The elderly woman who combed Ye Qingxue's hair was invited by the Princess Consort of Yu. She was an eighty-year-old wife of a marquis, who had a happy marriage and two sons and two daughters. She was both filial and outstanding.
Among the prominent families in Kyoto, the most fortunate was this Marquis's wife.
When Ye Qingxue met her, although she had white hair, she was very healthy and had a good set of teeth; she could even crack sunflower seeds.
Any woman of advanced age who saw her like this couldn't help but admire and respect her, and were all afraid that she would knock out her teeth.
Ye Qingxue sat in front of her dressing table, surrounded by the laughter of the women in the room. The red silk and wedding candles made her cheeks blush, making her even more beautiful than rouge.
It's almost time.
The Marquis's wife, looking remarkably spry, picked up the comb and said with a smile, "One comb to the end, and husband and wife will be loving and harmonious!"
As soon as the comb touched the ground, Ye Qingxue cried out "Ouch!" It turned out that the old lady had used too much force, making her scalp tingle, which caused all the women in the room to burst into laughter.
"With the second comb reaching the middle, you'll have a house full of happy children and grandchildren!" The old lady joked as she combed her hair, "Your hair is so black and shiny, your future baby will definitely be as plump and white as a little lamb!"
Ye Qingxue thought of Xiaobao and smiled at herself in the mirror.
"Three combs to the end, and you'll have no worries about wealth and glory!" the old lady said, combing her hair for the third time, when suddenly a long hair was snagged by the comb teeth.
The women in the room fell silent instantly—according to old sayings, this was an ominous sign.
Ye Qingxue also noticed the subtle change in the atmosphere.
The Marquis's wife paused for a moment, then, without changing her expression, wrapped the severed hair around the comb handle: "I've lived for eighty years; my broken hair could be woven into a net. Look—"
She pointed to her still thick white hair, "Does it prevent me from having a house full of children and grandchildren?"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Princess Yu took the severed hair and wrapped it in red silk, then tucked it into Ye Qingxue's sleeve: "Keep it. Tomorrow, I'll have Prince Jing cut off his own hair and tie it with yours. That will be called tying our hair together as husband and wife."
Everyone laughed again, as if the hair-cutting incident was just a minor episode, not worth mentioning at all.
Princess Rongqing presented the dowry she had prepared for Ye Qingxue, a pair of filigree gold phoenix hairpins.
Its phoenix eyes, inlaid with Persian glass, seemed to come alive in the candlelight.
"It's so beautiful, thank you Princess Rongqing, I love it!" Ye Qingxue handed it to Chunqian.
Princess Rongqing laughed so hard her eyes almost disappeared. "I'm even happier! From tomorrow onwards, the fairy sister will be my sister-in-law!"
The child's voice was young but very earnest.
Ye Qingxue's room was filled with laughter and joy.
Others also presented their dowries, all of which were extremely valuable or full of sincerity, and Ye Qingxue thanked them all and accepted them.
Next up is the lucky saying competition—
"The bride is so beautiful, His Highness Prince Jing's hands will tremble when he lifts the veil tomorrow!"
"If you ask me, we should prepare a handkerchief for His Highness Prince Jing to wipe his drool!"
Ye Qingxue couldn't help but smile when she thought of that scene.
"The bride's hands are so white and tender, like delicate onions. His Highness Prince Jing will definitely not want to let go once he holds them!"
"That's more than that! I think His Highness Prince Jing would have to keep his hands warm every day, and wouldn't even need a heater in winter!"
"..."
Everyone laughed so hard they were doubled over, and tears were almost streaming down their faces.
But outside the courtyard, someone was listening, and tears streamed down their face – it was Madam Zhou.
She wanted to prepare a dowry for Ye Qingxue, but Ye Qingxue refused; she even forbade her to step into Lixue Residence!
The girl getting married tomorrow is her own daughter. Everyone else can be by Ye Qingxue's side, chatting and laughing with her, but she, as her mother, cannot step into the room...
Madam Zhou never imagined that she would end up in such a state. Leaning against the courtyard wall, she couldn't help but cough.
Granny Kang immediately supported her: "Madam, you haven't been feeling well lately. Let's go back early. If you fall ill... how can the young lady rest in peace after her marriage?"
Ye Qingxue wouldn't be worried; she wouldn't care about her own life or death at all... However, Madam Zhou also knew that if she fell ill at this time, it would definitely affect Ye Qingxue's marriage.
She removed the handkerchief covering her mouth and saw a trace of blood, which she quickly hid.
Ye Qingxue doesn't want anything from her, and she doesn't acknowledge her as her mother... This is the sin she committed, and she deserves it. Therefore, she absolutely cannot ruin Ye Qingxue's marriage.
"Granny Kang, help me back," Madam Zhou said weakly.
Granny Kang wiped away her tears and said "Eh," helping Madam Zhou turn around. Just then, Hui Qi ran past them, with a huge bow tied around his neck and a brocade pouch attached to it.
A short while later, Madam Zhou heard a voice coming from Ye Qingxue's room, saying, "His Highness Prince Jing sent Hui Qi to deliver something. Let's quickly see what it is."
"The wedding is tomorrow, is Prince Jing still so impatient? Can't he wait until tomorrow night, on their wedding night, to present these good things?"
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