Chapter 1: She mistook her husband for someone else!
As the Lunar New Year approaches, auspicious snow falls, and plum blossoms bloom in the cold. This beautiful time is perfect for a happy marriage.
As dusk fell, Lou Yan, adorned in a phoenix coronet and wedding robes, waited quietly in her boudoir.
Today she is to marry a man she has never met, but her mind is elsewhere, still thinking of another young man who once blushed and promised to marry her.
"The sound of flutes and drums is getting closer. The wedding procession should be at the alley entrance. Second Madam, have some glutinous rice balls to fill your stomach."
A cold wind carrying the damp fragrance of plum blossoms swept into the room. Lou Yanxu's nose was red from the cold, and her maid Qingrui draped a thick mink coat over her.
The steaming hot glutinous rice cake was quickly devoured. She took a bite, then shook her head and put it down, saying, "It's not soft enough."
Qingrui moved the flower-shaped rice cake away and stood bowing in front of her expectantly. "Please spare the servants. Apart from the young master of the Xu family, I'm afraid no one in this world can satisfy you."
Lou Yanxu's ears turned red, and she pretended to hit her, "You, how dare you make fun of me just because we grew up together!"
"This servant knows her mistake!" Qingrui smiled and dodged, then glanced at the jade pendant in her mistress's hand and reminded her, "Once you enter the Marquis's mansion, you will be the heir's wife. This token given by an old friend should be kept at the bottom of your trunk, Second Mistress."
Lou Yanxu's face immediately showed sorrow as she focused on straightening the tassels at the bottom.
"That year, I went back to my hometown with my grandmother to visit relatives. When we finally made it home, my brother was dead, and my sister Rou was also dead. He had disappeared without a trace... I didn't even know if he was alive or dead, so how could I dare to hope for a reunion?"
"After today, I will be another man's wife. Our past relationship cannot be continued. I only hope that you are well."
Finally, Lou Yan put away the jade pendant. A servant announced that the carriage had arrived and the nanny was waiting.
Qingrui dismissed the servants, a bitter feeling welling up in her heart. "It was the Marquis's family that proposed the marriage, but they took the money and then went back on their word. It's bad enough that such ungrateful people accuse us of taking advantage of their kindness, but now they've sent a mere old woman to fetch the bride. This is too much!"
Lou Yanxu turned her gaze and saw that Qingrui's eyes were filled with tears, so she comforted her, "With Father gone, the Lou family is not as good as before. I have no one to rely on, so naturally they will not treat me well. You will have to keep these words to yourself when they reach the Marquis's residence. We are originally a merchant family, and we are far away in Suzhou. Father hopes that I can join the ranks of the famous people in Chang'an through this marriage. We must be careful at every step and at all times, and never cause trouble."
"This servant understands." Qingrui frowned, then worried, "Second Mistress, you are as beautiful as a flower, as lovely as a lotus emerging from water. If that young master has a pointy mouth and a monkey-like face, how will you live your life!"
Lou Yanxu didn't answer, but took her wrist and stepped out of the boudoir. When they reached the hanging flower gate, snow fell on her shoulders. Lou Yanxu turned back gracefully and asked, "Where is Grandmother?"
"The old lady said it was unlucky for her to be a second-marriage woman, so she didn't come to see her off."
"How could I care about such a thing..." Lou Yanxu smiled bitterly, covering her face with her fan. "Never mind, I'm reluctant to see her go, so I won't upset my grandmother."
But as soon as she lifted her foot, someone behind her called out "Second Mother." Just as she was about to turn around, her grandmother hugged her tightly, her sobs piercing her heart.
Those standing by couldn't help but shed tears. Lou Yanxu bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes. She raised her face and took a deep breath to stop them slightly.
The maidservant sent someone to urge her to leave, but the grandmother wouldn't let her turn around. She patted her shoulder and told her to go out, her sobs still audible in the distance, "Take care... take care..."
Once inside the sedan chair, auspicious magpies heralded good fortune, and the sounds of gongs and drums filled the air. Lou Yanxu sobbed incessantly, and only stopped when Qingrui, who was beside the sedan chair, reminded her as they were about to arrive at the Marquis's residence.
After the sedan chair bearers stopped, Qingrui suddenly noticed two large stone lions crouching on the north side of the street, with the words "Chenghua Marquis's Residence" written on a plaque above the main gate. She then informed her wife of this.
Lou Yanxu raised her round fan, and an old woman stepped forward to lift the sedan curtain.
There were many figures around, but Lou Yanxu did not move. Soon after, a murmur of discussion arose.
"I heard that the heir of the Marquis of Chenghua and the daughter of the Minister of Personnel have long been in love and are ready to get married when the young lady comes of age. But this merchant's daughter has interfered."
"Who says otherwise? Three years ago, the Chenghua Marquis's mansion owed a huge amount of taxes. The Lou family of Suzhou was willing to do this favor, but then the old master Lou died of illness, leaving the family without a leader. So the old lady came all the way here to take advantage of the favor and repay it. She really has a good plan!"
"Indeed, this young lady is delaying getting out of the sedan chair. Does she think she can act all high and mighty?"
This remark was met with ridicule from everyone.
It was clear that the Marquis of Chenghua's family had swindled money out of them under the guise of marriage and then refused to acknowledge it! Qingrui was furious and wanted to step forward to argue with them, but she couldn't move. Only then did she realize that Louyan had promised to give her a sedan chair.
The old woman shouted, "The auspicious hour has arrived! Please invite the groom!"
The bride, holding a fan to conceal her makeup, stood still for a moment, but the groom did not appear. Instead, the crowd suddenly stirred as a guest appeared, captivating everyone.
"Xu Situ is tall and imposing, and his red attire is sure to steal the groom's thunder."
"He is not only the betrothed son-in-law of the Marquis's family, but also the powerful Minister of the Left and Minister of Works. Why should we fear the gossip about the Marquis's family?"
"That being said, it is somewhat out of line for the guests to overshadow the host on the wedding day."
"Xu Jun is a close minister of the emperor. What he does is none of your business!"
Lou Yanxu never saw Xu Jun's true face, but she knew he was of high rank and great power, handsome but unruly and rude. He might become her brother-in-law in the future, so she would probably have to deal with him a lot.
A burly figure walked past her, the brocade on his shoulder brushing against her delicate hand, stirring a wave of heat.
With such distinguished guests arriving, it would be truly presumptuous for the groom to continue avoiding them.
As dusk fell, the dim yellow light filled the hall. Lou Yanxu caught a glimpse of a tall figure beside her; it was none other than Sheng Yan, the heir of the Marquis of Chenghua.
The two stepped onto a felt mat together, with a boy and a girl scattering grains behind them.
"The bride steps over the fire basin to drive away evil spirits and bring good fortune."
"The bride straddles the saddle, each step safe and peaceful, in harmony and stability."
"The bride carries a rice bag, ensuring ample food and clothing, a tradition passed down through generations."
The servant loudly added to the celebration along the way. When they reached the rice bag, Lou Yanxu stumbled and instinctively reached out, only to see the person next to her dodge to the side. Her hand, which had grasped nothing, hung limply at her side.
Upon entering the inner hall, Lou Yanxu, separated from her aunt and uncle by a fan, knew that the two were about to grind their teeth to dust.
In Chang'an, the wives of noble families were either daughters of prominent noble families or descendants of meritorious officials. Only the Marquis of Chenghua's family humbled themselves to marry the daughter of a merchant, which made countless people gloat.
Blame it on their insatiable greed and their cowardice in bullying the weak. Lou Yanxu thought to herself.
After a brief moment of distraction, the master of ceremonies called for the newlyweds to turn around and perform the bow.
"Bowing to Heaven and Earth, may the flowers bloom and the moon be full."
"Bowing to our parents twice, wishing them peace and good health year after year."
"Husband and wife exchange vows, and their union is joyful and blissful."
After they finished speaking, the two faced each other, neither bowing, silently resisting.
Then Lou Yan bowed first, a barely perceptible tear falling. The past was gone, the person before her was not the one she loved; there was nothing she could do but lament.
The wedding banquet was completely silent. The newlyweds were escorted into the Hundred Sons Tent and performed the rituals of sharing a meal, drinking from the same cup, and tying their hair together. From then on, they were husband and wife, and their love and trust were unwavering.
As the master of ceremonies shouted "The ceremony is complete," the guests cheered and pulled the groom to offer toasts.
Lou Yanxu sat alone on the huge wedding bed. When her arms ached, she placed a round fan aside. Red light swayed in her eyes, and the red silk curtains were scattered with auspicious fruits and copper coins. She rubbed her eyes and looked at Qingrui.
"My lady, are you tired? Let me give you a massage."
After washing her hands, Qingrui put her arm around her mistress's arm. Seeing that no one was around, she whispered, "I just saw him. The young master is quite handsome. Because the guests mentioned the daughter of the Minister of Personnel, I went to inquire about him..."
"The current Minister of Personnel was originally the Crown Prince's tutor. After a while, the Crown Prince and the young lady in the manor fell in love. After hearing about his marriage, the young lady fell seriously ill and said that she would only regard the Crown Prince as her brother from now on."
After saying that, she felt annoyed again, "Hypocrisy! If the two of them were truly in love, they should have some backbone and vow not to do such a despicable thing as cheating people out of their money!"
Lou Yanxu smiled nonchalantly, "We don't care about those things. I will keep my position as the legal wife and let my child inherit the title. That way, I will not fail my father's dying wish."
"My lady is right." Even so, Qingrui glanced at the deserted bridal chamber and became even more anxious.
The bride sat there for almost two hours, but her husband never showed up. None of the maids or servants paid her any attention. She couldn't wait any longer, so she went out to ask. She was told that the young master was drinking with Minister Xu and should not be disturbed.
Lou Yanxu was not distressed, but Qingrui felt she should speak up for her, "Xu Situ has such an arrogant official attitude. It's one thing for him to steal the spotlight in his red dress, but how can he stop the groom and make the bride wait in vain!"
"What did I say to you before we came here?" Lou Yanxu said sternly. Qingrui lowered her face and slapped herself, keeping all her words to herself.
In the depths of winter, the wind and snow swirl and lift the beaded curtain, making the chill even more biting.
Lou Yanxu clutched her empty stomach and asked Qingrui to find some hot food to fill her stomach. As she was twisting her aching neck, she heard steady footsteps coming from under the eaves.
A moment later, the man in red boots stopped under the beaded curtain. She picked up her fan to cover her face, but saw him pause for a long time, pondering something, when the man lifted the curtain and entered.
Through the gauze fan, Lou Yanxu caught a glimpse of his crimson figure in the hazy flames, and could feel his burning gaze clinging to her, which made her feel the deep affection of her beloved.
The couple remained silent and respectful until Lou Yanxu spoke up to remind him, "Husband, would you like to compose a poem about 'removing the fan'?"
She remained silent, knowing he was dissatisfied and unwilling to force him. Just as she was about to remove the fan, the man's unique, deep voice came, "On a moonlit night, snowflakes drift across the sky, a silk fan in the boudoir separates the flower-adorned hairpin."
She listened intently, waiting for his next words, but heard nothing. Seeing him pause, she spoke again, "Husband?"
The person before him swallowed hard, gave a soft "hmm," his eyes hazy with intoxication, and then urged on his makeup, saying, "My little sage is as beautiful as a flower, I long for her to reveal her celestial beauty."
After finishing her poem, she feigned shyness, only to be met with his shimmering, affectionate eyes.
She stared in disbelief, her heart pounding as if it were falling off a cliff, and when she looked up again, her eyes were filled with mist.
If Qingrui were here, she would surely agree, for this handsome young man has the bearing of an old friend.
However, Lou Yanxu immediately came to her senses. Her beloved had thicker lips and a higher nose bridge. The only difference was that their eyes were exactly the same, but this was not him.
The snow outside had just stopped, the moon and stars were few, and the two people inside looked at each other in silence.
Under the eaves, the steward settled the drunken guests and turned to ask the newly arrived servant, "Where is the person you helped earlier?"
"It was sent to the bride."
The steward, recalling the red robes, immediately realized the misunderstanding and angrily slapped the servant on the head, "Wrong! That's not the young master, that's the future son-in-law!"
The two rushed over, and when they arrived at the bridal chamber, the groom was already bedridden and almost asleep.
Qingrui, who was guarding outside the door, couldn't stop them and ran after the two.
An outsider barged in. Lou Yan was undressing her husband when her hand trembled, and she accidentally pulled open the robe. Her husband frowned and turned over.
She frowned and her heart sank when she saw the servant kneel down.
The steward hurriedly greeted him with a smile, "Please forgive me, Madam! This new assassin mistook you for someone else and brought Minister Xu to your room."
This is... my future brother-in-law.
Lou Yanxu was stunned and almost lost her footing. To mistake her husband for her own on her wedding night was utterly absurd, and everyone laughed at her.
The two men carried him away. Her heart was pounding, and she clung to the bed frame for a while before she calmed down.
A moment later, the drunken man returned, embraced her slender waist, and looked up, saying in a muffled voice, "Why should I leave on our wedding night?"
The three pursuers were dumbfounded.
A note from the author:
I recommend a similar pre-order, "Hate Until Return".
Everyone in Chang'an knows that the Qu and Wei families have an agreement to arrange a marriage between their children across three generations.
From the time Qu Qingwu could remember, she knew that she would marry Wei Yunsui in the future.
She was deeply in love with Wei Yunsui.
She cooked soup for him, sewed shoe soles, and made sachets by hand, treating him with all her heart.
But she also hated him intensely.
The Qu family had fallen on hard times, and her parents, fearing they would displease him, called off the marriage. So they forced her to cater to his preferences and please him, making her eat only what he liked and wear only what he liked. If he wanted to see her, she had to come whenever he called.
She was manipulated like a puppet, having long forgotten what she looked like, and had become a second him.
On the night of the full moon, after being confined to her quarters, she did the most outrageous thing she had ever done in a fit of anger.
She wanted to elope with another man.
However, before they reached the city gate, Wei Yunsui captured them and brought them back.
This incident caused him to lose face completely.
After marriage, Wei Yun hated her to the bone, discarding the gifts she gave him like worn-out shoes and carelessly overturning the dishes she cooked.
He never showed her any pity in private, nor did he ever care about her feelings in front of others.
On his birthday, she made him a bowl of longevity noodles, which he smashed to pieces.
He cornered her against the wall and sneered, "The way you dress and try to please me disgusts me!"
Her heart ached, she bit her lip, lowered her head, and shed a tear.
At her birthday banquet, she hid behind a flower bush and overheard someone asking him when he was going to divorce his wife.
He only said one sentence: "She owes me, and it's a debt she'll never repay."
She immediately collapsed to the ground, her body ice-cold.
It was another full moon night, and Qu Qingwu wandered alone to the city gate.
This time, she finally escaped.
From now on, she wants to be herself again.
Wei Yunsui longed to marry Qu Qingwu.
I long to be with her in perfect harmony, spending the rest of my life together.
He knew all along that she had no feelings for him and was only putting on an act to please him at her parents' behest.
But as long as she is willing to continue acting, he will respect her, love her, treat her with all his heart, and protect her for a lifetime of peace and happiness.
But he never expected that Qu Qingwu, who had always been obedient, would dare to elope with another man!
He was furious and, with a marriage certificate, forced her to move into his house.
After marriage, she was respectful and obedient, and took care of everything, but she was constantly reminding him that she had someone else in her heart.
He was jealous, he was resentful, and he wanted her to love him.
If you don't love each other, then torture each other until you die.
But he did not get his wish.
She ran away, and this time he couldn't find her.
Later, I listened to the conversations of ordinary people over tea.
Wei Yun went mad, crying and begging his wife to come home every day at the city gate.
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