Chapter 107 Yingchun's Wedding: "Why did you agree to everything?"...

Before Lin Daiyu's betrothal gifts were even ready, it was time for Yingchun to get married.

On the afternoon of May 12th, the sisters went to the neighboring house, first to pay their respects to Madam Xing, and then to the inner room to chat with Yingchun for a while.

Wang Shanbao's wife was helping the nanny to reorganize the things they would need for tomorrow when she saw them coming over, especially Lin Daiyu. She quickly forced a smile and said, "Please sit down, Miss. Siqi will pour some tea."

Tan Chun stopped them, saying, "We'll just sit for a bit and then leave. Don't waste our time."

Wang Shanbao's wife laughed and said, "Everyone has to go through this when they get married. The bride won't be able to sleep tonight. She has to get up in the middle of the night to do her makeup. She has to soak in hot water and then scrub her whole body with bath beans before she can start her face treatment."

Yingchun's face showed little smile. Lin Daiyu was fine before, since she couldn't sleep at night anyway, but now that she slept soundly until dawn every night, the thought of having to get up at the third watch made her feel uncomfortable.

She had to ask her third brother; she didn't want to get up at the third watch of the night.

"Should we let Second Sister rest for a while?" Lin Daiyu said. "Even if she just lies down for two or three hours, it would be fine."

Wang Shanbao's wife subconsciously glanced back at Yingchun. Although this was the custom for weddings, Yingchun sitting there was really no use, since it was Miss Lin who spoke first.

"Siqi, accompany the young lady to rest. You too, you came with the dowry to the young master's house, and you were in charge of everything in the young lady's room. You won't be able to sit still afterward."

Siqi's face showed no smile, and she numbly helped Yingchun up, saying, "Miss, go to the inner room and rest."

Yingchun's eyes reddened as she looked at her childhood friend: "I..."

Although it's customary to cry when getting married, it's really unlucky to start crying now. Tan Chun quickly said, "We'll be returning to our parents' home in three days. Besides, it's not like you can't go back to your parents' home after getting married. I'll tell Grandma that we can bring you back often."

Yingchun nodded and said, "You all have to think of me." Then she went to the inner room with Siqi.

Since they were preparing for the wedding, they didn't want to linger. They exchanged a few more polite words with Wang Shanbao's wife and then returned to the Rongguo Mansion.

These days, Tan Chun has been managing the household and has become the most favored person by Grandmother Jia's side. She has indeed gained a lot of experience. After looking around, she noticed that Ying Chun's dowry only had sixty-four loads, and many of them were small boxes. She couldn't help but feel anxious.

She had a similar background to Yingchun. Although her birth mother was still alive, she was born into a servant family and had no family background to speak of.

The only thing she was better at than Yingchun was that she was closer to the madam, and also to the old lady, but...

Tan Chun glanced cautiously at Lin Daiyu.

She married the Earl of Zhongyong, while her second sister married a military officer with a sinecure; perhaps it was this difference that made the old lady and the madam so devoted to helping prepare the dowry, while no one cared about her second sister.

Tan Chun sighed, then suddenly smiled and said, "In a few months, I'll be sending you off on your journey."

Lin Daiyu, having been trained by the Empress, was no match for such teasing. She laughed and said, "The more you meet him, the more likely you are to marry a perfect husband in the future."

"I'm still calling you 'elder sister,' and you're acting so improperly." Tan Chun blushed and dared not say anything more.

The next morning, at the auspicious hour, firecrackers went off loudly at the entrance of the Rongguo Mansion, and the Sun family had arrived to welcome the bride.

Yingchun burst into tears. Wang Shanbao's wife stuffed a powder box into her hand and instructed, "Don't cry once you're in the sedan chair. Otherwise, your makeup will be ruined and the groom won't like it."

The matchmaker helped Yingchun out, and then Jia Lian helped her into the sedan chair. The sedan chair door was quickly locked, and Yingchun was officially married.

On the other side, Sun Shaozu was also finalizing his wedding attire. He asked the servant, "Did the Earl of Zhongyong send a reply? Even if he's not coming, he should at least give us a definite answer. Or are you all being lazy and not sending the invitation?"

The servant hurriedly replied, "My lord, you are wise. The three of us delivered the invitations and even gave the gatekeeper two taels of silver."

Sun Shaozu flicked his sleeves: "He didn't return the gift or the invitation. He can't be so rude, can he? My wife and his wife are close cousins."

However, since it was his wedding day, Sun Shaozu had a large number of guests to entertain, so he couldn't worry about much else for the time being.

After a busy day of ceremonies, it was already dark when he returned to the inner courtyard.

Inside the room was Siqi, accompanied by Lan'er, a maid from the Sun family. When Sun Shaozu came in, Lan'er went to fetch hot water, while Siqi pretended to tidy things up in the cabinet.

They had originally planned at home to ask and answer questions to find out who Miss Lin was, but the girl was either too tired or something else, and she didn't say a word.

Siqi had to do it herself: "This box was given to you by Lady Lin, the wife of the Earl of Zhongyong, for the silver ingots you will use as a reward tomorrow morning. These two bundles of cloth were also given to you by Lady Lin, for making new clothes for you. They are all colors suitable for this season, and I have put them on top of it."

Upon hearing this, Sun Shaozu couldn't help but offer two more excuses for the Earl of Zhongyong.

Who was the Earl of Zhongyong? He was a favorite of both Emperors. And what about his grandson, Sun Shaozu? He came to the capital looking for a job. In other words, the gap between him and the Earl of Zhongyong was even greater than the gap between him and the servants in his household.

The Earl of Zhongyong is indeed not suited for such a low-class occasion.

Besides, the Marquis of Zhongyong also has the Northern Camp to manage; where would he find so much free time? If he were to attend banquets all day, His Majesty would certainly reprimand him.

Moreover, as a military officer, he needed military power to get a job, and the Marquis of Zhongyong was definitely testing him.

Since they've become brothers-in-law anyway, the cousins ​​can't just stop seeing each other. Sun Shaozu, unusually good-natured, asked Yingchun in a gentle voice, "You've been hungry all day, have something to eat before you wash up."

Siqi was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. She looked slightly relaxed and went out to find the old woman to order food.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and the day for welcoming spring and returning to one's parents' home arrived.

Siqi had been urging the Sun family to prepare the carriage since last night, and she got up early this morning to help Yingchun wash up. She was quick and efficient, and the group returned to the Jia mansion just after 7 a.m.

Yingchun was taken to Grandmother Jia's room. Jia Lian first accompanied Sun Shaozu to drink, while Siqi was taken to Jia She.

There's also the matter of ten thousand taels of silver involved. Although Jia She would never take out this silver under any circumstances, he still wanted to ask about it.

If his daughter takes good care of him, and the son-in-law becomes a proper relative, maybe he can give her some more.

“The young master is quite considerate to the young lady,” Siqi replied. “He also knows to ask what the young lady likes and dislikes. Although he enjoys wine, he knows to remove the smell before entering the young lady’s room.”

A smile appeared on Jia She's face. Putting everything else aside, his daughter was quite beautiful. Sun Shaozu would have a good time marrying her, and it would be a novel experience for a while.

Siqi hesitated for a moment, then boldly said, "It's just that Miss is probably shy and hasn't been very talkative these past few days. The young master has asked a lot of questions and said that if Miss feels bored at home, he won't restrict her. She has cousins ​​and can visit often. So I told the young master that Miss was already very close to her cousins ​​at home and that she will definitely go out often in the future."

As for Er Mu Tou, Jia She also knew this nickname.

As for his cousins, aren't they his nieces, the future wives of the Earl of Zhongyong? He's using this title to marry off his daughter; doesn't that invite questions from the Sun family?

Jia She thought this maid was really useful, and he said with a smile, "I know you are Wang Shanbao's granddaughter and a capable woman. Take good care of Yingchun, and you will surely benefit from it in the future."

Siqi had pleaded with Wang Shanbao's wife, with Madam Xing, and with Yingchun, but no one had agreed to her request. Today, she had finally managed to see the master, and she wanted to try again, since things couldn't possibly get any worse.

“Master, I have a cousin named Pan Youan. He is honest and obedient, and we know him well. Why don’t we let him go and serve the girls together?”

Jia She's expression turned cold, but firstly, he didn't care about such things; it was nothing unusual for a maid and a servant to have an affair. He could even give his concubine to his son.

Secondly, why not get along well with the Sun family instead of becoming enemies?

“Okay, when you go back today, have him come with you.”

Siqi's legs went weak, and she knelt down on the ground, tears streaming down her face, and said, "Master, if there's anything you need, just give the order."

Jia She laughed loudly: "What can you do, you're just a maid?" His eyes suddenly darted around, "If anything happens, I'll have your family tell you."

Siqi kowtowed and backed out.

Two days later, it was the day Lin Daiyu went to the palace to teach the princesses to write.

After the two classes were over, the Empress stood up and said, "You haven't eaten in the palace yet—well, the West Garden doesn't count. Today I'll let you taste the real Imperial Kitchen's cooking."

Lin Daiyu thought she was in a side hall, but the Empress didn't even call her princess and led her directly to the front.

Lin Daiyu asked somewhat uneasily, "Your Highness, where are we going?"

The Empress chuckled twice: "I'm not going to eat you. You can just come with me."

Today was also the day Mu Chuan taught the princes martial arts. After the lesson, the emperor instructed, "Qiao Yue, my shoulders have been sore these past few days. Do you know anything like the Five Animal Frolics or the Eight Pieces of Brocade? Teach me some of those too."

The emperor felt that since he had already taken away Qiao Yue's horse, he should at least have Qiao Yue teach him something, since he was already here. But wouldn't it be a waste of talent for Qiao Yue, a dignified general, to teach a young prince?

"And I'd also like to learn the military boxing from Pingnan Town last time."

Mu Chuan had no doubts and thought about it carefully: "The Deer Exercise in the Five Animal Frolics stretches the shoulders, and several movements in the Eight Pieces of Brocade can stretch the shoulders. As for military boxing, how long can Your Majesty stand in a stance?"

The emperor coughed lightly twice: "Then let's begin with the Five Animal Frolics."

Although the emperor was much healthier than the ten-year-old princes, he was still at the same level of a quarter-hour class, just with a slightly higher intensity of exercise.

After completing the set of movements, the emperor broke out in a light sweat and felt quite comfortable: "Qiao Yue, please wait a moment while I wash up. We'll have lunch in the palace."

Mu Chuan waited for a moment, and the emperor changed into casual clothes and led him into the imperial study.

The Imperial Study is also a three-courtyard structure, with the innermost courtyard connected to the inner court.

Mu Chuan refused to go any further after reaching the second courtyard.

The emperor chuckled: "I can't do anything to you. Sigh, the empress summoned Miss Lin today. Since you're both going to enter the palace anyway, why not arrange for you to come on the same day?"

Mu Chuan smiled and said loudly, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

His voice was clearly audible to those inside, and the Empress laughed, "Did you hear that?"

Lin Daiyu bowed slightly, a little embarrassed: "Thank you, Your Highness."

The Empress pointed to the side room: "You two go to the side room to eat."

Mu Chuan entered the side room and immediately saw Lin Daiyu. He found this experience quite strange and also felt that His Majesty and the Empress were indeed good people.

What should we eat for lunch?

In the palace, Lin Daiyu was a bit reserved and embarrassed: "I don't know either."

Mu Chuan sighed deliberately, "Then we'll just have to eat whatever they send us."

Lin Daiyu burst out laughing: "You want to order food?"

Seeing Mu Chuan looking thoughtful, as if he was about to stand up and call the eunuch, Lin Daiyu quickly stopped him: "Alright, alright, I know you can order, but isn't it a surprise if you don't know?"

In any case, her third brother was still the same as before, and Lin Daiyu quickly calmed down. The two sat down at the table to eat, and Lin Daiyu suddenly smiled again.

Mu Chuan glanced at her and said, "What a lovely girl."

Lin Daiyu glanced at him and said, "I remembered a joke."

"You want to make a joke by having dinner with me?"

Lin Daiyu changed the subject: "My second sister got married a couple of days ago, and she wouldn't let us sleep at night."

Mu Chuan immediately understood what she meant: "I'll ask His Majesty later to choose an auspicious time a little later."

"I heard that facial surgery is very painful."

"Just a token gesture will suffice."

"You need to get ready two hours in advance."

"You're so good-looking, it won't take that long."

"I also want to eat raw dumplings."

"This is a bad habit."

"I can't eat for a whole day."

"Just order whatever you want to eat, and I'll have Aunt Shen come with you."

The two spoke faster and faster, and Lin Daiyu's face ached from laughing: "Third Brother, why do you agree to everything I ask for?"

Mu Chuan hesitated and said, "I won't agree to everything. You'll see in the future."