That was the first time that Yining knew the origin of her name, and it was also the first time that she felt some sincerity towards her grandmother who never looked at her straight in the eye.
Outside, bright red lanterns illuminated the night banquet at the mansion, and the atmosphere was lively. Old Madam Wei brought Zhao Mingzhu and several young ladies from the Fu family to see her. Seeing both of them crying, she quickly told them to stop: "...Are you afraid you won't have anything to cry about tomorrow? Yihui, why don't you join her in making a scene?"
According to custom, Yi Ning was supposed to be with her maternal family that evening, but since Yi Ning had returned to the Duke of Yingguo's mansion, the Gu family had been unable to visit. So, Old Madam Wei brought someone to fill in for her.
Luo Yihui wiped her tears and helped Yining wipe them as well. Then everyone sat together and talked lively.
They let Yining go to bed early that night, after all, tomorrow was the time when they would really need to exert themselves physically.
Yining tossed and turned in bed for a long time. Only after she asked Daimao to extinguish the red lanterns under the eaves did she fall asleep.
At dawn the next day, at the hour of Mao, Yining was summoned by Madam Song and her attendants. The outer courtyard's reception office and the kitchen maids and servants were already busy. The mansion's main gate opened, and a servant in a maroon robe followed the housekeeper, setting up two long tables in front of the screen wall. Guests arrived, offering gifts and money, and the stream of guests continued uninterrupted.
Wei Ling wore his second-rank military officer's robe that day and came to Yining first.
Yi Ning, who had just finished washing and had her soft hair tied up in a bun, was sitting on the embroidery stool listening to Luo Yihui talk.
Wei Ling thought about the girl who was about to get married before she even reached the age of 15, and now she had a woman's bun, but her face was still a little childish. He felt an indescribable sadness. Originally, she was not allowed to get married according to her age. She was still young, but Luo Shenyuan was already an adult. He asked Yi Ning to stand up, and Yi Ning stood up and looked at him puzzledly: "What's wrong with you?"
Wei Ling found that the girl was still not as tall as his shoulders, and he felt a little disappointed: "The last time Daddy compared you, you were also this tall."
Daimao, who was standing next to him, smiled and replied, "My Lord, the young lady has grown half an inch taller in the past few months."
"I don't think I've grown taller." Wei Ling murmured.
Yining felt that his tone was a little pitiful.
Wei Ling stretched out his big hand to touch her head, but Mother Song quickly stopped him: "Duke, this is a newly combed bun. The young lady is getting married today."
Wei Ling could only put down his hand, looked at the petite Yi Ning and muttered, "...Even though you're marrying your sworn brother, if he dares to bully you, you must come back and tell me. Daddy is, after all, the general of Xuanfu. Or you can stop living there for long and come back to the Duke of Ying's mansion for a month or two every season. Otherwise, I'll talk to Luo Shenyuan and ask him to come back and live there after you get married, and then go back when you reach the age of marriage... After all, there are still those people in the Luo family."
He himself knew that what he said didn't make sense. How could she still live at home after getting married? As he spoke, his voice gradually became lower.
Although she hadn't spent much time with Wei Ling, Yi Ning still liked him sincerely. She smiled and nodded, saying, "I'll come back to see you when I have time. Fuxue Hutong is only half an hour away from the Duke of Ying's Mansion."
That’s not the Duke of England’s Mansion… Wei Ling thought.
The steward outside asked Wei Ling to go out, saying that only he could receive some guests, so he left Yining's yard.
Old Lady Wei came over with Zhao Mingzhu and the wife of Marquis Dingbei. When Zhao Mingzhu saw her wearing a bright red wedding dress, she smiled and clapped her hands and said, "You are the most beautiful at this time!" Her tone was softer than ever before. She pressed Yining's shoulders and asked her to sit in front of the dressing table, and the wife of Marquis Dingbei put a gold hairpin in her.
Daimao wasn't even qualified to do her makeup that day, so it was done by the most skilled daughter-in-law in the mansion. She had been a maid in old Madam Wei's service, but had been sent out of the mansion and brought back for Yining. Yining tilted her head slightly as she allowed her to do her eyebrows. She saw the cannas outside the window in full bloom, the mansion filled with festive flowers.
Old Mrs. Fu and Old Mrs. He both came over with their granddaughters to talk. They had prepared early, and it was not yet noon.
Several plates of peanuts, melon seeds, and candies were brought into the room. As the bride, Yining was surrounded in the center. A lively atmosphere at this time represented the prosperity of the bride's family and her strong connections.
Mrs. He smiled and asked Mrs. Wei, "Your family's brothers are still young, and Yining has no cousins. Who did you find to carry her to the bridal sedan?"
The bride is always carried to the bridal sedan by her brother, but Yi Ning was already married to her sworn brother, so Luo Shenyuan couldn't carry her; that wouldn't be in accordance with etiquette. After much deliberation, there really wasn't a suitable choice.
"Originally, we invited her cousin Wei Yi, but he was not available." Old Mrs. Wei answered subtly.
The Duke of England's daughter was getting married, but he was suddenly unavailable. This must be because the two families had fallen out.
Mrs. Wei didn't say anything further, but continued to smile and said, "But we've invited her cousin Cheng Lang, and he should be here soon."
Yining raised her head when she heard this. Old Madam Wei hadn't told her why Cheng Lang was invited...
Yes, it seems there is no one else except him!
Cheng Lang arrived around noon.
The maid outside informed him that Yi Ning wanted to see him privately to ask him about the matter, so she walked out of the west side room.
She saw him leaning against the pillar of the flower hall, and when he saw her wearing the wedding dress, the corners of his mouth raised slightly: "...It looks even better than I thought."
But she is someone else's wife.
"Alang," Yining said seriously, "If you don't want to, I'll ask Grandma to find a distant cousin."
If Mrs. Wei had discussed this with her, she would never have agreed. After knowing what happened to Lian Fu, she was completely out of her mind to do this.
"No." Cheng Lang said as he walked towards her.
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