Chapter 7 The Wedding

Chapter 7: The Wedding

On their wedding day, Jian Ru rose at dawn.

Granny Jin, accompanied by two other matrons, meticulously prepared Jian Ru, tending to every detail from head to toe.

By the time the rooster crowed and smoke drifted from the rooftops, Jian Ru stood before the bronze mirror.

He gazed blankly at his reflection: one half of his face, naturally delicate, was now exquisitely adorned with rouge and eyebrow powder, making him as radiant as a blooming flower, his lips a luscious honeyed red.

He had not yet donned his formal outer robes, but the soft crimson inner garments already enhanced his complexion, making it appear even more vibrant and striking.

He had never looked so beautiful.

But the other half of his face… Granny Jin and the others had done their utmost, yet they could not entirely conceal it. The other side of his full, glistening lips only served to accentuate the grotesque distortion of his scar-pulled mouth.

The joy in Jian Ru’s eyes gradually faded, and he turned away from the mirror.

The other two matrons, eager for rewards, chattered like popping beans, spouting conventional blessings such as "the new husband is as beautiful as a lotus" and "the groom is truly blessed." Their words only deepened Jian Ru’s despondency.

He had always avoided makeup, fearing people would accuse him of an "ugly person trying too hard."

At this moment, he felt a surge of frustration and anger, even wanting to wipe away all the makeup.

However, he didn't want to dismiss Granny Jin's kindness or waste their morning's efforts. So, he forced a slight smile and said, "Thank you, aunties," distributing the lucky money one by one.

The money, substantial in its red packets, had been prepared by Granny Jin in advance. Jian Ru, consumed by sadness, paid no mind to the expense.

Granny Jin noticed his unhappiness but chose not to offer comfort.

She sent the other two matrons to eat and had Xiao Ning bring two bowls of noodles from the kitchen. She then sat down to eat slowly with Jian Ru.

As she ate, Granny Jin reminded him, "Be careful with your lip color; don’t smudge it."

Jian Ru murmured in acknowledgment, eating his noodles listlessly.

Granny Jin observed him calmly. "I always thought you were quite at ease with your appearance," she remarked. "Why are you so troubled on such a joyous day?"

Jian Ru put down his chopsticks, a dejected expression on his face. "I'm afraid that tonight, when the Second Young Master lifts the veil, my face will scare him into fainting."

Granny Jin patted his arm. "Nonsense! The Second Young Master has seen your face before. How could it scare him?"

Jian Ru thought to himself that he had only met the Second Young Master twice. The first time, the Second Young Master had indeed fainted from shock. Although they had met again, the Second Young Master, being polite, hadn't looked at him closely.

Tonight, in the wedding chamber, with just the two of them, red candles flickering, and their faces so close, Jian Ru couldn't help but worry for the delicate, ethereal Second Young Master.

Seeing that her words were no use and Jian Ru remained sullen, Granny Jin pondered for a moment. She rose, closed the door securely, and returning, sat before Jian Ru. She gently pinched his arm and said, "Silly boy, let Granny tell you something."

Jian Ru looked up at her. Granny Jin smiled meaningfully. "To capture a man’s heart, beauty is useful, but after seeing it often and for a long time, it becomes commonplace."

Jian Ru didn't understand. He asked curiously, "If not beauty, then what?"

Granny Jin beckoned Jian Ru closer and whispered something in his ear.

Upon hearing it, Jian Ru’s face flushed scarlet, and he lowered his head so deeply it almost disappeared into his chest.

Granny Jin laughed heartily, then lowered her voice. "It was an oversight on my part. Normally, your mother should teach you this. Today, I'll teach you a few tricks to ensure the Second Young Master will never want to leave you."

Jian Ru was so embarrassed he wished the ground would swallow him, but despite his discomfort, he obediently and carefully memorized everything Granny Jin said.

That day, Jian Ru felt in a daze. He did whatever he was told—sitting for good fortune when asked, catching coins when instructed. He stayed busy until evening. After bowing to his parents-in-law, having the veil placed over his head, and being helped into the sedan chair, he still felt somewhat uneasy.

As Granny Jin lowered the sedan chair curtain, she whispered to him, "The Second Young Master is looking back at you from his horse."

Jian Ru’s fingers twitched, and his heart suddenly felt much calmer.

Amid the sound of firecrackers, the sedan chair lifted and swayed its way toward the town. Jian Ru could hear the music of the procession—musicians playing and singing—and mixed within it, the steady clop of horse hooves.

When he stepped out of the sedan chair, beneath the veil, Jian Ru saw a tall figure in similarly vivid red wedding robes approach him. A pale, slender, well-defined hand held the other end of the red silk ribbon, and Jian Ru followed along in a daze.

He didn’t remember much of the wedding ceremony. Even after entering the wedding chamber, Granny Jin’s whispered instructions barely registered. All he could hear was the steady clop of horse hooves from the journey.

Night had fallen completely. In the wedding chamber, red candles burned, occasionally crackling as the wicks sparked. At one point, Granny Jin came in and slipped Jian Ru some food.

Jian Ru ate slowly as she chattered about the banquet still ongoing outside, with many guests noisily drinking and celebrating.

Jian Ru grew worried and asked, "Can the Second Young Master drink alcohol?"

Granny Jin, pleased to see him already concerned for his husband, smiled warmly and said, "He can’t drink. He’s been using water instead."

Only then did Jian Ru feel relieved.

After Granny Jin left again, the wedding chamber fell quiet, with only faint sounds of laughter and conversation from outside.

Some time later, noisy voices grew louder, approaching the door. Jian Ru heard Granny Jin scolding them, firmly chasing away those who wanted to play pranks in the bridal chamber.

The noise outside faded, and the door creaked open. A clear, slightly hoarse voice thanked her softly.

Granny Jin’s voice said, "The new husband is waiting. Go on in."

The door closed, and footsteps drew nearer. Jian Ru’s heart hammered.

The person who entered went to the table first and picked something up.

Then, fine boots stopped before him, and a ritual scale rod lifted the bridal veil.

The candlelight flooded his sight. Jian Ru wanted to look up but bit his lip and instead turned his head, hiding the disfigured half of his face in the shadows.

The scale rod was set aside. A hand reached out, gently tilted his chin, and with slight pressure, lifted his face.

Jian Ru had no choice but to raise his head and face the other directly.

His eyelashes fluttered nervously, afraid to meet the other’s gaze, fearing he would see fear or disgust. He was also afraid the Second Young Master might faint again. If he did faint… Jian Ru clenched his jaw and thought, well, the marriage was already official. If he fainted, so be it—he’d have to get used to it eventually.

But what he feared even more was the Second Young Master saying something like "as beautiful as a lotus flower" to placate him. It might not be insincere, just polite wedding niceties, but that would make him even more ashamed. Others could say such things, and he could shake it off, but not the Second Young Master. Why it mattered so much, Jian Ru didn’t know, but it just did.

He was so afraid that the corners of his eyes grew moist.

The fingers holding his chin moved away, gently and coolly dabbing his eyelids, wiping away the slight tear.

Then, Jian Ru’s hand resting on his knee was taken hold of. He looked down at their joined hands. The Second Young Master’s hand was pale and finely shaped. His own hand wasn’t ill-shaped, but years of work had left calluses. Though three months at the manor had softened them somewhat, the calluses lingered. He subconsciously flexed his fingers slightly.

What Jian Ru feared didn’t happen. The Second Young Master said nothing.

He was led to his feet and brought to the table.

Jian Ru kept his head lowered, watching as the Second Young Master picked up the wine jug on the table, poured two cups, and handed one to him.

Jian Ru took the cup, remembering Granny Jin’s instructions, and understood it was time for the cross-cupped wedding wine.

Sure enough, Second Young Master also picked up his wine cup, intertwining arms with him, the rim of the cup nearly touching his lips.

Jian Ru caught the sharp scent from the cup and suddenly looked up at him, urgently interjected, "Granny Jin said you can't drink alcohol."

Their eyes met, and Jian Ru froze for a moment before quickly averting his gaze.

But that brief glance was enough to burn the other’s strikingly handsome appearance in wedding robes into his memory.

Second Young Master had always looked somewhat sickly, but the bright red wedding robes added a flush to his pale complexion, making his skin appear as flawless as jade, so radiant in the candlelight it was almost blinding.

Second Young Master looked at him and smiled, saying, "I thought, after seeing me only a few times, you'd already grown tired of looking at me—that tonight you wouldn’t so much as glance my way or speak a word to me."

"I… I’m not…," Jian Ru flustered, quickly glancing at him again. Noticing the warmth in the other’s eyes and the smile at the corner of his lips, though embarrassed, he insisted stubbornly, "You can’t drink alcohol."

Second Young Master’s beautiful lips parted slightly as he let out a light sigh. In a somewhat complaining tone, he said, "There are only three great joys in a person’s life. You can’t expect me to fake even the wedding toast with my own husband on our wedding night, can you?"

Jian Ru blushed at the words "my own husband." After struggling internally for a moment, he finally made up his mind, "Just one cup."

Second Young Master smiled again, looking even more captivating in the candlelight. He repeated softly, "Just one cup."

With that, the two wordlessly fell silent, arms entwined, tilting their heads back to drain the cup in one go.

Afterward, Second Young Master took Jian Ru’s hand once more and said, "It’s late. Let’s rest."