In Dazhou’s marriage customs, the groom’s procession to receive the bride came after noon.

The Ling household’s wedding banquet had just drawn to a close when the procession to receive the bride arrived.

Wei Yan, dressed in brilliant red wedding robes, wore a smile that was no longer his customary composed expression — his eyes glimmered with plain and unmistakable joy. His handsome face seemed to radiate light itself.

Of course, a newly arrived son-in-law could not simply carry off the bride without going through the proper trials first.

Ling Xiao, Ling Ji, and the others had already stationed themselves outside the gate of Ling Jingshu’s courtyard. Besides the young men of the Ling Family, a good number of friends and relatives had come to assist as well. Among them were quite a few of Ling Xiao and Ling Ji’s fellow students from the Imperial College — all of them rolling up their sleeves, eager to help make things difficult for the new son-in-law.

Wei Yan had come prepared.

Among the people he had brought in his receiving procession were scholars from the Hanlin Academy and learned doctors and correctional officers from the Imperial College — men of great learning and erudition in Dazhou.

Ling Xiao and Ling Ji exchanged a glance and both immediately began to look worried. Among Wei Yan’s entourage were even two of their own teachers. With their level of scholarship, how could they possibly stump the other side?

Wei Yan had played a truly cunning move!

Indeed, regardless of what challenges were set, Wei Yan’s side handled them all with light and effortless ease.

Very soon, the men behind Wei Yan began clamouring: “Hurry up and let Imperial Physician Wei through. It’s an auspicious hour — don’t delay things.”

Ling Xiao raised an eyebrow and said with complete confidence: “Today the son-in-law has come to receive the bride and brought all these helpers along. We couldn’t stump them — that is simply the way of things. However, if you want me to willingly call him ‘Brother-in-Law’ and carry my sister to the wedding sedan with a willing heart — it won’t be that simple.”

“At the very least, he ought to step up and show what he’s made of himself, don’t you think?”

At these words, the men behind Ling Xiao burst into laughter. Some of the more mischievous among them even cried out: “The new son-in-law doesn’t dare agree even to this small request, does he? Without passing Ling Xiao’s challenge, don’t even think about taking the bride home today.”

Wei Yan gave a rueful laugh and looked toward Ling Xiao.

Ling Xiao had grown considerably taller now; his figure was slender and graceful, his looks elegant and distinguished. His face bore a striking resemblance to Ling Jingshu’s, yet also carried the vivid, soaring spirit particular to young men.

Looking at Ling Xiao was like looking at Ling Jingshu.

Wei Yan smiled and replied: “Very well. Challenge me as you see fit. Today I will make you call me ‘Brother-in-Law’ of your own glad will — there is no question of that.”

This time, it was the men behind Wei Yan who broke into applause.

Ling Xiao grinned, showing his teeth. “I know you excel at medicine and have not spent too much effort on scholarly pursuits. To test you with composing poems or matching couplets would be deliberately making things hard for you. So I will pose a question on the subject of medicine. If you answer it, I will let you pass.”

This was rather fresh and novel.

Challenging Wei Yan with a medicine question — wasn’t that obviously giving the man an easy way through?

All things considered, it made sense.

It was a happy occasion — could they really prevent the son-in-law from coming in?

Everyone craned their necks and waited to hear the question. Wei Yan too looked mildly surprised and watched his earnest young brother-in-law with a smile. “Very well — ask your question.”

Ling Xiao lifted his eyes. As if casually, he asked: “There are countless difficult and bewildering ailments in this world. You excel at medicine, and are most skilled at treating conditions others cannot cure. Let me ask you then — for the ailment of excessive jealousy in women, what is the cure?”

……This was not asking about medicine at all. It was plainly a test of his character as a future husband. More than that — it was a deliberate move to use this very moment, in front of all these witnesses, to force him to take a public stand.

Protecting his elder sister with such wholehearted devotion — the more Wei Yan saw of this young brother-in-law, the more he approved.

Wei Yan smiled with perfect composure and said unhurriedly: “The tendency toward jealousy does not belong solely to women — men have it just as much. When one loves a person, the desire to possess them exclusively arises. That is simply human nature. What is called ‘excessive jealousy in women’ is a slight against women.”

“Women live their lives confined within the inner quarters — constrained by the Three Obediences and the Four Virtues, bound by layer upon layer of rules and customs. They clearly dislike their husbands taking concubines and seeking amusement elsewhere, yet they must endure it in silence, for fear of being given cause for reproach.”

“The cure for this ‘ailment’ is quite simple. Husband and wife must be loving and harmonious; they must respect each other; they must communicate often; and their affection must run deep. Then, naturally, there will be no room for any other woman.”

Wei Yan paused here for a moment, then set aside his smile and spoke with gravity: “Ling Xiao — you and A’Shu are twins, and your bond runs deeper than ordinary siblings. Your concern for her is entirely right and proper.”

“As an old saying goes: two people who have grown old together may still be strangers, while two people who have only just met may already feel they have known each other for years. Today I have the great fortune to take A’Shu as my wife — I will devote myself fully to her, and I will not allow her to suffer even the smallest grievance. I ask all those present to serve as my witnesses: I, Wei Yan, will have only Ling Jingshu as my wife in this lifetime, and I will never fail her.”

……

These words of vow rang out with the weight of iron and stone.

Ling Xiao bore the full force of them, and was struck completely speechless. Yes — he had indeed meant to be difficult, and he had indeed been testing the man. But he had not anticipated that Wei Yan would declare his heart without the slightest hesitation.

Everyone else who heard these words was equally stunned.

Making things difficult for the new son-in-law was nothing unusual — every son-in-law went through something like this. But a young man with such an inventive approach as Ling Xiao’s was truly rare, and a son-in-law who answered with such steadfast certainty was something no one had ever heard of before.

For a moment, no one spoke. The noisy, boisterous gateway fell strangely silent.

Wei Yan looked at Ling Xiao and asked with a smile: “May I go in now?”

Ling Xiao drew a deep breath and came back to himself. “Go in.”

As he said this, he moved aside on his own initiative.

Once Ling Xiao stepped aside, all the others immediately followed. Wei Yan held in check the excitement and agitation welling up in his chest and walked through the gate.

Ling Jingshu was waiting for him inside the bridal chambers!

A’Shu, I am coming to marry you!

Wait for me!

……The new groom, his heart surging with excitement and elation, was stopped again at the door to the bridal chambers!

Jiang Rongyue stood smiling from ear to ear as the first to block the way, flanked by the very pregnant Ling Jingyan and the other young ladies of the Ling Family. A number of female guests who had come to observe and celebrate had joined them as well. The space before the room’s door — not large to begin with — was jammed absolutely full.

Wei Yan clearly had not expected this further turn of events. The excited and joyous smile had not yet faded from his face before it seized up with a degree of awkwardness.

Ling Jingyan stepped forward with all the swagger in the world, grinned at Wei Yan, and said: “Brother-in-Law, you’ve finally arrived. We’ve been waiting for you for ages.”

The word “Brother-in-Law” came out dripping with mischief.

Wei Yan gave a helpless, clasped-hands bow and smiled: “I ask Sister-in-Law and Cousin to take pity and show some mercy — let me take my new bride home for the bowing ceremony soon.”

“Not so fast.” Ling Jingyan grinned broadly. “You just passed A’Xiao’s challenge. You’ll need to pass our challenge too before you can go in. Don’t worry — we won’t make things difficult for you. You just need to answer a few small questions.”

……He had heard from Ling Jingshu long ago about how lively and hard-to-deal-with Ling Jingyan was. Today he had witnessed it for himself.

Wei Yan had no way to escape, so he could only smile and say: “Please go ahead and ask, Sister-in-Law. I will answer everything I know without reservation.”

That was exactly what they were waiting to hear!

Ling Jingyan’s grin stretched wide. “Good — since you answer so readily, I won’t hold back.”

“How long have you liked A’Shu?”

“When did you make up your mind to marry her?”

“You’re twenty-seven this year. Why have you not yet started a family all this time?”

“You don’t have any hidden ailment in your body, do you?”

……