Chapter 269: The Wedding Procession
Despite having refused to recognize the maid as her adopted daughter, the Marchioness of Dongyang allowed the maid’s wedding preparations to take place in her own living quarters.
The Marchioness of Dongyang’s courtyard was packed with people. Besides the women of the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence, there were actually twenty to thirty other noblewomen present. These were all the family members of Prince of Chu’s “close friends.”
They couldn’t let the maid lose face.
Other newly-wed brides had a grand send-off, so she should have one too.
This was also a matter of face for the Prince of Chu.
Therefore, a group of frequent visitors to pleasure boats clamored for their wives, sisters-in-law, sisters, and even their elders to come.
Of course, the reason so many people were able to come in the end, besides the fact that some families doted on their children and grandchildren, was that some families had more thoughts. Although the wife that the Prince of Chu was marrying had a disgraceful background, and although Princess Jinyu was furious, the Emperor had ultimately given his approval. For the sake of the Emperor’s face, they should come.
Madam Xue looked at these noblewomen who clearly didn’t know each other but had to pretend they did, and found it somewhat amusing. When she found the Marchioness of Dongyang in the back room, she was both amused and annoyed.
“You, the mistress of the house, are actually hiding here?”
The Marchioness of Dongyang lay on the rocking chair and said lazily, “It’s not my daughter, and I don’t have to manage anything. It’s better for me to leave the place to them.”
Madam Xue sat down. Although they were in the back room, they could still hear the commotion from the front.
Children were running back and forth, shouting, “The wedding procession is here! It’s here!”
Then, some woman started shouting, “Quick, quick, block the door!” “This is a rare opportunity, make things difficult for the Prince of Chu, teach those scoundrels a good lesson.”
These words tempted many of the noblewomen, and they indeed rushed out with giggling laughter.
Not long after, the sounds of drums and music came from the main gate, along with men’s loud shouts. Then, a voice reciting poetry could be heard.
Madam Xue pricked up her ears to listen: “These dandies actually know how to recite poetry? Who did the Prince of Chu invite?”
This was good. There was no awkward silence, no vulgarity, and the atmosphere outside became even livelier.
Madam Xue sighed again: “The Prince of Chu is really putting in the effort. It seems he truly loves this wife deeply.”
The Marchioness of Dongyang snorted, took a fan to cover her face, and actually looked as if she was about to fall asleep.
Madam Xue wouldn’t let her sleep: “Since you’ve already accepted this task, even for Jingyun’s sake, you have to put on a show for me!”
With that, she pulled the Marchioness of Dongyang out to see the bride.
The bride, already dressed and made up, was sitting in the main hall. The noblewomen who had been surrounding her had all gone to the front to watch the commotion, leaving only two or three elderly ladies behind.
Because there was nothing to talk about, the room seemed a bit quiet.
“Let me take a look at the bride—” Madam Xue said with a smile as she entered the room.
The bride also raised her head to look over, and Madam Xue’s voice faltered.
The bride’s attire was common: a head full of jewels, bright red and green, heavy makeup. People she originally knew could become strangers, but at this moment, this originally unfamiliar person was inexplicably familiar. This feeling was so sudden that she forgot all the auspicious words she was going to say.
It was the bride who nodded with a smile and greeted Madam Xue.
Madam Xue responded with a few dry, auspicious words.
“Are you from the capital, Madam?” she couldn’t help but ask.
Before the bride could answer, the Marchioness of Dongyang coughed beside her: “Why are you asking her that? Also, you should address her as Princess Consort of Chu.”
That’s right, coming from a maid’s background, she was either sold due to poverty or demoted to slavery because of a crime, all of which were sad stories. Why bring it up? Madam Xue felt a bit awkward, not knowing why she had asked that!
“May you have peace and happiness, Princess Consort.” She quickly added.
Silence fell over the room.
The maid Chun Yue hurried in.
“They’ve entered the gate,” she said, “They’ll be here after passing through another courtyard gate.”
The palace maids standing by reminded her, “Princess Consort, please put on your veil.”
Bai Li said “Okay,” then thought of something and asked Chun Yue, “Did you pack my personal bundle? Don’t let it go with the dowry, it’ll be hard to find when I need it.”
Chun Yue replied, “I’ll carry it myself.” Saying that, she was about to leave again.
“See if you’ve put in the book I haven’t finished reading.” Bai Li reminded her again.
Chun Yue replied with a “Yes” and hurried out.
Watching this scene, Madam Xue couldn’t help but whisper to the Marchioness of Dongyang, “Chun Yue seems to be very familiar with her…”
Not only was she familiar with Chun Yue, but the more she looked, the more familiar she felt. A name seemed to be on the tip of her tongue…
A burst of noise came from outside the door, mixed with chanting, laughter, and the sound of footsteps.
“Mother!” Zhou Jiuniang held up two pouches, her face flushed with excitement, “I snatched two!”
The next moment, accompanied by loud cheers of “Good dance! Good dance!”, Zhou Jiuniang’s eyes lit up.
“The Prince of Chu and his men are going to perform the wedding dance!” she shouted, holding up the pouches and turning to run out again.
Hearing this, the two elderly ladies who had been sitting still also showed smiles.
“Which mischievous person came up with this idea? Let’s go have a look too. It’s been years since we’ve seen men perform the wedding dance.”
As they were speaking, chanting indeed started outside the courtyard gate, mixed with the sound of rhythmic footsteps. At first, it was the men’s singing, then children joined in, and finally, the noblewomen watching the fun also started singing along. Sitting inside, one felt a surge of excitement.
The Marchioness of Dongyang was stunned for a moment, then cursed under her breath, “Zhou Jingyun, that useless good-for-nothing!”
Madam Xue was lost in thought, and hearing this, glared at her: “Why are you talking about him out of the blue?” She guessed that she was envious of others getting married, “Don’t pressure him, everyone has their own fate.”
The Marchioness of Dongyang sneered, “Even if he has fate, he wouldn’t have held the wedding this way! Even a fake one can’t compare to others!”
Madam Xue was confused. What did she mean by “has” and “hasn’t”? What was fake? But before she could ask, the courtyard gate opened. A group of flamboyant dandies, dancing and gesticulating, surrounded the Prince of Chu in his wedding attire as they strode in. In the twilight, the young groom danced, as graceful as a startled swan, as elegant as a swimming dragon. As the dance ended, he stood still at the door.
Li Yu looked at the bride in full dress sitting in the main hall and bowed deeply with a smile.
Madam Xue and the other women in the room all stood up.
The veiled bride sitting in the main hall was helped up by the palace maids and exchanged bows with Li Yu.
Since there were no parents to bid farewell to, under the gaze of the crowd, Li Yu took the colorful silk held by the bride and led her out.
At the moment of stepping out of the door, the bride seemed to unconsciously look back at the Marchioness of Dongyang, but her line of sight was immediately blocked by the watching noblewomen, and she walked out.
But the Marchioness of Dongyang saw it and couldn’t help but take a step forward.
“Where are you going?” Madam Xue hurriedly pulled her back and asked in a low voice.
✿✿✿
The Marchioness of Dongyang moved her lips: “I’m going to the banquet!”
Because they were staying temporarily, the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence didn’t hold a banquet. The noblewomen who came to see the bride off all went to the Prince of Chu’s Residence for the feast.
The women of the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence could of course go too.
But what was the point of someone of the Marchioness of Dongyang’s status joining in the fun?
As the bride and groom left, the people in the Marquis’s Residence also poured out, and the courtyard became quiet. Madam Xue wanted to lecture the Marchioness of Dongyang a few words, but she saw Xue Silang wandering around the courtyard with his servant.
“Why haven’t you left yet!” Madam Xue shouted, “I specifically allowed you to go out today to attend the Prince of Chu’s wedding. If you dare to go anywhere else and cause trouble, I’ll have your uncle break your legs!”
Xue Silang hurriedly waved his hands: “Aunt, I haven’t gone anywhere, and I’m not planning to go to the Prince of Chu’s Residence either.” He sighed, “There are too many people at the Prince of Chu’s place, and he’s marrying his beloved. He’s successful and happy, while the poor Marquis’s Heir is at home, injured and lonely, his love unrequited…”
The more Madam Xue listened, the more absurd it sounded, and then she understood what he meant.
The Prince of Chu was getting married, but the rumors about the Prince of Chu and Zhou Jingyun not only hadn’t dissipated but had spread even further, and were even more dramatic and heart-wrenching than the initial ones. The Prince of Chu had turned from affectionate to heartless, Zhou Jingyun was heartbroken and poured out his feelings, but in the end, he was left helpless, only able to watch the person he loved deeply marry someone else, heartbroken and dejected…
Even in the Sanqu Lane entertainment district, there were people singing and dancing about this story.
It was simply outrageous!
Here, Xue Silang was still rambling on, “…I’ve come to accompany the Marquis’s Heir, sigh, I’ve come to persuade him, there are plenty of fish in the sea, why be fixated on the Prince of Chu…”
Madam Xue was so ashamed and angry that she cut him off.
“Drag him home!”
Xue Silang cried out that he was wronged, but Madam Xue was now the head of the household and her word was law. The servants immediately gagged Xue Silang and carried him away.
But whether it was the sudden quiet atmosphere or being disturbed by Xue Silang’s nonsense, Madam Xue couldn’t help but look at the Marchioness of Dongyang and say, “Let’s go see Jingyun. It’s been a busy and chaotic day, is there anyone looking after him?”
The Marchioness of Dongyang shook her off: “Go see him yourself if you want, I’m going to the Prince of Chu’s Residence for the banquet.”
With that, she really went out.
Madam Xue was both angry and amused, and could only ignore her, heading towards Zhou Jingyun’s courtyard herself.
Zhou Jingyun’s courtyard was even quieter. The servants in the residence had all gone to watch the wedding procession. Two maids were sitting by the door, looking dejected, their eyes red, talking in low voices.
“Concubine Mei is afraid of being kicked out every day, but I didn’t expect Chun Yue to be sent away first.”
“Don’t say that, the Marquis’s Heir gifted Chun Yue to… the Princess Consort of Chu.”
“Sister Chun Yue must be so sad, we didn’t even get to see her off.”
“I saw her earlier, she seemed quite happy…”
“What? Chun Yue is the best at hiding her feelings.”
Chun Hong raised her hand to wipe her tears as she heard a voice asking.
“What’s wrong? Is Jingyun alright?”
The two were startled and hurriedly stood up, seeing Madam Xue approaching.
“Chun Hong, why are you crying?” Madam Xue stared at her and asked, her expression tense.
Chun Hong hurriedly stammered, “I’m not crying, I was watching the commotion outside earlier, and got some firecracker ash in my eye.”
Madam Xue didn’t press the maid’s excuse and directly stepped inside.
“Madam, Madam.” Chun Hong hurriedly stopped her.
Madam Xue frowned: “What is it? Don’t hide anything about Jingyun from me!”
Chun Xiang said from the side, “We’re not stopping you, Madam, it’s just that the Marquis’s Heir is not at home.”
Madam Xue was stunned. Not at home?
Zhou Jingyun was injured… well, he could get out of bed and walk around now, but where would he go at a time like this?
Could it be… that he also went to the Prince of Chu’s Residence for the banquet?
…
✿✿✿
The streets were packed with people, and as the groom appeared on his tall horse, the clamor reached the sky.
“They’ve been stopped again,” Jiang Yun stood by the window and looked down, “This is the third time.”
Although they had chosen a place that the wedding procession had to pass through, Zhou Jingyun wasn’t looking at the street, but was reclining in the tea room, sipping tea.
“It should be those dandies trying to liven things up for the Prince of Chu, they won’t really make things difficult.” He said.
As expected, as soon as he finished speaking, accompanied by a loud shout of “The Prince of Chu and the Princess Consort invite everyone to drink!”, a basket of coins was scattered. The obstacle on the road was moved aside, and the men, women, and children holding the coins all shouted blessings like “May the couple be united and grow old together,” crowding around the wedding carriage as it moved forward.
Zhou Jingyun picked up his teacup and took a sip, gazing at the twilight outside the window. Whether it was the dimming light or his weakness after recovering from his injury, his vision gradually blurred, and the clamor in his ears seemed to be separated by a layer of gauze.
“Zhou Jingyun, why did you come here to sleep?” A female voice came through the gauze and mist.
Zhou Jingyun was startled, his gaze falling on the window. In his blurry vision, Jiang Yun was no longer visible, and Bai Li was sitting by the window.
She was wearing her wedding dress, reaching up to touch the Tongxin crown on her head.
“It’s so heavy,” she muttered, then smiled at Zhou Jingyun, “It was simpler back then, just two buyao hairpins, not tiring at all.”
Dreaming? Zhou Jingyun hesitated.
Was he dreaming or was she using illusion magic?
Zhou Jingyun sat up straight, his expression serious: “Bai Li, you can’t use illusion magic, your body has just recovered!”
With so many people, such a grand occasion, how much mental energy would it take to use illusion magic!
“Do you want me to save you again? Didn’t you say you didn’t want me to get hurt again!”
Bai Li looked at him and smiled: “I didn’t use illusion magic, I was just sleepy, I fell asleep in the carriage.”
Fell asleep?
So she was the one dreaming?
And she came to his dream in her dream?
“You can’t fall asleep at your own wedding.” Zhou Jingyun was a bit helpless, “I asked you last night if you wanted to read, and you didn’t say you wanted to, so of course you didn’t sleep well.”
