Yan Doudou felt as though the weight of several mountains had finally been lifted from her small shoulders.
Her father—her gentle, meticulous, soft-spoken father—was finally proven innocent.
For days she prayed, cried, and feared the worst.
Now she could breathe again.
That evening, after wiping her tears, she sat by the lantern in her small room and wrote a letter with trembling hands,
Deputy General Wei Shensu,
'If you are not too busy, may we meet?I wish to thank you in person… for everything.'
—Doudou
She folded it, sealed it, and asked a servant to deliver it immediately.
In Yexuan's Temporary Strategy Tent — Northern Frontier Region, Wuzhen Outpost
Wind howled against the canvas of the tent.
Inside, Murong Yexuan sat at his desk sorting reports, looking like he hadn't slept in three days.
Wei Shensu paced in front of him like a restless tiger.
"I need your help," Shensu blurted.
Yexuan didn't even look up.
"If this is about logistics reports again—"
"It's not that!" Shensu cut in.
"I… want to propose to Yan Doudou."
Yexuan froze.
Slowly… slowly… he raised his head.
"Propose?"
"…To a woman?"
"…Voluntarily?"
Shensu glared. "Yes."
Yexuan sighed deeply and pressed his forehead.
"Why are you asking me?I don't even have a girlfriend. I've been chasing Rouyuan for months and still haven't made progress. Go ask Changyu. Or the Crown Prince! All of them are married. What advice can I give you?!"
Shensu opened his mouth — but at that exact moment, a soldier rushed in.
"Your Excellency! A letter for you!"
Shensu grabbed it.
One glance — his face turned bright red.
"I need to go! Doudou wants to meet me!"
Without another word, he bolted out of the tent, leaving Yexuan staring after him.
"…He can run that fast but can't gather courage to propose properly? Ridiculous,"
Yexuan stared blankly at the empty doorway.
"…And he left me with the reports." Yexuan muttered.
Doudou & Shensu — Under the Wuzhen Willow Tree
At the designated place — an old willow tree near the riverbank —
Yan Doudou stood waiting.
She fidgeted with the ribbon on her dress, heart pounding so loudly she feared the guards nearby could hear it.
Footsteps approached.
Wei Shensu stopped a few steps from her, suddenly unsure of how to breathe.
"Sorry… for taking up your time," Doudou began nervously.
Shensu softened immediately.
"It's alright. I wanted to see you too."
She felt heat climb her cheeks.
They spoke for a while—small, gentle things.
Her gratitude.
His relief that she was smiling again.
Her worries about her father.
His reassurance that justice would hold steady now.
Then suddenly—
Shensu blurted, "Let's get married."
Doudou froze.
Her eyes widened.
Her ears rang.
Her fair cheeks turned bright peach-pink.
"W-What… did you say?" she whispered.
Shensu took a deep breath — like a soldier preparing to charge into a battlefield.
"I want to marry you," he repeated, voice firm, unwavering.
"I like your cooking. I like your smile. I like how you always care about others. I like how strong you are even when you're terrified. I like… everything about you."
He swallowed hard, but didn't look away.
"When you're sad, it hurts me. When you cry, it feels like my world shakes. I want to be with you — whether you're happy, sad, angry, or sick. Every moment."
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I… sincerely want to marry you. Please believe me."
Silence.
Heartbeats.
Wind.
Then Doudou whispered—"I believe you."
Shensu inhaled sharply, like he'd been struck.
"I… I agree."
His eyes grew round.
"You— you agree? Really?!"
Before she could answer again, he grabbed her by the waist and spun her in a circle — like an overjoyed child.
"Put me down! People are watching!" she squealed, flustered.
"I don't care!" he laughed, grinning ear to ear.
"You're going to be my wife!"
Elegance Pavilion — A Storm of Teasing
Later that week, both groups—Yexuan's friends and Rouyuan's friends—came together at Elegance Pavilion.
The quiet private room became a lively gathering of laughter and clattering chopsticks.
Suddenly—
"I'm getting married," Wei Shensu announced proudly.
"With Miss Yan,"
Silence.
Then—
"WHAT?!"
Everyone shouted at once.
"No wonder your face has been glowing like a lantern," Yunchen teased.
"You didn't tell us anything," Xianyi turn to Doudou, half-pouting.
Yunxi raised a brow.
Yexuan slapped Shensu's shoulder. "Well done."
Changyu clapped him on the back.
"Welcome to the married-men club."
"Don't worry, I'll guide you on how to keep your wife happy.
First rule: never argue. Second rule: always agree. Third rule: never—"
"Stop teaching him nonsense," Yunxi said, laughing.
Rouyuan, Xianyi, and Qingshi burst into laughter.
Doudou hid her face, crimson with embarrassment.
Mortified but glowing like dawn itself.
The Wedding of Wei Shensu & Yan Doudou
The wedding banquet filled Wuzhen City with warmth.
Lanterns lined the streets, petals floated in jade bowls, and musicians played soft melodies.
Doudou stepped into the hall in a gown designed by Yunyan Pavilion—
A dress of pale gold and rose tones, embroidered with lotus petals,
paired with delicate gemstone jewellery crafted by Wen Qianbao Pavilion.
Her hair was styled into a gentle cloud bun, pinned with pearls and soft pink gems.
She looked like a spring blossom made human.
Everyone gasped.
"Doudou, you look breathtaking!" Rouyuan exclaimed, holding her friend's hands.
"You look like a fairy descended from the moonlight," Qingshi added.
"You're glowing more than Shensu," Xianyi teased.
Doudou blushed so fiercely she nearly melted.
Across the hall, the groom was surrounded by his friends.
"You look nervous," Yunchen said.
"I'm not nervous," Shensu said.
"You're sweating," Yunxi pointed out.
"It's hot."
"It's autumn," Yunxi deadpanned.
Shensu glared.
Yexuan smirked and patted his shoulder.
"You'll be fine. Just don't faint."
Shensu rolled his eyes. "If I faint, you're carrying me."
When Doudou entered, Shensu forgot how to breathe.
He stared like a man seeing sunlight after a lifetime in darkness.
"She's beautiful…" he whispered.
"Of course she is," Yunchen said proudly. "That's our sister-in-law."
After the ceremony, the friends teased each other:
"Your turn is next, Yunchen," Changyu smirked.
Yunchen coughed. Hard.
"I'll marry when I return from the Eastern Sea Region," he muttered.
"My turn too," Yunxi added, smiling shyly. "I'll visit Grandfather Wen and Uncle Roushan first…"
Everyone then looked at Yexuan.
He took a sip of wine, calm as ice.
"I'll marry when Rouyuan agrees," he said simply.
This time, everyone howled with laughter.