When Nian Jiaojiao asked, Xu Nan blushed deeply, stammering, “I, I, I…”
Just as Nian Jiaojiao was wondering, Hu Rui strode to Xu Nan’s side, pulled him into her embrace, and said beaming, “That’s right, I forgot to tell you, benefactor. I plan to marry Xu Nan. It’s said the eldest brother is like a father, and now the affairs of the Xu family should be handled by the third brother, Yu Chuan. I have already obtained his consent, so it’s not a secret engagement!”
Nian Jiaojiao looked back at Yu Chuan, who nodded.
Nian Jiaojiao: ...
After a few days, Hu Rui had become her sister-in-law.
She was truly quick!
Thinking of herself, after so long, she had only managed to hold hands or an arm, and hadn't even kissed him.
Nian Jiaojiao suddenly felt she needed to reassert her authority as a wife and show her feminine prowess!
At this moment, Xu Ruoliu, who had been silent, spoke up: “Sister-in-law, may I go with you all?”
Nian Jiaojiao frowned slightly.
It was improper for an unmarried man to follow her family around.
Moreover, she had never liked Xu Ruoliu’s personality.
However, before Nian Jiaojiao could refuse, someone spoke for her: “No.”
They all looked at Nan Qing, whose expression was unreadable. Xu Ruoliu looked indignant: “The household affairs have always been decided by the wife, and sister-in-law hasn’t said anything. What right do you have to make a decision?”
Ever since he had moved in, this man had never looked him in the eye.
Xu Ruoliu’s gaze towards Nan Qing was filled with hostility.
In response to Xu Ruoliu’s questioning, Nan Qing’s voice remained steady: “You said it yourself, it’s based on being the wife, but the wife is not yours.”
The implication was: You, an outsider, should stay away.
“You!”
Sensing the rising tension, Nian Jiaojiao coughed twice, interrupting them: “Stop, let me speak.”
She first said to Nan Qing: “Look, he is a guest. Let’s talk things through…”
While saying this, Nian Jiaojiao secretly felt delighted. This sharp-tongued handsome man was incredibly good at offending people. When he offended her, she was also infuriated, but seeing him deal with others was so satisfying!
Then, she turned to Xu Ruoliu: “I am going to Qingzhou to study, and bringing my husband is already a special permission. Bringing my husband’s younger brother would be too much. How about this, I’ll leave you some money as capital. As a young master from a scholarly family, you shouldn’t have trouble finding work. There’s a residence in Shanshui Town where you can settle down first and then make plans.”
Nian Jiaojiao believed she had done all she could.
“I…” Xu Ruoliu wanted to argue. He opened his mouth but met Nian Jiaojiao’s increasingly indifferent gaze, and finally couldn’t speak.
He only regretted his past arrogance and not building a good relationship with Nian Jiaojiao.
Now, her taking him in and settling him was partly out of consideration for Xu Yu Chuan, whom he had bullied since childhood.
Despite his myriad of grievances…
Xu Ruoliu dug his fingernails deep into his flesh, as if he couldn't feel the pain.
He could only give up…
...
The next day.
Fengcheng.
At the city gate.
Four husbands were seated in the carriage.
Hu Rui, along with Xu Nan, came to see Nian Jiaojiao off.
“Benefactor, you go ahead. When Nan Nan and I travel through Dayue, I will definitely come to find you in Qingzhou!”
Nian Jiaojiao nodded, then teasingly looked at the two: “When can I drink your wedding wine?”
“Nan Nan and I plan to tour Dayue first, and then get married once we settle down. I won’t forget to notify my sister-in-law when the time comes!”
Nian Jiaojiao was speechless at Hu Rui’s words.
She had adopted the role of sister-in-law too quickly!
Yesterday, she called her benefactor with every other sentence, and today she was riding on the success.
After they bid farewell, Nian Jiaojiao and her group had not driven far from the city gate when they saw a carriage waiting on the road to Qingzhou.
Nian Jiaojiao alighted from the carriage and then extended a hand, helping all four husbands down.
Lei Juan saw this and teased: “Junior sister, you are truly blessed to have husbands who are more beautiful than the last.”
The four men reacted differently to the compliment.
Yu Chuan’s expression was somber. He was ordinary-looking and felt he was becoming increasingly unworthy of his increasingly outstanding wife.
Xuan Yi was even more so; his appearance was often criticized. He was content as long as people didn’t call him ugly.
Nan Qing showed no reaction, squinting as he accepted the praise.
Xing Yun shyly lowered his head, his cat-like eyes occasionally stealing glances at Nian Jiaojiao’s expression.
“Lei Juan, you talk too much.”
Elder Qiu, sitting in the carriage, slowly descended. She glanced at Nian Jiaojiao and asked, “Are you ready?”
Nian Jiaojiao was startled, not understanding what Elder Qiu meant.
Lei Juan explained from the side: “Master means, have you brought everything? And everyone?”
Although she felt something was strange, Nian Jiaojiao still nodded.
What happened next made Nian Jiaojiao and all four husbands, including Yu Chuan, drop their jaws in astonishment.
Elder Qiu took out a piece of white paper from her embrace, and a brush pen slid from her sleeve.
With a solemn expression, she wrote on the paper, chanting: “Soaring Clouds and Riding the Mist.”
The carriage, along with them, slowly ascended into the clouds.
In the air, Lei Juan called out to them: “Quickly get back into the carriage.”
Nian Jiaojiao immediately pulled the four still-dazed husbands back into her carriage.
Back in the carriage, Xing Yun stuttered, “Wh-what is this?”
Then, with excitement, he answered his own question: “It’s immortals! There really are immortals!”
Nian Jiaojiao was also bewildered. Although she knew this world had supernatural powers, this power seemed incredibly potent today…
Nian Jiaojiao swallowed and pulled back the bamboo curtain of the carriage window, looking towards Elder Qiu’s carriage.
She saw Elder Qiu standing on the roof of the carriage.
She picked up the brush and wrote on the paper again: “A Thousand Miles in a Day.”
The two carriages suddenly seemed to have engines installed, speeding forward rapidly.
Nian Jiaojiao: !!!
Yu Chuan: !!!
Xuan Yi: !!!
Xing Yun: !!!
Nan Qing: !!!
The carriage compartment where Nian Jiaojiao was fell silent.
...
Half an hour later.
An old acquaintance appeared at the gate of Fengcheng.
Bai Qingqing stood at the gate of Fengcheng, unsure where to go.
Although he was unfortunately captured and imprisoned by Wang Zhilan, he was lucky that it hadn’t come to his turn before Wang Zhilan was sentenced to death.
Today, he had waited specifically to see the other person be beheaded, and only left after feeling a sense of satisfaction.
After this incident, he knew that the dream of “marrying into a wealthy family” had to end. More importantly, he had found his own “heroine.”
Bai Qingqing thought of the peerless beauty who had broken into the prison and rescued him that day, and his heart fluttered uncontrollably.
He made up his mind.
He would find that woman and marry her!
However, he didn't even know who the other person was…
Thinking this, Bai Qingqing felt a bit dejected.