yu Changfeng took responsibility for entertaining the two gentlemen, Shen Yun and Du Wenqian.
When Mr. Gu arrived with Yu Wan, the family was complete.
The old madam asked about Yu Wan, "Why haven't those two boys from your family returned yet?"
Yu Wan smiled and said, "They are out training and can't return for now. Besides, I have Xiaoqi now, so what do I need those two brats for?"
The old madam chuckled and said, "Don't celebrate too soon. I'm afraid..."
As she was speaking, she glanced at the doorway. Seeing no one arrive, she swallowed her words.
Yu Wan, however, took her words to heart. She had a premonition that her mother had something to hide from them.
But since she was unwilling to say, they were also unwilling to force her.
They simply exchanged glances, both wondering, "Is there someone else who is supposed to come?"