Over the years, the Li Family has had many daughters married off.

However, none had ever stirred Li Hao emotionally.

At this moment, as he saw Tang Li in her wedding dress, his hands on the cane involuntarily tightened—

He and Li Shen were born of the same mother, and this child was their only remaining family in the world, and now she was to marry someone else, not even staying another day by his side.

Moreover, she was marrying so far away.

Tang Li didn’t expect Li Hao to come to the room to see her.

Li Hao looked at Tang Li, who sat at the dressing table surrounded by the Li Family’s female relatives, without making any comments, as if wearing a wedding dress on this day was just an ordinary thing.

Not long after Li Hao left, Ji Ming appeared at the door.

Ji Ming came to tell Tang Li—

The gentleman has arrived.

Tang Li was about to get up, but was held down by Sixth Aunt: "Which bride goes downstairs first?"

The younger relatives, around sixteen or seventeen, immediately rushed out upon hearing this.

They came back shortly after.

None returned empty-handed.

When they left, they called him "sir," and now they addressed him as "cousin-in-law."

"Cousin-in-law is really generous." Li Shu’s daughter, holding the tiger-head pouch she had grabbed, didn’t forget to boast: "Each pouch contains twenty gold coins, and they’re 999 pure gold!"

Another girl with a pig-head pouch had a similarly cheerful face: "Later, these gold coins can be melted down to make a necklace!"

With that, they squeezed away the elders around Tang Li.

Tang Li’s right hand was also taken hold of.

Ignoring the elders’ disapproval, Li Shu’s daughter lifted her chin: "Take the king’s salary, be loyal to the king’s affairs; since we have accepted cousin-in-law’s rewards, of course, we must escort the bride down to him."

Tang Li had considered changing out of her dress.

Just as Li Ling said, there wasn’t enough time to wait for another gown.

When Li Shu’s daughter came to pull her along, Tang Li didn’t resist and stood up, following her lead.

Li Hao was entertaining guests in a side hall on the first floor.

Looking down from the top of the stairs, she could see everything inside the hall clearly.

Surrounded by a crowd of younger relatives, Tang Li saw Song Baiyan.

Every girl has a dream in her heart.

A dream of becoming a princess.

Tang Li recalled the gifts she once received.

A Barbie doll, along with a proportionally scaled-down custom villa and beach.

These were bought for her by Song Baiyan.

He wanted her to live carefree like that doll.

What was once dreamed of had now become reality.

Just like the Monk King once said—

All that is gained is all that is wished.

Without waiting for the younger ones to urge her, Tang Li directly went downstairs.

The side hall of the Li Residence was decorated in Japanese style, with Song Baiyan and Li Hao sitting opposite each other, separated by a low walnut table. Tang Li, gathering her skirt, walked past the stairs and noticed the red box in the corner of the side hall.

At this moment, the box was open.

Inside, besides stacks of sealed hundred new coins, was a complete set of pure gold jewelry.

Presenting dowry gifts and the three gold items to the bride is a traditional wedding etiquette in Country S.

He Wei, standing right outside the side hall, was momentarily stunned upon seeing Tang Li, but quickly came back to his senses.

He slightly turned his body, making way for Tang Li.

Tang Li walked around the screen and entered inside.

As she moved, the bracelets on her wrist clinked, making a crisp sound.

This sound interrupted the conversation at the low table.

Song Baiyan, following the sound, turned his head to see a stunning beauty enter his sight.

This was a Tang Li completely different from the usual.

In a Siamese-style dress, she embodied the gentle beauty of femininity.

Tang Li undoubtedly looked beautiful in this attire.

Even more beautiful than most women.

Song Baiyan’s gaze was focused, yet without any trace of frivolousness, as if admiring a precious piece of artwork, with the warm light from the rattan chandeliers weaving a tapestry of tenderness across him.

At this moment, Tang Li felt even more clearly—a sense of being cherished.

Without putting on any coquettish airs, she directly knelt down beside Song Baiyan’s left hand.

This action, in others’ eyes, might seem lacking in reserve.

However, for her, it was merely omitting those cumbersome formalities.

"Did those younger ones call you down?" Li Hao asked.

Tang Li denied: "I wanted to come down myself."

Li Hao: "..."

Looking again at where Tang Li sat, clearly favoring the outsider.

But ultimately, he said nothing.

Previously, the incident at the airport had angered Song Baiyan, and today, the fact that they could sit together and reconcile was all because of Tang Li.

Angry because of her, yet also yielded because of her.

It couldn’t be said that Song Baiyan was overly sentimental.

If he truly loved dalliance, he wouldn’t be marrying at such a late age; but to marry a bride just in her prime, and moreover, without a clear family background, was not a wise decision.

So—

Such a Song Baiyan, as a politician, is contradictory.

He instead exhibited a gambler’s nature.

Without the Li Family’s backing, Tang Li’s origins in Country S were considered an original sin.

There have been presidents who were brought down prematurely because of their wives.

At thirty, leaping from Finance Minister to administrative head without letting military power slip away is no small feat; describing him as painstaking and strategic would not be an exaggeration.

Beauty eventually turns to dust.

Song Baiyan surely understands this reason.

Yet he still chooses the beauty.

Even if this beauty might eventually cause his promising political career to end overnight.

Tang Li had already noticed the burgundy velvet box on the low table, and to break the silence, she asked, "What is inside here?"

"Do you wish to know?" Song Baiyan began to speak.

His tone was warm and permissive.

Tang Li nodded.

Then, the velvet box was opened.

Tang Li glanced over to see a very rare blue diamond.

It was a blue diamond set in a ring.

About the size of her fingernail.

Song Baiyan took the diamond ring and while holding her left hand, placed it on her ring finger. The rich blue hue surprisingly matched her dress beautifully.

"The previous wedding ring was trampled out of shape at the Diannan border, consider this as a replacement," he said.

Tang Li also noticed the silver band on Song Baiyan’s left hand.

It was the wedding ring she had bought.

In comparison, the one on her hand was overly extravagant.

Since it was a gift from Song Baiyan, Tang Li didn’t fuss about declining it.

At this point, saying thank you would really be too distant.

After retracting her left hand, Tang Li recalled what Sixth Aunt had taught, and performed a Siamese marital salutation.

Watching the girl’s forehead rest upon her leg, Song Baiyan’s face softened with tenderness, his large hand reaching to gently caress the top of Tang Li’s head, revealing his affection.

Li Hao also fixed his eyes on Tang Li’s left hand.

—Alzheimer’s Blue.

The largest vivid blue diamond in global auction history.

In August this year, at an auction in Geneva, Switzerland, it was hammered down by a representative of a certain international jewelry department for five thousand francs.

However, the identity of the employer remains undisclosed to date.

The whereabouts of "Alzheimer’s Blue," therefore, became a mystery.

Unexpectedly, it turned out to be with the Song Family.

—

Good night!