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

Looking at her lowered eyes, Li Zhige felt a sudden softening in his heart, and his voice unconsciously became softer: "I will be waiting for you all at the birthday banquet in three days."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Li Zhige got up to take his leave. Zhou Xuan'an saw him to the door, watching as the heavy boxes were carried in. He exchanged a glance with his sister, both seeing the same helplessness in each other's eyes—

That thank-you gift was far too extravagant.

Upon opening the box, the three of them were even more astonished.

The first box contained books. Not ordinary classics, but rare and unique editions hard to find on the market, including even handwritten examination papers from several former dynasty's top scholars, their pages yellowed but the ink still vibrant—clearly, they had been painstakingly collected. This gift truly touched Zhou Xuan'an's heart.

The second box was for Xie Wanrou. Inside was a complete set of headdress inlaid with rubies and pure gold: hairpins, hair ornaments, hair sticks, hair ornaments, hair ornaments, and hair veils... each piece was exquisitely crafted, the gemstones were of excellent quality, and they were dazzlingly bright. There was also a piece of bright red brocade, woven with a dark pattern of phoenixes, clearly a good omen for the bride.

The third box was for Xie Yige. Inside were not jewels or gold, but a handwritten copy of "Lady Wei's Emergency Rescue Strategies," passed down from the previous dynasty. The pages were well-preserved, and the ink was elegant. Also inside was a small, exquisite jewel-encrusted dagger with a sharkskin sheath; its blade was as sharp as autumn frost, clearly not an ordinary item. At the very bottom were several bolts of the most fashionable soft silk gauze in Chang'an at the time, all in elegant moon white, pale purple, and light green.

The gift was perfectly measured—the book and dagger were fitting for her act of saving the old lady; the fabric was a token of affection for a young lady in her boudoir. It was neither frivolous nor lacking in value.

"This..." Zhou Xuan'an looked at the room full of boxes and smiled wryly, "The General's Mansion is sending such a gift, it puts even more pressure on us to give the Old Madam her birthday gift."

Xie Wanrou sighed softly, "It really took a lot of effort."

Xie Yige didn't speak, her fingers gently tracing the pages of "Lady Wei's Emergency Rescue Strategies." The edges of the pages were a little rough, but it was well-preserved, clearly having been flipped through many times and cherished.

Back at Pear Garden, Xie Yige sat by the window, lost in thought.

What would be a good birthday gift for the matriarch? Ordinary items wouldn't be appropriate, but where could I find something that would suit her taste so quickly?

Just as I was feeling troubled, a cheerful voice suddenly rang in my mind—

"Ding~ Master! My dear master! I, Hu Hansan, am back!"

Xie Yige was taken aback, then overjoyed: "Dudu? You're finally back! Why did you disappear for so long last time?"

"Ugh, don't even mention it." The little blue creature rolled around in her mind, its voice melancholic. "Last time I tried to enter a dream remotely, it took too much energy and crashed. But—"

It suddenly perked up, its little body wriggling like seaweed, performing a strange dance: "Master, you ate so well last night! You've replenished your energy perfectly, and Dudu is fully recharged!"

"What do you mean by 'eating too well'?" Xie Yige asked blankly. "I only drank a little alcohol last night..."

"Master, stop pretending!" Dudu stopped. "You and Cui Langjun had a passionate kiss in the carriage last night, and your intimacy level skyrocketed! So my energy was fully replenished in no time! Intimacy level really is a good thing, Master, keep it up next time!"

The string of words stunned Xie Yige.

kiss?

She and Cui Yutang?

On the carriage?

Her cheeks flushed, and her mind went blank. Yes, when she woke up this morning, her lips did feel unusually swollen; she had thought it was from being drunk…

But... but she has absolutely no recollection of it!

"Oh my god..." Xie Yige covered her burning face, feeling embarrassed, annoyed, and with a hint of regret that she couldn't quite put her finger on. "I've really missed out... How could I not remember something so important..."

Dudu bounced around in her mind: "Master, do you really want to make up for it? Go quickly! Dudu supports you."

"Shut up!" Xie Yige was so embarrassed that she wished she could disappear into a crack in the ground, but deep in her heart, this confirmation also stirred up a secret sweetness.

He kissed her.

While she was completely unaware.

Does that mean... he feels the same way as her? This thought made her heart pound like a drum.

"Master," Dudu suddenly became serious, "your emotional fluctuations are so strange right now. You're feeling shy, sweet, and regretful all at once... Humans are truly complex creatures."

Xie Yige ignored it, burying her face in her arms, her ears turning bright red.

After a long while, she finally raised her head, took a deep breath, and forced herself to calm down. The most urgent task was to prepare a birthday gift for the old lady.

At the Zhenguo General's Mansion, the Dowager Lady's sixtieth birthday banquet was held.

The vermilion gates were wide open, and guests thronged the area. Zhou Xuan'an, accompanied by his wife's younger sister, presented their visiting cards. Upon seeing the cards, the gatekeeper immediately led the way with exceptional respect—the old matriarch had instructed that these were specially invited distinguished guests.

Passing through the magnificent front courtyard, one arrives at the main hall. Madam Li sits regally in the main seat, dressed in an ochre-red brocade robe adorned with five auspicious symbols and longevity symbols. Her white hair is meticulously combed, her complexion is remarkably ruddy, her eyes are sharp, and she exudes an air of authority without anger.

Zhou Xuan'an led Xie Wanrou and Xie Yige forward to solemnly offer their birthday greetings.

"Junior Zhou Xuan'an, along with my wife and younger sister, respectfully wish the old lady a long and healthy life, like evergreen pines and cypresses."

The old lady's gaze swept over the three of them, lingering on Xie Yige's face for a moment before she smiled genuinely: "Good children, get up. You must be tired from the journey. Thank you all for your help that day."

"You flatter us, Madam. It is what we juniors should do." Zhou Xuan'an gestured to his servants to present the birthday gifts.

First, there was the rosewood ornament with fragments of iron embedded in it. The iron pieces had been polished and gleamed with a dim luster under the lights in the hall. The marks of the break and the blurred flaming scimitar emblem silently told tales of vicissitudes.

The old lady's gaze fell on the iron sheet, and she paused slightly.

"This item was acquired by my mother by chance when she traveled to the border region in her early years," Xie Yige explained softly, his tone gentle. "My mother once said that this iron was stained with the blood of loyal souls and witnessed the defeat and death of enemy leaders, and she treasured it all the time. Now that it has met a wise ruler, it has finally found its rightful place."

She then gestured to present the medicated oil, hot compress pack, and bamboo "sunshine and rain" ornament: "These are a small token of my brother and sister-in-law's appreciation. The medicated oil and pack may relieve old wounds and lingering pain, and the bamboo bell will vibrate slightly in damp conditions as a reminder. May the old lady enjoy good health and a cheerful disposition."

The old lady gazed at the piece of iron for a long time, then glanced at the thoughtful little items one by one. A complex mix of emotions flashed through her eyes—reminiscence, sentimentality, and finally, deep satisfaction.

She looked up, her gaze falling on Xie Yige's serene and beautiful face. She nodded slowly, her voice unusually gentle: "You've put your heart into this. I'm very pleased with this gift. Your mother... has taught you very well."

These words carried a deeper meaning. Xie Yige lowered her head: "Grandma Xie is too kind."

"Yige, come sit with me over there." Li Zhiwei cheerfully pulled her away from her grandmother.

Just then, a slight commotion arose outside the hall. The steward hurriedly entered and reported, "Madam, the young master of the Cui family has come to offer birthday greetings on behalf of Madam Cui."