Chapter 171 Bad Luck
The auspicious day has arrived.
Amidst the sounds of gongs and drums on the streets of the capital, Lu Yuanzhang, dressed in a bright red wedding robe embroidered with gold, rode a tall horse and arrived in a grand procession with an eight-bearer sedan chair at the gate of the Marquis of Jingnan's residence.
As the red-silk-adorned carriage, laden with betrothal gifts, drew envious glances from the surrounding people, some even secretly pointing and whispering.
To say that Lu Yuanzhang was old enough to be the father of a bride is utterly shameless.
Lu Yuanzhang dismounted, a smug look on his face. Seeing Xie Yanzhi's icy expression, Lu Yuanzhang's smile widened.
This marriage was arranged by imperial decree. Even if Xie Yanzhi was unwilling, he could not allow the entire Jingnan Marquis's household to disobey the imperial order.
The servant at the gate, having received a tip, welcomed Lu Yuanzhang inside.
Although the servants and maids along the way bowed to offer their congratulations, their eyes held a strange look. From beginning to end, not a single person came out to stop the door and make a fuss.
Lu Yuanzhang maintained his smile and soon arrived at Xie Min's room.
As soon as he entered, Lu Yuanzhang saw Xie Min sitting on the edge of the bed in a bright red wedding dress. A bright red veil covered her face, revealing only a section of her fair and jade-like chin.
After glancing at Xie Min's belly, Lu Yuanzhang walked over without a word, bent down, and picked her up.
Xie Min was suddenly picked up, and her body trembled involuntarily. She still couldn't suppress her fear of Lu Yuanzhang.
In front of the mansion gate, Madam Lin took out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears, her eyes filled with reluctance to part with Xie Min.
The old lady's cloudy eyes were filled with helplessness and resentment.
Xie Min's body was already ruined by Lu Yuanzhang, and now he has obtained the emperor's bestowal of marriage, which can be considered as giving the Jingnan Marquis's mansion an explanation.
However, Xie Min was originally the legitimate daughter of the second wife. If Lu Yuanzhang hadn't forced her, why would Xie Min have married a man the same age as her father?
The imperial decree could not be disobeyed, and the old lady sighed inwardly.
Madam Xue, the first wife, also felt some sympathy for Xie Min.
This incident also served as a wake-up call for her, and she quickly sought a good husband for Xie Min.
One must never be like Xie Min, who appears glamorous in public but suffers hardships in private that most people cannot bear.
Only Xie Yanzhi, with his deep eyes watching Lu Yuanzhang carry the person away, remained calm, his emotions unreadable.
Looking at Xie Yanzhi's expression, Lu Yuanzhang leaned close to Xie Min's ear and asked, "Is it done?"
Xie Min was taken aback for a moment before she realized what was happening.
"Mmm," Xie Min's voice came softly from under the veil.
Upon hearing this, Lu Yuanzhang smiled knowingly, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.
After glancing at the chests filled with dowry, he gently placed Xie Min into the bridal sedan chair. To the onlookers, Master Lu was very considerate towards his new bride.
Afterwards, Lu Yuanzhang mounted his horse, smiled smugly at Xie Yanzhi, and then led the wedding procession toward the Guangde Marquis's residence.
As Xie Yanzhi watched the wedding procession disappear into the distance, all he could think about was that Yuan Qing and Hong Sui had to come back as soon as possible.
This morning, a servant came to report that Master Xie had vomited some blood again, so Xie Yanzhi and Shen Qingnian rushed to Xie Yisong's room to check on him.
Aunt Su stood guard by his side. Xie Yanzhi saw that Xie Yisong still had his eyes closed, his lips were red, and his face had turned ashen. He looked very uncomfortable.
"Young Master! Second Master..." Upon seeing Xie Yanzhi enter, Aunt Su's tears rolled down her cheeks.
If the eldest young master doesn't bring that woman named Hongyun back soon, the second master might really...
Xie Yanzhi glanced at Shen Qingnian, indicating that she didn't need to rush, as he had arranged everything.
The plan is to take advantage of Lu Yuanzhang's wedding today so that we can sneak into the Marquis of Guangde's residence and take him away.
Now that Lu Yuanzhang has left, Xie Yanzhi still decided to personally go to the Guangde Marquis's residence to meet Yuan Qing and the others.
Unbeknownst to Xie Yanzhi, he had only been gone a short while when two maids appeared at the door and called out, "Aunt Qing!"
Shen Qingnian came out of the house and saw that the two maids were unfamiliar faces. After the incident where she was almost pushed into the water last time, she became a little wary.
"Who are you, and what do you want with me?" Shen Qingnian stared at the two men.
The two maids bowed anxiously and said, "Aunt Qing, it was Sister Ling'er who sent us to find you."
"Ling'er?" Shen Qingnian had already told Ling'er to tell the old lady that she wanted to stay with Aunt Su and help take care of the second master.
"Yes, Sister Ling'er has somehow angered the old lady and is now to be punished by the old lady with a cane!"
Shen Qingnian's heart tightened. Today was Xie Min's wedding, and the old lady was very dissatisfied with the marriage. She wondered what Ling'er had done to displease the old lady.
"Aunt Qing, you should go now." As she spoke, she took out a purse and showed it to Shen Qingnian.
Shen Qingnian recognized it as Ling'er's at a glance.
"Sister Ling'er secretly slipped it to us, telling us to tell Auntie."
"As long as we inform our aunt, the copper coins in this purse will be ours, and then we'll..."
Shen Qingnian took the purse, then called Hongyu and went to the Wenxin Hall.
Just as the two women turned the corner, two maids darted out from behind them, took out towels soaked in medicine, and covered their mouths and noses.
Moments later, Shen Qingnian and Hongyu fainted.
The two maids quickly carried Shen Qingnian into a mahogany box that had been prepared beforehand.
He closed the lid tightly and then carved a tiny scratch on the corner of the box as a mark.
They then mingled with Xie Min's dowry and were quietly transported out of the Jingnan Marquis's residence.
Hongyu was bound hand and foot and thrown behind the artificial hill.
Meanwhile, Lu Yuanzhang had already welcomed Xie Min into the Guangde Marquis's residence. After the two completed their wedding ceremony, he went straight to the front hall to greet the guests, while Xie Min was led into the bridal chamber by the matchmaker and maids.
After Lu Yuanzhang finished entertaining the guests in the front hall, he came to the bridal chamber, reeking of alcohol. As soon as he entered, he chased all the maids and servants out of the room.
The room suddenly fell silent, and Xie Min's heart jumped into her throat.
She was afraid to be alone with Lu Yuanzhang.
Just as she was tightly clutching the handkerchief, Lu Yuanzhang suddenly rudely ripped off the veil from her head.
Seeing Xie Min's face painted so white, and her lips smeared like fresh blood.
Lu Yuanzhang raised his hand and slapped her across the face!
"What bad luck! On such a joyous day, the painting looks like a dead person!"
Xie Min was knocked onto the bed by the sudden slap.
She propped herself up and covered her face.
The burning pain brought tears to her eyes, but thinking that it wasn't the right time yet, a flash of hatred crossed her eyes.
She turned around, looked at Lu Yuanzhang with a pitiful expression, and her shoulders trembled slightly involuntarily, looking extremely frightened.
Upon seeing this, Lu Yuanzhang lost all interest.
"Take good care of my son, or you'll be sorry!"
Leaving behind these words, Lu Yuanzhang stepped out of the house.
Seeing Lu Yuanzhang leave, Xie Min wiped away the tears in her eyes, and a surge of intense hatred welled up within her. A smile involuntarily crept onto her face.
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