Chapter 144: The Wedding
By the end of July, the rains had begun. The drizzle continued relentlessly until the fourth day of the eighth month, when it finally ceased.
The matron of honor assisting at Bensi Alley was Shi Shi, the eldest daughter-in-law of Chen Yunsheng, the former commander of the Golden Crow Guard's Forward Division. She was only in her late twenties, dignified in appearance, efficient in her work, and an exceptionally capable woman.
She walked in with a smile, saying, "I was worried the rain would never stop. But now it’s cleared up just in time—tomorrow we can send over the dowry." She added with admiration, "Who chose this date? It’s as if they predicted it!"
It was Mother who had chosen the date.
She had simply picked the nearest available day without much thought, never expecting the long rains to cease just in time.
Fu Tingyun had heard from elders that rain and wind before the dowry procession, followed by fair weather after the wedding, was the best omen—symbolizing that past hardships and misfortunes would be washed away with the bride’s departure, leaving only smooth and blissful days ahead. The worst omen, however, was fair weather before the dowry procession and storms after the wedding, implying that past happiness would vanish like the good weather, replaced by a life full of difficulties and turmoil.
Could it be that she and Zhao Ling were finally about to leave their hardships behind?
She couldn’t help but smile to herself.
Since the topic was her own wedding, she felt too shy to say much. Instead, she personally served Chen Shi a cup of tea.
Over the past few days, Chen Shi had grown familiar with Fu Tingyun and the others. She quickly stood up to receive the teacup, exclaiming humbly, "Oh, I shouldn’t trouble you!"
The man Fu Tingyun was marrying was a colleague of Chen Shi’s father-in-law, holding the same rank. Meanwhile, her own husband was merely an adjutant. Moreover, before coming, her father-in-law had repeatedly reminded her that she had been invited to serve as the matron of honor at Bensi Alley on the recommendation of Mr. Zhao, the military advisor who had served the Emperor before his ascension. She was to handle the wedding arrangements with utmost care, as both her father-in-law and her husband might one day need to rely on Mr. Zhao’s influence.
With this in mind, she hesitated briefly before deciding to dismiss Yu Wei, who was just bringing over a box of pastries. "I’ve already checked everything," she said, handing the dowry list to Yu Wei. "We’re just waiting for the Shi Family Alley to send the bridal gifts. Since you’ll be accompanying the bride and are very meticulous, why not take this chance to double-check the list for me? That way, you can ensure nothing’s missing and help store everything properly once the young mistress is married."
Fu Tingyun’s dowry wasn’t extensive—some antiques and paintings, mostly valuable items brought over from Zhao Ling’s possessions.
Yu Wei thought Chen Shi’s suggestion made sense and agreed with a smile, heading to the side room where the dowry was stored.
Once alone, Chen Shi took out a thin booklet from her sleeve and handed it to Fu Tingyun, whispering, "Take a look—you’ll need this on your wedding night!"
Fu Tingyun’s face flushed instantly.
Her sixth aunt had once slipped her a similar booklet and even explained it in detail...
She mumbled an acknowledgment and hastily tucked the booklet away.
Chen Shi, noticing her reaction, was puzzled. "Aren’t you going to see what it is?" she pressed. "While I’m here, I might as well explain a few things to you.""No, that won't be necessary." She hadn't even had the courage to discuss such matters with her sixth aunt back then, let alone with Chen Shi, whom she'd only recently met. "I still have some questions for you, sister-in-law," she said, grasping for conversation. "I heard that dowries are displayed in the courtyard before the main hall for everyone to see, and during the wedding banquet, there's even opera performances on stage. With so many people around and hands everywhere, what if something from the dowry goes missing?"
The Imperial Decree had arrived just days after she left the palace. Zhao Ling had been awarded a pair of table screens—she hadn't seen them—while she received the Three Star Gods of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity, which would be prominently displayed in the first dowry chest. She could imagine the spectacle and excitement as such a dowry procession made its way to Shi Family Alley.
Chen Shi felt she understood Fu Tingyun's concerns quite well.
Just the jewelry in Fu Tingyun's case alone—pearls the size of lotus seeds, rubies so red they seemed to bleed, and cat's eye stones that shimmered brilliantly under any light—was worth no less than two thousand taels of silver. Not to mention the Song dynasty books and Duan inkstones.
She quickly reassured her with a smile, "I'll be there to prepare the bridal chamber. I'll hand the dowry list to the auspicious woman on their side, and she'll assign people to keep watch. No one will be able to take anything unnoticed." She added, "Besides, you'll also send a personal maid to accompany me. She'll stay overnight at Shi Family Alley to familiarize herself with the place, so she can assist with serving tea and water when you arrive." Bringing up these arrangements, she asked, "Who do you plan to send with me?"
"Zhenzhu will go," Fu Tingyun replied with a smile. "After I'm married, Yu Wei will stay behind to handle the cleanup here. She's older and knows how to make decisions if anything comes up."
Once everything was moved over, all she'd need to do was dress properly and ride the bridal sedan chair to her new home. But there would be firecracker debris everywhere, and borrowed tables and chairs from the Sun family would need to be accounted for and returned.
"That sounds good!" Chen Shi said cheerfully. "Zhenzhu may be young, but she's clever and well-mannered..."
Their conversation finally turned to wedding preparations, and Fu Tingyun secretly sighed in relief.
Early the next morning, the Shi Family Alley contingent came to hurry along the dowry procession, led unexpectedly by Mo Yi.
Standing in the courtyard, he grinned and said, "I've put in a lot of effort here. Once the bride enters the house, don't forget to personally cook us a feast as a reward!"
From inside the house, Fu Tingyun blushed and scoffed at him.
Since the auspicious hour wasn't until Hai hour (9-11 PM) that evening, Fu Tingyun's side of the celebration was modest—just distributing wedding candies to the neighbors and preparing two banquet tables. She slept until Mao hour (5-7 AM) before rising. Chen Shi personally helped her with the traditional bridal facial threading and hairstyling. Kou'er brought in lotus seed and lily soup for Fu Tingyun to eat, and by the time she changed into her wedding dress, it was already You hour (5-7 PM) in the afternoon.
Perhaps burdened by unresolved guilt over past sins, Yu Wei only helped outside during Fu Tingyun's wedding preparations, staying out of the bridal chamber affairs.
Chen Shi instructed Kou'er to make Fu Tingyun a bowl of noodles: "It's not far, we'll be there in no time. You should eat something first—there'll be plenty of excitement later."
Fu Tingyun didn't refuse.She still remembered when Third Sister got married. Because her third uncle's family lived over fifty li away from the Fu residence—a full day's journey—they had to start preparing in the middle of the night. The bridal procession set off at dawn, and because the distance was so great, Third Sister was afraid she might need to relieve herself along the way, so she didn't even dare drink a sip of water. After the wedding ceremony, she was subjected to the scrutiny of the groom's grandaunts, aunts, sisters-in-law, and younger sisters, leaving her no chance to sneak even a bite of pastries. When she returned three days later for the homecoming visit, she complained bitterly, saying, "I almost fainted from hunger."
After eating noodles, Chen Shi helped her with her makeup.
After applying powder to even out her complexion, Chen Shi stood back, looking left and right, hesitating for a long while before touching the eyebrow brush.
Fu Tingyun quickly asked, "Is my face too dry?"
"No, no," Chen Shi laughed. "It's just that the powder doesn't seem to make you look any fairer or more radiant than your natural complexion..." She hesitated, unsure whether to continue.
"Well, then let's just leave it natural," Fu Tingyun said. "Just a bit of lip color will do."
Chen Shi thought for a moment and agreed. "Alright, just a touch of lip color then."
She sent Kou'er to fetch water, helped Fu Tingyun wash her face again, applied only a bit of scented cream, and then dabbed on the lip color.
The sky darkened.
Fu Tingyun sat quietly on the bed, waiting for the bridal procession from Shi Family Alley to arrive.
Time seemed to stretch endlessly—whether it was just a moment or days and nights, she couldn't tell—until the crackling of firecrackers erupted outside.
Kou'er, lively by nature, immediately jumped up. "The procession must be here! I'll go see!" Without waiting for Fu Tingyun's reply, she darted out and returned moments later, her cheeks flushed with excitement. "It's them! The bridal procession is here!"
Outside, the firecrackers grew even louder.
Chen Shi stepped out.
Fu Tingyun couldn't make out what Kou'er was whispering to her.
Soon, Chen Shi returned, beaming, carrying a bundle containing the bridal veil Zhao Ling had sent.
She placed the veil over Fu Tingyun's head and helped her out the door.
A wave of laughter and chatter greeted them.
Dazed, Fu Tingyun let Chen Shi guide her as she knelt to kowtow before the temporary ancestral tablets of the Fu family.
She sensed someone kneeling and kowtowing beside her.
Was it Zhao Ling?
She longed to steal a glance but didn't dare move.
Chen Shi helped her up and led her forward.
Someone shouted, "The bride is coming out!" and the firecrackers exploded in rapid succession, deafeningly loud.
She left the Sun residence and stepped into the bridal sedan.
A voice called out, "Lift the sedan!"
Amid the unending firecrackers, the sedan swayed as it was hoisted up.
Fu Tingyun clutched her sleeves tightly.
The sound of firecrackers filled her ears, one after another, as if it would never end.
Yet her heart was at peace.
Soon, she would be home.
From now on, she would no longer have to wander or toss and turn in uncertainty.
She could openly hold Zhao Ling's hand, lean on his shoulder, and ask him to do this or that.
Who knew what antics he would pull then?
The thought made her giggle. Then she remembered she was in the middle of her bridal procession and quickly straightened up. But as she sat properly again, she realized she was alone in the sedan—no one could see her anyway. For a moment, she found the whole situation absurdly amusing.Amidst her wandering thoughts, the bridal sedan came to a halt. Someone called out, "The bride has arrived!" The sedan curtain was lifted, and she was helped down by Chen Shi and another unfamiliar woman. She stepped over the money and grain basin, performed the wedding bows, and amidst the clamor, she entered the bridal chamber.
The noise was left outside the door, and suddenly, everything around her fell silent, as if she had stepped into another world.
She was guided to sit on the bridal bed.
"May the groom lift the veil!" the unfamiliar woman said joyfully.
Suddenly, light flooded her vision, and Fu Tingyun saw Zhao Ling standing before her, his eyes as bright as morning stars.
Dressed in the groom's crimson auspicious robes, his entire face radiated with joy, yet his gaze remained fixed on her—so intense, so earnest—that she was utterly captivated, staring back at him in a daze, her mind seemingly swept away.
Giggles sounded around them.
Fu Tingyun hurriedly composed herself, sitting properly, though her face burned with an uncontrollable heat.
"Now, the newlyweds shall drink the wedding toast!" the unfamiliar woman announced, presenting cups entwined with colorful threads.
Fu Tingyun took the cup and drank the toast with Zhao Ling.
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Originally, I had planned to write two chapters in one go, but with all the comings and goings, it was impossible. There was also an evening engagement, so I had to wait until I got home to correct any typos. Sigh...
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(End of Chapter)
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