As the first month of the lunar calendar arrived, Xu Rong celebrated her first New Year in this world.
The Xu family was small, and only she, Madam Xu Huazhang, and Xu Rong stayed up on New Year's Eve. The following day, some relatives and friends from collateral branches came to pay their respects. Xu Huazhang also went out to attend several New Year's banquets on behalf of the Xu family. As a girl about to be married, Xu Rong didn't need to go anywhere and could just stay at home.
The festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year didn't dissipate from the capital until after the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and just a few days later, the sound of firecrackers woke people from their slumber.
Within a little over a month, the Changxing Marquis's mansion held its second happy event, welcoming the former heir apparent's wife into the family and marrying the heir apparent's younger brother.
During the Lunar New Year, people are still immersed in the laziness and contentment of the holiday season. They don't really want to work, but they are very happy to eat melon seeds.
The Changxing Marquis's mansion perfectly met the needs of the people. Not only were there many young boys and idlers following the wedding procession, but even families with high-ranking officials were curious and secretly sent their servants to follow and inquire.
No one knows how much they inquired, but the endless, magnificent dowry carried out by the Marquis of Ji'an's mansion was clearly visible to the world.
Since the two families lived in the same district, in order to complete the routine of showing off the dowry, the groom would first circle around the west city after welcoming the bride before entering the Changxing Marquis's residence.
Xu Rong left home at noon and stepped into the Xiao family's gate at the beginning of the twilight hour. The last load of her dowry had just crossed the threshold of the Xu family at that moment.
The idlers who had been following along, offering their congratulations, had become numb in their voices—how could there be so much? This family must be incredibly wealthy!
Some knowledgeable elderly people also stood on the street, hands in their pockets, breathing out white vapor, chatting amongst themselves: "Haven't seen such wealth in years, have you?"
"That's right."
"This is nothing compared to the excitement we had last month."
"You're right, far from it."
**
"Not even close..."
"I heard there's a lot more to come; you can't even see the end of the street from the street corner..."
"Did you really risk losing your entire fortune just to save face?"
"How could that be? Even the most foolish person wouldn't be that stupid. The fact that so much money could be given out can only mean that the new grandmother's family has even more..."
"The eldest daughter is different..."
Similar whispers echoed throughout the Changxing Marquis's residence. Madam Xiao was naturally the first to receive the news and urgently ordered several rooms in the back building near the new house to be used as storerooms. Otherwise, if the bride and groom couldn't fit their dowry in the house after they entered, it would be a huge embarrassment.
"Yinniang, don't follow me. Go to the flower hall and check on the guests." After saying this, Madam Xiao noticed that there was no movement around her. She glanced around busily and emphasized, "Yinniang?"
The young woman, dressed in a pomegranate-red long coat and adorned with jewels, suddenly came to her senses and hurriedly asked, "Madam, what does Madam want me to do?"
Madam Xiao frowned and repeated her words. The young woman blushed slightly and replied, "Yes, I'll go right away."
She walked past Madam Xiao, but nearly bumped into a maid carrying a silver tray as she was leaving. The young woman's maid immediately scolded her, but the young woman shook her head and said, "Never mind, let's go."
A group of three or four people hurriedly went out.
Upon seeing this, Madam Xiao frowned even more deeply and muttered, "Hoping for her help is just asking for trouble."
Hearing this, a woman who looked to be a servant in her early forties standing behind her smiled and advised, "Madam, don't worry, the eldest mistress is also a new bride."
As they were talking, another group of people came to ask for instructions. Madam Xiao didn't even have time to get angry; she was busy coordinating things again.
**
At 2:45 PM, Xu Rong walked through the long front courtyard and entered the main hall of the Marquis of Changxing's residence to perform the three-bowing ceremony.
The area along the road was quieter than the main street. The idle chatter and praise of the common people were replaced by the hushed discussions of the guests and their relatives, occasionally punctuated by the cheerful laughter of children.
"Look at the bride!"
"What's so interesting about it? I just saw it last month."
“You don’t want to watch it, but I want to watch it. I’m telling you, this sister-in-law is the original sister-in-law.”
"What don't I know? The new sister-in-law is shrewd; she stole what the original sister-in-law had—"
"Shh!"
"Mmm—"
The two "learned and knowledgeable" children were covered up and carried away.
Xu Rong chuckled under the cover.
She took each step with perfect steadiness, noticing that the red silk guiding her in front had loosened for a moment—it was because Xiao Xinmai had missed a step. She cooperated by shortening her stride, and soon the front adjusted. After taking seven or eight more steps, she saw the very clean steps in her limited field of vision. Bai Fu whispered a reminder from the side: "Miss, we are about to enter the main hall."
Xu Rong hummed in response, her tone steady.
For her, it was more like a large-scale live-action experience project.
The experience process has now reached the wedding ceremony stage.
First bow to Heaven and Earth.
Second bow to the parents.
The husband and wife bow to each other.
Interspersed throughout were countless auspicious words from the best man. After the ceremony, the newlyweds were helped up, and the best man's lips moved, spewing out another string of praises, chasing after the newlyweds and carrying them to the bridal chamber.
The courtyard of the new house was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers. The one who recited the vows had changed to a matchmaker, and only a few female relatives were present. However, the procedures were no less elaborate than those during the wedding ceremony: sitting on the bed, scattering the bridal curtains, lifting the veil, and drinking the nuptial wine.
The burden was finally lifted, and when Xu Rong regained his sight, he felt a sudden brightness before his eyes.
The light shines not only on the red candles and lamps, but also on the people.
It had been more than two months since she last saw Xiao Xin after their parting at the teahouse. Now, he sat opposite her, dressed in a bright red wedding robe, a vibrant color he had never worn before. It made his complexion appear less gloomy than usual. His hair was neatly combed up, revealing long eyebrows that reached his temples. His cold eyes were like stars, and the handsome features that had previously been suppressed by his demeanor were now fully revealed.
The maid who was handing him the wine blushed slightly.
Strange... I've never seen the second young master so handsome.
Is it because people are in high spirits when they have good news?
Xiao Xin snatched the wine cup from her hand.
The maidservant, realizing her hands were empty, quickly hid her wine-splattered hand in her sleeve and stepped aside. She thought to herself, resentfully: The Second Young Master is still the same Second Young Master.
Xiao Xin lowered his eyes and raised his cup.
Just then, the wedding officiant's cheerful voice rang out: "Please, bride and groom, drink the nuptial wine—"
The wine was finished, and the ceremony was complete.
**
Xiao Xin went out to greet the guests, and the female relatives who had come to observe the ceremony gradually withdrew and went to the front to take their seats.
As soon as the guests left, Xu Rong pressed his fingers to his forehead and began issuing a series of instructions.
"Bai Fu, please take this crown off for me first. It's making my head feel bigger."
"Qingzao, bring me the set of everyday clothes that I entrusted to you for safekeeping when we were at home."
"Hongliu, go ask the lady here for some hot water. I want to wash my face."
"Xin Cheng, ask where the kitchen is here, and go get a hot meal, including your portions."
The maids who approached responded one by one. Among them, Xin Cheng had only come to Xu Rong's side before her marriage. Although she came late, she was no ordinary person. She was the daughter of Qian Mama, a trusted confidante of Madam Xu.
Xu Rong had previously refused to take any other maids, but it was acceptable when she was at home. However, it was inappropriate and unlucky for her to only bring three personal maids with her when she left the mansion. Therefore, she chose people from within the mansion to at least make up an even number.
As soon as the news was released, the first person to jump out was Granny Qian, who had witnessed the entire process of Xu Rongli's dowry. She didn't hesitate to swallow her pride and beg on her knees, finally managing to snatch the spot.
Upon hearing the order, Xin Cheng was stunned—what kind of bride goes to her in-laws' kitchen to ask for food as soon as she enters the new house? And she asks for a whole table of food.
She stood frozen, not moving. Xu Rong, who had been looking down as Bai Fu removed her hairpins, noticed her, raised her eyelashes, and glanced at her indifferently. Xin Cheng shuddered, the words her mother, Granny Qian, had instructed her to say flashing through her mind—
“Madam is foolish. The eldest daughter used to be like Madam, but after that ordeal, all her cleverness and sharpness came out, and she became like the Marquis. Don’t follow your mother anymore, go follow the eldest daughter. That’s where your future lies. Don’t worry about anything else. Just do whatever the eldest daughter says, do you understand?”
"Miss, I'll go right away."
Xin Cheng realized what was happening, quickly turned around, lifted the curtain, and ran out.
Not only was Xin Cheng startled, but some of the Xiao family's maids, standing in the corner of the room, also exchanged bewildered glances.
What kind of bride is this?
That's amazing!
Even the eldest daughter-in-law didn't have this sense of ease when she first entered the family. To this day, she doesn't dare to take an extra step and has to do everything according to her mother-in-law's wishes.
"Sister, do you have hot water? Our young lady needs to wash her face, could you please take me to get some?"
Hongliu's clear voice rang out. She was only twelve years old and not tall enough. When she asked the maid who came in front of her, she was stunned. Although it was too impolite to ask for things on her own initiative, she couldn't just say that there was no hot water.
She hesitated for a moment, then finally agreed: "Yes, come with me."
Hongliu felt she had accomplished half of her task and happily went out with her.
A moment later, the maid brought in a pot of hot water for her, while Hongliu carried in a small basin of cold water. The two of them went to the basin stand to mix the water. Hongliu reached into the small purse tied to her waist, took out a silver bean, and stuffed it into the maid's hand, saying sweetly, "Sister, thank you for helping me."
The maidservant, feeling dizzy and disoriented, returned to her original position. The silver bean was only the size of a soybean, but it was still a lucky charm. She hadn't expected to receive it—she had only brought hot water for Hongliu because she was so small and worried that Hongliu might trip over the threshold and spill the water.
The other maids looked at Hongliu and found it amusing. They had been wondering why the bride would bring two little ones as her personal dowry, but they were quite capable despite their small size.
Hongliu carried a basin of warm water to the bedside and looked at Xu Rong expectantly.
Xu Rong smiled at her.
Hongliu was happy. Each of them had a purse full of silver beans, and those who were obedient and willing to help could thank the person in return.
But things didn't go so smoothly at Xin Cheng's place.
Xu Rong removed her elaborate headdress, changed into casual clothes, washed off the thick makeup from her face, and waited for a while in a much more relaxed state before Xin Cheng finally returned.
She was carrying a heavy food box in each hand, panting heavily.
Bai Fu quickly rushed over to help her.
In the dead of winter, Xin Cheng was covered in sweat from exhaustion. After finally putting down the food box, Qing Liu and Hong Zao, the two little ones, ran to the table to help take out the food one by one. She wiped her sweat and went to Xu Rong to report.
“Miss, I’m late. When I got to the kitchen, the kitchen staff didn’t dare to make the decision. They said they had to ask the madam, but she was busy with the banquet and couldn’t get away. They also said they had to ask the eldest mistress. Only after the eldest mistress gave her permission did the kitchen staff prepare a few dishes for me.”
Xu Rong nodded: "Did you give them a reward?"
Xin Cheng replied with a hint of annoyance, "No."
She initially thought Xu Rong's request was beneath a bride's modesty, but after being given the cold shoulder in the kitchen and enduring the cold wind all the way, her opinion changed: Logically, everyone knows that the bride is tired after a long day, and a respectable family should offer her some fine food to satisfy her hunger. But Xu Rong took the initiative to ask for it, and then made excuses and asked for permission from this person and that person. Does a noble family like this lack a bite to eat?
Even the Marquis of Ji'an's household doesn't operate this way.
Xu Rong was relieved: "As long as they didn't give it to me."
Why give money to those who don't obey? Her money doesn't grow on trees.
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