Wedding

In the exquisite mercury mirror, the woman's dark hair was tied up in a bun, her lips were white as snow, her eyebrows were as dark as a mountain, and her dark eyes were like a clear spring. The light in her eyes was like spring water just melting, both clear and charming. She was wearing a bright red dress and no makeup. A blush on her fair cheeks, as if shy and annoyed.

Catching a glimpse of another red reflected in the mirror, Aruo's eyes were filled with helplessness and regret. She couldn't help but turn around and glare at the person who shouldn't be in her boudoir.

"Su Feng, how long are you going to sit here?" She was really about to go crazy. She glared at him with a fake smile and said, "How can a groom not be at home on the wedding day to prepare for the wedding, but wait in the bride's room?"

The bridesmaids beside her giggled, covering their lips with their hands. They bravely glanced at the man sitting there, playing with the red dates and longans they would soon scatter. He was dressed in a red robe, not yet in formal attire. The vibrant color accentuated his delicate features, his handsome face. He was now calmly pinching the longans, not at all aware of the inappropriateness of his behavior.

Aruo, who had been laughed at for most of the day, sighed and rolled her eyes. She walked over resignedly and put her arms around his shoulders and neck. "I'm going to marry you, are you still afraid that I'll leave? Really? They say that newlyweds can't see each other for three days before the wedding. You're not afraid of bad luck at all."

"That was three days before the wedding, not the wedding day. And Yiyuan said these are just bad habits, no need to worry too much." He endured it for three days, wasn't that enough? Su Zirui frowned slightly and put his arm around her waist, which was still unbelted but not thick enough to hold in one hand.

Qin Shuang personally watched over Jiao Nursing for nearly a month, and she finally regained her good complexion. The scarlet silk dress made her skin look as white as snow, and her pair of black eyes were smiling and lively, as if she was radiating infinite vitality. She was as dazzling as a pearl that had shed all the dust.

"Alright, go back quickly! If Qin Shuang and the others find out, they won't let you in later." Aruo herself didn't really care about these customs. She chuckled and pushed him. "You've already let Beili and the others surround this yard. How can I still fly?"

Despite the teasing joke, Aruo felt a pang of sadness in her heart. The soul swap had left her feeling uneasy. Her Lord Su shouldn't be like this. He had always been calm and composed, always in control of everything.

This time, such a thing happened before the wedding even took place, and rumors of forced marriage were coming out. Aruo thought of how Qi Shaozhen had told her with a malicious smile this morning that there were rumors outside that the Su family was forcing an innocent citizen to marry, and she wanted to hold her forehead and sigh.

Last time, it was a group of mindless puppets in the formation watching the ceremony, and this time, it was Yama Luo who forced her to marry... Is it so difficult for her to have an ordinary wedding?

She glanced at the sky. Although she had come here after paying homage to her ancestors, she should leave... Su Zirui gently stroked her face with his fingertips, his eyes full of obvious attachment. He whispered, "Ruoruo, wait for me."

When he comes again, he can take her away with good reason.

Aruo smiled and nodded, "I'll wait for you."

I hope he won't be too troubled by his brother who has been depressed for a whole month. Under the strong request of the Qin siblings, today they are marrying off their daughter in the name of the Cao Gang. In addition to Qin Fenglin's rare appearance as abbot, Qin Shuang and Qin Zhi have also set up many obstacles. The people of the Baiyan Gang are also ready to go, and even everyone in the Chunfeng has joined in the fun.

The opportunity to legitimately embarrass the living devil of the Ministry of Justice was such that even Lin Ziyan, who was invited to be a brother to welcome the bride, was secretly planning to turn against him.

Su Zirui knew what she was laughing at at first glance, and raised his eyebrows slightly. How could he not have predicted such a traitor? Tsk...

"Hey, Master Su, why are you still here?" Cai Xin, dressed in a silver-red skirt, ran in hastily. Seeing him still there, she stamped her feet anxiously, "The auspicious time is almost here, and Aruo hasn't combed her hair yet! Go away, go back quickly and don't get in the way here!"

Of all the things in the world, the bride's preparations are the most important at this moment. Cai Xin didn't care about Su Zirui's usual dominance and pushed him out.

Cai Xin was radiant and bright today. Having shed her timidity, she looked like a new person, her eyes filled with a newfound determination. After her internship at Yunxiufang, she had become the new owner of Chenxing Pavilion, the newest silver shop in Beijing. She specialized in high-end jewelry for unmarried women and was highly sought after by the city's noble ladies.

"Aruo, why are you still standing there? Come here and comb your hair!" After sending away the speechless groom, Cai Xin turned around and saw the bride collapsed on the short couch with laughter, unable to get up. She hurried over to pull her up and hurriedly called the bridesmaid over.

"Hurry, hurry, Madam Su has specially invited the wife of the Minister of Personnel to come and comb your hair. She is a well-known person in the capital who is blessed with good fortune. You will definitely be blessed."

The Minister of Personnel and Su Qing were from the same class. He and his wife had been in love for many years. His parents were still alive, and he had two sons and two daughters. They were a well-known complete family in the capital.

Aruo looked at Caixin who was busy coming and going, and suddenly a feeling of sadness was touched in his heart. He suddenly opened his arms and hugged her, "Caixin, I feel a little unreal."

She was going to marry the man she loved, with her best friends and family to see her off, and people she never expected to meet would send their blessings to her. Everything seemed so beautiful that it didn't seem real.

"I always feel that when we wake up, we should get busy making breakfast again." Aruo smiled softly and leaned on Caixin's shoulder, suddenly feeling a little reluctant to leave.

"Heh..." Cai Xin suddenly laughed and rubbed her forehead, "This is not bad, but Lord Su might put me in jail."

She wanted to say that Su Zirui would kill her directly, but on such a happy day, she didn't dare to say anything bad.

Aruo smiled until her eyes turned red. "Cai Xin, you will always be by my side, right? We will always be fine."

"Of course. Don't even think about getting rid of me again... I still remember everything you said when you lied to me." Cai Xin choked up, patted her hands, and smiled brightly, "Also, I'm busy for you now, and when I find a husband, you have to work for me too."

"Still looking? Can't you pick out those two?" Aruo glanced at her with a smile, and was obediently pressed in front of the dressing table.

Several bridesmaids quickly gathered around to help her put on makeup. They were all the head shopkeepers of the Qin family's rouge and powder shop, and were good at making up women. Qin Shuang had transferred half of the Qin family's head shopkeepers here for her, but of course, she wasn't just doing it for Aruo.

Recently, the Qin family took the opportunity to open a number of stores in the capital on the pretext of sending off the bride, and bought a lot of land with good locations and great potential, as well as a hot spring villa in the suburbs of Beijing... Aruo was not surprised. After today's wedding, the reputation of those main stores would soon penetrate the market of celebrities in the capital.

However, she didn't care about it at the moment, even though some of these shops were her dowry. She took advantage of the gap in her face to grab Cai Xin who was checking each piece of jewelry.

"Although both of them have some shortcomings, one is suave and the other is calm and strong. Are you really not attracted to them?" Aruo looked at her curiously. She didn't insist that Caixin choose between the two men, but after listening to Caixin mention how these two men took care of her during her stay in the Marquis' Mansion, Aruo also felt that Caixin had some trust in these two men.

Cai Xin paused, then selected a phoenix-tail hairpin inlaid with kingfisher feathers and auspicious clouds and gold beads. She gently inserted it into her cloud-like hair and smiled nonchalantly, "You said that you have to walk some paths yourself to know what kind of life you want. They are good, but... they may not be suitable for my future path. Besides, I have to find someone who treats me like you do."

Aruo chuckled, almost crooking her eyebrows, making Xi Niang glare at her. "It's really rare to see someone treat you like I do."

Cai Xin weighed the phoenix crown made of pure gold and pearls in her hand, and felt a little pity for Aruo, who would have to wear it all day. "That's not right. So, these two are not very good yet."

Looking at her bright and beautiful face after the make-up, Cai Xin felt a little strange, but the smile between her eyebrows was still familiar to her. Thinking of the days when she was away, a trace of confusion flashed across Cai Xin's eyes.

Those two men were both excellent, but she didn't have the urge to entrust her life to them. She had personally witnessed the sweet glances between Aruo and Su Zirui. Such a cold and reserved man, the tenderness he showed when looking at Aruo was enviable.

She was grateful for Lin Ziyan and Cheng Sheng's help and remembered their kindness, but these were not the kind of relationships she longed for. If possible, she still wanted to find someone who could make her unconsciously pursue him. At least for now, only Aruo had done this, and the other two did not have this ability, so she wanted to wait and see in the future.

At this moment, nothing is more important than her Aruo getting married.

After carefully dressing up, Aruo put on an exquisitely embroidered wedding dress. Her eyebrows and eyes were as delicate as a painting. Her elegant facial features became bright and charming after the heavy makeup, and her eyebrows and eyes were radiant.

When Qin Shuang came in, she saw her sitting obediently beside the bed. Her clear eyes looked at her, which reminded her of the little girl who looked at her silly when she first met her.

"Shuangshuang~" Aruo hadn't put on the phoenix crown yet, and was unable to move because of the bridesmaid's scolding. She could only stretch out her hand and look at her eagerly.

Holding her hand and sitting beside her, Qin Shuang's eyes turned red as she caressed her face with a smile, "Our Ruoruo is finally getting married. From now on... we will all live happily and worry-free in this world."

She has a lover, a family, and will have blood-related children in the future. She will have more and more concerns that belong to her.

"Shuangshuang..." Aruo couldn't hold back her tears and pursed her lips, "Thank you... for never giving up on me."

It turns out that in this world, besides her senior sister, Qin Shuang was the only one she trusted unconditionally. Now, there was also Lord Su. Ah, that's not right... Lord Su earned her love and trust with his affection and devotion, not unconditionally. If one day, he let go of all that, then even if it broke her heart, she wouldn't continue to cling to him.

"Silly child, don't be afraid." Qin Shuang, an experienced person, saw through the panic in her eyes at a glance. She held Aruo's hand and said softly, "Although you are marrying as the daughter of a merchant, you have made a name for yourself at the palace banquet. The noble ladies in the capital will not look down on you. Besides, the Su family will not let you suffer any injustice... If you really encounter something unpleasant, don't worry. Your brother and I have prepared a sufficient dowry for you. You have the confidence to do anything. At worst, you can leave them and live on your own."

Upon hearing this, Cai Xin almost choked herself, and several bridesmaids also started to laugh.

"It's your wedding day, Miss, you are so silly. Why are you saying all this?" The bridesmaid had been with Qin Shuang for a long time and couldn't help but say angrily.

"Sister Shuang, does Lord Su agree with what you said?" Cai Xin relaxed her breath and laughed uncontrollably. That man even waited for the wedding day, how could he let his wife give up on him again?

Qin Shuang's phoenix eyes shone lightly, and her smile was wanton and confident. "What a joke! Aren't we women also born into this world? Why can men be fickle, and yet we are expected to be faithful? Ruoruo, Caixin, even the rest of you are all like this: marry a man and he'll provide you with food and clothing. This is a bit of a lie, but if he treats you badly, makes you depressed, and you can't even eat, why would you keep him for the New Year instead of throwing him away?"

All present were women, some married, some single, and some planning to marry. Upon hearing this, they all smiled and nodded gently. These women were no simple boudoir dwellers; they had seen the wider world and would not confine themselves to love. Their confidence came from their abilities, their experience, and themselves, not from men.

"Ruoruo, I know you understand this principle and will never put yourself in a difficult position, so I won't say much more." Qin Shuang took the brocade box handed over by Agate.

Upon seeing the box, Aruo's cheeks flushed, and she hesitated to resist, "Are you coming again... Didn't I tell you in detail last night..."

It was the first time she knew that there were so many kinds of activities for couples these days. The exotic customs she had seen before were simply crude and simple... Ahem, last night, Qin Shuang caught her and gave her a lecture. Until now, Aruo's mind still kept emerging with those beautiful scenes that made people blush just by looking at them.

"Miss Yu, it's for your own good to know more," said the bridesmaid, who had been married for three years. "I was too shy at first, so I didn't really look. As a result... I was in excruciating pain on our wedding night..."

"Yes, yes, me too... My husband and I grew up together, and he didn't understand it back then..." Another newly married bride was still feeling scared.

Aruo and Caixin were stunned when they heard this, and couldn't help but look at Qin Shuang, "So, do you want to cram for me again?"

Glancing at her coquettishly, Qin Shuang tapped her nose and said, "You're overthinking it. I've said everything I can about this matter. Let your Lord Su teach you the rest."

Aruo pouted, "If he could really teach me... I would be unhappy."

Qin Shuang knew what she was thinking, so she smiled and whispered, "Don't be silly, men are born to understand these things."

Cough cough cough... Aruo suddenly gasped for breath and glared at Qin Shuang.

"Okay, I won't tease you anymore." Qin Shuang's face straightened, pointing at Manju and the others behind him, "You are marrying into an official family, and you will be the mistress of the Su family in the future. You will be surrounded by capable people. Manju and Zhenzhu were picked out to train you since you came to the Qin family with Zhenzhen. You can take them with you. There is no need to rush to seize power. Just live your life slowly. In addition, I have selected four people from different families to accompany you. They are all experts in their own fields. You will get to know them slowly. Keep these people's indentures..."

Mrs. Li, the Su family's wife, was a shrewd and capable woman who favored power over love. Aruo certainly didn't need to rush to run the household in the past. After all, Su Zirui was the only son, and everything would be handed over to Aruo in the future. Qin Shuang meticulously explained these principles and human relationships as she explained her plans. Aruo appreciated her kindness and listened attentively, her heart growing increasingly bitter, and tears wet her eyelashes.

She came into this world with nothing, but she met Yiyuan, who shared her hardships. Later, she met Elder Shen. Despite his exploits and calculations, she met Shen Nan and Qin Shuang. One would protect her even after death, and the other became her source of confidence and security. Now, reflecting on it, this world has treated her well.

"One more thing. Although you're eighteen, there's no need to rush into pregnancy." Qin Shuang held her hand and said seriously, "The bond between husband and wife is built through time. You're lucky to be married to Lord Su because you share a mutual understanding, but the dynamics of husband and wife are different than they were before marriage. You should cultivate your relationship first. There's no rush for children, understand?"

All of Qin Shuang's thoughts coincided with hers, and sometimes Aruo would even wonder if Qin Shuang was from the same hometown. Aruo smiled and nodded, leaning into her arms, choking with sobs and acting coquettishly, "Shuangshuang, I suddenly don't want to leave you..."

Qin Shuang chuckled, "I don't dare hide you now."

Outside the courtyard she had bought, there were people from the Ministry of Justice and the Su family's personal guards surrounding it.

Outside, the sound of firecrackers rang out one after another, followed by the sound of music coming from far away.

"It's time to wear the phoenix crown." Cai Xin's eyes turned red and tears fell. She quickly wiped them away and said with a smile.

Qin Shuang waved his hand and said, "No hurry, let the brothers in the gang out first."

Aruo looked at them with both tears and laughter, and held tightly the orange that Qin Shuang handed to her personally.

"Shuangshuang, I once didn't want to exist in this world, but because of you, I now have the strength and courage to keep going."

Holding a gold-inlaid and flower-decorated feather fan, he walked through the streets hung with red gauze and stepped over the blazing braziers.

Bow to heaven and earth.

Bow twice to your parents.

The couple bowed to each other.

Su Zirui, holding his girl's hand, walked through the entire wedding ceremony amidst the sound of firecrackers and laughter. The girl beside him was shy, stealing glances at him and quickly lowering her eyelashes, not wanting to break the rules. Gently tugging at her sleeve, he caught a glimpse of the smile on her lips.

Following the sound of being escorted to the bridal chamber, he brought her to their future bedroom.

There weren't many people making a fuss in the bridal chamber, as they were all planning to get ruthless during the drinking session. So, while Aruo was constantly around people, she didn't know many of them. She couldn't remember anyone's appearance at all, so she could only identify a few elders. By the time they'd finished drinking the wedding wine and all the rituals, it was already late. With the help of Manou and the others, she washed and dressed, and looked, somewhat speechlessly, at the nightgown Qin Shuang had prepared for her.

Bright red tulle... Aruo lifted the thin, close-fitting gown and looked at the shy Agate with a playful look. As a bride, she was still calm, but their shy expressions made her feel a little abnormal.

"Miss, it's time to go out." Pearl reminded softly, then winked at Agate, put on the gauze for her, and then silently retreated with the other maids.

Aruo took a look at herself in the bronze mirror in the bathroom. Wow, she could even see the lotus flowers on her bellyband clearly. Her long robe was smooth and fitted, revealing her exquisite curves.

Is Qin Shuang preparing it for her or for the one in her family?

She bit her red lip. There were already some quiet noises in the bedroom. Aruo took a few deep breaths. "Tsk, what are you afraid of? This isn't revealing. She's worn something even more revealing before..." Many years ago, in another world.

As she entered the bedroom, all her mental preparation vanished when that burning gaze fell upon her. Her body stiffened unconsciously, and Aruo's panicked gaze roamed over the closed door, the lit dragon and phoenix candles, and even the fruit on the table that had just been replaced after the meal. She didn't dare look at him.

Su Zirui looked at his bride, and at that moment, he felt the reality of marrying a wife. His girl, dressed in red, stood within his reach with extreme temptation.

No longer a dream, no longer an illusion.

That gaze was like a fire, igniting every inch of her skin. Her slender white fingers subconsciously grabbed the gauze, and Aruo couldn't help but tremble.

She could feel him approaching, his characteristically cold aura enveloping her. The next moment, she was lifted horizontally. The weightlessness intensified her uncontrolled heartbeat. She helplessly clung to his shoulders, her panicked eyes gazing into those deep, dark eyes.

"Su Feng..."

He stared at her, his eyes serious and deep. Deep in his cold eyebrows was an indescribable tenderness that made her heart soften.

The red gauze curtain was lifted up and fell down layer by layer. The face without heavy makeup was fair and tender. In the red mist, the eyebrows and eyes were darker and brighter, and the sparkling eyes were stained with a bit of shyness. The simple and ignorant yet charming look was really itchy.

Su Zirui lowered his eyes and looked at her, a faint blush secretly flying across his cold face, his eyes focused and gentle, he slowly leaned over and pressed her onto the bed, his dense kisses landing on her brow, slowly moving down along the tip of her nose.

He took her hand, placed it against his chest, and whispered, "Do you feel it?"

The heartbeat under her palm was frantic and rapid. Aruo raised her eyes timidly, only to hear his extremely tender voice falling into her ears.

"Only you can control... my heartbeat."

The man's voice, even when he spoke sweet nothings, was like a spoiled child, leaving her powerless to resist. The veil on her body was lifted, and his cool fingertips gently caressed her shoulders and neck. The touch was too cold for her at that moment, making her tremble all over, even her heart tremble. She couldn't help but plead, "Su Feng... wait..."

Before she could say anything, a passionate kiss fell upon her, and the warmth swept over her like a tide, almost taking away her breath and her mind.

"Ruoruo..." His murmur was hoarse and lingering, so soft that only she could hear it.

He held her face in his big hands and kissed her gently. His cold face added a touch of charm to the ambiguity, which made her brain numb. For a moment, she could only accept it blankly.

A sudden, icy touch landed on her ankle, bringing her back to her senses. She opened her eyes and looked over. A silver chain swung lightly around her slender, white ankle; the delicate pattern and bell looked familiar.

"This is?"

"At our last wedding, you personally put the ring on my finger, capturing my heart. This time, I'll put your favorite silver chain on your finger, locking you as my wife. Today, on this auspicious day, I will tie the knot with you. From now on, we will be husband and wife, loving and respectful to each other..."

Su Zirui looked at her, his long eyelashes reflecting the candlelight filtering through the red curtains. His eyes, unable to conceal their soft shimmer, shimmered with a hint of paranoia and deep lust. His voice, soft and gentle, was tinged with a faint smile, devout and focused.

Her mind, bewildered by beauty, regained some clarity. Aruo stared at him for a long moment before slowly lifting her foot. A faint ringing sound was heard. "You call this... holding the case at eyebrow level?"

Do we have different understandings of the phrase "holding an eyebrow up to the same level as the other"? Why does this necklace, when worn, seem a bit like the legendary forbidden love? Don't bully her for not reading something wicked enough. Also, why does she like this necklace...

Hmm, it seems a little familiar... The more I look at it, the more it looks like the chain that is rumored to ring with body temperature?

Seeing through her thoughts, his eyes darkened, and his scorching gaze fell on her, slowly curling up a smile. At this moment, the smile was too charming, making her have the illusion that he was not locking her ankle, but her...

"You don't have to do this. As long as you are in this world, I have concerns. As long as you don't leave, I will never abandon you." She looked into those black eyes and whispered softly.

The kiss was like a storm, and she trembled and closed her eyes, listening to the ringing sound becoming more and more intense.

The sturdy bed swayed gently, like the flickering flame of a red candle, and the red curtains fluttered, occasionally revealing the intertwined figures on the bed. The subtle but crisp sound of the bells lingered for a long time within the red curtains.