In the early summer of the third year of Baoyuan during the Great Qing Dynasty, in Yong’an Prefecture, gongs and drums resounded thunderously while firecrackers crackled incessantly.

The entire street where the Marquis Dingxi’s residence was located was draped in red and green decorations, packed so tightly with crowds that not even water could flow through. Even the trees and walls were covered with people.

“Such a grand wedding procession—we haven’t seen anything like this in Yong’an Prefecture for quite some time,” said the gray-haired elders in the crowd, squinting with their dim, yellowed eyes at the wedding procession before them.

A sixteen-person musical ensemble with drums and wind instruments, twenty men on tall horses, thirty wedding escorts, all surrounding a flower sedan chair carried by six men. Along the route, attendants on both sides continuously scattered colorful paper and silk flowers, like celestial maidens scattering blossoms in a fluttering cascade, causing young ladies, young wives, and children to scramble for them.

The silk flowers from Marquis Dingxi’s residence were of materials and designs that ordinary families could never obtain.

Today, the legitimate eldest son of Marquis Dingxi was taking a wife—an event no less significant than the birth of the legitimate eldest son. For this great marquis family, it marked an important moment symbolizing the continuation of the family line. Given Marquis Dingxi’s position at court, these flowers might even be fresh designs obtained from the imperial palace.

As the wedding procession passed by, the crowd surged in wave after wave of excitement. Those who had been jostled about laughed and cursed, looking for shoes, steadying their hats amid the clamorous noise, but no one was willing to shift their gaze even an inch, fearing they might have one less detail to talk about than others in the future.

Walking at the very front of the procession was the bridegroom, tall and upright in his red cap, red robes, and red gauze—a sea of red that made it impossible to see his face or expression clearly. This was the legitimate eldest son of Marquis Dingxi, personally named Yuncheng by the Emperor himself. Despite his young age, he had inherited his ancestral legacy and followed his father’s aspirations by joining the military. It was said he showed none of the arrogance typical of noble sons, could endure hardship and was not afraid of death, earning him quite a good reputation. Such a fine man was exactly the kind of husband every woman dreamed of.

Today, as this fine young man was getting married, the most envied and admired person was naturally the bride sitting in the flower sedan chair.

The sedan chair, with its thick decorations and festive appearance, concealed its interior from view.

“I wonder which family’s daughter has such good fortune,” many people inquired and sighed. “To marry into Marquis Dingxi’s residence, she must naturally come from a wealthy and noble family background.”

“You’re mistaken about that—this bride is a commoner of humble birth,” someone in the know announced loudly.

This caused an uproar, and even more people crowded around.

“Tell us, tell us quickly—what’s the story?” everyone asked in unison.

“Speaking of this bride, she’s blessed with fortune accumulated over several lifetimes. She was originally an orphaned girl who had wandered here from another place, practically living by begging. By sheer coincidence, she encountered the Old Marchioness and helped cure the Old Marchioness’s sudden illness. The Old Marchioness, seeing her as a pitiful orphan and wanting to repay her life-saving grace, adopted her into the marquis residence. When she grew up, the Old Marchioness arranged for her eldest grandson to marry her as his wife…”

This was an extraordinary occurrence beyond daily imagination, a legend that existed only in storybooks, instantly exciting the crowd.

“This shows that good people receive good rewards—Heaven is watching over us all. In our daily lives, we must do more good deeds. Who knows when we might store up good marriage prospects for our children…”

Many women silently prayed in their hearts, then looked toward the departing wedding procession with faces full of longing.

Compared to the grandeur and excitement outside, the marquis residence seemed somewhat strange. Though decorated for a joyous wedding occasion, with everyone coming and going dressed in festive clothing, their facial expressions carried a hint of gloom. The guests also conversed in low voices from time to time, showing no trace of happiness on their faces.

After completing the step-by-step wedding ceremony procedures, darkness had fallen. Lanterns everywhere enveloped the entire marquis residence in a red cloud that seemed both real and illusory from a distance.

After the wedding ceremony, the newlyweds were escorted to the bridal chamber. Once the bed-sitting ceremony was completed, only the bride remained alone in the bridal chamber, sitting quietly on the wedding bed.

The autumn night wind blew through the window lattice, causing the large red candles in the room to flicker and cast dancing shadows on the walls.

Urgent footsteps came running.

“Miss!” The door was suddenly pushed open, but it wasn’t the bridegroom who entered.

Hearing this tearful voice, the bride suddenly tensed up and abruptly lifted her veil.

Despite the gravity of the situation, the maid who had rushed in was momentarily stunned by the face that suddenly appeared before her.

At seventeen or eighteen years old, with naturally picturesque features, the bride’s beauty was absolutely stunning in her bridal attire. Under the red lamplight and candlelight, beneath her phoenix crown and jeweled hairpins, she looked like a celestial consort.

“A’Ru, why did you come here?” The bride looked at the maid with some confusion, walking over a few steps with some anxiety. “Is it the Old Marchioness…?”

Her words brought the maid back to her senses.

“Miss!” The maid fell to her knees with a thud, tears streaming down. “The Old Marchioness has passed away…”

In the blink of an eye, all the festive decorations had been replaced with plain white.

The bride, still in her bright red attire, ran through the courtyard, particularly striking against the surroundings.

“Old Marchioness, Old Marchioness…” She finally tripped over her heavy ceremonial dress, her makeup already streaked with tears, unable to stop crying. “You said you wanted to drink Yueniang’s tea, you said you wanted to drink Yueniang’s tea… You said Yueniang’s wedding would bring you good fortune…”

Her cries were sharp and piercing as she staggered to her feet.

“Miss cannot enter…” The tall main hall was already filled with servants and maids in plain white mourning clothes. Seeing her approach, they all reached out to stop her.

The bride screamed, trying to rush inside.

“The Old Marchioness wants to drink my tea!” She just kept crying and shouting repeatedly, “Bring the tea! Bring the tea!”

“You cannot cry at this time! You’re deliberately making the Old Marchioness’s departure restless!” came a low roar from inside. The curtain was lifted, and a middle-aged man emerged, already changed into hemp clothing, hemp shoes, and heavy mourning attire.

“Take the young lady away!” Following closely behind him emerged a middle-aged woman, similarly dressed in heavy mourning attire for women, speaking sternly to the servants.

“Marquis, Madam… no… Father, Mother… let me see the Old Marchioness, let me see her…” the bride knelt down and cried.

Upon hearing the words “Father, Mother,” a flash of disgust crossed the middle-aged woman’s face.

“Young lady, today is your joyous day. You cannot come here—it’s not good for you or for the Old Marchioness,” she said with a somewhat gentler expression, speaking slowly while gesturing with her hand.

The servants immediately pounced, grabbing hands, pressing down on her body, and covering her mouth with fluid, practiced movements.

The bride in red was dragged away through the sea of plain white, desperately struggling and looking back, staring fixedly at that imposing main hall. Tears like rain soaked her clothes and dripped to the ground, spreading into a faint waterline that gradually disappeared into the distance.