Chapter 89 A Joyous Wedding
The days passed quickly, and when the last maple leaf on the Mingyue Bridge turned red, there were still two days left until the wedding.
Jiang Ce rushed back to the capital.
The Marquis of Wu'an's residence was already adorned with celebratory banners, the entire route a vibrant red, much like the ever-blooming red maple leaves.
Youyu had already moved out of this small courtyard long ago.
When Jiang Ce left, he even left him a letter.
Several large sheets of paper were filled with countless instructions and reminders.
The details were clearly written down, including what kind of lanterns to choose, what patterns to use, even the auspicious symbols and the yearly design, and even the little clothes that Green Eyebrows would wear.
So when Youyu got up early in the morning and saw several sheets of paper lying on her quilt, she couldn't help but roll her eyes and felt a little breathless.
He angrily threatened to tear up the papers: "Who wants to do this for you? It's not like I'm getting married!"
The paper was crumpled into a ball and thrown away, and Yu pulled the blanket over her head.
After a while, he angrily got out of bed, picked up the crumpled paper he had thrown out, and began to chew on his pen and ponder.
So, when Jiang Ce rushed back...
Yu Zheng was hanging silk lanterns on the swing frame that she had made in the courtyard.
Xi Tuan lay lazily on the shelf, basking in the sun. Every year, he would squat by the west wall, chewing on half-open flowers. Without exception, he would also change into a cheerful outfit.
Jiang Ce smiled and said, "Not bad, not bad. You can help me with some things and gain some experience so that I can marry a wife in a couple of years."
Yu clenched the gauze lantern in her hand, and when she closed her eyes, she couldn't see that face.
However, after thinking about it, he realized that Miss Xue seemed to be in a worse situation, having to face her every day.
Yu found some comfort in this matter, and thus felt a pang of pity, which made her even more earnest in hanging the lanterns and making decorations.
Jiang Ce wandered around the courtyard, standing on the stone steps with his hands on his hips, watching the servant hang the wedding lanterns.
"Hey, hey, it's crooked, it's crooked, a little more to the left."
The servants moved it several times, but he wasn't satisfied, so he simply took over the lamp and hung it up himself.
After hanging up the lamp, he went back into the room and looked around again.
There are two chairs and a long table in the center of the room.
On the high table in the middle of the chair are wine cups to be used for the wedding night ceremony, and on the long table is a marriage certificate. On both sides are porcelain cups filled with lotus seeds and longans, and dragon and phoenix candles stand quietly on both sides.
Bright red wedding curtains filled the window, embroidered with harmony and love, and adorned with mandarin duck flower sachets.
To the left of the bed is a tall table, with a vase full of flowers, only missing a painting.
Jiang Ce walked further in.
A gilded mirror stand had already been placed under the window, and his wedding dress was hanging on a shelf on the other side.
Plain white silk shirt, cross-collar satin robe, crimson wide-sleeved robe, jade-inlaid lacquered leather belt, long red cap, and black leather boots.
The collar and sleeves are decorated with auspicious patterns such as golden phoenixes, peonies, pomegranates, and ruyi (a type of scepter), symbolizing completeness and good fortune.
He stepped forward, reached out and touched the wedding dress, but immediately withdrew his hand after only two touches.
Jiang Ce stared at the wedding dress, wondering what Xue Chan's wedding dress would look like.
He had attended several wedding banquets in Beijing and seen the brides' wedding gowns and embroidered robes. They were all pretty much the same, but he was still very much looking forward to it.
He just stood there, head down, lost in thought.
"Beep beep"
There were two knocks on the door behind me.
Jiang Ce turned around and saw Jiang Ji standing at the door through the beaded curtain.
"do what?"
Jiang Ji hesitated for a moment before striding into the house. His feet had barely touched the ground when he thought for a moment, then closed the door before slowly walking in.
"Um..." he stammered, unable to finish a sentence, his eyes flickering and his face slightly flushed.
Jiang Ce crossed his arms and frowned: "Are you very free? If you have something to say, just say it. If not, then please help me prepare for the wedding banquet the day after tomorrow."
Jiang Ji didn't change his expression because of his words. He cleared his throat twice with his fist to his mouth and said, "The instructor should have told you these things, but you weren't here the other day. But this matter is extremely important, as it concerns your lifelong happiness."
"As your elder brother, I must also speak to you." He spoke hesitantly at first, but towards the end, he seemed determined, his expression resolute.
"Huh?" Jiang Ce looked completely confused.
Jiang Ji had just finished speaking and felt more confident. With a flick of his sleeve, he took out the wooden box and placed it on the dressing table.
He raised his hand, gesturing for Jiang Ce to open it and take a look.
Jiang Ce opened the box while secretly thinking that he was just making things up to amuse people again.
Inside were two plain-covered books, without words or covers.
"..." Jiang Ce swallowed hard, closed his eyes briefly, "Are you kidding me?"
Jiang Ji raised his face and glanced at him, saying, "You brat, you have no idea how precious and difficult to obtain this thing is. If I weren't your brother, how could I bear to give you this collection of books?"
Jiang Ce sighed, wondering what good stuff you could possibly get your hands on.
He muttered to himself as he casually opened a book.
Upon reading the contents of the book, his face flushed crimson to his ears. Looking at Jiang Ji with a mixture of shame and embarrassment, he exclaimed, "You, you, aren't you ashamed?!"
Jiang Ji, however, said with great confidence: "The harmony between men and women is the right way of heaven and earth."
"Let me tell you, marriage is a very important event in life, and the wedding night is the most important part of the wedding. You are young and impetuous, if you don't learn properly, you will suffer the consequences."
He wasn't talking about that at all; he was clearly talking about his collection of books.
On the surface, he appears refined and dignified, but underneath he's utterly despicable.
Jiang Ce wanted to argue with Jiang Ji, but the other man crossed his arms and raised his head, looking so serious that it made Jiang Ce feel like some kind of vulgar scoundrel.
"hehe"
Jiang Ce slammed the box shut and pushed him out, saying, "Go, go, go! Get out of here right now!"
Jiang Ji was pushed out the door by him. He grabbed the door that was about to close and said seriously, "Let me tell you, study hard and don't waste the collection of books that I worked so hard to get!"
"You'd better get out of here!"
Jiang Ce pushed him out, slammed the door shut, and leaned against it, touching his burning face.
Actually, he hadn't really thought about any of that. Just counting down the wedding date and watching the wedding preparations gradually come to fruition filled his heart with joy.
In my younger days, I was quite mischievous and secretly watched some of their videos with Zheng Shaoyu and the others. Later, when I went to Liangzhou, I often heard them making jokes while I was in the army.
Before, it was youthful vigor; now, it is anticipation.
Perhaps Jiang Ji is right; this is not just his business, but something that should make both of them happy.
Therefore, he wants to learn.
Jiang Ce walked to the dressing table, bit his lip, and opened the box. He rummaged through it, feeling shy.
The people in the painting seemed to have transformed into their likenesses, and their faces turned even redder.
The Wu'an Marquis's residence was not the only one busy with preparations for this wedding; the Cheng residence in Xizhishu Lane in Shangjing was also busy day and night.
Madam Zhou repeatedly checked the dowry list and the guest gift list.
Even though they had been preparing for a long time and everything that needed to be prepared had already been prepared, Yun Sheng and the others still checked and prepared repeatedly to prevent the wedding from being complicated and causing them to rush and ruin things.
Cheng Huaizhu sat on Xue Chan's bed, watching Xue Chan put on her wedding dress, which she had adjusted again and again, for the last time.
The group huddled together, discussing what kind of hairstyle and makeup they should wear.
The phoenix crown and beaded ornaments, along with the wedding dress, were prepared by Consort Xue well in advance and were sent along with the additional dowry.
Cheng Huaizhu looked at the phoenix crown in Mingxia's hands, somewhat bewildered.
That was a phoenix crown made by Consort Xue long ago, made of red gold and inlaid with pearls and jade. It had a base of intertwined golden flowers and grass, with each golden flower inlaid with a pearl stamen. Below were four small phoenixes holding pearl tassels, and on top was a large phoenix with a long tail. There were two large phoenix hairpins at the back of the crown.
It looks incredibly good, but it's also incredibly heavy.
When the phoenix crown was first delivered, Cheng Huaizhu touched it and found it difficult to hold with both hands.
She used to see other people getting married, and the phoenix coronet and wedding gown were so beautiful. She felt both admiration and envy.
But when I actually touched it, I immediately stopped liking it.
The crown was heavy to begin with, not to mention the layers upon layers of elaborate wedding attire, and the jade pendants and ornaments worn with it.
She turned to look at Xue Chan, who was surrounded by several people, and thought that she must be in excruciating pain tomorrow, having to wear a crown and wedding dress, ride in a sedan chair for a whole day, and perform rituals, kowtows, and sit quietly.
A sigh fell to the ground.
Xue Chan laughed and said, "I haven't even complained about being tired yet, and you're already sighing."
Having seemingly reached a consensus, the group dispersed to carry out their tasks.
Cheng Huaizhu moved an embroidered stool and sat down next to Xue Chan, her face full of worry: "I feel tired just looking at her, aren't you tired?"
"It would be a lie to say I'm not tired." Xue Chan smiled gently and pinched her cheek. "I just feel happy, so I feel it's all worth it."
Cheng Huaizhu blinked and remained silent for a moment.
Xue Chan did seem to have become happier at some point.
But lately, things have changed; her features have become much gentler.
Cheng Huaizhu could sense that Xue Chan was genuinely happy and relaxed.
“That’s true. Actually, you think being happy is the most important thing.” Cheng Huaizhu leaned on her shoulder, concealing her slight disappointment.
The two sat by the window, leaning against each other quietly in the autumn sunlight.
Honeysuckle ran in from outside, beaming, "Miss, the eldest young master is back!"
"Really?" Cheng Huaizhu immediately stood up.
Ren Dong said, "Of course, they are talking with the master and mistress in the flower hall right now."
Cheng Huaizhu lifted her skirt and ran outside, but after a few steps she turned back, grabbed Xue Chan and ran out of the courtyard, through the mountain corridor, and into the flower hall.
As soon as they stepped through the door, they saw a young man in a long robe sitting in a chair, smiling and talking to Madam Zhou and the others.
"elder brother!"
Cheng Huaizhu immediately called out and rushed over.
Upon hearing this, Cheng Qingpei stood up and caught her, then smiled and said, "It's been two years. You've grown up, but your heart hasn't."
Madam Zhou couldn't help but frown: "Cheng Huaizhu, can't you have some manners!"
“My own brother, it’s been years since I’ve seen him, what’s wrong with me being happy?” Cheng Huaizhu retorted, hands on her hips, muttering beside Cheng Qingpei, “All you ever do is follow the rules.”
Madam Zhou: "You!"
Cheng Qingpei reached out to comfort him, saying, "It's rare for you to come back, and we're all family, so what's wrong with being a little less formal?"
Cheng Huaizhu raised her chin, looking extremely smug.
Madam Zhou sat back down, looking annoyed.
Xue Chan slowly walked up, greeted him, and said, "Brother Cheng."
Cheng Qingpei nodded with a smile: "It's been even longer than Huaizhu's time seeing Qiaoniang. The last time I saw you was ten years ago. Now, you're getting married too."
Xue Chan smiled and said, "Tongzhou is a long way away. I imagine you must have had a long and tiring journey back for the wedding."
“As the elder brother, it is my duty to escort my sister to her wedding. How can I say that I am suffering or not?” He smiled warmly and touched Cheng Huaizhu’s hair. “Actually, I should have come back earlier, but I took a detour to buy the flower drum that Huaizhu had been talking about for many years in Tingnan, which delayed me for two days. I was worried that I would be late, but fortunately I wasn’t.”
Xue Chenghuai said, "It's not too late now, it's just right."
With the wedding just around the corner, the two families had a rare reunion and sat down for dinner together.
Xue Chan went back with Cheng Huaizhu.
She had barely sat down inside when Madam Zhou and her entourage knocked on the door and entered.
Xue Chan stood up and asked, "Is there anything you need, Aunt?"
"Please sit down," Madam Zhou dismissed the maids in the room, leaving only the tutor sent by Consort Xue.
The two sat down next to Xue Chan, exchanged a glance, and the instructor nodded.
Madam Zhou said, "Originally, this should have been done by your mother. But since she's not here now, I'll have to do it for the time being."
"Hmm?" Xue Chan frowned slightly, looking somewhat bewildered.
The instructor brought over a box, opened it, took out the picture book inside, and showed it to Xue Chan.
Xue Chan looked down, blushed, and gently looked away.
The instructor was a woman of similar age to her mother, and her smile was always gentle when teaching etiquette, but at this moment she was exceptionally tender.
“Young lady, there’s no need to be too shy. This is a perfectly natural thing. If not for any other reason, but just for your own pleasure, you should also learn about these things.”
Madam Zhou patted her hand: "Don't be afraid."
After exchanging glances with the two men, Xue Chan reached out and took the picture album.
The three sat together under the lamp, with Madam Zhou and the instructor explaining the picture book in soft voices. Xue Chan lowered her head slightly, listening and nodding as they spoke.
She also took the initiative to ask questions about some of the more obscure parts.
By the time he finished speaking, the candle had burned down to about half its original flame.
After instructing Xue Chan to put the booklet away, Madam Zhou got up and left with the instructor.
Xue Chan also got up to see them off.
On October 27th, as dawn broke, the Cheng residence was already bustling with activity.
The front hall was preparing a banquet to welcome the arriving guests.
Xue Chan got up early, washed up, and dressed. Before getting ready for her wedding, she needed to go and pay respects to her ancestors.
They lit incense, knelt, and kowtowed before the portrait.
After paying respects to their ancestors, they returned home. Cheng Huaizhu came running up, leading someone by the hand: "Look, who's here!"
Xue Chan smiled and said, "So it's Miss Xiao San."
Xiao Yangjun sat down next to Cheng Huaizhu: "My brother and Erlang went to welcome the bride together. Miss Fang is from the Marquis of Wu'an's mansion and it was inconvenient for her to come, so only I could come."
“However…” She smiled and waved outside.
Several maids carrying large and small brocade boxes entered, which contained writing brushes, ink, hairpins, and other cosmetics.
"This is a wedding gift from Miss Fang and me to you. It's not very expensive, but it's meant to add to the joy."
Xue Chan was also somewhat moved: "It is truly a joyous occasion that you are here to escort me to my wedding."
Xiao Yangjun couldn't help but laugh and said softly, "Actually, Your Highness was also going to come, but as a princess, she is always accompanied by a retinue, and it wouldn't be good if she overshadowed the host."
"His Highness said that you should offer her a toast after the wedding."
"That was natural."
"As for this..." Xiao Yangjun personally presented her with a brocade box containing a ruyi scepter and a scroll painting, the title of which was written on the box: "Immortal Mountain Painting".
Xue Chan was so shocked that she couldn't speak for a moment: "This... is a unique item."
"This is a dowry gift from Baojia to you."
Xue Chan said, "I will thank her in person after we get married."
After a few jokes, the group began washing, hairdressing, and combing her hair. Zhou Niangzi was the one combing her hair, while the matchmaker smiled and recited blessings.
Afterwards, they put on their makeup. Hatsumomo and the others applied powder, swept their eyebrows, and dotted their lips. Just as they put on their crowns, they heard a commotion outside.
"What's wrong?"
Yun Sheng ran in and said, "The wedding party has arrived, but they are being blocked at the door by Young Master Cheng and Young Master Li, and they won't let them in."
Cheng Huaizhu immediately stood up and crossed her arms.
"I'm going to talk to my brother and tell him to take the test again, so they'll know that this isn't an easy task."
"Next summer, honeysuckle!"
She ran outside, hands on her hips, and said, "Have someone block this gate for me. Even if you can get through the main gate, it will be difficult for you to get into my courtyard."
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