2 Wedding
If your father steps in, not only will he fail to save Xiao Cixiao, but he will get himself into trouble.
As for sending money or clothes, it is absolutely forbidden. If someone finds out, who knows what unpleasant things will be said.”
Su Wanting fell silent. Her mother's words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the hope in her heart.
She knew that her mother was right, but she just couldn't let go of Xiao Cixiao.
She remembered how Xiao Cixiao jumped into the water to save her during the Lantern Festival three years ago, and how although he was cold, he had never done anything to hurt her.
She couldn't just watch him get into such a desperate situation and do nothing.
That night, Su Wanting couldn't sleep. She kept thinking about how to help Xiao Cixiao.
It was almost dawn when she suddenly thought of a way. She asked her father to come forward to protect Xiao Cixiao on the condition that the Su family would do its best to mediate, but on the premise that Xiao Cixiao must marry her.
When this idea came to her mind, Su Wanting was shocked herself.
She knew this method was absurd, even unscrupulous. Xiao Cixiao didn't like her in the first place, and if she used favors to force him to marry her, he would definitely hate her even more.
But she couldn't think of any other solution. Only by becoming his wife could she legitimately help him and convince her father to mediate.
The next morning, Su Wanting arrived outside her father Su Chengan's study.
She knelt on the cold bluestone, looking firmly at the study door.
She knew that her father would not easily agree to her request, but she had made up her mind to get her father's approval no matter what.
"Miss, what are you doing? Get up quickly!" The housekeeper who was guarding outside the study was shocked when he saw Su Wanting kneeling on the ground, and hurried forward to help her up.
"No need," Su Wanting shook her head and said firmly, "I want to wait for my father to come out and talk to him in person."
The housekeeper had no choice but to send someone to inform Su Chengan. When Su Chengan learned that his daughter was kneeling outside the study, he hurried out.
He looked at Su Wanting kneeling on the ground, his brows furrowed tightly. "Wan'er, what are you doing? Why can't you come in and talk about something? Why do you have to kneel here?"
Su Wanting raised her head and looked at her father's serious face, her eyes slightly red: "Father, I beg you for something. If you don't agree, I won't get up."
"Tell me, what's the matter?" Su Cheng'an said helplessly.
Su Wanting took a deep breath and mustered up the courage to say, "Father, I know that something has happened to the Xiao family, and Xiao Cixiao is in a difficult situation now.
My daughter wants you to come forward and ask the people at the Dali Temple to be lenient so that Xiao Cixiao does not suffer too much injustice. Also, please help the Xiao family and make arrangements so that they can have a place to stay."
Su Chengan's face darkened when he heard this: "Wan'er, have you forgotten what I told you?
His Majesty personally ordered a thorough investigation of Xiao Zhongshu's case. Anyone who dares to interfere is defying His Majesty! I cannot risk the safety of the Marquisate just for the sake of the Xiao family."
"Father, I know you are worried about the safety of the Marquis' Mansion," Su Wanting said quickly.
"My daughter is willing to exchange her lifelong happiness for this. As long as you are willing to help Xiao Cixiao, my daughter is willing to marry him and be his wife."
Su Cheng'an was stunned. He looked at his daughter's determined eyes and couldn't believe his ears: "Wan'er, what did you say? You want to marry Xiao Cixiao?
He is now the son of a criminal and has nothing. If you marry her, you will only ruin your life! Are you crazy? "
"My daughter is not crazy," Su Wanting shook her head, tears finally falling.
"Father, I have liked Xiao Cixiao for three years. No matter if he is a poor scholar or the son of a criminal, I am willing to marry him. As long as you are willing to help him, I am willing to do anything."
Su Chengan looked at his daughter's tearful face, feeling both distressed and helpless. He knew his daughter's temper, and once she made up her mind, she would not change it easily.
He was silent for a long time, and finally sighed: "Wan'er, let me think about it again."
Su Wanting knew that her father had already loosened up. She wiped away her tears and said firmly: "Father, your daughter will kneel here and wait for your answer."
For the next three days, Su Wanting knelt outside her father's study. Whether it was scorching sun or rainy, she never left.
Everyone in the mansion tried to persuade her, but she refused to listen. She knew this was her only chance to help Xiao Cixiao, and she couldn't give up.
On the evening of the third day, Su Chengan finally walked out of the study.
He looked at Su Wanting, whose face was pale and lips were chapped, and said distressedly, "Wan'er, get up. Father promises you."
When Su Wanting heard this, tears instantly fell from her eyes.
Red should be the most festive and warmest color in the world, but in Su Wanting's eyes, it looked like a glaring blood color that made her breathless.
She sat in front of the dressing mirror, looking at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a bright red wedding dress, her face was covered with thick powder, and her lips were dyed bright red with rouge.
But there was no joy in her eyes that a bride should have, only an inextricable bitterness and uneasiness.
The phoenix hairpin inlaid with rubies stuck in her hair was her mother's most precious dowry. But now it felt so heavy that it made her scalp numb, as if even her heart, which was hanging in the air, was being pressed down.
Today is her wedding day with Xiao Cixiao.
Things have been going exceptionally smoothly since her father agreed to her request three days ago.
His father used his connections in the court to pass on a message to the Dali Temple Minister. Not only was Xiao Cixiao not implicated in his father's case, but he also retained his status as a student at the Imperial Academy.
He also secretly reserved a small courtyard in the suburbs for the Xiao family so that they would not be homeless. All of this was exchanged for her marriage. Her father only said to the outside world that "the Su family and the Xiao family have always had a good relationship and are willing to form a good relationship."
But only Su Wanting herself knew that this was just a transaction bound by favors, and she was the one who took the initiative to hand over the rope.
She still remembers the look on Xiao Cixiao's face when he nodded in agreement. That day, she was waiting for news outside her father's study, and saw Xiao Cixiao coming with the housekeeper from afar.
He was wearing a washed-out blue cloth gown. He looked much thinner than before, with a light stubble on his chin, and his eyes were filled with fatigue and loneliness that could not be concealed.
But when his father proposed the condition of "marrying his daughter to protect you", he suddenly raised his head and looked at her with his eyes.
There was no gratitude, no hesitation, only a cold scrutiny, as if looking at an object to be exchanged for benefits.
"Okay." He only said one word, his voice was hoarse, but with unquestionable determination.
He didn't ask her whether she was willing or not, nor did he say a single polite word, as if this marriage was just a compromise he had to accept and a tool to get out of his predicament.
At that moment, Su Wanting's heart felt like it was pricked by a needle, and it hurt so much.
She knew that it was selfish to use favors to force a marriage, but she convinced herself that as long as she married him and treated him well over time, she would be able to warm his heart one day.
But Xiao Cixiao's eyes were like a basin of cold water, instantly casting a shadow over her faint hope.
"Miss, the auspicious time is almost here, it's time to get into the sedan chair."
The bridesmaid walked up to Su Wanting, holding a red veil embroidered with mandarin ducks in her hand, with a festive smile on her face, but that smile seemed particularly dazzling in Su Wanting's eyes.
Su Wanting took a deep breath and stood up. The hem of her red skirt swept across the ground, casting a long shadow like an inescapable shackle.
She walked to the door and saw her mother, Mrs. Li, standing there with red eyes and a plain handkerchief tightly clenched in her hand.
"Wan'er," Li took a step forward and held Su Wanting's hand. Her palm was warm, with the warmth that only a mother could have.
"When you get to the Xiao family, be patient in everything, but don't be too hard on yourself. If you get angry, send someone back and tell them that your mother is here to take you home."
Su Wanting nodded, but her throat seemed to be blocked by something and she couldn't make a sound.
She knew her mother was worried about her. It was already unfair for the daughter of a marquis to marry the son of a criminal, let alone such a "forced" marriage.
Her mother was afraid that she would be neglected in the Xiao family and that she would regret it, but she didn't say these words out loud. She just hid all her worries in the word "go home".
"Mom, I understand." Su Wanting finally squeezed out a word, her voice trembling slightly.
The bridesmaid urged, "Madam, the auspicious time is almost here. It would be unlucky to delay it."
Li had no choice but to let go of Su Wanting's hand and watched the matchmaker put the red veil on her head.
In an instant, the world before my eyes turned into a red haze, leaving only the noisy sounds of joy in my ears and the increasingly loud sound of my heartbeat.
The sedan chair swayed forward, and Su Wanting sat inside, her fingertips tightly gripping the hem of her skirt, her nails almost digging into her flesh.
Joyful sounds came from outside the sedan chair, with the beating of gongs and drums, and it was very lively, but she found it extremely harsh, as if someone was mocking her ridiculous marriage.
She recalled the worried eyes of Xiao Cixiao when he jumped into the water to save her during the Lantern Festival three years ago;
I remembered how he kept me at a distance and how cold he was when I secretly sent him a cotton-padded jacket; I remembered the cold look in his eyes when he agreed to marry me.
It turns out that it was all her wishful thinking from the beginning to the end.
After an unknown amount of time, the sedan chair finally stopped. The bridesmaid helped her out of the sedan chair and walked forward on the red carpet.
I could hear the guests talking, some with curiosity, some with sympathy, and some with disdain.
She could feel a cold gaze falling on her, and she knew without thinking that it was Xiao Cixiao's gaze.
The worship ceremony began in a noisy atmosphere.
The emcee's voice was loud and clear, and Su Wanting followed the bridesmaid's instructions and bowed. But as soon as she bent down, she felt that the person next to her didn't move.
Her heart tightened, and she raised her head. Through the gap in the red veil, she saw Xiao Cixiao standing there straight, his face cold and his eyes full of resistance.
The guests' discussions suddenly became louder, and some people whispered, "What's wrong with this Mr. Xiao? He won't even cooperate with the wedding ceremony?"
"I heard that this marriage was forced by the Su family. It seems that Master Xiao is unwilling..."
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