This seventh young master of the Pei family is truly exceptionally handsome…
The phoenix heralds the sunrise—the auspicious hour has arrived.
The wedding procession stood ready, bearing candle stands, incense spheres, gauze-covered vanity cases, skirt chests, and clothing boxes. The sedan chair bearers, responsible for carrying the bridal sedan and floral poles, arrived belatedly. After Pei Huaijin and Pei Huaian paid respects at the family temple, they prepared to set out with the ceremonial wild geese to fetch the bride.
But then, a eunuch from the palace arrived with an imperial decree, urgently summoning Pei Huaijin to the palace for discussions.
The emperor’s command could not be defied. The task of fetching the bride had to be entrusted to the seventh brother, Pei Huaian. Pei Huaijin removed his wedding robes, changed into his official attire, and followed the eunuch into the palace.
When the Shen family saw only Pei Huaian at the head of the wedding procession, with no sign of Pei Huaijin, they learned the reason and, though frustrated, had no choice but to accept it.
As the morning shadows shifted eastward, after the ceremonial offering of the wild geese, the wedding procession in the front courtyard began playing music to urge the bride to finish her makeup.
Shen Youran, weighed down by an elaborate headdress and hairpins, had her face completely obscured by a gold-embroidered veil adorned with pearls and jade. All she could see was a festive red haze; everything else was invisible. She relied entirely on others to support and guide her until she reached the bridal sedan. There, she caught a glimpse of a red robe hem and realized it belonged to Pei Huaian, who was holding the sedan curtain for her—the man who would soon become her husband…
Her heartbeat suddenly quickened. Instinctively, she turned her head to catch a glimpse of him. The pearls and jade on her veil chimed crisply with the movement, overlapping with his words, “Mind your step.” In that moment, she couldn’t clearly hear the tone of his voice, nor could she see his face…
Bending down, she entered the sedan. The wedding procession began singing ballads, demanding red envelopes. After the lively commotion, the two sedans moved side by side. The wedding and bridal escort processions merged into one, resembling a crimson dragon winding its way majestically toward the Pei residence, becoming a grand spectacle in the city.
A gentle breeze brushed the sedan curtains. The sedan swayed rhythmically with the bearers’ steady steps. Shen Youran, who had been bathing and preparing since dawn, grew drowsy from the motion. Her head nodded, and in her half-asleep state, the sedan suddenly swerved sharply. Caught off guard, she lost her balance and slammed against the side of the sedan. The phoenix crown tilted, pulling painfully at her scalp…
Then the sedan began jolting violently, far from the earlier leisurely pace. It felt as though the bearers were sprinting, tossing her about inside until she could no longer sit steadily.
From outside came a clamor of shouts. Amid the noise, Shen Youran heard Qinghe’s piercing cry: “Someone is kidnapping the bride! Save my lady!”
Kidnapping the bride?
Wasn’t that something that only happened in the stories her mother told?
In this age of clear skies and bright sun, how could anyone dare to commit such an act?
The situation was urgent. Shen Youran, disregarding propriety, lifted her veil and leaned out of the small window to assess the scene.
The first thing she saw was her sister’s sedan, racing alongside hers into a deep alley. The four bearers were all burly and strong, and even with the sedan on their shoulders, they moved as if flying, their steps swift and unhindered.
Looking back, she saw another group of men armed with knives blocking the alley entrance, halting the pursuing wedding and escort processions. Though the procession was large, they had no weapons to fight back, and for a moment, they were trapped outside the alley, a chaotic mass of people.
Out of the corner of her eye, Shen Youran saw her sister also leaning out of her sedan. Panicked and on the verge of tears, she cried out, “Sister…”
Shen Yunshu’s face was pale. How could she not guess whose hand was behind today’s events?
I never imagined he would disregard the law to such an extent—daring to commit such a heinous act as kidnapping a bride! Had I known he was this deranged, I should have been more ruthless back then and ensured he remained imprisoned for life.
But now was not the time for such thoughts. Though Shen Yunshu’s heart was in turmoil, she forced herself to appear calm and comforted her sister: “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.” Since Lu Yi was targeting her, if he truly succeeded in disrupting the wedding, she would do everything in her power to protect Third Sister.
Just as she steeled herself for the worst, a sharp whistle cut through the air—a white-feathered arrow shot forth and embedded itself in the back of one of the palanquin bearers, who crumpled to the ground instantly…
Shen Yunshu’s palanquin immediately lost balance, toppling over with her inside.
The whizzing of arrows sounded again, three in rapid succession. Seeing the situation turn dire, the remaining bearers abandoned the palanquin and fled.
Shen Yunshu was thrown from the palanquin and saw her sister crawling out as well, her face pale as she rushed into her arms: “Elder Sister, are you alright?”
“I’m fine. Let’s go.” Ignoring the pain from her fall, Shen Yunshu grabbed her sister’s hand and retreated.
A golden bridal veil fluttered to the ground as they ran, while another remained tangled in the phoenix crown and hairpins, trailing behind them.
Fortunately, the wedding procession at the alley’s entrance broke through the obstruction at that moment and rushed to their aid.
Amid the chaos, maids and servants formed protective layers around them. Someone retrieved the fallen golden veil and handed it to the matron of honor, who squeezed through the crowd. After a glance at the sisters, she placed the veil over Shen Yunshu’s head, then untangled the one caught on Shen Youran’s hairpins and arranged it properly. She then helped them back into the palanquin and assigned new bearers.
However, the procession could not depart immediately, as several people had been injured in the chaos—particularly the two loyal maids Qinghe and Qiong Zhi, who had rushed to protect their mistresses. One suffered an arm injury, the other a sprained ankle. Pei Huaian dispatched some attendants to escort the injured to a nearby clinic. One of the kidnappers had been captured, and given the severity of the incident, Pei Huaian specifically assigned his attendant Qing Wu to deliver the culprit to the magistrate’s office, urging a thorough investigation.
Only then did he find a moment to thank the archer who had intervened: “Had you not stepped in today, this situation could have ended disastrously. May I ask your name? If you have time, please join us at the residence for the wedding banquet—I must properly express my gratitude…”
The archer had sharp, distinct features and a firm jawline, his dark eyes briefly glancing toward the veiled bridal palanquin before he replied calmly, “My surname is Liang. I have matters to attend to today and will not impose on your household.”
“Then where do you reside? I shall invite you for drinks another day…”
“It was a trivial effort—there’s no need for you to trouble yourself.” With a slight nod, the man gripped his bow and departed.
Due to this sudden turmoil, the procession was delayed for a long while before resuming.
The new bearers were less sturdy, moving slowly and unsteadily. Shen Youran, already shaken by the earlier fright, felt nauseated from the jostling. Her morning joy and anticipation had long faded.
By the time they reached the Pei residence, night was nearly falling.
Heavy-lidded and weary, Shen Youran was assisted out of the palanquin. She stepped onto the blue mat spread before the entrance, proceeded through the rituals of Straddling the Saddle, Sitting in the Symbolic Tent, bowing before the incense altar, and paying respects to the relatives. Finally, surrounded by kin and servants, she was escorted to the bridal chamber to await the groom for the mutual bows and Hair Combining Ceremony.
According to the procedures, Pei Huaian should have arrived soon, but Shen Youran waited for quite a while only to be greeted by two maids bringing food and tea. They said to her, “Young Madam, please have some food first. If there are any other needs, you may instruct us at any time…”
Shen Youran felt somewhat puzzled: “When will Pei… my husband come?”
“This maid does not know. Should I go and inquire?”
Never mind, he’s just in the front courtyard—no need to inquire.
Shen Youran said, “No need,” then ate a simple meal through the obstructive veil, relieved herself, and returned to sit quietly on the bed.
The bridal chamber was silent, with a pair of dragon-and-phoenix wedding candles burning steadily. The figure beneath the soft red gauze curtains gradually tilted, and before long, a soundly sleeping figure lay upon the crimson mandarin duck brocade quilt…
On the other side, Shen Yunshu’s veil remained unlifted as well. She knew Pei Huaijin was at the palace, and as the younger brother, Pei Huaian could only stand in for his elder brother to welcome the bride but couldn’t complete the remaining rituals in his stead. Thus, she dismissed the maids attending her in the room, wishing to be alone for a while.
The major incident during the day still left her heart trembling with fear. Though she suspected it was orchestrated by that person, she secretly hoped it was an unwarranted disaster. Otherwise, if it were discovered that he was behind it, not only would her family be implicated, but she also feared that after his exposure, he might deliberately drag her down, making her life difficult…
As she pondered this messy affair, she faintly heard the maids outside whispering about something. Then one maid entered and respectfully informed her, “Young Madam, someone from the front courtyard just came to say that the Old Master’s illness has flared up, and the Seventh Young Master has gone to accompany him…”
“Understood.” Though puzzled why Pei Huaian’s visit to the Old Master needed to be reported to her, she thought it might just be the maid casually mentioning it.
“Then, Young Madam, please rest first. This servant will go to the kitchen to fetch some food…”
“Alright.” Shen Yunshu didn’t think much of it and responded absentmindedly before sinking back into the troubles brought by Lu Yi.
The sky was ink-black, the moonlight frosty, as Pei Huaijin returned to the Pei residence under the shimmering moonbeams.
The mansion was brilliantly lit, bright as day, adorned with red silks and festive colors everywhere.
Upon seeing his return, the servants immediately scattered to attend to their duties.
Shen Youran was drowsily helped up, thinking she had only napped briefly. Rubbing her eyes, she forced herself to sit up straight.
Soon, the bed beside her sank, and Shen Youran caught a whiff of refreshing and pleasant agarwood fragrance.
The maids quickly arranged themselves in two rows and, following the procedures previously instructed by the ceremonial official, handed the scale-rod to the groom.
Pei Huaijin took it, lifted the veil gently, and revealed a delicate face with slightly reddened corners of the eyes, more enchanting than a drunken begonia flower in sunlight.
The phoenix crown adorned with pearls and gemstones accentuated her powdered and rouged face, making it even more exquisitely beautiful. However, her eyes were hazy with sleep, gazing at him with a trace of bewilderment, revealing a touch of innocent confusion.
The fleeting glimpse half a year ago on Rainbow Bridge overlapped with the beautiful bride before him.
“Apologies for keeping you waiting.”
His clear, melodious voice fell upon Shen Youran’s ears like the chime of jade, crisp and pleasant.
Shen Youran stared at him in a daze: Elder Sister hadn’t deceived her—this Seventh Young Master of the Pei family truly possessed jade-like features, as refreshing as pine winds and water moons, extremely handsome.
What was even more remarkable was the clarity in his eyes, calm as still water, with not a trace of frivolity or rakishness.
When they had met earlier at the temple fair in Xiangguo Temple, he had been glib and slick-tongued. Who would have thought that when he became serious, he would resemble such a refined gentleman?
Shen Youran felt a secret joy in her heart. The drowsiness, weariness, and the fright she had experienced during the day all vanished in an instant. Delighted, she drank the ceremonial wine with him and performed the Hair Combining Ceremony.
As soon as the ceremony concluded, maids stepped forward to tidy the bed, while two others brought clothes and assisted her to the washroom for a bath.
Since both had bathed earlier in the morning, they did not spend much time on this matter.
By the time Pei Huaijin returned from his bath, the maids in the bedchamber had already withdrawn. The candles throughout the room had been extinguished, leaving only a pair of dragon-and-phoenix wedding candles on the table, casting their glow upon the bride of graceful proportions by the bedside.
Stripped of her makeup, the lady revealed a natural elegance and delicate beauty. She seemed less dazzlingly radiant and more tenderly soft, like a lily-of-the-valley adorned with dewdrops, serene and indescribably beautiful.
She appeared quite intrigued by a cord beneath the bed curtains. As she tugged at it, clear bell chimes rang intermittently from the outer chamber.
“What is this cord for? I asked the maids earlier, but they only laughed and wouldn’t tell me…”
She turned to ask him, her bright eyes and gleaming teeth made even more captivating under the candlelight.
Pei Huaijin walked over, took her hand, and sat down with her, rescuing the thin cord from her grasp. The bell chimes in the outer chamber ceased abruptly.
He held her hand and explained, “It’s for summoning water.”
Author’s Note:
While writing this story, I kept pondering how to make the sister-swapping marriage happen seamlessly. With the classic “Wrong Sedan, Right Groom” setting a high standard, I wanted to design something different. But after racking my brains for a long time, I couldn’t come up with a better approach. In the end, I obediently settled on the mixed-up bridal veil trope. 🐼🐼🐼