Time flew by, and soon it was the day when Guan Lianghan returned to court with his troops. The defeated Tianjin Kingdom sent envoys with surrender documents, greatly pleasing the emperor. Guan Lianghan naturally received numerous rewards. However, people now paid little attention to these matters, focusing instead on Jiang Ruan’s wedding. On the fifth day after Guan Lianghan’s triumphant return to court would be the wedding day of Prince Jinying and Princess Hong’an. Since Princess Hong’an was now considered half a member of the imperial family, the Empress Dowager personally handled the arrangements, while her actual natal family, the Minister’s mansion, showed little activity.

The betrothal gifts, name inquiry, auspicious confirmation, and date setting had all been completed. On this day in eastern Jiang, light snow fell, snowflakes drifting down abundantly. Jiang Ruan sat in the inner room while Zhao family’s Second Madam Yao sat before her, watching the wedding attendant use five-colored cotton thread to trim the fine hair from her face. Second Madam Zhao had always been grateful to Jiang Ruan for saving Zhao Feizhou. Speaking of which, the women of the General’s mansion all had gentle and kind temperaments. Ever since learning she was Zhao Mei’s daughter, they had continuously sent gifts over the years. Now for her wedding, with the Minister’s mansion as her natal family being cold and desolate, Jiang Quan showing complete indifference, and Xia Yue being from the Xia family – while making a show of effort on the surface, there was no particular warmth. Instead, the Zhao family sent a full twenty cartloads of congratulatory gifts. Zhao Guang also had people send ten thousand taels of silver notes and property deeds for shops, saying these were dowry items that hadn’t been sent when Zhao Mei married into the Minister’s mansion, now all given to Jiang Ruan.

This couldn’t be refused under any circumstances. The Zhao family’s treatment of her was truly sincere. While watching her, Yao Shi spoke about the ways couples should get along after marriage, which made Jiang Ruan quite embarrassed. Finally finding an opportunity to send Yao Shi out, Lin Zixiang ate the fruits with red characters pasted on them from the table while saying: “You probably didn’t listen to a word your aunt said. Honestly, I’m quite curious how you and Xiao Shao will get along once you’re truly husband and wife. Tsk tsk, I can’t imagine it at all.”

Wen Feifei pressed her forehead: “What nonsense are you talking about? You haven’t married yet either – you’ll naturally understand when you do. Sister Ruan, with your gentle temperament and beauty, and with no mother-in-law or sister-in-law in Prince Jinying’s mansion, your days will only get better.” Ever since Wen Feifei nearly fainted at the Jiang mansion gates last time, she discovered she was pregnant after returning home. Originally not having a particularly smooth time in her husband’s family, once she became pregnant, she was practically worshipped by her in-laws. Now she had considerable experience in these domestic matters. Seeing that Jiang Ruan wouldn’t need to serve a mother-in-law or sister-in-law, she was naturally happy for her.

“What does beauty have to do with it?” Lin Zixiang immediately said: “If one isn’t beautiful, can’t they get married? What kind of twisted logic is that? Only focusing on external appearance – that’s the thinking of shallow people!” Lin Zixiang had always been so straightforward. Wen Feifei couldn’t argue with her and could only shake her head helplessly.

Zhao Jin smiled and smoothed things over: “Why talk about such things? Today is Sister Ruan’s joyous day. Let me first present my trousseau addition. Sister Ruan has seen many fine things – don’t despise mine for being crude.” She then pulled out a small box from her sleeve. The box looked black and unremarkable, with nothing special about it, even appearing somewhat clumsy. As soon as Jiang Ruan received it, Zhao Jin spat out a mouthful of tea, saying: “What are you giving? A stone? At least find a prettier box.”

“What stone?” Zhao Jin urgently replied: “This is black dí stone my elder brother brought back from the Western Rong. It looks clumsy, but for sturdiness, nothing can compare. Even if you put it in fire and burned it for three days and nights, it wouldn’t suffer any damage. It’s a precious treasure worth a thousand gold pieces.” Giving such a stone as a trousseau addition truly suited Zhao Jin’s personality. However, Jiang Ruan felt helpless – what use was such a box? She certainly couldn’t use such a box to store jewelry.

“Open it and see – the thing inside was personally crafted by Baoyue Tower for me.” Zhao Jin looked expectant. Jiang Ruan opened the box as instructed and found a ring inside, or what could be called a ring. More precisely, it was a black band with a gold lump on top. Even with Jiang Ruan’s usual composure, seeing such a striking piece of jewelry made her choke slightly.

Wen Feifei and Lin Zixiang began coughing after seeing it. Zhao Jin’s taste in jewelry selection was indeed questionable. Usually having her sisters watching was fine, but if left completely to her own preferences, the results were truly unsightly. For instance, the pile of gold beads on that ring made everyone feel somewhat powerless looking at it. Even if Jiang Ruan wanted to accept her kind intentions, wearing such jewelry would certainly attract attention.

Jiang Ruan smiled slightly: “Thank you.”

“No need to be polite,” Zhao Jin smiled. “This ring is also made from black gold stone, very sturdy. If you encounter any situation in the future, it could probably be used as a knife. But I thought, since you’re still a young lady after all, you can’t just wear a plain ring, so I had Baoyue Tower’s master add some decoration. Aren’t these golden flowers pretty?”

This was worse than not adding anything. Lin Zixiang had already turned her head away, unable to bear watching. Jiang Ruan’s mouth corner was somewhat stiff, but she still accepted it saying: “Very pretty.” Zhao Jin selected jewelry the same way she selected weapons – anything hard, sturdy, and sharp was beautiful.

Zhao Jin was relieved: “If you like it, that’s better than anything.”

Lin Zixiang and Wen Feifei pulled Zhao Jin away and presented their own trousseau additions. Wen Feifei’s was a South Sea pearl headdress set, with each pearl large, round, and very beautiful. Lin Zixiang’s was a rare ancient book, arguing confidently that this was her family’s heirloom, unique in the world, and feeling destined for Jiang Ruan, she gave it to her. Jiang Ruan looked at that tattered, edge-curled book and felt extremely helpless.

When Yao Shi returned and the wedding attendant finished face-trimming, she began applying makeup to Jiang Ruan, saying as she worked: “Miss is naturally beautiful, so there’s no need for heavy rouge and powder. In all the brides I’ve made up, I’ve never seen one so beautiful.”

Lian Qiao and the others stood behind Jiang Ruan laughing together. After the wedding attendant finished, they smiled and said to Yao Shi: “It’s ready now. Come quickly and see if the bride is beautiful!”

Jiang Ruan stood up. She was already wearing a crimson red wedding dress today. While sitting, it hadn’t been particularly noticeable, but once she stood, her entire being seemed like flowing light and overflowing color, her radiance almost burning the eyes. Her features were naturally bright and vivid. Usually her smiles carried some gentleness and distance, suppressing her brilliance somewhat so she didn’t appear frivolous. Now that the wedding attendant had drawn her eyebrows and applied rouge, her skin was whiter than snow, her lips like cherry petals. Her eyes were outlined with an upward sweep and dusted with golden powder, making her startlingly alluring. The wedding dress was like fire, while she was like a fairy from a flower garden, every movement full of living beauty and fragrance. Even with only women in the room, everyone couldn’t help but stare.

“Sister Ruan, you’re truly beautiful,” Zhao Jin looked somewhat dazed. “Just like someone walking out of a painting.”

“I originally thought I was very beautiful on my wedding day, but seeing today, I know what it means to pale in comparison. I always knew Sister Ruan was born beautiful, but I didn’t know it was such devastatingly gorgeous beauty,” Wen Feifei said.

Yao Shi couldn’t help but exclaim. She had previously heard Zhao Yuanping mention that the younger Zhao sister Zhao Mei was passionate and moving in her youth, dazzling like a flame. Now in this niece, she could probably see Zhao Mei’s former style. Jiang Ruan usually deliberately suppressed the allure in her bones, but now completely letting it free, it was truly shocking. She felt that such beauty could indeed bring ruin to countries and people.

Lin Zixiang, always critical, was now silent for a long time before saying: “This wedding dress makes you look somewhat like a beauty.”

Everyone found this both amusing and exasperating. Several Zhao family ladies came in to say a few words. When the sky brightened further, the wedding procession arrived.

The wedding attendant hurriedly said: “Miss, please rise.” She then placed the delicate phoenix crown on her head, covered her with the bridal veil, and Yao Shi also came to support her as they went out.

Prince Jinying’s mansion’s wedding procession had arrived at the Jiang mansion gates. The Jiang family was, after all, the bride’s natal family, so the bridal sedan had to be carried to the Jiang mansion gates. Empress Dowager Yide didn’t personally attend the ceremony but sent Nanny Yang with congratulatory gifts, which provided some dignity. As soon as Jiang Ruan emerged, the surrounding people were dazzled by that magnificently stunning wedding dress. The young ladies present, and even the already-married madams, couldn’t help but gasp upon seeing it. Just as Lu Zhu had said, it was like wearing the entire Minister’s mansion on her body – even the empress’s court robes might not be so precious.

The bridal sedan arrived at the gate. Jiang Ruan followed the group to the entrance and heard the sound of firecrackers outside. Opening the half-closed main gate for “blocking the sedan,” Zhao family’s First Madam Zhou stood up holding a red candle in one hand and a mirror in the other, walking to the sedan entrance to shine it inside, driving away any vengeful spirits hidden in the sedan – this was called “searching the sedan.”

Outside waited an eight-bearer grand sedan, magnificent enough, embroidered with a “hundred sons and thousand grandsons” pattern, all outlined with fine gold thread. Even though the sun wasn’t strong today, reflected against the deep snow on the ground, it looked like a delicately glowing golden fan. Fine purple crystal stones hung from the sedan’s top, each worth a thousand gold pieces. Prince Jinying’s mansion’s display was truly grand – even this single sedan chair could feed a third-rank official’s entire household for a year.

The eight bearers all wore blue clothes and black boots, tall and handsome, with extraordinary bearing, appearing very dignified. Never had sedan bearers drawn women’s attention like this, yet some common girls in the crowd blushed looking at the bearers.

Jiang Quan stood to one side. Amid all the festivities, his face bore a smile as if he too was very happy, but looking carefully, one could see the forced nature of that smile.

Next was “crying onto the sedan.” Originally the bride should sit on her mother’s lap while her birth mother fed her the “boarding meal.” But Zhao Mei had passed away many years ago. Having Xia Yue feed the boarding meal would be a tremendous irony in everyone’s eyes. Xiao Shao naturally wouldn’t let such a thing happen and had arranged with the General’s mansion people beforehand. This boarding meal would be personally fed by General’s wife Li Shi.

Li Shi was Jiang Ruan’s maternal grandmother. As Jiang Ruan sat on her lap and Li Shi had just scooped a spoonful of rice to Jiang Ruan’s mouth, her eyes immediately reddened. When Zhao Mei and Jiang Quan married, it could be considered an elopement, and she, the mother, hadn’t been able to feed her only daughter even one bite of boarding meal. This was Li Shi’s eternal regret and heartache. Now watching her granddaughter board the bridal sedan, she seemed to see her own bright and passionate youngest daughter again. Li Shi’s heart ached as she spoke words of sincere admonition: “Child, oh child, you’re being carried away! Make a good sound! You’re going alone, but bring back a tide!”

After “crying onto the sedan” came “carrying onto the sedan,” where the bride’s brother carries the bride into the sedan. Today Jiang Xinzhi wore lotus-blue robes embroidered with auspicious patterns, his waist bound with a five-colored cord that Jiang Ruan had braided for him when bored. He walked to Jiang Ruan’s side, bent down to lift her up, and whispered in her ear: “Ah Ruan, are you ready?”

“I’m ready, big brother.” Under the bridal veil, Jiang Ruan smiled slightly. She felt Jiang Xinzhi’s arms holding her tighten, as if some emotion was about to burst forth, but in the end he only said: “Ah Ruan, from now on, you belong to someone else’s family. If he bullies you, tell me. Never let yourself suffer any grievance.”

His words were heavy and restrained, not like a brother sending off his sister, but like a father marrying off his daughter. Jiang Ruan wanted to laugh a little, but also reached out to hug his neck tightly, remembering the news of Jiang Xinzhi’s death in her previous life and the desolation and despair she felt then. In this life, she had managed to protect Jiang Xinzhi, and he was still by her side – that was enough. She smiled and said: “I understand, big brother. No matter who I marry, you’ll always be my big brother.”

Jiang Xinzhi said no more, carrying Jiang Ruan toward the bridal sedan. The young lady in his arms was one he had watched grow up, from a babbling infant to the graceful young woman she was now. Even though she was about to become someone’s wife, in Jiang Xinzhi’s heart, Jiang Ruan would always be a little sister who had never grown up.

After Jiang Ruan was seated in the sedan, the person at the front of the wedding procession finally appeared before everyone.

Xiao Shao sat atop a white horse – probably his prized steed, pure white without a single stray hair, glossy and smooth, radiating pride even while standing still. He held the reins, wearing brand-new wedding clothes that were truly eye-catching, immediately capturing everyone’s attention.

Xiao Shao was always low-key in his actions, rarely appearing before crowds, and always preferred wearing black clothes – he had never been seen in such brilliant colors. Now wearing bright red wedding robes, even with his thin lips pressed together and expression indifferent, he somehow revealed two or three parts of exquisite allure. His countenance was outstanding, and sitting high on his horse, looking down toward the sedan entrance with eyes like dots of lacquer and brows like ink paintings, he seemed to possess an otherworldly elegance unlike mortals. This beauty was truly shocking, leaving people stunned.

Seeing him like this, though Li Shi’s eyes held tears, she was genuinely happy. She had long heard that Prince Jinying had a cold temperament and had worried that Jiang Ruan would suffer grievances after marrying him. Now it seemed she had overthought things. From the way Xiao Shao looked at the sedan, he wasn’t entirely without feeling. She was experienced and could see such things clearly. With Xiao Shao’s outstanding appearance and family background, Li Shi was very satisfied with this grandson-in-law.

Jin Er, who was distributing wedding candy in the crowd, shook his head: “The four chief leaders of the Imperial Guards have all become sedan bearers. The young master really values beauty over everything else.”

Hearing him say this, Steward Lin immediately gave him a kick without ceremony: “What are you saying? These sedan bearers represent Prince Jinying’s mansion’s dignity. How can we casually find just anyone like other mansions? Look at the people we found to carry the sedan – their steps are coordinated, clearly trained fighters, making the young madam comfortable inside. They’re also good-looking and pleasant to see. You saying this – you’re probably jealous and upset you weren’t chosen to carry the sedan.”

“Thank you, Old Lin,” Jin Er laughed. “It’s all because I’m too ugly and truly can’t represent our royal mansion’s dignity. I’m quite ashamed.”

“Oh my, quite self-aware,” Lu Zhu was busy distributing silver coins. Hearing Jin Er’s words, she laughed: “People are truly valuable when they know themselves.”

“Still better looking than you though,” Jin Er replied with a grin.

“Stop arguing,” Steward Lin shook his head. “Whoever it is, today everyone is just to complement the young master’s beauty. The young master is so handsome – if the master and madam could see from heaven, they’d be so happy.”

The sacrificial victims who were supposedly all there to complement Xiao Shao’s beauty were completely unaware they were considered no different from decorative vases and paperweights in this old steward’s eyes, still sincerely celebrating the wedding procession. Jiang Xinzhi followed the sedan as it circled Qiansui District and Sanfa Qing, taking the auspicious meanings of “thousand years” and “triple prosperity.” Along the way, Prince Jinying’s mansion people displayed their wealth, scattering silver coins as they walked, causing everyone to scramble for them.

“Ten li of red trousseau” was no exaggeration – even a princess’s wedding might not have such a grand scene. Prince Jinying’s mansion people were naturally handsome and well-built, and with Steward Lin’s arrangements, they were quite a feast for the eyes. Combined with their generous spending, almost the entire capital emptied out to watch the wedding procession. Women came to see Prince Jinying’s mansion men, men came to see Prince Jinying’s mansion money. The hearts broken by unmarried girls could rebuild the entire capital, and those countless envious gazes made Jiang Ruan feel like thorns on her back even while inside the sedan.

After this day, the Great Jin Dynasty had the saying “Better to be a Xiao family servant than an official’s daughter” – preferring to be a Xiao family servant, seeing more beauties and silver daily than official families’ daughters might see in a lifetime.

Jiang Ruan didn’t know what the situation was like outside, but from the commotion alone she could tell it must be very ostentatious. Such ostentatious behavior didn’t seem like Xiao Shao’s style – it should be Steward Lin’s arrangement. Steward Lin had spent a full year preparing this wedding, attending to every detail. Now that the opportunity to show his skills had finally come, he naturally wouldn’t miss it. Jiang Ruan was puzzled – how had someone as low-key as Xiao Shao raised such an ostentatious steward?

At this moment she sat in the sedan, which moved very smoothly, almost imperceptibly. There was even a small table inside with a box full of exquisite pastries, in case she got hungry during the journey. She smiled slightly. In her previous life, entering the palace meant becoming the emperor’s woman and losing the chance to wear a bright red wedding dress. This experience was both strange and novel, but not too bad.

After circling the entire capital, the bridal sedan arrived at Prince Jinying’s mansion. A large group of people was already waiting at the entrance. Xiao Shao had no relatives, and Prince Jinying’s mansion had no other clan members. The attendees were all Xiao Shao’s own friends – roughly his fellow disciples and some court officials. The Imperial Guards were neatly arranged, making it quite lively indeed.

Guan Lianghan lifted his robe hem and began setting off firecrackers and playing music to welcome the sedan. After stopping the sedan and opening its door, a five- or six-year-old sedan-opening girl welcomed the bride out. Jiang Ruan emerged and, supported by the wedding attendant, stepped over the saddle, walked on the red carpet, and was escorted by the wedding attendant to the right side of the wedding hall.

The ceremony observers in the wedding hall had already moved to one side. The temple worship ceremony began with Jiang Ruan and Xiao Shao standing together, holding incense candles to light incense. Zhao Guang and Li Shi sat in positions of honor, both looking quite moved. Jiang Quan and Xia Yue’s expressions were somewhat stiff – probably trying hard to appear moved but looking particularly awkward.

Among the crowd, others would have been fine, but Jiang Xinzhi was watching when his gaze fell on someone in the crowd. A handsome young man today wore only a moon-white long cashmere brocade shirt with a snow wolf fur cloak over it, his entire being jade-like and handsome, resembling some mansion’s delicately carved young master.

That person was Xuan Pei. Standing beside Xuan Pei was Liu Min – somehow these two had come. Steward Lin had personally made the invitations all from gold, quite an expense, so everything was recorded and very precious. Jiang Xinzhi had looked before and remembered these two weren’t included. In fact, when Steward Lin was determining the guest list, he had invited Liu Min but somehow crossed it out later.

Liu Min and Xuan Pei had somehow come uninvited. Liu Min was one thing – Jiang Xinzhi had heard before that he seemed to have special feelings for Jiang Ruan. But what about Xuan Pei? Why would a prince leave the palace to attend Jiang Ruan’s ceremony? He frowned and asked Steward Lin beside him: “Why would the Thirteenth Prince come?”

“How would I know?” Steward Lin stroked his beard. “Probably out of respect for the young master. Speaking of which, this Thirteenth Prince was truly generous – he actually gave the young madam sixty-six shops in He Han District. Such extravagance even the Jiang family can’t match.”

He Han District specialized in food and restaurants, with locations throughout the Great Jin Dynasty. Having even one such shop guaranteed steady profits, let alone sixty-six – the annual income would be countless, enough to live worry-free for life. Not to mention how a prince like Xuan Pei had the ability to acquire so many shops – even Xuan Li might not have such capability. More surprising was his willingness to hand over such tremendous wealth to others.

Jiang Xinzhi frowned more deeply: “All those shops are written in Ah Ruan’s name?”

Steward Lin clapped his hands: “Now that you mention it, I remember – they’re indeed all in the young madam’s name. That’s rather strange. If he were friends with the young master, there’d be no need to write the young madam’s name.”

While these two were talking, Jiang Ruan and Xiao Shao had completed the three kneels and nine kowtows, reaching the final husband and wife mutual bow in the six worship ceremony. Xiao Shao turned around, and Jiang Ruan also turned to face him. With the bridal veil covering her, Jiang Ruan couldn’t see anything clearly and moved hesitantly, when suddenly she felt someone grasp her hand. Xiao Shao had somehow taken her hand – his hand was slender and cool but contained a reassuring strength that steadily supported hers.

“Husband and wife bow to each other—” the ceremony announcer called loudly.

The two bowed down together. Through the bridal veil, Jiang Ruan could only see her own crimson skirt hem. Her heart held indescribable feelings – this seemed both an ending and a beginning. No matter what, this person before her would be the one to live with her from now on. Whatever happened, this would be the person by her side.