The betrothal gifts were sent, and the matchmaker’s final visit had taken place. With a dowry delivered, the Start of Autumn arrived before one knew it.
The auspicious day calculated by Blind Man He was the first day of the eighth month.
By that time, the weather was no longer as hot as the previous days and had begun to cool down. The Medical Bureau was operating smoothly, and Lu Tong wasn’t as busy as before. The Emperor had granted Pei Yunmeng a five-day leave to return home for his marriage.
Early in the morning, the Benevolent Heart Medical Hall was bustling with activity.
From yesterday, the trees along West Street were decorated with red lanterns bearing the character "Happiness". The sound of firecrackers could be heard at dawn, scattering bright red paper on the ground. Ah Cheng went door-to-door delivering candy in a bamboo basket draped with red silk, and the neighbors who received candy cheerfully responded with auspicious sayings like "Golden Boy and Jade Girl" and "May you enjoy an everlasting union".
From the small window in the courtyard, occasional directions could be heard.
"Lower it a bit, and raising the hair bun higher would be more suitable."
In the room, Lu Tong sat in front of the dressing mirror.
Yin Zheng stood behind her, combing her hair, while Lin Danqing leaned to one side, cautiously and attentively giving her guidance.
Lu Tong had lost her parents and relatives and was alone in Shengjing. Sister Song from the neighboring shop had once suggested that Lu Tong hire a professional hairdresser for her bridal hairdo, but she insisted on having Yin Zheng do her hair.
Having travelled together, Yin Zheng and she might not have been related by blood, but their bond was stronger than that of kin. She wanted to have her family’s company on the day she got married.
"Don’t worry," Yin Zheng’s skillful hands moved quickly, inserting hairpins and golden hairpins one by one, adorning her black hair with dazzling colors, "I’ve always been good at doing hair, and once I knew I was going to do your bridal makeup, I went to the Silver Moon Quarter a month in advance to learn from the best hairdresser. I can’t say it’s better than others’, but I’m definitely putting my heart into it. Besides, Miss, you are naturally beautiful; you would look good no matter how your hair is done."
"It really does look good," Lin Danqing sat slantingly to the side and remarked, "Our Younger Sister Lu usually doesn’t even wear rouge. Seeing you in this bright red dress for the first time, tsk tsk tsk, who are you planning on stunning to death?"
Her words were exaggerated, and Lu Tong was speechless.
"To tell the truth, I never would have thought that you and Marshal Pei would end up together," Lin Danqing said with some emotion, "one of you from the Palace Front Office always looked down on people, and the other from the Medical Officer Institute wouldn’t spare a thought for anything else but medicine. In the end, you two managed to unite as a married couple. It goes to show that there’s really no rhyme or reason when it comes to matters of marriage in the world."
"However," she continued as she casually picked a longan from the Xi Lan basket and put it into her mouth with a mischievous tone, "what did I say before? I noticed there was something off between you two long ago. My eyes are sharp indeed. No wonder our ancestors claimed that the Lin family descended from the Matchmaker; I can spot who’s connected to whom by the tangled threads of fate at a glance."
Upon hearing this, Yin Zheng couldn’t help but laugh: "Did Doctor Lin not say that our ancestors were the reincarnation of Hua Tuo?"
Lin Danqing choked for a moment: "The Matchmaker could also cure diseases while matchmaking on the side, two birds with one stone, right?"
Lu Tong, listening to their conversation in the room, couldn’t help but smile, which considerably eased her nervousness about the upcoming marriage.
In such a light-hearted atmosphere, Ah Cheng came to hurry them several times. After Yin Zheng inserted the final Hibiscus Flower Hairpin into Lu Tong’s hair, she sighed with relief, "It’s done!"
Lu Tong stood up.
In the mirror, the bride’s reflection was dressed in a brightly colored robe with large sleeves made of brocade woven with gold and red silk, and a delicate and light skirt that fluttered like soft red clouds with every movement. Piled on top of her head was her jet-black hair, adorned with a small but exquisite Beaded Crown. The extravagant wedding attire was neither cumbersome nor exaggerated, perfectly suiting her grace and charm. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮
Lin Danqing circled around her twice: "Marshal Pei really splurged this time. Even I’m envious of this wedding dress."
Yin Zheng teased: "Doctor Lin need not be envious; perhaps you’ll soon get to wear one yourself. Our Miss is getting married today -- when might we enjoy your own wedding feast?"
Lin Danqing was taken aback, feigning indignation as she scolded, "At your young age, why do you talk like my aunt? The ancestral teachings of our family say we shouldn’t give up the whole garden for a single flower. I haven’t had my fill of fun yet. Besides, what’s more interesting than watching other people fall in love?"
Then she turned around and pulled out a small box from her bosom to give to Lu Tong: "Here, your wedding gift."
Lu Tong opened it and almost got dazzled by the contents of the box: it was a hefty Golden Lantern inscribed with the character "Happiness".
Lu Tong was puzzled: "This is..."
"You’re marrying into the Pei Family on your own. Pei Yun seems decent to you, but it’s always good to have something of your own. What can you do with the little salary from the Medical Officer Institute? It’s not even enough to buy snacks. After returning from Su Nan, I saved the rewards from treating the plague and exchanged them for Silver, then had the Baoxiang Tower make you this golden lantern."
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