Chapter 270

Chapter 270

The bride-to-be needed to rest and prepare for the wedding the next day, but Tong Sui, Lin Ningfang, and Yan Mingxiu were dragged into a card game by Xiao Yuchan. Madam He and Aunt Xiao were there, enjoying the spectacle.

They were all Liu Chu’s family members and were staying overnight to avoid having to come back early the next morning.

Madam He also wanted to join the game. She said to Yan Mingxiu, "You're pregnant. You should go to bed early. Fourth Son will worry if he finds out."

Yan Mingxiu replied, "...I'll only play until the second watch. It's fine."

Xiao Yuchan said, "Mother, ever since the estates were divided, the four of us sisters-in-law have rarely gathered. Tonight, you should rest. We'll keep you company another day."

Madam He poked her forehead.

Aunt Xiao simply pulled her away, letting the younger wives enjoy their fun.

Xiao Yuchan looked at Tong Sui and said, "Second Sister-in-law has left the palace. Second Brother isn't drinking at the Sun family’s place tonight. He'll be lonely, won't he?"

Tong Sui replied, "He has Chengzu to keep him company."

Xiao Yuchan continued, "With so many palace maids around, aren't you worried about Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law? He's like a golden statue now; someone must have their eyes on him."

Lin Ningfang interjected, "You've forgotten the rules again. How can you gossip about the Emperor?"

Xiao Yuchan laughed, "He's not here. Who among you would report me?"

Yan Mingxiu said, "Perhaps. I'll remember this. If you offend me in the future, I'll report you."

Xiao Yuchan replied, "Fourth Sister-in-law has been corrupted by Fourth Brother. When she first married into the family, she was so quiet."

Tong Sui said, "Gold doesn't move, but your Second Brother does. If he has wandering thoughts, there's nothing I can do to stop him. I'd better manage myself."

Lin Ningfang added, "Second Sister-in-law, there's no need to worry. The Emperor isn't that kind of person."

Xiao Yan wouldn't do anything so foolish, and the Emperor wouldn't ruin his relationship with Second Sister-in-law for a momentary pleasure.

Yan Mingxiu continued, "Yes, Fourth Master told me that the Emperor is the steadiest and most proper among the brothers. With so many state affairs waiting for him to handle, the Emperor would never... Ah, I won!"

Xiao Yuchan was left speechless.

Tong Sui smiled. Xiao Zhen wasn't as proper as his younger brothers and sisters-in-law described, but he knew how to put on a facade, only revealing his true self in front of her.

Of course, Xiao Yuchan didn’t stop at teasing Second Brother that night. She only joked about the Emperor, but she brought up all the faults and embarrassing moments of Xiao Yan and Xiao Ye, both from their childhood and adulthood. If she remembered something, she wouldn't let it slip, including Sun Dian, who was soon to become her brother-in-law.

Tong Sui and Lin Ningfang had seen the antics of these brothers when they were still rough around the edges, and they smiled without saying a word.

Yan Mingxiu, who hadn't witnessed those times, teased Xiao Yuchan, "To the young ladies of the capital, Third Master, Fourth Master, and Marquis Sun are all desirable matches. Many people envy us for having such perfect partners. Yet, my lady, you can always find faults with them. With such high standards, is there any man in the capital who can win your favor?"

Tong Sui and Lin Ningfang both looked over.

Xiao Yuchan replied with a smile, "That depends on whether they can please me. If someone can really make me happy, I might just give them a chance."

After a relaxing night, everyone gathered the next morning to watch Liu Chu do her hair.

Liu Chu turned thirty this year. If she were a farm woman who had worked all her life, she might have shown wrinkles by now. But Liu Chu, who had only managed the kitchen and avoided heavy farm work in the Xiao family, hadn't been exposed to harsh weather. In recent years, she had lived in comfort, using fine facial creams selected by her sisters-in-law and sisters-in-law-to-be. Her hands were now smooth and soft, and her face was radiant.

Or perhaps time naturally favored beauties. In any case, Tong Sui felt that among this circle of beauties, Liu Chu’s gentle beauty couldn't be overlooked upon closer inspection, even though her personality might not stand out at first glance.

It's time! The sound of the wedding procession's ceremonial music fills the street.

Xiao Yuchan tugged at Mianmian’s hand. "Come on, let’s go see!"

Madam He scolded, "Yuchan, how old are you? And Mianmian, you’re not exactly a little girl anymore! Yao Ge Er is almost getting married, and you’re still acting like a kid who loves all the fuss!"

Xiao Yuchan shot back from outside the window, "There’s at least another ten years before Yao Ge Er even thinks about getting married, so don’t worry so much!"

Ignoring Madam He’s thoughts, Xiao Yuchan said to Mianmian as they walked, "Ignore her. Her advice might work in the village, but we’re princesses now, with a lifetime of luxury ahead of us. We can live however we want. If you want to get married, you do. If you don’t, you can stay single and still be perfectly happy."

Mianmian smiled. "You’re right, Auntie."

The aunt and niece blended into the crowd of female guests heading towards the front, mostly young girls accompanied by their maids. Xiao Yuchan towered over the crowd, her height and build making her stand out like a crane among chickens.

Xiao Yuchan didn’t care and, upon reaching the door, stretched her neck to look at the approaching wedding procession.

Sun Dian rode on a horse, followed by four attendants. Two were unfamiliar faces, so Xiao Yuchan only focused on the ones she knew.

Xiao She, her younger brother, wasn’t worth much attention. The other attendant was Qi Yun, who used to perform in lion dances.

The groom wore a bright red robe, while the attendants were dressed in deep red. Sun Dian and Xiao She, both built like oxen, had tanned faces and necks that contrasted sharply with Qi Yun’s pale, refined features and tall, slender frame.

As Xiao Yuchan watched, she overheard a group of teenage girls chattering excitedly. "Who’s that handsome attendant who looks like a scholar?" one of them asked.

"It should be the young Marquis Qi. I heard he’s close to Marquis Sun and, since he’s not married yet, he certainly had to come and be an attendant."

"He’s even more handsome than the Prince of Wu Commandery!"

Xiao Yuchan’s lips tightened, and her expression shifted when she noticed Qi Yun glancing her way. She quickly looked away.

Qi Yun dismounted and joined the groom at the entrance.

Since Xiao She hadn’t married yet, he went to the Sun family to be an attendant. As for Xiao Yan, Xiao Ye, Qiao Changan, Zhang Wengong, and Tong Gui, they all came to the Princess’s residence to be the younger brothers. One by one, they tried to make things difficult for Sun Dian.

Sun Dian was in a good mood and cooperated with everything. Even when it came to composing poems, he dared to open his mouth. As long as he could keep up, it was fine—it wasn’t like he was taking the imperial examination where literary talent was a must.

There was laughter at the door.

Ten-year-old Qi Yao led a group of younger boys to watch the excitement. As a fairly grown-up child, even when running around, Qi Yao was careful not to bump into any guests.

Looking up, Qi Yao recognized Marquis Qi Yun, who still appeared as if he hadn’t noticed what he had done. Qi Yao pouted, resigned to his bad luck, and prepared to move to another spot.

Qi Yun held his shoulder and asked with a smile, "Don’t you recognize me anymore?"

Qi Yao mumbled, "Yes, Uncle."

Qi Yun said, "You’re being too formal. You can call me uncle."

Qi Yao immediately remembered when someone at his fourth uncle’s wedding mistook him for Qi Ling’s son. If that were true, wouldn’t Qi Yun indeed be his uncle?

With this thought in mind, Qi Yao looked at Qi Yun’s smile again and felt it was full of teasing. Flushed with embarrassment and anger, Qi Yao stomped hard on Qi Yun’s foot in return.

Qi Yun easily avoided it, and Qi Yao’s heavy stomp landed on the ground. Frustrated, he spat at Qi Yun.

Qi Yun raised his fan, blocking the boy’s spit.

Qi Yao: "..."

Qi Yun turned over the fan and examined it, not showing any anger, and said, "This fan bears an inscription by a famous calligrapher and is worth ten gold coins."

Ten gold coins—that's one hundred taels of silver. Qi Yao started to panic, afraid he might have to pay for it and that his mother would scold him for being too cheap.

"No worries, I like you, so I won't hold it against you."

Qi Yun gently patted the boy's head and, with a warm smile, placed the folded fan into Qi Yao's hands. "Give it a wipe, and it’ll still work fine. Go on, play with it."

Xiao She, who had been ready to scold his nephew, was left speechless.

Qi Yun really had a good temper!

After having lunch at the Grand Princess's mansion, Sun Dian took the bride away. Xiao She first escorted his second sister-in-law back to the palace, then stopped by the Sun family to join in the wedding festivities.

As night fell, Xiao Yan, Xiao Ye, Xiao She, and Qiao Changan surrounded Sun Dian, still trying to get him to drink more.

Sun Wei wanted to take a few bowls on his elder brother's behalf, but Sun Dian pushed him away. He would drink any wine offered by the Xiao brothers.

Xiao Yan tried to pour more, but Xiao Ye pressed down on his arm and sighed, "Enough."

Today, he was happy for Liu Chu and happy for Sun Dian, but he felt sad for his deceased elder brother. So, he had made sure Sun Dian drank a lot.

But Sun Dian was also his brother, a brother who had fought alongside them through life and death. Sun Dian had waited for his elder brother's wife for so many years, and he deserved this grand wedding.

If anyone's to blame, it's the wars of those years, for it was fated that his elder brother and his wife would only have two or three years of marriage.

As soon as the Xiao brothers stopped, Sun Wei quickly had a bodyguard help his heavily drunk elder brother away, reminding the bodyguard to first take his brother to sober up and change clothes.

The bodyguard, sweating from the effort, helped tidy up the sturdy Sun Dian. Once Sun Dian was presentable, the bodyguard guided him to the bridal chamber.

"I don't need your help, I can walk on my own."

Reaching the covered walkway, Sun Dian pushed the bodyguard away, holding onto the pillar and staggering towards the backyard.

Arriving at the entrance of the main room, Sun Dian glanced in the direction of the inner chamber, then suddenly slid down the door frame and sat on the threshold.

There was a waning crescent moon on the horizon.

Sun Dian stared blankly at the crescent moon, then suddenly buried his face in his armpit and sobbed quietly.

The sound of his crying grew louder, and Liu Chu, sitting nervously in the inner room, heard it. The four maids standing nearby also heard it.

After the initial shock, Liu Chu dismissed the maids. She stepped out of the side room and saw Sun Dian curled up, crying quietly. His sobs became less loud, just a series of sniffles, perhaps disturbed by the maids' departure.

Liu Chu walked over and sat on the other half of the threshold, looking at his back. "What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

Sun Dian choked, "I didn't mean to betray Xiao Da. If he were still here, I would never have come near you. But he's gone, and if you ask me not to find you, I can't bear it."

When he was younger, he hadn't been close to the Xiao brothers, so when Xiao Da passed away, he, also single, thought about marrying Liu'er.

Now, he and the Xiao brothers were as close as family. Seeing Xiao Ye's bitter smile tonight made him feel uneasy too.

Liu Chu lowered her head and wept, saying, "You haven't betrayed him. It's just that my fate with him was shallow."

Hearing her voice tremble, Sun Dian panicked and quickly turned around, saying anxiously, "Don't cry, I'm just too clumsy with words and said something wrong."

He wanted to wipe her tears, but his hand hovered near her flower-like face, not daring to move forward.

For the past few years, while they were apart, he often dreamed of holding her. Now that she was finally within reach, he feared she might feel hurt or reluctant.

Just as Sun Dian was about to pull his hand away, Liu Chu gently held his wrist, guiding his hand to her cheek. With her eyes still closed, she whispered, "The past is behind us. You’ve done nothing wrong, and neither have I. If you love me, let’s be a real couple. If one day you tire of me, I won’t hold it against you."

"How could I ever grow tired of you?" Sun Dian pulled her into a tight embrace, burying his face in her hair. "You have no idea how amazing you are."

Tears streamed down her face. "What’s so wonderful? I’m just a village girl who depends on my relatives. Only you have always... treated me like a treasure."

Always treated her like she was the most precious thing in the world.

After her husband and family members passed away one by one, Liu Chu felt like she was living a hollow existence, a lifeless shell. Her only source of joy was her daughter, but even that wasn’t enough to fully reignite her spirit.

It was Aman who helped her find her way back to life, and it was Sun Dian who reminded her that she was still young, giving her something to look forward to beyond the mundane routines of daily life.

Sun Dian gently wiped away her tears. "What’s wrong with being a village girl? You’re a village girl, and I’m a village man. We’re meant for each other, and neither of us should look down on the other."

Liu Chu nodded, briefly meeting his gaze before lowering her eyes.

Sun Dian tensed. "Am I too ugly? I was never much to look at when I was younger, and now that I’m older, I’ve got this scar..."

Liu Chu gently placed a hand over his mouth. "Don’t say that."

Sun Dian was speechless, his heart pounding as he gazed into her tear-filled eyes. Without thinking, he pressed his lips to her warm palm.

Liu Chu shivered and slowly pulled her hand away.

Without warning, Sun Dian scooped her up into his arms and carried her toward the inner chamber.