Chapter 172 The Wedding
Xie San Niang was wearing a purple-red Hangzhou silk robe, embroidered with lifelike peonies in colorful threads.
Perhaps her body was nearing its end and she couldn't withstand the wind, so Hua Nanzhi draped a pearl-embroidered cloud-shaped shawl over her shoulders.
The clothes were exquisitely made, with large embroidered flowers featuring fine stitches and vibrant colors, showing no signs of being hastily made overnight.
Perhaps a long time ago, Xie San Niang had prepared the clothes she needed for Xie Jingyuan's wedding.
But precisely because of this, the clothes are now excessively loose, hanging loosely on the body. A gust of wind blows the skirt up into an air sac, which Hua Nanzhi helps to press down.
What startled Shen Yuanzhu was Xie San Niang's condition.
Her cheeks were sunken, and she looked as if she had lost half her flesh, with only a layer of skin hanging on her bones, which looked eerie.
Even more alarming was that Xie San Niang's face was bluish-black, yet her cheeks were flushed with an unnatural red. Her body should have been extremely weak, but her eyes were bright, with a piercing, excited light shining in her pupils.
The Xie family had been staying at Suxuezhai for the past few days and had become accustomed to it. Since Shen Yuanzhu had not yet come to Xie Sanniang's side, she was quite startled when she suddenly saw her today.
Xie Qi put his arm around her and gently patted her back.
Outside the hall, the guests were bustling about. Xie Qi leaned close to her ear and said, "The old lady's outfit, combined with her complexion, is really..."
Shen Yuanzhu nodded.
Before long, Xie Jingyuan brought Jiang Zao back. The bride, with a veil over her head, bowed to heaven and earth and her parents with Xie Jingyuan.
Strangely, Xie Shan has not appeared even today.
The Xie family courtyard was filled with lanterns adorned with red "double happiness" characters, and the eaves were also wrapped in red silk, creating a festive atmosphere everywhere you looked.
Inside Xie Jingyuan's Zhiyunxuan, all the "double happiness" characters pasted on the walls were covered with gold leaf.
Large quantities of candies, wedding cakes, and wedding tea printed with double happiness symbols were piled up at the entrance, placed in bamboo baskets tied with red ribbons, and left for guests to take as they pleased.
Xie Jingyuan was a well-rounded person with many friends in government, business, and the underworld.
The courtyard was bustling with activity, showing no sign of the wedding being rushed.
As Shen Yuanzhu watched the elaborately decorated sedan chair, much more spacious and luxurious than the one she wore for her wedding, being slowly carried through the door, a smile slowly spread across her face.
She was one of the matchmakers in this marriage, and seeing that Jiang Zao hadn't been wronged, she felt much more at ease.
Zheng Shu held a handful of candy she had grabbed from the doorway, looking at Shen Yuanzhu with a half-smile, her eyes full of contempt and scrutiny.
She wished she could crawl into Shen Yuanzhu's heart and see her bitter and jealous face.
Unfortunately, Shen Yuanzhu didn't care at all.
"I'm going to keep my third aunt company."
Xie Qi nodded, and Shen Yuanzhu entered the room of Zhiyun Pavilion.
Xie Jingyuan was deeply loved by Xie Sanniang, and there were three or five maids and servants in the courtyard to take care of him. When they saw Shen Yuanzhu, they all greeted her very kindly.
They all knew that Shen Yuanzhu was acquainted with the Third Grandmother, and made an excuse to give the two of them a chance to talk alone.
This is Shen Yuanzhu's first time visiting Zhiyunxuan.
She had heard before that Xie Jingyuan had close ties with foreign merchants, and now, seeing this courtyard, she knew that he had a great fondness for imported goods.
There is a large iron swing in the courtyard, surrounded by vines, and a red velvet lounge chair, which has a very exotic feel.
Shen Yuanzhu glanced around and went into the room.
The room was filled with even more Western trinkets. On the display shelf sat a brass clock, a very valuable item that was not something an ordinary family could afford.
Shen Yuanzhu lowered her eyes slightly, thinking to herself that no wonder the second branch of the family felt resentful every day.
Under the antique shelf next to the clock, there was a large box. Before she got married, she had seen this thing in the theater. Her uncle said it was called "Western picture cards" and it was very rare in the whole Suzhou Prefecture.
Unlike other parts of the Xie family home, where landscapes or paintings of the "Four Gentlemen" (plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum) are hung on the walls, several Western paintings were displayed on the walls.
Shen Yuanzhu stood in front watching, inwardly surprised.
This Western painting depicts a large ship, accompanied by towering waves that seem ready to crash down at any moment, making one feel dizzy just looking at it.
She closed her eyes slightly, enduring the dizziness.
It was the first time she had ever seen a Western painting, and she was amazed at how realistic and novel it was.
There were many things on the antique shelf in the room, but Shen Yuanzhu didn't know what they were. She glanced at them curiously but didn't look at them closely.
She called out softly to Jiang Zao, and, fearing that she was too young, chatted with her briefly. Seeing that the other party had no resistance, she returned to Qianxiang Courtyard with peace of mind.
Xie Jingyuan had extensive connections, with friends ranging from government officials to people from all walks of life. As a result, it was already dark when he returned home on his wedding night.
Jiang Zao sat on the wedding bed, her heart pounding.
She heard the voices of the maids inside the room, and also a gentle male voice.
Xie Jingyuan stopped beside her, and Jiang Zao smelled a faint scent of alcohol.
When the veil was lifted, it was the first time the two had met in this life.
Jiang was young at the time, and seeing that Xie Jingyuan was indeed very handsome as Shen Yuanzhu had said, she was finally relieved.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting."
He spoke with a smile, his tone reassuring.
Jiang was much younger than him, and Xie Jingyuan was a very tactful person, so how could he not see her worry and fear?
"I was forced to drink alcohol last night and I'm feeling a bit dizzy. Could you please get me a cup of hot tea?"
"good……"
Jiang Zao nodded slightly and hurried to pour him some tea.
Jiang Zao handed the tea to Xie Jingyuan, and seeing him drink it all in one gulp, her tension eased a little.
Xie Jingyuan pointed to a mother-of-pearl inlaid wooden box next to the wedding bed and said softly, "This is for you. See if you like it?"
Jiang Zao was taken aback, and then her face turned red.
She opened it gently, and murmured, "What is this?"
"It's a Western kaleidoscope."
This kaleidoscope is made of brass, with pure silver Western patterns inlaid on the edges, and its cone-shaped design is quite unique.
Xie Jingyuan pointed to the narrower side and said to Jiang Zao, "Take a look."
"look……"
Jiang Zao held the kaleidoscope in her hand in front of her eyes with a puzzled look, examining it closely.
At first, she saw dazzling spots of light and colorful fragments inside, and as the tube slowly rotated, the picture inside gradually changed.
A myriad of colors unfolded before my eyes, sometimes like a sea of flowers, sometimes like a flock of birds chasing each other, playing and frolicking...
Each turn revealed a different scene, and the wondrous sights captivated Jiang Zao, prompting her to exclaim in amazement.
Xie Jingyuan watched, standing beside him with a faint smile, a smile tinged with doting affection.
By the time Jiang Zao remembered that there was someone beside her, Xie Jingyuan had been staring at her for a long time, seemingly lost in thought.
"I...I'm sorry..."
"It's alright."
Xie Jingyuan shook his head: "If you like, there's a peep show in the room, I'll take you to see it."
He reached out his hand, and Jiang Zao stared blankly at him before hesitating and placing her own hand in Xie Jingyuan's palm.
That peephole was also one of Xie Jingyuan's collections. It looked like a clumsy big box with an iron frame supporting it.
The front of the box has two pairs of round holes, and concave and convex mirrors are embedded in the holes.
Xie Jingyuan led Jiang Zao to the "telescope" and pointed to the round hole in front of it, saying, "Look here."
He smelled slightly of alcohol and was already very tired.
This marriage was not what he had hoped for. But his mother was seriously ill, and her only concern was seeing him get married and have children, so Xie Jingyuan was willing to do everything he could to fulfill his mother's wish.
Jiang was still young, and she probably didn't even know what marriage meant. Xie Jingyuan felt guilty, so he was willing to comfort her and tell her not to be too afraid.
Slightly tired, he casually pulled out a few pictures of Western landscapes and put them into the magic mirror, then, despite his exhaustion, pulled the rope outside the wooden box.
With a series of clicks, a series of Western paintings appeared before Jiang Zao.
Xie Jingyuan thought of his mother, wondering how much longer she could hold on. He hoped she could hold on a little longer, at least to hear the news that Jiang Zao was pregnant...
As Xie Jingyuan mechanically pulled the rope, he didn't lower his head, but suddenly heard Jiang Zao let out a terrified scream.
The piercing scream startled him back to his senses. He frowned slightly as he looked at Jiang Zao, who had fallen to the ground.
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