Chapter 88 The Wedding, Zhao Yu's Bride-Snatching
The next day.
Xu Chumian left the capital early, Zhao Nai drove the car, and Xiao Tao followed along.
Before leaving the city, they made several turns and even changed to a different carriage.
After leaving the city, they went straight to the Li family's house.
From a distance, the Li family's house was brightly decorated, and the surrounding area was filled with joy.
Xiao Qingyan, dressed in wedding attire, stood guard at the door. When he saw the carriage arrive, he smiled.
Zhao Nai sensed something was wrong. "Miss Xu, who...who is getting married here?"
Xu Chumian said calmly, "Me."
Xiao Tao's eyes widened immediately: "Miss..."
Zhao Nai was on the verge of tears, "Miss Xu, how can this be..."
If the young master returns, I'll skin him alive.
Xu Chumian said coldly, "Zhao Nai, don't forget, I'm the one paying you your monthly allowance now."
That's what they say.
but……
Zhao Nai stopped her, "Miss Xu..."
Xu Chuming's eyes narrowed, and she said coldly, "Zhao Nai."
Zhao Nai had no choice but to step aside.
Xu Chumian approached Xiao Qingyan and smiled at him, "Where is Grandmother?"
"She's still inside, sleeping right now."
Xu Chumian hummed in agreement, then paused slightly in her steps: "Qingyan, after tonight... you should leave."
Xiao Qingyan hummed in agreement, then gave a wry smile: "You knew everything?"
Xu Chumian's lips moved slightly, but she couldn't speak.
Xiao Qingyan: "I used some tricks to get someone to go north for me. Now everyone in the capital thinks I've left... We didn't register the case, so those people won't make things difficult for you."
Xiao Qingyan called out to her, "Chumian, thank you."
The crisp air filled her nostrils, and Xu Chuming forced back the tears welling in her eyes. "Let's go inside."
Xiao Qingyan was a master of acting.
They also invited a matchmaker and neighbors from the surrounding villages.
The house was decorated with "double happiness" characters everywhere.
Xu Chumian entered the room, where the matchmaker and the old lady's maid were standing.
"Chu Mian, come and sit down."
"The old lady appreciates your kindness. This matter was rushed, and she always felt that she had wronged you. She kept urging Qingyan not to do it... I know that you are both filial people. Although she didn't say it, she was very happy and at ease."
Xu Chumian hummed in agreement, looked at the person in the mirror, and said gently, "Let's put on makeup."
"Comb through to the end."
"Two combs of white hair, level with the eyebrows."
"Three combs bring a house full of children and grandchildren."
Xu Chumian cleansed her face, put on makeup, changed into her wedding dress, and had the old woman put the phoenix crown on her head.
Although it was rushed, all the necessary jewelry was still present.
By the time Xu Chumian finished, it was already late afternoon.
It was getting dark outside.
The snow covered the ground layer upon layer.
Two tables for guests were set up in the front hall. As Xu Chumian was helped out by the matchmaker, firecrackers outside the house went off with a deafening roar.
"The bride is out!"
"Look!"
Zhao Nai followed a few steps behind.
Xu Chumian walked along the corridor under the eaves to the front hall, and the further she went, the louder the laughter became.
The snow fell heavily.
The distance is getting closer and closer.
A child asked softly, "Why is the bride crying?"
"On this joyous day, the bride is crying tears of happiness."
"Yeah?"
At the end of the corridor, Xiao Qingyan was waiting for her.
Xu Chumian covered her face with a fan, revealing only slightly curved eyebrows and eyes.
The two looked at each other and smiled; anyone who saw them would have to say they were a perfect match, a golden union.
The master of ceremonies placed the two ends of the sash into the hands of the newlyweds.
The two walked into the hall hand in hand.
Today, Madam Li was in excellent spirits, her eyes were bright and clear, a far cry from her usual sickly appearance, and her complexion was made even better by the rosy glow of the room.
Three memorial tablets were placed on the high table behind them.
Xiao Qingyan first called out to his maternal grandmother.
Xu Chumian also called out softly.
Madam Li beamed, "Good, good, good."
Madam Li gave a gift in advance, and then the newlyweds began to perform the ceremony.
"First bow to Heaven and Earth."
"Bowing to the parents twice."
—The sound of horses neighing came from outside the mansion.
"Second Young Master!"
Xiao Qingyan's expression froze, his smile vanished, and his gaze toward Xu Chumian became complex and unreadable.
There's regret, apology, and above all, reluctance to part...
Xu Chumian gripped the fan tightly, her eyes trembling, "Qingyan..."
Xiao Qingyan looked at Madam Li, "Grandmother, I—"
The man rushed into the courtyard, his eyes bloodshot and his appearance disheveled, shouting, "Second Young Master!"
Madam Li stood up, her brows furrowed, her face full of worry. "Qingyan, what happened?"
Xiao Qingyan calmed himself down. "Grandmother, please sit down. It's probably just something to do at the yamen. I'll go out and take a look. Don't worry."
Madam Li glanced at Chu Mian: "What is it that you have to say at this time?"
"Grandmother, it's alright. Perhaps it's something urgent. Don't you know Qingyan's character?"
Xiao Qingyan gave the butler a look.
The steward of the Li family immediately came to his senses and said with a smile, "Everyone, please enjoy your meal. Our young master has some official business to attend to."
Xiao Qingyan took one last look at Xu Chumian before walking away.
Xu Chumian had a vague sense of unease.
"Madam, let me take you back to your room first."
Xu Chumian took two steps, then lifted her skirt and followed in Xiao Qingyan's direction.
In the small garden on the side of the front hall.
Xu Chumian heard Xiao Qingyan's voice.
"Say it again?"
"Second Young Master, urgent news from the north: the Heir Apparent was brutally murdered by the Duke of Zhao's men in the Luoya River Valley..."
Xiao Qingyan swayed, his mind went blank, and he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Second Young Master!"
A sound came from behind.
Xu Chumian's fan fell.
She stepped forward and immediately took out a handkerchief. "Qingyan, are you alright?"
Xiao Qingyan gripped Xu Chumian's hand tightly.
His face was deathly pale, and he was breathing heavily. "What happened?"
"The prince sent word that the young master fought before he died, and his corpse contained a secret letter from the Duke of Zhao, who was trying to kill him by any means necessary..."
Xiao Qingyan remained silent for a moment.
Xu Chumian kept shaking her head: "Qingyan, Duke Zhao only left the capital two days ago, there's not enough time."
The subordinate, his face contorted with rage, roared, "What do you know? The Zhao family has already secretly entered the North. It was the Zhao family who did it; it's either the Duke of Zhao or the Zhao family."
Zhao Nai hissed, "Shut up!"
Xu Chumian stared at Xiao Qingyan, her eyes red, without saying a word.
“Chu Mian, you don’t understand…” Xiao Qingyan closed his eyes and exhaled: “Let’s set off immediately.”
Tears streamed down Xu Chumian's face as she clutched Xiao Qingyan's sleeve tightly. "It couldn't be Zhao Yu's, he wouldn't do such a thing..."
He lowered his eyes, said nothing more, and finally explained about his maternal grandmother.
His voice was suppressed and choked with emotion: "Chumian, I'm leaving. After Grandmother..."
"I know, I know..."
Xu Chumian's tears never stopped, and she couldn't say anything else.
She didn't know whether Xiao Qingyan would live or die on his way there.
Just then, the sound of horses' hooves came from outside the house again.
With teary eyes, Xu Chumian looked outside and a black figure came into view.
"Zhao Yu?"
The man charged straight at Zhao Yu, but before he could get close, he was blocked by the hidden guards and they began to fight.
The newcomer had a face like that of Yama, dressed in a tight-fitting outfit. His dark eyes slowly moved down from Xu Chuming's face to the woman's tightly clenched sleeves.
A storm seemed to rage in Zhao Yu's eyes. He smiled slightly, but his gaze was icy cold, and his shoulders and arms were covered in snow.
"It's quite lively."
"You didn't tell me you were having a wedding?"
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