The sedan bearers had been instructed well in advance, and they carried the bridal palanquin with exceptional steadiness.

Wei Yan, dressed in his festive robes and riding a tall, magnificent red horse, wore an expression of radiant, triumphant joy upon his handsome face. A full forty-eight loads of dowry followed behind the wedding procession, moving in grand and imposing fashion along the wide streets.

The roadsides were packed with townspeople who had come out to watch the spectacle.

“Divine Physician Wei has finally taken a wife!”

“Indeed — Divine Physician Wei is already twenty-seven this year. He’s been busy all this time attending to the noble ladies of the palace, and managing Huichuntang on top of that, which delayed his own lifelong affairs. But it’s all worked out now — he’s finally married.”

“I’ve heard that the young lady of the Ling Family is breathtakingly beautiful, with the face of a flower and the grace of the moon. Divine Physician Wei marrying the Ling Family’s daughter — it truly is a match made by Heaven.”

“This marriage was personally arranged by Her Majesty the Empress. Surely the Empress wouldn’t do wrong by her own younger brother — the bride must be exceptional.”

……

Amid the chorus of chatter and commentary, the wedding procession finally arrived at the Wei residence.

Outside the Wei residence, a considerable crowd of onlookers had also gathered.

The Wei household’s chief steward instructed the manor’s servants to carry out two large baskets of copper coins, so that every person who had come to watch could receive two as a lucky token of the joyful occasion. This immediately drew a wave of praise and well-wishes from the crowd.

All of this commotion, naturally, had nothing to do with the newlyweds themselves.

Wei Yan dismounted from his horse and led the bride inside to perform the wedding rites.

The Wei family no longer had elders of the older generation, and Wei Empress could not personally come to the Wei residence. Even so, the wedding at the Wei residence was conducted with tremendous fanfare.

Few people in this world are willing to offer help in difficult times, but those who come to add flowers to an already flourishing display are plentiful. The connections Wei Yan had cultivated over so many years were not to be underestimated, and a considerable number of people had also come to the Wei residence out of deference to Wei Empress.

One bow to Heaven and Earth! One bow to the elders! Husband and wife bow to each other!

When the rites were complete, Ling Jingshu was guided into the bridal chamber in a haze of dizziness.

Wei Yan had no time at all to stay in the bridal chamber with her. Without even managing to lift her red veil, he was pulled away to attend to the guests.

……

On the day of a wedding, it is in truth rather an exhausting ordeal for the bride. Not a word to be spoken, not a movement to be made, nothing to eat or drink — she simply sits for an entire day, while all the merriment outside has nothing whatsoever to do with her.

Ling Jingshu had no idea how long she had been sitting there; she had sat until her waist and legs were numb and sore. She wished to shift her position, but was concerned that the auspicious attendants in the bridal chamber might quietly laugh at her.

The auspicious attendants who had come to the Ling residence to help with her bridal makeup, and those who were managing the various arrangements at the Wei residence — all of them were people sent by Wei Empress. If they were to go back to the palace and say a few words in front of Wei Empress, it would be enough to make this new bride flush with embarrassment.

Never mind — she would simply keep enduring!

Time slipped away quietly, moment by moment.

She did not know how much time had passed when, at last, there was movement again outside the door.

The door was pushed open, and a group of people entered the bridal chamber amid a clamor of noisy footsteps. A pungent smell of alcohol quickly spread and filled the room.

“Hurry and lift the bride’s veil! We want to see the bride!” Someone, riding on the courage of drink, laughed and called out, and immediately many others joined in echoing the sentiment.

Wei Yan had also been made to drink quite a bit, and he laughed his agreement — half resigned, half eager: “All right, I’ll lift the veil now.”

Sitting at the edge of the bed, Ling Jingshu’s heart began to pound violently.

The red veil was raised by the red ceremonial rod, and it drifted lightly down to the floor.

Ling Jingshu lowered her eyes slightly, not daring to meet anyone’s gaze, letting her line of sight fall on the hem of Wei Yan’s festive robes. Wei Yan gazed at the shyly silent Ling Jingshu and felt himself utterly intoxicated, both in body and soul.

The people in the bridal chamber were struck into a momentary stunned silence by Ling Jingshu’s breathtaking beauty, and then the clamor rose up anew.

“The bride is so beautiful! Imperial Physician Wei is truly blessed to enjoy such good fortune!”

“No wonder he refused to take a wife for all these years — it seems he already knew long ago that someone magnificent was waiting for him!”

“The wedding cup! Drink the wedding cup! Hurry!”

Wei Yan had not yet come back to his senses when a cup was pressed into his hand. In a pleasant daze, he sat down beside Ling Jingshu, their arms intertwined, their foreheads touching, their eyes meeting.

In this moment, who cared what the people around them were shouting and calling out?

In his eyes, there was only her.

In her eyes, there was only him.

From this day forward, they would be the closest of people in this world. Walking hand in hand to silver-haired old age, never to part.

“A’Shu,” Wei Yan called her name softly. “Let us drink the wedding cup. Trust me — I will never fail you in this lifetime.”

The corners of Ling Jingshu’s eyes grew faintly moist. All the bewilderment, anxiety, nervousness, and unease of the entire day dissolved and vanished with those brief words.

Witnessed by all those present, the two of them drank the wedding cup together.

……

Those who had come to liven up the bridal chamber were not willing to disperse just yet, and stubbornly refused to leave.

Wei Yan’s heart and mind were entirely fixed on the bride; he had no patience left for these lively intruders. He repeatedly made meaningful glances at the auspicious attendants.

These several attendants were all palace women — each one sharper and more capable than the last. How could they fail to read Wei Yan’s meaning? They immediately broke into cheerful smiles and, through a mixture of coaxing and herding, ushered everyone out of the room.

Left in the bridal chamber were Wei Yan, Ling Jingshu, and the two dowry maids Bai Yu and Qiao Yun.

At last, there was peace and quiet.

Ling Jingshu quietly let out a breath of relief and looked up at Wei Yan — only to meet the scorching, eager intensity of his gaze.

Like a man who has gone hungry for a very long time, suddenly beholding before him the most exquisite delicacy in the world, as though he wished to take her apart and draw her within himself.

Ling Jingshu’s cheeks began to quietly grow warm.

Bai Yu summoned her courage and stepped forward, dipping into a curtsy: “Young Master, the young lady only had a little breakfast early this morning and has not eaten anything all day — she has long since been ravenously hungry. This servant wishes to go to the kitchen and bring some food.”

Wei Yan came back to himself and quickly said: “I had food kept ready long ago. There’s no need for you to go — I’ll bring it myself. Hot water for bathing has also been prepared. After eating, bathe first, then rest. You and Qiao Yun stay here and keep A’Shu company.”

With that, he went out quickly.

Bai Yu let out an amused laugh: “The young master is truly considerate — even these small details he thought of ahead of time.”

The young master truly was gentle and thoughtful.

Qiao Yun also laughed and said quietly: “Indeed, the young master is very attentive.”

After all this commotion through the day, Ling Jingshu was thoroughly exhausted and worn out.

When Wei Yan personally brought in the food, Ling Jingshu set aside any pretense of reserved shyness — she drank two bowls of rice congee, ate two pieces of pastry, and had some of the delicate and beautifully prepared side dishes as well.

The rest she sent out for Bai Yu and Qiao Yun to share among themselves.

At last there were only the two of them left in the bridal chamber.

Wei Yan walked to Ling Jingshu’s side, his dark, bright eyes filled with a warm and tender smile: “The hot water is ready. The bathing room is right next door — there is a door directly through behind the folding screen. I’ll take you there now.”

His gaze made Ling Jingshu feel as though every bone in her body had softened. She bit her lip and said, face reddening: “Wait until Bai Yu and Qiao Yun have finished eating — let the two of them attend me while I bathe.”

Wei Yan gave a low, easy laugh and with a rather shameless air pulled her into his arms: “Bai Yu and the others have also been busy all day. Are you really so heartless as to make them toil further? You are my wife now. It is perfectly right and proper for me to attend you while you bathe.”