The Shangsi Festival had passed, and Shi Lan remained at home to be married off. Madam Wang had not planned to marry her daughter off so early. Although the dowry had been prepared long ago, some furniture and ornaments needed to be measured before they could be made. Madam Wang had a lot of materials stored up, but it would take time to carve, polish, and varnish them. The Marquis's mansion was urging them to hurry because of Zhu Xian's relationship with the Marquis. Madam Wang was also worried that her daughter would be gossiped about because of what had happened before, so she urged the craftsmen and the foreman to hurry up three times a day.
With the start of summer approaching, someone from the Marquis's residence delivered some ice and festival gifts. Since the person was just a head maid, Wang didn't want her sister-in-law Zhou to think she was usurping power, so she didn't show herself. However, the person reported back that the person wanted to come and pay her respects.
Wang felt something was amiss, but she didn't pay much attention to it. Thinking of giving her future son-in-law some face, she invited people in.
Dan Cai followed Granny Huang into the room. She first bowed, then looked around. Seeing that there were no young girls, she pursed her lips and refused to speak.
Wang looked at her strangely, not understanding what she meant.
Dan Cai remained silent for a while, and seeing that Madam Wang did not call for anyone, she had no choice but to say, "The young master asked me to pass on a message to Miss Shi Er." After saying that, she looked at Madam Wang with her dark, grape-like eyes.
Wang was taken aback by her extremely concise words, thinking to herself, "If you're going to pass on a message, then say it!"
Dan Cai pursed her lips like a clam shell, as if she would never speak unless someone was around.
Wang had no way to deal with this maid from the Marquis's mansion, so she could only say to Granny Huang, "Go and invite the young lady over."
Granny Huang bowed and withdrew. A quarter of an hour later, she returned with a bewildered Shi Lan.
Wang pointed to Dan Cai and said, "Someone from the Marquis's residence has come and says they have something to tell you."
Shi Lan sat down and looked at Dan Cai with curiosity.
Dan Cai stared intently at Shi Lan, as if to confirm if it was really her. After a moment, she said, "The steward of the manor is going to Bazhou. The young master ordered me to come and ask if there's anything you need to take with you, Miss?"
Shi Lan smiled and said, "It's kind of you to worry, Young Master. We have everything we need in the manor, so there's nothing in particular that we need to bring."
Dan Cai nodded, indicating that she understood.
Judging from her tone of voice, Madam Wang guessed that she was a servant of Zhu Yi. She had previously worried that Zhu Yi, as the heir apparent, must have some seductive and alluring women around him, but now, seeing Dan Cai's dull and dazed appearance, she felt somewhat relieved.
After ordering someone to send out the light-colored item, Madam Wang breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It seems they really care about what you like."
Shi Lan smiled without saying a word.
Seeing her like this, Wang glanced at her and said, "Why are you smiling so slyly? Is there something fishy going on that I don't know about?"
Shi Lan chuckled.
Since that trip, Shi Lan had inquired about the Qian family after being reminded by Shi Ling and hearing Zhu Yi's strange words. She knew that the Qian family's hometown was far away in Bashu. Now that Zhu Yi had specially sent someone to tell her that someone had gone to Bazhong, he probably meant to subtly tell her that he had sent Qian Zhiqing away.
Zhu Yi's actions warmed Shi Lan's heart, but since Qian Zhiqing was an evil being, even if she was sent back, Shi Lan believed that she would not be willing to remain silent like this.
Shi Lan rolled her eyes, looking at Wang Shi who was smiling at her.
There's no need for Wang to worry about these things.
Wang asked a couple more questions, but seeing that her daughter remained silent, she didn't press her. Knowing that her daughter had been busy embroidering her wedding dress, she ordered someone to send her back.
Before we knew it, it was the Dragon Boat Festival. The Marquis's mansion came to deliver the festival gifts. This time, among the usual gifts were several pieces of extremely fine Shu brocade, including a dark blue brocade with the character for longevity running continuously, a green rain silk brocade with butterflies playing among the flowers, and a pinkish-purple brocade with camellia dots.
Madam Wang selected the three bolts of brocade separately, sending the dark blue one to the old lady. Then, looking at the moon-scented brocade, some dark, some light, with its delicate, blooming patterns, Madam Wang's face lit up with a smile. Overjoyed, she ordered the brocade to be cut, then ordered the storeroom to be opened, taking out a cherry-pink silk brocade with hints of camellia blossoms from her private treasury. She had it made into a dress for Shi Lan, tailored to his figure, while keeping the green one for herself, considering it a token of her son-in-law's filial piety.
On June 17th, the Marquis's residence sent over the powder for the wedding dress to be worn. Before dawn the next day, Shi Lan, who was still half asleep, was dug out of bed by Xing Bi.
Last night, Shi Lan was captured by Wang Shi and taught a lot about how to be a "woman". She didn't lie down until dawn. She felt like she had just closed her eyes. There was a lot of noise around her. The wedding ladies kept chanting auspicious words, and a group of maids and servants surrounded her to do her makeup and put on her crown.
With a beaming smile, Madam Wang not only kept Zhi Cui and Xing Bi running around like headless chickens, but also ordered her own nanny, Granny Huang, and several first-class maids to help with the tasks.
After finally getting dressed, Shi Lan felt like a puppet tied to a pile of clothes.
Fortunately, the auspicious time arrived shortly afterward, and accompanied by lively music, Shi Lan was helped out the door.
Seeing her daughter, whom she had pampered for over a decade, get married like this, Wang couldn't help but let her tears flow freely.
Shi Lan stiffly bowed deeply to Shi Yunbai, Madam Wang, and the old lady who had rushed back. As she left Xifutang, Madam Wang's sobs were right beside her, and Shi Lan felt a pang of sadness, tears welling up in her eyes.
When the matchmaker saw a few drops of water on the ground, she knew the bride had been crying and quickly told her to touch up her makeup.
There was another flurry of activity around them. Disturbed like this, Shi Lan could no longer cry. Madam Wang wiped away her tears, ordered someone to cover her head with a veil, and saw her off at the door.
After getting into the bridal sedan chair, it swayed and swayed all the way. When it stopped, Shi Lan was already dizzy.
After getting out of the sedan chair, Shi Lan followed the wedding attendant's instructions with a blank expression. After finally finishing her tasks, she was led to a room by a winding, circuitous path.
Sitting on the solid wood bed, Shi Lan finally felt at ease.
Just as he was about to move his neck, he heard the matchmaker say, "The young master has arrived."
Shi Lan quickly stopped her back movement, and soon a pair of dark-colored boots appeared in front of her.
A soft piece of silk was stuffed between Shi Lan's fingers. Then the matchmaker helped her up and slowly led her out the door. After paying respects at the family temple, she was sent back.
This time, there seemed to be more women in the room. Shi Lan was helped to sit on the edge of the bed, and Zhu Yi sat not far away. The women took jujubes and lotus seeds and sprinkled them on the bed while saying auspicious words.
Fruits fell on her body and head, rustling down. Shi Lan was dressed in complicated clothes today, so the fruit only had a slight touch on her body and she didn't feel anything.
Zhu Yi, however, felt a pang of sympathy seeing that the fruit kept falling on Shi Lan. He glanced at her, and only then did the others stop.
Shi Lan couldn't see it, only thinking it was over. Then a cup of wine was shoved into her hand. After she drank it, the matchmaker threw the two cups under the bed, said a lot of auspicious words, and said the ceremony was complete.
Only then did the crowd slowly disperse.
Zhu Yi said softly, "I'll be back soon," and then hurriedly left.
Shi Lan nodded slightly, as if to acknowledge that she had heard.
The footsteps faded into the distance, and the room quickly fell silent. Zhi Cui quietly approached and whispered, "This servant has brought two meat-filled flatbreads. Please have some, Miss."
Shi Lan leaned her head, adorned with pearls and jade, against the bedside shelf, lifted the veil, and began to eat.
Worried that she might choke, Zhi Cui poured her another cup of tea and served her the tea before quietly leaving.
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