In the golden autumn of October, the capital seemed to be meticulously painted by nature's master painter. Osmanthus blossomed freely and profusely, its golden-red petals falling like a gentle rain of flowers, lavishly covering the blue brick floor of the hanging flower gate of the prime minister's residence. The blue bricks, polished by time, already had an ancient luster, and now, embellished by the osmanthus petals, they resembled a natural embroidered painting.
I sat quietly before the dressing table, my gaze slowly drifting into the gilded mirror. The woman in the mirror wore a Nine-Phoenix Rising Sun Crown, its feathers vivid as if ready to take flight at any moment. She draped a pomegranate-red shawl, vibrant and eye-catching, like the vibrant sunset glow on the horizon. My fingertips unconsciously brushed the twin lotus flowers embroidered on my wedding dress. Each pearl seemed meticulously selected, round and plump, delicately bound in gold foil. In the flickering candlelight, they shone softly and warmly, like twinkling stars. My eldest sister, Su Qingyao, had personally embroidered these twin lotus flowers, stitch by stitch, over three nights, each stitch imbued with her deep affection for me.
"Miss, the oriental pearls on this phoenix crown are so round!" Mo Zhu held the red gold and kingfisher feather hairpin in her hands, tears flashing in her eyes, her voice filled with excitement and emotion, "When you saw it in the jewelry store last time, you stared at it for a long time, your eyes full of love. Now you are finally wearing it." She carefully inserted the hairpin into her hair, and the tassels on the hairpin gently brushed past my ears, making a small and crisp sound. The sound was soft and pleasant, and in a trance, it sounded like the lullaby my biological mother sang in my ear when I was a child, evoking those warm and beautiful memories deep in my heart.
The figure in the mirror swayed slightly. A faint, happy smile played on my lips as I slowly stood up. The pearl necklaces at the hem of my shawl trembled gently with my movements, creating a subtle rustling sound like a gentle melody. As I reached the threshold, I saw the young marquis, his eyes red, blocking the moon-shaped door like a stubborn calf. He clutched the polished, gilded wooden sword tightly in his hand. The red silk tassel had been wrinkled by his grip, losing its original smoothness.
"Sister," the young marquis' voice was choked with sobs, "If Jiang Yan dares to bully you, I will use this knife to chop down his horse..."
"Nonsense!" I quickly reached out and gently pinched his chubby cheek, my fingertips inadvertently brushing against the remaining tear marks in the corners of his eyes. "Cry again, and everyone in the capital will know tomorrow that the young marquis has become a tearful person."
The young marquis sniffed hastily, and like a child who had done something wrong, he quickly hid the wooden sword behind his back. The python embroidery on his brocade robe flickered in the morning light, as if telling of his complicated feelings at the moment. "I didn't cry!" He stiffened his neck and said stubbornly, "It's just...it's just that the osmanthus flowers accidentally fell into my eyes!" As he spoke, he suddenly came close to me, lowered his voice, and said mysteriously, "I secretly sewed a small purse in Jiang Yan's wedding dress, and it was filled with chili powder! If he treats you badly, you..."
"Ah Che!" Su Xiang's voice drifted from the corridor. My father, dressed in a newly crafted purple robe and jade belt, stood tall and straight, yet his figure betrayed the vicissitudes of life. The Hetian jade Pisces pendant at his waist clashed gently with his steady steps, creating a crisp, melodious sound that seemed to play a unique melody in the air. He slowly approached me, his Adam's apple rolling slightly, his lips moving as if he had a thousand words to say, only to pause in an instant. The silver strands of his hair, faintly visible among the falling osmanthus petals, stung my eyes.
"Dad," I watched him hesitate, a pang of bitterness welling up in my heart. In my previous life, when I got married, he hadn't even shown his face, and now, he was standing before me, his concern and reluctance evident in his words. "Jiang Yan said he would treat me well."
My father hummed softly, then slowly pulled a red sandalwood brocade box from his sleeve. As the lid opened, a filigree golden phoenix hairpin lay quietly on the scarlet velvet. In its beak, the phoenix held a pigeon-blood ruby. The ruby was a rich and deep red, like a burning flame, emitting a dazzling light. "This is your mother's dowry," my father's voice was a little hoarse, as if tempered by time. "She said she would leave it to you..." He turned slightly, secretly raising his hand to wipe the corner of his eye. "When you get to the Jiang family, don't be wronged. Remember to come home often."
The brocade box felt a touch cold in my hand, yet it felt like an iron to my palm, and even more so, to my heart. I was about to say something when a slight noise suddenly came from behind the screen. Then, my eldest sister, Su Qingyao, slowly emerged, carrying a vermilion lacquered wooden box. Her eyes were slightly red, but she forced herself to remain calm, trying not to let the tears fall.
"Here, this is for you," the eldest sister said, gently opening the box. Instantly, a box full of rouge and powder came into view, a dazzling array of colors. There was "Drunken Hibiscus" in a mother-of-pearl box, its delicate powder seeming to contain endless tenderness; there was "Peach Color" in a glass bottle, its hue delicate and vibrant, like a young girl's shy blush; and there was "Zhuangyuan Red," sealed with gold foil, embodying luxury and nobility.
"Sister, this is so precious..." I looked at the box full of gifts, feeling touched and a little overwhelmed.
"Just take it if I tell you to!" The eldest sister feigned anger and thrust the box at Mo Zhu. As she turned, a coral hairpin in her hair accidentally fell to the ground, making a crisp sound, as if expressing her reluctance to let go. "If Jiang Yan dares to make you shed a tear, I'll dye his champion robe bright red and make him wear it to court every day. Let's see if he's embarrassed!"
Before the eldest sister finished speaking, a burst of resounding gongs and drums suddenly erupted from the front yard. The sound was cheerful and enthusiastic, as if announcing the arrival of happiness. Mo Zhu hurriedly lifted the beaded curtain and exclaimed in surprise, "Miss! Jiang Zhuangyuan's wedding procession has arrived at the corner gate!"
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