As expected, seeing everyone stunned into silence, the matchmaker was finally satisfied.

She nudged Lu Guanyi, reminding him, “Young Master, it’s time to drink the ceremonial wine.”

Lu Guanyi accepted the wine cup like a wandering soul, his gaze fixed straight on Ye Yaming. He mechanically allowed the matchmaker to guide his arm to cross with Ye Yaming’s, and they drank the ceremonial wine together.

Lu’s Third Old Lady, being advanced in years, quickly recovered from her amazement at Ye Yaming’s beauty.

Seeing that the bride and groom had finished their ceremonial drink, she called to everyone, “Alright, the bride left home early this morning and must be tired by now. The banquet is already set up in front. please, ladies and young misses, move to the front and take your seats.”

Everyone was still captivated by the bride’s exceptional beauty. Even the young ladies who had come with an abundance of resentment now felt ashamed of their appearances and didn’t dare say anything, silently following the crowd out of the bridal chamber.

The Marquis Zhenbei’s wife had wanted to leave earlier, but doing so would have been too conspicuous. Now she quickly pulled An Jingning along and hastily walked out.

After leaving, she didn’t head toward the banquet but instead pulled her daughter to a secluded spot and asked her, “Did you see that?”

An Jingning lowered her eyes dejectedly, “I saw it. She’s much more beautiful than I am.”

Then she bit her lip again, “But is Brother Lu such a shallow person?”

The Marquis Zhenbei’s wife glared at her in exasperation, “Who asked you about that? Didn’t you see what happened during the ceremonial wine?”

An Jingning raised her head in confusion, looking at her mother.

The Marquis Zhenbei’s wife said, “The Lu family had prepared ceremonial wine, right there on the wedding table. But the Ye family’s servants brought their own wine and wine vessels, not using what the Lu family provided.”

An Jingning blinked, still not understanding, “Why would they do that?”

The Marquis Zhenbei’s wife looked at her foolish daughter and sighed, “In ordinary households, servants would never dare to scheme against their masters or tamper with the ceremonial wine for the bride and groom. But the Marquis Xuanwu’s residence is different.”

An Jingning thought for a moment, then nodded, “I know that.”

Who didn’t know that the former Marquis Xuanwu’s wife, Lady Shi, greatly disliked her stepson Lu Guanyi? Even at the age of ten or more, Lu Guanyi couldn’t be established as the heir, and his marriage arrangements repeatedly encountered problems.

Although Lady Shi had been divorced now, the entire household was still filled with servants she had purchased and confidants she had won over. The household still had her biological son, Lu Guanyu. All of them were very much at odds with Lu Guanyi.

These people might well do something at Lu Guanyi’s wedding. After all, they would cover for each other, and with Lu Guanyu as their backup, and since Lu Zhongyong wouldn’t want others to laugh at the Marquis Xuanwu’s household, the matter might well be swept under the rug.

The Marquis Zhenbei’s wife knew her daughter was simple-minded, and her “I know” didn’t necessarily mean she understood the issue.

She said, “What if these people deliberately schemed and used underhanded methods to put something in the wine? Wouldn’t the newlyweds be humiliated in front of everyone? They might never be able to hold their heads up in public again.”

An Jingning’s eyes widened, “That can’t be!” She immediately felt sympathy for Lu Guanyi.

Seeing that her daughter had heard her words and showed sympathy, obviously sympathizing with Lu Guanyi for having such a family and stepmother rather than thinking about Ye Yaming, the Marquis Zhenbei’s wife almost didn’t want to continue speaking.

Suppressing her anger, she said, “Look at this bride. Her servants came prepared, bringing their own wine and wine vessels, showing that she had considered this possibility. She must be an extremely intelligent and attentive person, and not afraid to offend the people of the Lu household.”

To show such preventive measures in front of Lu Guanyi demonstrated that this Miss Ye from a merchant background was not at all intimidated by Lu Guanyi.

Perhaps she dared to do this only because she knew Lu Guanyi was extremely fond of her?

But this latter implication was something Marquis Zhenbei’s wife couldn’t say to her daughter.

An Jingning remained silent for a long while before finally understanding what her mother meant.

She lowered her head dejectedly, “Alright, I know what you’re trying to say. You’re telling me that she’s both beautiful and smart, much better than me, and that I shouldn’t have any delusions, right? Fine, I understand.”

As she spoke, she twisted her handkerchief forcefully as if venting her frustration.

Seeing her daughter’s dejected face, the Marquis Zhenbei’s wife felt both heartache and relief.

Her daughter lacked neither family background nor appearance. She could be matched with any suitable young man, so why did she have to fixate on Lu Guanyi? No matter how good that young man was, now that he was married, he could no longer be an object of affection, otherwise, her daughter would only be harming herself.

Bai Rui and the others saw that all the guests had left, and according to custom, no one would enter the bridal chamber again, so they went to close the door.

She turned and asked Ye Yaming, “Miss, are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?”

Though Ye Yaming had risen early, after breakfast she had been busy with makeup, then waiting for the matchmaker, and it was already the hour of Chen (7-9 AM). The three cries and three urgings had taken nearly half a shichen (hour), and by the time she got into the sedan chair, it was already the third quarter of the hour of Si (9-11 AM). The sedan chair had traveled halfway around the city, taking another hour and a half, and by now it was the hour of Shen (3-5 PM), the usual time for dinner.

But for most of the day, she had only eaten a few tangyuan (glutinous rice balls) in the morning. By now, she must be both hungry and thirsty.

There was tea and wedding cakes on the wedding table, but those couldn’t be eaten. Bai Rui was now extremely grateful that she had listened to the elder aunt’s reminder and hidden some pastries in her pouch.

They had also placed a small pot of ceremonial wine and wine vessels in a set of silver utensils included in the dowry, along with a pot of tea. While parading through the city in the wedding procession, Qingzhi had followed the dowry carriers, and upon arriving at the Lu residence, immediately retrieved the silver set and brought it over.

The dowry was displayed in the courtyard of the main house for people to see. Ye Yaming’s dowry was abundant, and no one would notice the absence of one set of silver utensils.

Ye Yaming was indeed both hungry and thirsty. She nodded, “Alright, pour me a cup of tea first.”

Lu’E quickly washed the ceremonial wine vessel that Ye Yaming had used with tea water, then poured a cup of tea and handed it to Ye Yaming. Ye Yaming gulped it down completely.

As she put down the cup, Bai Rui handed over the pastries from her pouch.

Ye Yaming took a piece and put it in her mouth, then instructed, “First remove the ornaments from my head, then bring water for me to wash my face.”

Worried that the headdress might fall, Madam Zhou had fastened her hair bun extremely tight, pulling at her scalp painfully.

Additionally, the gold ornaments on her head weighed several jin (catties). Carrying such a heavy weight while parading through the streets for half a day, and then being surrounded and observed for so long, her neck was about to break.

Nanny Xia hurriedly came forward to remove her ornaments and undo her hair.

After removing the ornaments and arranging a simple hair bun for Ye Yaming, Hongye, who was guarding the door outside, came in and reported, “Miss, Aunt Madam is here.”

Ye Yaming was taken aback for a moment, then remembered that the “Aunt Madam” Hongye referred to was Madam Qi.

“Please invite her in,” she said.