The next morning, the sky was ablaze with clouds, and Nanny Xi pushed the door open and came in: "Young lady, it's time to get up and dress up! Oh, why are your eyes so dark? Didn't you get enough sleep last night?"
Wanruo hardly slept last night, and now she was being pressed in front of the dressing mirror by the maids and servants, who surrounded her and helped her to dress up. Suyue couldn't even squeeze in.
Quanfu used a comb to comb Wanruo's hair, chanting cheerfully: "One comb to the end, two combs to the eyebrows, three combs to a large house full of children and grandchildren..."
This was the second time she had listened to this blessing. The first time she had listened to it, she had felt uneasy, but the second time, she had become numb.
She let them dress her up, and finally she changed into her wedding dress and put on a phoenix crown adorned with oriental pearls.
"This wedding dress took more than twenty embroiderers in Yangzhou three months to create day and night. This phoenix crown is adorned with ninety-nine oriental pearls, symbolizing longevity. The master really put a lot of effort into this girl!"
The maids complimented her as Wanruo stood in front of the mirror, looking at herself in it.
The bright red floor-length wedding gown with gold embroidery was both grand and elegant. The embroidery of hundreds of birds paying homage to the phoenix on the gown was lifelike, and the slender waist was well-fitting, adding a touch of charm and allure to this complicated and luxurious outfit.
She adjusted the phoenix crown on her head: "It's just a little heavy."
"It's okay, it's okay. I'll only wear it for one day. The bride has to look beautiful. When we get to the bridal chamber, my husband will definitely like it!"
As he was speaking, he heard the sound of gongs and drums downstairs.
The people below shouted, "The groom is here to pick up the bride!"
Aunt Xi said happily, "Quick, quick, put on the veil!"
Wanruo didn't have time to react before her head was covered by a red veil, and she was escorted out of the room by Nanny Xi and others.
Outside Jinshang Hall, the crowds of onlookers had already blocked the road. The news that the eldest son of the Xie family was marrying a merchant's daughter had already spread throughout Yanjing City, and who wouldn't want to watch the fun?
"The eldest son of the Xie family actually came to pick up the bride! With such family background and status, why would he bother coming in person? It would be enough to send a sedan chair to pick her up."
"This clearly proves that the previous rumors are true. The eldest son of the Xie family is really taking it seriously."
"That's right? I heard that this girl caused such a big fuss in the Xie family that they decided to arrange this marriage. But how could the Xie family accept a merchant's daughter into their family? Not to mention as a clan member."
The onlookers talked about it with great interest.
Xie Xianyu was wearing a red wedding dress and riding a black horse. It was rare for him to wear such festive colors. He also liked quietness and hated being watched by others.
The parade of the top three scholars that year was his worst experience.
Today's grand occasion is far greater than that of the past. Looking at the bustling crowd, he felt relaxed and happy. For the first time, he realized the artistic conception of the poem "The horse gallops in the spring breeze."
He glanced at Qing'an who was following him, and Qing'an immediately understood and took out the wedding candies and copper coins and scattered them around.
The onlookers cheered and celebrated the good news, making the scene even more lively.
Firecrackers exploded outside the door of Jinshang Hall. Amid the noise, the bridal sedan landed, Xie Xianyu dismounted, and strode inside.
Because Wanruo was an orphan without parents, some steps were skipped and Xie Xianyu went in to pick up the bride.
"The eldest son is here!" Aunt Xi shouted happily.
Wanruo stood there quietly. There was constant noise and bustle around her, but strangely, she could clearly hear his footsteps approaching, one by one, slowly approaching.
She was in a trance and recalled the day when she got married in Qingzhou. She was sitting in the sedan chair and the same footsteps, one after another, pushed her to despair.
He walked up to her and stretched out a slender jade-like hand in front of her with the palm facing up. She lowered her eyes to look at the hand under the veil, her breathing slightly stagnant, and she did not dare to move.
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