A pair of delicate, exquisite five-colored mandarin duck shoes peeked out from beneath the blue-lotus-colored skirt, their pointed tips curving upward, each adorned with a bright pearl. The dazzling shoes paired with the pure blue-lotus color, their pointed upturned tips like hooks, stirred something in Zhao Xiuyuan’s heart.
He instinctively looked up, wanting to see Niu Wu Niang’s face. The red silk covering her high hairdo blocked his view. As his gaze moved downward, Niu Wu Niang had already stepped out of the sedan, standing on the red felt carpet. Her skirt, like a pool of early green lotus leaves, dragged and spread out, completely concealing those five-colored embroidered shoes.
She wore a crimson silk dress underneath, covered by a blue-lotus colored brocade crossed-collar wide-sleeved deep robe, with a red sash embroidered with the character for “fortune” at her waist. The evening wind was strong, making the jade-colored shawl draped over her arms flow like clouds.
“The bride is so beautiful!”
“And so virtuous!”
As these comments reached Zhao Xiuyuan’s ears, he suddenly wanted to laugh.
Niu Wu Niang stood quietly, naturally displaying the bearing cultivated since childhood in a noble household. For no reason, Zhao Xiuyuan thought of Madam Ji, with her straight back like unbending green bamboo. It irritated him.
He glanced obliquely toward Ji Yingying’s position. The crowd had surged forward to see the bride, leaving Ji Yingying hidden behind them. Many young ladies were packed in the crowd. Zhao Xiuyuan searched hard for a long time, finally spotting Ji Yingying’s double-loop hairstyle, and on her clear forehead, a golden treasure flower ornament gleaming in the sunset. This point of light flickered and once again disappeared from his sight.
Two hundred Zhao family servants appeared holding lanterns, forming a line from the ceremonial gate all the way to the main hall entrance. In the twilight, the lantern lights twinkled endlessly.
An incense altar and prayer cushions were quickly arranged beneath the ceremonial gate. The Zhao family servants retreated to both sides, bowing in unison, quietly awaiting the couple’s worship.
The wind blew the bridal veil, making the gold ornaments at its four corners collide with soft, scattered sounds. The gongs, drums, and suona had long stopped, and Niu Wu Niang vaguely saw the dark crowd in the sunset as she extended her hand.
Niu Qi Niang quickly stepped forward, supporting her along with a maid.
“Sister!” Niu Qi Niang muttered softly, “Why listen to him? This isn’t even proper.”
Niu Wu Niang gently squeezed her hand, sighing: “Do you want your sister to return to the bridal sedan, unable to marry for life? There will be time in the future.”
“Fine. We’ll do as he says this time,” Niu Qi Niang said resentfully. “Later, I’ll get revenge for you, sister.” She released her hand, watching sadly as her sister and Zhao Xiuyuan walked to the incense altar before the ceremonial gate to bow, then turned to find Sang Shisi who had accompanied her in escorting the bride.
After paying respects to the gate, Niu Wu Niang took the maid’s hand to return to the sedan. Turning back, she saw the red-robed figure before her. She paused and lowered her voice mockingly: “Was it worth it?”
Zhao Xiuyuan was first stunned, then felt stifled. Was it worth it? Would making her leave the sedan to bow to the Zhao family gate change her status? Wasn’t it just like bringing home a Buddha statue to worship? Why had he given in to such foolish thoughts of a power struggle? He gritted his teeth and mounted his horse. From this higher vantage point, he easily found Ji Yingying.
A handsome young man in fine silk clothes stood beside her, smiling broadly and saying something. One glance was enough to recognize the valuable nature of his silk attire. The blush rising on Ji Yingying’s cheeks darkened Zhao Xiuyuan’s expression. The shy charm he knew so well was no longer displayed only for him. Besides Yang Jingyuan, she shamelessly attracted another young master! Zhao Xiuyuan unconsciously tightened his grip on the reins. He wasn’t in a hurry—he had waited for her all these years, couldn’t he wait one more evening? Zhao Xiuyuan snorted coldly and urged his horse forward, leading the sedan.
“Third Brother and I are like brothers. Before he left for Chang’an, he asked me to look after you. If you need anything, feel free to find me at the Chief Minister’s mansion in the city,” Sang Shisi smiled while observing Ji Yingying. He had extracted a promise from Yang Jingyuan to buy him a good Dayuan horse from Chang’an’s Western Market—this small favor, he could certainly help with.
Ji Yingying wanted to say she had no relationship with him. With her mother and brother just steps away, she found it inappropriate and embarrassing to explain this to Sang Shisi, so she could only quietly thank him: “Thank you.”
Sang Shisi’s curiosity overflowed as he asked softly: “That time at Qingyang Temple with Third Brother—you two didn’t plan it together just to embarrass me, did you?”
They had known each other well, yet Yang Jingyuan pretended not to know her. He let Sang foolishly try to flirt with Second Miss Ji, then called his concubine to interfere—it was extremely annoying!
“We merely know each other,” Ji Yingying explained quietly. She recalled Yang Jingyuan standing in the rain under the eaves, the way he looked at her, and unconsciously blushed.
“Brother Fourteen!”
Hearing Niu Qi Niang’s call, Sang Shisi hurriedly cupped his hands to Ji Yingying and returned to the procession.
Seeing Niu Qi Niang peek over, Ji Yingying smiled and nodded slightly in greeting.
The wedding procession entered the lane. Governess Gu led the three Ji family members through a side door into the Zhao residence.
Ji Yaoting was led by a servant to the front hall where the male guests were gathered, while Madam Ji and Ji Yingying proceeded through the second gate to the back courtyard.
At first, they could still hear faint laughter from the courtyard and see servants hurrying back and forth. After walking along the corridor for a while, everything grew quiet around them.
A courtyard appeared before Ji Yingying; through its snow-white walls, she could see the two-story building inside. A familiar feeling washed over her.
Madam Ji had already stopped, frowning: “We were invited to observe the ceremony and offer congratulations. Governess, why have you brought us to such a secluded place?”
Governess Gu made a gesture of invitation: “My mistress has words for Madam Ji. We didn’t expect to find you seated in the outer wedding canopy. Now that the newlyweds have entered, we must wait until the auspicious time for the ceremony before my mistress will be free. I imagine Madam Ji and Second Miss Ji aren’t particularly interested in watching the ceremony in the front hall. Please rest here and have some tea while waiting for my mistress.”
Neither mother nor daughter had any interest in watching the ceremony and knowing they would have to hear what Madam Zhao had to say sooner or later, they followed their host’s arrangement and entered the courtyard.
A wisteria grew in the yard, its green leaves now completely fallen, leaving only gnarled branches climbing the bamboo frame. Ji Yingying felt increasingly uneasy, and upon entering the main room, she faced a hanging ink-wash painting. It depicted a house with black tiles and white walls, a Chinese hackberry tree with lush branches in the courtyard, and a woman in red standing at a corner window. Ji Yingying was dumbfounded.
“Please be seated for a moment. This old servant will inform the mistress,” Governess Gu bowed and left the courtyard.
“Madam, Young Miss, please enjoy some tea.” Four maids were left to serve them. After bringing tea and refreshments, they quietly stood outside in the corridor to wait.
With no one else in the room, Ji Yingying moved closer to her mother and said softly: “Mother, this painting shows the courtyard where I lived. This place seems to be the Zhao family’s Vine Garden opposite our house—it’s Zhao Xiuyuan’s residence.”
Madam Ji drew in a sharp breath. What did the Zhao family mean by this?
She stood up, frowning, and took Ji Yingying’s hand to leave.