The charming widow of the Marquis's mansion: The stable boy carries the flag and raises the dra

Roasted spirit mutton, honey-glazed spirit chicken wings, stir-fried spirit vegetables, spirit fish soup, spirit mushroom stewed spirit pigeon, and some other stir-fries whose names I don't know—all are brightly colored and have an enticing aroma.

Everyone sat around the table, and Ye Niannu raised her wine glass and spoke with a smile.

"Come, toast to my lord! It's a rare treat for you to cook yourself, so let's eat our fill today!"

"Respectfully, my lord!"

"Respect the elderly!"

"Respect, Father!"

"Respect to Uncle Long!"

Several voices rose up in a disorderly manner, yet strangely blended together.

Wang Long smiled, picked up his wine glass, looked around, and lingered for a moment on each smiling face.

"Okay, we're having a great time today, everyone eat as much as you like!"

After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became increasingly lively.

Qin Jiaojiao held a skewer of roasted mutton in her left hand and a piece of honey-glazed chicken wing in her right, her mouth glistening with oil, her little face filled with satisfaction.

While eating, Qin Minglan bickered with Ye Niannu, saying that the piece of meat in Ye Niannu's bowl was bigger than hers.

Xu Wanyun picked up another piece for each of them and said with a smile that she wasn't being biased.

Murong Qing ate quietly, occasionally adding a piece of food to Wang Long's bowl with her chopsticks, without saying a word, just smiling.

Ye Niannu took a few sips of the fruit wine, her cheeks flushing slightly.

She leaned against Wang Long, wrapped her arms around his, rested her chin on his shoulder, and spoke in a soft, slightly tipsy voice.

"My lord..."

Her breath carried a faint scent of fruit wine as she breathed into his ear.

"I missed you all night."

Wang Long was putting a piece of roasted mutton into his mouth when her words made him pause and turn his head to look at her.

Ye Niannu's peach blossom eyes were half-open and half-closed, reflecting the flickering firelight, shimmering with water, and filled with undisguised affection.

He couldn't help but laugh, put down his chopsticks, and gently pinched her cheek.

"It's only been a short time since we last met, and you already miss me?"

"I want to~"

Ye Niannu answered confidently, her voice charming and alluring, with a hint of coquetry.

"Thinking about it a lot."

As she spoke, she buried her face in his shoulder, like a lazy cat finding its most comfortable spot.

The courtyard was quiet for a moment, then a burst of good-natured laughter rang out.

Xu Wanyun picked up her wine glass and took a sip, her eyes filled with a mischievous smile.

Luo Hanyi couldn't help but smile.

Although Qin Jiaojiao didn't quite understand, she saw everyone laughing and grinned along with them.

Wang Long looked down at Ye Niannu, who was leaning on his shoulder, and then at the smiling faces all over the table.

He reached out and picked up another skewer of charred mutton, put it in his mouth and chewed it a couple of times, then picked up his wine glass and took a sip.

A gentle night breeze rustled through the locust tree branches.

Sitting amidst this warm laughter, Wang Long suddenly felt that perhaps his entire life had been dedicated to striving for this moment.

He glanced down at the slightly warm Immortal Palace mark on the back of his hand, then looked up at the star-studded night sky above.

"Days like this."

He murmured to himself.

"If only things could stay like this forever~"

The courtyard gradually quieted down, the charcoal fire was still crackling, and the last few skewers of meat on the grill had gone cold.

The stone table was littered with cups and plates, and the empty jar of spirit fruit wine lay askew by the table leg. The aroma of roasted meat and fruit wine still lingered in the air.

Qin Jiaojiao was the first to give up.

She lay on Luo Hanyi's lap, clutching half a piece of osmanthus cake in her hand, her little face buried in Luo Hanyi's skirt.

His breathing was long and even, and a glistening sugar stain clung to the corner of his mouth.

Little Chick nestled against her shoulder, curling itself into a ball of golden fluff, and both of them slept soundly.

Luo Hanyi looked down at her sleeping daughter in her arms, then glanced at the slumped crowd around her, a helpless smile appearing on her lips.

She gently patted Qin Jiaojiao's back, her voice extremely low.

"Jiaojiao, go back to your room and sleep, the floor is cold."

Qin Jiaojiao mumbled something indistinctly, turned over, and hugged her even tighter, showing no sign of waking up.

Luo Hanyi sighed and looked up at Wang Long.

Wang Long understood, got up and walked over, bent down and carefully lifted Qin Jiaojiao from her lap, his movements gentle, as if he were holding a fragile treasure.

Qin Jiaojiao snuggled closer to him, shifting to a more comfortable position. She mumbled "Daddy" before falling into a deep sleep again.

"I'll take her to rest."

Wang Long said in a low voice.

Luo Hanyi nodded, stood up, and smoothed the slightly wrinkled hem of her clothes.

"I'll sleep with her. She drank some fruit wine tonight, so I'm afraid she'll need water in the middle of the night."

As she spoke, she glanced at the other people scattered around the stone table, then hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but stopped herself.

Wang Long smiled, indicating that she should rest assured. Luo Hanyi didn't say anything more and followed him into the house.

Wang Long gently placed Qin Jiaojiao on the couch and covered her with a light blanket. Luo Hanyi sat by the bed, reaching out to tidy her daughter's disheveled hair, her gaze tender.

Wang Long stood by the door for a while, but did not disturb the rare tranquility. He then turned around and gently closed the door.

When I returned to the courtyard, it was so quiet around the stone table that only the sound of the wind could be heard.

Ye Niannu had slumped back in her chair at some point, her arm resting on the armrest, her head tilted to one side, her black hair cascading over her shoulder, her sleeping face peaceful, and a faint smile still lingering on her lips.

Xu Wanyun was lying on the table next to her, with the book she had never been able to read still open beside her.

The pages of the book turned gently in the night breeze, making a soft rustling sound.

Qin Minglan lay down directly on the grass in the courtyard, sprawled out, and Ta Xue had moved over there at some point.

He snorted softly, touched her cheek with his head, and when she didn't react, he lay down beside her and closed his eyes.

Murong Qing was still sitting, but she was leaning back in her chair, her head nodding off almost as if it were about to slide down.

Wang Long stood in the center of the courtyard, looking around at the chaotic scene, and couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle.

He first walked to Ye Niannu's side, bent down and gently picked her up.

Ye Niannu opened her eyes briefly in a half-awake state, saw it was him, and murmured "My lord" indistinctly. She reached out and hooked her arms around his neck before closing her eyes again and falling asleep.

Wang Long carried her into the house and placed her on the tatami mat. He then turned to pick up Xu Wanyun. As he picked her up, Xu Wanyun mumbled, "Uncle Long... we haven't finished harvesting the vegetables yet..."

He replied softly, "We'll collect it tomorrow," and she stopped struggling, quietly leaning against him.

Murong Qing was still a little dazed when he gently woke her up. She rubbed her eyes, stood up, and obediently followed him into the house. After taking two steps, she stopped and turned back to point to the grass.

"Sister Minglan..."

Wang Long patted her on the shoulder.

"I'll go and carry her, you go inside and sleep first."

Murong Qing nodded obediently and went into the room by herself.

Wang Long finally walked to the grass, bent down to look at Qin Minglan who was already fast asleep, and then reached out to pick her up horizontally.

Qin Minglan wrinkled her nose in her sleep and mumbled indistinctly, "Old man, stop making noise..."

Then she turned over, buried her face in his chest, and continued to sleep.