Lanqin specially ordered the embroiderers in the manor to make a wedding dress for Cui Niang. It was made of bright red cloud satin, with seven layers of edging on the collar and cuffs. The embroidery on it featured auspicious mandarin ducks and intertwined tree branches.
In addition to lending money, Lanqin also prepared a dowry chest for Cui Niang, which contained gold hairpins, pearl flowers, rings, bracelets and other jewelry.
"Master, I really can't accept these!" When Cui Niang saw the box of gold and silver jewelry, she was so frightened that she refused to take it.
“Cui Niang, keep these things. After all these years with me, these are just some inedible things. Consider them your dowry,” Lan Qin said.
"Master! Your kindness to Cui Niang is like that of a second parent. Cui Niang has no way to repay you." Tears welled up in Cui Niang's eyes. These past few days, she had been thinking about what would happen to Lan Qin's affairs if she left. Although Lan Qin had asked her to come back and continue as the head housekeeper, she was married and could no longer live in the mansion. She would have to go back to her own home at night, and then she would definitely not be able to take care of many things.
“Cui Niang, please don’t say such things again. It’s fate that we’ve had the chance to spend time together here. Besides, it’s not like you’re never coming back. Once Nianxue and Xicha marry into your family, Sihua and Shuiling will be the head maids here, and then we can choose a few more younger maids to come in. You should take care of your families, and have children. Don’t delay me any longer,” Lanqin said, holding Cui Niang’s hand.
Cui Niang nodded tearfully. She was like a girl waiting to be married, both looking forward to her wedding and afraid of never seeing her family again, or rather, losing the peace and comfort she felt at her parents' home. Lanqin's place was like the family home for these girls.
A few days later, the wedding day for Cui Niang and Li Wei finally arrived. Cui Niang was to be married off from the South Courtyard, and Li Wei, with his entourage, was to come to the South Courtyard to fetch her, and then they would all go to Li Wei's residence for the wedding banquet. Lan Qin and Fourth Master were both going, as they were the officiants for their wedding. For convenience, they wouldn't bring the children, leaving them in the care of Song Shi. Nian Xue and Xi Cha went with Lan Qin to the wedding banquet, while Si Hua and a few others stayed behind to take care of the young masters.
With the help of Lanqin and several maids, Cui Niang had already dressed her in her new wedding gown. She then allowed Aunt Cui to comb her daughter's hair.
"They're here, they're here, Master! They're here!" Shui Ling ran in from outside, her face beaming with joy.
"What's here?" Xi Cha stood at the door and saw Shui Ling speaking breathlessly.
"The wedding procession! The groom and his party have arrived," Shui Ling said, touching her chest.
"Close the door!" Lanqin said as she came out. "If they don't give us a red envelope, they're not allowed to take the bride away!"
"Yes, close the door!" Several maids echoed, immediately closing all the doors to the main room.
Aunt Cui had already covered Cui Niang's head with a veil.
Li Wei summoned several of his friends in the capital, as well as the guards sent by the Fourth Prince to handle his affairs. They had all changed into their wedding attire, hired musicians to play horns and drums, and the outside was already bustling with activity.
“Aunt Cui, if you have anything else to say, please tell Cui Niang as soon as possible. Now that you’re married, you’ll be someone else’s daughter-in-law,” said the two old women Lanqin had called to help. They were very familiar with the wedding customs of this era.
The knocking outside grew louder and louder, and Lanqin started urging the maids to ask for a gift to open the door.
Lanqin sat upright in the main seat, watching the group of girls joking around with the wedding procession. Fourth Master was in the front yard; after the bride was taken away, he and Lanqin followed in a carriage.
After Cui Niang was helped out the door by Nianxue and Xicha, Lanqin looked at the bright red color and felt a pang of pain in her heart. She could never wear bright red herself. Seeing Cui Niang wearing bright red now, though it was dazzling, was truly beautiful.
After Cui Niang and Li Wei stood still, she turned around and bowed to Lan Qin.
“What are you doing? You worship heaven, earth, and your parents today, not me,” Lanqin said.
“Consort, we are able to get married today thanks to your great kindness and virtue. We, your husband and I, will never forget it,” Li Wei said.
"From now on, Cui Niang is in your care. If she suffers any injustice, just wait and see how I deal with you!" Lan Qin said with a laugh and a scolding tone. Everyone looked at the newlyweds, filled with emotion and comfort.
After the music and fanfare faded into the distance, Lanqin stood on the steps of the main courtyard. Wuxiha ran out from behind, tugged at Lanqin's sleeve, and said, "Aunt Cui has gotten married, is she never coming back?"
"No, it's your Aunt Cui who's back. It's just that they all have their own families and children to take care of from now on," Lanqin said.
Meanwhile, Fourth Master had already prepared a carriage and came to invite Lanqin to go with him to Li Wei's residence to attend the wedding banquet.
Along the way, Fourth Master and Lanqin sat upright in the carriage, while Su Peisheng, who was following behind, sat outside.
"They've all been settled, so why do you look so worried?" Fourth Master asked, noticing that Lanqin remained silent.
“I hope they are all doing well. None of the three of them married far away, and they are all still serving by your side. I am quite at ease. In the future, when Ushiha and Bechuk grow up, I also hope they will not go far away,” Lanqin said.
"You're thinking too far ahead. Ushiha and Bechuk are still young. Besides, wasn't it you who arranged for Cui Niang and the others to get married?" Fourth Master seemed a little confused by Lanqin's melancholy. Men will never be as sentimental as women.
“It’s only a matter of ten years. My two little girls will be of marriageable age. My lord, Ushiha and Bechuk are doing very well in school now. Let them stay by my side for a few more years and marry later, shall we?” Lanqin said.
Fourth Master reached out and grabbed Lanqin's hand, saying, "Don't worry, neither of them will marry far away. I promise you!"
Lanqin glanced at Fourth Master a few times, nodded, and then leaned against his shoulder.
Upon arriving at Li Wei's residence, Fourth Prince and Lanqin witnessed the entire wedding ceremony between Cui Niang and Li Wei. They were treated as honored guests and received gifts from Li Wei and his wife. To allow them to enjoy themselves, Lanqin drank a few cups of celebratory wine with Fourth Prince before taking her leave. Because those attending Li Wei's wedding were all his friends and people from Fourth Prince's residence, they were all a little reserved in Fourth Prince's presence.
When Aunt Cui saw Nianxue and Xicha, she was delighted to see how beautiful they were. Cui Da and Cui Er, on the other hand, looked embarrassed when they saw them.
After Cui Niang and Li Wei's wedding, it was the brothers' turn next.
After Fourth Master and Lanqin came out, Nianxue and Xicha naturally followed. Li Wei and his wife saw them off at the door, and Lanqin told them to go back quickly. They got into their carriage and returned to the mansion.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com