The old rogue didn't know the rules and shouted whatever he felt like; as for Shaodian Qingnu, she was just there to join the excitement—it wasn't like the debt would be recorded in her name anyway!
Give money?
Not a chance!
In thousands of years, when had the snake girl ever given someone such an expensive gift? You should consider it a blessing from your ancestors that she didn't steal from you instead!
However, after the announcement of the ten-thousand-coin congratulatory gift, the Lu family treated Liu Ji and Shaodian Qingnu with exceptional hospitality.
Shaodian Qingnu understood that the Lu family wasn't doing this because they actually believed Liu Ji could produce twenty thousand coins—where would the old rogue get that kind of money? The Lu family was after his status.
The Sishui Pavilion Head, the local power of Peixian!
He had influence in both the official and underworld circles.
Liu Ji's personal value to the Lu family was worth far more than a mere ten thousand coins.
During the feast, Shaodian Qingnu eyed the Lu family's possessions from top to bottom.
Whether it was the goldware or the pearl and emerald jewelry, everything was worth a fortune. The snake girl’s eyes went wide; aside from the palaces of sovereign lords, she had never seen so many treasures in her life.
She whispered to Liu Ji, "Old Three Liu, shall we team up and haul all this stuff back home?"
At these words, even Liu Ji shot her a startled look.
Then, he lowered his voice and leaned in closer.
"Sister Qingnu, when do we make our move? How about tonight? I'll bring a few more brothers along."
Shaodian Qingnu: "..."
"You're actually going to do it?"
The snake girl was just talking, but the old rogue was actually planning the heist!
As they were speaking, Master Lu walked toward them.
Shaodian Qingnu thought he had overheard her and Liu Ji and was coming to catch the 'snake.' Just as she was about to shove Liu Ji forward to take the heat while she made her escape—her hand was already on his shoulder—she saw Master Lu cup his hands in greeting.
"You two, shall we move to the inner room for a private talk?"
Hm?
He wasn't here to catch her?
Shaodian Qingnu blinked as Liu Ji accepted the invitation.
As Master Lu walked toward the inner room, Liu Ji turned back to Shaodian Qingnu, glanced at her hand still resting on his shoulder, and asked, "Sister Qingnu, you weren't planning on pushing me out to take the blame just now, were you?"
Shaodian Qingnu retracted her claws, formed a fist, gave a light cough, and shook her head with an air of righteousness. "Of course not! Am I that kind of snake?"
Seeing her serious expression, Liu Ji gave a hearty chuckle and patted her shoulder.
"I knew it. How could Sister Qingnu be that kind of person? Come, let's see what this Master Lu wants with us!"
Shaodian Qingnu: "..."
Once Liu Ji stood up, Hongluan quietly landed on her shoulder and said, 'You were caught, weren't you?'
"So what? As long as I'm not embarrassed, it's the other person who's embarrassed."
Shaodian Qingnu spoke with a calm expression.
Hongluan added, 'Do you think Old Three Liu looks like the type of person who gets embarrassed?'
Looks like it?
He simply wasn't!
Shaodian Qingnu pushed herself up from the table and followed Liu Ji into the inner room.
In the back room, Master Lu gave Liu Ji a deep bow and explained that he was skilled in physiognomy. He claimed Liu Ji's facial features possessed an air of nobility that was one in ten thousand!
"Hey? That's the same thing you said back then, Sister Qingnu!"
Hearing this, Liu Ji happily nudged Shaodian Qingnu with his elbow.
Only someone like Shaodian Qingnu wouldn't care about such breach of etiquette; anyone else would have beaten Liu Ji up by now.
"Oh? This lady also knows physiognomy?"
Hearing Liu Ji's words, Master Lu turned to Shaodian Qingnu with interest. He asked, "May I ask who your master is? My family's art of face reading is passed down from our ancestor, Taigong Wang!"
Taigong Wang?
Oh!
Shaodian Qingnu remembered. There were indeed claims that the Lu family was a branch of the Qi State's royal house of Jiang that had scattered in the past.
She looked Master Lu up and down and said, "So is mine."
"Huh?"
Master Lu was stunned.
What did she mean, 'So is mine'?
While Master Lu was dazed, Liu Ji proactively took over the conversation, steering the topic elsewhere.
Master Lu didn't dwell on her words and began chatting with Liu Ji.
As they spoke, Master Lu became deeply impressed by Liu Ji's eloquence. Combined with the so-called physiognomy, he insisted on betrothing his daughter to Liu Ji, leaving Shaodian Qingnu staring in disbelief.
Was matchmaking this easy these days?
Shaodian Qingnu looked at Master Lu and asked, "Aren't you going to think it over?"
Master Lu smiled and shook his head. "There is no need! Master Liu has such a presence; my daughter marrying him will be a wonderful match!"
"Ah... this... this..."
Shaodian Qingnu leaned back in a tactical retreat.
She looked at the smiling Master Lu and Old Three Liu with a complicated expression.
Regarding the matter of marrying the old rogue, Shaodian Qingnu thought Lu Zhi would protest or refuse outright. But when Master Lu told her, she accepted it directly!
"You aren't going to refuse? Old Three Liu is much older than you."
Shaodian Qingnu looked at the well-mannered and quiet Lu Zhi, tilting her head as she asked.
Lu Zhi looked at her, smiled slightly, and shook her head. "It is my father's command; naturally, I cannot refuse. Moreover, Liu Ji is the Sishui Pavilion Head, and my family needs his support. Since Father says his fortune is noble beyond words, there is no harm in marrying him."
Shaodian Qingnu rested her chin in her hand, looking at Lu Zhi and clicking her tongue while shaking her head.
"Ah... this... this..."
The snake was speechless.
The future Empress Lu was still a gentle little lamb at this time.
On the way back, Old Three Liu was beaming with joy. He had gone there just to scrounge a meal, but he hadn't expected to scrounge a wife!
This was a massive stroke of luck.
When Old Man Liu found out, he looked at Liu Ji with newfound respect!
The wedding of Liu Ji and Lu Zhi was set for the following month. The Lu family handled all the preparations. The old rogue just brought some dog meat to their door and ended up marrying a beautiful bride. This ease of success made Shaodian Qingnu's teeth itch with envy. She said, "Heaven is really kind to that old rogue."
Hongluan tilted its head and asked, 'You want to marry too?'
"Do I have the equipment for that?"
Shaodian Qingnu rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Sigh... should we send a congratulatory gift too?"
Hongluan asked again, 'But what should we send?'
Hearing Hongluan's question, Shaodian Qingnu immediately started rummaging through her things. "Let me look, I remember I prepared something for that girl Bao Si back then..."
'That was hundreds of years ago! Stupid snake, where is your brain?'
Hongluan criticized.
Shaodian Qingnu froze, blinking her eyes. "Oh, right."
Why had her memory been so poor lately?
Shaodian Qingnu shook her head, took a deep breath, and said, "Fine! We'll go out hunting and just bring them back a whole bull."
The wedding gift the snake girl prepared was quite substantial—an entire bull. She actually managed to restrain herself from sneaking a single bite.
The Lu family's bridal procession set out as the sun was setting.
Old Man Liu had also renovated the house to welcome his daughter-in-law.
The guests in the courtyard were laughing and chatting. Lu Wan was busy organizing things with a large group of brothers, and Liu Ji's face was blooming like a flower. Xiao He arrived to congratulate them with a jar of wine and a bolt of silk, still unable to help but marvel at the old rogue's incredible luck to bring home a wife like this.
"Of course! Look who I am!"
Liu Ji looked proud.
Lu Zhi arrived at the Liu household surrounded by cheering children.
However, at that very moment, a rider in black came galloping down the street. The person atop the horse held a Black Water Banner high, shouting:
"The Emperor has passed away! The world mourns; all celebrations are forbidden!"
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