Chapter 106 The Ceremony is Complete— Red candles burned silently, and the curtains hung low, illuminating the room…
"The auspicious time is approaching, please change your clothes, Miss."
Meng Lingyao nodded slightly and stretched out her arms. She put on the inner garment, the lining, the long skirt, the shawl... layer by layer, each layer representing a different blessing and custom. When the last heavy, incomparably beautiful brocade outer robe was placed on her, even she herself felt a dignified aura different from usual.
In the bronze mirror, the intense red made her already fair skin appear even more translucent, and the vibrant color between her brows and eyes was magnified to the extreme, almost dazzling.
The lady-in-waiting stepped forward and gently removed the original girl's hair bun. She was a lady-in-waiting personally invited by the eldest princess and had done the hair and makeup for several princesses.
The lady-in-waiting's technique was skillful, her lips uttering auspicious blessings intermittently. After applying powder and rouge, the lady-in-waiting was about to make the final touches. Meng Lingyao raised her hand and picked up a tube of eyebrow pencil, carefully outlining a slightly upward curve at the outer corner of her eye, following the shape of her round eyes.
With a slight lift of the pen, her previously gentle gaze instantly gained a sharp, clear edge. She examined the changes in her reflection, a barely perceptible smile of satisfaction playing on her lips.
She always knew what was best for her.
Next, her lips were touched up and decorated with floral ornaments. The lady-in-waiting placed a lotus flower design made of gold leaf and tiny pearls on her forehead. Her forehead was adorned with a ruby tassel headdress, and she wore red gold and kingfisher feather pearl earrings, making her look incredibly luxurious.
"Miss, you are so beautiful and graceful. I wish you and Lord Pei a harmonious and lasting marriage."
Meng Lingyao's gaze swept over the familiar yet unfamiliar figure in the mirror, and she nodded, "Thank you, Aunt."
The front yard was also bustling with activity. Meng Lingyao's cousins, vying for the honor of carrying her to her wedding, had already begun their competition in the martial arts arena. Swords, spears, halberds, and hand-to-hand combat raged for over a dozen rounds, accompanied by cheers and shouts of encouragement. In the end, Zhong Dingming, with his unparalleled swordsmanship, overwhelmed the competition and won the right to do so.
"That was such a close call!" Zhong Jingshu said, clutching her chest.
“This kid…” Zhong Dingyao said unconvinced, “He just had a bit more luck.”
Zhong Dingming straightened his chest and brushed the dust off the corner of his robe. "You're a defeated opponent, so don't say anything more."
"Be careful, don't bump into anything." His older cousin patted his shoulder, the threat in his eyes unmistakable. He was already married and had never participated in his younger brothers' competition.
"yes!"
Under the envious gazes of his brothers throughout the courtyard, Zhong Dingming turned and entered the inner courtyard.
As the auspicious hour approached, the Pei family's wedding procession proceeded towards the Meng family's gate. The air was filled with the deafening clatter of gongs and drums, the loud blaring of horns, and the deafening crackling of firecrackers, as countless candies and coins were scattered everywhere. Not only children, but even some adults couldn't resist grabbing them, and when caught, they still argued their innocence.
"Lord Pei and Miss Meng are a match made in heaven. What's wrong with me sharing in their joy?"
"Exactly! They're both so good-looking. I'll take some back for my little one to try. I hope he can be half as good-looking as them!"
Pei Xu rode a white horse, and his bright red auspicious robes did not conceal his elegant temperament; on the contrary, they added a touch of brilliance to his handsome face. A faint smile played on his lips, like the moon emerging from the clouds, a gentle breeze blowing, and anyone who saw him could tell just how happy he was today.
"The groom is here!"
The servants guarding the door announced the news loudly.
Inside the mansion, Meng Lingyao's close female friends were already eager to make their move, setting up layers of "challenges."
The first hurdle was overseen by Miss Zhou herself. Holding a sandalwood abacus, she smiled as she watched the groom arrive, surrounded by his attendants.
“Lord Pei,” Miss Zhou said teasingly, “I have long heard of your prowess in both literature and martial arts, but I wonder if you have any knowledge of mathematics? I have a question for you; if you can answer it, this door will be open for you.” Before Pei Xu could respond, her fingers were already flying across the abacus, clicking and clattering as she recited a series of complex numbers and calculations involving the conversion of grain and silk and the sharing of profits—the questions were extremely tricky.
The onlookers were all amazed. They had seen tests of poetry, couplets, and martial arts at the wedding gate, but this was the first time they had ever seen someone pose a practical mathematical question on the spot. Pei Xu was not an expert in this field, but he was meticulous, quick-witted, and had someone prepared for him—a colleague from the Ministry of Revenue, skilled in financial calculations, was among the wedding party. After a moment's thought, he whispered a few words to his colleague and calmly gave the answer.
The light boat that accompanied him wiped the sweat from his brow, thinking, "The master is truly farsighted."
"Excellent!" Miss Zhou checked the answer and readily stepped aside. "Lord Pei truly lives up to his reputation, please!"
Afterwards, the talented ladies took turns showcasing their skills in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, songs, riddles, and couplets. The wedding procession, composed of young talents from the capital, was also "tortured" by these usually delicate noble ladies, who repeatedly begged for mercy. They had to use all their skills to finally overcome all obstacles and arrive at Meng Lingyao's boudoir.
The last gate was guarded by Zhong Dingming. He was tall and straight, and had changed into a brand-new brocade robe, but the heroic spirit between his brows had not diminished in the slightest. "Young Master Pei, I have long heard of your excellent martial arts skills and have always wanted to learn a thing or two from you."
Before he could finish speaking, a loud cough came from inside the room.
Zhong Dingming abruptly changed the subject, clearing his throat, "Of course, it's not appropriate to resort to violence on such a fine day. If I accidentally mess up Shaoqing's clothes or hair, my cousin will surely blame me."
His expression turned serious, and he said in a deep voice, "Young Master Pei, I won't say anything more. My cousin is the apple of our eye, and we hope that you will cherish her and never let her suffer any injustice. Otherwise, the men of the Zhong family are not to be trifled with."
Pei Xu took a half step back, cupped his hands, and bowed deeply. "Brother, rest assured, Pei Xu hereby swears that he will treat Yao Yao with sincerity for the rest of his life, weathering storms together and never betraying her. If I break this oath, may I be punished by heaven." Zhong Dingming's face was serious, but his heart was already overjoyed. From now on, this famous Pei Shaoqing would be calling him cousin along with his cousin. He slightly stepped aside to make way for him.
The door behind her opened, and he bent down. With the help of a maid, Meng Lingyao leaned against his broad and warm back. At that moment, she suddenly realized that her cousins, with whom she had once played and joked, had all grown into solid pillars of support for the family and reliable partners.
The deafening sound of firecrackers and the flying confetti filled the air. She listened to the auspicious chants and knew she was walking through a corridor and passing through a moon gate. The creaking sound of the swing set swaying clearly reached her ears through the cacophony of noise.
Yesterday, her father tied a red ribbon to the frame with his own hands, and with red eyes, asked her if she really wasn't going to take the swing with her.
Upon hearing that Pei Xu had specially commissioned someone to make an identical swing, he let out a long sigh, unsure whether he felt more disappointed or relieved.
As she crossed the final threshold, a deafening clamor instantly enveloped her. She could feel her cousin, who was carrying her, pause for a moment, before steadily and step by step walking towards the magnificent bridal sedan chair.
Pei Xu stepped forward and, facing the Meng couple standing at the door with red eyes and barely able to hold back their reluctance, lifted the hem of his wedding robe and performed a standard junior's bow, saying, "Farewell, Father-in-law and Mother-in-law. Please rest assured, your son-in-law will do everything in his power to protect Yaoyao's happiness and peace throughout her life, and to ensure that she suffers no hardship or misery."
As Meng Yan watched his beloved daughter being carried into the bridal sedan chair in her finest attire, and upon hearing his son-in-law's words, he was overwhelmed with mixed emotions. Unable to contain himself any longer, he turned his head away and forcefully wiped away his tears with his sleeve.
Madam Zhong, her eyes also glistening with tears, forced herself to maintain her dignified composure and stepped forward to gently help Pei Xu up. Her voice was slightly hoarse as she said, "Good child, get up. Go now. May you two, husband and wife, be of one heart and mind, and live in peace and good fortune."
"This humble son-in-law bids farewell!" Pei Xu bowed again, rose nimbly, walked to his horse, and mounted it. He reined in his horse and looked back, his gaze passing through the crowd and landing on the bridal sedan chair. His eyes were deep, brimming with an indescribable tenderness and determination.
"The auspicious hour has arrived, lift the sedan chair—"
The bridal sedan chair set off, with an entourage leading the way. A band of musicians, playing gongs, horns, and sheng (a type of reed pipe instrument), performed the festive piece "The Dragon and the Phoenix Bring Auspiciousness." The procession wound its way through the most bustling streets of the capital. Citizens lined the streets to watch, their voices filled with exclamations and praises.
In the wedding procession, Jian Su lingered in a mediocre position. Yue Meng spurred his horse to squeeze to his side. "You did well today. I didn't know you were such a good matchmaker for couplets. I won't have to worry about your marriage from now on... And Shen Xiaoshan, did you see him? There's a young girl staring at him the whole time. Tsk tsk, you, as his master, can't let your apprentice be settled while you're still single..."
Jian Su responded absentmindedly, his gaze casually sweeping over the bridal sedan chair.
A spring breeze swept by, just enough to slightly lift a corner of the sedan curtain. It revealed the bride's delicate, fair chin beneath her veil, and her slightly upturned, rosy lips adorned with rouge.
His gaze froze for a moment, and his hand on the reins tightened unconsciously. Almost immediately, he snapped out of it, quickly composed himself, lowered his eyelashes, and suppressed all the turmoil in his heart, leaving no trace.
Spring breezes sweep across the capital, but cannot reach the bitterly cold northern frontier.
On the training ground, a biting wind howled. Zhao Xu drew his bow, nocked an arrow, his muscles taut, his gaze sharp as a hawk's, aiming at the target a hundred paces away. Since his defeat at Qiyun Mountain, he had devoted far more effort to archery than ordinary people, and could now hit a target from a hundred paces away with unwavering focus.
The subordinate beside him rubbed his hands together, breathing out white breath, and looked at the sky. He casually said with a smile, "General, today is already the 28th. Our snow has not yet melted. I'm afraid the willows in the capital are already sprouting new buds."
Zhao Xu's finger, which was nocking the arrow, trembled almost imperceptibly.
"Whoosh—" The arrow left the bowstring, but deviated from its intended trajectory, flying far past the target and landing helplessly on the frozen ground at the edge of the shooting range.
A moment of silence fell over the surroundings. The soldiers looked at each other in disbelief; this was an unthinkable mistake.
The soldier who had spoken earlier paused for a moment before stammering, "General, what... what happened to you? Did a wild goose peck at your eye?"
Zhao Xu stared at the lone arrow in silence for a moment. He casually tossed the iron bow to his personal guard, wiped his face vigorously, and said in a hoarse voice, "It's nothing. Perhaps... I'm feeling a little unwell."
The soldiers behind him pressed for an answer, asking what was wrong and if they should find a medic. Zhao Xu waved his hand, said no more, turned and strode away from the training ground, as if any longer he lingered there, and some uncontrollable emotion was about to burst forth.
The procession arrived at the Pei family residence. Guests had already gathered in front of the gate, which was brightly lit. The bridal sedan chair landed smoothly, and the matchmaker announced the arrival in a loud voice. Pei Xu dismounted, walked to the sedan chair, and lightly kicked the door with his jade ruyi.
The sedan curtain was lifted, and a fair, slender hand, adorned with red nail polish, gently rested on the handle of the jade ruyi that Pei Xu had handed her. He carefully guided her out of the sedan chair.
Lady Quanfu handed the red silk flower bouquet to Meng Lingyao, with Pei Xu holding the other end. He walked very slowly and steadily, guiding her across the crimson carpet, over the auspicious brazier, and toward the wedding hall. Meng Lingyao's vision was blurred with red, but hearing the steady footsteps beside her and feeling the reliable pull of the red silk in her hand, she felt a sense of peace.
Among the Pei clan members gathered in the hall, some sharp-eyed people noticed a crystal-clear jade pendant hanging from the bride's waist. Upon closer inspection, they realized that it was the jade that symbolized the Pei clan leader, and their pupils trembled instantly.
Looking up, the eldest princess sat calmly and gently in the hall, while Old Master Pei sat in the main seat with an air of composure. Pei Xu, sitting in the hall, had only his bride in his eyes. The man's lips moved, but he made no sound and silently lowered his head.
The master of ceremonies' resounding voice echoed throughout the wedding hall:
"First bow to Heaven and Earth—"
"Second bow to the parents—"
"Husband and wife bow to each other—"
Even through the veil, Meng Lingyao could feel the focused gaze of the person opposite her. She slowly bent down, the pearls and jade of her phoenix crown jingling softly.
"The ceremony is complete!" The master of ceremonies' loud voice rang out.
The eldest princess slowly rose, took two cups of the imperial nuptial wine that had been prepared from the tray held by the lady-in-waiting beside her, and personally stepped down from the main seat to the newlyweds.
"Yanxing," the princess said solemnly, "today you are getting married. I hope you will fulfill your duties, cherish your wife, and live up to the expectations of His Majesty and your elders." She handed a cup of wine to Pei Xu.
Her gaze shifted to Meng Lingyao, her tone softening slightly. "Lingyao, you are intelligent and sensible. In the future, you and Yanxing will support each other and be of one mind and one heart, which will be the greatest fulfillment." She handed another glass of wine to Meng Lingyao.
At the wedding, the eldest princess personally bestowed upon the newlyweds the nuptial wine, offering her words of advice and blessings. This honor filled all the guests present with envy and admiration.
Meng Lingyao and Pei Xu replied respectfully in unison, "We will follow Your Highness's instructions."
Then, with the eldest princess as their witness, the two intertwined their arms and drank the meaningful nuptial wine.
After finishing her drink, the princess's smile widened. She looked around at the guests and announced loudly, "A perfect match made in heaven, a union that will last forever. Ladies and gentlemen, let us all celebrate!"
Only then did the atmosphere in the wedding hall truly boil over, with cheers and congratulations surging in like a tide. Surrounded by the crowd, the eldest princess returned to her seat of honor to receive the newlyweds' kowtows of gratitude.
After the ceremony, Pei Xu carefully helped Meng Lingyao walk towards the bridal chamber. As they stepped over the threshold, he bent down and lifted the bride's skirt, saying, "Watch your step."
Today, countless eyes in the Pei family witnessed this scene clearly.
"Look at Pei Shaoqing, and look at you! You're neither as good-looking as him, nor as considerate."
“I will definitely find a husband like that in the future.”
"Oh dear, everyone used to say that Pei Shaoqing was as cold as ice, but now it seems that he is more caring than anyone else."
The women were green with envy, and each of them secretly vowed to properly train their husbands when they returned home.
Inside the bridal chamber, red candles burned brightly, creating a tranquil and warm atmosphere. After the blessed wife served dumplings and other auspicious items symbolizing offspring, everyone tactfully withdrew and carefully closed the door.
Pei Xu did not go forward immediately. He walked to the table, poured two cups of tea, picked up the cups and returned to the bedside, saying gently, "Tired?" His voice was lower and gentler than usual.
A soft "hmm" came from under the veil, carrying obvious signs of weariness.
He picked up the jade scale tied with red silk and slowly lifted the red veil.
The veil slipped down, and in the candlelight, the woman's face, adorned in her finery, was fully revealed. The twin lotus blossoms between her brows shone brightly, and a touch of rouge tinged the corners of her eyes, like peach blossoms in full bloom. She raised her eyes, her gaze clear and bright, meeting his.
Pei Xu's breath hitched slightly; even though he was prepared, his heart still skipped a beat. He picked up a cup of tea and handed it to her: "Warm your throat first."
Meng Lingyao took the tea, her fingertips inadvertently brushing against his, and both of them paused slightly. She lowered her eyes and took a sip of warm tea, which soothed her dry throat.
He took the empty cup from her and placed it back on the table. Turning around, he saw her subconsciously raise her hand to rub the back of her neck, so he walked behind her and gently removed the heavy phoenix crown. The instant relief made Meng Lingyao sigh softly.
He carefully placed the phoenix crown on the table to the side and reached out to massage her sore and stiff shoulders and neck.
"Are you feeling any better?" he asked, his voice close to her ear, his breath brushing against her hair.
“…Mmm.” Meng Lingyao relaxed and closed her eyes to enjoy this moment of comfort. She tilted her head slightly, trying to avoid her overly sensitive neck, but a strand of hair that had fallen down her side brushed against his wrist.
The slightest touch was like a feather brushing against my heart.
Pei Xu stopped massaging.
The red candles burned quietly, occasionally crackling softly. The curtains hung low, enveloping the room in warm light and a quietly growing, ambiguous tenderness.
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Author's Note: Just...just a little bit more (working myself to the bone...)
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