Ch 182: The Bride is Not Right
Yuan Xueyue’s side was relatively smooth. Cuiping, as the main maid, directed the other maids and Mama to work busily, but in an orderly manner.
But on Yuan Ruiyu’s side, this was not right, that was not right, and everything was rather rushed!
Mama and the maids were extremely busy. It was clearly Wife’s arrangement, but Second Young Mistress was just not satisfied. Was she deliberately making things difficult for them, the servants?
“Second Young Mistress, please don’t make things difficult for us. Please let this servant help you get dressed quickly. Otherwise, if we miss the auspicious time, Wife will be angry,” the maid said anxiously.
The maids and Mama nearby also nodded in agreement.
Seeing this, Yuan Ruiyu finally calmed down and silently looked at herself in the bronze mirror. She was carefully dressed and indeed beautiful, but compared to her half-sister, Yuan Xueyue, she was much less impressive.
Yuan Ruiyu gently stroked her face, admiring herself!
She thought, it would be great if Ren Zhaoxi could see her too.
Suddenly startled, Yuan Ruiyu’s eyes widened, and she immediately closed them, dispelling this thought!
Mama Fei took a look at Liyuan Garden and hurried to Yilan Courtyard to check on Second Young Mistress’s progress.
Mama Fei was also a key person under Fang Feng’ai, responsible for delaying things at Liyuan Garden and urging Second Young Mistress to hurry up!
It would be best if Eldest Young Mistress of Liyuan Garden missed the auspicious time.
Yuan Xiao and Fang Feng’ai were in the front courtyard, entertaining Lord Xiaozhao from the Prince’s Residence, as well as Mama Shen and others from the Prince’s Residence, responsible for leading them to the entrance!
Meanwhile, Dai Yixian had long been at the entrance of the Yuan Residence, riding a tall, handsome horse, dressed in a dashing groom’s outfit, waiting.
The Prince’s Residence had sent enough guards to keep irrelevant people a hundred meters away.
At this moment, at the entrance of the Yuan Residence, there was only a stunningly gorgeous red sedan chair. A red carpet was laid on the ground, extending all the way to the entrance of the Yuan Residence’s back courtyard.
Inside the back courtyard, the arrangements were made by the Yuan family.
Yuan Xiao came out to greet Dai Yixian and smiled, telling him to wait a moment, as the auspicious time was fast approaching.
Dai Yixian nodded slightly, without replying, his expression still indifferent.
His tenderness was only for Yuan Xueyue.
Yuan Xiao smiled awkwardly and turned back into the residence.
In the front courtyard, Mama Shen was looking towards the back courtyard, occasionally looking up at the sky. The sky was getting brighter and brighter, so why was there still no movement from the back courtyard?
This marriage was to be conducted with a morning greeting and an evening procession. The Prince didn’t want the new Princess to stay in the Yuan Residence for even a moment longer!
Early in the morning, he had already surrounded the Yuan Residence.
Fang Feng’ai came out and smiled, “It will be ready soon, Mama, don’t worry.”
Mama Shen, facing Fang Feng’ai, said with a calm expression,
“You should keep an eye on the time. Delaying the Prince is a serious crime.”
Fang Feng’ai bowed and scraped, respectfully saying, “Yes, yes, yes, we wouldn’t dare to delay. We’ll go and see how things are going right now. Please wait patiently, Mama.”
“……”
Back Courtyard.
Fang Feng’ai lifted her foot, intending to go to Liyuan Garden, but stopped.
The maids following her were surprised.
“You go and stall. Tell Cuiping and the others to slow down,” Fang Feng’ai pushed a maid beside her and said.
The maid was shocked, pointed to herself and said, “Wife, you mean me?”
Fang Feng’ai said impatiently, “Nonsense, hurry up!”
The unlucky maid had no choice but to enter Liyuan Garden to check on the situation. She stammered out Madam Fang’s words to Cuiping and the others.
Cuiping heard this, and although she was displeased, today was a good day, and she couldn’t get too angry. She smiled slightly,
“Alright, alright, you go and report back to Madam Fang. Our Young Mistress will be ready soon.”
The maid lowered her head and continued, “Wife said to have Eldest Young Mistress take it slow. The front courtyard hasn’t finished entertaining, and the Prince’s Residence’s Mama isn’t in a hurry either. She wants Young Mistress to check carefully.”
◈◈◈
Cuiping couldn’t hold back any longer and said in a flat tone, “Alright, you can go out now. It’s not your fault if you can’t tell the time, but don’t delay Young Mistress’s marriage.”
The maid continued, “Wife really said…”
Cuiping gave a look to the two maids beside her, and they went over to escort the maid sent by Fang Feng’ai out.
What kind of person dared to obstruct?
Cuiping approached Yuan Xueyue and whispered, “Young Mistress, are you ready? We should go.”
Yuan Xueyue hummed in agreement. As Mama covered her with the bridal veil, the maids helped her slowly stand up.
Cuiping took Yuan Xueyue’s hand, but was slapped away by the Mama beside her!
“You’re just a maid, you can’t hold Young Mistress’s hand. Follow behind!”
Cuiping was in the wrong. Indeed, her status and age were not appropriate. She could only follow closely behind Mama.
Cuiping had also dressed up simply, as a dowry maid, to enter the Prince’s Residence and continue serving Young Mistress.
Thus, Yilan Courtyard, under Mama Fei’s quick arrangements, was already being escorted out of the back courtyard.
Meanwhile, Yuan Xueyue was being supported by the Yuan Residence’s Mama, her steps very slow, one step at a time, very steady. Occasionally, she would deliberately grip Yuan Xueyue’s arm tightly, making her walk even slower!
Yuan Xueyue struggled a bit, but found that this Mama gripped even tighter!
At the entrance of Liyuan Garden, the Yuan Residence had specially arranged a charcoal brazier, symbolizing the removal of ashes and the past. Stepping over it meant forgetting the dust and becoming a married woman.
This custom was very common, and Yuan Xueyue had nothing to say about it. Just as she was about to step over it, the Mama beside her kicked the charcoal brazier, flipping it over!
The embers and ashes inside scattered, some falling near Yuan Xueyue’s feet!
Cuiping was startled and stepped forward, “What happened?”
This Mama chuckled, “I’m sorry, it’s this old servant’s fault. You two, quickly prepare a new one.”
Cuiping gritted her teeth. This Mama was clearly doing it on purpose!
Delaying the time!
“Young Mistress! What should we do…” Cuiping asked Yuan Xueyue anxiously.
The two or three maids nearby went to arrange it, and they could only wait, standing there, just two steps away from leaving Liyuan Garden!
Yuan Xueyue calmed down, “……”
She knew what Fang Feng’ai and the others were up to. She estimated that Yuan Ruiyu was already preparing to replace her and leave the back courtyard, going with Mama Shen.
At Yilan Courtyard, Mama Fei was very careful, supporting Yuan Ruiyu and quickly walking past the brazier, pulling Yuan Ruiyu to hurry to the front courtyard!
“Wait a moment. We’ll go when the auspicious time is almost over.”
Yuan Xueyue said. She would wait a bit. The auspicious time was just right, and there wouldn’t be much error.
Yuan Ruiyu and the others were too anxious, wishing they could get into the sedan chair immediately!
As expected, in the front courtyard.
Fang Feng’ai saw Mama Fei appear and smiled as she approached Mama Shen, saying,
“Look, the bride is here. Come and welcome the Princess.”
Mama Shen bowed slightly and walked up to support Yuan Ruiyu’s arm. Their figures were roughly the same, so she didn’t think much of it. It was only when she got close, holding her hand, that she noticed their steps were not in sync!
The pace was somewhat chaotic, unlike Eldest Young Mistress Yuan Xueyue’s slow and deliberate manner!
Mama Shen immediately sensed something was wrong!
Xiaozhao also faced the bride, and all the guards knelt down!
They were ready to escort her out to see the Prince!
Fang Feng’ai finally breathed a sigh of relief. As long as she could stall for a while, her daughter Yuan Ruiyu would be successful!
Who knew, Ren Zhaoxi, who had only been scolded by Yuan Xiao for a few days, was wandering around the front courtyard, but still hadn’t seen Yuan Ruiyu.
He wanted to apologize to her in person. Now that his Eldest Sister was about to get married, he still hadn’t seen her.
“Madam Fang, where is your Second Young Mistress?”
Ren Zhaoxi stepped forward and asked Fang Feng’ai.
Yuan Ruiyu, who was about to leave with the Prince’s Residence’s Mama Shen, paused!
