Ji Yingying’s voice was neither loud nor soft, but the escort guards heard her.
The Yang family had sent more than ten guards to escort the bride. Hearing the Third Young Mistress’s words, the lead guard dropped all pretense of courtesy. He stepped forward, pointing at Zhao Xiuyuan, “Clear the way immediately! Otherwise, don’t blame us for being discourteous!”
Zhao Xiuyuan remained deaf to their words.
Ji Yingying was going to marry Yang Jingyuan. She was getting married so soon.
Was it Yang Jingyuan who rescued her at Qingcheng Mountain? Is that why they’re rushing her marriage during the hundred-day mourning period? Why hadn’t Yang Third come to receive his bride? Was it because he was in deep mourning and couldn’t wear the auspicious red wedding attire?
She was willing to endure such a humble wedding for Yang Jingyuan! The void in his heart grew larger. What had all those years between them meant? What had become of their sworn promises?
Once she married into the Yang family, she would never again appear in the small courtyard beneath the banyan tree.
What did she look like as a bride? She must be beautiful. She had a forehead as pure as the full moon, and dark eyes that sparkled with moisture. Her waist was so slim, just the span of a hand… Zhao Xiuyuan’s eyes were fixed only on the carriage decorated with red silk.
He wanted to see her—the desire was driving him mad. When he married Fifth Miss Niu, he had imagined how radiantly beautiful Ji Yingying would look in such wedding attire. He wanted to see her appearance, to burn the image of her wedding day face into his memory forever.
Zhao Xiuyuan’s mind was crammed with these thoughts. His horse whinnied loudly as the guards pulled him down, striking him to the ground with a punch.
“Ji Yingying, come out!” Zhao Xiuyuan shouted at the carriage from where he lay.
Blows rained down on him like raindrops. Zhao Xiuyuan felt no pain. He struggled to crawl forward, but a guard grabbed his leg and dragged him to the roadside.
The carriage started moving again.
“Yingying, let me see you.” Zhao Xiuyuan clutched the grass beneath him, straining to lift his face.
The muffled sounds of fists striking flesh and the guards’ curses reached inside the carriage. For the first time, Zhao Xiuyuan was being beaten like a dog before her. A flash of hatred crossed Ji Yingying’s eyes.
She lifted her veil and opened the curtain to look.
A towering hairstyle, skin gleaming with golden ornaments, lips red as fire. Zhao Xiuyuan’s eyes suddenly lit up.
He stared at her unblinking, his gaze like that of a bloodthirsty beast. Ji Yingying shuddered and lowered the curtain.
A passing guard delivered another kick.
Zhao Xiuyuan’s vision went black with pain.
When he recovered, the procession was already far away.
He rolled onto his back, lying on the official road, and laughed: “Yingying, you look so beautiful… I saw you!”
The carriage arrived at the Yang residence, crossing the threshold and proceeding to the ornamental gate of the inner courtyard.
After changing to a sedan chair, Ji Yingying was helped down when they reached Mingyue Residence.
First Madam Yang and Second Madam Yang were already waiting there with their people. Yang Chen Shi warmly called her “Third Sister-in-law” and accompanied her to the bedroom.
“This Mingyue Residence has always been Third Brother’s quarters. Sister, rest here first, and when the auspicious hour arrives, we’ll go to the White Heron Hall.” Yang Chen Shi finally had a chance to examine Ji Yingying closely—she was as radiant as a flower, with a slender waist and long legs, truly a beauty. The youth was indeed wonderful.
Perhaps her gaze lingered too long on Ji Yingying’s face, for Second Madam noticed and gently reminded, “Elder Sister-in-law, let’s allow Sister-in-law to freshen up and change first.”
Yang Shi Shi came to her senses and laughed behind her hand, “Sister-in-law is as lovely as a flower. Compared to her, we two have aged beyond recognition.”
Second Madam smiled, “Third Brother is truly blessed.”
As they spoke, they withdrew from the bedroom.
Yang Shi Shi sent Xueqing over with mourning attire made of dark-patterned plain silk and a set of pearl-inlaid silver headpieces. Xueqing smiled, “Madam has been anticipating Third Mistress’s arrival since morning. Please change into these.”
“Leave them here. My maids can attend to me.”
Xueqing handed the clothes and ornaments to Xiang’er, paid her respects, and withdrew. She gave a signal, and the Yang family maids filed out, leaving only the accompanying Old Nurse Ji and Xiang’er and Ling’er who had come as part of the dowry.
The moment the door closed, the smile vanished from Ji Yingying’s face. She looked around the bedroom—after Master Yang’s funeral, the bed curtains, table covers, and chair covers had all been changed to light green. Only a pair of dragon-phoenix wedding candles remained bright red and gilt.
Ji Yingying walked over and blew out the candles with a puff.
“Young Mistress, what are you doing?” Old Nurse Ji was alarmed, “The dragon-phoenix candles must not be extinguished.”
Ji Yingying pursed her lips, “There’s no groom, so why should I hope for the dragon-phoenix candles to burn until dawn? Xiang’er, remove my ornaments. Ling’er, call for water for washing. Nurse, go learn about the rules here.”
Hearing her instructions, the three quickly went about their tasks.
By the time she had washed and changed clothes, Old Nurse Ji had returned.
She said in a low voice, “Young Mistress, I heard from First Madam that they want you to perform the wedding ceremony alone.”
Perform the ceremony alone?! Ji Yingying was dumbfounded.
“Young Mistress, please endure it. What is Madam Ji thinking!” Old Nurse Ji, being straightforward, actually began criticizing Madam Ji.
“I won’t perform the ceremony alone.” Ji Yingying sat back down heavily, “Nurse, please ask First Madam to tell Madam Yang that we should skip all this. I refuse to perform the ceremony alone.”
Old Nurse Ji also felt it was absurd and turned to leave again.
Half an hour later, Xueqing came with Yang Shi Shi’s message that the ceremony would be canceled. They requested Ji Yingying to pay respects to Master Yang’s spirit tablet. Only then did Ji Yingying stand up.
Before the auspicious hour, the bedroom door opened. First Madam and Second Madam looked over at the sound and were stunned.
A woman is most beautiful in mourning clothes. Wearing the dark-patterned plain silk mourning dress, Ji Yingying was like an udumbara flower blooming on a summer night. White pearls adorned her hair, twinkling like stars, their luster making her skin appear like white jade. She was tall, and as she walked, her large plain sleeves floated gracefully.
“Sister is truly beautiful!” Second Madam praised sincerely.
Acting shy was best. Ji Yingying lowered her head bashfully.
The three took sedan chairs to White Heron Hall. Ji Yingying took a glance, thinking to herself that this hall was as spacious as the small courtyard where she had lived.
“Yingying, pay your respects to your father-in-law.”
Master Yang’s spirit tablet was placed in the center of the incense altar. Yang Shi Shi sat to one side, watching Ji Yingying with satisfaction.
Ji Yingying kowtowed. Turning to see Madam Yang’s expectant gaze, she unconsciously thought of Yang Jingyuan. He harbored such resentment toward First Madam. She sighed inwardly and said in a mosquito-like voice, “I pay my respects to Madam.”
Yang Shi Shi was startled but forced a smile, “Good child, rise.” She helped Ji Yingying up and took a box from Old Nurse Chen, smiling, “A welcome gift from your mother.”
“Thank you for Madam’s reward.”
As the sun set, Yang Shi Shi didn’t keep Ji Yingying for dinner, instructing Xueqing to guide her back to rest, saying they would meet the Yang family relatives tomorrow.
Watching the sedan chair leave, Yang Shi Shi murmured, “She called me ‘Madam,’ not ‘Mother.'”
Old Nurse Chen consoled her, “A girl from a humble background wouldn’t dare call you ‘Mother.'”
Perhaps so. Remembering Ji Yingying’s words when she had refused marriage because of the Third Young Master, Yang Shi Shi’s pride surged again: “I don’t care if she calls me ‘Mother.’ As long as she helps the Yang family with silk weaving, I’ll still treat her well.”