Feast, Emperor's Demise

The Old Rogue called out without regard for the rules. As for Qing Nü, she was just there to join the fun; it wasn't going to be recorded under her name anyway!

Give money?

Not a chance!

In thousands of years, when had the Snake Girl ever given such an expensive gift to anyone?

If she didn't take yours, you'd be lucky your ancestors had burned enough incense!

However, after shouting "Ten Thousand Greeting Money," the Lü Family did indeed treat Liu Ji and Qing Nü with great hospitality.

Qing Nü understood that the Lü Family wasn't doing this because they truly believed Liu Ji could produce twenty thousand coins. Where would the Old Rogue get that kind of money? The Lü Family was after his status.

Sishui Pavilion Chief, the Local Tyrant of Pei County!

Connected to both the Black and White factions.

Liu Ji himself was worth far more to the Lü Family than these mere ten thousand coins.

During the feast, Qing Nü looked over the Lü Family's possessions.

Whether it was Goldware or Pearls and Jade, they were all incredibly valuable. The Snake Girl's eyes were glued to them. In her entire life, she hadn't seen so many Treasures, except perhaps in the State Ruler's Palace Room.

She whispered to Liu Ji, "Liu Lao San, let's team up and move all this stuff home, shall we?"

As soon as she said that, even Liu Ji looked at Qing Nü in surprise.

Then, he lowered his voice and leaned closer.

"Qing Nü Brother, when should we make our move? How about tonight? I can call a few more brothers."

Qing Nü: "..."

"You're serious about moving it?"

The Snake Girl was just saying it, but the Old Rogue was actually planning to act!

As they were talking, Duke Lu walked over to them.

Qing Nü thought he had overheard her and Liu Ji's conversation and had come to catch the snake. She was about to ditch Liu Ji there to draw fire and escape. Her hand had already reached Liu Ji's shoulder when she saw Duke Lu cup his hands towards them and say, "Esteemed guests, please come to the back room for a chat?"

He wasn't here to catch the snake?

Qing Nü blinked and saw Liu Ji agree.

As Duke Lu walked towards the back room, he turned to look at Qing Nü, glanced at the hand she had placed on his shoulder, and asked, "Qing Nü Brother, you weren't thinking of pushing me out to block someone just now, were you?"

Qing Nü retracted her Claws, clenched her fist, coughed lightly, and shook her head with a righteous expression, saying, "Of course not! Am I that kind of snake?"

Looking at Qing Nü's serious expression, Liu Ji chuckled and patted her shoulder.

"I knew it, how could Qing Nü Brother be that kind of person? Come on, let's go see what Duke Lu wants with us!"

Qing Nü: "..."

After Liu Ji got up, Hong Luan quietly landed on her shoulder and said, "You've been found out, haven't you?"

"So what? As long as I'm not embarrassed, it's others who will be."

Qing Nü said calmly.

Hong Luan added, "Do you think Liu Lao San looks like someone who would be embarrassed?"

He definitely doesn't!

Qing Nü pushed herself up from the table and followed Liu Ji into the back room.

In the back room, Duke Lu bowed deeply to Liu Ji and stated that he was skilled in face reading, saying that Liu Ji's face was a noble countenance of one in ten thousand!

"Hey? This is just like what you said before, Qing Nü Brother!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Ji happily nudged Qing Nü with his elbow.

Only because Qing Nü didn't care about such formalities would someone else have beaten Liu Ji up long ago.

"Oh? This young lady is also skilled in face reading?"

Hearing Liu Ji's words, Duke Lu turned his head with interest to look at Qing Nü. He said, "May I ask where this young lady's lineage comes from? My family's face reading is passed down from Ancestor Jiang Tai Gong!"

Jiang Tai Gong?

Can't find it by searching the book title, maybe try searching the author, perhaps they just changed their name!

Qing Nü remembered. There was indeed a saying that the Lü Family was a branch of the former Jiang Qi royal clan after it dispersed.

She sized up Duke Lu and said, "Mine too."

"Hm?"

Duke Lu was stunned.

What did she mean, "Mine too"?

While Duke Lu was in a daze, Liu Ji took the initiative to change the subject, steering the conversation elsewhere.

Duke Lu didn't dwell on Qing Nü's words and started chatting with Liu Ji.

As they talked, Duke Lu was deeply impressed by Liu Ji's eloquence. Coupled with the so-called face reading, he insisted on marrying his Daughter to Liu Ji, which stunned Qing Nü standing beside them.

Is it this easy to get engaged these days?

Qing Nü glanced at Duke Lu and asked, "Aren't you going to consider it?"

Duke Lu smiled and shook his head, saying, "No need to consider! Liu Gong has such distinguished bearing. It would be a good match for my daughter to marry him!"

"Ah, this, this, this..."

Qing Nü leaned back as if dodging a blow.

She looked at the beaming Duke Lu and Liu Lao San, her expression complicated.

Qing Nü had expected Lu Zhi to protest or outright refuse the idea of marrying the Old Rogue. But when Duke Lu told her about it, she accepted it directly!

"You're not refusing? Liu Lao San is much older than you."

Qing Nü looked at the well-behaved and quiet Lu Zhi, tilting her head as she asked.

Lu Zhi looked at her, smiled faintly, and shook her head, saying, "Parents' Command is something one cannot refuse! Moreover, Liu Ji is the Sishui Pavilion Chief, and our family needs his support. Since Father says his countenance indicates great fortune, marrying him is not a problem."

Qing Nü rested her chin on her hand, looking at Lu Zhi, and clicked her tongue, shaking her head.

"Ah, this, this, this..."

Snake was speechless.

The future Empress Lü was still a Docile Little Lamb at this time.

On the way back, Liu Lao San was overjoyed. He had only gone to mooch a meal, but he unexpectedly gained a wife!

This was a tremendous stroke of luck.

When Liu Tai Gong learned of it, he looked at Liu Ji with newfound admiration!

Liu Ji and Lu Zhi's wedding ceremony was set for the following month. The Lu family was responsible for all the preparations. The Old Rogue merely brought some dog meat as a gift and married a beautiful young lady. It was so easy it made Qing Nü's teeth itch. She said, "Old Heaven is truly good to the Old Rogue."

Hong Luan tilted her head and asked, "Do you want to get married too?"

"Do I have that ability?"

Qing Nü rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue, shaking her head. "Sigh... Should we also send a wedding gift?"

Hong Luan asked again, "But what should we send?"

Upon hearing Hong Luan's question, Qing Nü immediately began rummaging through her belongings. "Let me look. I remember I originally prepared something for that girl Bao Si back then..."

"That was hundreds of years ago! Stupid Snake, what's wrong with your brain?"

Hong Luan complained.

Verdant Green Maiden paused, blinking as she said, "That's true too."

Why has her memory been so bad lately?

Verdant Green Maiden shook her head, took a deep breath, and said, "Fine! Let's go hunting and bring them back a bull."

The Snake Girl had prepared a generous gift, a whole bull, and she had managed to resist stealing even a bite.

The Lü Family's wedding procession departed into the sunset.

Liu Tai Gong had also tidied up Home, preparing to welcome his daughter-in-law.

The guests chatted and laughed in the courtyard. Lu Wan, with a large group of brothers, was busy organizing things. Liu Ji's smile was as bright as a flower. Xiao He arrived with a jar of wine and a bolt of silk to offer congratulations, still unable to help but sighing at how lucky the Old Rogue was to be bringing a wife home.

"Of course! Don't you see who I am!"

Liu Ji said proudly.

Lu Zhi arrived at the Liu Family home, surrounded by children.

However, just then, a Black Clad Horse galloped swiftly outside the street. The rider held high a Black Xuan Water Banner and shouted, "The Emperor has passed away! The world mourns! All celebrations are forbidden!"