Just as the male guests had left, a group of female guests surged in. Shen Qi only recognized the leader as Second Aunt, whom she had met twice before. She hurriedly stood up but was promptly pressed back onto the bridal bed by the crowd.
Aside from Second Aunt, the rest were young married women and unmarried girls. Auntie Xue stepped forward again to introduce Shen Qi to everyone.
"This is your Eldest Sister, who just rushed back from the provincial capital yesterday, especially for your wedding."
"Thank you, Eldest Sister."
"Sister-in-law, there's no need for thanks. Please don't stand on ceremony; sit down quickly."
Shen Qi knew from what her mother had told her that Xie Yuduo had an elder sister from the same mother, named Xie Yuzhong, who was five years older than him. She had married into a family in the provincial capital years ago and rarely returned home. For her own brother's wedding, her attendance was a must.
Eldest Sister appeared to be under thirty, her eyes and brows bearing some resemblance to Xie Yuduo's. Tall and graceful, she carried herself with dignity.
"This is your Second Younger Sister, the daughter of Second Wife."
The Xie family children were ranked according to clan seniority. Since Eldest Sister was the eldest, Xie Yujin, the daughter of Second Aunt, ranked second. This Second Young Lady was slightly shorter and dressed even more splendidly than Eldest Sister.
When the matchmaker mentioned her, Yujin lifted her chin and took half a step forward. She didn't speak, only offering a faint smile.
Truly, like mother, like daughter—this smile indeed bore some resemblance to Second Aunt's.
"This is your youngest Third Younger Sister; she's twelve this year."
The youngest daughter of the main branch, Xie Yujing, ranked third. Still young in appearance, she was slender and wore clothes that were clearly new but didn't quite fit properly. She was lively, however, and when she smiled, two little canine teeth showed as she stepped forward.
"Sister-in-law, I'm Yujing. You're so pretty!"
Everyone laughed.
Shen Qi smiled and gently patted her little face.
"Little Sister Yujing, you're very pretty too!"
By rights, Second Younger Sister Yujin should also have called her "Sister-in-law." But watching the third younger sister and the bride chatting and laughing together, she rolled her eyes halfway on her own, complaining that it was too crowded, and then slowly walked out, pulling Second Aunt along.
Fortunately, with so many people around, no one paid much attention.
There were still many other relatives from collateral branches present, whom even Auntie Xue didn't really know. Second Aunt should have introduced them to the bride, but she had left on her own accord.
Luckily, Eldest Sister Yuzhong stayed by her side and promptly introduced everyone one by one. Shen Qi greeted each in turn—calling this one "Auntie," that one "Sister-in-law."
Everyone was cheerful and harmonious, praising the bride for her beauty, grace, and good sense.
After meeting everyone, the guests gradually dispersed in twos and threes to attend the banquet.
There was another banquet table in the bridal chamber, more delicate and exquisite than the one outside, attended only by a few close relatives.
Having been busy all morning, Shen Qi was already quite hungry. But fearing that eating too much might make it inconvenient later, she merely took a few bites to accompany the others before the dishes were cleared away.
Soon after the meal, another wave of female relatives arrived. Each was adorned with gold and silver, dressed in brocades that shimmered brightly—a stark contrast to the attire of the women in Baihe Town.
This time, they were the family members of prominent merchants from the county. Having heard that the Xie family's herbal medicine shop had taken in a new daughter-in-law, they first attended the banquet as etiquette dictated before coming to see the bride. Some praised the bride's beauty, others commended the Xie family's generosity, while still others took the opportunity to inspect the dowry the bride had brought along.
The dowry had been delivered a day earlier. The gilded and painted canopy bed currently in the room was part of Shen Qi's dowry.
The guests looked around, admiring everything, and offered their compliments all around.
A few days ago, everyone had heard from the Xie family's Second Aunt that the bride came from a humble background in a small town, a poor family who hadn't seen much of the world, and that she might even be frightened by crowds. They had all believed it to be true.
But the gilded and painted canopy bed, the tasseled curtains with treasure elephant patterns, and the paired vermilion-lacquered and gold-painted trunks in the bridal chamber—though not the finest—were each and every one of them not inferior in quality.
The bride before them was poised and graceful. Whoever went to speak with her could exchange a few words, and she wore a smile on her face, appearing steady and amiable.
The crowd whispered among themselves, "With such demeanor, she doesn't seem as unsophisticated as she was made out to be!"
"Exactly, she's much more beautiful than her daughter!"
"Old Madam Xie has a sharp eye, and she personally went to meet her. Of course, she would pick a good granddaughter-in-law!"
"Speaking of which, the eldest grandson's wife is also pretty, but that matter…"
"Shh, it's been so many years, don't bring it up!"
"Perhaps it's because the eldest branch has married such a pleasing wife, overshadowing Lady Feng's daughter-in-law from a prestigious family, that she’s been spreading rumors like this!"
"Exactly, that makes sense!"
By the time the sun set in the west, the last group of female relatives had finally been seen off.
Shen Qi felt as though her entire body had fallen apart. Just as she had finally found a moment of peace, the door creaked open.
Seeing someone enter, she immediately straightened up. Looking up, she realized it was Third Younger Sister Xie Yujing who had come in.
"Sister-in-law, are you tired?"
Little Yujing walked gracefully to the bedside and, noticing her sister-in-law looked somewhat weary, immediately turned to massage her shoulders.
This little girl was so young yet so considerate. Shen Qi quickly stopped her and pulled her down to sit beside her.
"You've been busy all day too. Why haven’t you gone to sleep yet?"
"Brother told me to come check on you when I had time, to see if you needed any help."
Seeing her bright, sparkling eyes and hearing her call her "sister-in-law" so affectionately, Shen Qi felt a warmth in her heart. She patted her shoulder and praised her.
"You're so thoughtful."
"So, sister-in-law, is there anything you need me to help with?"
Little Yujing tilted her head, a hint of anticipation in her eyes.
Seeing the little girl so enthusiastic, Shen Qi decided not to stand on ceremony and leaned in to whisper in her ear.
"Do you know where the outhouse is?"
She had been holding it in all day. If she didn’t resolve it soon, she was prepared to go out and find the outhouse herself.
Upon hearing this, Little Yujing exclaimed, "Oh!" and patted her own head.
"Brother told me yesterday to tell you early on, but I was so caught up in the excitement today that I completely forgot."
She jumped off the bed and called out, "Sister-in-law, follow me."
…
Having resolved one of life’s most urgent matters, Shen Qi felt refreshed and clear-headed again.
Little Yujing had slipped away at some point, but fortunately, there were lanterns in the courtyard, and red candles were lit in the bridal chamber, so the walk back wasn’t far.
Pushing open the door, Shen Qi heard rustling sounds near the bed. She assumed it was Little Yujing, afraid of the dark, who had returned ahead of her.
In high spirits, she closed the door and said, "Sister Yujing, you’ve really helped me out!"
"Oh, what did she help you with?"
The voice was low and clear.
Shen Qi was startled and looked over. It was today’s groom, Xie Yuduo.
She didn’t know when he had returned to the room. He was sitting upright by the bed in the inner chamber, his elbows resting on his knees, holding the red silk bridal veil she had tossed aside earlier.
"You… you’re done with your duties?"
Seeing him suddenly, Shen Qi was so startled that she stumbled over her words.
Xie Yuduo nodded, offering his new bride a faint smile tinged with a subtle drunkenness.
“Yes, I wanted to return earlier, but they wouldn’t let me go. It wasn’t until after dark that I could leave.”
Seeing his smile, Shen Qi’s fingernails, which had been digging sharply into her palm, gradually relaxed.
He seemed to be a man of good temper.
Shen Qi took a step closer to him, grasping for words in an awkward attempt to make conversation.
“What about Sister Yujing?”
“She was still here when I returned, helping to tidy up the room. It was late, so I told her to go back and rest.”
“Yes, it is indeed late… Did you drink a lot?”
Pretending to observe his tipsiness, Shen Qi seized the opportunity to study his appearance closely.
He was tall and robust, with well-proportioned features and a high nose bridge. Originally sitting upright on the wedding bed, the slight flush from the alcohol and his slightly narrowed phoenix eyes lent him an air of carefree charm.
“Not too much. Is my face red? Here, feel it—is it warm?”
As he spoke, Xie Yuduo reached out almost casually, taking his bride’s hand and placing it against his cheek.
It felt entirely natural.
It was indeed warm.
But what burned even hotter was Shen Qi’s flushed face. She lowered her gaze, not daring to look up at him.
Fortunately, he only held her hand there for a moment before letting go.
Shen Qi withdrew her hand, her palm still carrying the warmth from his body, and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
“You must be tired. Come, sit.”
No sooner had he released her hand than, before Shen Qi could react, Xie Yuduo reached out again, wrapping an arm around his bride’s waist and drawing her close to sit beside him.
Under the glow of the red candles, the two sat side by side on the edge of the bed.
Xie Yuduo lowered his slightly drunken eyes, gazing intently and motionlessly at the beauty beside him.
On this wedding day, she had adorned herself deliberately, unlike the plain-faced woman he had seen before. With features like a painting, bright eyes, gleaming teeth, and a rosy, lowered face, she truly stirred his heart.
Her graceful figure was further enhanced by the vibrant red wedding gown, adding an unparalleled beauty.
Shen Qi allowed him to look, not daring to breathe too loudly.
The two were sitting very close, and the faint scent of alcohol on him made her face burn with warmth.
After a moment of observation, noticing her nervousness and reluctance to look up, he couldn’t help but take her hand in his, gently caressing her slender fingers.
Shen Qi didn’t dare to look at him, nor did she withdraw her hand. In her heart, she knew that today, they had become husband and wife.
Holding hands while sitting together was nothing—far more intimate things were bound to happen.