Wedding Date
Bianliang is full of autumn in October, but it will be cold in the morning.
After more than half a month of tedious tasks, including the betrothal, the financial arrangements, the deadlines, and the generous gifts, Taishi Zheng finally made it to the day before the wedding. She had always considered marriage a joyous occasion, but now that it was her turn, she felt no joy at all. Instead, she felt consumed with worry and exhaustion.
It was the hour of Mao, and it was still dark.
Taishi Zheng was lying on the bed, twisted and tangled, pillow between her legs, sound asleep, but a strand of black hair tickled her cheek.
She didn't care and scratched it, then turned over and fell asleep again.
Unexpectedly, this itch, which seemed like a dream, actually followed her face and changed direction. Zheng opened her eyes in a daze and saw someone with loose hair and no makeup. She was so scared that she rolled to the ground.
"Oh my god——" Tai Shi Zheng shouted.
Fu Yuanzi was startled by the action of the person in front of him. He quickly fiddled with his hair and looked at the girl on the ground and explained, "Young lady. It's me, it's me. I'm not your mother."
I am your mother.
Tai Shi Zheng angrily pulled out the pillow that was pressing on her, climbed up from the ground, and raised her hand to knock Fu Yuanzi on the face, "Of course I know! Stinky Yuanzi, it's the middle of the night, and you're trying to scare me to death——"
The pillow passed over Fu Yuanzi's face and fell into her arms.
She hugged the pillow that smelled of Taishi Zheng, looking aggrieved. "How can it be so late at night? It's already the morning of the morning. Besides, it was the master who asked me to wake you up, and I just woke up."
"What does Dad want me to do? Could there be something fishy going on with the Cui family again?"
Tai Shi Zheng yawned and sat on the edge of the bed, about to fall back. "Are they going to cancel the engagement? Just do it, just do it. I can't stand it anymore. As long as I can sleep, they can do whatever they want."
Unexpectedly, just as Zheng had tucked her feet into the warm quilt, Fu Yuanzi pulled them out again. "Pfft, pfft, pfft! Tomorrow is the wedding day, and what nonsense are you talking about? Get up quickly! The Cui family will send the tiara and bridal gown today."
"You can't sleep anymore, wake up--"
Upon hearing this, Tai Shi Zheng tried his best to pretend to be asleep.
Seeing that she didn't react, Fu Yuanzi used his ultimate move. He stretched out his cold hands, held Zheng's face and rubbed it.
Tai Shi Zheng felt a chill creeping into her neck, and reluctantly stood up. She spoke to the half-dawn light outside, "Alright, alright. I'm really scared of you. Go tell Dad I want to eat the Shi family's gourd soup from the outer alley this morning, and the Wan family's steamed buns next door."
"Gourd soup!" Fu Yuanzi's eyes sparkled. "The young lady knows how to eat it. I'll tell the master right now—you hurry up and get up."
“Okay… okay…”
Tai Shi Zheng finally managed to fool Fu Yuanzi away.
Her eyelids fluttered, her head tilted back, and she fell asleep again.
-
Afterwards, if it weren't for that gourd soup, Tai Shi Zheng would have slept forever.
But who would have thought that just as she sat down at the dinner table and before the first spoonful of hot soup reached her mouth, the maid who was sweeping the front yard came hurriedly to report that the Cui family had sent someone to urge her to prepare her hair, veils, and pollen.
Tai Shi Zheng was afraid that her father would call her away and she would not be able to eat the hot soup, so she quickly stuffed a few mouthfuls into her mouth.
But the soup was too hot, so I had to stir it in my mouth again. Who knew that when the hot soup was eaten, Taishi Zhengjiang came over as expected, "Zheng, Zheng. Come with dad quickly, someone from your in-laws is coming. Don't keep them waiting, drink the soup later--"
Taishi Zhengjiang grabbed the zheng and wanted to leave without saying a word.
Zheng, however, clung to the corner of the table and struggled in vain. "We haven't even finished breakfast yet! Are they just missing a moment? Besides, Dad, can't you go by yourself?"
But before Tai Shi Zheng could finish her words, a strong fist landed on her head.
Taishi Zhengjiang urged, "Little girl, are you getting married, or is your father getting married? Hurry up, they are here, we must take back the official robes and flowered futou that they sent us. You must also go and receive the things that were left by his family. Hurry, hurry."
"All right."
It was difficult to disobey his father's orders, so Tai Shi Zheng reluctantly dropped the steamed bun in his hand and followed Tai Shi Zhengjiang to the front hall.
-
In the front hall, the person delivering the gifts was still the matchmaker Qian.
After a month of interactions, Qian had become quite familiar with the father and daughter. Seeing them, she bowed and asked, "Jieshi, young lady, how have you been lately?"
"Okay, okay." Taishi Zhengjiang responded.
Zheng smiled but didn't say anything.
Qian was a little curious why she didn't chatter like she used to. "What's wrong with you today, young lady?"
Taishi Zheng smiled, pointed at his mouth, and replied in a lisp, "Breakfast... was too hot... it burned my tongue..."
Perhaps it was because Zheng looked so funny that Qian burst out laughing.
Even her father did not stand on her side. "You are just like the Taishi family who never feed you and starve you. You are getting married tomorrow. I want to see if you can call your son-in-law by his full name when you meet him tomorrow-"
Tai Shi Zheng stamped her feet in anger, but considering that she couldn't straighten her tongue, she let her father go.
Downstairs in the hall, the atmosphere was cheerful and the sky was warm.
After Qian finished laughing, she turned around and ordered someone to bring the things over. Taishi Zhengjiang also signaled the servants to bring over the things prepared for his son-in-law.
During the exchange, Qian seemed to have thought of something and casually asked, "Headmaster, today is the day for your female relatives to go to the man's house to set up a tent and make a room. Have the elders already left? You see, the Earl's Mansion has already sent a carriage. Would you like me to take them there later?"
Female relatives? What female relatives?
Tai Shi Zheng looked at his father in surprise.
Taishi Zhengjiang, however, pressed down her protruding head to prevent her from interrupting. "Thank you for your kindness, matchmaker. They will go over on their own later. Don't worry about it."
"What are you saying, Mr. Jieshi? This is what I should do. In that case, I will go back and report. Please don't see me off." After receiving the reply, Qian was about to say goodbye.
Taishi Zhengjiang smiled and watched them leave.
Tai Shi Zheng couldn't help but ask with her clumsy tongue, "Room? Hanging up the bill? Returning our women? Dad, our family... where are the women coming from besides me now? Ah! Could it be... you invited back my sister-in-law who can swing a ten-pound sword? But didn't my brother... say he had to go to war and couldn't come back?"
"Forget it, call her? Do you think she can settle accounts? Or run a shop? When will the Cui family demolish their ancestral home? I will help you invite your good sister-in-law -" Tai Shi Zhengjiang flatly denied it.
Tai Shi Zheng was in a dilemma. "Who else could it be? There is no one left in our hometown. You can't be renting a fake relative from outside!"
"Okay, stop guessing. You don't need to worry about this. Go, go back and eat your gourd soup before it gets cold. Anyway, Dad will definitely take care of it for you and will never embarrass you or our Taishi family, so don't worry."
After Taishi Zhengjiang finished speaking, he put his hands behind his back and turned away.
Tai Shi Zheng was left standing alone in the hall, completely bewildered...
"Who is it? Who is it?"
"It's impossible that I still have some unknown aunt wandering around in the world..."
-
At noon, at Bo's house.
Because of Cui Zhiyun's marriage, the first and second wives rarely sit together for breakfast.
But halfway through the meal, Yu Yuelan heard that Matchmaker Qian had brought back the bride's family's official robes. She put down her porcelain spoon and said, "Ms. Qian, have you asked who your in-laws invited to the inn? I can make preparations."
"The Provincial Commissioner didn't say anything." Qian shook her head. It was her fault for being tongue-tied and too embarrassed to ask directly.
Fortunately, her son's wedding was approaching, and Yu Yuelan was in a good mood. Seeing that Qian hadn't asked, she didn't blame him. She just picked up her chopsticks and said, "It's okay if she didn't ask. Sit down and eat together. Someone from her family will come over later, and you'll have something to do."
Upon hearing this, Qian responded, "Yes."
When she sat down, the noblewoman sitting next to her, wearing a purple cotton-satin gown and a bird-shaped hairpin, Third Aunt Cui Banqin, sitting between the first and second rooms, suddenly glanced at the second room and said, "I remember that the second room got married some time ago, and the one who came to open the room from the Lingshan County Master's family was—"
Cui Banqin paused deliberately.
Zou Shuangtong, who was standing by and waiting on the side, quickly responded, "She is the concubine of the Princess of Qi and the County Master, and the Lady Wang who serves the doctor's family."
"Oh, that's right. Didn't the Princess bring a group of servants with her at that time? They did a great job. Before she left, she saw that the small table at the door was empty, so she even added a pair of valuable green Ruyi to the couple's room! Oh, these royal relatives are just different from us!"
Cui Banqin is a snob and a troublemaker.
Don't look at her as she married a Cizhou militia commander, but he took his cat servant with him when he took up his post, but not her.
Therefore, Cui Banqin has spent most of her time at her parents' home since she got married.
She would not support the first wife or the second wife all day long, and would always instigate quarrels between the two wives. If she accidentally got into trouble, she would just go to the old lady's room and cry, making a scene to get herself out of trouble.
In the past, she was still worried about her eldest brother being the head of the family and her eldest sister-in-law being the daughter of a poor attendant of Longtu Pavilion.
But ever since the Second Wife married the Princess of Lingshan County, Cui Zhilin became a county heir and became a royal relative. Cui Banqin's heart began to shift towards the Second Wife. As soon as she finished speaking, she glanced at Yu Yuelan, "I just wonder what kind of relatives our Zhijun's new bride will have?"
"I heard his family has little influence in the court, except for a brother leading troops abroad and a sister-in-law who returned to the Ming Dynasty. Although the title of Jieshi is not bad and the treatment is quite preferential, it is ultimately an honorary title bestowed upon members of the royal family and relatives by marriage."
"Our Earl's Mansion is, after all, a century-old family, a family of civil officials. Don't lose face. Besides, you are the eldest wife, the proper mistress of the Earl's Mansion. You can't let others compare to you, right?"
Cui Banqin praised the second wife and belittled the first wife in his words and deeds.
Yu Yuelan suppressed her anger today because of Cui Zhijun's wedding. She really didn't know who gave her sister-in-law such courage...
Looking up at Cui Banqin, Yu Yuelan cursed him inwardly, "Come on, you lackey. The old King Qi has been dead for many years. His family's glory has long passed. Besides the surname Qi, what real power has he held in his hands over the years? You want to climb up to the level? And you have the nerve to laugh at my wife? Just keep pretending. When the old lady is gone, I wonder what you'll do——"
"Sister-in-law, sister-in-law?" Cui Banqin raised her hand and waved it in front of Yu Yuelan's eyes. "Why don't you say anything? What are you looking at?"
Yu Yuelan looked at Cui Banqin's harmless appearance and couldn't help but roll her eyes.
This young lady was not to be trifled with, so she turned her spearhead towards Chu Fanghua, "Look? Why is it that the Second House's wife Zhisong is serving us again today? Where's your wife Zhilin? Where's your Lingshan County Master? Could it be that she looks down on us old people and doesn't want to eat at the same table with us?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Chu Fanghua's face changed from being complacent to gloomy under the table.
On the first day the county lady entered the house, the second house set some rules for her.
But she ignored him completely. On ordinary days, when the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law met, she would put on an arrogant attitude and walk away without saying a word. Chu Fanghua, because of the Prince's Mansion, although she had complaints, she didn't dare to criticize too much. So she took out all the anger she had received from her own daughter-in-law on Zou Shuangtong.
But who can blame Zou Shuangtong for being someone who is willing to curry favor and can tolerate it?
Seeing her mother-in-law didn't say anything, she rushed to speak: "Aunt, what are you talking about! You are a dignified and virtuous woman. Anyone who can eat with you is blessed by several lifetimes. But my eldest sister-in-law is from a noble family. How can she do these servant jobs? What if she offends the elders? But even if I don't have my eldest sister-in-law, don't we still have my niece? My niece should be filial to you all and do her best."
After saying this, Zou Shuangtong looked towards the table, feeling very satisfied with what he had said.
Yu Yuelan sneered, "You? Can you compare with your mother-in-law's favorite county lady?"
"Mrs. Zhisong, don't think I don't know. You're just good at using your mouth. When it comes to doing work and ordering people around, you just leave it all to us, Mrs. Zhijian. And then when it's time to take credit, you're really capable of taking all the credit."
"Oh, only our daughter-in-law Zhi Jian is as honest as her stepmother. Look around our courtyard, is there anyone else who would let you bully me like this?"
Yu Yuelan’s words were true.
But Zou Shuangtong had something to hide, but she still said stubbornly, "Aunt, you can't say that. My niece-in-law has been serving me so diligently. Even if she has no merit, she has worked hard. If you don't believe me, ask my cousin's wife and see if my niece-in-law has taken any credit from her!"
At that time, everyone's eyes were directed to the inconspicuous woman standing in the corner, wrapped in a short skirt. But the woman had a round face and was short in stature, and seemed to feel uncomfortable because of the attention.
This is the eldest daughter-in-law of the first wife, Cang Yi.
Cang Yi pursed her lips. Her voice was insignificant, her tongue was clumsy, and she was always afraid of offending everyone. As a result, everyone waited for her for a long time, only to hear her say, "Mother-in-law, cousin's wife, please stop arguing. This is all Cang Yi's fault."
"Stupid thing." Yu Yuelan couldn't help but curse, "I gave you a chance, but you won't fight for it yourself. I'll suffocate you to death."
Cang Yi lowered his head again.
Zou Shuangtong's eyes were full of ridicule towards her.
Qian glanced around and quietly put down her bowl and chopsticks. She'd barely eaten a bite of breakfast, but she'd actually watched the entire show. But what was she supposed to do with this young lady, Zheng? Wasn't this like walking into a tiger's mouth, at the mercy of others?
Qian sighed secretly.
Yu Yuelan put down her bowl and chopsticks, stood up and was about to leave.
Unexpectedly, several maids came running in from the front yard and said to the inside of the house, "Madam, Second Madam, Third Aunt, someone from Taishi's family is here to prepare the room—"
"Come on, why are you in such a hurry?" Yu Yuelan said with anger in her tone, "Just invite them in."
But as soon as she finished speaking, the maids glanced at each other and said in unison: "Madam, we think you should go and pick him up yourself. We are afraid we can't invite this man..."
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