Lin Hao pressed her hands on the marriage painting, as if pressing on a burning stone.

In her previous life she had never married. The most intimate contact she’d had with the opposite sex after growing up was dying in A’Shuo’s embrace.

So becoming husband and wife was like what was shown in that little booklet…

She looked at Lin Chan, her clear black and white eyes showing both nervousness and curiosity.

Lin Chan’s face turned even redder.

She’d only been married for just over half a year—technically still a newlywed. How was it that after Mother spoke that way, it seemed like she had abundant experience…

“Don’t, don’t worry… it’s just like what’s shown in the marriage painting… if you really can’t figure it out, the men know what to do…” Lin Chan stammered out words of comfort.

“I see…” Lin Hao’s eyes flickered slightly, becoming more worried.

When she took the initiative to kiss A’Shuo, he would still dodge—how could she count on him!

But seeing her elder sister’s state, she decided not to make things difficult for her.

Left with no choice, Lin Hao could only hold the marriage painting and study it very seriously.

Seeing her younger sister look more and more seriously, and even more seriously, Lin Chan’s feelings became complicated all at once.

With Second Sister like this, wouldn’t she frighten the Prince Jing’s Heir?

The candlelight flickered, the light becoming somewhat dim. Lin Chan coughed lightly. “Second Sister, let’s sleep early. Tomorrow we have to get up before dawn.”

“Mm.” Lin Hao put away the marriage painting and blew out the candle. In the darkness, her heart pounded so hard she couldn’t sleep.

She turned over. “Elder Sister, I’m not sleepy at all.”

Lin Chan fell silent.

After staring at intimate illustrations for that long, who would be sleepy!

“Even if you’re not sleepy, close your eyes. You’ll gradually fall asleep.”

“Mm.”

The gauze curtains became quiet for a time. After who knows how long, a voice sounded again. “Elder Sister, the marriage painting you saw the night before your wedding—was it the same as mine?”

Lin Chan: “…”

After a while, Lin Hao spoke again. “The people in the painting are a bit ugly…”

Lin Chan took a deep breath, making her voice sound more natural. “Second Sister, go to sleep. Tomorrow you won’t be able to rest all day. If you sleep too late, you won’t be able to hold up.”

Lin Hao obediently agreed. Not long after, she snuggled closer. “Elder Sister, I never expected we’d marry one after another.”

Lin Chan chuckled and, by the faint moonlight, gently stroked her sister’s raven-black hair. Her voice was even softer than the moonlight. “Silly girl, what’s unexpected about it? Men should marry when grown, women should wed when grown—isn’t this the natural order of things?”

Lin Hao was slightly silent, then also smiled. “Mm.”

This time, she truly fell asleep.

Listening to her sister’s even breathing, Lin Chan breathed a sigh of relief.

The calls of insects and birds outside the window continued without stopping. Before she knew it, the night had passed.

Before dawn broke, Lin Hao was woken. After a round of arranging her hair and changing clothes, more and more people gathered in the bride’s chamber.

Hearing words of blessing and admonitions, the feeling of leaving home to marry became increasingly real for Lin Hao.

Her head was covered with a red veil. Within her field of vision, everything was red in various shades.

It was somewhat stifling, but more than that, she felt nervous and expectant.

Outside came the sounds of firecrackers and celebratory music—the wedding procession had arrived.

Lin Hao was surrounded as she went to the hall. When the groom in full wedding attire entered, she choked up as she bid farewell to her grandmother and mother.

The Old Madam slowly spoke the customary words of instruction for a daughter leaving to marry. When it came to Lin Shi’s turn, it was simple. “Listen to your grandmother.”

“Your daughter will remember.”

The voice coming from beneath the bright red bridal veil was especially obedient and gentle, drawing Qi Shuo’s gaze to the red veil several times.

Cheng Shu, prepared to carry his sister to the bridal sedan, was especially vigilant.

What was the Heir looking at? Did he want to lift the veil now?

That wouldn’t do!

Cheng Shu quickly crouched down. “A’Hao, I’ll carry you to the bridal sedan.”

Supported by Baozhu, Lin Hao leaned on Cheng Shu’s back. “Thank you, Big Brother.”

“No need to thank me, it’s only proper.” Cheng Shu easily lifted Lin Hao on his back and flashed a mouthful of white teeth in a smile at A’Xing, who stood quietly not far away.

Brat, actually trying to compete with him for the task of carrying their sister to the bridal sedan. Did he not see who was the big brother!

Besides, with A’Xing’s small frame—

Cheng Shu carried Lin Hao past A’Xing in large strides, showing a triumphant smile only the two of them could understand.

A’Xing pressed his lips together slightly, restraining himself from rolling his eyes on A’Hao’s joyous wedding day.

So childish—where was any hint of being a big brother? If only he were more robust, he definitely wouldn’t have let Cheng Shu snatch the task of carrying A’Hao to the bridal sedan.

Watching helplessly as the young lady in bright red wedding attire entered the bridal sedan, A’Xing pressed his lips even tighter.

“Big Brother, now that Sister A’Hao is married, won’t we be able to see her every day?” Little Moon stood beside his elder brother, asking quietly.

A’Xing vigorously rubbed his younger brother’s head. “What are you thinking? A’Hao is just marrying into the neighboring Prince’s mansion. She can return to her maiden home by climbing over the wall.”

“That’s good then.” Little Moon’s face lit up with a big smile.

The wedding procession set out from the General’s mansion gates, proceeding with music and fanfare along the wide street.

Such a grand wedding attracted countless onlookers. More and more people chased after the procession.

The generous dowry, imperially bestowed congratulatory gifts, and handsome groom all became topics of heated discussion.

Suddenly, from within the crowd came neat, resonant congratulations. “Wishing Second Miss Lin great joy in her marriage!”

As the wedding procession moved forward a section, the congratulations were shouted again. “Wishing Second Miss Lin great joy in her marriage!”

Those watching the excitement looked around curiously and discovered that those shouting were all dressed as beggars.

What was going on?

People wanted to investigate, but saw that those beggars kept chasing the procession, running while repeatedly shouting congratulations.

Red petals and candies and lucky coins wrapped in red paper filled the sky. In such an atmosphere, even though people didn’t know what was happening with these beggars, they couldn’t help but join in the shouting.

“Wishing Second Miss Lin great joy in her marriage!”

The most plain and simple words of congratulation, when shouted together by so many people, created a heart-stirring sensation.

Thousands upon thousands of voices converged like thunderclaps, awakening the beauty unique to early summer and leaving a deep impression on the common people of the capital who witnessed this wedding.

Sitting in the bridal sedan, Lin Hao listened to the overwhelming congratulations from outside, forcibly restraining the impulse to lift the curtain.

Never mind the sedan curtain—she couldn’t even lift the veil.

Fortunately, Baozhu, walking beside the sedan, considerately said, “Miss, many beggars are congratulating you.”

Not long after, she said again, “Now everyone on the street is congratulating you.”

Lin Hao heard the deep joy in the little maid’s words.

Beneath the veil, her lips touched with rouge curved up slightly, also forming a joyful smile.

The long procession circled the city once and returned to Ping’an Ward, stopping at the Prince Jing’s mansion gates.

Fortunately, those watching the excitement all knew the two households were right next to each other, or they would have wondered why the bride who was taken away was sent back.

Quite a few women, watching the bride enter Prince Jing’s mansion, couldn’t help but show envious expressions.

Having one’s marital home and maiden home at such a distance—what a perfect life indeed.

The following wedding ceremony proceeded step by step. With the call of “Send them to the bridal chamber,” Lin Hao’s hand holding the red silk tightened. Together with Qi Shuo, she entered the new chamber.