Chapter 65

Chapter 65

"First, bow to heaven and earth."

"Second, bow to the ancestors."

"Finally, the couple bows to each other."

Lady Liu, seeing that the ceremony was complete, knew that in Jiangnan, weddings were elaborate affairs. The newlyweds had to retire to the bridal chamber to perform the ritual of removing the fan, then drink from the ceremonial cup, and finally re-emerge to greet their relatives and friends, serving tea and wine.

This was her final duty, so she wore a pleased expression on her face.

Yao Niang had been shielding her face with a fan throughout, fearing she might make a mistake during the ceremony, which left her extremely tense. When she was supported out, she felt a rush of heat and almost fainted. She had consumed only a cup of water and two rice cakes all day.

Her steps were now those of a marionette, while Shen Linfeng moved with a lightness in his step, his almond-shaped eyes brimming with joy.

The Shen family residence differed somewhat from the Yan family's. The Yan family’s estate was jointly acquired by the Great Patriarch and the Third Patriarch, located in Anren District, a place where only the wealthy and noble resided. However, the Shen family surpassed them in grandeur. The pavilions and terraces, artificial hills, and rare stones, as well as the flying eaves and vermilion railings, were breathtaking. It was evident that every blade of grass and tree was meticulously cultivated, no wonder the Shens of Wu Xing were known for their immense wealth.

When her eldest sister was betrothed to the Shen family, someone had once said that the Shens were not just an aristocratic clan but also immensely wealthy. For a time, her eldest sister showed no signs of resistance, even looking forward to it. On this occasion, many members of the Yan family came to the capital, and Yao Niang had overheard two ladies who visited the family temple say that Yan Ningxin deeply regretted eloping. News of Yao Niang’s marriage to Shen Linfeng did not reach her ears.

"The bride, watch your step," Lady Liu reminded her, and Yao Niang focused her attention.

They walked through two corridors and then wound their way to a main courtyard at the back. With her veil made of light silk, Yao Niang could vaguely see the surroundings. Upon entering the courtyard gate, they proceeded straight ahead to three small verandas. Behind them, the main house was unclear, but she was led inside, past a screen, into a brightly lit inner chamber.

The bed was adorned with longan, lotus seeds, and lilies, which Yao Niang recognized from her brother’s wedding bed.

After settling down, she heard Lady Liu’s voice say, "Please have the groom lift the veil, so that you may be happy ever after."

Then, the red veil on her headdress was removed, but she still held the fan. Lady Liu smiled and said, "Groom, please recite a poem to encourage the bride to lower her fan."

Shen Linfeng nodded vigorously. "Certainly."

Lady Liu couldn’t bear to watch, but fortunately, Shen Linfeng was indeed talented in poetry. The bride slowly lowered her fan.

When Yao Niang put down her fan, she saw Shen Linfeng staring at her, and she felt a bit shy. She had never seen such a joyful look in his eyes before. Seeing him in his bright red wedding attire, standing tall and handsome with his almond-shaped eyes filled with affection, her heart pounded. As for Shen Linfeng, he rarely found anyone so beautiful that he was speechless. Seeing her bashfulness, he found her particularly endearing.

However, Lady Liu had to hurry through the formalities, as she was afraid something might go wrong with her role as the Quanfu Lady. She smiled and said, "Please have the bride and groom drink from the ceremonial cup, so that their days may be sweet and harmonious."

The maids brought two cups of wine tied together with a red string, but the string was short, forcing them to stand close. Yao Niang, already dizzy from hunger, nearly stumbled, but Shen Linfeng steadied her.

"Are you alright?" Despite often mentioning his divine sister, he didn’t dare call her by name in front of Yao Niang.

Yao Niang shook her head. "I’m fine."

Marriage was supposed to be a tender and intimate affair, but outside, people were urging them to meet the guests. After drinking from the ceremonial cup, they had no time for much conversation and had to change into different clothes.

Yao Niang’s heavy headdress was removed, and Mama Wang replaced it with a smaller one adorned with golden floral patterns and cloud bridges. Her grand ceremonial robe was exchanged for a more comfortable embroidered jacket and skirt. Shen Linfeng, too, changed into a red outfit, removing his flowered hat and tying his hair with a golden crown, looking much fresher than before.

When they emerged, night had fallen. The maids held lanterns and candles, and a cool night breeze made Yao Niang feel a bit cold. Soon, a cloak was draped over her shoulders, and she looked up to see it was Shen Linfeng.

Yao Niang felt a warmth in her heart. "Thank you."

Shen Linfeng wanted to say something but didn’t know what to say, so he simply smiled faintly.

They returned to the main hall where they had performed the ceremony, which was now crowded with guests. Born into the large Yan family, Yao Niang did not feel intimidated or afraid when facing the Shen family’s relatives; instead, she entered gracefully alongside Shen Linfeng.

Lady Zhou, whom Yao Niang recognized, stood by Lady Shen and greeted them, saying, "Madam has asked the young master and his wife to come this way."

Yao Niang smiled at Lady Zhou. Today, they would first meet their relatives and friends, and Lady Zhou would act as their guide.

"This is our Second Master and Second Lady."

Yao Niang smiled and looked over. The Second Master had a square face, a scholar with an air of solemnity. She had met the Second Lady before during the marriage proposal; she was an extremely dignified and noble woman. To put it bluntly, Lady Shen looked somewhat older in comparison.

The second branch presented a pair of mandarin duck lacquer boxes, which exuded an ancient Chu style, elegant craftsmanship that was far beyond the appreciation of ordinary people.

As for the third branch, Governor Shen was away on official business, so his eldest daughter-in-law sent a set of Ru kiln tea cups. The Ru porcelain had an ancient, simple, and elegant shape, with a unique glaze made from precious agate, known for its beauty as "agate glaze passed down through generations." It was said that the glaze color could change with the light, and connoisseurs used phrases like "after the rain, the sky clears and the clouds part," and "thousands of peaks with green waves" to describe it.

In the Shen family, there were three brothers and three sisters in Shen Linfeng's father's generation. Each of the three old ladies also gave their own gifts. Yao Niang faced these gifts with grace and poise, her eyes sparkling. She didn't need to put on any airs; just standing there made it easy to understand what it meant to be captivated at first sight.

These relatives passed by her like a revolving lantern, but the only one who left an impression was Aunt Gan with her triangular eyes, whom she heard was Lady Shen's elder sister.

After the ceremony, Second Lady Shen smiled at Lady Shen and said, "Elder Sister, let the young couple go about their business. Since all the relatives are here, they can meet again tomorrow."

Lady Shen was about to nod when Second Aunt came forward and grabbed Yao Niang's hand, saying, "Dear child, you seem very likable. Just don't end up like your sister."

Before marrying into the Shen family, Yao Niang had thought about the impact Yan Ningxin would have. She had prepared a set of responses at home, so she quickly reacted and smiled, "I wonder which sister you're referring to?"

Shen Linfeng also felt uneasy and was preparing a proper response, but he didn't expect Yao Niang to speak directly. Second Aunt was about to open her mouth, then remembered how the eldest daughter of the Yan family had eloped, causing the Shen family to lose face. She herself became embarrassed.

Seeing this, Yao Niang pulled her hand away, thinking to herself that if someone wanted to give her a hard time, it would have to wait until the next life.

Once a person started enduring humiliation, they would be trampled upon.

Of course, she couldn't be overly aggressive either, so Yao Niang simply smiled without showing anger.

"Second Aunt must be tipsy. If you like the new bride, you can see her again tomorrow." Second Lady Shen rose gracefully, pulling Second Aunt to the side.

Lady Shen was naturally displeased, but she couldn't show it. She only said to Shen Linfeng, "There are still guests in front. Stay and entertain them, and let the new bride rest in her room."

"Yes, Mother understands." Shen Linfeng's peers, classmates, and teachers had all come, so he naturally had to entertain them.

But he was worried about Yao Niang. He turned and looked at her, and Yao Niang smiled, "I'm fine, go ahead. I'll return to my room."

She and Shen Linfeng had known each other before their marriage and even went on outings together, so they weren't like typical newlyweds who needed time to get acquainted. Shen Linfeng smiled and left. Yao Niang returned to the main courtyard with her attendants. She wasn't an ignorant woman who had never left home; even in the Shen family, she could hold her own.

Although Lady Shen felt that her daughter-in-law had too much influence over her son, she still instructed Aunt Zhou, "Send some food to the Lady. I need to go and entertain the ladies in front."

Aunt Zhou responded affirmatively.

The Yan and Shen families were not small households. A family on the rise wouldn't publicly mistreat a new bride; if word got out in the capital, the Yan family wouldn't let it go easily.

Yao Niang understood this, which was why she eventually agreed. Her husband was well-regarded, had no concubines, and treated her well. Why would she refuse such a match?

Almost all the furniture in the bridal chamber was part of her dowry, including the bed, cabinets, and screens. In this dynasty, it was common for brides to bring generous dowries, and it was often said that many men lived off their wives' dowries. Even after Shen Linfeng passed the imperial examination, the Yan family had provided money for the wedding expenses.

However, seeing her familiar belongings, Yao Niang felt more at ease.

She had barely sat down when Aunt Zhou brought the meal. Qingdai helped Yao Niang remove her hairpins and wash her hands before she began eating.

"Have you eaten?" Yao Niang asked Aunt Gu and the others.

Aunt Gu laughed, "Miss, no, Lady, please eat quickly. We had a full lunch, and since you can't eat conveniently, we all carry snacks with us."

Only then did Yao Niang start to focus on her meal. The dishes sent by the Shen family were not greasy or heavy; there were four small dishes, two pickles, and a bowl of egg custard.

Halfway through her meal, she saw Shen Linfeng personally carrying a tray over. She tried to stand, but Shen Linfeng smiled, "I know you must be tired today, so I asked the kitchen to prepare a nourishing chicken soup early. Don't worry, I had them skim off the fat."

Yao Niang was surprised by Shen Linfeng's thoughtfulness. At home, only her mother had shown such care, and she had never seen a man be so considerate. Even her own brother had never been so attentive to women.

"Thank you." Yao Niang smiled and invited him, "Join me for dinner, shall we? We can chat."

This was exactly what Shen Linfeng had in mind. He waved his hand, dismissing the servants. Inside, he was thrilled but didn't know how to express it. Yao Niang, unaware of Shen Linfeng's true feelings, only knew that he cared for her. She was skilled at finding topics: "Did you notice? When our ceremony was completed today, I saw Lady Liu heave a huge sigh of relief."

Shen Linfeng recalled that Lady Liu had also been the Quanfu Lady at his previous wedding. Amused by Yao Niang's teasing and seeing that she wasn't bothered, he chuckled, "Yes, I noticed too."

"Right? So when your aunt criticized me, I had already anticipated that someone from your family would say something like that. Such scars—those who genuinely wish us well wouldn't bring up such bad luck, but those who stir trouble love to do so. But I was afraid if they got too serious, they might isolate us." Yao Niang felt it necessary to share her thoughts with Shen Linfeng, especially regarding the attitudes of their families.

Seeing Yao Niang finish speaking and waiting for his opinion, Shen Linfeng lowered his head, "Actually, even before you said anything, I was planning to have someone escort Second Auntie away."

"I knew you weren't the type to let your wife be bullied, but I didn't want you to stand up for me too much in public." Yao Niang smiled at Shen Linfeng.

Shen Linfeng looked back at her and took her hand, "Rest assured, if anyone bullies you in the future, just tell me."

"I'm young and came to your family alone. The only person I can rely on is you. Please don't abandon me," Yao Niang's eyes welled with tears as she spoke earnestly.

Shen Linfeng felt a pang of pain, "My dear goddess, I will never betray you."

Yao Niang dabbed her tears with a handkerchief and finished the chicken soup, which was indeed delicious. After the meal, it was time to bathe. The servants set up screens to separate Yao Niang and Shen Linfeng for their baths.

Shen Linfeng, having drunk alcohol earlier, feared it might offend Yao Niang. After bathing and rinsing his mouth, he even held a mint in his mouth.

When he finished, Yao Niang emerged from behind the screen, her hair still damp, no longer tied up but flowing freely. Her long, black hair shone, and her skin was as fair as pear blossoms. She smiled and walked over to him.

Though they were more familiar than most, the idea of sharing a bed made them both a bit shy.

However, Shen Linfeng usually went to bed early, and tonight he had stayed up late. Yet, he feared Yao Niang might feel neglected, so he tried to stay awake.

Fortunately, Yao Niang glanced at the bedding and saw there were six quilts. She looked at him, "Let's each take two quilts and sleep separately. We need to wake up early tomorrow."

Shen Linfeng had no objections, "Alright, you go to bed first. I'll sleep on the outside, and you sleep on the inside."

Yao Niang appreciated Shen Linfeng's respect and lack of any lewd intentions. She climbed into bed, taking two quilts to cover herself. The goose-down quilt from her dowry was indeed comfortable, and as she lay down, she yawned.

Beside her, Shen Linfeng rustled onto the bed, lying flat and closing his eyes. He was extremely tired, and when Yao Niang looked at him, she found he had already fallen asleep. She sighed in relief; after a tiring day, she too drifted off into a deep sleep.

No one expected them to fall asleep so quickly, while others were still wide awake.

Lady Shen and Lord Shen had just seen off their guests. Lady Shen couldn't help massaging her lower back, "As one gets older, even a little extra effort leaves one with a sore back and stiff neck."

"The wedding went smoothly, which is all that matters. My third brother has always praised this third daughter of the Yan family in his letters, saying she is not only beautiful and talented but also filial and wise, a remarkable woman. A woman like her is worthy of our Linfeng. You can worry less about these things. As the saying goes, 'One who is neither deaf nor dumb cannot be a good parent-in-law.'" Recently, Lord Shen felt his wife had changed. She no longer enjoyed gardening as she used to but often lost her temper and drank strong tea, waking up frequently at night.

His words were partly meant to comfort her, but as close relatives, he couldn't be too blunt.

Lady Shen defended herself, "I like this girl too. Now that she's Linfeng's wife, I naturally want to treat her well. It's just that her sister was so unruly and caused such a scandal. I need to teach her some manners. If she does something disgraceful again, it will bring shame to our family."

Lord Shen nodded, "That makes sense. While you teach her manners, don't be too strict. She is still young."

Lady Shen laughed, "My lord underestimates me. How could I mistreat my daughter-in-law? With our status, we are not like those petty households. I only wish to spoil her."

After their conversation, the old couple went to bed, but Lady Shen had nightmares. She dreamed of her eldest son, whom she hadn't seen in a long time. His eyes were dark, and his clothes disheveled, reaching out to her continuously.

...

Shen Mo couldn't sleep either. She wasn't young, yet her marriage had not been arranged. Her mother originally wanted her to marry Yan Jingzhao, and though she wasn't entirely against it, she had some reservations. However, the Yan family chose Li instead. Finding another outstanding scholar of noble lineage would be difficult.

Today, several relatives asked her if she had a matchmaker. Shen Mo didn't want people to keep bringing it up. If she couldn't marry a good man, she preferred to remain unmarried.

But as her mother said, an unmarried daughter would eventually depend on her brother and sister-in-law. While her brother was easy to get along with, a difficult sister-in-law would make life unbearable. Therefore, she needed to observe her new sister-in-law and decide how to handle the situation.

Compared to the worries of Lady Shen and Shen Mo about their own situation, Second Aunt had indeed embarrassed herself today. Third Aunt, who shared a room with her sister, could not help but say, "What were you thinking? What you said today really put Lady Eldest and Linfeng in an awkward position."

"I just think the Yan family is too shameless. They caused such a scandal for our family before, and now they’re sending another daughter here. It’s only because our nephew has a good temper that he’s smiling, but I feel heartache seeing this." Second Aunt was indignant.

Third Aunt sighed, "Second Sister, you still have that temper. Although the Yan family is eager to marry off their daughters, they are not ordinary people. If we go too far, the Yan family might retaliate. This Yan Attendant is no easy opponent. He used the capital inspection to drive away all the intimates of the former Prime Minister."

Second Aunt replied, "I don’t want Eldest Sister and Second Sister to be bullied by a young daughter-in-law in the future. I was just giving her a warning. Isn’t it right for an elder to do so?"

She had heard from Second Sister about the recent scandal, which had left Shen Linfeng troubled by rumors at the Imperial Academy, forcing him to hide in Henan for so long. If he hadn’t passed the imperial examination, his future would have been ruined. Now, if they were expected to treat the Yan family’s daughter kindly, it would be a dream. Moreover, she also felt a bit helpless; if the new bride received a setback, she would naturally become more docile and closer to the in-laws, which was common sense.

The girls from the Yan family were known for their arrogance and haughtiness. She was doing what was best for the Shen family.

No matter what these people thought behind her back, Yao Niang, having grown up in a large family like the Yan clan, had seen all sorts of people and was not afraid of them. She knew that her husband was the head of the Shen family, and she would be the future matriarch. These people would have to respect her in the future. Their current difficulties were merely attempts to sow discord between them.

Some people specialized in sowing discord between couples to gain favor on both sides. How could she be afraid?

When she woke up in the morning and saw Shen Linfeng still sleeping, she didn’t bear to wake him. Instead, she called the servants to attend to her first, as getting dressed and made up took time.

"Madam, should we wake Master?" Mother Gu asked worriedly.

"No need. He doesn’t need to dress as elaborately as I do. Let him sleep a bit longer," Yao Niang replied. During their journey together, she had discovered his little secret: if he came later in the day, he would be full of energy, but if he got up early, he would look listless.

Shen Linfeng had already heard Yao Niang’s words. He closed his eyes for a moment, pretending to have just woken up. When he got up, he saw Yao Niang turn around and look at him with a warm smile.

"Get up and freshen up. We need to pay respects to the elders today," Yao Niang said. She originally thought that someone like Shen Linfeng would be gentle and compliant, like her sisters-in-law. But to her surprise, it was the opposite; she was the one taking the lead in everything.

She had assumed that men would dress quickly, but Shen Linfeng was extremely particular. He paid attention to how each piece of clothing was paired, what kind of hat and jewelry to wear, and even the scent of the incense. If anything was wrong, he would start over.

Was it really necessary to be so complicated?

But Yao Niang was a very respectful person. She wouldn’t change anyone’s habits, especially since Shen Linfeng had lived this way for over twenty years. There was no point in trying to change him.

So, she sat at the table, propping her chin on her hand and smiling at him, without urging him.

After Shen Linfeng finished dressing, he stood in front of her and asked, "How do I look?"

The silver-red color did not make him look feminine at all; instead, it gave him a charming and slightly mischievous air, which complemented his almond-shaped eyes. Yao Niang said coyly, "Very handsome."

Shen Linfeng blushed a bit, "My dear sister, you look like a celestial fairy today."

"Brother, let’s stop complimenting each other. We need to go pay respects," Yao Niang reminded him.

Thus, the couple went to Lady Shen’s quarters. Last night, everyone had only seen the bride in dim light, finding her beautiful in a vague way. Today, seeing her clearly, they all felt that the phrase "sitting and watching Luo Fu" was not an exaggeration.

Yao Niang had just finished kowtowing and stood up. Lady Shen and Lord Shen nodded in approval, and Lord Shen left first. The couple then accompanied Lady Shen for breakfast. Yao Niang hadn’t decided what to eat when she saw Shen Linfeng smile and say, "Have some peanut porridge. I’ll serve you."

"Cough." Yao Niang had been about to serve herself, but Shen Linfeng beat her to it. She winked at him, signaling him not to do so.

Unexpectedly, the usually clever Shen Linfeng misunderstood and said, "Do you want shrimp dumplings? Unfortunately, the frozen shrimp in the ice cellar isn’t very fresh. How about sweet lotus root? It’s very fresh."

Yao Niang almost fainted. Being too considerate wasn’t always a good thing!