Glory

As expected, everyone was stunned, and the wedding matron was finally satisfied.

She nudged Lu Guanyi, reminding him, "Young Master, it's time to drink the nuptial wine."

Lu Guanyi took the cup as if in a trance, his gaze fixed intently on Ye Yaming. Mechanically guided by the wedding matron, he intertwined his arm with hers and drank the ceremonial wine.

Lady Lu the Third, being older, quickly snapped out of her daze over Ye Yaming's striking beauty.

Seeing the bride and groom finish the nuptial wine, she addressed the crowd, "Alright, the bride set out early this morning and must be tired by now. The banquet has begun in the front hall. Please, ladies and young misses, proceed to the front to take your seats."

Everyone was still awestruck by the bride's exceptional beauty. Even the young wives who had arrived with full confidence now felt ashamed in comparison and silently followed the others out of the bridal chamber without a word.

The Marchioness of Zhenbei had long wanted to leave but had held back to avoid drawing attention. Now, she quickly took An Jingning by the hand and hurried out.

Instead of heading to the banquet, she led her daughter to a secluded spot and asked, "Did you see?"

An Jingning lowered her eyes, dejected. "Yes, she's much more beautiful than I am."

Then, biting her lip, she added, "But is Brother Lu really that shallow?"

The Marchioness shot her a frustrated glare. "Who's talking about that? Didn't you notice what happened during the nuptial wine ceremony?"

An Jingning looked up blankly at her mother.

The Marchioness explained, "The Lu family had prepared nuptial wine on the wedding table. But the Ye family's servants brought their own wine and cups, refusing to use the Lu family's."

An Jingning blinked, still confused. "Why would they do that?"

The Marchioness sighed at her naive daughter. "In ordinary households, servants would never dare to scheme against their masters or tamper with the nuptial wine. But the Xuanwu Marquis Household is different."

After a moment's thought, An Jingning nodded. "I know that."

Who didn't know that the former Marchioness Shi Shi had deeply resented Lu Guanyi, her stepson? He hadn't been named heir until his teens, and his marriage prospects had repeatedly fallen through.

Although Shi Shi had been divorced, the Xuanwu Marquis Household was still filled with servants she had purchased and allies she had won over. Her biological son, Lu Guanyu, remained in the household—and he and Lu Guanyi were at odds.

There was no guarantee these people wouldn't cause trouble at Lu Guanyi's wedding. With mutual cover-ups and Lu Guanyu's backing, Lu Zhongyong, unwilling to let the Xuanwu Marquis Household become a laughingstock, might let any incident slide.

Knowing her daughter was simple-minded, the Marchioness doubted An Jingning grasped the full implication of her "I know."

She continued, "What if these people schemed to use underhanded methods, like drugging the wine? The newlyweds would be humiliated before everyone, likely unable to hold their heads high for the rest of their lives."

An Jingning's eyes widened. "That couldn't happen, could it?" She immediately felt deep sympathy for Lu Guanyi.

Seeing her daughter's reaction—sympathy directed solely at Lu Guanyi for his troubled family and stepmother, with no thought given to Ye Yaming—the Marchioness felt too exasperated to speak further.Suppressing the fire in her heart, she said, "Look at this bride. Her servants came prepared with their own wine and drinking vessels, showing they've considered this possibility. She must be extremely intelligent and meticulous, and she isn't afraid of offending the entire Lu household."

To take such defensive measures right in front of Lu Guanyi demonstrated that this merchant-born Ye woman truly had no fear of him.

Perhaps only because she knew how deeply Lu Guanyi favored her would she dare act this way?

But this latter implication was something the Marchioness of Zhenbei couldn't explain to her daughter.

An Jingning remained silent for a long while before finally understanding her mother's meaning.

She lowered her head dejectedly: "Alright, I know what you're trying to say. You just want to tell me she's both beautiful and clever, far superior to me, and I shouldn't entertain any foolish hopes. Fine, I understand."

As she spoke, she viciously twisted her handkerchief in frustration.

Seeing her daughter's despondent expression, the Marchioness felt both heartache and relief.

Her daughter lacked nothing in family status or appearance—why must she persist in clinging to Lu Guanyi? No matter how outstanding he might be, now that he was married, she shouldn't dwell on him anymore, or she would only bring harm upon herself.

Noticing that all the guests had departed and according to custom no one else would enter the bridal chamber, Bai Rui went to close the door.

She turned to ask Ye Yaming: "Miss, are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?"

Though Ye Yaming had risen early, she only had breakfast before makeup application. By the time the bridal attendants arrived, it was already Chen hour (7-9 am). The subsequent three cries and three urgings took nearly another hour, and when she boarded the sedan chair it was already Si hour three quarters (around 10:45 am). The sedan chair circled half the city for another hour and a half, and now it was Shen hour (3-5 pm)—normally dinner time.

Throughout this long day, she had only eaten a few glutinous rice balls in the morning. By now she was undoubtedly both hungry and thirsty.

The wedding table was set with tea and wedding cakes, but those couldn't be consumed. At this moment, Bai Rui felt immensely grateful for having heeded Madame Gu's advice to hide some pastries in her pouch.

They had also concealed a small pot of nuptial wine with drinking vessels and a pot of tea within the dowry silver set. Qingzhi had followed the dowry procession throughout the city circuit and promptly retrieved the silver set upon arrival at the Lu residence.

The dowry was displayed in the main courtyard for guests to admire. With Ye Yaming's generous trousseau, the absence of one silver set went completely unnoticed.

Indeed feeling both hungry and thirsty, Ye Yaming nodded: "Very well, pour me some tea first."

Lve E swiftly rinsed the nuptial wine cup Ye Yaming had used with tea, then poured a cup and handed it to her. Ye Yaming gulped it down thirstily.

After she set down the cup, Bai Rui offered the pastries from her pouch.

Ye Yaming took one and put it in her mouth, instructing: "First remove the hair ornaments, then fetch water for me to wash my face."

Worried the headdress might fall, Madam Zhou had styled her hair extremely tightly, pulling painfully at her scalp.

Moreover, the golden ornaments weighed several jin, and having borne this heavy load throughout the street procession and prolonged public viewing, her neck felt nearly broken.

Xia Momo hurried forward to remove her jewelry and undo her hair.After retrieving the jewelry and having just finished tying Ye Yaming's hair into a simple bun, they saw Hongye, who had been guarding the door outside, come in and report: "Miss, the aunt has arrived."

Ye Yaming was taken aback for a moment before she remembered that the "aunt" Hongye referred to was Qi Furen.

"Please invite her in quickly," she said.

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