Chapter 7 007 He couldn't rush things; he'd scare her. ...
Marriage is one of the greatest joys in life. The Xiao family was bustling with guests and was going to hold a two-day banquet. The Luo family, on the other hand, was very quiet. The family had left their hometown and had no relatives or friends to invite. They also had no close neighbors to befriend in the short term. They were even temporarily staying in a small courtyard rented by their eldest son-in-law.
Too much loneliness makes it easy to overthink. With her daughter about to get married, Wang Qiuyue suddenly felt sorry for her youngest daughter. She felt sorry that her daughter's happy day would be without relatives and friends to add to the joy. She worried that after she, her husband, and son returned to Yangzhou, her daughter would suffer grievances in the Marquis's mansion and would have no parents to rely on. Her older sister and brother-in-law were too young and it would be difficult for them to be shameless enough to argue with the Xiao family.
She couldn't tell her youngest daughter this, lest she frighten her. She could only whisper it to her husband in secret, which made Luo Dayuan uneasy.
Luo Fu, however, was the one in the family who had the hardest time to calm down. She was nervous and uneasy about the wedding night that was going to happen the next night, and she was also reluctant to part with her parents who would be leaving the capital to return to their hometown after her return visit.
Luo Lan first reassured her anxious parents to relax and stop overthinking, then went to the north room of the east wing to comfort her younger sister: "Father and Mother, there's nothing to be reluctant about. As long as your brother-in-law can stay in the capital as an official next year, I will immediately go to the town on the outskirts of the city to build a house and buy land for the family, and bring the two elders to the capital to enjoy their retirement. As for the wedding night, you don't need to worry about it; your brother-in-law will teach you."
Luo Fu lowered her head, pretending not to understand, but her blushing cheeks betrayed that she had already figured it out.
A young girl growing up in a village doesn't need to read any forbidden books. If she's ever heard a woman go to her husband's house and yell at him for cheating, her words getting increasingly vulgar, she can guess what kind of "sleeping" is between men and women. She's just curious about what the benefits of that kind of thing are that would make a man abandon his family.
Hearing is believing, so Roland still handed the booklet that her mother had given her to her younger sister and told her to finish reading it in the afternoon and not to read it secretly at night, otherwise she might not be able to sleep tonight and would be too tired to impress the groom and the ladies of the Xiao family tomorrow.
That night, Luo Fu didn't know how long she had slept. She was vaguely awakened by her mother, who told her to hurry up and get ready. The matchmaker arranged by the Xiao family had arrived and was ready to do her hair and dress her up at any time.
Luo Fu whispered to her mother, "When my sister got married, she had to get dressed early in the morning because our relatives would come to see the bride in the morning, and it would be lively until the lunch banquet ended and my brother-in-law picked her up to get into the bridal sedan chair. Today, there are no outsiders in our family, so why don't I just sleep a little longer..."
Wang Qiuyue smiled and tapped her daughter's forehead: "There are no relatives here, but the matchmaker has already come. You really sleep in late. If word gets out, will you, the third wife of the Marquis's mansion, still have any face left?"
Luo Fu sighed and went to the bathroom.
The matchmaker knew that the bride's family were guests from Yangzhou, but it was already quite an achievement for them to be able to marry into the prestigious Marquis of Zhongyi's family. They were about to become people of high status. Therefore, the matchmaker smiled and said auspicious words, praising Luo Fu as a great beauty that was rare even in the wealthy capital. She said that after the marriage, she would definitely be cherished by her husband and live a sweet and loving life.
Even though she knew the matchmaker was just trying to flatter her, Luo Fu was still overjoyed. After all, how many people in this world don't like to hear nice things?
Wang Qiuyue, Luo Lan, and the two maids Ping An and Shuang Yan all stood by and watched the matchmaker's skills.
In Yangzhou, brides' makeup is very light and elegant. Just drawing eyebrows, applying lipstick, and a thin layer of rouge is enough, so the bride's beauty depends entirely on her natural features. In the capital, light makeup was also the norm at first, but in recent years it has become fashionable to paste floral decorations on the bride's forehead. The matchmaker prepared an eight-treasure flower-shaped decoration for Luo Fu, its vermilion color complementing her rosy lips and highlighting the bride's fair skin and beautiful face.
Luo Fu looked in the mirror. The wisps of hair on her forehead had been combed up by the matchmaker. Her fresh hairstyle and makeup made Luo Fu almost unrecognizable.
After the matchmaker went to the main hall to rest with Wang Qiuyue, Luo Lan used her fingertip to hook her sister's chin, which was not yet made up, and hummed, "Look at this delicate skin, my brother-in-law is really lucky."
Luo Fu pulled her sister's hand away, not allowing her to talk nonsense.
The groom's departure to fetch the bride and the bride's return home both have auspicious times. As the sun gradually rises, Xiao Yu's wedding procession is about to set off.
Arranging the wedding procession was easy; besides the groom, the most important thing was the four groomsmen. In fact, with Marquis Xiao Rong's title, it wasn't difficult to gather groomsmen for his youngest son. The difficulty lay in the fact that Xiao Yu had offended all the young gentlemen he could associate with in his youth, and no one was willing to befriend him. Therefore, Xiao Lin, the second brother, felt obligated to use his connections to coax four unmarried friends to stand up for his third brother.
Prince Xiao Hu also wanted to help, but his right leg couldn't touch the ground, so he couldn't go out. How could he go and comfort his friends outside?
"Look, if it weren't for your second brother's good manners, you wouldn't even have been able to put together a decent wedding procession. So you have to remember this lesson and watch your mouth in the future."
Xiao Rong could no longer count on the young masters who usually frequented his household. He hoped that his third son could get along well with his colleagues after becoming an official. He didn't expect them to become one of them, but at least he didn't offend them all.
Xiao Yu wanted to tell his father that even if his second brother didn't help, he could still invite four gentlemen who had discussed scholarship with him from Songshan Academy. However, since his family had put so much effort into his marriage, Xiao Yu was willing to give his father a break on this joyous occasion.
"Go ahead. If Luo Song tries to stop you with a martial arts challenge, don't be stubborn. Let the groomsmen handle it."
Xiao Rong felt more and more heartbroken as he talked on. When his eldest and second sons got married, he only had to drink and didn't care about anything else. What was most hateful was that his third son didn't appreciate it at all.
Xiao Yu pursed her lips slightly.
Seeing his son's displeasure, Xiao Rong felt relieved. He came from humble beginnings and had learned various martial arts techniques by chance, none of which were proper. Therefore, after gaining a marquis title by following the emperor, Xiao Rong carefully selected a martial arts instructor to teach his eldest and second sons first, and then his third son who was born later.
The eldest and second sons were promising military officers, able to endure any hardship and toil. However, the third son was spoiled, complaining of the heat of the sun and the cold of the wind. Xiao Rong wanted to force the third son to persevere with a stick, but his wife was heartbroken and kept crying. Unable to win against his wife's stubbornness, Xiao Rong had no choice but to send the third son to the Imperial Academy to take the imperial examination.
Later, when the third brother was six or seven years old, he was beaten by several classmates for speaking his mind. In anger, he took the initiative to ask to learn martial arts. However, the third brother only learned fist and foot techniques and did not touch any swords, spears, or sticks. At most, he would also learn archery taught at the Imperial Academy. With such pickiness, he was certainly no match for Luo Song, who had been practicing martial arts from a young age.
After bidding farewell to his parents and guests, Xiao Yu mounted his horse, which was adorned with a large red silk flower, and set off.
The people, drawn by the joyous music and music, all praised the groom's handsome appearance and curiously inquired with the attendants about his family background. Upon learning that he was from the Marquis of Zhongyi's family, which had previously been related to Prime Minister Yang and the Duke of Dingguo through marriage, they immediately began to inquire about the bride's family.
The helpers refused to say much and continued to shake their heads and play music.
The Xiao family lived in the northeast of Luocheng, while Pei Xingshu's house was rented in the southwest of the city, which was more than ten miles away.
After a quiet half-day, the Luo family finally welcomed the wedding procession. No one intended to deliberately make things difficult for the groom. Luo Dayuan was lame and unable to do so, and Luo Song, who admired his brother-in-law and prospective brother-in-law as scholars, dared not be presumptuous. Only Pei Xingshu, the elder brother-in-law, blocked the door and presented Xiao Yu with three essay questions, which Xiao Yu answered with ease, and thus entered the house.
The Luo family hired several chefs to prepare fine wine and dishes to entertain the groom, best man, and entourage. Most of the banquet was held in the courtyard. Luo Fu sat in the north room of the east wing, where all she could hear was the noise of outsiders.
After a short rest, when the appointed time arrived, the matchmaker covered the bride's head with a veil and helped her to the main hall.
Led by the matchmaker, the newlyweds knelt side by side before Luo Dayuan and his wife.
When Luo Dayuan married off his eldest daughter, he was still young and proud enough not to cry. Now that he's a few years older, his tears fall freely: "When Fu'er's older sister got married, at least she was close to us, so we were at ease. But Fu'er's marriage is over a thousand miles away from Yangzhou. You're a scholar, so you can't bully her. You must remember, this marriage was arranged by you and your son who went to Yangzhou to beg for it, not by us trying to climb the social ladder!"
Upon hearing this, Wang Qiuyue and Luo Lan both choked up, and Luo Fu's tears also streamed down her face from under her veil.
Xiao Yu kowtowed to his parents-in-law: "Father-in-law and mother-in-law, rest assured, Xiao Yu will never betray his wife, whom he married."
Luo Dayuan rubbed his eyes and nodded. Wang Qiuyue then gave her daughter some instructions on how to take care of her husband, be filial to her parents-in-law, and maintain harmony with her sisters-in-law. The matchmaker then calculated the time and reminded the bride and groom that it was time to leave.
Luo Song stepped forward, steadily carried his younger sister on his back, and deliberately spoke in a voice that Xiao Yu could hear: "Don't be afraid, little sister. If anything happens, write to your brother and I will rush to the capital to support you."
Luo Fu tried her best to steady the phoenix crown on her head, but she couldn't care less about her sore eyes.
Once inside the bridal sedan chair, the surrounding hustle and bustle seemed irrelevant to her. Luo Fu calmed herself down for a while, and only after the wedding procession had gone some distance did she remove her veil. She then picked up a small bronze mirror, rouge, a handkerchief, and a small porcelain bottle of water that had been placed in the sedan chair beforehand. She first wet the handkerchief to wipe away the tears on her face, and then reapplied the rouge.
The sedan chair swayed gently as she moved with great care. Once she was dressed, Luo Fu smiled at herself in the mirror and straightened her back even more.
.
After a deafening burst of firecrackers, the bridal sedan chair stopped outside the Marquis's mansion at the auspicious hour of dusk.
Luo Fu focused on walking her own path, ignoring the fleeting glimpses of silk robes passing by, until she followed Xiao Yu into the central hall of the second courtyard of the Marquis's mansion.
After bowing to heaven and earth, bowing to their parents, and then bowing to each other, the couple is officially husband and wife.
After the ceremony concluded, the newlyweds moved to Shensi Hall, located on the west side of the Marquis's Mansion, which was the residence of the groom, the third son of Xiao Yu.
Because Luo Fu was wearing a veil, she neither knew the name of the courtyard she was about to move into, nor did she see the brand-new plaque. She had no way of recognizing that the three large, bold characters "Shen Si Tang" were the fine calligraphy that Marquis Xiao Rong had shamelessly begged from Prime Minister Yang Sheng, who had worn his lips out and pleaded until his spittle was dry.
Unbeknownst to the bride, most of the female guests who came to the bridal chamber to witness the ceremony had heard of the origin of the plaque, and their gazes as they looked at the bride inevitably carried a hint of sympathy—there are countless scholars in the world, but Miss Luo has encountered the most troublesome one.
I heard she's from Yangzhou. The Jiangnan region has always been known for its beautiful women, so what about the bride?
Curious and waiting, Xiao Yu, with his back to everyone, finally lifted the veil. As Xiao Yu moved away, the bride's true face was revealed to everyone.
The bridal chamber, which had been filled with soft laughter just moments before, suddenly fell silent. Luo Fu slightly raised her eyelids, glanced around, and met the surprised and astonished expressions of the guests, both young and old. Maintaining a perfect level of shyness, Luo Fu lowered her eyes again, appearing dignified and quiet, without any of the rustic air that the guests might have secretly speculated about.
Xiao Yu was the first to see the bride's makeup for the day. While the female guests were excited, he remained calm and composed. Following the matchmaker's instructions, he sat down next to the bride, drank the wedding wine, and then tied their hair together.
It was already dark outside the window. After the ceremony, Xiao Yu went to the main courtyard to receive the guests.
He had to go from table to table to offer toasts, and Chang Sui Qingchuan followed his young master, carrying a pot of wine and a wine bowl with a mixture of joy and trepidation.
Xiao Rong sat at the main table with distinguished guests such as Left Prime Minister Yang Sheng and Duke Li Gong. He watched his son walk towards him with composure, and glanced at Yang Sheng, who was sitting upright. Although it was early winter, Xiao Rong was sweating profusely.
Li Gong smiled and stroked his beard, praising, "It's been two years since I last saw you, Yuanzhi. Your demeanor has become even more elegant and refined. You truly deserve Prime Minister Yang's description of you as having the bearing of an immortal."
Yang Sheng: "..."
When he praised Xiao Yu like that, Xiao Yu was only thirteen years old. Who would have thought that this kid would not only criticize his peers but also dare to scold him, his elder and prime minister?
"The Duke and the Left Chancellor are too kind in their praise; Xiao Yu dares not accept such praise."
Xiao Yu humbly said, then bowed to the group of important officials at the table: "Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend my wedding banquet. I am deeply grateful and would like to express my gratitude with this wine."
After filling a bowl with wine, Xiao Yu offered it to everyone with both hands.
Yang Sheng raised his hand to signal Li Gong and the others not to drink yet, and said to Xiao Yu with a half-smile, "You can drink like this with your peers, but to show our sincerity to us old folks, we need to each have a bowl."
The veteran officials, of course, had to give Yang Sheng face, so they all put down their wine bowls and watched the show with leisure.
Without hesitation, Xiao Yu replied, "It is only proper etiquette to attend a celebratory banquet. However, I am not a man of great capacity, and it is already difficult for me to finish a bowl of wine at each table. I am sorry that I cannot comply with the Prime Minister's request."
Yang Sheng: "..."
Xiao Rong stood up abruptly and said with a smile on his son's behalf, "The third son really can't hold his liquor. Here's what we'll do: let him drink a bowl, and I'll make up for what he owes."
Satisfied after watching the play, Li Gong took the lead in agreeing.
After Xiao Yu finished his bowl, Xiao Rong immediately chased him to the next table with a look of disgust on his face.
The young people who had been craning their necks to look over saw that Xiao Yu didn't even give face to the Left Prime Minister, so they didn't bother to force him to drink. After Xiao Yu finished toasting all the guests, he returned to his seat, picked at the dishes that no one else had touched, filled his stomach simply, and then excused himself and left.
.
On October 12th, the moon was nearly full in the night sky, illuminating the stone path leading to the new house for the groom.
Shensi Hall is a three-courtyard building. The first courtyard was used by the owner to entertain guests, the second courtyard was where the owner rested and studied, and the third courtyard also had a row of rear rooms.
Xiao Yu first took a bath in the east wing of the first courtyard, and changed into a bright red dress for the inner quarters before going to the middle courtyard.
Luo Fu already knew he was back. She paced nervously back and forth in the east side room. Only after the maidservant guarding the main hall door bowed to Xiao Yu did she steel herself and lift the curtain. The bride was walking out, and the groom was stepping in. The two looked at each other at the same time as they moved, and then stopped in their tracks without prior notice.
Rosie still remembered his "goddess" talk, and seeing that she was about to become his bedmate, her cheeks and ears were on fire. Instinctively, she turned her body to the side, half facing the groom, neither getting close nor hiding inside.
On her side, the smooth and delicate silk wedding dress outlined her undulating figure. The two were alone on their wedding night, and even Xiao Yu, who was well-read and considered himself upright and proper, tightened his throat. After all, he was only twenty-two years old and still a naive young man who had never been with a woman.
Upon seeing this, Ping An quickly left the main hall with the four maids arranged by the Marquis's residence, considerately closing the door behind her.
A soft "creak" startled Luo Fu, making her heart beat even faster. Seeing Xiao Yu standing there motionless, just staring at her, the handsome and refined scholar of the daytime now appeared so strong and upright. Luo Fu felt as if she had become a lamb being offered to him, with no other way out but to be eaten.
What lamb isn't afraid of being eaten? Luo Fu turned her head and lifted the curtain, disappearing from Xiao Yu's sight.
Xiao Yu subconsciously walked forward, and just as he was about to lift the curtain, he came to his senses and realized his rudeness—he couldn't rush the little girl he had only just spoken one sentence to, or he would frighten her.
A note from the author:
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Here it comes, sob sob, why is writing about the wedding night so difficult? [crying emoji]
100 little red envelopes, see you tomorrow~
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