The red ceremonial banners and bright festive lanterns drifted slowly from the end of the long street like a brilliant crimson cloud. The Grand Princess, having already seen Yan Chi, now grew visibly excited as she awaited the arrival of her future granddaughter-in-law.
“They’re here, they’re finally here!”
As she spoke, the Grand Princess took hold of Yan Chi with one hand and Yue Jia, the heir, with the other.
“Jia’er, come, your grandmother will go with you to greet them…”
Originally, the Grand Princess should have been seated in the main hall to receive the bride. However, everyone had waited so long for this moment, and considering the bride’s arduous journey from afar, personally welcoming her outside the manor would demonstrate the sincerity and warmth of Marquis Anyang Manor.
Thus, the Grand Princess led the way with Yue Jia and Yan Chi, followed by Marquis Anyang Yue Qiong and Jiang Shi, along with the young lady Yue Ning and the second young master of the manor, Yue Qing. As the hosts stepped out, the guests quickly followed. Soon, the grand entrance of Marquis Anyang Manor, adorned with red silk and ceremonial splendor, was packed with hundreds of guests, creating an unprecedented spectacle.
“They’re here! Finally here!”
“Look at that—now that’s a bridal procession worthy of a noble family from the capital. Such grandeur and magnificence! In all my years in Jinzhou, I’ve never seen anything like it. Ah, I can see the bridal sedan now…”
The procession advanced slowly, and from a distance, only the silhouette of the sedan could be discerned beyond the leading figures.
The bridal sedan, carried by eight bearers and draped in red lacquered curtains, was followed by an impressive dowry procession from Duke Song’s household. In the night, it resembled an endless dragon, exuding the nobility and lofty dignity of the capital.
“I heard there are over twenty carriages just for the dowry, not to mention the accompanying servants. Duke Song’s household has certainly spared no expense.”
“Well, she’s marrying into Marquis Anyang Manor. The Marquis has military honors, and with the Grand Princess presiding…”
The guests murmured incessantly. Qin Guan was jostled to the very edge of the crowd. Just as she steadied herself, Fuling squeezed her way through the throng. “Finally found you, miss! You disappeared right after we left the hall…”
Qin Guan pulled her close. “There are too many people. Don’t worry.”
Fuling nodded, then suddenly whispered, “Miss, Old Madam and the others are over there.”
She pointed discreetly. Qin Guan raised her gaze and, sure enough, spotted Jiang Shi standing with Lin Shi and a few others, separated by seven or eight people. They had already noticed Qin Guan and were now watching her with complicated expressions.
Qin Guan understood immediately—they must have learned about her saving the Grand Princess.
Among them, Jiang Shi’s gaze was especially dark and penetrating. The old Qin Guan would have been too terrified to meet her eyes, let alone withstand her scrutiny. But now, Qin Guan calmly met Jiang Shi’s gaze before turning away with neither deference nor defiance.
Her composed demeanor made Jiang Shi narrow her eyes sharply.
“Miss, what did the Grand Princess say to you? Why did she keep you with her all day? Old Madam’s expression doesn’t seem pleased. I never imagined the person you saved was the Grand Princess!”
Qin Guan had been kept for the entire day, and though Fuling had followed, she had waited outside without a chance to speak until now.
Qin Guan smiled gently. “The Grand Princess said my medical skills were excellent. As for Old Madam… she won’t be displeased.”
Fuling blinked, momentarily confused. Jiang Shi’s glare had been downright terrifying!
“Here she comes, Jia’er—your bride has arrived—”The wedding procession drew nearer, and in an instant, firecrackers and fireworks erupted simultaneously before the Marquis Anyang Manor, filling the air with jubilant festivity. Almost at the same moment, a fast horse galloped into view, ridden by a handsome young man dressed in indigo finery.
As the horse halted at the gates, the man deftly reined in, dismounted, and knelt with a flourish of his robe.
"Greetings to the Grand Princess and the Marquis and his lady. This humble nephew, Wei Yanzhi, has been sent by Duke Song to escort the bride!"
The Marquis Anyang Manor had long known the identity of the escort—the nephew of Duke Song, a promising young man currently serving in the capital's patrol battalion. Yue Qiong stepped forward with a smile and helped him up. "Excellent, excellent! Rise, dear nephew. You must be weary from the long journey..."
Wei Yanzhi stood, murmuring polite demurrals, and turned to see the bridal sedan chair now right before them.
With the sedan's arrival, the wedding ceremony was about to begin. The clamor of firecrackers and fireworks swelled, accompanied by joyous music. Amid the dazzling spectacle, the eight bearers slowly lowered the gilded sedan chair, adorned with phoenixes, unicorns, and auspicious motifs, before the manor gates.
Having reached Marquis Anyang Manor at last, the maids and servants escorting the bride collectively sighed in relief.
Everyone was swept up in the celebratory atmosphere, their faces alight with joy.
The manor's master of ceremonies promptly stepped forward. "The bride has arrived, the auspicious hour is upon us—may the heir of the house determine the heavens and earth!"
The Great Zhou wedding customs were elaborate, and this ritual of "determining the heavens and earth" at the sedan's arrival was one such tradition.
No sooner had the master of ceremonies spoken than attendants presented a red-silk-wrapped bow and arrows. The Yue family, being military men, were all formidable warriors. Yue Jia took the bow, nocked an arrow, and drew it back with imposing grace.
The master of ceremonies continued chanting, "First shot to the heavens—heaven bestows a blessed match, joy greets the newlyweds at their door. Second shot to the earth—earth pairs them as one, a hundred years of harmony for the couple. Third shot to the sedan door—piercing the bride's heart to determine the heavens and earth."
With a resounding "thunk," the final arrow lodged firmly in the sedan door.
Cheers and applause erupted, merging with the ongoing fireworks and firecrackers to crescendo the festivities.
Even Qin Guan, who typically shunned such clamor, found herself caught in the excitement, her eyes sparkling as she gazed expectantly at the sedan door.
"The heavens and earth are set, eternal as the skies and enduring as the land. May the heir now kick the sedan door—"
At the master of ceremonies' prompting, Yue Jia's expression brightened.
The Grand Princess beamed. "Go on, go on—but gently now. Don't startle your bride."
Yue Jia acknowledged with a smile and strode toward the sedan. This was the second hurdle in receiving the bride; once cleared, the bride would emerge for the formal rites.
Under the watchful eyes of all, Yue Jia reached the sedan. He straightened his sleeves, solemnly clasped his hands, and bowed respectfully toward the door. "Pray, my lady, alight from the sedan—"
With that, he lightly tapped the door with his foot.
The "kicking the sedan door" ritual symbolized mutual respect and equality in marriage. After the groom's kick, he had to wait for the bride's reciprocal tap before lifting the curtain.
Yet after Yue Jia's kick, there was no response from within.
After a pause, Yue Jia frowned and glanced at the master of ceremonies.
Unprepared for this, the master cleared his throat. "May the heir kick the sedan door once more, that in days to come, the husband shall not fear his wife's dominance, nor the wife show weakness, and both shall love devotedly till white-haired age—"
Complying, Yue Jia kicked the door again. As a military man, his first tap had been gentle and courteous; this second was slightly firmer. Had the bride, exhausted from the long journey, fallen asleep?
Still, the sedan remained motionless.
Yue Jia's brow furrowed deeper. His warrior instincts prickled with unease.Even if the bride had fallen asleep or was unwilling to follow the customs, with only a sedan curtain separating them, he should at least have been able to hear her breathing inside. Yet now, as the voices quieted and the firecrackers and fireworks ceased, behind the sedan curtain lay an eerie silence—not a single sound could be heard. Where was the bride?
Not only Yue Jia, but everyone around also froze when there was no response to the second kick at the sedan door.
Even in ordinary weddings, let alone one marrying into the Marquis Anyang Manor, brides always cooperated. A wedding was all about smoothness and completeness for auspiciousness—could the daughter of Duke Song’s household really be this unruly?!
Everyone’s expressions stiffened, their gazes fixed intently on the sedan door.
The ceremonial official felt awkward, even resentful. The daughter of Duke Song’s household was truly disrespecting the Marquis Anyang Manor!
With this thought, the official simply declared, “The auspicious hour has arrived. May the Young Master lift the sedan curtain—”
Yue Jia, already puzzled, wasted no time in yanking the curtain open.
The moment the curtain was lifted, Yue Jia’s pupils contracted violently.
At the same time, the eagerly awaiting guests, upon seeing the scene inside the sedan, also paled in horror. Soon after, piercing, blood-curdling screams shattered the festive atmosphere entirely.
Yue Jia’s bride was still inside the sedan. She sat demurely and properly, clad in a grand red Wedding Gown embroidered with peonies and pomegranates bursting with hundreds of seeds.
Yet Yue Jia, a seasoned warrior who had fought countless battles on the battlefield, felt a chill crawl down his spine.
His gaze locked onto the bride’s bloodied, headless neck, his entire body freezing in terror—
His bride, her figure graceful, her Wedding Gown blazing like fire, was missing only one thing:
Her head.
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