Chapter 84 The lady couldn't sleep all night.
The matchmaker's shout was like a drop of water falling into a hot oil pan, and the room instantly erupted in chaos.
"Oh dear, the fan! The one with double-sided embroidery!" Xue Han turned around in a panic to look for it, almost tripping over her own skirt. Luckily, Shan Chun caught her in time.
The nun, Quanfu, smiled broadly, taking out a round fan she had prepared beforehand from a brocade box she carried with her. The fan was embroidered with twin lotus flowers on both sides, one side depicting a pink lotus just beginning to bloom, and the other a white lotus standing tall, edged with gold thread—exquisitely crafted. She held it out to Yu Man with both hands, saying, "The bride should use this fan to cover her face, lest the heat outside ruin her makeup and good fortune."
Yu Man took the fan; it felt slightly heavy in her hand, and the handle was warm and smooth, made of fine ivory. She held the fan up to her face, and everything before her was blurred by the exquisite embroidered screen.
"It's time to go to the main hall to bid farewell to your parents," Granny Quanfu reminded her.
Shan Chun stepped forward and firmly supported Yu Man's arm. The two, master and servant, walked slowly out of the inner room, through the corridor, and towards the main hall.
The main hall was already packed with people. In the high hall, Father Yu and Third Sister Deng sat side by side, both dressed in brand-new clothes—Father Yu in a dark ochre robe with subtle patterns, and Third Sister Deng in a maroon jacket embroidered with gold chrysanthemums. Her hair was meticulously combed, and she wore a pair of gold-inlaid jade hairpins that Yu Man had specially made for her a few days earlier. Little Xiuxiu was held in Third Sister Deng's arms, her big, round eyes following the doorway. Seeing Yu Man appear, she immediately called out in a clear voice, "Sister!"
On either side below, Jin Chuchuan, Chunyu Zhi, and Xi Queping also arrived, along with Gu Chengling and Luo Wanxi, filling the originally spacious main hall to capacity.
When Yu Man, holding a fan to cover her face, was helped by Shan Chun into the main hall, the previously noisy voices suddenly fell silent, followed by a chorus of suppressed gasps and exclamations.
Even though the fan covered most of her face, her magnificent wedding dress, her graceful figure, and her serene yet radiant demeanor were enough to captivate anyone.
The pearl tassels swayed with each step, reflecting a warm luster, while the phoenixes and peonies on the brocade shone brightly in the light.
“Incredible…” Chunyu Zhi said in a low voice to Jin Chuchuan beside him, “This Lady Yu usually looks so straightforward, but when she dresses up, she’s truly like a fairy princess.”
Jin Chuchuan, unusually, didn't argue and simply nodded.
Xi Queping smiled as usual, thinking to himself that someone had finally gotten what they wanted.
Pei Ji, standing in the hall in a bright red wedding robe, turned around at that moment.
Today, Pei Ji had shed his usual blue attire and donned a bright red round-necked wedding robe in the same color as Yu Man's wedding dress. The robe was embroidered with cloud patterns and cranes in gold thread, and he wore a jade belt and a golden crown. This vibrant and passionate color did not diminish his handsome appearance in the slightest; on the contrary, it accentuated his exquisite features and jade-like complexion. He appeared less aloof and gentle than usual, and more spirited and dashing, befitting a groom.
He stood there, his posture as upright as a pine tree, his gaze passing over the crowd and landing directly on Yu Man, who was approaching with a fan. His eyes were filled with a gentle smile and amazement.
The man is as steadfast as a pine tree, the woman as graceful as a secluded orchid.
Their perfectly matched appearance made all the guests in the hall think of four words: a match made in heaven.
Yu Man stood still in the hall. The nun, Quanfu, announced loudly, "The bride bids farewell to her parents—"
Yu Man slowly knelt down, holding a round fan, and respectfully kowtowed three times to her parents at the head of the table.
As the first head slammed down, she heard Deng San Niang's suppressed, very faint gasp.
When the second head was kowtowed, Yu's father's hands, which were resting on his knees, trembled slightly.
As she kowtowed for the third time, she raised her head and, through the hazy gap in the fan, saw that Deng San Niang was already in tears, but she was holding back and refusing to cry out. She saw that Yu's father's eyes were red and his lips were trembling, as if he wanted to say something, but he could only utter a few breathy sounds.
"Father, Mother," Yu Man said, her voice clear and steady, with a barely perceptible sob, "I am getting married today, and I thank you for raising me all these years. Although I will not be at home from now on, I will always remember you. I wish you good health and a long and happy life."
Pei Ji stepped forward and knelt beside her, kowtowing three times respectfully. His voice was warmer and deeper than usual, each word clear and distinct: "Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, today I take Xiaoman as my wife. I hereby swear that I will respect her, love her, and protect her, and will not let her suffer the slightest grievance. Father-in-law and Mother-in-law have entrusted their precious daughter to me, and I will certainly live up to your trust, cherish her, and stay with her until our hair turns white."
Hearing these words and looking at his daughter and son-in-law kneeling side by side before him, Yu's father finally couldn't hold back any longer, and hot tears streamed down his face. He reached out his rough, calloused hand to help his daughter up, but pulled it back halfway, wiping it only on his knee, before saying in a trembling voice, "Good...good...Aman." He couldn't continue, his voice choked with sobs.
Deng San Niang took over the conversation, trying to keep her voice steady: "Aman, Erlang, you two must take good care of yourselves. The most important thing between husband and wife is mutual understanding and support." She looked at Pei Ji, her eyes filled with expectation and a hint of pleading, "Our Aman... is entrusted to you."
Pei Ji nodded solemnly: "Don't worry, Mother-in-law."
The nun, Quanfu, sang again: "The ceremony is complete—the bride should now leave for the sedan chair!"
According to the customs of Laizhou and even the capital, when a bride leaves her home, she must be carried out of the gate by her elder brother or cousin, her feet not touching the ground, signifying that she will not take away the good fortune of her family. However, Yu Man had no elder brother. The official in charge of the ceremony originally suggested finding a male relative from the same clan or a distant relative to take her place, but Yu's father flatly refused.
“My daughter has feet and can walk on her own,” Mr. Yu said. “Good fortune follows you; it doesn’t just disappear when you step on the ground. I want to see with my own eyes how my daughter walks out of our own house, step by step.”
The official in charge of etiquette felt this was against the rules and wanted to persuade him again, but Yu's father still refused to budge: "Rules are rigid, but people are flexible."
The master of ceremonies had no choice but to bite the bullet and go to Pei Ji, the groom, hoping that the third-ranked scholar would understand the situation. To his surprise, Pei Ji listened and only said gently, "Since it is your father-in-law's wish, then so be it. Rules are made by people. Today, I am marrying Aman, and the most important thing is that she and her family are happy."
The official in charge of ceremonies was rebuffed and had no choice but to accept it, though he thought to himself: This Pei Hanlin seems so gentle and refined, how could he be so lenient with his wife's family in this matter? He must really value this lady very much.
Thus, under everyone's watchful eyes, the following scene unfolded—instead of being carried by his elder brother, Yu's father and Deng San Niang, one on each side, personally supported Yu Man, who was covering his face with a fan. Xiu Xiu was led by Deng San Niang's other hand, with Xue Han and Shan Chun following closely behind. Jin Chu Chuan, Chun Yu Zhi, Xi Que Ping, and a group of close friends surrounded them. The group marched in a grand procession from the main hall through the courtyard and step by step toward the gate.
Yu's father walked slowly, each step firm and steady. He turned his head to look at his daughter's profile, half-hidden by the fan, and whispered, "Aman, watch your step, walk carefully." Deng Sanniang also held her daughter's arm tightly.
We finally arrived at the main gate.
The suona horns and gongs blared loudly, firecrackers crackled and popped, and red paper scraps fluttered down like a festive rain of flowers.
A crimson and gilded sedan chair, carried by eight men, was parked outside the gate. The chair was adorned with red decorations and was extremely ornate. In front of the chair, Pei Ji had already mounted his horse. His bright red wedding robes made him look even more upright. He turned around and looked over, his gaze passing through the crowd and landing precisely on Yu Man.
Supported by her parents, Yu Man steadily stepped over the red-carpeted steps and walked to the sedan chair. The matchmaker stepped forward and lifted the curtain, and Shan Chun helped Yu Man into the chair.
The sedan chair was spacious, with thick brocade quilts, and a small hand warmer and several plates of snacks in the corner, which were obviously specially prepared at Pei Ji's request.
Yu's father and Deng Sanniang stood beside the sedan chair, taking one last look as the curtain fell, obscuring their daughter's figure.
Pei Ji, still on horseback, clasped his hands in a fist salute and bowed deeply once more towards his parents-in-law.
The master of ceremonies took a deep breath, gathered his strength, and shouted:
"Lift—the sedan chair—!"
Suddenly, music filled the air and firecrackers went off in unison.
Eight sedan chair bearers steadily lifted the bridal sedan chair. The wedding procession stretched out in a long line—in front were the ceremonial guards and musicians, followed by the groom's tall horse and bridal sedan chair, and behind them was a winding procession of dowry that seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see.
Pei Ji's betrothal gifts were already quite generous, totaling 128 loads, including gold, silver, jade, silk, cloth, and land deeds, which had long been a source of pride in the capital.
The dowry prepared by the Yu family was equally impressive, consisting of sixty-four loads. Although it was less than the number of betrothal gifts, each load was substantial. From furniture and decorations to daily necessities, from silk and satin to books and paintings, it almost emptied the Yu family's savings over the years and poured in all the love and care that parents could think of.
Yu Man initially refused to accept such a large dowry, feeling that her parents and Xiu Xiu'er'an would still need to support themselves in the future. However, Yu's father was determined on this matter: "Aman, I know you are capable and don't lack these things. These should have been yours in the first place. There's no need to say anything more. This is what I decide."
At this moment, the sixty-four palanquins carrying the dowry followed behind the bridal sedan chair, bound with red silk, drawing gasps of amazement from the onlookers along the way.
"Incredible! The Yu family's dowry is even more impressive than that of many daughters from official families!"
"I heard that Boss Yu is very capable, and her restaurant is thriving. She probably earned a lot of that money herself!"
"Pei Tanhua is a man of deep affection, Yu Dongjia is capable, and Yu's parents are so willing to part with their children. This is truly a good match!"
"Look, look! The bride's sedan chair has passed by! What a grand affair!"
Inside the bridal sedan chair, Yu Man's hand, gripping the fan handle, unconsciously tightened slightly with the slight swaying of the chair and the incessant music, firecrackers, and voices outside.
The delicate twin lotus blossoms on the fan swayed before my eyes, isolating me from the noise of the outside world.
She was really getting married, to Pei Ji, the man she had known and loved for many years.
The bridal sedan chair moved steadily forward, not far from Xilai Residence. About half an hour later, it stopped in front of a mansion. The mansion gate wasn't particularly grand, but it was very well maintained. Above the gate hung a plaque with gold characters on a black background—Pei Mansion. At this moment, the gate was wide open, and everywhere was decorated with red and colorful decorations. Red silk stretched from the lintel to the courtyard, creating an extremely festive atmosphere.
The bridal sedan chair landed.
Granny Quanfu and the matchmaker stepped forward, lifted the sedan curtain, and helped Yu Man out of the sedan.
Yu Man still held a fan to cover her face, her head lowered, and all she could see was the red carpet that stretched out from her feet.
She and Pei Ji each held one end of a red silk ribbon. Guided by the wedding attendant, they stepped over the saddle placed in front of the door and then over the brazier burning charcoal. The force from the other end of the red ribbon was steady and firm, pulling her forward step by step.
The wedding hall was decorated in a grand and festive manner, with Pei Ji's parents, Pei's father and mother, seated in the main hall.
The emcee sang:
"First bow to Heaven and Earth—"
The two turned and bowed to the outside of the hall. Yu Man lowered her eyes and could only see the hem of her wedding dress and the corner of Pei Ji's wedding robe, as well as the red silk that was connected in their hands.
"Second bow to the parents—"
He turned to the elders and bowed again. Pei's father still maintained a stern expression, while Pei's mother smiled and nodded, quickly having someone help her up.
"Husband and wife bow to each other—"
The two stood facing each other, separated by a round fan. Yu Man could feel Pei Ji's gaze on her. She slowly bent down, and as the fan drew closer, the clear and familiar scent of ink that had always lingered around Pei Ji became even more distinct and entered her nostrils.
This flavor has remained unchanged from Xingcheng Village to Beijing.
Just as she bent down, the system in her mind, which had been silent for a long time, suddenly beeped and said in a mechanical, flat voice:
[Congratulations on your wedding, host.]
At the moment the ceremony was completed, Pei Ji seemed to sense something. Through the fan, he leaned slightly forward and said in a low voice that only the two of them could hear, "Aman, I am very happy."
His voice carried a hint of genuine, barely suppressed laughter, and was even gentler than usual.
“Far beyond…all that was before.”
Yu Man paused for a moment, then a slight smile curved her lips behind the fan.
"The ceremony is complete—send them to the bridal chamber!" the master of ceremonies announced in a drawn-out voice.
Next comes the ceremony of turning off the fan.
Inside the bridal chamber, red candles burned brightly, and brocade quilts were laid out. Pei Ji stood before Yu Man, hesitated for a moment, and then recited softly:
"In the past, we brewed tea together in Laishui; today, red candles illuminate the vermilion."
A round fan lightly veils her lotus-like face; she wishes to borrow the east wind to caress the reeds.
Open the fan and you'll see the moonlight filling the sky; from then on, the green mountains will share the evening glow.
Yu Man felt a slight stirring in her heart upon hearing this, and slowly moved the round fan that was covering her face away.
In the candlelight, she looked up and met his gaze. His eyes reflected the flickering candlelight and her figure, focused and tender, as if nothing else in the world mattered.
After the fan-making ceremony was completed, Pei Ji still needed to go to the front hall to greet the guests. He gently instructed, "If you are tired, have a maid serve you and let you rest first."
Yu Man nodded.
Pei Ji then turned and left, and the bridal chamber immediately fell silent, with only the occasional crackling of the red candles.
Yu Man breathed a sigh of relief almost immediately, raised her hand to adjust the heavy phoenix crown on her head, and frowned as she said to Shan Chun, "Quickly, call someone in to help me take off this headdress, it's giving me a headache."
If it were any other maid or wedding attendant, they would have advised the bride to wait for the groom to return before removing her makeup and hair, otherwise it would be bad luck. But Shan Chun wouldn't; she only listened to Yu Man. Upon hearing this, she immediately nodded and turned to go outside to call for someone.
Just then, a soft knock came from outside.
Shan Chun opened the door, and standing outside was a young woman with a round face, almond eyes, and a friendly smile. She was about twenty years old, with her hair neatly styled in a woman's bun and dressed elegantly. She curtsied to Shan Chun and then smiled at Yu Man inside the room, saying, "This servant, Wen Xing, has come on Lord Pei's orders to help Madam with her makeup and changing."
"Come in quickly," Yu Man said hurriedly upon hearing this.
Wen Xing was extremely quick and skillful, and clearly had a deep understanding of the art.
She first carefully removed Yu Man's heavy phoenix crown, then gently but quickly untied the intricate pearl hairpins and ornaments from her hair. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, her long black hair was freed. Wen Xing used a jade comb to carefully comb it several times, and with nimble fingers, she tied it into a loose yet elegant single bun, securing it with a simple white jade hairpin, while the rest of her long hair cascaded down her shoulders.
With a sudden lightness in her head, Yu Man breathed a long sigh of relief and couldn't help but move her stiff neck.
Almost simultaneously, a maid entered from outside the door carrying a vermilion tray with several delicate pastries and side dishes, as well as a bowl of steaming hot shredded chicken noodles. "Madam, this is what the master instructed the kitchen to prepare. Please have some."
Looking at this perfectly arranged meal, Yu Man felt much more at ease. She was indeed hungry, so she didn't stand on ceremony. She wiped her hands with the damp cloth that Shan Chun handed her and sat down to eat slowly. The pastries were sweet but not greasy, and the chicken noodle soup was fresh and delicious; it was clear that it had been made with care.
The meal lasted quite a while.
After Yu Man finished her meal, Wen Xing helped her rinse her mouth and then quietly led the others away. Yu Man also told Shan Chun to rest, as he had been busy with her all day.
Shan Chun looked at her.
Yu Man smiled and said, "Go ahead."
Shan Chuncai nodded, turned around, and left the house.
With nothing else to do, Yu Man began to look around the new room.
The room was spacious and bright, with elegant furnishings, but upon closer inspection, one could find many familiar details—the arrangement of writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones on the desk by the window was exactly the same as in her room at Xilaiju; besides the decorations, a shelf on the display cabinet was deliberately left empty, as if waiting for its owner to fill it in; on the tatami by the window, several brand-new, brightly colored storybooks were casually placed, exactly the kind she had been enjoying reading recently; even the color of the bed curtains and the softness and thickness of the bedding were to her liking.
This room was clearly decorated little by little according to her preferences.
Yu Man walked to the desk, picked up a storybook at random, and flipped through it.
As night deepened, the noise outside seemed to gradually subside. Yu Man read a storybook for a while, then felt a little sleepy. Just as she was wondering if she should wash up first, the maid who had brought her food earlier gently knocked on the door and asked softly, "Madam, the hot water is ready. Would you like to take a bath now?"
"How coincidental," Yu Man replied, "I'll take it."
The maidservant then led two burly old women in carrying in a large bath tub and hot water. Steam quickly filled the space behind the screen.
Yu Man took a relaxing bath, washing away her fatigue. When she came out, the maid was already waiting with a soft, large towel, gently wringing out her long hair with practiced skill and just the right amount of force. Once everything was done, the maid quietly withdrew.
Yu Man changed into a soft, bright red nightgown, her hair half-dry and draped behind her back, and sat on the edge of the bed. Sleepiness was creeping in, but remembering that the groom hadn't returned yet, she forced herself to stay awake, picked up the storybook she'd been reading, and decided to read a few more pages.
Just as I opened the door, there was another knock.
This time, it wasn't a maidservant; Pei Ji walked in and closed the door behind him.
Perhaps it was because of the alcohol, but his usually fair cheeks were tinged with a faint blush, though his eyes remained clear, even brighter than usual. He stood there at the door, his gaze quietly fixed on Yu Man, from her loose hair to her nightgown, which was the same color as his, and then to her somewhat dazed face.
This gaze was different from his usual gentle and smiling look; it was deeper, more focused, and carried something Yu Man had never seen in him before—a direct and intense one.
It was as if the gentle, jade-like exterior had been peeled away, revealing a more authentic and aggressive essence within, just like what happened at Shanqing Academy.
Yu Man wasn't really scared; instead, she yawned.
"Are you sleepy?" he asked first, his voice lower and hoarser than usual, slightly tipsy, yet unusually gentle.
Yu Man wrinkled her nose and said deliberately, "Come closer."
Pei Ji did as he was told and approached. Yu Man leaned close to him and sniffed, then looked up at him: "You smell of alcohol. You've had quite a bit to drink?"
Pei Ji chuckled, raising his hand to smell his sleeve: "Those classmates, and Xi Queping and the others, wouldn't let me off easily." He paused, "But I dodged most of them, mostly tea."
"Scheming," Yu Man commented.
Pei Ji smiled, walked to the table, picked up two gourd ladles tied with red silk that had been prepared beforehand, handed one to Yu Man, and took the other for himself. The wine in the ladles was clear and cool, reflecting the candlelight.
The two men clasped arms and each drank the wine in their gourds. The wine was the finest osmanthus brew, sweet on the palate and with a lingering aftertaste.
After finishing his drink, Pei Ji put down the wine ladle, suddenly chuckled, and whispered, "Now, you have one too."
Yu Man was taken aback, then realized he was referring to the smell of alcohol, and couldn't help but want to kick him lightly.
Pei Ji seemed to have anticipated this, taking a step back with a deeper smile in his eyes. "I'm going to wash up," he said gently, turning and walking towards the clean room behind the screen.
When he came out again, he had changed into a soft nightgown that matched Yu Man's. His dark hair was half-dry, and he carried a refreshing moisture and a faint scent of soap. He looked up and saw that Yu Man had already gotten into bed, leaning against the headboard, covered with a brocade quilt, lying... extremely upright, with her hands folded on her abdomen, her eyes closed, but her eyelashes trembling slightly.
It's obvious he's pretending to be asleep.
Pei Ji couldn't help but chuckle. Instead of rushing over, he walked to the table, picked up a pair of silver scissors, and extinguished the nearby candles, leaving only the pair of large wedding candles in the distance, carved with auspicious dragon and phoenix patterns. The light in the room immediately dimmed and softened, leaving only a hazy, flickering warm yellow glow.
He walked to the bedside, lifted a corner of the blanket, and lay down.
The mattress beside me dipped slightly, and the warmth and scent of another person slowly approached.
The candlelight cast a dim, warm glow over the room, making Yu Man feel somewhat uneasy.
Strangely, the person beside me fell silent after lying down, with only steady, shallow breathing remaining.
Yu Man endured it for a long time, but finally turned her head quietly to look at him.
Pei Ji had his eyes closed, his brows relaxed, and a faint smile seemed to linger on his lips, as if he truly intended to fall asleep.
He... just fell asleep like that?
The vague tension in Yu Man's heart suddenly mingled with a strange, subtle annoyance. She pulled back the covers, propped herself up in a half-sitting position, and turned to look at him.
Almost the instant her gaze fixed on him, his closed eyes opened.
"What's wrong?" he asked, his voice low and soft, almost breathy.
Yu Man was speechless for a moment.
She then noticed that her elaborate crown and ribbons had been removed, and her long, black hair was now scattered across the pillow, revealing a complexion as white and smooth as jade. Her eyes, usually gentle and warm like spring water, now held a captivating allure in this moment and place.
Truly... seeing a beauty under the lamp, one's soul is captivated by her allure.
Her gaze lingered for a moment, inadvertently catching sight of the thin red gauze that the wedding attendant had specially tied inside the bed curtains. As thin as a cicada's wing, it shimmered with a hazy light, swaying gently as she rose.
A thought suddenly popped into my head.
“You…” She cleared her throat and commanded in a serious tone, “Close your eyes first.”
Pei Ji raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly, his smile deepening, but he readily closed his eyes.
With his sight taken away, his other senses suddenly became acutely acute. He could hear her rustling movements, the subtle rustling of her clothes, and her slightly rapid breathing, which she herself might not even be aware of.
The next moment, an extremely soft fabric, carrying her faint, warm fragrance, gently fell down, covering his eyebrows and eyes, plunging his vision into an ambiguous, faintly glowing red.
He still remembered it was the red gauze of the bed curtains.
It was as if only this pale red fabric remained, along with her breath so close to his.
A soft, slightly trembling touch, through a thin veil.
At first, there was a desire to touch and then pull away, grinding and intertwining.
The roughness is irritating.
Those are the patterns embroidered on it.
Mandarin ducks playing in the water.
She was originally a cool and refined person, but now her fingertips moved slightly, and she deftly lifted the layer of veil that was in the way.
A long, strong hand suddenly rose and precisely gripped the back of her neck.
Instead of pushing her away, he aggressively pressed her back towards him.
There were no more barriers between the two.
In her moment of infatuation and confusion, Yu felt as if she had returned to the day she cruised the river, where green lotus leaves and red buds unfurled and closed, and the gentle rocking of the wooden oars produced soft, warm ripples.
The boat was extremely narrow, like a knife cutting through the water, silently cleaving through the dense, impenetrable green of the pond.
As the boat gently parted the two lotus leaves, dewdrops rolled down from the center of the leaf, fine and dense, like silver beads from a broken string jumping into a jade plate. The entire lotus leaf trembled slightly, shaking off the long-accumulated fragrance.
It was damp and had a slightly bitter, unripe taste.
The oars creaked softly, at a leisurely pace.
People let it shake, but when it shakes violently, they can't help but want to find something to cling to.
He clenched his fingers, pulled them down a little, but couldn't let go.
When the boat finally emerged from the other end, I was in a daze. My clothes were stained with fragrance, my cuffs were damp with dew, and even my eyes were misty.
I couldn't sleep all night.
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Author's Note: [Facepalm peeking][Facepalm peeking][Facepalm peeking] Here it comes!
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