Jing City was a hundred li away from the Shen family, and fearing the miss of the auspicious ti, a new horse-drawn carriage adorned with red silk was used for the bridal reception instead of the traditional red palanquin. The carriage had three layers of thick mattresses, soft and cushy, and even though the ride was bumpy, it was still bearable.
Mo Yan sat in another carriage behind the wedding carriage, which also had thick mattresses laid on top. They hurried along without stopping, and finally arrived at the Shen family before You Ti.
The auspicious mont for the ceremonial bows was in the second period of You Ti. On the matrimonial hall, Mo Yan finally saw the legendary cousin of the Shen family—Lu Zhu.
Lu Zhu, at twenty-eight years of age, had delicate features and a slender figure that garnered praise for her beauty from all who saw her. At the mont, she stood beside the matrimonial hall in a beige dress with small white flowers tucked in her hair, which stood out starkly against the red hues of the hall. Unlike the jovial guests around her, she had a cold expression, her eyes fiercely fixated on the couple kneeling at the center, jealousy nearly leaping out of her gaze.
One needn’t point her out for Mo Yan to guess who she was. Seeing her, Mo Yan’s previously smiling face suddenly turned cold, alarming a daughter-in-law who was specifically arranged by the Shen family to attend to her, not understanding why Princess Hejia’s expression had suddenly changed.
As the noble person’s eyes seed ready to burst into flas, the daughter-in-law, overcoming her fear, hurriedly asked, "Your Highness, are you feeling uncomfortable in any way?"
At this mont, Mo Yan was furious. Lu Zhu had just lost her mother and was in deep mourning, so wearing white was not wrong, but she should never have appeared in the matrimonial hall. On such a joyful day, those in mourning were not supposed to be present, a rule Mo Yan knew well. Did not one person in the entire Shen family understand this?
This was clearly a disregard for the Liu family’s daughter!
Upon hearing the daughter-in-law’s words, Mo Yan found an outlet for her anger, and she sneered, "The Shen family has such fine rules indeed. It’s the first ti this County Lord has heard that soone in deep mourning could attend the matrimonial hall."
The daughter-in-law, startled by her words, quickly looked around and indeed saw Lu Zhu standing in a corner of the throng, turning pale with fright.
As Mo Yan’s face grew darker, the daughter-in-law cursed the ignorant Lu Zhu in her heart, but on the surface, she had to offer a cautious explanation, "Your Highness, this girl is young and unaware of her conduct. Perhaps she coveted the liveliness here and montarily forgot herself. Please don’t take it to heart over a young girl. I will have her removed imdiately."
Mo Yan gave the daughter-in-law a mockingly cold look, her eyes chilling further, "Whether it was a lapse of mory or intentional, Mada is well aware. Even if she is brought down now, it’s aningless."
Actually, from the daughter-in-law’s reaction earlier, Mo Yan had already cald down. It was impossible for the Shen family to have done this on purpose. They might not care for the Liu family’s daughter, but there was no reason for them to seek bad luck for their own son on his wedding day.
Considering where Lu Zhu stood, she must have sneaked in when nobody was looking. With so many people in the matrimonial hall, all eyes drawn to the couple paying respect, it wasn’t surprising she went unnoticed.
What infuriated Mo Yan the most was that Lu Zhu’s deanor clearly showed her undying infatuation for her cousin Shen Ji. As long as she was in the Shen family, she would definitely make trouble for Mo Yan’s friend. If she had any sense of propriety, it might stir trouble with her friend’s relationship with her husband and in-laws, and if she was brazen, who knew if she might do sothing as shaful as offer herself to him.
Seeing Lu Zhu’s affectionate and dazed eyes fixed on Shen Ji as he bowed, the coldness in Mo Yan’s eyes intensified.
The master of ceremonies had already finished chanting the couple’s vows, and though their faces were covered, the two in the matrimonial hall bowed in perfect harmony, then simultaneously stood back up. Mo Yan suppressed the displeasure in her heart and did not make a scene, but she would not let this matter go!
Liu Tinglan and Shen Ji, the newlyweds, were escorted to their bridal chamber by the wedding maids and so of the Shen family’s main branch, and Mo Yan, as a maternal family mber of the bride, could not follow any longer. They were warmly invited to dine by Father Shen and Mother Shen.
The Shen family was originally a rchant family, only gaining respectability when Shen Ji beca a Scholar and subsequently passed the imperial examinations. Among the guests who had co to offer congratulations, aside from family, most were businessn who had dealings with the Shen family. Even though a few held public office, they were minor officials, making Mo Yan the most distinguished guest. She was seated at the head of the table, accompanied by Mada Shen and the wives of a few officials.
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