Outside the Shi Mansion stood the ordinary townspeople who had come to watch the spectacle; inside the Shi Mansion were the true guests — beyond relatives and close friends, there were also distinguished figures of standing and influence. Attendees had come not only from Shun Cheng but from various provinces and cities of Bei Di as well, all here to witness the ceremony. The great courtyard of the Shi Family was thick with people and alive with festivity.

The red carpet stretched from outside the gates all the way to the main hall of the Shi Mansion, a vivid blaze of crimson as far as the eye could see.

When Shi Ting led Yan Qing by the hand and stepped onto it, gazes from every direction wrapped around the two of them like heat, and they instantly became the center of all attention.

Just after they passed through the gates, a wedding attendant approached from an angle ahead, holding a brazier in her hands. According to local custom, the bride was to warm her hands over the brazier after entering the gates to drive away ill fortune.

Shi Ting glanced at the wedding attendant. She happened to look up at the same moment, and meeting Shi Ting’s scrutinizing gaze, she was immediately startled into lowering her head.

“Keep it steady,” Shi Ting said, his voice cool and even. “If your hands slip and you cause a fire, that would be most unfortunate.”

The wedding attendant understood perfectly well the warning within those words. Having been given a task by someone else to stir up trouble here, she was so thoroughly frightened by Shi Ting in that moment that she forgot her original purpose entirely, and obediently held the brazier forward with steadier hands than she had ever managed before.

Yan Qing went through the symbolic gesture of warming her hands, and the wedding attendant immediately retreated.

As for what had occurred outside, Shi Furen, sitting in the main hall, naturally knew nothing of it — she was still likely imagining that the wedding attendant would help her vent her frustrations.

After the hand-warming ceremony, the couple proceeded to the Heaven and Earth Table.

Upon the Heaven and Earth Table were arranged incense and candles, offerings, a bow and arrows, weighing scales, and ceremonial paper figures as tributes to Heaven and Earth.

After Shi Ting and Yan Qing knelt before the Heaven and Earth Table, they bowed three times.

As he helped her to her feet, he couldn’t resist asking in a low voice: “Are you all right?”

Yan Qing gave him a slight blink, offering him a reassuring look. She had worked hard and practiced for this day. Everyone believed her legs were beyond use — and yet she was determined to let them watch her walk with swift and steady steps. Shi Furen had deliberately arranged so many ceremonies, wanting nothing more than to make her stumble. But she was his wife — how could she let him be mocked? It was only a matter of walking a few extra steps. She could manage it.

Shi Ting gave her hand a gentle squeeze, and the two of them walked forward side by side.

After a succession of ceremonies, the two finally reached the bridal chamber. The bridal chamber was the courtyard where Shi Ting normally resided, which had been carefully decorated for the occasion, a large red flower hanging conspicuously above the courtyard gate.

Upon entering the courtyard, a fragrance of flowers drifted to meet them.

Yan Qing looked around, and found that in addition to the pond and the rockery, the courtyard was filled on all sides with flowers of every kind — vivid in color, competing in their beauty for the eye.

“I thought you’d like them, so I had some arranged,” Shi Ting said quietly, and gave her a small wink.

What woman does not love flowers — especially an entire courtyard full of them, brilliant and splendid, dazzling beyond measure.

Yan Qing smiled, delight showing in her eyes. She said nothing, though — for before the ceremonies were formally concluded, the bride was not permitted to speak. But whatever she wished to say, he already knew.

The wedding attendant led the way, and the pair crossed the threshold of the bridal chamber.

Yan Qing recognized this as Shi Ting’s bedroom — she had been here once before. Yet it looked rather different from that visit: in addition to all new furniture, the whole room was filled with a dazzling expanse of red.

Red bedding, red pillows, red tablecloth, red candles.

After the wedding attendant had guided Yan Qing to sit facing the auspicious direction, Yan Qing glanced around and noticed that the floor all about was scattered with longan, dates, and peanuts — all carrying the auspicious meaning of bearing children early.

“The bride is invited to light the lamp,” the wedding attendant said, bringing forward a specially made candlestick whose oil could burn continuously. “This is the longevity lamp — it may not be extinguished until the following day.”

Yan Qing had studied these customs beforehand and was already familiar with them, so she took the wedding attendant’s matches and lit the longevity lamp.

After the wedding attendant carried the lamp away, Shi Ting came and sat beside her. He looked at her, a tender smile at the corner of his lips.

The two gazed at each other, their expressions so full of feeling that they put to shame the candied sweets and desserts arranged on the table.

They ate the longevity noodles, drank the wedding wine from shared cups, and after the wedding attendant had recited a long series of congratulatory words, the ceremonies were at last complete.

As soon as the formalities concluded, Shi Ting instructed those around them: “You may all step out.”

The wedding attendant exchanged a glance with the others, and with practiced discernment, led everyone out of the room and gently pulled the door shut behind them.

Once the room had quieted, Shi Ting smiled and said: “You can speak now.”

“Being told to speak all of a sudden, I find I don’t know what to say.” Yan Qing pressed her lips into a smile — her clear, beautiful features half-veiled behind those pearl strands, her brows and eyes like a painting, endlessly lovely.

Shi Ting stared at her for a brief, caught moment, then finally raised his hand and gently removed the headdress from her hair.

Without the headdress, Yan Qing immediately felt greatly relieved, the weight on her head vanishing all at once.

Just as she was about to speak, Shi Ting suddenly placed his hand on her skirt, making as if to lift the hem.

Yan Qing reacted in alarm and quickly pressed her hand down over his. “What are you doing?”

He still had to go out and receive the guests, and there were many people standing guard outside — someone might burst in at any moment.

But Shi Ting had begun to carefully massage her legs.

Yan Qing was startled at first, but then warmth bloomed in her chest — like a hand gently cupped around her heart.

She said nothing. She only looked down at him, and the weariness she had been carrying began to ease.

“I’m all right now,” Yan Qing said, afraid he would tire himself out, and she gave him a gentle nudge. “Everyone outside is waiting for the groom.”

“I’ll have Jing Zhi come in to keep massaging for you,” he said.

Yan Qing smiled and nodded.

“Here — take this.” Like a magician producing something from thin air, Shi Ting opened his palm to reveal an object wrapped in foil — a piece of chocolate. “I heard this holds off hunger.”

He peeled back the foil and placed the chocolate in her mouth. A sweetness spread, as if it might dissolve the very tip of her heart.

On this day, the bride was not to eat — nor to relieve herself — no matter how hungry or how urgent the need. It was a genuine ordeal.

To avoid any mishaps, Yan Qing had eaten only a small amount of food and drunk no water.

After feeding her the piece of chocolate, Shi Ting went out to receive the guests. Jing Zhi and Murong came in and took their places on either side of Yan Qing, each massaging one of her legs.

“Miss, today was truly so satisfying,” Jing Zhi said, her voice bright with pleasure. “When I saw Shi Furen’s face go as dark as the bottom of a pot, I nearly died laughing.”

Murong thought of how Yan Qing had finally come to a day when she could leave the wheelchair behind, and felt a wave of quiet emotion. It was hard to imagine — a person who had sat in a wheelchair for over a decade, suddenly standing up and stepping forward with such elegant strides.

“Miss, I’m afraid Shi Furen’s impression of you is even worse now.” Murong was somewhat worried. After all, it was Shi Furen who held authority over the inner courtyard of the Shi Mansion.

Yan Qing let out a quiet sigh. “Even without today’s scene, she and I would have been like fire and water, and that tension could never be untied. Since we were always going to come face to face sooner or later, it makes no difference that it was today.”

Jing Zhi and Murong both sighed along with her. They knew very well that Yan Qing’s entry into the Shi Family might look glorious on the surface, but what awaited her was not necessarily clear of schemes and intrigue — not only a Shi Furen who watched with barely concealed predatory intent, but also Shi Guang and Yan Qin, and furthermore… Shi Ting’s birth mother, Er Yitai.

To say that Yan Qing was walking alone into a den of tigers would not be an exaggeration at all.

Fortunately — she still had Shi Ting.

“Come now, since we’re already here, let’s settle in and make the best of it.” Yan Qing spoke gently to the two maids. “You two must also be careful at every turn — don’t get into confrontations with the people in this household, or you’ll come off the worse for it.”

The two of them responded in agreement.

“Miss, should we still address you as Miss from now on?” Jing Zhi had called her that for years and had long since grown accustomed to it.

Yan Qing laughed. “In front of others, address me as Young Madam. In private, call me whatever you like.”

The rules of the Shi household had to be observed — otherwise it would give people something to talk about.

The two of them were pleased. “Yes, Miss.”

“Murong, find a moment to give this to Shi Ting and have him take it.” Yan Qing realized she had nearly forgotten — she had also prepared a remedy for the effects of alcohol.

Murong took it and left quickly.

Shi Ting was up front receiving the guests, and naturally a great many toasts could not be avoided — and there were particularly many people offering toasts today.

When Murong found Shi Ting, there was another man at his side. This man was remarkably handsome, with a pair of peach-blossom eyes that carried a trace of roguish charm. When he looked at people, his eyes narrowed slightly, giving him a distinctly languid air.

This man stood beside Shi Ting and deflected toasts for him whenever someone offered one. Murong watched him down cup after cup without any change in his expression, and she couldn’t help but feel quietly impressed — this person truly had an extraordinary capacity for drink.

Murong had no time to wonder who the man was. She slipped the remedy to Jin Shan and had Jin Shan pass it to Shi Ting, and only after she watched Shi Ting take it without any visible sign did she leave with peace of mind.

Shi Ting was bound to have drinks forced on him — particularly since some individuals bent on mischief were quietly stirring up trouble behind the scenes. Taking the remedy beforehand was a prudent precaution.

By the time Murong returned and relayed to Yan Qing what she had seen, Yan Qing found herself curious about the identity of that man.

Yan Qing’s usual circle consisted of Zheng Yun and those in the same group, but they all worked for Shi Ting within the Military and Police Bureau. Outside the Bureau, Shi Ting also had considerable influence and connections, and had come to know many remarkable individuals of unusual abilities — as evidenced by his ability to find Wen Yan at the fastest possible speed within territory under the Xing Gang’s control, something that even Long Yunxiao had been unable to accomplish.

“Miss, I noticed from his voice that it was the same person answering questions at the door today. It seems he and the Master are quite close.”

Yan Qing was in no hurry to acquaint herself with these people. She knew that sooner or later, Shi Ting would introduce them to her.

“Miss, if you’re tired, go ahead and rest for a while,” Jing Zhi said quietly. “Murong and I will stand guard at the door for you.”

Yan Qing had slept poorly the night before and risen early today, yet she felt no drowsiness — the joy of getting married had swept away all fatigue and sleepiness.

She shook her head. “I’m not tired.”

The three of them chatted for a while longer. The clamor outside continued unabated. After a long while, the door finally creaked open, and when Yan Qing saw who had entered, she suddenly felt, without quite knowing why, a flutter of nerves.

Jing Zhi and Murong immediately rose and bowed in greeting.

Shi Ting stepped inside. In his wedding attire, his tall, upright bearing was made even more striking, and his handsome features appeared even more compelling and commanding.

Jing Zhi noticed there was no one behind him, and asked: “Master, is there to be no wedding-night revelry tonight?”

Shi Ting said: “There were those who wanted to, but I sent them all away.”

*(Somewhere, an older brother who had been driven out by his own son was seething with indignation.)*

Jing Zhi and Murong understood — he was worried about Yan Qing being overtaxed, and so had dismissed the others.

The two exchanged a glance, both reading the other’s thoughts perfectly, and quietly withdrew.

When only Shi Ting and Yan Qing were left in the room, Yan Qing could not help lowering her head, her heartbeat quickening.

—