Chapter 112 The Grand Wedding He couldn't wait and pressed himself against her. ...
*
Half an hour later, the carriage stopped in front of the Mei family's house.
Mei Wu was also home today. After inviting the person into the house, he said that he was just about to send a message to the mansion when Shen Qinglu happened to arrive. So he respectfully reported everything he knew.
In recent days, Shen Qinglu had assigned him the task of keeping an eye on Yu Liuzhu's every move, so the things he told him were naturally related to Yu Liuzhu.
"...She met Guan Hu at a small teahouse, and the next day Guan Hu had her take her back. I secretly inquired about it, and she followed the proper procedures; the contract was also officially signed."
Shen Qinglu's expression calmed down a bit, and she said, "She's clearly after me. You keep an eye on her."
“Miss…” Xia Chan looked worried. “These things were all caused by me. If I hadn’t gone to find your sister, you wouldn’t have gotten into trouble.”
“You don’t need to blame yourself. Even if this hadn’t happened, something else would have.” Shen Qinglu gave her a reassuring look. “Of course, your sister will still be searched for, but instead of openly, she will be searched secretly.”
Upon hearing this, her eyes immediately welled up with tears.
The Mei siblings seemed to have a tacit understanding; one served Shen Qinglu tea, and the other served her a cup of tea as well.
After receiving the tea from Mei Xiaomei, Shen Qinglu looked around the still clean room and could tell that Mei Wu was also a person who loved cleanliness.
After drinking half a cup of tea, the master and servant left together.
The brother and sister saw them off onto the carriage and stood at the door watching it drive away. After the carriage turned a corner and drove a short distance, Ma Er asked whether they were going to the market or going straight back to the mansion.
Shen Qinglu lifted the curtain and happened to see familiar shops: a coffin shop and Xunzhen Pavilion.
For her, these two shops have one thing in common: they are related to her family.
She's getting married, but her relatives from her past life won't know. If there's a way to inform them, then a temple is the place to do so.
"Go to Da Xuan Kong Temple."
Da Xuan Kong Temple was a royal temple, and its incense offerings were extremely prosperous.
She borrowed paper, pen, and ink from the temple, wrote a letter home, and burned it along with the incense and prayers.
The Buddha statues in the main hall were solemn and dignified, not much different from those in later temples. If these Bodhisattvas truly existed, they could naturally transcend time and space to deliver letters home to her.
Although she knew in her heart that this method was probably futile, she still kowtowed devoutly.
“Miss, I’ve heard that many women in the capital have their fortunes told by a high-ranking monk before they get married, to see if they will have a peaceful future.” Xia Chan was unaware of what was written in her family letter and assumed that her coming to offer incense before her wedding must be related to her own marriage, which was why she made this suggestion.
She didn't believe in these things before, but now she hopes that Buddhism is effective.
The temple has many eminent monks, some who are still alive and others who rarely appear in public.
After leaving the main hall, the master and servant inquired with the worshippers and learned that a high-ranking monk was presiding over the temple that day to offer fortune-telling and divination; the monk was none other than the almost reclusive Master Xuanling.
Many worshippers headed to the incense hall where Master Xuanling resided, and it was indeed crowded.
Suddenly a familiar figure came into view. Even though the person was veiled, Shen Qinglu recognized them at a glance.
It's Jade Flowing Vermilion!
Yu Liuzhu also recognized her, as she was also wearing a veil.
She approached step by step, seemingly casually. As she passed Yu Liuzhu, her dark eyes glanced at the flowers following behind her.
The flowers dared not look at her and involuntarily shrank back.
She smiled slightly, then looked away and met Yu Liuzhu's gaze, slowly saying, "Guan Tixing asked me before, saying that this girl wanted to find a good family and asked if I would be willing to buy her. I thought she was unlucky and almost got me into a murder case, so I refused. I didn't expect you to buy her. I suppose you think she is a lucky girl."
What is my misfortune is their good fortune; that's what it means to be an adversary.
Yu Liuzhu raised her chin, her face hidden behind the veil, but her expression revealed something. "What do you mean by bad luck or good fortune? All I know is that she's a pitiful person."
"After not seeing you for a while, you've suddenly developed a sense of compassion. Is it because you've done too many bad things and want to accumulate some good karma for yourself?"
"Do you think that just because you've been betrothed to Prince Chen, you can bully others with your power?" Yu Liuzhu said this with such hatred in her heart that she pinched her palms until they bled.
Just as she expected, Shen Qinglu smiled faintly, a hint of smugness clearly appearing on her beautiful face. "You said it yourself, I've been betrothed to Prince Chen, and in a few days I'll be the rightful Princess Consort. I don't need to deceive anyone; according to the rules, you should kneel at my feet."
She saw and heard it, and was filled with hatred.
All of this should have been hers!
"Floating duckweed has no roots, wealth and honor are determined by heaven. The union of heaven and earth is a rare and precious destiny, a life of wood energy returning to spring, with the three yangs bringing prosperity, bringing good fortune to husband and children."
This was Master Xuanling's prediction of her fate, exactly the same as in her previous life.
In other words, she was born with a destiny of wealth and honor, so why does her fate seem to contradict her destiny in both her past and present lives?
She was certain that someone was hindering her. And that person who was hindering her destiny was the one standing before her, someone who shouldn't even be alive.
"Don't get too cocky, I might not lose to you."
Shen Qinglu said "Oh", her dark and cold eyes sweeping over the incense hall not far away. "It seems you got a good approval from Master Xuanling just now."
"Whether it's true or not, what does it have to do with you?"
“Of course it’s related.” Shen Qinglu frowned slightly and asked Xia Chan beside her, “Does this high monk need the birth date and time to tell fortunes?”
Xia Chan replied, "Other masters may need to examine faces, but I heard that Master Xuanling does not like to meet ordinary people. When he examines someone's fate, he does so through a screen and only uses the eight characters of their birth chart to determine their destiny."
"So that's how it is." Shen Qinglu seemed to have realized something, her eyebrows slightly raised, her dark eyes looking at Yu Liuzhu with a cold glint in them. "Did you ask Yu Qingxue and get your real birth date and time?"
Yu Liuzhu's expression changed when she heard her ask about Xia Chan, and now, upon hearing her question, her eyes became somewhat unfocused.
She had already made up her mind, her eyes revealing no concealment in mockery. She then leaned closer, her icy tone carrying a hint of amusement, "You wouldn't still be using my birth date and time, would you?"
"What do you mean 'yours' and 'mine'? Of course, what I'm using is mine."
"What's yours is yours, and what's mine is mine. You can fool others, but you can't fool yourself." She took two steps back, her gaze towards Yu Liuzhu even more mocking. "Yu Tang, you don't really think that just because you've possessed something, it's yours, do you?"
"Shen Li, you..."
"Whether you admit it or not, it's still self-deception; you're only fooling yourself."
After saying that, she said to Xia Chan, "Let's go."
Xia Chan understood perfectly, and asked knowingly, "Miss, aren't you going to see Master Xuanling for a fortune telling?"
"No need, someone has already asked for me, and it should be quite good."
Neither of them noticed that an old monk with a white beard and a kind face was standing on the steps of the incense hall.
The old monk was only wearing a gray robe, with a young novice monk beside him. Both of them were dressed in the most ordinary monk's clothes and did not attract much attention.
The young novice monk, looking bewildered, asked the old monk, "I just secretly examined that woman's face using the face-reading technique you taught me, Master. She is clearly a person of little fortune, and her birth date and time are completely inconsistent with that."
The high monk stroked his beard, his face enigmatic. "Then, in your opinion, what is the reason?"
The young novice monk thought for a moment and said, "If I didn't misread it, then the birth date and time must be incorrect."
Just as you expected.
"Monks do not lie, so why doesn't the Master point this out?"
The high monk patted the young novice's head, his face full of kindness. "The official star is born from death, while the eating and wounding stars are devoured. This is the will of Heaven, and there is cause and effect in everything. There is no need to explain it."
*
According to the established customs of Daye, it is not advisable for a man and woman who are about to get married to meet before the wedding, otherwise it will harm the harmony between the couple and damage their marriage.
Shen Qinglu assumed that someone like Mu Hanshi wouldn't care about these rules. She thought that he would come to see her a few days before the wedding.
But Mu Hanshi never showed up, even on the day of their wedding.
Is it because their scheme against her is about to succeed, and some people think there is no need to say anything more to her, so they don't even bother to look at her?
"Ah Li looks so beautiful, even I'm mesmerized," Gu Ruxu exclaimed, her gaze filled with delight.
Her reflection in the mirror revealed a face like a lotus blossom with peony makeup, radiating beauty.
Once she put on the phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, she exuded an even more noble and aristocratic air.
When the exclamations of "His Highness Prince Chen has come to welcome the bride in person" came from outside, Gu Ruxu and Shen Linlang exchanged a glance, both seeing relief in each other's eyes.
A prince's wedding is quite different from an ordinary man's marriage; he doesn't need to personally come to fetch the bride. However, Mu Hanshi came to fetch the bride, which, in the eyes of others, shows both his high regard for this marriage and his high regard for Shen Qinglu.
He walked straight in, and naturally no one dared to block the door or make a ruckus according to the traditional wedding customs.
The group of young men, led by Yu Jingliang and Mu Lin, unconsciously followed him, and those unaware of the situation thought they were all from the groom's family.
On this joyous day, Yu Jingxian, who was still under house arrest, was released, but he only made an appearance before Shen Linlang sent him back because he was unwell.
He dared not speak out against his anger and was, in a sense, cooperative.
Yu Zhiheng also came, as her father, to escort Shen Qinglu to her wedding.
Through the veil of a fan, Shen Qinglu bid farewell to him and Shen Linlang.
Shen Linlang wiped away her tears, and all her words could be summed up in one sentence: "Ali, you and the prince must get along well."
A bittersweet feeling welled up in Shen Qinglu's heart, and her eyes stung and burned. Looking at the people around her, she suddenly felt as if she were about to be reborn.
To travel from one time and space to another is to be reborn. To travel from one place to another is to start all over again. The decades that followed were completely beyond her previous experience and entirely unknown.
She looked at the man beside her, somewhat dazed.
Suddenly someone rushed in, shouting loudly despite everyone's attempts to stop them, "How come you didn't invite your own aunt to witness such a big event as your niece's wedding?"
It is Yu Qingxue.
“I’ve raised this child for over ten years. Look at us, don’t we, aunt and niece, look alike?”
The guests stirred, and naturally, there was much discussion.
"Should I make a move?" Mu Hanshi asked Shen Qinglu in a low voice.
Shen Qinglu shook her head, "No need."
If the Shen family has to rely on him to do even such household chores, wouldn't they be looked down upon?
As she was pondering, Granny Xu and another old woman had already taken Yu Qingxue's arms, one on each side.
Gu Ruxu smiled and instructed them, "Quickly help her up, don't neglect her."
"Why are you stopping me? I just want to say a few words to my own niece..."
“You know that Ali is your own niece. As her aunt, you came to congratulate her without giving her a gift and almost disrupted the joyous occasion. It’s really not right.” Gu Ruxu said, giving Xu Mama a wink. “You all treat her well and make sure she eats and drinks well.”
Yu Qingxue was unwilling to give up and wanted to make a scene, but she was suddenly met with Mu Hanshi's cold gaze, which made her break out in a cold sweat and she no longer dared to be presumptuous.
As the music began and the drums sounded, the Shen family led all the guests to see the newlyweds off.
As the bridal sedan chair was lifted, Shen Qinglu's heart also jumped.
At this moment, she finally truly felt that she was heading towards an unfamiliar future. In that future, she would have a completely new identity: a wife, and perhaps even a mother.
She felt like she was dreaming, or like a puppet being manipulated, following the people around her through all the wedding procedures before being led to the bridal chamber.
The gilded lampstands resembled trees, and the celebratory candles shone like stars, illuminating the room with brightness and joy.
All the servants were dismissed, leaving only her and Mu Hanshi. The bridal chamber was filled with a delicate fragrance mixed with the aroma of food, like an ordinary couple enjoying their time alone after nightfall.
Mu Hanshi asked her, "Are you hungry?"
She shook her head, then nodded.
On the bridal sedan chair, she ate some of the prepared pastries. She wasn't very hungry, but she felt it would be awkward not to do anything, so she might as well eat something.
Before she could even get up, Mu Hanshi was already in front of her, and her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, trembled.
Mu Hanshi reached out and gently removed the burdens from her head one by one. This intimate gesture made her feel uneasy, and the handkerchief she was holding almost crumpled into a ball.
Feeling much better, they sat down at the table.
The food was still warm, which showed that the person who prepared it had put a lot of thought into it.
When Mu Hanshi served her food, the strange feeling that had just dissipated in her heart returned, but she didn't act coy. Based on the idea of reciprocity and mutual respect, she also served him food.
It's just a meal after all; no matter how slowly you eat, it will eventually come to an end.
After being well-fed and warmed, it's normal to have such thoughts on your wedding night. Although she was mentally prepared, she still couldn't help feeling flustered and timid, unsure of how to respond. So she pretended to be shy, sitting on the edge of the bed with her head down, avoiding eye contact.
Soon a pair of men's brocade boots came into view, followed by the hem of a wedding robe, and then the man sat down beside her.
Even without looking up, she knew what kind of gaze the people around her were giving her, because her instincts sensed danger, like prey being targeted by a wild beast, unable to escape.
Her hand, resting on the lacquer, unconsciously clenched, as if trying to hold onto something for support, but instead it was held by someone else, like falling into the clutches of a wild beast.
"Your Highness..."
"Call me Wujin; this is my courtesy name."
Something flashed through her mind, as if she had heard the name somewhere before.
"Wu Jin, you can also call me Ali."
She shouldn't be called Ali.
She is his A'Zhu!
Mu Hanshi's voice was deep and resonant, like a siren's chant, "It's getting late, let's go to bed."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qinglu's heart trembled uncontrollably.
She secretly thought that with this man's looks and figure, she was not at a disadvantage at all. Since they were already husband and wife, their intimate relations were inevitable.
Thinking of this, she nodded gently, "Okay."
After saying that, he took off his clothes and shoes by himself, and then obediently lay down on the bed, as if offering a sacrifice.
Mu Hanshi watched her every move, his surging madness like a tsunami, like a giant monster breaking free from the abyss's confinement and finally seeing the sun, impatiently pressing down on her.
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