Madam Mian couldn’t help but worriedly embrace Zhou Shaojin, asking her in a low voice, “What’s wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

Zhou Shaojin took two deep breaths before saying, “Maybe I’ve been in the room too long. I’m feeling a bit dizzy now.”

Madam Mian nodded in complete agreement.

They’d come from the south and weren’t very accustomed to northern winters. Staying indoors too long made them feel stuffy and short of breath—they needed to get some fresh air outside.

Thinking she’d said everything she needed to say, and the rest she could understand on her own, Madam Mian laughed softly and said, “Then you rest first! I’ll tell Chun Wan so they won’t disturb you. Look at it quietly by yourself, then put it at the bottom of your trunk to take with you.”

Later when she had a daughter, she could take it out to give to her daughter.

Zhou Shaojin felt as if granted a reprieve and rose to see Madam Mian to the door.

But Madam Mian told Zhou Shaojin to rest early: “Don’t be unwell on your wedding day—that would be troublesome.”

Zhou Shaojin agreed and saw Madam Mian to the curtain, watching as Madam Mian lifted the curtain and went out. Only then did she return to the inner room and sat alone on the bed in a daze.

What should she do?

Should she tell Uncle Chi?

As soon as the thought arose, she remembered the warmth when Uncle Chi held her, and his gentle expression when embracing her…

Perhaps she could endure it?

Zhou Shaojin wanted to ask her sister or Cheng Jia how the wedding night went, but was too thin-skinned. Several times she walked to Zhou Chujin’s side but couldn’t speak. Zhou Chujin was busy with Madam Mian directing the maids, servants, and attendants to place her dowry items onto the celebratory carrying poles. She had neither time to talk with her nor noticed anything unusual. As for Cheng Jia, she’d already gone to Chaoyangmen.

Seventeenth Aunt Gu did notice something unusual about her, but she thought it was because Zhou Shaojin was about to become a bride.

Before she married Cheng Yi, hadn’t she also been anxious and uneasy for several days?

After marrying, thinking of “not knowing mother-in-law’s food preferences, first sending younger sister-in-law to taste,” hadn’t her heart continued to hang suspended for several more days?

Seventeenth Aunt Gu smiled and teased Zhou Shaojin: “Don’t worry, we won’t lose your dowry. Just marry over with peace of mind. Old Madam Guo watched you grow up from childhood—otherwise she wouldn’t have chosen you as her daughter-in-law. She must be extremely satisfied with you. From now on you’ll just have one more person doting on you. You just put your heart at ease. I guarantee nothing will go wrong.”

Everyone laughed heartily and looked at Zhou Shaojin kindly.

Zhou Shaojin was too embarrassed to lift her head. She fled back to her room—how could she have the face to bring up wedding night matters?

But there was some trepidation in her heart. Through the sending of the dowry, dressing up, urging the bride to leave, and the hubbub of voices, she was in a daze as people helped her to the main hall. She kowtowed and performed the ceremony before the empty armchair, then was carried on Cheng Yi’s back onto the bridal sedan.

Amid the crackling of firecrackers, Zhou Shaojin’s tears suddenly fell.

She was truly leaving home to marry!

She was truly marrying Cheng Chi!

Although expected, when it actually happened there was still a sense of unreality.

Zhou Shaojin quickly took out the handkerchief hidden in her sleeve and gently dabbed at the corners of her eyes, afraid of smudging her makeup and even more afraid it would be inauspicious.

She would definitely live well!

Zhou Shaojin secretly clenched her fists.

Stepping down from the sedan, stepping over the fire basin, bowing to heaven and earth, being sent to the bridal chamber.

Zhou Shaojin walked steadily.

In her previous life, she’d also walked this path once.

At that time there was only panic and helplessness.

She didn’t know where the future lay.

Nor did she know if her choice was right or wrong.

She had only one thought—she couldn’t fall into that swamp and rot into mud; she couldn’t let her father and sister be forever shamed because of her.

But now, her heart was filled with solid hope.

She knew she was still far from the good daughter-in-law in Old Madam Guo’s heart. But for Cheng Chi’s sake, she would work hard to learn from Old Madam Guo, would take the household management of Chaoyangmen into her hands. Just as Cheng Chi had once done for her, she would also share Cheng Chi’s burdens, letting him handle outside matters with peace of mind.

The bright red gold-embroidered veil was lifted by the celebratory scale.

She saw Cheng Chi’s handsome face.

He hadn’t grown thin, nor had he tanned.

In his bright eyes was unmistakable joy.

Zhou Shaojin suddenly felt all her past suffering leave her.

What she’d sought in two lifetimes—wasn’t it just a pair of eyes that could look at her so gently, attentively, and happily like now?

The corners of Zhou Shaojin’s mouth curved up, revealing a gentle smile.

A woman’s laughing voice came from the room: “The bride is truly beautiful today!”

Zhou Shaojin looked up and saw the fortune woman, Third Madam Wu.

Besides her, there were four other maids in the bridal chamber.

One of them was Zhenzhu. The others looked unfamiliar and should be newly entered into the household.

Seeing her look over, Zhenzhu smiled at her.

If it wasn’t Old Madam Guo afraid she’d be scared and specially having Zhenzhu come serve, then it was arranged by Cheng Chi.

Zhou Shaojin’s heart settled completely as she looked toward Cheng Chi.

Cheng Chi wore bright red ceremonial robes.

She’d never seen him in such a vivid color before, but Cheng Chi didn’t look out of place at all. He was as natural and casual as usual, with a kind of elegant and carefree bearing.

Zhou Shaojin smiled with pursed lips.

It seemed like nothing could stump Uncle Chi…

Third Madam Wu handed the nuptial wine cups tied with five-colored silk threads to Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Chi.

Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Chi drank the nuptial wine.

Cheng Chi’s warm breath brushed against her cheek, mixed with the mild intoxication of wine. She couldn’t help but whisper softly, “You, you drink less wine, be careful not to harm your health!”

“I know!” Cheng Chi smiled slightly, his eyes carrying some mischief.

Zhou Shaojin’s face instantly flushed crimson, no longer daring to meet Cheng Chi’s gaze.

His little girl was so interesting even when getting married!

Cheng Chi didn’t restrain himself but followed his heart’s desire and patted Zhou Shaojin’s head before standing up and saying, “Stay well in the bridal chamber. If you feel bored, have Zhenzhu keep you company talking or doing something else. If you’re hungry and want to eat anything, you can also instruct her. I’m going outside to receive guests. I might return rather late. If you’re tired or sleepy, just sleep by yourself. Tomorrow morning we still have to kowtow to the ancestors in the ancestral hall and acknowledge relatives—it will be very busy.”

Families of poetry, books, rites, and propriety mostly followed ancient customs and wouldn’t have boisterous wedding chamber antics. If there were many young children in the family, young girls and boys might sneak in to secretly look at the bride.

Unfortunately, Cheng Chi’s nephews and nieces were all grown, so naturally no one would be so bold as to come see her.

Zhou Shaojin let out a long breath and asked Zhenzhu if Chun Wan and the others had all arrived.

The maids and servants she usually used, including Fan Liushi mother and son, had all become part of her dowry household and followed along.

According to custom, they would ride in sedan chairs following at the very end of the wedding procession. Upon entering the household, they’d be arranged to sit separately for the celebratory wine. Only after the bride finished acknowledging relatives tomorrow would they come kowtow to the groom and formally begin their duties.

Zhenzhu smiled and said, “Fourth Madam, don’t worry. Nanny Lü is personally accompanying them!”

Of course, those accompanying the banquet also had their distinctions.

Usually, the higher the status of those accompanying, the more it showed the husband’s family valued the daughter-in-law.

Nanny Lü was one of Old Madam Guo’s most trusted people.

Doing this showed great face for Zhou Shaojin.

But Zhenzhu’s address of “Fourth Madam” still made Zhou Shaojin’s face flush like rosy clouds.

Zhenzhu smiled and said, “Fourth Madam, shall I help you remove your hairpins and ornaments so you can rest against the headboard for a while?”

Zhou Shaojin had always been proper and hesitated, saying, “Can they be removed?”

Styling such an elaborate hairstyle took even an expert half an hour. She had to get up before dawn tomorrow, and Chun Wan and the others couldn’t come serve her yet. She’d still have to wear this hairstyle to acknowledge relatives…

“Yes!” Zhenzhu smiled and called over a maid, saying, “Her name is Yuanyuan. Her hands are most skillful—she can style fifteen or sixteen types of hairstyles. Fourth Madam can have her try styling your hair in the future.”

Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief.

She didn’t have a fixed hair-styling maid by her side. She either casually put her hair up herself or had Chun Wan help her style a double-spiral bun or double-bun hairstyle.

Yuanyuan came over to help remove her hairpins and ornaments.

Her hands trembled as if afraid of pulling out even a single strand of her hair.

Zhou Shaojin watched and inexplicably felt her mood lighten considerably. She smiled and said, “It’s fine, take your time.”

Yuanyuan blushed, and her movements indeed became much lighter and quicker.

Someone knocked at the door.

Everyone looked at each other.

“It’s me!” They heard Cheng Jia’s deliberately lowered voice from outside the door. “I came to see you!”

Zhenzhu answered the door rather helplessly.

Cheng Jia walked in with a grin, saying from afar, “Oh my, this bridal chamber is decorated so lavishly! This dragon and phoenix candlestick is pure gold, right? And this wedding curtain—it looks like bright red carved silk!”

Zhou Shaojin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, saying, “Have you gotten so used to being the household mistress in Luoyang that you see everything as money?”

“Exactly!” Cheng Jia said shamelessly. “I’m a merchant’s wife now.”

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but laugh, saying, “Why aren’t you drinking the celebratory wine? What are you running over here for?”

Cheng Jia still had some consideration—she didn’t sit directly on the wedding bed but sat on the brocade stool beside it, saying, “It’s such a shame. Today is your joyous day, and you have to be the bride in the bridal chamber and can’t see. Second Madam Fang also came to attend the wedding. Fang Xuan didn’t come, but I could see she looked like she’d swallowed a fly. And several madams and ladies from the Min family also came. One seemed to be Min Jianxing’s first wife. I specially took a look—she’s quite ordinary looking, but has decent bearing and should also be from a prominent family. But her sister-in-law wasn’t so good, always intentionally or unintentionally inquiring about you.

“The most ridiculous was Wu Baozhang. In front of relatives and friends drinking the celebratory wine, she said she was your close friend, talking about how you were at the fourth branch, and how you caught Old Madam’s eye, copying scriptures for Old Madam at Hanbi Mountain Lodge, earning Old Madam’s favor, and going to Mount Putuo with Uncle Chi and Old Madam… Madam Yuan didn’t say a word, and Second Madam Wei wanted to stop her, but with her glutinous rice ball temperament, after a few words she was blocked by Wu Baozhang.

“I was so anxious listening. I could only introduce myself and go forward to greet the Min family people. Then I jabbed at Wu Baozhang, asking her: Who are you? How come I don’t recognize you?

“She was stunned but quickly said: I’m your Cousin-in-law Nuo’s wife…

“I cut off her words and said: That’s not right! My Cousin Nuo married the eldest daughter of the Jinling Magistrate’s family. I see you chattering on and on with so much to say—you don’t seem like her at all! You’re not my Cousin Nuo’s concubine pretending to be the proper wife while the real madam isn’t here, are you?

“You should have seen Wu Baozhang’s expression—one moment white, one moment green, like she’d been painted with colors. I was so amused!”