This story takes place in a certain year after the end of the main plot.
Shen Qingfeng had almost gotten used to the cold in the Northern Kingdom. Breathing out white puffs of air, he was sitting in the fluffy shed that Lu Yan had specially built for him in the courtyard, sipping a bowl of hot tea in small sips.
The residence of the King who Pacified the North was rather desolate. There were few guards, and beside Shen Qingfeng, there was only A Man serving him. She was holding a fox fur cloak in her hand and gently draped it over Shen Qingfeng's shoulders. She complained, "Young master, you're dressed so thinly again. When the marquis comes back and sees you like this, he'll scold me again."
Shen Qingfeng chuckled softly and didn't refuse. "A Man, I'm not cold."
"Don't lie." A Man had now grown up and reached Shen Qingfeng's shoulder. She easily brushed off the fine snow on Shen Qingfeng's shoulders and said, "Young master always does this, and it's always me who gets criticized."
Shen Qingfeng covered his mouth and laughed. "Then I'll ask him not to blame you, okay?"
A Man pouted. "Young master, you've said this countless times. When has the marquis ever done that? The marquis dotes on you and won't scold you, so it's only me who gets scolded~"
Shen Qingfeng said, "When did A Man become so eloquent? I kind of miss the cute little A Man from childhood."
A Man was unhappy. "Aren't I cute now?"
"Cute, cute." Shen Qingfeng laughed so hard that he leaned forward and backward. "By the way, A Man, aren't you at the age when you should get married?"
A Man blushed. "Ah? Young master... A Man... A Man doesn't want to get married!"
Shen Qingfeng patted her hand and said, "There's no girl who doesn't want to get married. You've followed me from Lige to the Northern Kingdom. You've already suffered. How can I delay your marriage?"
A Man's face turned even redder, and she stammered, "No... That... A Man doesn't want to marry at all. A Man is willing to serve young master for a lifetime."
Shen Qingfeng tried to persuade her. "A Man... A man should get married when he grows up, and a woman should get married when she reaches a proper age. You should also look for a suitable husband..."
A Man snorted, and her tone was a bit stiff. "No... Does young master not want A Man anymore?"
"A Man, you can't always follow me and delay your life - long event." Shen Qingfeng shook his head with a smile. "Don't worry. Just tell me what kind of person you like. Do you like the strong men from the Northern Kingdom or the elegant young masters from Lige? I'll find a good family for you."
A Man lowered her head, pouted, and didn't say a word.
Shen Qingfeng was amused and stroked her head. "A Man, I know what you're worried about. Don't worry. I won't let you suffer."
That night.
After a passionate encounter, Shen Qingfeng barely propped himself up and weakly punched Lu Yan on the chest. He spat, "Why are you still so... uncontrolled?"
Lu Yan hugged Shen Qingfeng's waist and buried his head in Shen Qingfeng's bare chest. "Don't you like it?"
Shen Qingfeng blushed. "You're so shameless!"
Lu Yan laughed softly. He leaned forward, and amidst Shen Qingfeng's screams, the two rolled around on the bed again.
"Stop, stop making trouble." Seeing that Lu Yan was getting aroused again, Shen Qingfeng quickly grabbed Lu Yan's ear and said, "I have something serious to tell you."
Lu Yan mumbled incoherently, "Isn't this serious?"
Shen Qingfeng slapped Lu Yan on the back. "I really have something serious to say!"
Only then did Lu Yan look up at him, frowning. "What's the matter?"
Shen Qingfeng said, "I want to find a husband for A Man."
Lu Yan paused for a moment, then buried his head again and rubbed against Shen Qingfeng's chest.
Shen Qingfeng was helpless. He had to slowly stroke Lu Yan's soft hair with his hand and said softly, "A Man has been with me for a long time. Ordinary girls at her age would have already had several children. It's unreasonable that she hasn't even found a husband..."
Lu Yan was stunned after hearing this and said, "Qingfeng, don't tell me you don't know the reason."
"Hmm?" Shen Qingfeng was confused. "Is it because of me?"
Lu Yan pinched his chin and thought for a while, then nodded. "Well, it's indeed a bit related to you."
Shen Qingfeng looked at Lu Yan doubtfully, feeling that there was something in his words. "A Yan, what do you want to say?"
Lu Yan sighed. "Qingfeng, haven't you noticed that your servant boy likes A Man?"
"Ah?" Shen Qingfeng was stunned and asked, "My servant boy? Who?"
Lu Yan looked at Shen Qingfeng with a look of "Come on, you're so dull" and said, "You really don't know? It's your guard!"
Shen Qingfeng was startled and covered his mouth. "You mean... Xiang Cheng?"
Lu Yan nodded. "A Man doesn't like the food in the Northern Kingdom, right? That boy always goes to the pastry shop at the city gate to buy authentic snacks from Lige for A Man and secretly sends them to A Man's window."
Shen Qingfeng really didn't know about this. But it couldn't be blamed on him. Every time he passed by A Man's room, he really didn't see anything. His martial arts were also very ordinary, so he couldn't notice that there was a person climbing over the wall back and forth every day to go to the courtyard where A Man lived.
Seeing that Shen Qingfeng was deep in thought, Lu Yan was also confused. "Strange. A Man serves you every day. Didn't she tell you?"
Shen Qingfeng shook his head. It was he who brought up A Man's marriage. A Man had never mentioned such things to him.
But if Xiang Cheng liked A Man, it would seem good if they could get together.
Thinking like this, Shen Qingfeng went to find Xiang Cheng the next day. But as soon as he entered the Tingfeng Pavilion, by coincidence, he saw A Man and Xiang Cheng arguing in the room.
"Why did you buy so many snacks for me again?!" A Man's voice carried a girl's coquetry and anger. It seemed that she was very angry.
"You like to eat them." Xiang Cheng still had this kind of character that didn't like to talk much.
A Man got even angrier. "Who said I like to eat them? I don't like them at all!"
"You're lying."
A Man was crazy with anger. "You!! You bastard!"
There was a sound of slapping the table from inside the room. Obviously, it was A Man who made the sound. She had followed Shen Qingfeng as a maid since childhood. Although the Shen family had never regarded her as a servant, she never took advantage of her favored position. She was often very well - behaved. Shen Qingfeng rarely saw her so angry.
After A Man roared, there was no sound in the room. Presumably, Xiang Cheng didn't know how to respond again and had to keep silent.
After a while, A Man said again, "Why don't you talk again?"
Xiang Cheng perfectly demonstrated what a taciturn person was. He just kept silent.
"Don't buy snacks for me anymore!"
"No."
"Then do you like me?"
"Yes."
"Then will you accept me?"
"No."
A Man was so angry that she slapped the table hard again.
Shen Qingfeng was stunned when he heard this at the door.
"Why?!" It seemed that A Man had asked this question many times.
"..."
"Tell me! Stinky man!" A Man kicked the table leg.
"A killer has no future..."
A Man was stunned.
"Bang!"
The two of them turned around at the same time and saw Shen Qingfeng standing at the door with his hands behind his back, smiling at them.
"Hey, A Man, I have good news for you." Shen Qingfeng looked at A Man with a blushing face and said with a smile, "Now that everything is peaceful, I've decided to fire Xiang Cheng."
Xiang Cheng: "?"