Towards the end of July, the rain began to fall. It continued incessantly until the fourth day of the eighth month.
The wedding assistant who came to help at Bensi Hutong was Stone Lady, the eldest daughter-in-law of Chen Yunsheng, the Commander of the Front Guard of the Jinwu Guard. She was only twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with a dignified appearance and efficient manner—a very capable woman.
She walked in from outside with a smile: “I’ve been worried that this rain would never stop, but now it’s perfect! The rain has stopped, and tomorrow we can send the dowry.” She continued, “Who chose this date? It’s as if they calculated it perfectly!” She clicked her tongue in amazement.
Mother had chosen it.
She had simply flipped through the calendar for the nearest suitable date, never expecting that the long rain would stop precisely then.
Fu Tingyun had heard elders say that wind and rain before sending the dowry, followed by fair weather on the wedding day, was the best omen—the wind and rain symbolized past hardships and dissatisfaction, while fair weather symbolized future smoothness and fulfillment. It meant that all previous suffering and discontent would vanish with the marriage, and only happiness and contentment would follow. The worst case was fair weather before sending the dowry and wind and rain after the wedding, which meant that past happiness and laughter would disappear like good weather, never to return, and future life would be full of difficulties and turmoil.
Could it be that she and Zhao Ling were about to experience sweetness after bitterness?
She couldn’t help but smile, pressing her lips together.
Since they were discussing her wedding, she thought it inappropriate to say much more, and personally served a cup of tea to Lady Stone Chen.
After several days together, Lady Stone Chen and Fu Tingyun had become somewhat familiar with each other. She smiled repeatedly, saying, “I don’t deserve such honor,” and stood up to accept the teacup.
The man Fu Tingyun was marrying was a colleague of Lady Chen’s father-in-law and of the same rank, while her husband was merely a Guard Lieutenant. Moreover, before coming, her father-in-law had repeatedly instructed her that being invited as the wedding assistant was the wish of Master Gan, the Emperor’s military advisor from his days as Crown Prince. When she arrived at Bensi Hutong, she must be diligent in managing the wedding affairs. Perhaps in the future, he or even her husband might need to rely on Master Gan.
Thinking of this, she hesitated slightly, wanting to send away Yu Wei, who was carrying a box of snacks: “I’ve checked all the items and am just waiting for someone from Shi Family Hutong to come for the dowry.” She took out the dowry list and handed it to Yu Wei. “Since you’ll be accompanying the bride as part of her dowry and you’re meticulous, why not take this opportunity to help me check it? First, to see if I’ve missed anything; second, when the young lady marries, you can help store everything in the storeroom.”
Fu Tingyun’s dowry wasn’t extensive. Some antiques and paintings had been taken from Zhao Ling, which were very valuable.
Yu Wei thought Lady Chen’s words made sense. She agreed with a smile and went to the side room where the dowry was kept.
Lady Chen then took out a thin picture book from her bosom and handed it to Fu Tingyun, whispering: “Look at this, you’ll need it on your wedding night!”
Fu Tingyun’s face immediately turned red.
Sixth Aunt had also given her such a picture book and had explained it to her in detail…
Fu Tingyun hastily acknowledged it and put the book away.
Lady Chen, seeing that she seemed to know what it was, silently wondered, and reminded her: “Aren’t you going to look at what it is?” She added, “While I’m here, there are some things I might as well discuss with you.”
“No, no need.” Fu Tingyun declined. She hadn’t dared to discuss such matters with Sixth Aunt at the time, let alone with Lady Chen whom she had just met. “I have something I want to ask you,” she said, finding a topic. “I’ve heard that after the dowry is sent, it will be displayed in the courtyard in front of the main room for everyone to see. On the wedding day, I heard there will even be a stage set up for opera performances. With so many people around, what if something from the dowry goes missing?”
Just a few days after she left the palace, an imperial edict had arrived. Zhao Ling’s side received a pair of table screens as a reward, which she hadn’t seen. Her side was rewarded with figurines of the three old men of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity—items traditionally used as the first load of a bride’s dowry. She could imagine how lively and grand the procession would be as the dowry was carried to the Shi Family Hutong.
Lady Chen felt she truly understood Fu Tingyun’s feelings.
Just the jewelry in Fu Tingyun’s box—pearls the size of lotus seeds, rubies so red they seemed to drip blood, cat’s-eye gems that flashed brilliantly with every movement of light—was worth no less than two thousand taels of silver. Not to mention those Song dynasty books and inkstones.
She hurriedly smiled and said: “I’ll be there to prepare the bed, and at that time, I’ll hand the dowry list to the wedding assistant on their side. She will have people guarding it and won’t let anyone take things at random.” She continued, “Besides, you’ll also send a personal maid to go with me. She’ll stay at Shi Family Hutong for a night to familiarize herself with the environment. When you arrive, she can help serve tea and water.” Speaking of these matters, she couldn’t help but ask: “Who do you plan to send with me?”
“Pearl!” Fu Tingyun said with a smile. “After I marry, Yu Wei will still need to help clean up here. She’s older and knows how to make decisions when problems arise.”
By then, all the items would have been moved over, and she would only need to dress properly and ride the sedan chair to marry. But the ground would be covered with firecracker debris, and the tables and chairs borrowed from the Sun family would need to be counted and returned.
“That sounds good!” Lady Chen smiled. “I see that although Pearl is young, she’s clever and sensible…”
Their conversation finally turned to matters related to the wedding, and Fu Tingyun secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Early the next morning, people from Shi Family Hutong came to escort the bride, with Mo Yi surprisingly leading them.
He stood in the courtyard, grinning: “I’ve put in a lot of effort! Once the new bride enters the door, don’t forget to personally prepare a table of delicious food to reward us!”
Fu Tingyun, in her room, blushed and spat a “Hmph!” at him.
Since the auspicious hour was at Hai time in the evening (9-11 pm), Fu Tingyun’s side only distributed some wedding candies to neighbors and prepared two tables of wine. She slept until Mao time (5-7 am) before getting up. Lady Chen personally helped her wash her face, dress her hair, and after Kou’er served her lotus and lily soup, she changed into her wedding clothes. It was already You time in the afternoon (5-7 pm).
Perhaps due to a knot in her heart, feeling deeply guilty, Yu Wei only helped outside during Fu Tingyun’s wedding and didn’t involve herself in matters inside her room.
Lady Chen instructed Kou’er to prepare a bowl of noodles for Fu Tingyun: “It’s not far, you’ll be there in no time, but you should still eat something to fill your stomach. You’ll have a busy time ahead.”
Fu Tingyun didn’t refuse.
She still remembered when her third cousin got married. Because her third uncle-in-law’s family was over fifty li from the Fu family, they had to travel for a day. They had to get up at midnight to dress, and the wedding procession departed just at dawn. Due to the long distance, her third cousin was afraid of needing to use the toilet on the way, so she didn’t dare drink even a sip of water. After the wedding ceremony, there were the groom’s great-aunts, aunts, sisters-in-law, and sisters-in-law coming to see her, and she didn’t even have a chance to secretly eat a snack. When she returned home after three days, she complained that she “almost fainted from hunger.”
After eating the noodles, Lady Chen did her makeup.
After applying white powder to even out her complexion, Lady Chen stood there looking at her from different angles, and for a long time didn’t move to draw her eyebrows.
Fu Tingyun quickly asked: “Is my face too dry?”
“No, no,” Lady Chen smiled. “I’m looking at how this white powder on your face doesn’t make you look as fair and glowing as when you were without makeup…” She hesitated whether to continue.
“Then, then let’s just keep it natural,” Fu Tingyun said. “Just apply some rouge, would be fine.”
Lady Chen thought for a moment and said: “That’s good, let’s just apply some rouge.”
She asked Kou’er to bring water, helped Fu Tingyun wash her face again, and only applied some fragrant cream and rouge.
The sky darkened.
Fu Tingyun sat quietly on the bed, waiting for people from the Shi Family Hutong to come for her.
She didn’t know how much time had passed—it seemed like an instant, yet also like several days and nights—when the crackling sound of firecrackers came from outside.
Kou’er, with her lively personality, immediately jumped up: “It must be the people coming to escort the bride! I’ll go and see.” Before Fu Tingyun could speak, she had already run out. Soon, she came back: “It’s them! It’s them!” Her little face was flushed with excitement.
Outside, the sound of firecrackers became even louder.
Lady Chen went out.
Kou’er was saying something in her ear, but Fu Tingyun couldn’t hear it at all.
Soon, Lady Chen returned with a smile on her face, carrying a package containing the red veil sent by Zhao Ling.
She helped Fu Tingyun put on the veil and supported her as she went out.
A wave of laughter and noise greeted her.
Fu Tingyun was dazedly supported by Lady Chen as she knelt to kowtow to the temporarily set up Fu family ancestral tablet.
She sensed someone seemed to kneel and kowtow with her.
It must be Zhao Ling, right?
She very much wanted to take a look but didn’t dare move carelessly.
Lady Chen helped her up and walked outward.
She heard someone shouting “The bride is coming out!” and firecrackers exploded intensely, making her ears ring.
She left the Sun residence and got into the flower sedan chair.
Someone shouted, “Lift the sedan!”
Amid the continuous sound of firecrackers, the sedan chair was swayed as it was lifted.
Fu Tingyun tightly gripped her sleeve.
The sounds of firecrackers filled her ears, one after another, seemingly endless.
Yet her heart was certain.
Soon she would return to her own home.
From now on, she would no longer need to wander or toss and turn.
She could openly hold Zhao Ling’s hand, lean on his shoulder, and ask him to do this and that.
Who knew what kind of mischief Zhao Ling would make then?
At this thought, she burst out laughing. Immediately realizing she was in the middle of her wedding procession, she quickly sat up straight. Just as she sat properly, she remembered she was sitting alone in the flower sedan chair, with no one to see her… For a moment, she found it both laughable and a bit awkward.
Lost in these thoughts, the flower sedan chair stopped. Someone shouted, “The bride has arrived!” The sedan curtain was lifted, and she was helped down by Lady Chen and another unfamiliar woman. She stepped over the money and grain basin, performed the wedding ceremony, and amid the clamor, she entered the bridal chamber.
The noise was shut out by the outer door, and suddenly everything became quiet around her, as if she had entered another world.
She was supported as she sat on the new bed.
“The groom will now lift the veil!” the unfamiliar woman happily announced.
Suddenly, everything brightened before her eyes. Fu Tingyun saw Zhao Ling standing in front of her, his eyes as bright as morning stars.
He was wearing a bright red auspicious groom’s costume, with every corner of his eyes and brows overflowing with a rich smile. His eyes, however, were fixed unblinkingly on her, so focused, so serious, that she was transfixed, staring back at him, her spirit seemingly captivated.
Giggles could be heard around her.
Fu Tingyun quickly composed herself and sat properly, but her face couldn’t help but burn hot.
“The newlyweds will drink the ceremonial wine!” the unfamiliar woman smiled. Wine cups tied with five-colored threads were passed over.
Fu Tingyun took the wine cup and drank the ceremonial wine with Zhao Ling.