Chapter 29       

On the 16th day of the nine lunar months, the entire city of Jiangling was decorated with bright red lanterns, like a festival, under the instruction of Magistrate Cui. The decorations extended along the main street of Ziteng, and joyous celebrations filled the air.

The reason for this was the wedding of the Eastern Bureau chief, Qin Yan, who was marrying Su Mi, the second daughter of the Su family’s Ruiyu Silk and Satin estate in Jiangling.

Cui Manshu was worried when Su Mi was selected as a candidate for the harem selection. But now that Qin Yan was marrying her, Cui Manshu was relieved and saw this as an opportunity to climb the social ladder. That’s why he arranged for the citywide celebrations.

On Anhe Bridge, the red lanterns reflected in the green river, and the golden leaves of the Wutong tree on the riverbank seemed to be a colorful cloud in the sky. Red silk curtains were wrapped around the trunks of the trees, swaying gently in the wind.

A red carpet woven from brocade was laid on the stone road, and a long procession of welcoming teams with flags, umbrellas, and fans filled the streets with the sound of drums and gongs.

Four sedan bearers carried a large flower sedan in the middle of the procession. The sedan was made of red lacquered wood with blue silk curtains, and four peach-colored silk balls hung at the corners, making it look splendid.

The yamen runners of Jiangling City wore several circles of red brocade, carried water and fire sticks, and separated the crowds of onlookers, but could not separate the noisy sounds of people expressing their surprise and admiration.

Because traditionally only the groom would ride on a horse during the wedding procession, never before had anyone seen such a grand entrance with five horses, led by a beautiful blue and white horse and followed by four slightly shorter red-maned horses, each ridden by a young man in uniform.

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“Miss, you look so beautiful. Young Master will be even more delighted when he sees you,” Chun Mei said with a smile. She was Su Mi’s dowry maid and would follow Su Mi wherever she went, so she didn’t have any farewell sentiments. As long as Su Mi was there, she would be too.

“Really?”  Su Mi blushed and laughed, her beautiful eyes clear and sparkling.

Seeing this, Chun Mei covered her mouth and giggled. Miss Su Zhen secretly told Chun Lan and the others that the young lady was feeling upset, but from what she saw, the young lady was happy every day.

As the lady of the house, Yu Qingniang was busy in the front yard but took advantage of a break to come to Su Mi’s courtyard and take a few more looks at her daughter.

She stood at the door for a while, feeling reluctant in her heart, wiped her eyes, and then put on a smiling face before walking in.

“Mother, you’re here.” Su Mi had many accessories on her body and couldn’t get up, so she smiled a little embarrassedly at Yu Qingniang.

“Em.”                                                           

“By the way, Xian’er is resting in the capital and couldn’t come. She said she would come to Lord Qin’s residence to visit when you arrive in the capital.”

Su Mi didn’t say anything after hearing this; she just nodded slightly.

Yu Qingniang knew about her daughter’s worries but didn’t want to mention them too much. She took Su Mi’s soft hand and squeezed it gently, reminding her of some things to pay attention to in the future.

“Madam, madam.” The gatekeeper ran in, his face beaming with joy. “The second young master is at the gate.”

“Good, good.”  Yu Qingniang got up and handed the prepared wedding gift money to the gatekeeper.

“Mi’er, come here. Let Mother cover your head. When you arrive at Lord Qin’s yard, he will remove it for you.”

Su Mi nodded, blushing. When she raised her eyes, she saw a sea of scarlet before her. Although there was only a piece of cloth between her and the outside world, the noise seemed to fade away.

Madame Xi approached and helped her up from the chair. She walked step by step out of the room, through the courtyard, and into the main hall.

Su Mi’s palms were sweating with nervousness. She took a deep breath and stepped off the threshold. The surroundings were bustling with firecrackers, but her heartbeat was louder than anything.

Qin Yan sat high up, looking down at Su Mi, who appeared even more delicate and small. Her sight was blocked by the veil, and Madame Xi escorted her into the sedan chair. Qin Yan saw her cautious steps, and for the first time today, he smiled genuinely.

He didn’t have to marry, so he usually didn’t pay much attention to women. But if he were to marry Su Mi, it would be somewhat interesting.

The bride entered the decorated sedan chair, and the wedding procession made its way around Jiangling city. The procession was long and grand, with red bridal chests and glistening gold. The ten-mile-long red procession and the groom’s beautiful face suddenly made the ladies in Jiangling city feel that it was not so difficult to marry an eunuch.

…

Outside the front gate, Qin Yan had already dismounted from his horse.

He wore a bright red wedding robe, stood tall, and had a handsome face. He held a translucent jade bone fan in his hand and walked slowly to the sedan chair, tapping it three times.

Su Mi remembered what Madame Xi had instructed her. After the third tap, he would reach in and help her out. She held her breath, waiting for his hand to appear.

However, the tapping stopped, and his hand did not reach in. Did he change his mind at the last minute? Su Mi felt anxious, so she lightly tapped the sedan door.

She heard a soft laugh, and Qin Yan’s hand reached in at that moment.

Su Mi couldn’t help but mutter to herself, “Why, even at this time, he still can’t resist teasing me? Does he really enjoy teasing me that much?”

Although Su Mi was annoyed, her actions did not slow down. She lightly placed her hand on his. It was the first time she had looked at his hand up close, and she noticed that his fingers were long and slender, with a glossy shine like jade but still with edges and corners. When he held her hand, it was warm, cool, and powerful.

When they got out of the sedan chair, Su Mi smelled the familiar fragrance of Qin Yan’s coldness. Through the gap in the wedding veil, she looked at him, holding her hand tightly. Even though he had already seen her whole body and even hugged her before, the ten fingers interlocking still made her breathless, hot, and restless.

Inside the wedding hall, the ritual of “Three Bows to Heaven and Earth” and “Two Bows to the Parents” had already been prepared. Since Qin Yan was an orphan, “Two Bows to the Parents” was replaced by bowing to a cup of tea.

Su Mi couldn’t tell which direction to face, so she followed Qin Yan’s steps, and when she leaned to the side, a hand covered her waist to steady her.

“Exchange of wedding vows.”

“The ceremony is complete. Enter the bridal chamber.”

The sound of applause dragged on for a long time, mixed with occasional cheers from the guests around. Su Mi twisted the red handkerchief in her hand, feeling the pull from the other end, and blushed. From now on, she was really married to Qin Yan.

Su Mi was dragged into the bridal chamber by the matchmaker and Qin Yan.

Inside the chamber, the red bed was piled high with embroidered pillows, and a pair of mandarin ducks playing in water were hanging on the white curtains. The boxes, frames, tables, and windows were all decorated with large paper cuttings, creating a festive atmosphere.

The red veil had not yet been lifted, so Su Mi could only glimpse the layout of the room through a small gap at the corner of the veil. Compared to her own chamber, it was definitely larger and looked simpler, even though some festive decorations had been deliberately added to the floor. It still looked a bit empty.

The reason Su Mi could relax and observe the room was because there was no sound at all now. The matchmaker and the mistress had probably left the room.

The matchmaker had told Su Mi earlier that the groom would go to the front yard to welcome the guests for a drink.

Su Mi had gotten up early today, and combined with the tension of the day and the bumpy ride in the red sedan chair around Jiangling city, she finally settled down and felt a bit sour.

So, she leaned against the edge of the bed and slowly moved to the left a little bit, and then a little bit more, until she leaned against the wooden frame of the bed.

Then she pulled and twisted her wedding dress a bit. Chun Mei had tied it too tight, and now she could finally breathe after loosening the neckline.

She thought there was no one in the room and dared to make these small movements. However, just as she finished adjusting her neckline, she heard a slight movement, as if someone had knocked on the wooden table, making a crisp sound.

“My Lord?” Su Mi probed

When Qin Yan entered the room, he sat down on the red sandalwood couch opposite the bed. For some reason, he suddenly became curious and wanted to see what she looked like behind him.

At first, she sat upright, with her hands and feet obediently in place.

The tight-fitting red wedding dress on her body wrapped around her curvaceous figure. Originally, the Xiapei veil covered it up and was not very noticeable, but when she entered the room, the wedding attendant took it off. At this moment, her round mounds looked like they were about to burst out of the dress, like they were trying to break free.

After a while, she seemed to relax all over and twisted her slender waist inch by inch, moving to the edge of the bed. Her graceful figure swayed unconsciously, displaying seductive curves.

If that was all, it would be fine, but she also pulled the collar of her dress, revealing her slender jade neck and delicate, white collarbone. Her chest was as white as snow, looming and seductive.

It was at this moment that Qin Yan’s throat tightened and his hand accidentally shifted, making a slight noise.

Su Mi covered her face with a handkerchief. Seeing that no one had responded for a long time, she felt scared, but she couldn’t just take off the veil herself. Her hand unconsciously gripped the bed frame.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me.” Qin Yan finally managed to suppress the impulse that had arisen just now and spoke slowly.

Su Mi’s heart suddenly relaxed but then immediately tensed up again. He had been staring at her the whole time? A blush spread across Su Mi’s face. Why did he always catch her in embarrassing moments?

“My lord, don’t you have to go to the front hall for the banquet?” Su Mi adjusted her collar and asked softly.

“Isn’t it better to accompany you?” The people in the front hall were all boring. It was enough to have Feng Bao there.

“Okay.” Of course it was okay. After all, she hadn’t seen him for over a month. When she was sewing his clothes, she had been thinking of seeing him. Now that they were finally in the same room, why was she feeling scared again?

Qin Yan didn’t know what she was thinking. He played with the jade ruyi in his hand that he had used to pick up the veil. “Did you see what the Emperor looked like on the day of the selection?”

Su Mi thought for a moment and nodded. When she paid her respects earlier, she stole a glance at him. Although his complexion was a little sickly, he had a gentle and jade-like appearance, as well as the innate aura of a son of heaven. This made him even more refined.

“So, do you think the emperor is handsome?” Qin Yan stopped and looked at Su Mi, feeling somewhat hopeful.

However, Su Mi didn’t hesitate, and she nodded again.

Qin Yan’s face suddenly turned cold, and his voice was as chilly as if everything around him had been frozen. “Then you are missing out on something by not being able to enter the palace as a consort.”

Su Mi was startled by his sudden coldness. What does whether the emperor is handsome or not have to do with whether she’s missing out on something or not?

“My Lord, I don’t think I’m missing out on anything.” Why does he always misunderstand her?

“Hmph, if you think he’s handsome and has the aura of a son of heaven, why wouldn’t you be missing out? He’s not only handsome, but he also has power. What’s better than that?” Qin Yan’s face was cold, and he seemed like a completely different person from when he first entered the room.

Su Mi was angry and frustrated. This person was simply unreasonable. She didn’t think it was a loss, and besides, she had already married him; whether it was a loss or not was irrelevant. Why does he keep asking her questions that she can’t answer?

Although she thought so, Su Mi didn’t dare say it out loud. She tried to think of something that was better than the emperor that Qin Yan could accept so that he wouldn’t continue to pursue the issue. She was afraid of Qin Yan’s unpredictable temper.

What should she say?

Su Mi was pondering with her head covered, biting her lip, when suddenly her vision blurred and everything around her became bright. Qin Yan had lifted the veil covering her face with his jade scepter, and before her eyes, only a few inches away, was a handsome face.

His facial features were handsome and delicate, with a straight nose and thin lips. His eyes were like a deep and tranquil lake, reflecting her figure in their depths. He spoke to her in a hoarse voice she had never heard before, asking her, “Do you want to enter the palace or marry me?”

Su Mi’s mind went blank. Qin Yan’s movements were too fast, giving her no time to think. His eyes were like a whirlpool, making it difficult for her to catch her breath. “I want to marry you,” Su Mi said, still in a daze.

After she spoke, her heart was still pounding. Qin Yan’s breath had tickled her face, making her feel both embarrassed and excited. The words had slipped out of her mouth involuntarily.

Qin Yan stood up straight, and when he turned his head, the icy expression on his face disappeared. The corners of his lips curled upward, and the smile gradually became more obvious.

Su Mi watched as Qin Yan turned around. She wasn’t sure if he had just smiled, but when she tried to look again, he was already sitting at the redwood wedding table.

“Come over here,” he said in a pleasant, melodic voice, as if nothing had happened just now.

Su Mi breathed a sigh of relief. He was back to his normal self.

She replied in a gentle voice. Although she didn’t like the smell of alcohol, her mother had instructed her to drink the wedding wine on her wedding night. Moreover, the person she was facing was Qin Yan, so she didn’t dare to raise any objections.

As Su Mi walked towards the table, she looked around the room. The wedding chamber was similar to what she had imagined. On the table were various exquisite desserts, arranged in beautiful patterns.

After all, Qin Yan was an eunuch. Dates, peanuts, longan, and other snacks were not suitable for consumption, so Feng Bao had instructed that they be replaced with other pastries from Jiangnan in the hope of bringing good luck and prosperity.

Su Mi picked up a few pieces of pastry and took a few bites. She hadn’t eaten much in the morning because of her nervousness and had spent most of the day in the sedan chair, so she was quite hungry.

Qin Yan picked up the bronze Hejin wine pot and poured two cups. Seeing Su Mi with a piece of pastry in her mouth, he waited for her to chew and swallow before handing her a cup of wine. As Qin Yan was taller than Su Mi, when he handed her the cup, he didn’t look at her, and the cup was held a little higher, just close to Su Mi’s lips.

Su Mi blushed, realizing that her mother was right—when drinking the ritual cup, you are fed. Qin Yan felt a slight pressure on his hand and turned his head to see Su Mi lowering her head and sipping from the cup he held. He had only meant to pass her the cup, but how did it end up like this?

Su Mi thought that she had drunk too little and approached him to take another sip. Then she took what she thought was her own cup and held it up to Qin Yan’s lips, her face lit by the candlelight, her eyes staring at him expectantly, her face pure and beautiful with a hint of naiveté.

Unexpectedly, Qin Yan took a sip from the cup.

This was Su Mi’s first time drinking alcohol, and she didn’t remember where she had smelled the strong alcohol before and disliked it. However, the Hejin wine was fragrant and sweet, but with a strong kick. Su Mi didn’t notice, but the wine made her braver, and she began to talk more.

“My Lord, did you receive the things from yesterday?” Su Mi pushed aside some teacups and leaned on the table, her face tilted to one side, staring at Qin Yan. Of course, she was referring to the pile of clothes.

“Um.” Qin Yan hadn’t settled the account for the Illustrated Manual of Intimate Relationships with her yet, but she brought it up first.

“Do you think it looks good?” Su Mi was delighted. She had taken apart the embroidery on those clothes several times before finally making them. Others might take only a day or two, but it had taken her more than half a month.

Qin Yan’s chopsticks paused, and he frowned at Su Mi. Her eyes were clear, and it was hard to tell if the blush on her face was from the Hejin wine or from her embarrassment. She usually avoided looking at him too much for fear of displeasing him. How come she is so bold now?

After a long while, Qin Yan finally replied, “It’s okay.”

“Next time,” she accidentally let out a hiccup, “let’s do it again.” And make him some clothes to replace the ones that were ruined by moths.

As Su Mi spoke, she raised her head and hugged Qin Yan’s arm, rubbing against him unconsciously. Her eyes looked a bit blurry, and her slender waist swayed left and right with her chest, full of charm.

The soft touch on his arm, combined with the effect of the alcohol, made Qin Yan’s eyes darken, his breath quicken, and his right hand move to hook Su Mi’s slender waist.

Su Mi was now slightly tipsy, and her surroundings seemed to be spinning. Suddenly, a greater dizziness overtook her, and she was pulled into an embrace, unable to move.

“Lord…” The voice was like a mosquito, and the hazy eyes half pushed and half pulled at the heartstrings. As Su Mi was half drunk and half awake, she heard Qin Yan’s voice and instinctively obeyed. She drowsily poked her head out of Qin Yan’s cloak, feeling a sudden coldness that briefly sharpened her mind.

It seemed that she was sticking to Qin Yan’s chest. When she lifted her head, she saw the distinct curve of his jawline. But… why did it feel like her feet were not touching the ground? Where is she now? Su Mi smelled the increasingly strong scent of sandalwood and the sweet aroma of wine. She heard a low voice whispering in her ear as if suppressing something: “Is your mind always filled with those things?”

What things? Su Mi wanted to ask, but she was feeling so dizzy, almost like she was flying. It felt quite pleasant. Her body was warm, except for something poking her from behind. Everything else was good. Su Mi half-opened her eyes and reached for Qin Yan’s neck.

Gradually, she fell asleep again. Her beautiful eyes closed, and her cherry lips had a bit of the wine’s flavor on them. The candlelight shone on them, making them tempting and lustrous. Occasionally, a low and gentle moan escaped from her lips, as if it carried the sound of lust and seduction. Qin Yan’s eyes suddenly became deep, and he couldn’t resist any longer. He lowered his head and covered her cherry lips with his.

Her lips were sweet, soft, and tender. Her hand unconsciously blocked his chest, but he pressed it down with one hand, pressing her mounds tightly against him. His lips continued to attack, invading and conquering… After a while of kissing, Qin Yan punished her with a bite, and Su Mi wrinkled her eyebrows and let out a whimper.

Qin Yan restrained his desire and chuckled, “You were making such a fuss about wanting to do that, but now you faint so quickly. What’s the point?” He stood up straight, holding Su Mi’s waist and carrying her horizontally to the nearby wedding bed. Su Mi lay on the bed, feeling comfortable and letting out a sigh. Then she leaned against the edge of the bed, and the bedsheet twisted and turned under her. She was lying diagonally, and the bed was divided into two parts. Qin Yan silently smiled, lowered his eyes, and returned to the soft couch where he had been sitting before. He half-rested his hand on the red embroidered mandarin duck pillow, leaned his head to the side, and closed his eyes.

After an unknown period of time, a whisper suddenly came from the bed, as if Su Mi was talking in her sleep.

Qin Yan’s eyes suddenly opened, and he looked towards the window. It was midnight outside, and the banquet was probably long over, leaving only silence.

Therefore, Su Mi’s dream talk was particularly noticeable.

Qin Yan was curious about what she was saying, so he walked over and bent down, placing his ear near her lips.

“I want to fly again…” Su Mi murmured. It was her first time drinking, and she had just learned that being drunk was like flying. She wanted to fly again, or rather, she was greedy for more alcohol and wanted to drink a few more glasses.

Unfortunately, Qin Yan couldn’t figure out what she was thinking. He just found it amusing. Could it be that she could turn into a bird in her dreams?

“You want to fly?”

“Mm…I want to fly.”

Su Mi instinctively licked her lips. She really wanted to have another drink and experience the feeling of flying again.

Qin Yan’s gaze swept over the mark he had left on her lips and then looked outside at the dark night, thick as ink. It was unlikely that anyone would notice.

He removed the heavy hairpins from her head, and his tone carried a fondness he had not realized: “Su Mi, just this once.”

Su Mi murmured in agreement and felt as though she was wrapped up in a dream, clinging onto the person in front of her.

Hmm, Su Mi rubbed against him. It was Qin Yan; she could smell him. It seemed both real and unreal, and she didn’t want to struggle.

Outside, the world was vast, the moon was beautiful, and the stars were sparkling.

Qin Yan hugged Su Mi in his arms, and his outer robe blocked the chilly autumn night wind. He took off and flew up to the roof, lightly stepping between pavilions and towers, until he reached the highest city wall by the edge of the city.

The gray-green walls and battlements, with two figures in red overlapping and their clothes fluttering in the wind.

Looking down, even though it was already midnight, there were still several places in Jiangling City with lit candles, and the halos of light seemed to be connected, creating the illusion of magnificent lights.

“Open your eyes.”

In a half-drunken state, Su Mi heard Qin Yan’s voice and instinctively obeyed. She poked her head out from under Qin Yan’s cloak, feeling a sudden chill that momentarily cleared her mind. She seemed to be pressed against Qin Yan’s chest, and as she lifted her head, she saw his sharp jawline. But… why did her feet feel like they were hovering in the air? Where is she now?

Under the hazy moonlight, the sky was vast. Looking down, she saw the myriad lights of Jiangling city, and looking up, she saw the brilliant stars in the night sky. Everything was so beautiful, as if she were in a dream. It was the first time she had seen such a charming night scene.

Su Mi nervously asked, “Lord, am I dreaming?”

Qin Yan chuckled lightly from above her head and said, “Yes.”

“Since we’re in a dream, why don’t I take you flying over Jiangling City?”

---

The next day, Su Mi slowly woke up, as the sun was already high in the sky. Her throat was dry and felt like it had been burned.

Her limbs were sore, as if she had been beaten all over. When she lifted her hands, she saw that both wrists were bruised, as if they had been tightly bound.

The most peculiar thing was that even her lips were sore.

She could remember what happened last night, up to the point where she asked about Qin Yan’s clothes. Qin Yan seemed to have asked her what she was thinking, and then the wine seemed to have gone to her head and everything started spinning.

After that, she seemed to have been carried by Qin Yan to the city wall of Jiangling. They even climbed trees to look at many places…

Su Mi shook her head hard, trying to clear her mind. Even if it was a dream, she found it hard to believe.

She slowly sat up and looked around. Qin Yan was not in the room, and she was still wearing the same clothes from yesterday. It seemed like she had just fallen asleep while still wearing them. Then why did she feel so exhausted?

She heard some noises outside, and the door was gently pushed open. It was Chun Mei, holding a copper basin.

Although she was a maid accompanying the dowry, Yu Qingniang didn’t instruct her about men’s and women’s affairs. Thus, both of them were still naive about such things.

So when she saw the wound on Su Mi’s mouth, she didn’t think much of it and said, “Miss, you should not drink alcohol anymore. The young master said you got drunk last night and went crazy. See, you even hit your mouth.”

At this moment, Feng Bao ran over to Su Mi’s side and said, “Madam, hello.” His calling her “Madam” made Su Mi feel a little sweet in her heart, and she stopped thinking about last night’s dream or whether it was real or not. She smiled and asked, “Feng Bao, does the Lord have something to find me for?”

“Madam, Master left early this morning and won’t be back until late tomorrow night at the earliest. He instructed me to prepare lunch for you, and I went to your room earlier but didn’t see you,” Feng Bao replied shyly. In fact, he was more used to serving Qin Yan and rarely followed around the lady of the house.

“Thank you, Feng Bao. Can you take us to the dining hall now?” Su Mi asked.

“Yes, Madam,” Feng Bao replied.

Qin Yan’s villa in Jiangling City was just a place to stay, so it was not very large. After a short walk, they followed Feng Bao to the dining hall. Su Mi looked at the style of the dishes on the table and felt inexplicably familiar. She thought to herself, “This is really strange. Not only is this courtyard familiar, but even these dishes feel familiar.”

Feng Bao noticed Su Mi’s thoughts and said with a smile, “Madam, speaking of which, you also know this cook.”

“I know him?” Su Mi asked in surprise.

“Yes,” Feng Bao replied. When they were at Drunken Night Tower, Su Mi went downstairs and happened to catch a glimpse of the cook. Therefore, she knew about Qin Yan’s relationship with him.

“This cook used to work at Drunken Night Tower. Master had a meal there once and thought it was good, so he brought him here,” Feng Bao continued.

“But the Lord doesn’t spend much time in Jiangling City. Do we still need to bring the cook to the capital?” Su Mi asked.

Feng Bao shook his head and said, “After returning to the capital, there are already enough cooks in the mansion. This cook from Drunken Night Tower is only kept here in Jiangling City and paid regularly. It’s also convenient for him to take care of the villa.”

Su Mi was speechless for a moment. Qin Yan probably only visits Jiangling City a few times a year. He really had a different way of thinking than ordinary people.

Feng Bao smiled and said, “Master is like this. Whatever belongs to him, no one else can touch it.”

Feng Bao’s words were unintentional, but Su Mi felt a little strange listening to them. In fact, she had always wondered why Qin Yan wanted to marry her. According to Feng Bao’s words, did that mean she was also his property now?

Thinking of this, Su Mi buried her head and took a bite of vegetables. Feng Bao, beside her, began to grumble silently in his heart. He didn’t say anything, so why did the madam blush again?

---

In the western part of Mo City, a city adjacent to Jiaozhou.

There was an old, dilapidated house with three rooms wide, gray-green walls, and tiles. The roof had several holes due to years of disrepair, and some moss had grown at the base of the walls. It looked desolate and abandoned, without a trace of vitality.

Under the withered tree next to the house, there was an unmarked tombstone. It was autumn, and even the grass around it was gone, making it look bleak and lonely.

Qin Yan stood in front of the tombstone, pouring the first cup of wine and then the second.

“This cup is mine, and the second cup is for him.”

“Yesterday was the day I got married,” Qin Yan smiled, “but the person I married was not the one you prepared for me.”

T/N: the misunderstanding is too sweet,giving me diabetis~~~~~ so lets eat dog food together..hehe