Marry one, get one free!

Night fell.

The guests gradually dispersed after eating and drinking their fill, and Lu Changsheng headed toward the bridal chamber to consummate the marriage.

"Young master."

Outside the bridal chamber stood a girl in a blue-green skirt, her hair tied into two buns. She had a delicate, lovely face and large, clear eyes.

She was Lu Miaoyun's personal maid, Xiao Qing.

She also possessed a spiritual root and was an Immortal Cultivator.

Cultivation lineages like the Lu Lineage also searched the mortal world for children with spiritual roots to ensure a steady supply of fresh blood.

Once found, those children would be sent to Green Bamboo Mountain to be raised and trained.

However, aside from a few exceptionally talented children, most were taught crafts among the hundred arts of cultivation, such as tending spiritual plants, slaughtering spiritual beasts, cooking, brewing, and mining.

Compared with formations, medicinal pills, artifact refining, talismans, and the like, these crafts had few barriers to entry and were easy to pick up, though the work was rather grueling.

The Lu Lineage's spirit fields, spiritual bamboo, spiritual mines, and other menial tasks requiring cultivators were largely managed by these adopted children.

Once they came of age, the men generally married mortal women of the Lu Lineage, while the women became concubines to its young masters, keeping everything within the lineage.

Xiao Qing was one of the children the Lu Lineage had adopted at a young age, and she served as Lu Miaoyun's maid.

Barring any surprises, she would eventually have been married to a Lu Lineage member as his concubine.

But now that Lu Miaoyun had married Lu Changsheng, Xiao Qing had accompanied her as part of her dowry, becoming a bedchamber maid.

For Lu Changsheng, marrying Lu Miaoyun and receiving a young maid with a spiritual root as part of her dowry was an unexpected delight.

"Xiao Qing, thank you for your hard work."

Lu Changsheng smiled and nodded at the pretty young maid before pushing open the door and stepping inside.

Red lanterns blazed in the room, which was adorned with double-happiness characters and splendid wedding decorations.

Lu Miaoyun sat upright on the bed, wearing a fiery-red bridal gown embroidered with phoenixes, a phoenix crown, and a ceremonial cape, her head covered by a red veil.

"Yun'er."

Lu Changsheng approached the bed and called out to the beauty before him.

Lu Miaoyun did not answer, but her rigid posture betrayed a little of her nervousness.

"Young master."

Just then, Xiao Qing approached with a tray holding a jade balance rod and drinking vessels.

Although the Lu Lineage was a cultivation lineage, it had not completely abandoned worldly customs.

Lu Changsheng knew the ritual as well. He picked up the jade balance rod and gently lifted Lu Miaoyun's red veil.

It revealed a gentle, lovely face, radiant with beauty.

Her dark brows curved gracefully above clear eyes, her delicate nose was straight and pert, and her small lips were rosy. Though she was not as exquisitely stunning as Lu Miaohuan, she was still very beautiful.

Hers was a sweet face that grew lovelier the longer one looked, with the innocent charm of a girl next door.

"Husband~"

As her veil was lifted, Lu Miaoyun's long lashes trembled slightly. Her pretty cheeks flushed with shyness as she called to him in a soft, sweet voice tinged with innocent bashfulness.

Although she was not as timid and delicate as Qu Zhenzhen, neither was she a woman of effortless poise.

Besides, she had met Lu Changsheng only once before their marriage was arranged. How could she possibly remain perfectly composed on her wedding night?

Lu Changsheng smiled, picked up the wine pot from the tray, and poured Lu Miaoyun a cup of spirit wine before pouring one for himself.

"Yun'er, today we became husband and wife. From now on, we'll walk hand in hand through the rest of our lives. Come, let's drink this cup."

"Please guide me through the years ahead, husband~"

A shy blush appeared on Lu Miaoyun's face as she gazed at the handsome young man before her, then linked arms with him to drink.

"May young master and young mistress enjoy a hundred years of harmony and soon be blessed with a child."

Xiao Qing, standing beside them, collected the cups and offered her wishes in a bright voice.

Then she bowed and withdrew, closing the door behind her and leaving the newlyweds alone.

After drinking the wedding wine, Lu Changsheng immediately felt heat stirring in his lower abdomen and realized there was something in it.

Lu Miaoyun's face had also flushed a vivid red, blooming like a peach blossom.

At that moment, their breathing sounded exceptionally clear within the room.

Lu Changsheng did not need to think to know that the Lu Lineage had probably prepared this wedding wine specifically to heighten the pleasures of their wedding night.

He drew his little wife straight into his arms and said, "Yun'er, it's time for bed."

"Mm~ Husband, the lamps are still lit..."

Lu Miaoyun murmured softly.

"It's fine. This way, I can see clearly."

That year, Lu Changsheng was twenty-two.

He had five wives, six concubines, two favored consorts, and one bedchamber maid.

The next day, daylight shone brightly.

Gentle, warm sunlight streamed through the window and spilled into the room, illuminating the crimson wedding robe and fiery-red bridal gown strewn across the floor.

When Lu Changsheng woke, he looked at the beauty in his arms, her hair disheveled and traces of tears still lingering at the corners of her eyes. He felt comfortable all over and full of vigor, without the slightest fatigue.

Looking at Lu Miaoyun's endearingly vulnerable appearance and recalling the previous night, Lu Changsheng thought that his little wife was truly sweet and obedient, without a trace of a spoiled young lady's temper.

He could not resist kissing her lovely, fair cheek.

That small gesture immediately woke Lu Miaoyun. She opened her eyes and called softly to Lu Changsheng.

"Husband~"

Her voice was soft and sweetly bashful, stirring tender desire in Lu Changsheng's heart.

He gently pinched her fair, rosy cheek and said softly, "It's still early. Get some more rest."

"We still have to visit Grandmother later."

Lu Miaoyun rubbed her sleepy eyes and made to rise rather than going back to sleep.

Seeing this, Lu Changsheng immediately supported her.

But Lu Miaoyun was, after all, at the chain qi fourth layer, and her body was stronger than an ordinary person's.

Lu Changsheng had retained some restraint the previous night, so he had not left her unable to get up and move after their first time together.

Besides, the spirit wine had benefited her somewhat as well.

The two then got out of bed and dressed.

Lu Miaoyun quickly put away the handkerchief, placing it in a brocade box decorated with mandarin ducks beside the bed.

The sight brought an amused smile to Lu Changsheng's face.

Once they had straightened their clothes, they opened the door, ready to pay their respects to the Fourth Elder.

"Young master, young mistress."

Xiao Qing was standing guard outside the door. Clearly, she had not slept all night.

"Xiao Qing, didn't I tell you? You don't need to stand guard. Hurry and get some rest."

Lu Miaoyun spoke to Xiao Qing.

Maids with spiritual roots like Xiao Qing did not simply wait on the young masters and mistresses they accompanied.

They performed miscellaneous chores while also learning a few things.

If they were

used solely to wait on others, it would have been far too wasteful.

"Young mistress, I'm not tired."

Xiao Qing smiled gently, her voice as clear and lilting as an oriole's.

She possessed a ninth-grade spiritual root and was already at the chain qi second layer, giving her more energy than an ordinary person.

Lu Miaoyun said nothing more. Hand in hand with Lu Changsheng, she left the manor and went to the Fourth Elder's residence.