"I’ve spent my whole life with your father, and ended up with such a precious daughter. Now she’s about to be spoiled by that brat Song Yuanbao, how can I not be nervous?" Mrs. Yu glanced at her.
Ye Ling didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, "What do you an by spoiled? Doesn’t Mom like Young Master Yuanbao? Why are you disparaging him now?"
Mrs. Yu sighed, dragging a round stool to sit beside Ye Ling, pulling her daughter into her arms, "I finally understand your third brother’s feelings. He’s always complaining about this and that, saying Song Yuanbao isn’t good enough here or there. The truth is, he just doesn’t want you to get married."
Ye Ling has always known that her third brother targets Song Yuanbao, not because Song Yuanbao is really bad, but because he just can’t bear to see her go.
In the early years, their parents were busy with battles and had no ti for the children, so she grew up with her third brother, and the bond between siblings was naturally deeper than with their parents.
Ye Ling actually didn’t want to part with her third brother either, but she was ultimately a girl, destined to marry eventually.
Thinking about this, Ye Ling felt a bit of regret, "It’s a pity that on such a big day as my wedding, my third brother couldn’t be there."
"Your third brother has more important things to do," Mrs. Yu said, "He’s protecting the country!"
Speaking of this, Ye Ling pouted, glancing at her mother with a touch of resentnt in her eyes, "Why did you hide it from when third brother left?"
"If I told you, would you have let him go?"
"But I was about to get married." Ye Ling said, "He’s my own brother, no matter what, he should’ve waited until my wedding was over to leave."
Then, she murmured softly, "Actually, there are so many great generals in the Northern Border, losing one brother wouldn’t make a difference."
Mrs. Yu extended her index finger to tap her forehead, her eyes filled with indulgent affection, "Silly girl, in a national war like this, one less person wouldn’t matter, but having one more like him might save dozens or even hundreds of people from disaster. Do you understand? Our stability now is built from the blood, sweat, and lives of many seemingly insignificant soldiers."
Upon hearing this, the small grievance in Ye Ling’s heart imdiately disappeared, and she turned to comfort Mrs. Yu instead, "I know, ever since I was little, Mom always said the nation cos before the family. When the nation is in peril, third brother chooses to follow father, that’s his aspiration, his mission, and I shouldn’t bind him with youthful romance."
Mrs. Yu looked at her daughter’s bright eyes, chuckled softly, and then whispered, "My Ah Yao has grown up."
Ye Ling snuggled warmly in Mrs. Yu’s arms.
Xiang Ning suddenly ca in from outside, her small face filled with joy, "The Champion Scholar is parading on horseback, Miss, the Champion Scholar is parading on horseback!"
Ye Ling straightened up, suddenly rembering that today was the day the results of the court exam were announced. Her heart pounded as she stared intently at Xiang Ning, "How did he do?"
Though she wasn’t marrying Song Yuanbao for his academic achievents, she couldn’t help but want to know right away how he fared, and share the joy with him.
Seeing the eager look on her mistress’s face, Xiang Ning covered her mouth with a laugh, "I’m not saying, Miss, you have to guess for yourself, or you could go out and see for yourself."
Ye Ling was annoyed, "I’m the bride today, how can I just go out like that? You’re deliberately trying to make anxious, you naughty girl, hurry up and tell , or I won’t take you to my husband’s house later, and you can serve whoever you like."
Though she knew the Miss was joking, Xiang Ning was still frightened; as the Miss’s personal maid, she certainly didn’t want to stay at the Ye Family to serve other masters.
"I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you," Xiang Ning said aggrievedly, "Good girl, you mustn’t leave behind!"
"Then speak quickly," Ye Ling insisted, not caring that Mrs. Yu was giggling on the side, determined to know the results of Song Yuanbao’s court exam.
Xiang Ning giggled, "Of course, the Champion Scholar is our dashing new husband, who else could it be?"
Ye Ling was overjoyed, "He—he really beca the Champion Scholar?"
"I knew the Miss wouldn’t believe it, so I asked the servant to go outside Chang’an Gate to check the list, and it clearly says on the list that the top scholar is our new husband, who’s now outside parading on horseback in a dazzling red Champion Scholar robe, charming all the onlooking maidens into a daze."
Hearing this, Ye Ling beca anxious again, "I want to go out and see too!"
Song Yuanbao was her fiancé, hers alone, how could she let other maidens see him on her wedding day? What if soone threw an embroidered ball at him and just happened to fall for him, wanting to steal him away?
Mrs. Yu pulled her daughter’s hand, "Today you’re the bride, going out requires wearing a veil, such antics aren’t appropriate."
"Mom, I’m scared," Ye Ling said, looking upset.
The Ye Family’s status wasn’t high, and there were countless noble girls in the Capital ready to replace her. If soone took advantage of the Three Top Scholars’ parade to do sothing and snatched the groom away, wouldn’t it all be for naught?
Besides, the painting he asked her to keep still hadn’t been taken. He said he would wed (take) her along with it.
The more Ye Ling thought about it, the more worried she beca, her young face no longer bearing a smile, only anxiety remained.
Mrs. Yu seated her daughter back down, "What’s that little brain of yours imagining this ti?"
Before Ye Ling could respond, Mrs. Yu spoke earnestly, "Everyone in the Capital can see how attentive Yuanbao is to you. If he could do sothing so dishonorable, why would he have gone through so much trouble to marry you in the first place? Now he’s a newly minted Champion Scholar, with such a title to his na, so many people are watching. If he dares to leave the bride, what future would he have left? Besides, he likes you so much, why can’t you give him a little more trust?"
Ye Ling was stunned; was she too concerned about him or not trusting him enough?
Her mind was a ss; she couldn’t distinguish which it was.
Xiang Ning ca over, crouching in front of Ye Ling, looking seriously, "Miss, I think the Mistress is right. Every ti Young Master Song sees you, I’m by your side. From the way he looks at you, I can tell he has feelings for you. If not, he wouldn’t have sworn back then to marry you after he ranked highly."
Listening to her mother’s and her maid’s words, Ye Ling slowly cald down, a trace of sweetness rising in her heart.
Yes, he likes her, just as she likes him.
So, no matter how many girls outside fancy him, she can’t act rashly or lose faith in him.
Having done so psychological self-construction, Ye Ling felt much more relaxed and asked Xiang Ning, "How long until the auspicious hour?"
Xiang Ning replied, "It’s still early. Our house isn’t far from the Song Mansion. They’ll co to fetch the bride later. If Miss can’t sit still, you can lie down on the beauty couch for a while."
...
That parade on horseback took nearly an hour, and afterwards, Song Yuanbao negotiated with the officials of the Honglu Temple, expressing that he needed to return ho early for his wedding today. The officials of the Honglu Temple didn’t give him a hard ti and agreed to let him go.
Song Yuanbao, still on his parade horse, just turned to head back ho when he saw Xu Dengke mounted on a horse not far away.
Song Yuanbao asked him, "Sir, would you like to co along with ?"
"Let’s go!" Xu Dengke replied.
He was Jinbao’s teacher and also considered a guest of the Song family. Now that the host family has a joyous event, as a guest, he naturally had to show up.
When the two arrived ho, many guests were already gathered at the Song Mansion, mostly won, with Wen Wan entertaining them in the inner courtyard.
The news of Song Yuanbao achieving Champion Scholar had already spread throughout every street and alley of the Capital, and at this mont, the inner courtyard was bustling with chatter about it. So praised Wen Wan for raising her son well, while others said she brought prosperity to her family, not only helping her husband attain third-place scholar but also aiding her stepson to beco Champion Scholar.
Song Yuanbao, hearing this from outside the courtyard, couldn’t help but chuckle.
Xu Dengke asked him why he was laughing.
Song Yuanbao raised an eyebrow and said, "Because they’re not wrong, my mother does indeed bring prosperity to the family."
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