As if sensing the wedding atmosphere between the Xu and Song Families, the dancing snowflakes gradually stopped. The white snow covered the entire Capital’s hustle, leaving only this place filled with the festive and lively sound of drums and suona.
The groom, Xu Shu, was being teased in various ways by Xie Tao’s wife and a few others outside the courtyard gate.
Guessing that the auspicious ti was approaching, Aunt Xie finally smiled and allowed them to let him in.
Granny Song and Old Song were already seated in the main house.
Xu Shu, dressed in a bright red wedding robe, stepped on the freshly laid new snow with new boots, walking forward step by step. At the entrance of the main house, he deliberately stomped off the snow on his shoes.
Yang lifted the curtain for him, and Wen Wan prepared a cushion inside.
Once Xu Shu entered, he imdiately kneeled on the cushion and kowtowed three tis to his father-in-law and mother-in-law. Usually glib with words, he found himself tongue-tied at these crucial monts. After a long pause, he could only muster a few reassurances to his in-laws, promising to take good care of Miss Song.
Granny Song, knowing well the nature of her own daughter, could not help but remind Xu Shu a few things, saying Fangniang might occasionally be a bit temperantal, hoping he would tolerate her and not take a young girl’s whims seriously.
Xu Shu chuckled dryly, feeling a bit chilly inside.
If what Song used to do was considered minor tantrums, wouldn’t his future be turned upside down?!
... Is it too late to regret now?
Before Xu Shu could finish his thought, Aunt Xie ca in to announce that the auspicious ti had arrived, and the bride was about to leave.
Xu Shu hurriedly stood up.
Song Wei had already arrived at Song Fang’s boudoir door.
The bride, covered with a red veil, was helped out step by step by the wedding matchmaker.
The fitted bridal gown outlined her curvaceous figure, and her slow pace made the person within the dress appear even more graceful and elegant.
All the graceful deanor Song Fang learned at Hongwen Academy was displayed at this mont.
The mont she leaned on Song Wei’s back, Song Fang suddenly rembered sothing and whispered, "Third Brother, I haven’t said goodbye to Father and Mother."
Song Wei easily lifted her onto his back, speaking leisurely, "Even if you went, Mother wouldn’t be happy to see you. Better to head straight into the bridal sedan chair."
Song Fang recalled her mother pulling her out of bed early in the morning and nagging at her ear. In truth, her mother wasn’t waking her up for real. She just feared she wouldn’t have another chance to nag her so she’d nag a bit more—another kind of farewell.
Her birth mother, who raised her for nearly twenty years, was straightforward towards both sons and daughters, never one for sentintality.
Song Fang recalled how during her bath, her mother added hot water to the tub, joking she was like a fattened pig ready for the festival slaughter, and couldn’t help but laugh softly.
Song Wei didn’t stop walking and asked her, "What’s so funny?"
Song Fang truthfully answered, "Actually, when you think about it, Mother is rather cute at tis."
Song Wei’s lips curved slightly, not denying it.
After that, no one spoke again.
With the dragon and phoenix auspicious veil covering her head, Song Fang’s eyes were filled with red, unable to see outside. She only knew the courtyard was small, as Third Brother had carried her only a few steps before reaching the door.
When she was let down, Song Fang was still a bit dazed.
Soon after, the wedding matchmaker led her into the bridal sedan chair.
It was only when she was securely seated that Song Fang began to feel a bit like a bride.
At this mont, Xu Shu was bidding farewell to Song Wei.
"I’m not going to be glib. After all, how our family has treated Song over the past two years, you’ve seen it all, Brother-in-law. I promise you, as it was before, so it will remain, unchanged."
Song Wei naturally believed in Xu Shu’s character, otherwise he wouldn’t have allowed his younger sister to stay with their family back then.
"The road is slippery, be careful."
Song Wei needed only five words to reply.
Knowing Song Wei was generally taciturn, Xu Shu didn’t expect to hear anything pleasing from him. After saying goodbye again, he mounted his horse and headed back ho.
The sound of drums began to play again.
When the sedan chair was lifted, Song Fang felt a montary dizziness. Feeling the wedding procession moving further and further away from the Song Mansion, her hands, resting on her lap, clenched tightly together.
From this day forward, that place was no longer her ho but her maternal ho.
Song Fang glanced down, seeing only her red embroidered shoes peeking out from under her skirt. Thinking about the past ten years with her parents, her throat tightened, and her chest felt painfully blocked.
It wasn’t until she heard the call from outside to kick the sedan door that Song Fang realized the bridal sedan had already reached the General Mansion.
She quickly gathered her thoughts and kicked hard at the sedan door.
Then she heard a hissing sound, mixed with Xu Shu’s disgruntled muttering, "That wretched girl really has so nerve. I just gave a light kick, and you kicked back so hard. Who’s trying to show who up?"
Under the veil, Song Fang secretly rolled her eyes.
Before she could react, the sedan curtain was lifted, and soone handed a red rope in. She held one end and was helped down the sedan by the wedding matchmaker.
Stepping over a fire basin, crossing a saddle, and then stepping on a neatly laid sack of rice, she made her way to the wedding hall.
Unlike the chill and quiet at the Song’s side, the Xu Family’s place was bustling with guests. Without even looking, Song Fang could tell from the lively sounds that many people had co.
Sitting on the high platform were Xu Shu’s parents, the Great General Xu Guangfu and his wife, Mrs. Lin.
"Groom and bride, bow to heaven and earth—"
The loud voice of the master of ceremonies was heard.
The two held the red silk, turned to face the heavens, and bowed together.
"Second bow to the elders—"
The two turned around again, bowed three tis to the elders seated high above.
"Husband and wife bow to each other—"
"Enter the bridal chamber—"
Amidst the guests’ cheers, Song Fang was dazedly escorted into the nuptial room.
Her veil was lifted, and having been away from light for a while, Song Fang reflexively raised her hand to shield herself. Through her fingers, she saw Xu Shu standing very close, dressed in a bright red wedding robe.
If she didn’t think about his usual rogue behavior, this outfit wasn’t bad.
For the first ti, Song Fang felt this man was quite handso, different from the mature elegance of her third brother, Xu Shu seed more like a young boy freshly awakening to love, full of curiosity about everything.
Even though he was already in his twenties.
Born into a wealthy family and having never known hardship, he left a corner in his heart for youthful innocence, so his gaze at the bride carried a hint of sincerity.
...
The following rituals, eating blessing dumplings, drinking wedding wine, and entwining hair, Song Fang completed in a muddled state under the wedding matchmaker’s guidance.
She had seen it all when her third brother married, but experiencing it herself felt different, like a child learning to walk, needing soone’s guidance for every step.
With the veil ceremony over, the won in the room gradually dispersed. Xu Shu instructed Song Fang briefly, saying he needed to go out for drinks and might return late, leaving her with a few maids to fetch food if she was hungry.
After Xu Shu left, the bridal room fell into complete silence.
The maid i Zhi, who had served Song Fang before, was already familiar with her.
Seeing Song Fang motionless, she asked, "Young Madam, are you hungry?"
Song Fang rubbed her stomach and asked, "What is there to eat?"
i Zhi said, "There’s red date porridge, I’ll fetch a bowl for Young Madam."
"Is there anything else?" Song Fang didn’t want porridge, she wanted rice.
Hungry all day long, just having porridge won’t do. She’s soone who can’t go without at!
i Zhi was a bit troubled, "For other food, you’ll have to wait for the Young Master to eat together."
"What kind of lousy rule is this, can’t even have a al?" Song Fang frowned, "Go get so braised pork knuckle."
i Zhi: "..." Young Madam is so amusing, which bride eats braised pork knuckle on her wedding day?
Seeing i Zhi not moving, Song Fang rolled her eyes, "Are you going or not? Say it clearly. If you don’t go, I’ll treat you like braised pork knuckle and eat you."
Knowing Young Madam was joking, but seeing her pitifully hungry, i Zhi quickly headed to the kitchen to fetch a fragrant braised pork knuckle for her Young Madam.
Seeing the at, Song Fang suddenly ca back to life, sat at the table, picked up chopsticks, and started eating.
After eating, she felt sleepy, waited long and hard, but Xu Shu didn’t return, Song Fang was too exhausted and asked i Zhi, "Can I sleep first?"
i Zhi was still hesitating when Song Fang yawned, took off her wedding shoes embroidered with red Xique, and jumped into bed.
i Zhi: "..."
Luckily she had served Young Madam for almost two years and was used to her interactions with the Eldest Young Master, otherwise switching to another mansion might not accept such a daughter-in-law.
...
When Xu Shu returned, he didn’t find his bride shyly waiting on the bed as expected, but instead, the wedding bed had a lump in the middle with a head resting on the pillow, and the bride was sleeping soundly.
Drunk, Xu Shu rubbed his forehead: "..."
He had originally thought, having acted for two years, should they continue acting tonight? The matter of consummation could be postponed.
Upon seeing this woman sleeping soundly and carefree, Xu Shu felt a burst of irritation.
Taking advantage of his drunken state, he flipped the blanket open, not bothering to wake her, and started pulling at her clothes.
Song Fang awoke with a start, sat up straight, with both wariness and anger, "What are you doing?"
"On the wedding night, what do you think I’m doing?" Xu Shu retorted, leaned over, and the breath he exhaled slled of alcohol.
Having decided to marry, Song Fang never thought of not consummating the marriage and continuing to act, but with him so drunk, how could it happen?
She was thinking of calling soone to drag Xu Shu away to bathe, but the man had already sat down, his fingers like iron clamps holding her wrist.
Song Fang struggled a couple of tis but couldn’t break free, her eyebrows furrowed.
Normally Xu Shu wouldn’t dare treat her like this, but tonight he was really drunk and bold, his consciousness a bit unclear.
Song Fang thought, it’s good that he’s unclear, saves him from saying things she doesn’t want to hear.
What happened next was self-explanatory.
As Song Fang was suffering through it, she suddenly heard, "Ah... you’re bleeding..."
Imdiately followed by the groom flipping his eyes and toppling sideways.
He fainted.
Song Fang: "!!!"
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