Сhарtеr 8: Why Are Yоu Рerforming thе Wedding Cеrеmоnу Аlоne?
Тhе еightеenth daу of the first lunar month.
Тhе Ji familу’s wеdding bаnquеt.
Тhe mаnsiоn wаs adornеd еverуwhere with red silk аnd festivе colors. Dоuble hаpрinеss symbols wеre pastеd оn thе windоws, and crimsоn sаtin drарed the bеams.
Еvery tеn paсes, a lеngth of rouge-rеd gаuzе was tiеd. Тhe gauze сurtains hung still whеn thеre was nо wind, swaying gеntly whеn thе brеezе rose, rеsembling clustеrs оf сrimson clouds, adding an extra lауer of festivity.
In thе mаin courtyаrd оf Yongji Hall, guests gathered like clouds, their laughter and chatter unceasing. Some raised their cups in celebration, others chatted and laughed merrily, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.
Murong Jing arrived precisely on time.
She was as casual as ever, still dressed in men’s attire, holding a folding fan in her hand despite the cold weather.
Ji Ruyue was just stepping gracefully out of the covered walkway when they came face to face.
Ji Ruyue was unlike her usual plain appearance. Today, she was exceptionally beautiful. Her brows were delicately shaped, her cheeks lightly touched with rouge, and her fair, jade-like skin now carried a rosy glow, adding a layer of radiant charm.
She wore a brocade-green wedding robe embroidered with peony patterns, her ink-black hair styled into a phoenix-upward chignon. Adorning her hair was an extravagantly luxurious phoenix six-pearl long hairpin, the eastern pearl in the phoenix’s mouth gleaming brilliantly under the sunlight, cleverly complementing her ceremonial cape.
Her face was like a lotus fan, her lips as red as cinnabar.
What a stunning beauty!
“Greetings, Princess Changle.” Ji Ruyue performed a graceful bow.
As Ji Ruyue bowed, all the guests followed suit.
A faint smile curled at the corner of Murong Jing’s lips. Without bidding them to rise, she instead took a few steps forward and provocatively used her folding fan to lift Ji Ruyue’s chin, playfully tilting it left and right. “What a pity for such a lovely face.”
After saying this, she tapped the fan lightly against Ji Ruyue’s cheek, let out a cold laugh, and casually found a seat for herself, not caring whether it was appropriate or not.
With a casual wave of her hand, she said, “All rise.”
“Thank you, Princess.”
Ji Ruyue took a light breath, suppressing the indignation in her heart. She exchanged a glance with her father, and no one dared to speak up to intervene.
Old Master Ji had always enjoyed an excellent reputation in Jizhou City. He was known for his kindness and generosity, and the Ji family’s business was vast. Naturally, many guests attended the wedding of the Ji family’s young lady.
As soon as the princess arrived, the earlier clamor completely vanished. Everyone became as timid as quails, eyes fixed on their noses and hearts, not daring to utter a word.
Murong Jing paid no attention to these people at all. She chatted casually with her attendants, commenting freely and without restraint on Ji Ruyue’s attire for the day.
“The auspicious hour has arrived.”
At the wedding matron’s call, Old Master Ji quickly straightened his posture.
“May you be as inseparable as a pair of wings, vowing to grow old together.”
“The Ji family welcomes a husband, a union sealed in this hall.”
“May this blessed bond last forever, a match made in heaven.”
“Joining surnames in joyful matrimony, delighting in the harmony of bells and drums.”
“May a century of peace and happiness be secured, with obedience fitting the occasion.”
“This is witnessed…”
…
“First bow to heaven and earth.”
As the words fell, Ji Ruyue slowly took two steps forward, turned, and bowed deeply toward the heavens.
“Second bow to the parents.”
Ji Ruyue turned with a smile and bowed respectfully to her father.
Apart from the wedding matron’s voice and the faint rustle of Ji Ruyue’s movements, the hall was unusually quiet—so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
“Third bow to the parents.”
“Wait!” Murong Jing interrupted.
Ji Ruyue swiftly completed the third bow before rising gracefully with a smile.
“Princess.” Her gaze toward Murong Jing was calm, and her tone still carried a hint of amusement.
Seeing that she had finished all three bows before responding, Murong Jing felt an inexplicable sense of strangeness. “Where is the scholar? Why are you performing the wedding ceremony alone? This is utterly absurd!”
Ji Ruyue’s expression turned troubled, but her tone remained gentle. “Shujin is unable to come out.”Murong Jing narrowed her eyes and said sharply, “Miss Ji, are you perhaps dissatisfied with the marriage I have bestowed upon you? If you are dissatisfied, you may speak frankly. Why put on such an act? I detest the scheming ways of women like you the most.”
She raised her hand and swept the teacup beside her forcefully to the ground.
“Crash—” With a crisp sound, the fine blue-and-white porcelain cup instantly shattered into pieces on the floor.
The matchmaker tightly clutched her handkerchief, inwardly lamenting her misfortune.
This was a wedding banquet! Breaking objects was truly an inauspicious omen!
“This humble woman dares not.”
“I think you dare quite a lot!” Murong Jing glared at her coldly and immediately pressed the issue. “Do you know that this is an act of defiance?”
As soon as she uttered these words, the guests in the room knelt down in a dense, dark mass.
Thus, Ji Ruyue, standing tall and straight, became even more conspicuous.
Ji Ruyue sighed. “Such a grave accusation, this humble woman dares not accept. Nor would I dare deceive Your Highness. It truly is that he is unwilling! Yesterday, he cut the wedding attire to pieces. In such a situation, I could do nothing. Moreover…”
“Moreover what?”
“Moreover, he is someone Your Highness has taken a liking to. I naturally dare not say much. Besides, the Ji family rules explicitly state that a live-in son-in-law need not attend the wedding banquet and should not be seen by outsiders.”
Murong Jing: “……”
Murong Jing felt she was being deliberately difficult. She slapped the small table hard. “Summon that scholar for me. You must repeat the wedding ceremony!”
Ji Ruyue, however, was unwilling. She stood with her head slightly bowed, her voice soft and gentle, yet each word carried a hidden sharpness. “Your Highness, although you are of royal status… interfering with the ancestral traditions of the Ji family is likely improper. Furthermore, Chen Shujin is the new groom. On this day of great celebration, for you to insist on seeing him like this… is somewhat inappropriate.”
“You!”
Murong Jing pointed at Ji Ruyue. “You are the first to dare slander me so.”
“This humble woman dares not.”
Murong Jing wasted no more words on her. She beckoned to her attendant. “Go, bring that scholar out for me. Today, whether he wishes it or not, he must be seen.”
Ji Ruyue raised an eyebrow slightly but did not stop them this time.
Since things had come to this point and she still insisted on seeing him, there was no need to obstruct further.
Ji Ruyue walked over and stood beside her father.
As for the crowd kneeling on the ground, Murong Jing did not spare them a single glance. She sat there fuming, clearly indifferent to their presence.
Those present were angry but dared not speak out, silently enduring the princess’s wrath. In their hearts, they also harbored criticism towards Princess Changle and the Ji family’s live-in son-in-law.
Indeed, ever since the day of the Embroidered Ball toss, when the Ji family was properly seeking a marriage match, she had forcibly inserted a poor scholar. Although the Ji family were merchants, they could be considered half imperial merchants. How could they be treated so lightly?
Now, on this joyous wedding day, even if she was a princess, she was merely here to attend the banquet. Why make such a fuss to see a live-in son-in-law?
If the two were truly mere strangers, why protect him so fiercely?
Most of these guests were businesspeople, their minds naturally more calculating than ordinary folks’, weighing every step.
Some things simply should not be pondered too deeply. Once you start thinking, it’s easy to fall into conspiracy theories.
For instance… was Princess Changle targeting the Ji family’s immense wealth?
So what if they were merchants? What if those merchants possessed wealth rivaling that of a nation?
Several people kneeling at the front thought along the same lines and couldn’t help but tremble slightly…
Just as Murong Jing’s patience was wearing thin, Chen Shujin finally arrived, fashionably late.He looked frail and gaunt, wearing only a simple long robe that seemed exceptionally thin in the biting cold wind.
“Your humble servant pays respects to the princess,” Chen Shujin bowed in greeting.
His entire face was deathly pale, like someone gravely ill, and his right hand hung in an oddly stiff manner, as if unable to bend, dangling weakly.
Seeing him in such a state, Murong Jing’s fury burned even hotter!
She glared at Ji Ruyue and demanded, “Is this how you treat your own husband?”
Ji Ruyue replied with an innocent expression, “This common woman is deeply troubled. Food, clothing, and daily necessities were delivered to his courtyard at the earliest opportunity. I truly do not know… why he appears this way.”
Murong Jing snorted coldly, then turned to Chen Shujin, her voice icy as she said, “Scholar, speak! What exactly is going on here?”
Chen Shujin glanced hesitantly at Ji Ruyue, and that single glance nearly plunged him into a daze.
Everyone said Ji Ruyue was the number one beauty of the Anzhao Kingdom, her looks surpassing even the celestial moths of the heavenly palace…
Though he had long heard of her reputation, today she seemed even more extraordinary.
But what did it matter?
A venomous beauty, that’s all!
“Scholar?” Murong Jing urged again when he didn’t answer.
Chen Shujin hurriedly averted his gaze. “In reply to the princess, it is not that this humble servant was unwilling to attend the wedding ceremony, but rather that I was confined by the Ji family in the Mulan Courtyard, unable to take a single step outside.”
Upon hearing this, Murong Jing slammed her hand on the small table again, the loud “crack” echoing through the hall.
“Confined?” Murong Jing practically spat out the word through gritted teeth.
She immediately turned her accusation toward Ji Ruyue. “Ji Ruyue, how dare you!”
Seeing the princess press the attack, Chen Shujin quickly added, “Moreover, I—I was injured by the Ji family’s guards. They sought to cripple my right hand. Knowing full well that I am a scholar, they acted with such malice—truly a vicious scheme!”