Mingzhu tossed and turned on her bed the night before her wedding, unable to sleep, "Yueyao, keep company and talk to !" It was her last day at her parents’ ho, and her mind was in disarray.
Yueyao shook her head and said, "There will be plenty of opportunities to talk in the future, better to get so sleep now to avoid being drained tomorrow. I’ll read you so scriptural texts, you should be able to fall asleep quickly."
After thinking for a mont, Mingzhu nodded, "Alright."
Normally, just a few short passages were enough to send Mingzhu off to sleep, given their hypnotic effect, but lately, it had taken her half an hour to doze off after Yueyao started reading.
Yueyao sat by the bed, looking at Mingzhu who even smiled in her sleep, and she couldn’t help but smile herself, "Mingzhu is bound to be happy."
Mingzhu felt as though she had just closed her eyes when soone pulled her up.
Yueyao said with a smile, "Dawn is almost upon us, it’s ti to get up and get dressed." The makeup for a bride was very important and couldn’t be taken lightly.
Mingzhu started with a bath, then the maids dried her hair and combed it neatly. Soon, Madam Quanfu ca to cleanse Mingzhu’s face.
An old nanny specializing in styling brides’ hair started combing Mingzhu’s hair while chanting, "First combing to make the hair reach the eyebrows together with the white... "
Once her hair was styled, Yueyao, seeing Mingzhu out of sorts, nudged her, "Mingzhu, what are you thinking about?" Given the silly look just now, surely she was thinking about the groom.
Mingzhu’s face turned red, and her voice was as soft as a mosquito’s, "I wasn’t thinking of anything!" Mingzhu’s emotions were quite mixed right now, filled with both anticipation for the future and reluctance to leave her family.
Bai Yi brought a plate of small snacks, all made thumb-sized, "Miss, eat sothing to fill your stomach first."
Mingzhu did not hesitate to finish the whole plate, "I need to eat up, otherwise I won’t be able to endure sitting in the sedan chair for so long."
Yueyao looked at Mingzhu dressed in her bridal gown and said, "Mingzhu, you look so beautiful today, I can hardly bear to blink." With makeup and dressed in the bright red bridal gown, Mingzhu was stunningly beautiful.
Mingzhu pouted, "You’re just teasing ." As Mingzhu spoke, her eyes were smiling.
Madam Quanfu carefully placed the bridal veil over Mingzhu’s head.
With her eyes veiled, Mingzhu felt increasingly nervous, and couldn’t help but call out, "Yueyao, Yueyao." Her emotions were a mixture of anxiety and excitent.
Yueyao held Mingzhu’s hand and said, "I’m here!"
Just as Mingzhu cald down, firecracker sounds erupted outside, followed by a maid shouting loudly, "Master Niu has co to fetch the bride."
Yueyao felt Mingzhu grip her hand suddenly. Yueyao took a handkerchief Bai Yi had brought and stuffed it into Mingzhu’s hand, then gently stroked Mingzhu’s back. Mingzhu’s tension soon eased with Yueyao’s comfort.
Bai Yi gave Yueyao a look, and Yueyao stepped aside. At that mont, two wedding matrons entered and stood on either side of Mingzhu.
Soon, the groom, led by a jubilantly dressed lady, entered.
Yueyao, seeing Niu Yanghui dressed in bright red attire and beaming with joy, felt extrely happy for him.
Niu Yanghui didn’t see Yueyao; as soon as he entered the room, his eyes were fixed on the veiled Mingzhu. Today, he was finally bringing his beloved ho.
Niu Yanghui stood in front of Mingzhu, but she lowered her head.
Yueyao saw Niu Yanghui bow deeply to Mingzhu and was sowhat surprised. She wasn’t very clear about the rituals involved in getting married, so she didn’t understand why Niu Yanghui was bowing deeply to Mingzhu.
After the groom had perford the ritual, the wedding matrons stuffed a red silk in Mingzhu’s hand. Niu Yanghui took the lead with the silk, guiding the way, while the two wedding matrons supported Mingzhu, walking behind.
Once everyone had left, Yueyao asked Xiang Wei, "Why did Niu Yanghui bow deeply to Mingzhu just now?"
Xiang Wei smiled and said, "It’s a custom. At this mont, it is the only ti a woman receives such great respect from a man. For many won, it happens just once in their lives."
Yueyao nodded slightly.
Mingzhu reached the main hall, kowtowed three tis to the Old Marquis, and then bid farewell to Madam Ping. Once the formalities were completed, Luo Shao carried her to the bridal sedan chair.
Luo Shao, a martial artist, had no trouble carrying Mingzhu. Walking in front of the bridal procession, Luo Shao set Mingzhu down and said softly, "If you ever feel aggrieved, don’t bear it. Co back and tell , and I’ll stand up for you."
Mingzhu felt a twinge of emotion in her nose but said nothing, only nodding quietly.
The bridal sedan led the way, and the dowry followed. Leading the dowry procession was the Jade Ruyi, bestowed by the Empress Dowager, followed by the red Coral Bonsai awarded by the Empress, next were Tian Zhuang, shops, land deeds, antiques, paintings, and other items. Besides these visible items, Luo Shao had also given Mingzhu an additional 30,000 taels of ready silver as her dowry.
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