Chapter 96 The Wedding

"Young Master, that Young Master Feng is quite nice to Little Bell." On the way back, Mantou offered his opinion.

“Is that so?” Fu Yunxiu said.

"Of course, you saw him taking care of Xiaolingdang during the meal. It's obvious that Xiaolingdang likes him very much." But the thought that Xiaolingdang might be the young master's daughter made Mantou feel that the scene was a bit strange.

"Young master, is that little bell really your daughter?"

Before Mantou could finish speaking, Fu Yunxiu interrupted him, "Go and look up Feng Yan's biography."

"Huh?" Mantou looked confused. "Why?"

“I always felt that he was being a little too nice to Xiaolingdang,” Fu Yunxiu said. “He was so attentive to every little detail, it felt like he was deliberately putting on an act,” Fu Yunxiu said.

"But she's very attentive to Xiaolingdang; she even knows what Xiaolingdang doesn't like to eat. And she's quite nice to Aman too."

"So meticulous, yet you still managed to lose the child," Fu Yunxiu said, his voice tinged with annoyance. "Just do what I told you to do, stop with all the nonsense."

"Oh. Yes, young master." Mantou replied reluctantly after being scolded.

Anyway, he thought that young master Feng was quite nice, gentle and refined, unlike a typical young master who kept staring at people during the meal, which was quite disrespectful.

It's probably out of jealousy.

Since the Marquis's influence was not in Bingzhou, it took Mantou quite a bit of effort to find out about Feng Yan's past.

According to his neighbors, the Feng family used to be in the timber business. Old Master Feng had a keen eye for business, and although they weren't extremely wealthy, they were still quite well-known in Bingzhou. After Old Master Feng passed away, the timber shop was taken over by the current Mr. Feng, Feng Yan's father, and the business gradually declined.

Master Feng was also a scholar, but after taking the imperial examinations for several years, he was still only a junior scholar. After taking over the timber workshop, he was hesitant and timid in doing business.

"But Feng Yan is a good person." The old woman's eyes lit up when Feng Yan was mentioned.

Feng Yan was the only son of Master Feng. From the moment he was born, the whole family doted on him like a precious treasure. Surprisingly, Feng Yan was not spoiled. He was intelligent, quick-witted, and diligent in his studies from a young age.

Seeing a glimmer of hope, Master Feng sold most of his maids and servants, and even sold everything he owned to ensure Feng Yan could receive an education.

Feng Yan lived up to expectations, passing the imperial examination three years ago. He was planning to further his studies, but unexpectedly, his master, Mr. Feng, passed away suddenly, so he had to observe three years of mourning.

But he didn't sit idle during those three years. He managed the lumber mill very well. Although it couldn't compare to its former glory, it was definitely getting better.

"Moreover, Feng Yan is very filial to his mother. When his mother was sick, he took care of her personally. I heard that even the county magistrate came to his house to offer his condolences. I heard from others that he is probably going to be recommended for the civil service examination."

Mantou recounted all the information he had gathered, which made Fu Yunxiu frown.

This Feng Yan seems almost too good to be true. He doesn't seem like a real person, but rather someone who's putting on an act.

But as Mantou said, perhaps he was just being petty; maybe that's just how people really are.

Well then, since neither Aman nor Xiaolingdang likes it, if he can really pretend for a lifetime, that's his skill.

After doing all that, before I knew it, it was New Year's Eve.

The inn's waiters had all gone home for the Chinese New Year, and the innkeeper, seeing that these wanderers from afar couldn't go home for the holiday, specially prepared good wine and food.

A group of strangers from all over the country got along like family in this festive atmosphere, drinking and singing together.

The wine at the inn was stronger than what Fu Yunxiu usually drank; one sip and it burned his heart.

"Come on, drink."

"It is fate that we meet, let's drink until we drop today."

Amidst the clinking of glasses, Mantou was already quite drunk. With his eyes glazed over, he seemed to see Fu Yunxiu push open the door and leave.

"Hey, young master, where are you going?"

At this time and in this place, where else could Fu Yunxiu go?

At the entrance of Xinghua Lane, a cluster of red plum blossoms is in full bloom, and the courtyard is bustling with activity amidst the fragrant plum blossoms.

"Mother, let me do it, let me do it."

"Miss, Madam, please be careful not to get burned."

"Little bell, hurry, hurry, it's going to explode."

Amidst joyful laughter, fireworks soared into the sky, bursting forth in vibrant colors. Fu Yunxiu raised his wine bottle and clinked it against the fireworks, saying, "Aman, Happy New Year!"

*

After the New Year, Fu Yunxiu did two things.

The first thing he did was rent a courtyard in Bingzhou. The courtyard wasn't large, but it was located near Xinghua Lane.

Secondly, he hired several embroiderers to teach him embroidery.

When Mantou saw his young master pick up the embroidery needle from the hand that held the pen, his face turned green.

"Young master, do you really want to learn?"

"Hmm." Fu Yunxiu pinched the silk thread and imitated the embroiderer, splitting the thread.

"But why?" Mantou couldn't understand. They weren't short of money now; whatever the young master wanted, he could just have the embroiderer do it. Why did he have to do it himself? Besides, it looked too strange for a grown man to hold an embroidery needle. "I want to embroider a veil for Aman myself," Fu Yunxiu said.

It was his mistake that caused Aman to lose the veil embroidered by her grandmother. Otherwise, Aman could have married happily and gloriously, covered by her grandmother's blessing.

Although the veil is still there, it is badly damaged and unusable.

Now he is sewing a veil himself, which can be considered as his way of making amends for his mistakes.

“But the bride’s veil is usually sewn by the bride herself or prepared by her family. I’ve never heard of it being made by someone else. Besides,” Mantou said, looking pale, “how can a grown man hold an embroidery needle?”

“Who says embroidery is only a woman’s job?” Fu Yunxiu glanced at him. “Alright, if you can’t stand it, go rest over there and don’t get in my way.”

Perhaps it's true that intelligent people have a natural talent for everything; Fu Yunxiu learned from the embroiderer for a few days and actually mastered it. Although his embroidery wasn't exceptionally exquisite, it was already better than some of the embroidery sold in shops, only a little slower.

Fu Yunxiu worked tirelessly from dawn till dusk to finish embroidering a veil adorned with mandarin ducks entwined around their necks, finally completing it before Aman's birthday. Four days later, on the ninth day of the second lunar month, was Aman's wedding day.

Fu Yunxiu hesitated for a long time before finally inviting Aman out.

It's unusual that Aman came today without bringing the little bell.

“My godmother said she missed her, so my sworn brother took her to the Chen residence to play,” Aman said. “You called me out, is there something you need?”

Fu Yunxiu paused in pouring the tea.

There was a time when he and Aman wanted to be together all the time, never to be apart. But now, he has to have something important to do to ask her out.

But who can we blame?

Fu Yunxiu gave a wry smile, "It's nothing serious. Here, consider this a wedding gift for you."

Fu Yunxiu handed her a box.

"What is this?" Aman took the box and opened it. What came into view was a pattern of mandarin ducks with their necks intertwined. It turned out to be a veil.

Fu Yunxiu explained, "If it weren't for me, you would have been married with this veil covering your face."

Fu Yunxiu opened another box and handed it to her. "I found this veil on a tree on the edge of a cliff. It was badly damaged. I thought about finding an embroiderer to mend it, but I was afraid that her skills were not good enough and that it would ruin your grandmother's good intentions."

"Grandma." Mentioning the little old woman, Aman was deeply moved. Her fingers gently traced the embroidery; every stitch was embroidered by Grandma, day and night, despite her illness.

She had thought she would never see him again.

"Thank you," Aman said.

“Aman, back then you…” Fu Yunxiu wanted to ask what exactly happened back then.

"Back then..." For Aman, everything from back then was like a nightmare.

The relentless pursuit, the icy cold river, and the shocking crimson blood.

"It's all in the past." Aman didn't want to recall it, and couldn't bear to recall it. It was that foolish woman who traded her life for his.

“Okay.” Aman didn’t want to talk about it, and Fu Yunxiu didn’t press her. After a long while, he spoke again, “I heard that your wedding day is in four days.”

Fu Yunxiu suppressed his emotions and forced himself to force a smile that looked worse than a grimace. "Congratulations!"

His tone remained calm, but only Fu Yunxiu knew how insincere and heartbroken he was when he said those words.

Did Aman feel the same way back then?

Aman smiled and said, "Thank you, young master. I originally wanted to send you an invitation, but the innkeeper said you have already checked out and left."

“Yes, I rented a courtyard here,” Fu Yunxiu said.

“I see,” Aman said. “Then please come to the wedding banquet in three days.”

“I’m going,” Fu Yunxiu said. Even if Aman hadn’t invited him, he would have gone.

He wanted to watch Aman walk towards her happiness with his own eyes. It was also a form of punishment for him.

On the ninth day of the second lunar month, the weather was fine and the sun was shining brightly.

Early in the morning, everyone in the Chen household was busy. In the courtyard, Chen Baixun was directing the servants to move things and clean the yard. Today was the big day of her wedding at the beginning of the month, and there couldn't be any mistakes.

Inside the room, Madam Chen and her maids were helping Aman with her makeup.

In the bronze mirror, Aman, who had not yet put on makeup, had skin as smooth as cream, a face as beautiful as a peach blossom, and bright eyes and white teeth like orchids in a secluded valley.

Over the years, Mrs. Chen's feelings for her adopted daughter had evolved from initial pity to genuine affection. Everyone said she was very lucky to have such a beautiful adopted daughter, but little did they know that beauty was merely her least remarkable virtue.

She never gives up in the face of adversity. She remains calm and composed in the face of challenges. What truly makes her endearing at the beginning of the month is her personality.

Now, such a good daughter is about to become someone's daughter-in-law.

"At the beginning of the month, did you blame your godmother? If it weren't for my interference back then, you and Ah Xun might have..." Every time this was mentioned, Madam Chen felt extremely regretful.

Back then, she was narrow-minded, thinking that Ah Xun was not good enough for her because of her humble background and being a widow with a child.

Now he feels that his unreliable son is not good enough for Yuechu.

“Godmother, what are you saying?” Aman grabbed her hand. “Whether in the past or now, my thoughts have never changed. My sworn brother and I are only siblings, nothing more.”

Seeing how earnest she was, just like back then, Madam Chen could only sigh, "It's just that my Ah Xun doesn't have that kind of luck."

Outside, Chen Baixun leaned against the door frame, looking up at the sky.

After all these years, he still couldn't pry open her heart even a little bit.

After the urging poem for the bride to get ready was sung four times, the bride finally finished her makeup and went out.

Although the Feng family had lived up to its former glory, they had put a lot of effort into this wedding procession. The wedding party alone consisted of more than a hundred people, and the music and drums were of the highest standard among the common people.

As the sworn brother, Chen Baixun personally carried Aman to the bridal sedan chair. Before the sedan chair was lifted, he fiercely warned, "If you dare to treat Yuechu badly, be careful I'll skin you alive."

Feng Yan replied with a smile, "Brother, please rest assured, Zizhong will definitely not let Yuechu down."

"Eight-bearer sedan chair welcomes the beauty, red silk binds the three lifetimes of fate, lift the sedan chair!" Amidst the high-pitched and bright shouts of Granny Xi, Feng Yan mounted his horse. His wedding attire accentuated his handsome face, and his straight back made him look very dashing.

The wedding procession moved forward with music and fanfare. Chen Baixun spotted Fu Yunxiu in the crowd, who looked on with longing eyes. He went up to him with a cheeky grin and teased, "How's it going? Feeling bad seeing your beloved woman marry someone else?"

Fu Yunxiu looked him up and down. "Are you talking about me, or about yourself?"

Chen Baixun: "..."

The Chen family mansion was located in the east of the city, and the Feng family mansion was located in the west of the city. The wedding procession slowly made its way around the streets and arrived at the Feng family mansion just as dusk fell.

The Feng family courtyard was packed with people, brightly lit as day. Madam Feng had been waiting in the hall for a long time, and she couldn't stop smiling as everyone complimented her on finding a good daughter-in-law.

"No wonder your Ayan has been so capable since she was little. In the future, that Lin's cosmetics shop will probably have to be renamed Feng's cosmetics shop." Someone said sourly.

Madam Feng was not annoyed. She smiled and said, "That shop was part of the dowry from the beginning of the month. My son, Ayan, said that no matter how poor the Feng family is, we must never touch anything from the beginning of the month."

Someone nodded in approval, "That's right. Throughout history, those who covet their wives' dowries are worse than beasts. Ah Yan is destined to be a high-ranking official. You're just a sour grapes, deliberately trying to sow discord."

The man spoke with righteous indignation, making the person who had just made sarcastic remarks feel extremely embarrassed. Madam Feng's smile froze, and she tried to smooth things over, saying, "Oh dear, it was just a casual remark, don't take it to heart."

Fortunately, the sound of gongs and drums outside dispelled the awkwardness. Seeing this, Madam Feng quickly said, "Don't just stand there, everyone, please take your seats."

Outside the courtyard, Feng Yan helped Aman out of the sedan chair, while Granny Xi continued to call out.

"The newlyweds alight from the sedan chair with great joy; one step brings wealth and prosperity, two steps bring good fortune."

"The newlyweds ascend the steps, each step echoing with the sound of happiness."

"The newlyweds step over the fire basin, and auspicious omens descend from heaven, making the earth shine."

"The newlyweds cross the saddle, and their descendants will take root and flourish."

"With the red thread on the left and the bond on the right, we'll stay together until we grow old, our commitment unwavering."

The matchmaker was the best in the entire Bingzhou, the most skilled at saying auspicious words. I heard her business was booked until next year. It was only because of Aman, this extraordinary woman, and because Feng Yan had repeatedly pleaded with her, that she was finally able to make time for the wedding.

But it must be said that the effect is indeed different from that of a typical wedding attendant.

The crowd followed the newlyweds to the inner hall, where Madam Feng sat at the head of the table, with the memorial tablet for Feng Yan's father placed to her right.

The matchmaker arrived late, and seeing that the newlyweds were all ready, she began to sing again.

"The phoenix and the dragon sing in harmony, bringing joy and good fortune to your home. We bow to heaven and earth, and may blessings and good fortune accompany you forever."

Aman and Feng Yan turned towards the door and bowed down together.

"I bow twice to my parents, for their profound kindness in raising me will never be forgotten."

Seeing the two bow down, Madam Feng, who was at the head of the table, nodded repeatedly, her eyes filled with tears, "Good children, get up quickly, get up quickly."

The matchmaker continued, "May the couple bow to each other, a happy marriage that will last a lifetime."

In the crowd, Fu Yunxiu almost dug his palms raw before he could suppress the urge to leave with Aman.

With this final bow, it will truly be impossible for him and Aman to be together again.

"Young Master, don't be impulsive." Mantou knew almost instantly what Fu Yunxiu was planning to do and pulled him away.

But Fu Yunxiu stood there like a wooden stake, and with so many people around, he couldn't make any big moves.

Just as Fu Yunxiu, his eyes red, was about to gracefully bow down to Aman, a clear voice suddenly came from the doorway, "Wait a moment."