Chapter 159

Chapter 159

Before dawn, the Chen family courtyard was brightly lit.

“Little Yuanbao, wake up! Your aunt is getting married soon.”

Little Yuanbao grumbled, not wanting to get up, burrowing deeper under the covers with his eyes closed and bottom sticking out.

Chen Qingyan patted him twice, helplessly. “Your father is leaving too. If you don’t get up now, you won’t see him.”

Yuanbao poked his head out from under the quilt, looking around drowsily.

“Where’s Father?” Not seeing Wang Ying, the little one was so anxious he was about to cry.

Chen Qingyan said, “Your father is in your aunt’s room. Hurry up and get dressed, or you won’t find anyone later.”

Yuanbao immediately perked up and let his father help him into his clothes. For this auspicious day, Li Shi had specially sewn him a little red robe and a matching small hat.

The hat, exquisitely crafted by his third aunt, featured a ruyi pattern embroidered on the front and twelve silver zodiac pendants, each the size of a fingertip, dangling from the back, making a pleasant tinkling sound as he walked.

Once dressed, Chen Qingyan took his son’s hand and headed toward the west courtyard, where everyone had gathered.

The autumn morning was even colder than the night. Chen Qingyan, dressed too lightly, shivered, scooped up his son, and hurried inside.

In the bedroom, Li Shi and Chen Rong were explaining matrimonial matters to Qing Yun, while the others waited outside.

Seeing the two arrive, Wang Ying stepped forward and took his son from Chen Qingyan’s arms. “Is the little piggy awake?”

Yuanbao shyly buried his face in his father’s chest, then touched Chen Qingyan’s hand. “Why are your hands so cold? There’s hot tea brewing in the kitchen. Go have a cup—don’t catch a cold.”

Chen Qingyan waved it off, saying it was nothing, but just as he finished speaking, he sneezed repeatedly.

Wang Ying shot him a reproachful look, and Chen Qingyan had no choice but to obediently go drink the hot tea.

Before long, the bedroom door opened. Li Shi and Chen Rong emerged, beaming with warm smiles, while Qing Yun flushed bright red with embarrassment. This was the first time the girl had been exposed to such topics, especially from her elders, and she was utterly mortified.

However, this was a necessary part of the wedding process. Unlike modern times, although there were suggestive storybooks in ancient times, few young ladies from good families read them, so they knew little about intimacy. If elders didn’t teach them, they might truly remain ignorant.

It was now around the Yin period (3–5 AM), and the bride began to prepare her makeup and attire.

Aunt Fang Ling served as Qing Yun’s “blessing attendant” because both her parents were alive, and she had both sons and daughters.

Aunt Fang had performed this role for others before and was familiar with the steps. First, she performed threading, using a fine, sturdy two-color cotton thread to remove the fine hairs from Qing Yun’s face—her brows, upper lip, and temples. After threading, her cheeks looked smoother and more radiant.

Next was hair styling, which also had its traditions. Qing Yun’s youthful double-bun hairstyle was changed to a married woman’s updo.

As she combed Qing Yun’s hair, Fang Ling recited auspicious phrases: “First comb, through to the ends; second comb, white hair in harmony; third comb, a house full of descendants…”

Today, her hair was styled in a *jiehuán* updo, adorned with a full set of gilded hairpins, giving her an elegant and dignified appearance.

Once her hair was done, it was time for makeup. A light layer of face powder was applied evenly to cover any blemishes, followed by outlining the brows with a kohl pencil and shaping the lips with cinnabar.

Women of this era favored petal-shaped lips—two petals on the top and one on the bottom—creating a lip shape as delicate as flower petals.

Finally, it was time to put on the wedding dress. Qing Yun’s dress had been custom-made at a clothing store, as there wasn’t enough time for Li Shi to embroider it herself. Qing Yun had only embroidered the collar and cuffs.

The wedding dress consisted of three layers: an inner lining, a green dress in the middle, and an outer robe embroidered with intricate patterns.

Dressed in the vibrant green wedding gown, Qing Yun sat gracefully on the bed, holding a jewel-inlaid ceremonial fan, looking every bit like a daughter of a noble house.

When the bedroom door opened, Yuanbao was the first to rush in. At the sight of Qing Yun, his jaw dropped in amazement. “Wow, Auntie, you’re so beautiful today—like a fairy from heaven!”

Chen Qingyun laughed behind her fan.

Wang Ying teased his son, “Have you ever seen a fairy before?”

“No, but I think a fairy must look just like Auntie.” The room erupted in laughter at his childish remarks.

Li Shi brought a stool and sat beside her daughter, holding her hand with eyes full of reluctance. After today, the daughter she had raised for sixteen years would belong to another family. The thought alone was heartbreaking.

There was still some time before the groom’s arrival, so the others sat down and chatted about everyday matters.

Chen Rong recalled Lin Qiu’s wedding. “The county has fewer rules than the prefectural city—it was simple and straightforward. But the young couple has been living happily since.”

Wang Ying joked, “Could it be simpler than mine? I came alone for my wedding.”

Chen Rong exclaimed, “I’d forgotten about that!” Everyone laughed, lightening the somber mood.

Chen Rong then brought up Lin Sui’s marriage prospects. With everyone busy preparing for Qing Yun’s wedding, there hadn’t been time to meet with the Wuping Marquis.

Li Mu, aware of the Chen family’s wedding preparations, hadn’t rushed to discuss the matter, planning to invite Lin Sui’s family to talk after the wedding.

“I wonder if this marriage will work out,” Chen Rong mused, still feeling that the two families were not well-matched in social status. With her son unable to have children, she feared the marriage would be difficult even if it happened.

Lin Sui, however, took it in stride. “Let it be. Even if I don’t marry, I can still live a good life.”

Wang Ying agreed, “Sui Er has the right idea. Gain is my fortune, loss is my fate. There’s no need to force it. If the Wuping Marquis is sincere, he’ll come forward. If not, we needn’t be too eager.”

As they spoke, the hour approached the end of the Yin period (around 5 AM), and hurried footsteps were heard outside.

Chen Qingsong rushed in, saying, “The wedding procession has reached the alley! Big brother, second brother, come with me to block the door!”

Chen Qingyan and Chen Qinghuai rubbed their hands in anticipation and followed. They had spent half the previous day preparing to give the groom a show of force—anyone wanting to marry their sister would need real talent and learning to get through the door.

Soon, a clamor of voices erupted outside, and everyone rushed out to watch the excitement. Chen Qingyun, eager to see, stamped her feet impatiently in the room.

At the gate, Liu Changyi, dressed in a bright red ceremonial robe, dismounted and bowed to the Chen brothers. “Greetings, elder brothers, Brother Huai, and Brother Song.”

Chen Qingsong waved him off. “Hold on—no trying to get chummy today. You’ll have to solve our couplets before you can enter and marry my sister.”

Liu Changyi pleaded, “You’re all talents of the Hanlin Academy—please go easy on me.”

Chen Qingsong chuckled. “I’ll go first. This first line is: *On red paper, vows deep as the ocean are written.*”

Liu Changyi pondered briefly before replying, “*The third-watch moon witnesses oaths high as mountains.*”

“Well done!” The onlookers applauded, though some didn’t quite understand—they just joined in the cheers.

Chen Qinghuai went next. “Listen carefully: *The clouded road stretches far; the immortal groom stands long under the blazing sun.*”

“*The dressing table lies quiet; why should the jade maiden avoid opening her mirror?*”

The pairing of “immortal groom” and “jade maiden” was quite neatly matched, and Chen Qinghuai nodded, stepping aside.

Liu Changyi knew Qing Huai had gone easy on him and bowed gratefully. Finally, it was Chen Qingyan’s turn.

“My sister is marrying you. Treat her well.”

“Don’t worry. If I ever treat her poorly, you have my permission to box my ears—I won’t utter a word of complaint.”

"Red leaves inscribe poems, a heaven-sent match meets tonight," said Chen Qingyan, his eyes welling up with tears.

"Blue fields grow jade, an earth-made couple unites now."

The main gate opened, and Liu Changyi swept briskly into the side courtyard like a gust of wind. Inside, Chen Qingyun had been waiting for a long time. The two bid farewell to their elders, and Chen Qingyan carried his sister piggyback to the bridal sedan.

Yuanbao followed behind, watching the festivities, and asked puzzledly, "Father, where is Auntie going?"

Wang Ying replied, "Auntie is getting married."

It was only then that Chen Qingsong realized what was happening. Watching his sister about to leave in the sedan, his eyes filled with reluctance, and tears uncontrollably rolled down his cheeks.

"The auspicious hour has arrived, lift the sedan!" With the call, the wedding procession turned and departed. Dozens of men carried the dowry, processing majestically away.

Yuanbao burst into tears, crying, "Where is Auntie going? Why isn't she taking Yuanbao?"

Wang Ying, affected by his son's crying, felt his own eyes grow moist. He recalled when he first came to the Chen family; Qing Yun was only twelve, a little girl who followed him everywhere, and in the blink of an eye, she was married.

Li Shi was even more emotional. As her daughter entered the sedan, she hid aside to wipe her tears. A gentle woman by nature, she had lost her husband in middle age and relied on her three children for support. Now, seeing her children starting families, her heart was filled with indescribable emotions. "Xianlang (her late husband's name), if you have spirit in heaven, bless our Yun'er, may she share harmony and mutual respect with her husband..."

Inside the sedan, Qing Yun was also shedding tears, but afraid of ruining her makeup, she carefully dabbed them away with a handkerchief. Soon, the sounds of music and celebration outside distracted her from her sadness, and she curiously peeked through the sedan window slit.

The Liu family's wedding procession was grand. Even in the prefectural city, such a spectacle was rare. Many people gathered along the streets to watch. The wedding matron at the front tossed out sugar treats wrapped in paper, and a group of children scrambled after them.

A curious bystander whispered, "Which family's daughter is marrying with such a lavish procession?"

"I heard it's the Chen family's daughter who just moved into our alley."

"Are they that wealthy?" They usually kept a low profile, but now they presented a dowry of sixteen carrying-poles worth—each carried with evident effort, showing they were genuinely heavy.

Some families in the prefectural city used empty boxes to inflate their dowry for appearance, but it was easy to tell at a glance.

The Chen family wasn't particularly wealthy, but Wang Ying cared deeply and was willing to spend money to prepare a generous dowry for his sister.

The sedan was carried all the way to Zhengtong Street. Here, the crowd of onlookers thinned, as ordinary folk didn't dare follow further, fearing they might offend the nobility.

Finally, they arrived at the Liu family's gate. Liu Changyi's two older sisters had been waiting eagerly at the entrance, along with a crowd of relatives.

The wedding matron handed Liu Changyi a bamboo pole to lift the sedan curtain, symbolizing "rising step by step."

Chen Qingyun covered her face with a fan, held her husband's red silk, and stepped slowly out of the sedan. They passed through the crowd of relatives into the courtyard, where they crossed a fire basin to ward off evil spirits and ensure a prosperous future.

In the main hall, Liu Changyi's parents sat at the head, waiting for the couple to perform the formal bows.

Qin Furong was dressed festively today in a maroon long gown with peonies embroidered in gold and silver thread. Already somewhat plump, she looked even more dignified and elegant in this outfit.

Liu's father also wore a new navy blue robe, a jade crown on his head, and even his beard was meticulously groomed.

A master of ceremonies guided the couple to kneel facing north, announcing, "First bow to heaven for the blessed match, earth for the perfect couple!"

They rose and turned to kneel before the elders.

"Second bow to parents, flourishing like spring trees, kindness weighty as mountains!"

Qin Furong said with a beaming smile, "Good children, rise quickly."

Finally, the couple faced each other for the spouse bow. "Third bow for harmonious marriage, everlasting devotion!"

The master of ceremonies proclaimed, "The rites are complete—"

A crowd escorted the newlyweds to the bridal chamber. Qing Yun was about to embark on her new life~