In a moment of impulse, I forcibly kissed my brother's best friend.

"Don't you like this name?" Xie Yige's large, almond-shaped eyes were full of doubt.

It nodded quickly.

Wow, you're amazing! Can you understand me?

It couldn't help but roll its eyes—I'm a smart bird, one in a million, okay? But fearing this silly woman wouldn't understand, it quickly nodded again.

"Wow, you really can understand me!" Xie Yige's face lit up. "If you don't like this name, I'll give you a new one."

"Hmm, I already have Bichun and Zhixia. You are a gyrfalcon... Do you want to be called Qiuhai or Dongqing? Choose the first one and call it once, the second one and call it twice."

Both names sound awful. It sadly lowered its head—neither sounded like a bird's name.

"How about we call it Gu Dong?"

It immediately began to flutter about joyfully, making three "coo coo coo" sounds.

Seeing that it was finally satisfied, Xie Yige took off the small bamboo tube tied to its feet and eagerly opened the note.

It reads:

"The Xie family name still has some use, so let's acknowledge it. While you're at it, help your mother look after your maternal grandmother."

Xie Yige's lips twitched. Her mother always surprised her.

Hmm? There seems to be another one inside?

Her eyes instantly reddened when she opened it.

"Your dowry has been prepared and will be sent to the capital soon."

March 8th.

This was originally an auspicious day that Cui Yutang had planned long ago for sending betrothal gifts, but it was interfered with by the Xie family of Chenjun.

They said they would hold a grand family reunion banquet first, and then he would propose marriage.

His grandmother, Wang, immediately agreed without hesitation.

"Yu'er, acknowledge your family first, and treat that young lady well."

Even the grandfather, who had always opposed the marriage, nodded enthusiastically and stood on the same side as Wang.

Other clan elders who had initially remained neutral or opposed to the marriage also actively began preparations, even adding their own gifts to his betrothal gift list.

Cui Yutang naturally knew what these people were thinking.

Fine, as long as it's good for Yige, let them do as they please.

The old men of the Cui family in Qinghe have a very clear understanding of the situation.

Although the Xie clan of Chenjun, which was not one of the "Five Surnames and Seven Noble Families," was of slightly lower social standing, their ancestors had once been glorious. The cultural symbolism of "the swallows that once graced the halls of the Wang and Xie families" still held extremely high prestige among the gentry, and they produced many great Confucian scholars. Furthermore, because the Xie clan did not currently hold core power, they were not feared by the imperial authority.

Upon such consideration, this turned out to be a perfect candidate.

Thus, the two prominent families, each with their own agendas, secretly rejoiced at the marriage arrangement.

The family reunion banquet of the Xie clan of Chenjun was solemn and grand.

The day before, they first gathered within the clan to recognize their relatives. The ancestral hall was brightly lit with candles and filled with the aroma of incense.

At the stroke of Chen Shi (7-9 AM), the jade chime was struck three times, its clear and melodious sound echoing through the ancestral hall. Offerings of three kinds of sacrificial animals, fresh fruit, clear wine, silk scrolls, jade cups, and bronze tripods were arranged in an orderly fashion before the altar. The head of the family, Xie Chengyu, personally burned incense and offered sacrifices, informing the ancestors.

Holding three incense sticks, he bowed three times, and his aged voice echoed in the solemn ancestral hall: "Ancestors above, Zhou Xuan'an and Xie Yige are descendants of Xie Wanqing, the eldest daughter of the Xie family, and are the legitimate grandson and granddaughter of the Xie family. Now they have been found and returned to their ancestral home to continue the Xie family bloodline."

Zhou Xuan'an and Xie Yige then performed the three-step kowtow ceremony: informing their ancestors, recognizing their lineage, and acknowledging their kinship. Each step had strict rules and corresponding rituals. Under the guidance of the master of ceremonies, they knelt, rose, and knelt again, the rustling sound of their clothes rubbing against each other particularly clear in the quiet ancestral hall.

Finally, the clan chief personally bestowed two jade pendants engraved with the Xie clan emblem—symbols of the clan's tradition—once the ceremony was considered complete.

It took a whole day to get things done, and the atmosphere was solemn throughout.

Xie Yige and Zhou Xuan'an exchanged a quick glance, both siblings seeing the same helplessness in each other's eyes.

This prestigious family is indeed troublesome; no wonder my mother doesn't like returning to the capital.

so tired!

Xie Yige couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Cui Yutang's family must be in even more trouble; was it too late to back out now?

But it seems she can no longer live without him.

Lady Liu also specially arranged two separate residences for the two of them, located next to each other, elegant and spacious, clearly a well-prepared arrangement.

"Grandmother, we're still used to living at the Zhou residence," Zhou Xuan'an said nervously, afraid of disappointing the old woman. "Wanrou's health isn't suitable for moving around."

"It's alright." Madam Liu beamed, looking as if she had instantly become ten years younger. "I've had the cleaning done constantly, so you can come back whenever you want. I'll take an experienced old woman to check on Wanrou another day; she's pregnant now and needs careful attention."

Only then did Xie Yige and Zhou Xuan'an feel a little warmth and gratitude for their grandmother's care.

It was like a ray of sunshine suddenly shining in on a winter day, warm and comforting, making one's nose tingle with emotion.

As the capital of the Tang Dynasty, Chang'an was a city where politics, culture, and commerce converged, attracting numerous celebrities and naturally had no secrets.

Many people had already received news of the marriage alliance between the two prominent Cui and Xie families, and the following day, people kept sending congratulatory gifts.

Almost all prominent families and noble clans mobilized, and congratulatory gifts from each household were delivered to the Xie residence in a continuous stream.

Furthermore, because Cui Zhinuan was the current prime minister, there were many officials of all ranks who came to secretly curry favor with him, making his residence a bustling and lively place.

Even Princess Yuzhen sent a large box of jewelry to Xie Yige to bolster her image.

When the box was opened, it sparkled with pearls, filling the room with brilliance, which drew repeated exclamations of amazement from Xie Wanning, who was standing to the side.

"Princess Yuzhen is very difficult to deal with, how come you get along with her so well?"

"Princess Yuzhen was originally a very good person." Xie Yige thought of when Cui Yutang lost his memory and was at a loss. It was Princess Yuzhen and Master Xuanji who arranged for her to reunite with him. A warm smile couldn't help but appear in her eyes.

The next day, Cui Yutang led all 108 of the Heavenly Generals to the Xie residence to present their betrothal gifts, which shocked the entire city of Chang'an.

The name was chosen by the monk Xuanling, meaning "108 Heavenly Stars, Perfection of All Things, and Abundant Blessings and Prosperity." It represents the most auspicious number that could be achieved by the secular etiquette of the Tang Dynasty, and it was originally only used for two-way marriages between the core direct descendants of the five surnames.

The procession consisted of hundreds of people, including porters, officials, musicians, and guards, all dressed in custom-made Cui family crested ceremonial robes. The procession stretched for dozens of miles, with vermilion and gold-painted gift boxes and carved imperial processions advancing in layers, seemingly without end.

Private treasures, heirloom artifacts, scholar's objects, fine silks and satins, estates and shops, private gifts... a dazzling array, showcasing the utmost effort.

"Young Master Cui, you're absolutely outrageously wealthy!"

Xie Wan Ning stood next to Xie Yi Ge, looking at the betrothal gift list with her. As a well-traveled daughter of a prestigious family, she couldn't help but exclaim that the Cui family was outrageously extravagant. The list was several thick stacks, densely covered with writing; just reading it once would take most of the day.

When Xie Yige turned to the page about private gifts, her eyes fell on the four characters "Chaoyi Villa".

Her heart clenched painfully.

How could he give this to her too? That was his favorite place to live, the only place in Chang'an that truly belonged to him.

Her eyes instantly reddened, and a large tear dripped onto the four characters "Chaoyi Villa," slightly blurring the ink. She quickly used her handkerchief to gently absorb the tear, afraid of smudging it.

"Yige, what's wrong?" Xie Wanning asked with concern.

"It's nothing." Xie Yige shook her head and gently closed the sheet.

She just missed him.