Chasing Jade (Zhu Yu)

Fan Changyu was probably the first bride who had to get up early on her own wedding day to slaughter pigs and prepare braised dishes.

The offal and pork head meat from the previously slaughtered pig had also been turned into braised food by her. With the two pigs combined, there were finally enough braised meat to fill two large bowls.

The aunties who came to help all remarked how fragrant it smelled.

It wasn’t until nearly noon that Aunt Zhao finally urged her to go back to her room to change into her wedding dress and do her makeup.

It was from Aunt Zhao that she learned there were two customs for a groom marrying into the bride’s family. One involved the groom being carried to the bride’s home in a bridal sedan chair, commonly known as “carrying the groom’s head.”

The other was no different from a normal wedding—the groom would stay at the bride’s home the night before, while the bride would leave from her maternal grandparents’ home, returning to her own house in a bridal sedan chair amid festive music, preserving the groom’s dignity.

Fan Changyu opted for neither. For one, she no longer had the money to rent a bridal sedan. For another, the groom lived right next door—he could just come downstairs, and they could proceed directly to the ceremony. Why bother with all the extra fuss?

The matron of honor, invited for good fortune, had already made the bridal bed in the new room and now came to help her comb her hair.

“First comb, smooth and straight; second comb, white hair in old age; third comb, children and grandchildren filling the hall…”

As Fan Changyu sat before the dressing table, listening to the matron recite the Ten Combing Blessings and the clamor of voices outside, she felt a fleeting illusion that she was truly about to get married.

Outside, the guests were most curious about today’s groom. Unfortunately, Aunt Zhao was tight-lipped, refusing to reveal even a hint no matter how the women probed.

Some of the women, gathered together and munching on melon seeds, couldn’t help but speculate in hushed tones: “Why do you think the Zhao couple is helping Fan Changyu keep it all so secret? Could it be that the groom is so ugly he can’t be shown in public?”

“I heard his leg was injured—he can’t walk properly!”

Someone gasped. “So he’s a cripple?”

Another woman elbowed the speaker, signaling her to lower her voice, then whispered, “After all, the Fan family is taking in a son-in-law. If he were a whole, healthy man, would he really agree to marry into her family?”

The group couldn’t help but sigh. Someone else brought up Song Yan: “Looks like the Fan and Song families really have fallen out. Everyone from the whole alley is here today—except the Songs.”

“Honestly, it’s better the Songs didn’t come. Song Yan is the most handsome young man in the area. If he showed up and made the groom look like nothing in comparison, the Fan family would lose face!”

Amid the chatter, when the auspicious hour arrived, everyone crowded in front of the Zhao family’s gate, eager to catch a glimpse of the groom.

In contrast, Fan Changyu, the bride, emerged with a red veil over her head, completely ignored.

The weather today was truly uncooperative. Snow had been falling since the afternoon, and by now, a thin layer had settled on the courtyard walls. The ground, however, remained only damp from constant foot traffic, with no snow accumulating.

Firecrackers crackled at the Zhao family’s gate. As the crowd craned their necks to peer inside, the sight of a pair of crutches emerging from the open door confirmed their suspicions.

Fan Changyu’s groom really was a cripple.

As the crutches moved, the groom stepped out with one foot, and the hem of his russet-red robe came into view.

Snowflakes drifted down like willow catkins, melting instantly upon touching the fabric, leaving only faint, nearly invisible damp spots.

For some reason, the noisy crowd outside fell silent, holding their breath.As the groom stepped fully out of the doorway, his entire figure finally emerged from the shadows within. Snowflakes settled amidst his jet-black hair tied with a red ribbon, and between the dark locks and crimson robes, his face appeared strikingly handsome—his complexion even paler than the falling snow. His indifferent gaze swept briefly across the courtyard, cold and detached.

The guests who caught sight of his features collectively gasped in astonishment.

Having lived this long, none had ever seen such a strikingly handsome young man. Not even Song Yan, nor the most celebrated actors from opera troupes, could compare to this groom’s breathtaking looks.

With sword-like brows and starry eyes, his jade-like countenance was truly the epitome of masculine beauty.

After a moment of stunned silence, the crowd erupted into even louder chatter, far surpassing the earlier excitement.

“This groom is unbelievably handsome!”

“I always said a girl as lovely as Changyu wouldn’t settle for anything less!”

“Who was it that claimed the groom was some ugly, crippled wretch? Does this face look inferior to Song Yan’s?”

Xie Zheng, leaning on his crutches, passed through the clamoring crowd with an impassive expression, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly at the noisy chatter of the gossiping women.

Turning into the Fan family’s courtyard, he drew the attention of those idly chatting and cracking sunflower seeds in the yard, who promptly rose to gawk. Amid the din, most of the chatter revolved around praise for his striking appearance.

Even the women helping in the kitchen, having heard rumors of the groom’s extraordinary looks, couldn’t resist sneaking out for a peek.

Suppressing his irritation, Xie Zheng endured the stares as he made his way toward the main hall for the wedding ceremony.

His gaze inadvertently swept past the eaves ahead, where he spotted Fan Changyu—dressed in matching crimson wedding robes—lifting a corner of her veil to peek out when she thought no one was looking. His eyes had already skimmed past her when they abruptly snapped back in surprise.

He had known she was pretty, but this was the first time he’d seen her adorned in bridal makeup.

Half-hidden beneath the red silk, her almond-shaped eyes sparkled with mirth, her cheeks lightly dusted with rouge. Though the application was somewhat clumsy, it did little to diminish her natural beauty. Her lips, tinted with rouge, were no longer their usual pale shade, instead complementing her snow-like complexion—radiant beyond compare at first glance.

When their eyes met, she froze momentarily before realizing this was her own wedding. Flustered, she hastily dropped the veil and straightened up, trying to appear proper.

For someone so naturally beautiful, her actions were… decidedly unconventional.

The irritation Xie Zheng had felt from the crowd’s noise suddenly lessened ever so slightly.

Perhaps this wedding wouldn’t be entirely tedious after all.

Leaning on his crutches, he entered the main hall, where the matron of ceremonies handed him one end of a red silk ribbon adorned with a floral knot, while the other end was given to Fan Changyu.

The elder presiding over the ceremony announced in a booming voice, “The auspicious hour has arrived! The couple shall now bow!”

“First bow—to Heaven and Earth!”

With her vision obscured by the veil, Fan Changyu was guided by Aunt Zhao to face outward before bowing alongside Xie Zheng.

“Second bow—to the parents!”

Both being orphaned, only ancestral tablets were placed on the dais. The couple bowed solemnly before them.

“Third bow—to each other!”

As they lowered their heads for this final bow, a sudden gust of wind nearly blew Fan Changyu’s veil away. Instinctively, she reached up to grab it—only for a large hand to press it firmly back into place before she could.She could imagine with her toes that the scene must not have been very flattering.

Laughter already rippled among the guests. "Look at the groom, unwilling to let us see the bride!"

The veil blocked Fan Changyu's view, so she couldn't see Xie Zheng's expression at this moment. However, she herself felt quite awkward hearing these teasing remarks and only hoped he wouldn't mind.

"The ceremony is complete—escort the couple to the bridal chamber!"

With this announcement, she and Xie Zheng were finally led by the red silk ribbon into the newly decorated bridal chamber.

Though called a bridal chamber, it was rather simple—just red paper cutouts of the character for "double happiness" pasted on the doors and windows, and **a bed covered with festive-colored sheets and quilts.

After the matron of honor had recited a string of auspicious phrases, Xie Zheng lifted the veil from Fan Changyu's head.

Light suddenly flooded her vision, and the figures in the room became clear. Earlier, outside, Changyu had peeked from under the veil but had hastily dropped it when caught, so she hadn't gotten a good look.

Now, standing just a step away, Changyu gazed at Xie Zheng in his red wedding attire and couldn't help but marvel—clothes truly made the man.

If he walked down the street dressed like this today, he'd surely turn the heads of many young women.

The matron of honor laughed. "Look at this beautiful bride—such a perfect match for the groom!"

The women nearby covered their mouths, giggling.

Changyu forced an awkward smile.

Xie Zheng's expression remained indifferent, giving no hint of his thoughts.

The matron and the other women took peanuts and red dates from a tray and scattered them over the couple's heads, chanting, "May you bear a noble son soon."

The falling treats stung a little, prompting Changyu to speak up. "Thank you, aunties, but my husband is injured. The scattering is just for good luck—let's stop here for today."

This drew more teasing. "Look at Changyu, already protecting her husband!"

Changyu endured their jests with a thick skin. After seeing everyone out, she asked Xie Zheng, "Did it hurt you?"

Xie Zheng looked at her with an unreadable gaze. "No."

Relieved, Changyu added, "I still need to greet the guests outside. Rest here, and if you're hungry, have some pastries from the table."

These were words typically said by the groom to the bride, making it all the more awkward coming from Changyu.

After a brief silence, Xie Zheng gave a slight nod.

Bearing his injuries for so long, his exhaustion was unmistakable.

—

Changyu went out to attend to the guests. With no elders in her family and it being a matrilocal marriage, no one pressured her to drink. The feast was lively, and as dusk fell, guests began to leave.

After the banquet, while cleaning up, Changyu noticed an embroidered box left on a table by the door.

She asked Aunt Zhao, who was helping, "Auntie, whose gift is this?"

Aunt Zhao was puzzled too. "The gift registry was completed before the feast started. I didn't see this box earlier. Maybe someone sent it later—why didn't they say anything?"

Opening the box, Changyu's face turned cold at the sight of a pair of clay dolls inside.

Without hesitation, she tossed the box into the pile of trash Aunt Zhao had just swept together, smashing the dolls instantly.Aunt Zhao noticed Fan Changyu's reaction and recognized the broken clay figurines of a man and a woman. Her face immediately darkened as she spat viciously toward the Song family's direction: "That heartless wretch! When you were in trouble, he distanced himself faster than anyone. And now on your wedding day, he sends this to upset you?"

Fan Changyu said, "Don't be angry, Auntie. Why bother with irrelevant people?"

His anger wasn't because the clay figurine had stirred up bad memories—it just felt distasteful.

That clay figurine was something she had given Song Yan when his father passed away, back when he was depressed. How old was she then? Only seven or eight.

Over the years, Fan Changyu believed her parents had treated Song Yan well. Yet after her parents died, he was the first to rush over and break off the engagement. When Fan Da brought loan sharks to harass her, he shut his doors and refused to see her.

And now, on her wedding day, he sent this pair of clay figurines. What was he trying to say?

Because of this unpleasantness, Fan Changyu remained expressionless even during the family dinner that evening.

Xie Zheng was injured and couldn't move easily, so she brought his meal to his room: "Since you're hurt, I picked some lighter dishes for you."

Xie Zheng had noticed her unusual expression the moment she entered but didn't ask. Instead, he lowered his eyes slightly and thanked her calmly.

By the time everything was tidied up, it was almost Hai hour (9-11 PM). Aunt Zhao wanted to carry the sleeping Changning to the next room, but Fan Changyu refused outright. "After our parents passed, Ning Niang has always slept with me. Otherwise, she has nightmares and cries at night."

Aunt Zhao said, "Normally, that's fine, but on your wedding night, no matter what, the newlyweds must share a room. Otherwise, it's bad luck."

Without giving Fan Changyu a chance to argue, she carried Changning out of the room.

The courtyard, lively during the day, was now eerily quiet.

Beneath the eaves, festive red lanterns hung high, casting a dim golden glow over the snowy night.

Fan Changyu sat on the doorstep, hugging her knees, staring blankly at the snowflakes drifting down in the dark sky before finally getting up and going inside.

Since this was a fake marriage, Fan Changyu naturally wouldn't actually share a room with him.

However, all the quilts in the house were stored in the bridal chamber—the room she had originally slept in. After her parents died, Changning was too scared to sleep alone and had squeezed in with her. Now that it had been converted into a bridal chamber, the neighboring room hadn't been prepared with bedding yet.

Out of habit—having lived in that room for over a decade—she pushed the door open without thinking. Only after entering did she realize Xie Zheng was changing. His outer robe was already off, and with his back to her, half of his inner garment hung loosely from his arm, the other half draped at his waist.

It was a striking physique. Beneath the bandages, his exposed skin gleamed a warm honey hue under the wedding candles, the contours of his muscles clearly defined.

At the sound of her abrupt entry, he turned his head slightly. His jade-carved face, usually cold, now carried an inexplicably restrained yet alluring expression.

Fan Changyu stood frozen for several breaths, staring dumbly, until his brows furrowed in displeasure. He pulled his half-removed inner robe back on and asked, "Need something?"

Only then did she snap out of it, realizing she must have looked like some lecher ogling an innocent maiden. Her face burned as she quickly turned away. "Sorry, I forgot to knock. I just came to get a quilt."

"Take it, then." His voice, cool and clear, came from behind.Fan Changyu tried her best not to glance sideways as she retrieved two cotton quilts from the cabinet. Holding them in her arms, she walked out of the room without daring to turn her head, only letting out several deep breaths of relief after turning the corner.

She had truly embarrassed herself beyond belief! She could only hope he wouldn’t misunderstand again.

Xie Zheng, with his keen hearing, naturally caught the sound of her exhaling.

His eyes showed no flicker of emotion. Only after her footsteps faded into the distance did he undo the bandages and continue applying medicine to the deeper, more severe wounds.

The medicine was травма medicine, delivered by the Gyrfalcon tied to its leg—priceless and excruciatingly potent.

The moment the powder touched his wounds, the pain made his entire body tense, veins bulging along his arms. Fine beads of cold sweat formed at his temples, and his jaw clenched so tightly that a faint metallic taste of blood spread in his mouth.

To avoid staining the bedding, he sat on a wooden stool in the room, fists clenched tightly on his knees. His straight back gradually dripped with sweat mixed with blood, making the scene look less like treatment and more like torture.

Enduring such inhuman agony, even as sweat droplets fell from his eyelids, he didn’t so much as blink. His eyes, reflecting the candlelight, were dark and shadowed.

These wounds, this searing pain—he would repay it all in kind.

Suddenly, the footsteps outside returned. Xie Zheng lifted his gaze, still brimming with unbridled ferocity, toward the door.