Back at the Kang Wang Residence, Zhou Fan exited his state of unity with heaven and earth, and gently pushed open the door to his and Jiang Qingzhi's bridal chamber.
As soon as he entered, Zhou Fan was caught by Jiang Qingzhi, who was grooming herself in front of the mirror.
"Husband, where did you go today?" Jiang Qingzhi, seeing that Zhou Fan had finally returned, immediately threw herself into his arms, pressing tightly against his chest as she asked.
Zhou Fan stammered, unsure how to answer for a moment.
He didn't know whether he should respond to Jiang Qingzhi, who was waiting for him at home, with a clumsy lie or a hurtful truth.
Oh, I should have known to buy a few bouquets of gardenias that Qingzhi likes, and then a few boxes of gardenia-flavored desserts that Qingzhi loves before coming back.
Just as Zhou Fan, this scoundrel, was still racking his brain for sweet nothings, Jiang Qingzhi's lips already sealed his.
"Never mind, those aren't important." After a light kiss on Zhou Fan, Jiang Qingzhi looked up into his eyes and said emotionally.
"Husband, Qingzhi missed you."
Zhou Fan looked at the understanding and gentle beauty in his arms and immediately felt overwhelming guilt.
He slapped himself mentally, feeling like he was truly a scumbag.
Seven days, at least for these seven days, I will only accompany Qingzhi and Yaya. As for those other women who are all about lust and no love, we can talk about them after seven days.
"Qingzhi, your husband missed you too."
"Mmm~"
...
After a period of mutual affection and tender intimacy, Zhou Fan and Jiang Qingzhi clung to each other again for a sweet dinner.
Then Jiang Qingzhi magically changed into a new bridal gown to show Zhou Fan, which naturally whetted his appetite.
However, while Zhou Fan liked Jiang Qingzhi's efforts to please him, he felt more heartache.
He lifted Jiang Qingzhi's new red veil and gently held her in his arms, saying,
"Qingzhi, you don't need to do so much for me. The bridal veil is so heavy; I'd be heartbroken if it crushed you."
"Husband, Qingzhi just wants to make you happy. Besides, Qingzhi is very selfish; Qingzhi wants Husband to love me more."
"Qingzhi... I'm sorry, actually, this afternoon I..."
Just as Zhou Fan was about to confess his scoundrelly behavior, he felt his mouth being covered.
After a long while, the two separated.
Jiang Qingzhi looked at Zhou Fan and said seriously, "Qingzhi said, those aren't important."
"Qingzhi only hopes that Husband will always have a place for Qingzhi in his heart, that's enough."
"Qingzhi..."
"Husband..."
The candlelight in the room was extinguished again by Zhou Fan, who manipulated the energy of heaven and earth. In the dark room, there were only the increasingly heavy breaths of two people...
The next day, Zhou Fan still got up early and prepared a nutritious breakfast for Qingzhi and himself.
Jiang Qingzhi also got up very early. After they finished breakfast together, they walked hand in hand towards Jiang Linfeng's residence.
But just as they arrived at Jiang Linfeng's courtyard gate, it suddenly opened, and the maid Xiaocui ran out in a panic.
As soon as she saw Zhou Fan and Jiang Qingzhi, she looked as if she had seen a savior and said anxiously,
"Young Master-in-law, Young Miss, please go and see Master! Master, he's... he's not doing well."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Fan and Jiang Qingzhi quickly walked to Jiang Linfeng's bedside. Seeing Jiang Linfeng lying on the bed, his breath as faint as a wisp of smoke, Jiang Qingzhi's eyes reddened again.
Jiang Linfeng also sensed their arrival. He tried his best to turn his head and looked at the two, who were like a harmonious zither and deeply in love, and smiled with relief.
Jiang Linfeng used the last of his life's strength to point to the letter paper by the bed, then closed his eyes and passed away peacefully.
"Father!" Jiang Qingzhi looked at her old father, who had passed away with a smile on his face, and the tears in her eyes could no longer be held back.
She rushed to the bedside, recalling her father's clumsy love for her, and Jiang Qingzhi cried uncontrollably.
Zhou Fan felt a deep sorrow in his heart upon seeing Jiang Linfeng finally pass away. After all, decades of friendship were not something everyone could discard as a hindrance like Chu Yanran.
Zhou Fan silently walked to Jiang Linfeng's bedside. He looked at Linfeng Xiong's thin face with a relieved smile, and his eyes also became a little moist.
"Haha, Brother, let's go to the Rouge Pavilion!"
"With Brother, I'm like a fish in water!"
"With Brother assisting me, this position of Kang Wang is truly as easy as picking something out of one's pocket."
"Brother, don't be shy! Today I'll send five innocent girls to Brother's residence, so Brother can have a good time."
"Alas, Brother, you, oh you, why are you so oblivious?"
"If you don't want beauties, then surely delicious food and wine will do. Come, today, you and I, Brothers, will eat meat heartily and drink wine by the bowl."
"Brother, are you really going to retire from the Jianghu?"
"Alright, leave this matter to your elder Brother!"
"Brother, that girl Qingzhi wants to practice martial arts, so I'll entrust her to you."
"Brother, ah, this farewell, who knows when we'll meet again... Come, drink!"
"You are... Zhou Fan Xian Di?"
"You've had a Breakthrough to Innate?"
"Alas, Brother, I'm old. Qingzhi is entrusted to you..."
"Brother..."
Recalling his moments with Jiang Linfeng, Zhou Fan only felt that today's sandstorm was a bit strong.
He didn't know when, but the sandstorm had blurred his vision.
"Linfeng Xiong..."
...
Jiang Linfeng's passing was a heavy blow to both Jiang Qingzhi and Zhou Fan.
But death is inevitable for all humans; the living must continue to live.
However, after Jiang Linfeng's departure, Zhou Fan's desire for eternal life grew even stronger.
He couldn't imagine how painful it would be if, one day, Jiang Qingzhi or Yaya, due to old age, eventually died in his arms.
Looking at Jiang Qingzhi, who had cried herself unconscious and was nestled in his arms, Zhou Fan secretly made a resolution in his heart.
I must, absolutely must, bring Qingzhi and Yaya to eternal life with me.
This is a promise that I, Zhou Fan, will spend my entire life fulfilling.
...
Seven days later.
The funeral of Kang Wang Jiang Linfeng completed its final process. Everyone in the Kang Wang Residence was dressed in mourning clothes, wearing plain attire.
The former Kang Wang Consort, Murong Qing, was required to observe three years of mourning for Kang Wang, while Jiang Qingzhi, as Kang Wang's daughter, needed to observe three months of mourning.
Zhou Fan, as the son-in-law, had no other requirements after presiding over Kang Wang's funeral in plain attire.
As for why Murong Qing was still Kang Wang Consort, it was naturally because Zhou Fan had not yet publicly released the divorce letter written by Kang Wang. So, currently, in the eyes of everyone in the Kang Wang Residence, Murong Qing was still the Kang Wang Consort.
Zhou Fan had many reasons for not making the divorce letter public. It wasn't just because Jiang Linfeng had instructed Zhou Fan in his last letter not to publicize the divorce letter and had entrusted Murong Qing to him.
The main reason was that, given Murong Qing's foolish and arrogant nature, Zhou Fan feared that she would be beaten and cursed to death by others once she lost the protective charm of being the former Kang Wang Consort.
After all, during the six months Murong Qing had been Kang Wang Consort, there were many people who disliked her.
The identity of the former Kang Wang Consort was both a shackles and a protection.
Moreover, a group of uninvited guests had already arrived at the Kang Wang Residence. Zhou Fan hadn't expected there to be such great resistance to merely recommending Jiang Shiliu as the new Kang Wang.
...