Chapter 20 This Aunt Hui, she's up to no good.
Although we said we'd talk about it tomorrow, when the next day actually arrived, there wasn't a single moment left to speak.
Early in the morning, as soon as Shang Ruyi got up, a maidservant helped her to bathe and change. When she returned to her room, the matchmaker and a group of servants came to celebrate the occasion, offering her peanuts, longans and other fruits. Shang Ruyi ate one of each, considering it auspicious.
By the time all the commotion was over, it was already noon.
After a short tea and refreshments, the maids brought clothes and jewelry to help the bride with her makeup.
When Shang Ruyi changed into her fiery red wedding dress and sat down in front of the dressing table, Tu She'er was about to pick up a comb to style her hair when Aunt Hui came over and said with a smile, "Let this old woman style Miss Ruyi's hair."
Shang Ruyi hurriedly said, "How could I trouble Aunt Hui?"
Aunt Hui smiled and said, "This is what I should do."
As she spoke, she spoke gently, but without giving Shang Ruyi a chance to sit back down on the stool. She picked up a comb and began to gently comb Shang Ruyi's long, glossy black hair. Then she smiled and said, "I used to use this skill to comb hair when I accompanied the First Madam on her wedding day."
The mere mention of that "first wife" made Shang Ruyi feel somewhat embarrassed.
After all, she was the mother of the man she was supposed to marry but refused to marry. It was bound to be awkward for Aunt Hui to mention the First Madam at this time.
Just as she was wondering how to respond, Aunt Hui smiled and said, "Speaking of which, there's something I've always wanted to ask Miss Ruyi."
"..."
Shang Ruyi understood somewhat; this was what she had told her last night—"If we have something to say, we'll talk about it tomorrow."
She asked calmly, "What does Aunt Hui want to ask?"
Aunt Hui raised her head, her gaze fixed intently on Shang Ruyi's eyes in the bronze mirror, and asked, "Miss Ruyi, do you have any dissatisfaction with Qian'er?"
Shang Ruyi's expression changed.
The Qian'er that Aunt Hui mentioned was none other than Yuwen Qian, the eldest son she had rejected in marriage!
Bringing up Yuwen Qian at this time is more than just embarrassing.
Shang Ruyi said in a deep voice, "Ruyi dares not."
Aunt Hui kept working, her smile unchanging: "'I dare not' is an overstatement."
"..."
"Besides, even if she didn't dare, didn't Miss Ruyi still remarry the Second Young Master?"
"..."
"I don't mean anything by it, I just want to know if Miss Ruyi has any dissatisfaction with Qian'er? Otherwise, why would she break off the engagement after already being betrothed?"
It was afternoon, and the sun was blazing, but Shang Ruyi felt a chill creeping in from all around, penetrating her skin and making her shiver involuntarily.
This Aunt Hui is up to no good.
Moreover, it's not something she can dismiss with a few polite words.
Feeling her hands still gently working behind her head, seemingly unaffected by the emotions of the conversation, Shang Ruyi took a deep breath, raised her head, and looked into Aunt Hui's eyes reflected in the bronze mirror. She calmly said, "Everyone has their own destiny. I can only say that perhaps my destiny with the eldest young master is not yet ripe."
"..."
"Or perhaps—this is all there is to it."
"That's it?"
Aunt Hui repeated those four words and suddenly let out a soft laugh.
Her tone carried a hint of sarcasm: "Miss Ruyi is quite insightful. I imagine she doesn't have the shallow perspective that most people have. She must be able to see things from a long-term viewpoint."
"..."
"only,"
A sharp glint suddenly appeared in her eyes as she said, "I just don't know if Miss Ruyi can see through some of the people and things closest to her."
"...!"
Shang Ruyi's heart suddenly stirred.
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