Madam Ji had imagined countless times how it would be when her daughter, who had grown from a crying infant into a jade-like maiden, would finally get married. The dowry had been accumulated since Ji Yingying was young.
Even a simple set of combs had been selected with utmost care. When Ji Yingying entered the main hall, the spring breeze lifted her soft skirts like butterfly wings, graceful and beautiful. Madam Ji’s vision blurred, her throat constricting, temporarily rendering her speechless.
“Mother, today… sister is getting married,” Ji Yaoting watched as mother and daughter—one with tears brimming in her eyes and choked with emotion, the other silently kneeling in formal greeting—couldn’t even speak the customary words about this being a joyous day. He had thought they could keep his sister for three more years, but now they had to send her off.
Ji Yaoting harbored some resentment toward his mother. What did Yang’s Third Young Master’s departure have to do with his sister? At worst, she wouldn’t become the Yang family’s third mistress, sparing her from the complications of life in a grand household. With his sister’s skills and Yang Third’s strength, why couldn’t they have a prosperous life together?
But since their mother had made her decision, Ji Yaoting could do nothing despite his heartache for his sister. He could only hope that First Madam Yang would treat his sister well.
Madam Ji wiped her tears, steadied her emotions, and softly instructed, “Yingying, from now on, you must walk your path. Just endure until Yang Third returns.”
*He’ll be so heartbroken when he learns I’ve been married into the Yang family like this,* thought Ji Yingying as she mumbled an acknowledgment, supported by two maids as she stood.
Mother and daughter’s eyes met, and Ji Yingying couldn’t bear her mother’s tear-filled gaze. She called out loudly, “Mother, take care of yourself. I don’t blame you! I’ll return in three days—please prepare something delicious for me. Brother, carry me out!”
Madam Ji burst into tears.
Ji Yingying quickly turned and ran out of the hall, standing in the corridor wiping her tears, and smearing her makeup in the process. Her accompanying Old Nurse Ji hurriedly took out a makeup box to touch up her face.
“Don’t bother, there’s no groom anyway! No one will see under the bridal veil,” Ji Yingying muttered softly, wiping her hands with a handkerchief before gesturing to Ling’er to place the veil.
Suddenly, Old Nurse Wu rushed in from the front courtyard, calling out loudly, “Madam, the Prefect has come to offer congratulations!”
Since Ji Yingying would be observing mourning after marriage, the Ji family hadn’t prepared a wedding feast for guests. Just as Ji Yaoting was about to carry Ji Yingying out to the sedan chair, the Prefect’s arrival to offer congratulations left everyone in the main hall, from masters to servants, completely stunned.
“The auspicious hour for departure has arrived. First Young Master, please send Yingying to the sedan first. Tell Old Nurse Tian to prepare a feast—guests must be received. Old Nurse Li, help me welcome the Prefect.”
Ji Yaoting hurriedly descended the steps, saying, “Sister, let me carry you.”
Ji Yingying suddenly giggled. How could there be so many strange occurrences at her wedding? She obediently climbed onto Ji Yaoting’s back.
Once they knew Ji Yingying had left, the firecrackers started crackling again.
Hearing the sound, the Prefect, who was being served tea in the front hall, walked out with his advisor to watch the bride’s departure from the corridor. Dressed in casual blue robes, the Prefect stroked his chin and carefully asked his advisor, “Why is the Ji family’s daughter’s wedding so quiet? Just a few red decorations and some firecrackers, and that’s it?”
“She’ll be observing mourning after marriage, so the Ji family couldn’t host guests. Besides, Madam Ji is probably too heartbroken to entertain visitors.”
“Ah,” the Prefect nodded slowly, “Well, that saves money.”
The advisor nearly choked on his saliva. Who would want to save money on their daughter’s wedding? He smiled bitterly and reminded, “Your Excellency should offer extra comfort to Madam Ji when you see her.”
The Prefect smiled and whispered, “Did my arrival seem too abrupt?”
“Don’t forget your purpose for coming, sir.”
“Right, right! I’m here to commend the Ji family for upholding propriety and raising their children well. It’s not easy to marry off one’s daughter in service of filial piety.” The Prefect straightened his back.
“Your Excellency speaks wisely.” *He just wanted an excuse to meet Madam Ji,* the advisor thought privately while offering his praise.
Ji Yaoting carried his sister out of the back courtyard. The Ji residence wasn’t very large, and he awkwardly glanced at the Prefect and his advisor watching from the corridor before lowering his head and carrying his sister out the door.
Seeing Ji Yingying emerge, the wedding facilitator hired by the Yang family hurried forward, calling out loudly, “The bride enters the sedan!”
Ji Yaoting helped Ji Yingying into the carriage. Seeing only a few carriages waiting quietly at the door with just a few firecrackers lit, his heart ached: “Yingying, I’m sorry you have to endure this.”
“It’s fine, Third Young Master isn’t here anyway, I don’t care,” she replied. Without the groom coming to receive her, what use were all the festivities?
Just then, the sound of gongs, drums, and suona horns rang out from the entrance of the alley. Second Young Master Zhu, dressed in new clothes, arrived with more than ten brothers from the idle gang, their waists tied with red silk, playing instruments as they walked. He called out while walking, “Today my sister is getting married, thanks to all the neighbors for coming to share in the joy! Brothers, beat those drums harder!”
The festive sounds attracted nearby residents.
His friends scattered two baskets of candy and one basket of copper coins to the crowd.
Cheers, and the sound of drums instantly brought the entrance of the Ji residence to life.
“Second Brother!” Ji Yaoting called out softly.
Zhu Er walked over with a smile, “How could you not tell your brother about your sister’s wedding?” He took out a red silk package from his clothes and handed it to Ling’er, who stood beside the carriage, then called out to the inside, “Second Sister, Brother Zhu Er is adding to your dowry.”
Ji Yingying covered her mouth with a handkerchief and cried, catching her breath before speaking through the curtain, “Brother Zhu Er, thank you.”
“Live a good life!” Zhu Er managed to say after a long pause.
“The auspicious hour has arrived! Let’s depart!” called the wedding facilitator.
The carriage shook slightly and slowly moved forward.
Zhu Er and his brothers accompanied them for three li. Ji Yaoting stopped in his tracks.
Watching the carriage disappear into the distance, Ji Yaoting lowered his head. Zhu Er suddenly grabbed his clothes and shouted, “How could you let your sister marry like this?”
“It was mother’s decision,” Ji Yaoting cried with reddened eyes, “What could I do?”
“Where is Yang Third? He didn’t even come to receive his bride? What right does he have to marry Yingying?” Zhu Er pushed Ji Yaoting hard, stomped his foot, and turned to leave.
Without the festive music, the carriage moved silently along the official road.
“Hey, hey, what’s going on? Why is someone blocking the middle of the road?” the wedding facilitator sitting on the shaft called out.
Zhao Xiuyuan sat alone on horseback in the middle of the official road. He looked at the red-decorated carriage and laughed loudly, “Ji Yingying, is this how you’re getting married? Yang Jingyuan didn’t even come to receive his bride?”
The Yang family’s servants who had come to escort the bride were angered and shouted, “Who are you? What business is it of yours whom the Yang family marries?”
Zhao Xiuyuan gradually stopped laughing and called out to the carriage, “Yingying, come out! I just want to see you once before I go! Come out!”
How shameless! Ji Yingying sneered. She lifted the curtain slightly and saw Zhao Xiuyuan was alone. She lowered the curtain and said coldly, “If this ruffian won’t leave after persuasion, then drive him away by force!”