Chapter 3
Chapter 3
The day the boat reached Qingzhou, dawn had only just begun to break.
A bride’s face was not to be seen by outsiders.
The maids bustled around me, redoing my hair and makeup, while Momo Shiquan stood to the side, reciting the rules.
The southern pearls on the phoenix crown swayed until they dazzled my eyes, and the gold-thread embroidery on the wedding shawl dug painfully into my shoulders.
Supported by Zifu and Momo Chen, I disembarked.
An eight-bearer bridal sedan was already waiting at the harbor. The others either climbed into sedan chairs or mounted horses, and before long, a proper procession had formed.
Ahead of us, the musicians began playing with a great flourish. Several good-looking young servants split into two lines, holding red cloth pouches as they tossed copper coins to the commoners gathered along both sides of the street.
The people scrambled over one another to snatch them up, calling out auspicious blessings-may the couple live in harmony for a hundred years, may they soon be blessed with sons.
The sedan was set down before the main gate of the Wen Mansion, and the curtain was gently lifted. A hand with long, distinct knuckles reached toward me.
“My lady, the journey must have been exhausting. You have worked hard.”
I lowered my eyes.
This, I supposed, was the man I was to marry: the Eldest Young Master of the Wen Family, Wen Hongxian.
I extended my fingertips and let his palm envelop my hand.
Even beneath the bridal veil, I could feel how brilliantly decorated the Wen Mansion was.
The crackle of firecrackers, the voices offering congratulations, and the festive music all wove together into a scene of extraordinary bustle and joy.
After the ceremony was complete, I was escorted into the bridal chamber.
Warm incense perfumed the room. The canopy of the conjugal bed was embroidered with the Hundred Children and Thousand Grandsons Picture, along with patterns symbolizing the wish to soon have noble children.
Night fell, and the door was pushed open.
“My lady, thank you for waiting.”
The wedding matron murmured auspicious words as she tied the hem of my robe to his.
The moment the Jade Ruyi lifted the red gauze veil, candlelight poured across the room, and I found myself looking straight into Wen Hongxian’s smiling eyes.
Mm. He was indeed gentle and upright, lacking much of the wine, women, and moneyed vulgarity common to merchants.
He raised the nuptial wine. “My lady, please.”
The wedding matron tactfully withdrew, and the bridal chamber suddenly fell quiet. Only the soft popping of the red candles could be heard.
His movements were very gentle as he removed my phoenix crown. Then he took a brocade box from his sleeve.
“My lady, the journey was tiring. This bracelet was carved from a piece of jade I personally selected.”
He slipped the jade bangle onto my wrist himself. The stone was smooth and warm, and carved upon it was a twining lotus motif that echoed the meaning of my name.
The night deepened beneath the glow of tall red candles.
Then he suddenly leaned closer. “It is getting late. Why don’t we… rest early?”
I caught the faint scent of agarwood from his sleeve, mingling with the rich warmth of the nuptial wine, making the tips of my ears grow hot.
At some point, the gauze curtains had been lowered. In the distance came the night watchman’s clapper, but I no longer had any mind to count which watch of the night it was…