marry
In November, the capital city of Mu was bustling with people and brightly lit. After two months of continuous rain, the weather finally began to clear up, and the streets and alleys were filled with the sounds of music and celebration, one happy event after another, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.
However, it wasn't until the grand marriage that caused a sensation throughout the capital at the end of the month that the gloom and desolation of autumn were completely overshadowed.
The wedding procession, with its gongs and drums, was a noisy spectacle. It stretched for miles westward from the gate of the Dou residence, finally arriving at the gate of the Lin residence, which had been newly decorated.
The leader sat high on his horse. He was exceptionally handsome and dashing, a rare sight in the world. His red brocade robe and auspicious attire accentuated his jade-like complexion. His black hair was tied up high, and he wore a lucky crown. He held the reins with both hands, guiding a lithe white horse slowly at the head of the procession.
This marriage was personally bestowed by the current Empress, and both the Lin and Dou families are considered influential figures in the court. Naturally, this marriage is the most grand and solemn wedding in Mujing recently.
Children, eager for excitement, had long gathered in front of the Lin residence, clamoring for wedding candies. After a long commotion, the Lin residence's main gate, adorned with large red "double happiness" characters, finally opened slowly. Stepping out was an elderly woman in brocade robes, her face beaming with joy. Behind her followed several pretty maids carrying red lacquered trays.
The lacquered tray was filled with wedding candies and red berries, and the children who had been waiting for a long time rushed forward and scrambled to grab the candies.
Lin Fu was renowned for his integrity and his only daughter was a beauty famous far and wide. As a result, a steady stream of guests came to offer their congratulations, and many were eager to catch a glimpse of the bride, crowding the usually elegant and refined Lin family mansion.
Guests came and went in an endless stream, asking for lucky money and then eagerly waiting for a long time before the gate slowly opened again amidst the music.
A group of beautiful maids dressed in red surrounded a woman who was wearing a bright red wedding dress with gold embroidery and a red brocade veil. She walked out slowly, surrounded by maids and servants dressed in festive attire.
Her beautiful face was hidden beneath a magnificent veil, yet it could not conceal her graceful figure. The moment she appeared, she drew everyone's attention.
The bride was accompanied by a group of heavily guarded men, led by two black-faced guards.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the bride extended a slender, delicate hand and placed it on the hand of the matchmaker who was helping her, then gracefully stepped into the sedan chair.
A crowd of onlookers had gathered, eager to catch a glimpse of the stunningly beautiful bride. A gentle breeze lifted a corner of her veil.
However, the glimpse of her red lips and fair chin left several older onlookers at the head of the crowd stunned.
That is a beauty that only needs to reveal a little bit of its lotus-like face to be able to intoxicate everyone.
It is said that Madam Lin, the former Right Chancellor's wife, came from a prestigious family and was the most beautiful woman in Hecheng. However, the woman in front of us, with her face covered by red makeup, seems to be even more beautiful than that woman.
No wonder the groom on horseback looked so... radiant... wonderful! The guests, huddled together, couldn't help but murmur their envy.
.
After the bride entered the sedan chair, the wedding procession puffed out its chests and played joyful music, creating a festive atmosphere all the way. The red bridal procession stretched for miles, making the remaining maple leaves on both sides of the road appear even more crimson and blood-red.
The person in the sedan chair gently lifted half of the veil, revealing a cold and indifferent expression beneath her gorgeous and exquisite makeup.
In her past life, she died on the day of her engagement. In this life, she has been planning for a long time, and now she has finally waited for the day when she can truly marry into the Dou family.
He had faced numerous life-threatening situations along the way, and had almost used up all the courage and luck he had accumulated in half his life.
Lin Xu looked out the window through the gap in the sedan curtains that fluttered as the carriage swayed with the child's movements, and gently clenched her slightly sweaty hands.
The scar on my right hand has now been replaced by a new patch of tender pink flesh, slightly lighter in color than my palm. After more than a month of care, it has almost completely healed.
After a long and bumpy journey, she was so tired from listening to the constant music that she almost drifted off to sleep.
The sedan chair suddenly came to a stop.
Not knowing what was happening, she lifted the curtain of the sedan chair to look outside, only to see that not far away, at the head of the wedding procession, another horse team was escorting several large boxes of things towards her.
Mujing North Street is wide and spacious, but the alley connecting to it is rather narrow. When the two groups meet for the first time, neither can move forward.
But then they saw that the approaching caravan was dressed in finely crafted soft silk, and even from a distance, their extraordinary bearing was evident.
Her heart sank.
Granny Qin's voice came from outside the sedan chair. Perhaps worried about her anxiety, she quickly and gently comforted her:
"Miss, please don't panic. That's a procession of imperial merchants delivering tribute to the palace. It's a joyous occasion to encounter merchants, so let's make way for them."
She pursed her lips slightly, her eyes showing a hint of realization.
Having spent all her time with Zhou Weikan, she gradually became proficient in silk embroidery. Such fine silk fabrics were traditionally only produced by the imperial merchant families of Mujing. They shimmered and shone brightly in the sunlight, a craft that ordinary embroiderers could never imitate. Even the servants escorting tributes wore them.
Her gaze shifted and settled on the carriage at the end of the procession.
The carriage is covered with a bamboo basket, from which several colorful silk ribbons hang, and two carved windows with jadeite safety buckles hanging high. Even the simplest and most understated carriage exudes an elegant and refined air.
Even though the car door was closed, she could imagine the appearance of the person sitting inside with just one glance. And that bright, elegant, and smiling face that she knew so well from before.
Her eyes inexplicably welled up with tears, and the wound on her right hand suddenly tugged at her fingertips, causing her to ache.
In her haste, she lowered the sedan curtain. In that instant, she heard a sharp "whoosh" in her ear and was startled. She turned around and saw that a long arrow had shot in through the gap in the sedan curtain!
She desperately tried to suppress her scream.
But the long arrow pierced straight into the soft cushions inside the sedan chair beside him, and several fluffy feathers immediately flew out through the crack.
The arrow was sharp and shot straight through the crowd, yet it was several feet away from her body. The person who shot the arrow from the shadows did not seem to intend to take her life.
"Miss, has something happened?"
A low voice came from outside the window, asking questions. He must have noticed the strangeness that had occurred just now.
"It's alright, you don't need to worry," Lin Xu said, trying to calm himself down as he looked out the window.
She examined the arrow carefully for a moment, then finally took a deep breath, grasped the shaft, and pulled the arrow out smoothly.
It was just an ordinary, simple wooden arrow with an iron arrowhead. Although sharp, it was not fatal. Along with it, a plain piece of paper also fell out.
She unfolded the folded piece of paper. A faint, sweet fragrance wafted from it; the paper was plain with floral patterns, and the brushstrokes were strong and vigorous, the ink still slightly wet. On it was only a very simple sentence—
"Don't marry him."
She paused for a moment, her fingertips lightly tracing the words on the paper. When she lifted the sedan curtain again, she saw the procession of carriages slowly moving forward, gradually disappearing from sight. Only dust swirled and danced in the street, as if everything was peaceful and nothing had happened.
.
The wedding ceremony was far more complicated than she had imagined. By the time the procession finally arrived at the Dou residence, it was nearly dusk.
She was covered by a veil, unable to see her surroundings, but she could see the path beneath her feet. She simply let a group of old women lead her along, following the rules, and crossed the high threshold amidst the sounds of firecrackers and stringed instruments.
Even though she had lived an extra life, she had never actually been married in her previous life, so even though she felt no joy at the thought of a new marriage, she still felt very nervous.
She walked slowly, letting the crowd push her forward. Amidst the noise, the matchmaker jokingly tossed grains and beans into the air, and all around were laughter and blessings for the newlyweds.
Surrounded by a crowd, she completed a series of tedious rituals, including holding the handkerchief and scattering the curtains, and finally faced Dou Yanxun and drank the nuptial wine together.
Beneath the red cloth, she couldn't see the expression on the person opposite her. She could only feel the warmth of the hand holding hers.
Unlike the last time when the two were on the verge of death, when she held his hand tightly before losing consciousness, this time, surrounded by people, she felt bewildered, fearful, and uneasy. Even though the person in front of her was her former enemy whom she had hated so much, he now seemed to be the only person in the world who had shared the trials and tribulations with her.
Has she gone mad? Since when did she start thinking of enemies as friends? But as soon as the thought crossed her mind, Lin Xu quickly nipped it in the bud.
For some reason, the plain paper and the cautionary words in her mind resurfaced before her eyes.
However, just as she was stunned, she suddenly felt an itch in her palm. Looking down, she saw Dou Yanxun holding her right hand and gently stroking the inconspicuous scar on his right hand.
My palms trembled slightly, and Dou Yanxun's usual nonchalant voice quietly reached my ears.
"Does it still hurt?"
She gently shook her head, and the jewels adorning her head jingled softly.
Amidst the noise and the matchmaker's laughter, she seemed to hear Dou Yanxun's soft laughter through the veil, or perhaps not; she couldn't tell.
After a lengthy ceremony, and after an unknown amount of time, she finally knelt before her parents-in-law, marking the official completion of the ceremony. Zhu Ling was already by her side, supporting her as she went to the bedroom to wait. Dou Yanxun, as the groom, also had to deal with hundreds of guests along with the Dou family patriarch.
As she walked out of the main hall's courtyard, she saw the peony-patterned velvet carpet beneath her feet. After passing through several corridors, she felt the cold wind seeping through her veil and into her clothes, and she couldn't help but shiver.
The nanny who was accompanying her and leading the way was very thoughtful, so she said gently:
"Is the second young mistress feeling cold? Don't worry, we'll be there in just a few more steps."
Before she could finish speaking, the old woman paused, bowed slightly, and called out:
"This old servant greets the young mistress."
Then a slightly indifferent female voice drifted over from the distant pavilions.
"—Is this the bride?"
Lin Xu only heard the old woman say respectfully:
"Yes, young mistress. We have just finished the formal ceremony, and according to custom, we should first take the second young mistress back to her room to wait."
Even through the veil, she could vaguely sense eyes scrutinizing her from afar. Judging from the voice, it sounded like Dou Yanzhou's new wife, a descendant of a wealthy family in the northern frontier.
Lin Xu gracefully bowed, which was considered a greeting to her elder sister-in-law.
After a long while, the woman's voice drifted back on the night breeze, but it was devoid of any emotion.
"In that case, let's hurry up and go, lest we miss the auspicious time."
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