Chapter 93: It was she who rushed to the mistress of the house, walking and running.
Li Yue'er is getting married today.
There was a lot of discussion about her getting married.
When Li Juren was alive, people didn't think much of him. But just a year after his death, it seemed like everyone had forgotten his evil deeds and only remembered his title as a Juren. They then turned around and talked about how bad Li Yue'er was.
They said she was not filial, as she was getting married only a year after her father's death.
These words infuriated Madam Ming, and in a fit of anger, she went to the yamen to apply for a divorce and posted a notice informing everyone of the evil deeds committed by Scholar Li.
Each and every one of them tells a story of the blood and tears shed by the Ming family mother and daughter.
Even Li Juren's former mistress stood up and spoke ill of him, which finally stopped the "filial piety" label that was almost pinned on Li Yue'er.
If the father is not kind, he will not blame the daughter for being unfilial.
Ming originally planned to wait two years before getting a divorce. Li Juren was of no use when he was alive, but now that he was dead, she could still receive some rice, flour, oil, and salt from the government as his widow.
But even the deceased Li Juren isn't quiet now; some people are using his name to maliciously smear her daughter. Ming Shi would rather not have that.
Today, she risked everything to post the list of successful candidates and get a divorce. From now on, the so-called Li Juren will no longer be her deceased husband, but an enemy who sold her family property and her daughter!
Li Yue'er and Li Xing'er's two daughters naturally took her surname, and their household registration was moved from the Li family to the Ming family. So today, it is her daughter Ming Ran's daughter, Ming Yue'er, who is getting married, and it has nothing to do with the unlucky scholar Li.
Madam Ming declared that on the day her daughter Ming Yue'er got married, if anyone dared to bring up the matter in front of her, whether unintentionally or intentionally, she would have Lin Mu beat them out with sticks!
Aside from filial piety, the only things that others criticized about Li Yue'er were her marriage from the academy and her marriage to a merchant's daughter.
When she got engaged to the mistress this year, Li Yue'er had subtly mentioned that they could rent a small courtyard outside the academy so that she could get married there and avoid the academy being implicated by her "unorthodox" marriage.
The headmaster, usually so rigid, glared at her that day and said, "Academies have always been places that embrace all kinds of ideas. As long as it's harmless to people and has nothing to do with the country, anything can be mentioned and done in the academy. You grew up in the academy and have read the Four Books and Five Classics, so how come you're so pedantic today?"
With the headmaster's words, Li Yue'er naturally had to get married out of the academy.
As for who she marries, and what his status and household registration are, that's her own business. No matter how much others talk, they can't change her mind.
At the academy, the headmaster's wife arranged the wedding banquet for her. As for the arrangements and who to invite, that was left to the mother and daughter to discuss.
However, Ming had very few close friends. Even with Aunt Li and others from the small courtyard, plus Aunt Qiu, who was like a sister to her, they could barely gather enough people for a table, which was not lively enough.
Before the wedding banquet, Madam Ming looked at her daughter with anticipation in her eyes.
Li Yue'er, "..."
At least her mother had a few friends, including Aunt Qiu, whom she considered a sister before she got married. But look at her; before she met the mistress, she didn't even have anyone to confide in.
Li Yue'er pondered for a moment before asking Teng Huang, "If you bring Xiaoxiao, will you be able to fill a table?"
Meng Xiaoxiao arrived early today and is having a blast outside.
Gambogi, "?"
There were only two of them, Xiaoxiao and her. Given Xiaoxiao's personality and mindset, she would even have to sit at the children's table. How could they possibly fill a table? Besides, they had to follow Li Yue'er back from the academy to the Qu residence and couldn't stay at the academy for the banquet.
Especially—
Gambo said, "I have to stay by your side and help you. Can you lift such a heavy skirt by yourself?"
The wedding dress was already complicated and heavy, and she also had a golden crown, which made it difficult for her to bow her head. She needed Tung Huang's help to put it on.
Li Yue'er: "That makes sense."
Then she has no one on her side. Sister Su and Shi Yi are considered the mistress's side, so they probably won't come here.
It was too quiet with so few people, so the headmaster stroked his beard and invited all of his friends who were still alive, including those of the Ming family patriarch, saying, "My granddaughter Mingyue is getting married, and I would like to trouble you all to come and offer your congratulations."
Upon learning that it was a daughter of the Ming family getting married, many people agreed to come.
Today is the Beginning of Winter, and it's only noon, but many guests have already arrived in the courtyard. The headmaster's wife, along with Madam Ming, greeted everyone one by one, saying, "They are all your father's good friends and students. Many of them are in other places and have only just arrived."
With tears welling up in her eyes, Ming covered her eyes with a handkerchief. Looking up, she recognized and was familiar with many of the people in the crowd.
As she spoke, she turned her head to look at Li Yue'er in the inner room through the open window.
Li Yue'er's eyes also felt sore and hot, and she almost burst into tears. Every time her mother turned around, she knew that her mother was talking about her with the elders.
Her maternal grandfather had passed away many years ago, but now that she was getting married, he was still helping her in this way, giving her plenty of excitement and dignity.
After all, she married a woman, and into the merchant family Qu. Many people were afraid of being criticized in the future and that it would be embarrassing to talk about her, so they all wanted to avoid her. Therefore, those who came today were all genuinely thinking of her well-being.
Teng Huang, holding a handkerchief, half-squatted in front of her, smiling and tilting his head to look at her. "It's okay, cry if you want to. I'll touch up your makeup after you're done crying."
Li Yue'er raised her hand to lightly touch the tip of her nose, sniffed, and calmed herself down. "It's alright. On such a beautiful day, I can't cry."
She got up early to wash and dress, took a bath, wrung out dough, then changed into a bright red bellyband and red undergarment, and then into her wedding dress. Now her long hair was draped behind her, and she was just waiting for Aunt Qiu to come and comb her hair.
Li Xing'er looked like she was about to cry when she woke up early in the morning. She stayed close to her sister and couldn't help but look up at her when her sister said it was a "great day".
Li Yue'er pinched her cheek, "You can't bear to part with me, can you?"
She said, "Then I'll take you and Mother to the Qu residence to live with me."
The mistress would surely be delighted with this, since it would give her no reason to return to the academy for a short stay.
Li Xing'er shook her head, "I like the academy."
She wanted to touch her sister's face, but her sister had just finished applying makeup, so she withdrew her hand. "You must come back and visit Mother and me often."
Li Yue'er replied, "Of course, I have to go back to the academy to see you two often, lest you pick up bad influences and start spouting strange things."
Li Xing'er's eyes crinkled as she nestled against her sister's lap, her fingers gently tracing the gold thread pattern on her clothes. She knew her sister liked the Qu family's sister, so she didn't say she was reluctant to part today, but simply lay quietly on her sister's lap, wanting to snuggle with her a little longer.
Teng Huang originally wanted to take Li Xing'er away, but Li Yue'er stopped her, gently patting Li Xing'er's back with her fingers, "Let her stick to me, she's always been this clingy since she was little."
Even though the Qu residence wasn't far from the academy, the two sisters still teared up when the topic of marriage came up.
Li Yue'er muttered, "We should marry the mistress into our family."
The head of the family should have no objection to this; the only difficulty is—
"Where does she live?"
Fujiki asked curiously, "I'm fine with staying in your house, but can you endure the days without a floor heater in winter?"
Li Yue'er, "..."
Li Yue'er sighed, "Why is it so easy for people to go from simplicity to luxury, but so difficult to go from luxury to frugality?"
Even if there were earth dragons in the academy, she still preferred the comfortable life of being waited on hand and foot at the Qu residence.
Don't let Teng Huang's lack of tidying skills fool you; Xiao Mei is a master at it! Xiao Mei manages her daily life, while Teng Huang helps her with the accounts and bookkeeping. Sometimes, she herself marvels at how comfortable her life is...
Seeing her younger sister looking at her with bright eyes, Li Yue'er smiled slightly guiltily, "I'll marry her instead."
Li Xing'er, "..."
Just then, Aunt Qiu knocked on the door and came in, diverting their attention and conversation.
Li Yue'er turned around and looked back.
Aunt Qiu chuckled and said, "Look who else has come?"
Li Yue'er's eyes widened in surprise. If Li Xing'er hadn't been lying on her lap, she would have stood up on the spot. She was overjoyed. "Sister Su, you, you..."
Li Yue'er never expected Su Rou to come to her place!
Does this mean that, compared to the mistress, she holds a more important place in Sister Su's heart?
Li Yue'er became smug. There was no way around it; the two of them were master and apprentice! As for the master-apprentice relationship between the mistress and Sister Su, it was at most a formal one, how could it compare to the two of them?
Su Rou actually brought a gift, but her words were the same as when she paid New Year's visits: "We are master and disciple, so of course I have to come to see you get married."
She looked at Li Yue'er. Li Yue'er was already beautiful, but because of her gentle temperament, she never appeared dazzling. But today, wearing her wedding dress, the bright red color made her look like a blooming red peony among lilies. She was so beautiful that people couldn't take their eyes off her. Wherever you looked, she was the first thing you saw.
Su Rou sincerely praised, "So beautiful."
Even if she were seven or eight years younger, she would still praise Li Yue'er, who is the same age, in the same way.
Li Yue'er's appearance and temperament are so gentle and beautiful that even those who feel jealous would genuinely acknowledge her.
Li Yue'er blushed and beckoned Su Rou to sit next to her, asking about the affairs of the Qu residence.
Su Rou came from the Qu residence. "Merchants are driven by profit and don't care about empty fame, so the Qu residence is always bustling."
She was somewhat surprised to see the academy so lively.
Aunt Qiu came over to comb Li Yue'er's hair, tying up her long hair and securing it with a pure gold crown. Gold and jade tassels hung down from top to bottom, falling behind her face and ears, jingling as she chatted and joked with Teng Huang.
Li Yue'er also wanted to be dignified, but Teng Huang always made her laugh.
The wedding gift that Teng Huang prepared for her was a book called "Women Avoiding Fire".
Li Yue'er opened the book without any prior preparation. Luckily, she was quick-witted and closed it after only one glance, otherwise this thing would have offended Sister Su's eyes.
Li Yue'er glared at Teng Huang, who chuckled.
Li Yue'er was certain that Teng Huang himself hadn't even read this book! Because she and Dan Sha had been together for almost half a year, and the most outrageous thing they had ever done was lying in the same bed and just making out.
Such a big bed, and they just kissed each other and that was it?!
They've wasted their two mouths.
Cinnabar is taciturn and patient, which is fine, but what about gamboge? How did gamboge manage to resist touching cinnabar?
Taking advantage of her wedding day, Li Yue'er returned the gift from Teng Huang.
She had made several mats during this period, and generously gave Gambo a cinnabar red one in return, saying, "You and Dansha can figure out how to use it slowly."
Teng Huang blushed deeply, stiffening his neck to defend himself and Dan Sha, "Dan Sha and I will wait until after you two are married, then, then..."
Li Yue'er looked at her suspiciously, "?"
What kind of agreement is this? Neither she nor the mistress follow it, so why are Teng Huang and Dan Sha keeping it for them?
Garcinia said, “You don’t understand. I grew up with Tanzaku and I grew up together. Just thinking about it makes me blush.”
Therefore, a formal opportunity is needed; it cannot be rushed.
The most important day right now is the wedding of the head of the family and his wife at the beginning of winter. Teng Huang made an agreement with Dan Sha to take things a step further after today, and Dan Sha naturally followed her in everything.
After hearing this, Li Yue'er couldn't help but reflect that her first time with the mistress was indeed not very formal.
However, they were unexpectedly compatible, which led to repeated blissful unions.
Thinking about those things, Li Yue'er's cheeks flushed, and she bit her lower lip, her eyes darting around.
Teng Huang knew from her expression that she missed the head of the family, so he tickled her waist and teased her.
Li Yue'er sat on the embroidered stool, arms crossed, bending over and shrugging her shoulders to dodge to the left and right.
Sister Su simply sat to the side, raising her hand to cover her lips and smiling elegantly and calmly, her eyes full of wanting to watch the show, showing no intention of rescuing her at all.
Because of the bride's complicated attire and difficulty using the restroom, she rarely drank water or ate to save trouble. Li Yue'er's stomach was empty, and she was almost unable to bear the hunger when the auspicious hour of dusk finally arrived.
Marriage; betrothal.
At dusk, the Qu family's wedding procession reached the back gate of the academy.
After the deafening sound of firecrackers, Madam Ming personally helped Li Yue'er and saw her out the door.
She was the bride, and the mistress was also a bride, so Li Yue'er made an agreement with her that the mistress would wait for her at the Qu residence.
The journey between her and the mistress was one where she practically ran to the mistress, and the mistress didn't need to do anything else but stand there and wait for her to pass.
After bidding farewell to the headmaster, her mother, and her sister, Li Yue'er sat in the bridal sedan chair.
Hearing that it was a woman marrying another woman, people on the street came out to join in the fun. Teng Huang and Meng Xiaoxiao handed out candies and oranges, and everyone who received one would say a blessing.
Li Yue'er listened to these words and sat in the bridal sedan chair to the front of the Qu residence.
First came the sound of firecrackers, then the matchmaker's singing.
Li Yue'er was unusually nervous. She breathed heavily, and just as the sedan chair was tilting forward and she was about to bend down to get out, she suddenly saw a pair of slender, white fingers lift up the curtain of her sedan chair.
Those hands were well-proportioned, smooth and beautiful like jade; she knew them all too well.
Li Yue'er froze, and subconsciously looked up. The gold and jade tassels made a slight sound as she looked up, as if the sound resonated deep within her heart.
Li Yue'er suppressed her excitement, stepped out of the sedan chair, and sure enough, she was met with the familiar face of the mistress.
Although Li Yue'er was smiling, her eyes slowly reddened. She lowered her eyes and gently placed her fingers into the palm of the hand that the mistress extended to her, which was then grasped by the mistress.
She always said that she was the one who took the initiative and was enthusiastic in her relationship with the mistress, but in reality, as she was moving towards the mistress, the mistress was also moving towards her.
Just like today, the mistress did not stand in the main hall, but walked out of the gate and stood at the bottom of the steps. When her bridal sedan chair arrived, she lifted the curtain of her sedan chair and held her hand.
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Yue'er: She has me in her heart [bursting into tears]
Madam: ...[Clown] (I just don't say it, but I do a lot)
Moon: Oh, then we've done quite a lot. [heart emoji]
Mistress: ...Not that one, never mind. [Melted]
Hehe, slowly wrapping it up!
The main text will be written no more than halfway through the month, and then the entire story will be completed this month.
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