Chapter 113 The Scholar Who Favored His Concubine Over His Wife (Part 5) Carrying on Pure Love to the End…

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, the Liu residence was already bustling with activity.

Madam Liu directed her servants to busy themselves early in the morning. After all, Liu Wanyao was now the nominal second young lady of the Liu family, and for the sake of the Liu family's reputation, the wedding arrangements could not be taken lightly.

Seeing that Madam Liu's face was not very good, Liu Mama said cautiously, "Madam, we should go to the bridal chamber to check on that maid."

Upon hearing this, Madam Liu immediately spoke up to stop her: "Mama Liu, she is now our family's legitimate second young lady, you mustn't say the wrong thing!"

"Yes, yes, yes, Madam is right. This old servant was clumsy with words. This old servant knows his sins, knows his sins!" As she spoke, Liu Mama pretended to pat her own face.

"Alright, alright, today is a joyous occasion for our Liu family. What would it look like if people saw us like this? Come on, let's go see the Second Miss." Madam Liu said calmly.

"Yes, madam."

Liu's mother helped Madam Liu all the way to Yun Shen Courtyard, where Liu Wanyao lived. At this time, Liu Wanyao was sitting in front of her dressing table, and the Lady of the Palace had already dressed her up. Upon closer inspection, her red makeup made her look gentle and graceful, charming and beautiful.

"Madam." Liu Wanyao quickly stood up and bowed when she saw Madam Liu walk in.

"Yao'er, there's no need for such formalities between mother and daughter." Madam Liu looked at the dignified and beautiful Liu Wanyao before her, feeling as if she had swallowed a fly. Such a generous dowry was going to be given to a maid; how could she not feel heartbroken?

"Yes, Madam," Liu Wanyao replied respectfully.

Seeing this, Madam Quanfu hurriedly stepped forward, presenting the auspicious comb in her hands to Madam Liu, and said with a smile, "Madam, this is a joyous occasion! It's time to comb the Second Miss's hair."

"Okay, okay..." Madam Liu forced a smile, took the comb, and held Liu Wanyao's long hair in her hand, waiting for Madam Quanfu to sing the combing song.

"One comb to the end, and you'll have no worries about wealth and prosperity."

Comb your hair twice, and you'll be free from illness and worry;

Comb your hair three times, and you'll have many children and a long life;

Comb it all the way through, and you'll be a perfect couple again!

Madam Quanfu's voice was loud and cheerful, but when Madam Liu heard it, her hand holding the comb trembled slightly. With each stroke of the comb, her heart felt as if it were being squeezed tightly, and her face grew increasingly gloomy.

After finally completing the hair-combing ceremony, Madam Liu put down the ceremonial comb and forced a smile, saying, "Yao'er, today you will marry into the Song family. From now on, you must be careful in your words and deeds, respect your husband as the most important person in the world, and fulfill your duties as a new bride. Be magnanimous and tolerant, and do not disgrace the Liu family."

Lady Quanfu listened from the side, then quietly raised her head and glanced at the somewhat strange mother and daughter. It was supposed to be the joyous day of the family's young lady, but the lady's words showed no warmth whatsoever for her daughter's marriage; instead, it sounded like a mistress of the house reprimanding a servant.

"Yes, Madam, Wanyao has remembered." Liu Wanyao lowered her head and said softly.

Madam Liu nodded slightly, gave a few perfunctory instructions, and then hurriedly left the bridal chamber with her mother.

As soon as the two women stepped out of Yun Shen Courtyard, Madam Liu couldn't help but complain to Liu Mama, "It was all that girl Hui'er's bad idea. If we had invited Song Ce to come over and tried to mediate, the marriage might not have been called off. Now, our Liu family is going to waste so much money on a lowly maid."

As soon as Madam Liu finished speaking, she saw Liu Xinhui walking gracefully towards her, wearing a light pink blouse and carrying an exquisite wooden box.

"Mother, what are you saying! I'm going to marry the magistrate's son and become an official's wife. If that poor scholar breaks off the engagement for no reason and tarnishes my reputation, I won't be able to live!" Liu Xinhui said coquettishly.

Madam Liu chimed in, "Miss is absolutely right. Madam, our young lady will be a future official's wife, how can that lowly maid compare to her?"

"Oh well, it's all in the past. Mother was just saying it casually. Fortunately, after today, that maid will have nothing to do with our Liu family anymore," Madam Liu sighed.

"Miss, what are you holding in your hand?" Mrs. Liu asked curiously.

"Well, this is naturally a dowry gift I'm giving to this dear sister," Liu Xinhui said sweetly.

"You mischievous girl, today is a joyous occasion for our Liu family, so you mustn't act recklessly," Madam Liu warned.

"Mother, don't worry! I know what I'm doing." Liu Xinhui winked at Liu Mama, and seeing Liu Mama nod slightly, Liu Xinhui's smile became even brighter. She playfully bowed to Madam Liu, and then walked towards Yun Shen Courtyard.

"My dear Yao, today is your special day. I've come to do your wedding." Liu Xinhui stepped forward gracefully and gently placed the wooden box in her hand on the dressing table.

Liu Wanyao stood up and bowed slightly, saying, "Thank you, Miss."

"What, aren't you going to open it and take a look, Yao-meimei?" Liu Xinhui asked with a smile.

Liu Wanyao responded softly, then opened the wooden box. Inside lay a uniquely shaped silver hairpin, but at the center of its design was a strangely shaped bead.

"This hairpin was specially made for you by your elder sister, Yao sister. Do you know the origin of this bead?" Liu Xinhui picked up the hairpin, a hint of barely perceptible malice flashing in her eyes.

"My younger sister is foolish, please enlighten me, elder sister," Liu Wanyao said respectfully.

“A new jewelry shop has opened in Qizhou County. The shopkeeper’s craftsmanship is superb. This fish-eye pearl was meticulously crafted by her overnight!” Liu Xinhui inserted the silver hairpin into Liu Wanyao’s hair and said with a charming smile, “Sister Yao, you should know that a fish eye is still a fish eye. Even if it is disguised as a pearl, it will eventually be exposed!”

Upon hearing this, Liu Wanyao paused. She smiled slightly and bowed again, saying, "I will always remember your teachings, sister. This hairpin is a token of your kindness, and I will cherish it."

Seeing that Liu Wanyao had no reaction, Liu Xinhui was furious. She had wanted to take this opportunity to humiliate Liu Wanyao, but the lowly maid seemed to have completely missed the deeper meaning in her words.

"Hmph, you certainly know how to talk a good game! Just because you're marrying into our family today doesn't mean you'll suddenly become a phoenix rising from the ashes. The Song family is nothing but a small, insignificant household; how could they possibly compare to even a fraction of our Liu family?" Liu Xinhui sneered, speaking with disdain.

"Thank you for your guidance, sister. Wanyao understands her place," Liu Wanyao said respectfully.

Liu Xinhui wanted to say something more, but just then, the matchmaker's urgent voice came from outside the courtyard, "Second Miss, the auspicious time has arrived, please leave the house!"

Liu Wanyao took a deep breath and slowly stood up. Looking at her elaborately dressed reflection in the bronze mirror, her heart pounded with anxiety. She didn't know what kind of husband awaited her.

Supported by Madam Quanfu, Liu Wanyao walked gracefully out of Yun Shen Courtyard. Liu Xinhui watched her retreating figure and scoffed, "She's just a fake, yet she gets to be so glamorous."

"Miss, I only have this treatment because of you, Miss. Why bother getting angry with such a servant?" Fang Shu, the personal maid waiting in the courtyard, stepped forward with a smile and flattered her.

"You little rascal, you always know how to please me." Liu Xinhui tapped Fang Shu's forehead, and the two of them left Yun Shen Courtyard one after the other.

At this moment, in the center of the main courtyard of the Liu family mansion, twenty-four loads of dowry were neatly arranged. Following the old custom of the former Dacheng County, the bride's dowry had to be "aired out" here for relatives, friends, the husband's family, and the matchmaker to inspect.

The "appraiser" that Master Tao had hired for Song Ce picked up a porcelain vase with intertwined plum blossoms and tapped it lightly. He frowned slightly, then picked up the ginseng herbs from the dressing case and brought them close to his nose to smell them.

"Mr. Gao, is there anything wrong with this dowry?" Seeing that the appraiser's expression was not right, Master Liu hurriedly stepped forward and asked loudly.

“This…” Mr. Gao hesitated for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the dowry before he carefully spoke: “Master Liu, this porcelain vase looks exquisite, but the sound when tapped is a bit dull, which may indicate that the porcelain is damaged; as for this ginseng, it seems to have been left out for a long time, and the medicinal aroma has faded a bit. It seems that your servants have been busy and have been somewhat negligent.”

Upon hearing this, Master Liu's expression changed slightly, and the surrounding guests also revealed intriguing expressions. Master Sun, who had always been on good terms with the Liu family, stepped forward with a smile to smooth things over, saying, "Mr. Gao, my elder brother has always been a man of integrity and keeping his promises. I suppose he and his wife were misled by the servants in the mansion, which almost ruined my second niece's life."

"Brother Sun is absolutely right. It must be the negligence of the servants in the manor. I will definitely punish these ignorant servants severely another day! I just hope that these trivial matters will not ruin the friendship between the Song and Liu families." Although Master Liu was annoyed, he could only smile and go along with it.

Mr. Gao nodded slightly, not responding further to Master Liu's words. Every guest present was shrewd; seeing this, they all smiled and echoed his sentiments, maintaining a facade of harmony. Just then, the sound of suona horns from a wedding procession drifted in from outside the Liu residence, their joyful melodies temporarily covering up this "scandal."

"The bride is leaving!" the matchmaker shouted at the top of her lungs.

Liu Wanyao lowered her head slightly and stood beside Song Ce, bowing to her "parents" according to etiquette. Madam Liu was displeased to see this maidservant marrying in place of her daughter, but she did not say anything bad in public. She only said lightly, "Now that you are married and have become a member of the Song family, you should not bring shame to the Liu family in the future."

Because of the earlier incident involving the sun-drying of makeup, Master Liu put on a loving father's demeanor: "Daughter, once you are in your husband's family, live a good life with your husband. Remember to be diligent and kind in managing the household, and be a humble and honest wife."

"Yes, daughter will remember her father and mother's teachings."

Master Liu glanced at the well-mannered and polite young man beside him and couldn't help but secretly praise him. If Song Ce really became his son-in-law, he would be a good match for Hui'er. But right now, a maid would be getting the better deal.

"My dear son-in-law, I entrust my daughter to you today. I only hope that you two will spend your lives together in harmony and love," Master Liu said in a loud voice.

"Please rest assured, father-in-law, I will definitely treat her well in the future." Song Ce, along with Liu Wanyao, bowed to the two of them again.

Liu Wanyao's left hand was held by Song Ce, and she subconsciously gripped his hand tightly. Before she could react, he had already firmly grasped her hand back.

Outside the Liu residence, the bridal sedan chair was already prepared. Song Ce scooped up Liu Wanyao in his arms and, amidst the soft gasps of the woman in his arms, steadily carried her into the sedan chair. After making sure Liu Wanyao was seated securely, Song Ce took the reins and rode his horse, leading the grand wedding procession back to the Song family's new residence.

At this moment, Liu Wanyao, sitting in the bridal sedan chair, was tense and silently measured how long the journey would be.

After an unknown amount of time, the swaying bridal sedan chair finally came to a slow stop. Then, the curtain of the sedan chair was slowly lifted, and a tall, imposing figure peered in. Liu Wanyao vaguely saw a slender hand steadily extended towards her.

-----------------------

Author's note: It's windy, I'm working overtime, and my hair is turning white [crying emoji]