The worse you are, the stronger you become: My summoned beast is a photographer.

After the meal, the bride's bouquet toss brought the banquet to its final climax.

With her back to everyone, Aura held a bouquet of white roses and baby's breath that shimmered softly in the candlelight. She took a deep breath, then tossed her hands behind her—the bouquet arced gracefully through the air, spinning a few times before landing precisely in the arms of the city lord's daughter, Aurora.

Aurora, holding the bouquet, paused for a moment, then her cheeks flushed red. The surrounding young ladies, filled with envy and regret, crowded around to congratulate her, their laughter as clear as silver bells.

"You're next!"

"Aurora, you have to treat us to the best wine!"

Aurora hugged the flower ball tightly, her gaze unconsciously drifting towards a certain direction in the crowd before quickly looking away.

The groom's garter toss was the men's battleground. Ming Luochen sat on the edge of the platform, clutching the white garter tied with gold thread, and threw it behind him. Unmarried noble youths rushed forward, and in the shoving, a young viscount's second son leaped high and caught the garter firmly in his hand.

"Great!" the crowd cheered, patting him on the shoulder and teasing him.

Almost all the noblemen present had been betrothed since childhood, and they couldn't help but look at their fiancées, but because they hadn't finished their studies, the wedding hadn't been held yet.

"You're next as the groom!"

The young man, holding up his garter belt, grinned from ear to ear as his companions poured him a large glass of wine.

Amidst the revelry, night fell heavily.

The festive lights within the manor remained dazzling. The servants had already decorated the newlyweds' bedroom with utmost warmth; soft velvet curtains hung low, and the bed was covered with pure white brocade embroidered with the family crest, adorned with flowers symbolizing fidelity and many children—red roses, lilies, and marigolds, their petals still glistening with dewdrops. Warm yellow magic lamps cast a gentle glow, filling the room with a tranquil sweetness.

According to the traditional wedding customs of the Herma nobility, close relatives and core noble guests surrounded Ming Luochen and Aura as they slowly walked into the bedroom to hold a solemn bed-sending ceremony.

There was no boisterous revelry, only refined manners befitting their status. Valerius and Marina walked at the forefront, followed closely by Lord Karen, Duke Ainbo, and other distinguished guests, all with gentle expressions and sincere blessings.

A priest in formal attire, holding a bottle of holy water, approached the bedside and gently sprinkled the holy water on the bed curtains and bedding. His deep, devout voice echoed in the quiet bedroom as he uttered a prayer: "May the gods bless this newlywed couple, granting them a lifetime of happiness and harmony, ensuring the continuation of their family line, and a long and loving marriage, never to be separated..."

Water droplets rolled down the brocade, leaving damp marks, and were then evaporated by the warm light, releasing a faint fragrance.

Then, Marina stepped forward and gently removed the hair ornaments from Aura's hair, her movements as slow and delicate as if she were disassembling a fragile jewel. She straightened her daughter's robe, smoothing out every wrinkle, her eyes filled with maternal tenderness, and softly instructed her on matters of daily life: "From now on, you'll be someone's wife. You must be considerate and supportive of each other. Although Ming Luochen is intelligent, she can be like a child sometimes, so please be patient with her."

Aura nodded, her eyes red-rimmed.

Valerius patted Ming Luochen on the shoulder, his rough hand heavy as a mountain. His eyes were full of approval and expectation, and his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he only said, "Treat her well."

There were no unnecessary words, but Ming Luochen could hear the full weight hidden in that voice.

He nodded solemnly: "Dad, don't worry."

The guests stepped forward one by one, offering their congratulations in hushed tones, without any overstepping of boundaries or making a fuss, adhering strictly to aristocratic etiquette throughout. Lord Karen said, "May you have a long and happy marriage," and Duke Aienbo nodded slightly. Even Tigris stepped forward and whispered to Aura, "Congratulations." Her gaze lingered on Ming Luochen's face for a moment before calmly moving away.

After the prayers and instructions were finished, Lord Karen nodded first and led the guests out of the bedroom. They filed out, the sound of horses' hooves echoing softly in the corridor. Marina, walking at the back, glanced back at her daughter, her eyes slightly red, but Valerius gently put his arm around her shoulder and led her out. The door closed softly, shutting out the festive atmosphere from the outside noise, leaving only two personal maids standing guard outside, ready to answer any orders.

The door was gently closed, shutting out the last trace of noise.

Finally, only the two of them remained in the bedroom.

Looking at Aura, who was wearing a bathrobe and had gentle eyes, Ming Luochen felt all the restraint he had felt from being surrounded by guests vanish, leaving only a warm feeling in his heart. The custom-made wedding bathrobe was like a blooming white flower, and Aura stood in the center of the flower, her head down, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of the skirt.

From today onwards, you are my legal and compliant wife.

Aura glanced coquettishly at Ming Luochen, her amber eyes shimmering with unspoken affection. Although they had shared a room before, sleeping together again after the wedding felt different—it was as if she would always sleep with him from now on, and that they should always sleep together. They were truly husband and wife, lovers for life, never to be separated again.

Ming Luochen grinned foolishly—he had a beautiful wife now. He moved closer to Aura, stepping onto the bed, their noses almost touching, their breaths mingling.

"Honey, how about we make our wedding night a little more formal?"

Aura smiled radiantly, a smile like a spring breeze melting an ice river. She nodded slightly, her eyelashes fluttering gently, and then slowly closed her eyes.

The candlelight cast soft shadows on her face, her long eyelashes creating a fan-shaped dark patch beneath her eyes. Her breathing was slightly rapid, her chest heaving, and her fingers loosened the hem of her skirt, gently placing them on Ming Luochen's shoulder.

She felt Ming Luochen's breath getting closer and closer, his warm breath brushing against her lips. The next second, her lips were gently kissed, as tender as a feather falling on a flower petal.

She reached out and hugged him, her fingers running through his soft, short hair, her palm against the back of his head, pulling him even closer.

As the long night began to fall, the lights shone softly.

When the room fell silent again, with only heavy breathing remaining, the two people's eyes met, and all their feelings were unspoken.

Aura rested her head on Ming Luochen's arm, her long hair cascading down the pillow like a bolt of black silk. Ming Luochen turned to the side, his fingertips gently tracing the outline of her face, from her eyebrows to the bridge of her nose, and from the bridge of her nose to her lips.

"Have you seen enough?" Aura asked with her eyes closed, but a smile played on her lips.

"I can't get enough of looking at you," Ming Luochen said softly. "I could never get enough of looking at you in a lifetime."

Aura opened her eyes, her amber pupils reflecting his face. She reached out and pinched his chubby cheek, her voice tinged with amusement: "Then you'd better train hard and try to live a long life."

"Yes, my dear wife."

They both laughed.

Outside the window, the moonlight, like water, spilled onto the stone path of the manor, bathing everything in a soft, silvery glow.

---

As the wedding concluded, Earl Raven Crest's relatives gradually departed to return home. The manor slowly returned to its usual tranquility from the wedding festivities, with only occasional bursts of laughter echoing from the main house.

"Master, Marquis Dalsey of the Holman family has come to visit," the butler, Addison, hurried to the study door and respectfully announced.

Valerius was sitting at his desk flipping through an ancient book on cavalry tactics—though he couldn't understand most of it, he was just flipping through it to pass the time. Hearing the report, he looked up, a look of surprise on his face: "A visit to me?"

It seems I have no connection with this marquis, and I only met him at the wedding the day before yesterday. What could possibly be going on?

Valerius couldn't understand it. Herma City had eighteen marquises—nine of whom were local fiefdoms under Herma City's regulations, seven were under the administration of the Education Alliance, and three were marquises transferred from outside the royal court, rotating every five years.

The Holman family, on the other hand, belonged to the old marquises of Herma, whose territory was in the east. Geographically, they were far away from him, completely unrelated, and not even in the same camp.

Completely baffled. Valerius rose in confusion, for the other party was a marquis, a higher status than himself, and he couldn't simply refuse; he needed to meet him.

He straightened his collar and strode towards the reception room.

"Lord Darcy," Valerius stepped forward and bowed warmly, the angle of his bow just right. "What brings you here in person? You should have sent someone to inform me; I should have been the one visiting you."

"It's rare for us to meet, so I came to see you before I left." Darcy had a warm smile on his face, his demeanor casual and natural, like a kind old man. A long lizard tail trailed behind him, its scales gleaming a dark green in the candlelight. His arms were also covered with fine scales, and his eyes were amber vertical pupils, exuding a reptilian serenity.

After exchanging a few polite words, Valerius led Darcy to the reception room and instructed, "Editon, brew a pot of the finest black tea."

"Yes, sir." The butler responded and withdrew with light steps.

Valerius genuinely disliked dealing with old-school nobles; there were too many formalities. Especially for someone of his background as a battle knight, sitting with them felt like being shackled; he had to maintain a proper posture, unable to lean back in his chair or place his hands on the table.

Darcy rambled on for ages—from the weather to the harvest, from the harvest to the border situation, and from the border situation to the latest fashion trends in the capital—without Valerius asking any questions. Frustrated, he finally revealed the purpose of his trip himself:

"The wedding the day before yesterday showed that Count Valerius had put a lot of thought into it, especially the plum wine at the banquet, which was unforgettable." Darcy picked up his teacup, took a sip, and a hint of reminiscence flashed in his vertical pupils. "I'm about to return to my territory; I wonder if I could buy a few jars to take back with me?"

Buying wine? Oh, so you're here to buy wine.

Valerius immediately understood, a slight smile unconsciously playing on his lips. As a wine lover, he knew the allure of Mingluochen's fruit wine. Its amber color and rich, sweet-and-sour flavor were unforgettable. But the crucial point was—it was gone. At the wedding, all the wine stored at home was consumed; the nobles, like locusts, carried it away jar after jar, leaving him without a single drop.

"I'm sorry, Lord Darcy. The wine was brewed specifically for the wedding banquet and was all consumed on the wedding day. There's none left now," Valerius said apologetically, shrugging.

"How long will it take? I can have my retainers come and buy it," Darcy said, leaning forward slightly. He saw Valerius's predicament—he had witnessed countless noblemen frantically grabbing wine at the wedding banquet the day before, as if it were free; it was probably truly gone. He added, his tone urgent, "I'll pay any price."

Valerius was truly perplexed.

He'd never run a business before; his wife managed the finances, and he only got two thousand taels a month for pocket money, not even enough to buy wine or entertain guests. As a child, his parents gave him living expenses, and as an adult, his wife gave him pocket money—Valeleus had never been involved in such matters. How would he know how much to sell things for? He just drank.

But this is something you can't tell outsiders.

The only thing he knew for sure was that this kind of wine would take at least seven days to make—Ming Luochen had originally said it would take at least a month to soak, but last time he was bragging to his subordinates, he accidentally drank all the wine, forcing Ming Luochen to use other methods to quickly produce plum wine with a much worse taste. Thinking of this, he felt a little guilty.

"This wine was made by my son-in-law. I'm not really sure how long it takes to brew or how much it sells for," Valerius explained apologetically, scratching the back of his head.

"Could you please ask around for me? I'm willing to pay three times the cost." Darcy knew that Valerius was a simple-minded warrior and didn't believe he could make such a drink. His gaze lingered on Valerius's face for a moment before shifting away.

"Okay." Valerius immediately agreed, stood up and instructed the butler outside the door, his voice carrying a hint of relief, "Go and call Ming Luochen over."

"Yes." The butler didn't dare to delay and immediately turned around to find someone.

---

During their honeymoon, Ming Luochen and Aura were inseparable, sweetly studying the various aspects of harmonious coexistence between humans and centaurs.

Suddenly summoned to the reception room, Ming Luochen's blush hadn't completely faded, and his collar was slightly askew. As he walked, he straightened his collar to cover the dense hickeys on his neck, wondering to himself what was so urgent.

Pushing open the door, I saw an old man sitting in the guest seat—he had a lizard tail behind him, fine scales on his arms, an aged yet dignified face, and amber vertical pupils. He wore a dark marquis's uniform, with an antique silver family crest pinned to his collar.

"Ming Luochen, this is Marquis Darcy. He wants to buy fruit wine from you. I don't know either, so you can talk to the Marquis." Valerius immediately threw out the question, pretending to be serious and stepped aside, picking up his teacup and pretending to drink tea, but his ears were perked up.

"Fruit wine?" Ming Luochen's face darkened—was that all it took to call him out of his bedroom?

"Is there some difficulty?" Seeing Ming Luochen's troubled expression, Darcy assumed that his status as a marquis was putting pressure on the other party, so he softened his tone.

Ming Luochen composed himself, took a deep breath, nodded, and his expression returned to calm: "The process of making fruit wine is indeed very difficult. For example, the apple cider sold in the market takes at least seven days to brew fresh."

Darcy nodded firmly, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest. It was true that he owned a brewery and was a wine enthusiast, possessing basic winemaking knowledge.

Ming Luochen continued, his voice steady and sincere: "Your Excellency the Marquis also noticed that the aroma of the fruit wine is very strong, an effect that would take at least six months to achieve."

"That's right, the aroma of your fruit wine has already surpassed the level of aging; it definitely needs more than six months." Darcy nodded in agreement, his vertical pupils revealing appreciation. He understood the difficulty of winemaking; those fine vintages, every drop is a gift of time. "So good wine requires waiting."

"Yes, and my fruit wine isn't bitter or has any off-flavors. It's made from the finest raw materials, peeled and seeded, and it takes ten catties to produce just one ounce of wine." Ming Luochen earnestly calculated the costs, gesturing with his fingers in the air. "I did the math. One catty of wine, not counting other things, just the raw materials alone cost sixty silver coins, and it also requires a long time and a lot of manpower. It's only because of my wedding that I'm willing to offer it."

His tone carried a hint of reluctance, as if those wines were children he had raised with his own hands, and now he was about to hand them over to someone else.

After listening, Darcy remained silent for a long time, his vertical pupils slightly contracting, as if he was pondering something.

Valerius, holding his teacup, listened in astonishment—peeled and seeded? How come he didn't know that existed?

I was able to see Ming Luochen make fruit wine with my own eyes. So I washed it clean and dried it. The plums I used were bought from the market. They cost five copper coins a pound. There was no need to peel or remove the seeds.

But instead of exposing him, Valerius simply took a sip of tea and watched the boy make up his story.