Chapter 118 Getting Married
In the east of Jinling City, a three-story teahouse facing the street is now brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful ribbons hanging from the door lintels and windows, exuding a noisy and festive atmosphere that is incongruous with the surrounding aroma of tea and books.
The most spacious private room on the second floor was temporarily converted into a boudoir.
Xie Wuyou sat upright in front of the dressing table, her face, though exquisitely made up, reflected in the bronze mirror, was devoid of any joy.
Her bright red wedding dress made her face appear even paler.
She looked at herself in the mirror, a very faint smile appearing on her lips.
She got married from a teahouse.
In the entire city of Nanjing, you probably can't find another one like it.
Feeling frustrated?
Of course I feel frustrated!
She should have married into the Yongning Marquis's mansion in grand style, from the boudoir of the Zhenguo General's Mansion!
Instead of being like this now, living under someone else's roof, waiting to be carried away in a teahouse that's always bustling with customers and reeks of money!
Do you hate it?
Of course! She hated Xie Wulu's scheming, her parents' cold-heartedness, Wei Zikai's hypocrisy, and Xie Sangning for taking everything from her!
This wedding dress is the only thing she has now received.
She wanted to hold onto it tightly.
She wanted to learn how Xie Nuer treated the eldest prince; she wanted to avenge their scheming against her; she wanted to make sure the Marquis's mansion was never at peace!
Once she marries into the family, she will be a proper general's wife... At that time, everyone will have to give her some respect! No one will be able to bully her anymore!
Even Xie Sangning is not an option!
"Young lady, the auspicious time is almost here."
A well-dressed old woman cautiously stepped forward to offer her advice, her face beaming with a smile.
This was hired by Wang Fu, the owner of the teahouse, specifically to escort Xie Wuyou during her wedding.
Several other women were busily organizing the dowry, which consisted of several boxes, also decorated with bright red "double happiness" characters, but clearly exuding a sense of shabbyness.
Xie Wuyou gave a blank "hmm" and glanced at the young man behind her in the mirror.
That was Wang Jinbao, the only son of Wang Fu, the teahouse owner.
He was nervously rubbing his hands, as he was to act as the brother and carry Xie Wuyou to the bridal sedan chair later, according to the custom.
She wanted to recognize Wang Fu as her godfather and have Wang Jinbao carry her out of the house… These were the conditions Wang Fu proposed with a smile.
His words implied charity—"Your reputation is ruined, Xie Wuyou, and your parents and brothers are unreliable. I, Wang Fu, don't despise you and am willing to give you this respectable status, but you have to acknowledge my kinship."
Xie Wuyou was furious! How could she, a daughter of the prestigious Xie family, possibly acknowledge a money-grubbing merchant as her father?
This is an utter disgrace!
But what could she do?
A good family values reputation, but Xie Wuyou's reputation in Jinling is hardly better than that of the rotten mud in the gutter.
The Xie family had long since discarded her like trash.
Aside from Wang Fu, who wanted to curry favor with the General's Mansion, who else would want to get involved with her scandalous past?
Who else would be willing to give her a seemingly respectable wedding?
As for going back to find the Wang family, that's even more impossible!
Tolerate!
She swallowed this humiliation in order to step into the gates of the Yongning Marquis's mansion!
Godfather it is! Just consider it as hiring two actors to accompany her through this wedding drama!
Suddenly, a commotion erupted downstairs, a mixture of a woman's wailing and a man's roar.
"Let me in! I am Wuyou's biological mother! I'm here to send my daughter off to her wedding!"
It was Wang's voice, crying her heart out.
"Get out of my way! You lowly creatures! How dare you stop me? I am Xie Wuyou's father! My blood flows in her veins! I'm going to drink this cup of tea meant for my son-in-law today!"
Xie Chengzong's roar seemed to shake the floorboards.
Xie Wuyou's eyes turned cold. They still have the nerve to show their faces?!
Now you know you regret it? What happened when you were scheming against me and making me pave the way for their son?
The teahouse waiters and several burly guards standing at the top of the stairs held Xie Chengzong and Wang Shi back, preventing them from rushing up.
Wang Fu stood at the top of the stairs, his belly protruding, a slick smile typical of businessmen on his face:
"Thank you, sir and madam, please calm down! It's not that we don't want you two to come in, it's just that Wuyou herself gave the order! She said... from now on, she will sever all ties with you! She wants you to take good care of your son and live a good life! We won't trouble you with the wedding procession!"
"fart!"
Xie Chengzong was so angry that his face turned red. He jumped up and down and cursed, "She's my daughter! My blood flows in her veins! She can't just cut ties with me like that! What is she anyway! A shameless, shameless slut who forced herself to marry into the family! If I hadn't given birth to her, would she have been able to climb up to the Marquis's mansion? Now that she's all grown up, she wants to get rid of me? No way!"
His insults grew increasingly vile, spittle flying everywhere: "Wang Fu! You low-class merchant! Don't think that just because you've adopted her as your goddaughter you can climb up to the General's mansion! Let me tell you, if you don't move aside today and let me in for a cup of tea as your son-in-law, I'll sit right here at the gate! I'll see how Xie Wuyou gets married! I'll see if Wei Zikai dares to step over me to escort his bride!"
Xie Chengzong has completely lost all shame!
He's kicking himself now!
Xie Wulu was stripped of his academic honors and became a pariah, a rat that everyone wanted to beat. Forget about bringing glory to his ancestors, he could hardly even support himself!
Xie Wuyou, the daughter he abandoned and scorned, is about to become the general's wife of the Marquis of Yongning!
This immense wealth should rightfully belong to Xie Chengzong!
How could he be willing to be excluded?
He was determined to drink this cup of tea, a symbol of his father-in-law's status! After drinking this tea, Xie Chengzong would be Wei Zikai's father-in-law! Who wouldn't look up to him then?
The noise from downstairs could be clearly heard into the private room.
Wang Fu's son, Wang Jinbao, turned pale with fright, and the old women looked at each other, filled with unease.
Xie Wuyou slowly stood up, the hem of her wedding dress trailing on the ground.
She walked to the window, pushed it open a crack, and looked down at her parents, who were acting like clowns.
Wang was still wailing and lamenting, as if she had suffered a great injustice.
Xie Chengzong, like a rogue, stood with his hands on his hips blocking the main entrance of the teahouse, looking like he was saying, "I'm not leaving, let's see what you can do to me."
"This marriage was decided in black and white by the prefectural government! It was approved by the Emperor himself! What is Xie Chengzong? Does he even have the right to stop it?"
Her voice clearly reached the ears of Wang Jinbao and several old women nearby:
"Does he dare to risk his worthless life to defy the Emperor's golden words or the laws of the court? Unless he's tired of living!"
These words were like a reassuring pill, and the fear on Wang Jinbao and the old women's faces instantly faded considerably.
yes!
Downstairs, Xie Chengzong was still shouting, using foul language that was unbearable to hear.
Wang Fu's smile vanished, and he was about to call the guards to forcibly drag the person away.
Just then—
A deafening sound of gongs and drums drifted from afar!
The festive suona horns were playing loudly!
The wedding procession has finally arrived!
At the end of the long street, a procession of people dressed in bright clothes and riding spirited horses, adorned with red ribbons and colorful decorations, slowly approached. At the head of the procession, on a tall horse, sat Wei Zikai, dressed in a bright red wedding robe.
He was tall and handsome, and although he was expressionless, his good looks made up for it, making him look like a perfect groom.
However, when the group arrived at the teahouse and saw Xie Chengzong and Wang Shi blocking the entrance, looking like madmen, Wei Zikai's expression froze almost imperceptibly for a moment.
A fleeting look of annoyance flashed quickly across the depths of his eyes!
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