I bring bad luck to my husband, you bring bad luck to your wife.

Wang Xiaoyu suddenly raised his head and glared fiercely at Yang Tongchuan like a dying beast, startling the jailer standing to the side, who thought Wang Xiaoyu was about to rush up and bite Yang Tongchuan.

"I did it all. I killed that beast. I confess. Sentence me however you like."

"I'm just a constable, I can't convict you. Convicting you is the job of the county magistrate. Take a look at this statement, and if you think it's okay, then sign it." Yang Tongchuan handed the paper to Wang Xiaoyu to sign.

Wang Xiaoyu pressed his fingerprint without hesitation.

Yang Tongchuan quickly organized the case and presented it to County Lieutenant Zhou.

After all, someone like Wang Dayu, even in death, is considered a service to the people.

Actually, the homeowner had no intention of coming back at all.

Asking Wang Xiaoyu if he has any older or younger sisters is just a way of bluffing.

Sometimes, it's better to be a little oblivious to certain things.

Wang Xiaoyu was executed according to the law for intentionally killing his brother.

The body was left unclaimed and was disposed of by the authorities.

Yang Tongchuan felt a pang of regret. Wang Xiaoyu was still too young. He could have been more selfish, ignored everything, and left this place to live his own life far, far away. But instead, he chose this dead end.

Long after the case was closed, Yang Tongchuan was patrolling the market when he encountered Wang's father, who had become a beggar, huddled in a corner, trembling.

Just as Yang Tongchuan was lamenting the cyclical nature of karma, he saw the maid from County Magistrate Zhou's household, whose name he didn't even know.

Then I saw the maid walk up to the king's father.

Instead of giving the beggar money or food, she spat in his face, kicked him, and then turned and left gracefully.

An old lady surnamed Zhou bought a maidservant to warm her son's bed, claiming she had never been to Magistrate Zhou's room.

Yang Tongchuan didn't believe it.

Perhaps this maid was not directly involved in the murder, but she must still be hiding many secrets.

Yang Tongchuan decided not to investigate further. In this world, there are people who are willing to sacrifice themselves to protect another person's secret.

I won't interfere with this cause and effect.

------------

The seventh day of the seventh lunar month is the Qixi Festival.

Early in the morning, Xiangxi got up to prepare things for the festival.

In the courtyard, Xiangxi followed the example of Yang's mother from the previous year, setting up an incense table and offering fine fruits and wine in preparation for the Qixi Festival ceremony.

Yang Tongchuan was off work today, and he took Xuebao out early in the morning to buy Qiaoguo (a type of fried dough).

"Brother Xiang, go outside and see why Grandpa hasn't come back yet." Xiangxi put the little spider that Yang Tongchuan had caught for him before leaving into a small wooden box.

This is a tradition of the Qixi Festival. The next day, observe the density of the spider web in the small wooden box; a dense web is considered an auspicious sign.

Last year, the one that Yang's mother caught had a thick spider web.

"Okay." Xiang Ge walked a few steps quickly and saw Yang Tongchuan carrying Qiaoguo, returning alone, at the corner outside the courtyard.

"Grandpa, let me carry it. Where's Xuebao?" Xiang Ge tried to take Qiaoguo from him.

"You don't need to mention it. Xuebao has been sent to his grandparents' house. You should go there too. Spend the festival with your brother tonight. You don't need to come back. Come back together tomorrow when your husband goes to pick up Xuebao." Yang Tongchuan casually gave Xiang Ge about ten coins, which were left over after buying Qiaoguo (a type of pastry).

"Thank you, sir." Xiang Ge accepted the holiday reward money, and upon hearing that he could see his brother again, he ran off happily.

When Yang Tongchuan arrived home, Xiangxi had prepared everything except for the Qiaoguo (a type of fried dough).

"Why did it take so long? Where is the child?" Xiangxi took the Qiaoguo and placed it on the table.

"Xuebao said she missed her grandparents, so I sent her over."

Yang Tongchuan would not admit that he had tricked the child.

He wanted to spend the holiday alone with Xiangxi today.

Xiangxi glanced at Yang Tongchuan.

He doesn't believe it.

"Where's Xiang Ge? He went out looking for you earlier, did you run into him?"

"We ran into him. I told him to go to his parents' house to celebrate the festival with his brother. It's just the two of us at home today. I'll take you out to play this afternoon." Yang Tongchuan had already found out that there were many performances outside tonight.

He wanted to take Xiangxi to see the sights instead of carrying Xuebao.

Holding the child is inconvenient for both of us, and Xuebao is getting heavy and restless now, so we can't play happily with him.

"Then wait a moment, I'll change my clothes after the ceremony and then go out." Xiangxi had already guessed his little scheme, so she didn't expose him.

At noon, Xiangxi placed a basin of water that had been exposed to the sun in the courtyard.

A thin film of dust will form on the water's surface. If you drop a needle into the water at this time, it will float on the surface. If the shape of the needle's shadow in the water resembles a cloud or a flower, then it is a sign of good fortune and auspiciousness.

"Is it ready?" Yang Tongchuan asked anxiously as he headed out the door, unable to resist urging him on.

"Okay, coming right away."

Xiangxi was overjoyed to receive a needle shadow with a colorful cloud pattern. Her steps became noticeably lighter.

On the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, during the hot summer, Xiangxi specially went back inside to change into a light green shirt.

After thinking for a moment, she took out a box of perfume balm from the cabinet and applied it to her neck. It was a scent that Duan Ziqiu had blended herself, with the addition of mint and jasmine. It was especially suitable for use when the summer heat was intense.

"Smells good." Yang Tongchuan walked silently and hugged Xiangxi from behind, bringing his big head close to Xiangxi's neck and taking a big breath.

He stole a kiss, which made Xiangxi's neck very itchy.

"Don't do anything reckless, we still have to go out." Xiangxi's clothes were wrinkled from being squeezed.

"Where's the silver hairpin your mother gave you? Replace it with this one without the wood. It's a festival today, there's no need to be so plain." Yang Tongchuan pulled the wooden hairpin off Xiangxi's hair and was going to replace it with a silver one.

"So elaborate? Should I apply some lip rouge like a lady?" Xiangxi took the wooden hairpin back from Yang Tongchuan. He had used this hairpin for a long time and was used to it. It was a little strange to suddenly switch to a silver one.

"Apply it again tonight, just for me to see, so I can also have the pleasure of tasting how fragrant your Shuanghua Pavilion lip rouge is." Yang Tongchuan said, shamelessly swallowing his saliva.

"You're so glib." Xiangxi pretended to be angry and tapped Yang Tongchuan's arm.

"Really, let me try it tonight. It's just the two of us at home tonight."

"Aren't you going to pick up Xuebao? I thought we could pick the child up on our way tonight." Xiangxi finished getting ready and even helped Yang Tongchuan straighten his belt, which had been askew earlier.

"It's fine to let him sleep with his grandparents for one night. I've already told my parents that we won't pick him up tonight." When Yang Tongchuan put the child down, his older brother mocked him, saying that he was being driven mad by lust.

Yang Tongchuan felt that his older brother was just being a sour grapes.

---------

After getting ready, Yang Tongchuan took Xiangxi's hand and went out.

Yang Tongchuan takes long strides and walks quickly, but when he is holding Xiangxi's hand, he will deliberately slow down a bit so that Xiangxi doesn't have to struggle to keep up.