Having agreed on their future relationship, Xiang Wan felt somewhat relieved. Soon after the Wu family returned home, they sent over a very generous betrothal gift, greatly enhancing the Jiang family's reputation. This was excellent; after she married into the family, she wouldn't have to worry about her parents' well-being there.
Xiang Wan personally planned her dowry, including a small portion of cash to carry with her, and the rest mainly for purchasing medicinal herbs and basic wedding necessities. Jiang's mother, feeling sorry for her daughter, wanted to give her some land deeds, but Xiang Wan refused. In this turbulent era, even owning land and houses wasn't guaranteed to last; grain and gold were far more reliable. Although Xiang Wan wasn't particularly skilled in financial management, she knew the saying "In prosperous times, collect antiques; in chaotic times, collect gold" wasn't just empty talk. Before her marriage, she tried to persuade Jiang's parents to distribute their wealth in various places around the courtyard. In the original owner's memories, the Jiang family's old house hadn't been greatly affected, but it was still necessary to take precautions.
In her days leading up to her wedding, Xiang Wan focused on developing various medicines for any eventuality. Jiang's parents were puzzled by their daughter's sudden change of heart, her shift from literature to medicine. Xiang Wan offered her explanation.
"Father, Mother, your daughter is about to get married and won't be able to stay by your side often. I recently came across a medical book and thought I'd prepare some medicine for you both in case of emergencies. Don't blame me for being overly concerned; although we live in a peaceful era now, historically, superficial peace doesn't last long. In this large house, there are only you, my mother, and some servants; there are no guards, and I'm still worried. I always keep some medicine with me so I can escape if I encounter any villains. If nothing happens, consider it a token of my filial piety, and keep it with you as a keepsake."
Jiang's parents were deeply moved and repeatedly said they would keep it hidden close to their bodies. Jiang's mother wiped her eyes and scolded, "You child, you're not far from the Wu family after you married into them. If you miss home, just come back and visit. Why make such a fuss?"
Xiang Wan thought to herself that the fact that the original owner had never returned explained everything. If the city was in chaos, what woman could safely cross it to return to her parents' home? She feared many villains would rob and assault her along the way. Without protection, she would find it difficult to move an inch. However, she couldn't say these things directly to Jiang's parents, so she could only gently persuade them, "Mother, can't I even leave something with you? If I have nothing to protect myself, I should be worried."
"Okay, okay, I'll do whatever you say." Jiang's mother compromised and promised to take them with her, which put Xiang Wan at ease.
On her wedding day, Xiang Wan was woken up early by her maids and spent the whole morning washing, changing, and dressing. Exhausted and hungry, she had Huan'er bring her some snacks whenever she had a spare moment. All the other maids and servants were incredibly nervous, fearing they would miss the auspicious time. Only Xiang Wan seemed completely oblivious to the fact that she was getting married. This was her third time experiencing marriage; it would be strange if she were still nervous.
The sounds of gongs and suonas filled the air outside the mansion, signaling to Xiang Wan that Wu Ziyu had come to fetch her. Huan'er covered her head with a veil and led her towards the door. Jiang's parents were already waiting at the bedroom door; upon seeing Xiang Wan emerge, they each took one of her arms. Xiang Wan could only see her own feet moving beneath her, following his every command like a puppet, until Wu Ziyu carried her on his back and placed her in the bridal sedan chair.
After the sedan chair was lifted, Xiang Wan pulled back the curtain and looked back. She saw Mr. and Mrs. Jiang standing at the gate of the mansion, their eyes slightly moist. This has been the case since ancient times when daughters were married off. The daughter they had raised with their own hands would have to spend her life with someone else, and it must have been extremely painful for them.
Xiang Wanchao waved slightly behind her, lowered the curtain, and put the veil back over her head, leaning against the sedan chair for a short rest. She had no choice; she had gotten up too early that morning, and if she didn't get enough rest, she feared she wouldn't be able to handle various situations once she entered the Wu residence.
Swaying and staggering, Xiang Wan actually fell asleep. The system that hadn't actively contacted Xiang Wan since entering this world secretly placed a ball of energy deep into her consciousness and then quietly disappeared.
Xiang Wan slept very comfortably, as if her whole body had been soaked in a hot spring. Her fatigue disappeared, she felt refreshed, and even her spirits were restored to an excellent state.
At first, Xiang Wan didn't realize what was happening. It wasn't until she was about to alight from the sedan chair that she remembered how similar this situation was to absorbing soul energy before. After a moment's thought, she knew it was 007's doing. Although she had been driven to her death by it in her previous life, considering its timely delivery of mission rewards, Xiang Wan decided to give it a way out and not make things difficult for it, but she also didn't want to actively engage with it. When the system couldn't hold back any longer, it would naturally come looking for her.
The curtain was lifted, and a fair-skinned man's hand reached out. Xiang Wan placed her hand in his palm and stepped out of the sedan chair.
Before entering the mansion, Xiang Wan stepped over a brazier, and then a piece of red silk was stuffed into her hand. Pulled by the red silk, she entered the hall for the wedding ceremony, and was then led to the bridal chamber. According to the wedding custom, the groom was supposed to go and toast the guests. Unexpectedly, Wu Ziyu entered shortly afterward.
"Wan'er, we've had quite a few guests today, so we'll probably have to go out and greet them together. We don't need to be so formal with those customs here. After we've toasted them, we can have lunch in the outer courtyard. We can't let you go hungry."
As Wu Ziyu spoke, she used a scale rod to lift the veil. Xiang Wan, usually pretty and charming, was even more stunning after dressing up. Her bright black eyes shimmered with tears as she gazed intently at Wu Ziyu, then smiled, a smile as beautiful as a tree in full bloom, breathtakingly beautiful.
Wu Ziyu's casual movements froze, his gaze fixed on Xiang Wan, refusing to move an inch. His expression gradually turned serious, and he softly called out, "Wan'er!"
"Hmm." Xiang Wan nodded gently and said, "Should I go out dressed like this?"
Wu Ziyu snapped out of her daze, turned her head slightly stiffly, put the scale beam on the table, poured a glass of water and handed it over: "You should change your clothes so you don't get them dirty."
Xiang Wan chuckled softly, and Wu Ziyu blushed. He quickly got up and walked outside, saying, "I'll wait for you outside."
The retreating figure drew another soft laugh from Xiang Wan. It's true what they say, men all love a woman's beauty. But how long does that fleeting allure last? No one can say for sure. Even the most vibrant colors and the most graceful figures eventually succumb to the passage of time. What the original owner could only dream of, Xiang Wan might soon possess. But what is honey to one is poison to the original; meeting the wrong person at the wrong time inevitably leads to a series of mistakes.
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