Upon arriving at the Liang residence, the main gates were thrown wide open, and Qin Shuying’s bridal sedan came to a halt.
According to the customs of the Great Zhou, the bride must now dismount from the sedan and be carried inside on the groom’s back.
After entering the main gate, the bride would then take the sedan again to proceed to the ceremonial hall for the wedding bows.
Liang Zhe carried Qin Shuying on his back, gazing at the imposing main gate of the Grand General of Western Conquest’s mansion and those twelve broad stone steps, then steadily took his first stride forward.
One step, two steps…
Liang Zhe’s heart was filled with both joy and regret.
His joy came from finally being able to welcome her into his household as his bride.
His regret stemmed from originally planning to bring his sister to the capital, but she had fallen ill. With the journey being so distant, he had told her not to make the trip. From such a remote place, if anything untoward were to happen along the way…
For this momentous occasion in his life, he had wanted his uncle’s family to share in the happiness, and he had wanted his sister to be happy too.
But ultimately, his sister could not come, which filled him with such regret.
Finally entering through the main gate, Qin Shuying once again seated herself in the sedan and was carried before the main hall.
Qin Shuying alighted from the sedan, and she and Liang Zhe each grasped one end of a bright red silk ribbon, walking side by side toward the main hall.
In the center of the imposing and elegant great hall sat Liang Yunshan, and in the chair beside him that should have held Luo Meixiang, there was instead the memorial tablet of Zhao Wanniang.
This was the result that Zhao Zhenyuan had achieved after rushing to the marquis’s mansion early that morning and insisting with all his might.
When Liang Yunshan wanted Luo Meixiang to receive the wedding bows from the newlywed couple, Zhao Zhenyuan pulled out the imperial edict from his robes, and Lady Mu said coldly, “We’ll place the imperial edict beside Wanniang’s memorial tablet. If Luo Meixiang dares to sit upon the imperial edict, then by all means let her sit.”
Luo Meixiang immediately began to weep with tears streaming down her face. Lady Mu continued, “Luo Meixiang, if you have objections to His Majesty’s decreed marriage and cry and wail on the wedding day, then you might as well go directly to the Golden Phoenix Hall for an audience.”
Luo Meixiang was so angry that her tears stopped flowing, and she turned and stormed away.
Liang Yunshan moved to pursue her, but Lady Mu continued coldly, “Where is the Marquis of Pacifying the West going? Could it be that you too are dissatisfied with His Majesty’s decreed marriage?”
With no other choice, Liang Yunshan had to agree. After all, bowing to a memorial tablet was not unreasonable—it was the tablet of Liang Zhe’s birth mother.
Therefore, when Liang Zhe and Qin Shuying paid their respects to the elders, they bowed to Liang Yunshan and the memorial tablet of Zhao Wanniang.
“The ceremony is complete… escort the newlyweds to the bridal chamber!”
Following the ceremonial master’s long pronouncement, Qin Shuying and Liang Zhe were escorted to the bridal chamber.
During the escort to the bridal chamber, according to the Great Zhou’s ritual protocols, several men blocked Liang Zhe’s path along the way, and Liang Zhe had to deal with their challenges.
Qin Shuying entered the bridal chamber first.
Inside the room, a group of female relatives were already waiting.
Qin Shuying had long since clarified the personnel situation of the Liang household.
Besides Old Madam Liang, Liang Yunshan, and the mother and four children of Luo Meixiang, there were several other closely related individuals.
The main Liang family was exceptionally distinguished.
The old marquis had married Luo Yanyan, who was Old Madam Liang, and she had “given birth to” only Liang Yunshan.
The old marquis also had several concubines. One was Concubine Hua, who had already passed away and had borne Second Master Liang and First Aunt Liang.
Second Master Liang was also quite accomplished, holding a rank of fourth grade and serving as an official in the provinces. He had married Lady Meng and had one son and two daughters, who remained in the capital to serve their legitimate mother, Old Madam Liang, with filial piety.
First Aunt Liang had married into the Lu family in the capital, and the current head of the Lu family was her husband, a third-rank high official. First Aunt Liang’s two sons were both promising—one held a rank from the third grade, the other from the fourth grade. First Aunt Liang’s legitimate granddaughter was someone Qin Shuying knew: Lu Ruyang.
Additionally, another concubine had borne a daughter who married far away, and her husband was also a high official in another region.
Now, among the female relatives in the bridal chamber, First Aunt Liang took the lead.
First Aunt Liang was several years older than Liang Yunshan, but she maintained herself well and lived comfortably. She didn’t look her age, and those who didn’t know might think she was the younger sister and Liang Yunshan the older brother.
She appeared very kindly, smiling warmly while making lively conversation, and pointed at Ziteng, Hong Juan, and others who had followed inside, saying, “Look how beautiful the maids beside the new bride are! Our Ziyu is truly blessed!”
What kind of talk was this?
Ziteng and Hong Juan exchanged glances, and Ziteng couldn’t help but feel anger surge within her.
Hong Juan quickly stepped forward, performed a curtsy, and said, “First Aunt, we’re grateful for your praise, but you’ve mistaken us—we are not maids.”
First Aunt Liang didn’t believe it, nor did the others. How could that be possible?
“The First Madam has shown pity for mine and Miss Ziteng’s attentive and considerate service and our honest character, and has already freed us from our contracts. We entered the mansion as free persons.”
The female relatives immediately burst into an uproar. Which household’s daughter-in-law entered the mansion in such a manner?
First Aunt Liang’s expression changed slightly, then she said, “Oh my, isn’t that even better? Ready-made good concubines placed right here—the First Madam is truly a thoughtful person.”
Hong Juan replied openly, “First Aunt, you mistake us for maids—your eyesight truly isn’t very good. Since that’s the case, First Aunt, you should please sit over there to avoid bumping into anything.”
Ziteng secretly laughed, not expecting that Hong Juan, usually such a steady person, could be quite merciless when mocking others.
When had First Aunt Liang ever suffered such ridicule?
She was about to explode on the spot when several young ladies came barging over, pushing and shoving until they squeezed her to the back. She couldn’t even stand steady. Hong Juan said, “You girls finally show some sense. First Aunt is advanced in age with poor eyesight—why don’t you quickly help First Aunt to rest.”
In this bridal chamber, all the serving people were brought by Qin Shuying; not a single person from the Liang family was present.
So First Aunt Liang was supported by Zhishu and Zhihua, and with a “whoosh” was led to a chair by the window to sit down. Huiyun even grabbed her arm, saying, “First Aunt, since your eyesight isn’t good, you’d better rest here.”
First Aunt Liang felt a tingling numbness in her arm, then found herself immobilized, unable to move.
She was desperately anxious, knowing she had been schemed against, but she could only worry in her heart without being able to utter a single word. Her maid was right outside the door, but what use was that?
Qin Shuying’s people occupied every key position in the bridal chamber, appearing to smile sweetly while each one’s gaze was unfriendly.
Second Madam Liang, Lady Meng, noticed something amiss, but she had no reason to stand up for Luo Meixiang.
Moreover, First Aunt usually loved to point fingers and meddle in their family affairs. Lady Meng pretended not to notice First Aunt Liang’s predicament and cheerfully spoke words of congratulation.
At this moment, Liang Zhe arrived just in time. The ceremonial attendant led several auspicious women to escort Liang Zhe and Qin Shuying into the bridal chamber.
Huiyun supported First Aunt Liang, standing to one side to observe the ceremony. Many people’s attention was drawn to the graceful Qin Shuying, and they didn’t pay much attention to her.
Huiyun would occasionally release First Aunt Liang’s pressure points, and when First Aunt Liang was about to make a commotion, Huiyun would immediately press her pressure points again.
First Aunt Liang was like a mute eating bitter herbs—she had suffering but couldn’t speak of it. She could only watch helplessly as everyone ate wedding candy, pastries, and melon seeds, celebrating Qin Shuying with great fanfare.
After a lively period, the female relatives spoke congratulatory words in small groups and departed one by one.
First Aunt Liang was also escorted out by Huiyun.