Chapter 95: The Bridal Procession

Chapter 95: The Bridal Procession

A light, almost mocking laugh echoed, and Lin Yi’s face turned beet red. "Disobedient daughter! Kneel down!"

Lin Yingxue knelt, not only that, she raised her hands high and then bowed deeply, her forehead lightly touching the ground where her hands were placed, bowing to Lin Yi.

Seeing his wife kneel, Fu Jiaze also knelt, joining Lin Yingxue in bowing to Lin Yi.

Some military officials who had been walking briskly, not intending to pay attention to the affairs of the civil officials, stopped at this sight.

The consequence of these two performing such a grand gesture was that even the palace guards took notice and looked over.

Lin Yi felt a sense of foreboding, but Lin Yingxue spoke loudly:

"Please forgive your daughter, Father. You have raised me, and my birth mother, Wen Hui, has also raised me. According to the law, my birth mother, Wen Hui, has been demoted to a concubine by you. Since I have found my true love, I wish to offer her the position of main wife, allowing my birth mother to remarry if she wishes. That is why I have come to deliver the invitation."

After Lin Yingxue finished speaking, Lin Yi's lips moved, but before he could speak, Fu Jiaze interjected, his voice louder than Lin Yingxue's:

"Father-in-law, since you have severed ties with Mother Wen, why should you care about tomorrow's wedding? Venting your anger on Yingxue, both I and Yingxue feel that it is a good match for Mother Wen to have a good man to rely on in her later years, and he is even my mentor."

Fu Jiaze's words caused more light laughter, and Lin Yi felt as if these scattered laughs were slaps on his face.

At this moment, Secretary Lu from the Ministry of Rites stepped forward, pulling Fu Jiaze up, while Lin Yingxue, as a female relative, was also pulled up by Fu Jiaze.

Secretary Lu, who had always been at odds with Lin Yi, now said with a smile, "Congratulations, Minister Lin. Although you have severed ties with Wen Hui, she was still your mentor's daughter. Now that she has found a suitable husband, you should go and congratulate her."

Xie Yuan, the Wei Wu Marquis and Minister of Justice, was one of the first to receive the invitation. When he took the invitation from Lin Yingxue, as a man, he couldn't help but feel a subtle sympathy for his father-in-law.

To be betrayed by one's own daughter once, and now again, if Lin Yingxue were his daughter, Xie Yuan would have wanted to strangle her. She was beautiful and fair-skinned, yet had a vicious heart.

Xie Yuan stepped forward, "My wife has been unwell recently, Father-in-law, you should come to the Wei Wu Marquis Mansion tomorrow."

Lin Yi looked composed and content, his appearance clear and refined, while Xie Yuan, who had been busy recently, looked dark and sallow. Standing together, Xie Yuan calling himself the son-in-law caused more light laughter.

Xie Yuan's sharp gaze swept over, and the hidden laughter subsided as he had the support of Concubine Chen.

Pei Jin walked over, clasping his hands and said, "Since there are matters to attend to, we won't force you."

Pei Jin wore a ceremonial hat and official robes, even the badge on his chest was newly embroidered. He looked more content and smiling, as if saying that it was fortunate that Lin Yi had demoted his concubine, allowing him to marry Wen Hui.

Lin Yi wished he could tear off Pei Jin's hat and push him to the ground, but even as a Deputy Minister of Rites, he was still one rank below Pei Jin. He could only say, "I have matters to attend to."

The Wei Wu Marquis glanced at Pei Jin and said meaningfully, "So indiscriminate? Even someone who was once a concubine and has a daughter?" Without waiting for Pei Jin's reaction, he went after Lin Yi.

Pei Jin continued to distribute the invitations, and anyone who received one could see his sincerity.

After Lin Yi got into his carriage, the Wei Wu Marquis also lifted the curtain and sat opposite him.

Lin Yi felt uncomfortable; Xie Yuan's righteous words made his face burn even more. Lin Yingxue was a disobedient daughter, and wasn't Lin Baozhen the same? Having a son-in-law of her age made Lin Yi feel ashamed.

Lin Yi lowered his head, not wanting to greet the Wei Wu Marquis.

Xie Yuan thought Lin Yi was grieving over Wen Hui and comforted him, "Don't take the matter of Wen Hui to heart. I remember Baozhen mentioning that Wen Hui couldn't bear children."

Xie Yuan desperately wanted a child and viewed women who couldn't bear children like hens that couldn't lay eggs, naturally looking down on them.

If he wanted a child, he would have to perform the rites. Thinking about Pei Jin and Wen Hui's wedding night tomorrow, Lin Yi felt a deep discomfort. As the Grand Master of Ceremonies, which was a leisurely post, he decided to take leave and return home.

Xie Yuan was very considerate and planned to help Lin Yi take leave before returning to the Ministry of Justice.

/

After Lin Yingxue and Fu Jiaze distributed the invitations, they went to the residence where Wen Hui lived to help with the preparations, and Pei Jin also took leave early to prepare the Pei residence.

Wen Hui initially planned a small wedding, but Lin Yi's actions outside Tenglong Pavilion thoroughly angered her. She changed her plans to secretly prepare beforehand and have a grand wedding on the day of the marriage!

However, Wen Hui didn't want people in the capital to know too soon, so all the decorations would be completed on the last day before the wedding, and the invitations would be sent out on the last day.

Old Nurse was busy hanging red silk, while Wen Hui was personally greeting guests. When Lin Yingxue returned, Wen Hui was talking to someone.

Wen Hui showed no shyness as a bride, answering questions, whether well-intentioned or malicious, with frankness.

"Yes, the wedding is tomorrow. Thank you for your congratulations. Please enjoy some candy and may your family be happy."

"Yes, the wedding is indeed rushed. It's because I've had a hard life and feared that someone might use tricks. Now there's only one day left, and any tricks would be too late."

"It will be a grand affair, and all the high-ranking officials have been invited. After all, I had a hard life and was deceived into an impromptu wedding, ending up as someone else's concubine. Fortunately, Secretary Pei pitied me. Even though he is marrying a second wife, he is willing to have such a grand wedding. If you want to join the festivities, of course you can. The alley is narrow, but the bridal procession will pass by Tenglong Pavilion. You can wait there."

When Wen Hui saw Lin Yingxue, she said, "You're here. Have you sent out all the invitations?"

Lin Yingxue nodded, "Eldest Sister isn't feeling well. Tomorrow, Father will go to the Wei Wu Marquis Mansion and won't attend the wedding."

Those waiting outside perked up their ears, amazed by Lin Yingxue's words. Someone couldn't help but ask, "You sent an invitation to your own biological father?"

Lin Yingxue repeated what she had said at the palace gate, reminding everyone that Wen Hui's father was once Lin Yi's mentor, and Lin Yi had wronged Wen Hui.

After Lin Yingxue explained, Wen Hui said, "I knew he wouldn't come."

Wen Hui's eyes narrowed slightly, and she laughed mockingly, "All the schemes are done behind the scenes, yet they pretend everything is calm and peaceful on the surface."

Lin Yingxue, after all, shared Lin Yi's blood, and Wen Hui didn't say much more.

"Mother, please rest. I'll entertain the guests with Jinyuan."

Wen Hui looked at Fu Jiaze and smiled at her son-in-law, "Let Jinyuan handle it alone. My wedding dress has just been delivered, and I want Yingxue to accompany me to try it on."

Wen Hui had a wedding dress, but she had worn it once when she "married" Lin Yi. This time, she didn't want to wear it again and had a new one custom-made.

Fu Jiaze agreed, and Lin Yingxue followed her mother into the residence.

Old Nurse was supervising the hanging of lanterns and, seeing Lin Yingxue, asked distractedly, "Where is the groom?"

"Jinyuan is entertaining guests outside. Mother said the wedding dress has arrived, and the nursemaids will help with it."

Nursemaid Ou smiled and nodded, "I saw the embroidery on it; it’s truly beautiful."

"Mother will look beautiful when she’s dressed up."

Wen Hui laughed, saying, "How old am I now?"

Though Wen Hui mentioned her age, she didn’t look a day older than her years when she was dressed up. The fiery red wedding gown made her skin appear even fairer, but the only flaw was that she didn’t wear the matching jewelry.

Feiyuan was about to comb Wen Hui’s hair and put on the accessories, but Wen Hui only let someone try them on her.

"This headdress is too heavy; I don’t want to get a headache from wearing it. Just check if there’s nothing wrong with it."

While watching her mother try on the accessories, Lin Yingxue knew her mother would look stunning in full regalia. When she saw her mother fully dressed the next day, she couldn’t help but hold her breath.

When Lin Yingxue got married, she was still somewhat young, with a bit of baby fat on her cheeks, like a flower just beginning to bloom. In contrast, Wen Hui was like a flower in full bloom, and the impact of her beauty was even more striking than Lin Yingxue’s.

Fu Wanan’s mouth wouldn’t close, constantly saying what a pity it was.

"What are you sorry about?" Fu Heng asked curiously, while Lin Yingxue smiled and explained, "She must be regretting that my younger sister from the Pei family didn’t see this."

Fu Wanan nodded vigorously.

Pei Qinghe, being Pei Jin’s daughter, couldn’t come to Wen Hui’s chamber beforehand. Fu Heng laughed and ruffled her daughter’s hair.

"It’s fine. Once the veil is lifted, the Pei family’s younger sister will see it," Lin Yingxue said.

Fu Wanan nodded with a smile, "Yes, I’m just a little bit ahead of her."

Wen Hui didn’t speak. Throughout the wedding preparations, she had been composed, but now she was finally feeling a bit nervous.

Wen Hui thought about what she would do in front of Tenglong Pavilion and managed to calm herself down.

Soon, the groom’s procession arrived.

Although it was a remarriage, the wedding was almost as grand as a first marriage, complete with a poem to encourage the bride. However, since Wen Hui had no brothers or father to escort her out of the house, Lin Yingxue took on the role.

Lin Yingxue’s attire for the day was also special. She wore a red round-collar robe, her long hair tied back with a ribbon, and she held the red silk as she escorted her mother out of the door.

Among the crowd, Wang Zifan’s eyes widened. Because his cousin Lin Baozhen was unwell, he came to join in the festivities. He never expected to see Lin Yingxue sending her mother off in such a manner.

Wang Zifan even wondered if Lin Yingxue were a bit stronger, she might have carried her mother to the sedan chair herself.

Pei Jin had known about these arrangements all along. When Lin Yingxue handed over the bride to the sedan chair, he simply smiled and nodded.

"Lift the sedan chair."

The matchmaker called out loudly, and the sound of trumpets filled the air as the wedding procession left the narrow alley. Wang Zifan was pushed out with the crowd, but fortunately, he was smart enough not to carry his purse today, or it would have surely been stolen.

Wang Zifan had known the wedding procession would pass by Tenglong Pavilion, as someone had inquired about it from Wen Hui the day before. But what he never expected was that the procession would stop in front of Tenglong Pavilion.