Chapter 127 Argument in the Bridal Chamber
The exam results will be released in about two weeks. While waiting for the results, you should still study hard, because there is another exam waiting for you.
But that doesn't stop us from having a drink.
The day after the exam, Young Master Chen sent over invitations, one for Zhao Yunjing and one for Zhou Mujiao.
Everyone in Taohua County knew that Zhao Yunjing and Zhou Mujiao were a couple and would get married sooner or later, but he alone kept them apart.
I don't know if it's because he's stubborn or what, but anyway, Zhou Mujiao and Zhao Yunjing attended Miss Chen's wedding together.
Because it was late February, the spring sunshine was brighter, and with the festive clothes on, even though the bride's face looked as sour as if she had just eaten three pounds of cow dung, Zhou Mujiao still thought the bride was pretty.
After Lord Chen passed away, the Chen family lost a layer of its glory. However, the Chen family's foundation was still there, so they did not fall into poverty. Although they were not as prosperous as before, the exquisiteness of the Chen Mansion was still unique in Peach Blossom County. It is said that the new magistrate's mansion was not even half as big.
After thinking it over, Zhou Mujiao decided to meet Miss Chen anyway.
Miss Chen dismissed the matchmaker and maid, and staring at the ginkgo trees outside the window, asked her if she was very pleased and satisfied.
"It doesn't matter whether I'm pleased or not, as long as Miss Chen is satisfied," Zhou Mujiao replied.
"Me, satisfied? I fell in love with Zhao Yunjing, but married a man who is a hundred thousand times worse than him. How can I be satisfied?!"
Ms. Chen said self-deprecatingly, "Maybe I was too arrogant. From a young age, whatever I wanted, my father and my older brother would find a way to get it for me. I had a smooth life for nineteen years, but I capsized with Mr. Zhao."
“I’ve thought countless times: if you had saved me that day, and I had treated you with courtesy and interacted with him as an ordinary lady from a respectable family, would our relationship have ended differently? But then I think: if I had treated you with courtesy and always maintained the demeanor of a lady from a respectable family, he would never have known that I was in love with him.”
Miss Chen smiled, her eyes reddening: "My older brother told me that Brother Zhao was in great shape before and after the exam, which made me quite happy. Although Brother Zhao isn't my destined partner, Song Cheng is actually quite good too. He's a scholar who passed the imperial examination, and he's good-looking. Although he's mild-mannered, he treats me with great respect and affection. In Peach Blossom County, he's the best family I could find."
But I hate it!
Originally, I didn't have to marry into Songcheng, but my father died, and my mother cried all day long until she almost went blind. My older brother was too outrageous in the past, and after my father passed away, all the people he offended chose to turn against him.
My older brother is having a tough time! He's trying so hard! He wants to take good care of me, but he's too busy. I have no choice but to marry him! Zhou Mujiao, do you know what it feels like to marry someone you don't love?
"Miss Chen—"
"It's okay if you don't know now, you'll know someday." Miss Chen chuckled. "Thank you for coming to see me off! Xi'er, it's almost time, come and touch up my makeup!"
Xi'er was another personal maid that Young Master Chen had found for Miss Chen. She was to accompany Miss Chen to the dowry, so she was naturally loyal to Miss Chen. Moreover, if she caught the eye of the young master, she could be promoted to concubine. Therefore, as soon as Miss Chen called her, she immediately came in and glared angrily at Zhou Mujiao.
Zhou Mujiao glanced over slightly with her almond-shaped eyes: "I have a few words to say to your young lady. You can go out first, and then come in."
Miss Chen shouted, "Why should I?" Xi'er had already retreated and closed the door. This action made Miss Chen's face change drastically. After Xi'er reacted, she rushed back in: "Miss, this person is too strange. She can tell I listen to her as soon as she sees me! I'm not leaving! Say what you have to say now, or get out!"
"I've heard that although Song Cheng is only a Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations), the Song family has a deep-rooted tradition of scholarship and values etiquette and manners. If Miss Xi'er truly cares about your young lady, she should be careful with her words."
"I'm a guest invited by your young master for dinner today, and your young lady can't even tell me to leave? Miss Xi'er, you have quite the airs, actually daring to kick out guests on behalf of your master. Or is it that with Lord Chen absent, the Chen family's rules have been abandoned along with him?"
After being subjected to Zhou Mujiao's sarcastic remarks, both Xi'er and Miss Chen blushed.
"Xi'er, you can go out now." Miss Chen said stiffly. "I am honored that Miss Zhou has come to my wedding banquet today. I wonder what Miss Zhou would like to say to me? If it is any valuable advice, I will certainly accept it."
"It's not exactly wise advice, I just wanted to correct some things for you."
Zhou Mujiao sat down in front of Miss Chen, her almond-shaped eyes gentle: "Brother Zhao is a very good man. It's not surprising that you were attracted to him. The day Brother Zhao and I saved you, it wasn't because you're the daughter of the county magistrate, nor was it because you're good-looking. Do you remember? I was the first one to rush out."
"I know you are my savior, you don't need to remind me again."
“Miss Chen has clearly misunderstood me, so I’ll just be clear. Brother Zhao is a good person, but he’s not one to meddle in other people’s business. He’s rather cold-hearted. If I hadn’t rushed out first that day, Brother Zhao would definitely have gone around him.”
"You, you're lying! He's clearly so kind-hearted—"
"Have you ever seen him be enthusiastic towards anyone?"
Miss Chen was silent for a moment, then said softly, "You just wanted to tell me how important you are to Brother Zhao, right? Now that I know, can you leave?"
"I'm telling you this not to show off or boast, but because I think that in this life, don't always be so hard on yourself. Broaden your horizons, and you might see things differently. Brother Zhao isn't your destined partner, and I'm not your imagined rival, Miss Chen. We're going down different paths."
The Song family is a good family with upright values, and Scholar Song is also very kind. If Lord Chen could know this in the afterlife, he would be happy for you.
"You dare mention my father? If it weren't for you, would my father have died?"
"So Zhao Yunjing deserves to carry a stigma that doesn't belong to him for the rest of his life? Furthermore, Lord Chen caused my mother and maternal grandmother to be separated for twenty years, and caused my brother and me to have a miserable childhood that almost led to our deaths. Should I also hold you responsible for all of this?"
Miss Chen covered her mouth, and after a long while, she stammered, "You, you are a descendant of that Miss Li?"
“Now that you hold my secret about my origins, you can write to the Six Doors anytime you want to bring me down and report me as the ‘descendant of a disgraced official’,” Zhou Mujiao stood up. “Finally, I wish Miss Chen a happy marriage.”
Miss Chen watched as Zhou Mujiao's apricot-yellow dress disappeared around the corner of the courtyard. She let out a long sigh of relief and spoke after a long while: "Everyone's gone. How much longer will you keep watching, brother?"
Young Master Chen emerged from behind the screen, followed by two old women. The two women looked horrified. What kind of brother would run to his sister's bridal chamber on her wedding day? If Young Master Chen hadn't been staring intently at Zhou Mujiao through the screen, the two women would have almost thought that the brother and sister had something going on!
What a terrible sin!
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