"Wang Xiaocao, it's you!"
Liuyan was the first to leap forward, snatching the candlestick from Wang Xiaocao's hands.
She pulled out the blue old cloth from the trunk, felt the candle wax on it, and glared at Wang Xiaocao as if she wanted to devour her.
"You actually tried to destroy our young lady's wedding dress—I'll tear you apart!"
Yuan Wanru watched as Liuyan tore into Wang Xiaocao, quietly recalling how this incident was described in the book.
The book only said that a fire broke out in the night and the wedding dress was burned.
Leyou Residence originally had servants, and Wang Min had assigned several more people to help look after things, along with the staff brought over from Momei Pavilion—a motley crew indeed.
On the day of the wedding, the bride had no wedding dress—what a tremendous joke that would be.
After the incident, the people at Leyou Residence had no time to investigate the culprit. Nanny Pang hurriedly sent someone to the Lu residence to report to Wang Min.
Wang Min was resourceful enough; within a few short hours, she found a replacement wedding dress.
But the size was wrong.
When Yuan Wanru wore it, it hung loose and baggy on her, with not a trace of elegance.
Yet who dared to complain?
After the ceremony was completed, when they finally investigated, there was no trace of evidence left.
The original owner had appeared in that coarse wedding dress, drawing endless ridicule.
She had always been an introverted person, and from then on, she dared not lift her head and grew increasingly silent.
Thinking of all this, Yuan Wanru's gaze fell upon Wang Xiaocao like a knife.
"I don't have time to waste with you. If you tell the truth, I'll give you a way out."
"Otherwise, I'll have Granny Xu force medicine down your throat and sell you far, far away, where no one will ever see you again."
She would need to start her makeup and dressing soon, and didn't want to waste words with Wang Xiaocao.
Wang Xiaocao's body trembled. She prostrated herself on the ground, begging pitifully, knocking her head until it bled, yet refusing to reveal a single word.
Yuan Wanru had no patience for this. She rose to leave: "Nanny Pang, tie her up. Sell her at dawn."
Wang Xiaocao hadn't expected that the young lady, who was always so easy to deal with, would be so swift and decisive.
"Young lady, spare me! This servant will speak, this servant will tell everything—I only beg the young lady to show mercy."
Her face was deathly pale. She closed her eyes, bit her lip, and said: "Someone slipped a note to this servant, threatening me to destroy the young lady's wedding dress."
Yuan Wanru exchanged a glance with Nanny Pang, then pressed on: "What did they threaten you with? Do you know who it was?"
Wang Xiaocao seemed unable to speak of it, but finally, biting her lip until it bled, she revealed the truth.
She didn't know who was behind it.
She had been having an affair with a steward surnamed Zhao from the front courtyard, and someone had gotten a hold of this secret, forcing her to do their bidding.
"This servant has already burned the note."
Steward Zhao was in his mid-thirties, and his wife was also a head servant in the household—a notoriously fierce woman. Wang Xiaocao had grown bold indeed, daring to steal her man.
The culprit had been caught, but the mastermind behind it all couldn't be traced. Yuan Wanru had no choice but to set the matter aside for now.
Fortunately, the wedding dress was saved.
Yuan Wanru closed her eyes, letting the makeup artist work on her face.
Even at this moment, she felt nothing like a bride.
This was merely going through the motions, putting on a performance.
She and Lu Jiangnian would ultimately end in divorce.
The male and female leads were the real couple, after all.
Having been busy all night, drowsiness slowly crept over her, and she nearly fell asleep.
"Young lady, quickly put on the veil—the eldest young master has come to fetch the bride!"
Nanny Pang supported her as she went to offer incense and kowtow before her parents' memorial tablets.
Her eyes reddened, and she looked at Yuan Wanru as if she wanted to say something but couldn't find the words. Finally, she wiped away her tears and said with a smile: "The master and madam must be very happy to see this. The young lady will surely be happy and blessed in the days to come."
But Yuan Wanru couldn't help thinking, somewhat irreverently: if they could see this, she wondered if they would dislike her.
After all, her arrival here had been beyond her control.
Silently, she made a vow to the memorial tablets: the circumstances of the original owner's drowning were suspicious, and she would do her utmost to uncover the truth and avenge her.
She hoped that their family would be reunited in another dimension.
The auspicious hour arrived.
She kept her head lowered, and a pair of men's shoes came into view. The bright red color already indicated that this man was none other than the groom, Lu Jiangnian.
She truly wondered what expression he wore right now.
Yuan Wanru was helped into the bridal sedan. Through the curtain, she could clearly feel the boisterous commotion outside.
Cheers rang out in waves, and from time to time she heard the sound of coins being scattered. The onlookers picked up the money while offering their congratulations.
Her heart felt hollow.
Back in the modern world, when she attended weddings, she had once fantasized about what her own wedding would be like.
Now that she was truly getting married, she felt not a trace of joy or shyness—not even a hint of anticipation.
Her mind wandered aimlessly as the bridal sedan passed through the streets and lanes, returning to the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence.
Lu Jiangnian dismounted lightly from his steed, walked to the sedan door, and lifted the curtain embroidered with golden dragon and phoenix threads. Inside, the figure sat upright and proper.
Her face was hidden beneath the red veil, and a pair of delicate white hands clutched a red handkerchief, making her hands appear all the more like solidified cream, her skin like tender white grass.
The wedding matron helped Yuan Wanru step down from the sedan. Lu Jiangnian led her by the hand across the red silk, and the two walked slowly forward.
The paths of the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence were so familiar that Yuan Wanru could walk them with her eyes closed.
Lu Jiangnian was actually being considerate today, taking steps that weren't too large. She followed behind him, and despite the bridal veil covering her face, she was able to walk steadily to the wedding hall.
Wang Min had been busy for days, and it was true that joy brightens one's spirits—today she was still radiant and glowing with vitality.
There were many guests attending the ceremony, and when they saw the exquisite wedding dress on the bride, many let out exclamations of admiration.
"Madame Lu is truly capable. In such a short time, she managed to prepare such a beautiful wedding dress. I'll have to ask you for your secrets another day."
"Absolutely, it's so dazzling I can barely see straight. It's clear she truly cherishes her daughter-in-law."
Everyone present knew the bride's background, and naturally, they also knew that all these fine garments were prepared by Wang Min.
Wang Min smiled so widely her eyes curved into crescents.
"This child grew up under my watch, as close to me as my own daughter. Now we'll truly be one family, so it's only right that I dote on her."
Yuan Wanru breathed a sigh of relief. Being publicly ridiculed truly tested one's resilience.
Fortunately, she had avoided that awkwardness.
The master of ceremonies began to chant the rites: "First bow to Heaven and Earth…"
Yuan Wanru held the red silk ribbon and bent down to bow.
"Second bow to the parents…"
Lu Song and Wang Min responded with repeated praise, their voices unable to hide their excitement.
"Bride and groom bow to each other…"
The sense of ceremony truly mattered. Even though she felt like an outsider, at this moment, she found herself somewhat moved as well.
Acting, acting—the more you act, the more you truly get into character.
She bent gracefully toward Lu Jiangnian's direction and bowed.
"The ceremony is complete. Escort the bride to the bridal chamber…"
Yuan Wanru was being led away when she heard a commotion arise, followed by someone shouting: "Old Madame Lu has returned."
This marriage had been arranged hastily—even the wedding was held in a rush while Old Madame Lu was away from home. Outsiders had been quietly speculating about various possibilities.
Unexpectedly, by such a coincidence, Old Madame Lu had rushed back on the very day of the wedding.
Beneath the bridal veil, Yuan Wanru was not at all surprised, because this was exactly what happened in the book.
Not only had Old Madame Lu returned, but she had also brought with her the female lead of the book—Liang Yusong.