In the bridal chamber, the faces of Yu Fan and Gu Mingliu remained flushed from start to finish, while the elderly matron nearby grinned from ear to ear:
"Share the wedding wine, spend the seasons together, harmonious as the qin and se, free from worries year after year. Please, miss and young master, drink the wedding wine together."
After the wine was drunk, the servants in the room tactfully withdrew, making sure to close the door behind them.
Meanwhile, Gu Zheng was toasting Song Yu.
Song Yu cheerfully raised his cup and downed the fine wine in one gulp, then scanned the room. "Hmm? Where’s Ah Huan?"
Hearing this, Gu Zheng’s eyes cleared slightly. "It seems we haven’t seen the princess for a while, nor Mingzhu. They must be hiding somewhere, whispering girlish secrets."
"Someone, go find the princess and Second Miss."
At that moment, Gu Zheng had no idea just how much trouble the little troublemaker of the household was about to stir up.
He urged Song Yu to continue drinking heartily.
Back in the bridal chamber, the silence was so profound that Song Shihuan and Gu Mingzhu, hiding under the bed, even lightened their breaths.
"My lady..." Yu Fan began, gazing at the radiant Gu Mingliu before him, feeling his throat grow dry.
"We’re married now, husband. Must you still call me 'my lady'?"
Gu Mingliu’s eyes shimmered, and Yu Fan found himself unable to look away.
"Ming... Mingliu," he stammered cautiously, "I just wanted to ask if your headdress is too heavy. If it is, I’ll help you take it off so it doesn’t press on you."
"It’s very heavy."
At her words, Yu Fan hurriedly rose to remove the headdress. Seeing the marks left on Gu Mingliu’s forehead, a sudden surge of courage overtook him, and he leaned in closer.
As warmth and moisture brushed her forehead, Gu Mingliu’s earlobes turned so red they seemed about to bleed.
Her hands were clasped in Yu Fan’s.
When Yu Fan’s large hand settled at Gu Mingliu’s waist, Song Shihuan, watching from under the bed, saw Gu Mingliu’s mouth open—clearly about to sneeze—and her eyes widened in horror.
No... don’t!
But the next second, a loud sneeze erupted. Yu Fan stumbled and rolled right off the bed, landing face-first toward the bed’s underside.
His eyes met Song Shihuan and Gu Mingzhu’s directly.
"Princess? Second Sister?"
Yu Fan’s heart nearly leaped out of his throat, but Gu Mingzhu, utterly unfazed, grinned at him. When she tried to crawl out, she found herself stuck and had to turn back to Yu Fan:
"Brother-in-law, I think... I think I’m a little stuck."
Meanwhile, Song Shihuan, further inside, looked as if she’d already died.
Mingzhu might be stuck, but she... well, she might as well be dead.
Cause of death: mortification.
Crash!
Yu Fan lifted the entire bed and flung it aside. Song Shihuan and Gu Mingzhu stood before Gu Mingliu, covered in dust.
Gu Mingliu’s gaze flickered between them before settling on Gu Mingzhu with a glare.
"Someone, summon Prince Qin and Father."
......
The two fathers arrived swiftly—one brimming with excitement, the other seething with rage, leaving the servants trailing behind them too afraid to breathe loudly.
"Gu Mingzhu, what harebrained scheme have you concocted this time? And you dragged the princess into it!"
The moment he entered the courtyard, Gu Zheng expertly grabbed a broom and charged at Gu Mingzhu, who dodged with equal skill.
Still, she managed to protest:
"I just wanted to bring more blessings to Eldest Sister and Brother-in-law! I thought the princess would bring even more luck, so I invited her along!"
"Hiding under the bridal bed and you still dare argue?"
Gu Zheng was livid!
Thankfully, they’d been caught early—otherwise, how could he ever face Prince Qin? Or Mingliu?
"I’m not arguing! I was just delivering blessings! You told me to roll on the bed this morning, and now you’re denying it? Father, you’re so fickle!"
As the father-daughter pair descended into chaos, Song Yu pulled Song Shihuan aside to shield her from the commotion.
"Father..." Song Shihuan, unusually sheepish, murmured, "I caused trouble for you today."
"What trouble?"
Song Yu trembled with excitement. "Ah Huan, children do all sorts of things—that’s normal! And cleaning up after them is what fathers are for!"
Heavens! His Ah Huan had finally gotten into mischief like any ordinary child!
He’d dreamed of the day he could step in as a proper father and handle the aftermath.
And now, his secretly compiled How to Be a Good Father guide was finally coming in handy!
"Huh?"
Song Shihuan was stunned. This wasn’t how she’d expected things to go.
Song Yu gave her a reassuring look before striding confidently toward Gu Zheng:
"General Gu, your daughter led my daughter astray!"
How to Be a Good Father Rule #1: A good father must argue first, strike fast, and never let blame fall on his own child!
Gu Zheng immediately halted his pursuit of Gu Mingzhu and hurriedly replied, "Your Highness, Mingzhu was reckless this time. I’ll discipline her properly later!"
Song Yu nodded with feigned solemnity. "Hmm, that’s more like it."
"But it doesn’t seem like a big deal. Don’t be too hard on Mingzhu, General. For my sake, let’s just move past this."
How to Be a Good Father Rule #2: A good father must stand up for his child’s friends, ensuring they keep their dignity.
Tears of gratitude streamed down Gu Mingzhu’s face.
The princess was so lucky to have such a perfect, understanding father like Prince Qin!
"Your Highness is magnanimous. As you wish." Gu Zheng sighed in relief now that Song Yu wasn’t pressing the matter.
Ahem. Song Yu cleared his throat and pointed at the poor, overturned bed. "The upturned bed symbolizes rising fortune—an auspicious sign! And with the wedding fruits scattered everywhere, I congratulate the couple in advance on the early arrival of a noble heir."
His smooth words provided the perfect resolution to the farce.
Gu Mingliu and Yu Fan looked at him with gratitude.
How to Be a Good Father Rule #3: A good father must resolve everything flawlessly, proving his competence to his child.
After his performance, Song Yu finally turned to Song Shihuan with feigned composure—though his eyes practically begged for praise.
"Ah Huan, let’s go home."
"Father, you’re amazing!" Once outside the Gu residence, Song Shihuan exclaimed. Song Yu nearly jumped for joy—his painstakingly crafted How to Be a Good Father guide worked!
Back in the Gu household, Gu Zheng faced Yu Fan, his face burning with embarrassment:
"Mingzhu... she didn’t... interfere with you and Mingliu, did she?"
"Father, Eldest Sister and Brother-in-law barely spoke. How could I have affected them?"
At Gu Mingzhu’s voice, Gu Zheng’s temper flared again, and he grabbed the broom once more:
"You dare speak up? Take this!"
