Chapter Thirty: The Wedding

Chapter Thirty: The Wedding

"They have the gall to do this, and I'm too ashamed to even mention it." Lu Yao snorted coldly, giving his sleeves a heavy shake.

One by one, people gathered under the eaves.

Among them was Gu Zhen, her hair in disarray and her face twisted in rage.

"Ah Qiu!"

Gu Zhen was truly angry.

If this incident had occurred at any banquet in Shangjing City, her reputation would be ruined, and the integrity and honor of the Duke's family would be questioned.

Ah Qiu was her personal maid.

They say even when you beat a dog, you consider its owner. If her personal maid acts shamelessly, how would others view her?

They would only mock her behind her back, saying the servant disgraced the master.

"Miss, it's not what you think."

"This servant and the two men are innocent; no indecent act has taken place."

"Miss."

Ah Qiu knelt on the ground, tearfully explaining.

The guards echoed her sentiment. "Miss, how could we brothers dare to lay a finger on Miss Ah Qiu?"

"Please, Miss, understand the truth."

Gu Zhen's eyes flickered with anger, her gaze cold as it swept over them.

The first light of dawn was just beginning to break. The morning breeze brushed against her clothes, gently flipping the hem. In the sky, birds soared overhead, searching for food and occasionally swooping past the tree branches.

Gu Zhen was fully aware of the inner details.

"The process may have its rights and wrongs, but the outcome does not matter."

"The result at this moment is that you have brought shame upon me and upon the Duke's family."

"Ah Qiu, you are truly detestable." Gu Zhen's gaze finally settled on Ah Qiu, not leaving her for a long time.

"I do not wish to bring bad luck to this joyous day."

"Watch your step."

When she returned home, she would tell her father about her brother's foolishness, Ah Qiu's betrayal, and the guards' actions, and he would ensure justice was served.

Gu Zhen glanced sideways, and seeing Lu Mingchao, whose clothes were wet from the night's frost and morning dew, she knew exactly what had happened.

Gu Zhen lowered her gaze, a smile spreading across her lips as she took Lu Mingchao's arm. "Mingchao, let me fix you up. You'll be the most beautiful bride."

"Come on, don't let these messy things affect your mood."

Lu Mingchao smiled back, her gaze avoiding the three kneeling figures as she looked concernedly at Lu Yao.

Seeing Lu Yao shake his head, her heart finally calmed.

The fog lifted, revealing the sun.

As the sun rose higher, more and more people gathered in the small courtyard of the Lu family.

The courtyard was small, and there weren't enough tables and chairs, so Lu Lei borrowed some from their close neighbors. After bringing them back, he simply set them up on the road outside the small courtyard.

Lu Mingchao sat stiffly in front of the dressing table, her neck having become somewhat stiff.

After Yunniang finished combing Lu Mingchao's hair, Gu Zhen patted her chest and took full responsibility for Lu Mingchao's makeup.

Her brows were painted like a delicate drawing, her dark brows lightly sketched, her eyes filled with the affection of autumn water, and her eyelashes seemed to capture the fragrance of fallen blossoms. On her towering hairdo, there were vibrant and beautiful hairpins, which complemented the ornaments on her head, creating a rich and regal appearance. Her every feature and expression exuded infinite charm, making it impossible not to stare.

Gu Zhen was almost mesmerized.

She had always known Lu Mingchao was stunning, but she didn't expect her to be so breathtaking that it was hard to look away.

After all, her blind brother preferred the plain beauty of scholarly elegance and had once criticized Lu Mingchao for being vulgar. Therefore, Lu Mingchao's makeup and attire were always as simple and elegant as possible, rarely bright and seductive.

Who would have thought that with heavy makeup, she looked like a divine fairy.

Her brother really missed out!

Gu Zhen could even imagine the scene of Gu Huai's regret flowing endlessly like a river.

Regret all you want, but it’s too late now, as Lu Mingchao is about to become a married woman.

"Mingchao, isn't that hunter ashamed to stand beside you?"

In the past, she had only heard storytellers in teahouses talk about beauty and the beast, and today she would have the honor of witnessing it firsthand.

Lu Mingchao rubbed her stiff neck and replied with a mix of resentment and a smile, "No."

Xie Yan was the handsome young general in her eyes.

Gu Zhen clicked her tongue lightly, not paying much attention, thinking it was just a white lie to save her fiancé's face.

"Where is the wedding dress?"

The courtyard was bustling with activity, and from time to time, children stood on their tiptoes outside the gate, trying to catch a glimpse of the bride. The air was filled with the rich fragrance of fried goods and meat, and the sounds of clashing pots and pans wove the simplest and warmest melody.

Lu Mingchao pointed to the newly crafted mandarin duck corner cabinet, made by a carpenter that the Lu family had commissioned just a few days ago, "It's inside."

Inside the mandarin duck corner cabinet, there were two quilts hand-sewn by Yunniang using the cotton she had saved up, a stack of shoe pads, and two newly tailored dresses.

These items made up her dowry.

Gu Zhen sighed in her heart but didn't want to say any more discouraging words, lest they cause Lu Mingchao to feel sad and melancholic.

If Mingchao were still the legitimate daughter of the Yongning Marquis family and today was her wedding to her brother, the scene would have been grand and magnificent, with a continuous ten-mile red bridal procession, lively music, and candies falling like rain, with banquets lasting for three days. All the people in the capital would have shared in this joy.

But now, she had to endure such disappointment.

Gu Zhen shook her head, stopping her random thoughts, and reached out to open the corner cabinet.

What she saw was a wedding dress as splendid and vibrant as clouds and rosy dawns.

Gu Zhen: !!!

Golden thread embroidery?

Pearls embroidered on it?

This wedding dress is far better than she had imagined.

She had thought that Lu Mingchao would sadly have to make do with a wedding dress crudely stitched together from some red fabric.

Her expectations had been so low that she was completely stunned.

“This wedding dress, did your parents prepare it for you?” Gu Zhen blurted out in a whisper.

Lu Mingchao shook her head with a smile. “Xie Yan sent it over.”

Gu Zhen’s eyes sparkled, and for the first time, she felt a bit of affection for the unseen rugged hunter.

Not bad, he knows how to care for someone.

A humble hunter from the small Changxi Village was willing to give Lu Mingchao a wedding dress of this caliber, which showed just how much he treasured her.

“Stand up, let me help you put on the wedding dress.”

Lu Mingchao sighed and resignedly stood up.

As she moved, the pearls and tassels on her hairpin swayed slightly, momentarily mesmerizing anyone watching.

The sun had already risen very high.

Yunniang, who had been busy outside entertaining the neighbors and villagers, gently knocked on the door. “Chaochao, it’s your mother.”

Gu Zhen opened the door, and Yunniang barely managed to squeeze in past a group of children.

Yunniang’s eyes were red and misty, like they were veiled in mist. Her voice choked as she said, “My Chaochao looks so beautiful.”

Yunniang seemed to have a thousand things to say but was too awkward to know where to begin.

She could only repeat over and over, “Live well, and don’t keep your troubles to yourself.”

Lu Mingchao nodded. “Don’t worry, Mother.”

“Where are my older brothers?”

Yunniang wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes with the back of her hand. “Your eldest brother and second brother are fighting over who gets to carry you out to the wedding sedan, and Xiao Xin is playing stones with a bunch of kids.”

Lu Mingchao said with a smile, “Second brother will definitely win.”

Yunniang raised an eyebrow, surprised, and asked, “How do you know?”

Lu Mingchao smiled without answering.

Of course, it was because Lu Yao was full of tricks.

When it came to schemes, eight hundred Lu Leis couldn’t compare to one Lu Yao.

And here comes the bride.