Wei Xinian and Li Zhenchun looked at each other, both hiding their guilty expressions.
After all, Li Zhenchun had originally been engaged to Wei Nancheng. They had only convinced their families to let her marry Wei Xinian because they both wanted freedom.
Li Zhenchun looked at the elderly lady walking in front.
She was the Old Madam of the Wei family, the person with the highest authority in the household.
The Old Madam walked over, glanced at Li Zhenchun and Wei Xinian standing by the door, then looked at Yue Jingque beside the bed.
She slammed her walking stick heavily against the ground.
Li Zhenchun and Wei Xinian both jumped in fright.
It looked like the Old Madam was angry.
The First Madam of the Wei family quickly stepped forward.
“Mother, the night wind is strong, and there are too many people outside. Why don’t we discuss this in the main hall?”
…
The four newlyweds knelt in a row before the Old Madam, who sat above them with a stern expression.
“Runiang, help Miss Yue up.”
Runiang was the First Madam’s personal name. She answered respectfully and walked over to Yue Jingque.
“Jingque, your health is weak. Stand up first.”
The Yue family was one of the great noble families of the capital, just like the Wei family. They could not afford to offend them.
Li Zhenchun watched eagerly as the First Madam helped Yue Jingque to her feet.
I’m also a woman. I’m also a new bride. Why doesn’t anyone help me up?
She lowered her eyes and sighed.
After all, she came from a small merchant family.
If the eldest master of the Wei family had not made a childhood marriage promise with her mother years ago, she would never have been able to marry into the Wei family.
“You may stand as well.”
Wei Nancheng suddenly turned toward her.
“You are innocent in this matter too. There is no need for you to kneel with us.”
Li Zhenchun was delighted for a moment.
But her happiness was quickly replaced by fear.
The terrifying Wei Nancheng was talking to her!
She was about to stammer out a refusal when Wei Xinian suddenly interrupted like a troublemaker.
“Then I want to stand too. I’m innocent as well.”
Since Wei Xinian had spoken, Li Zhenchun found a little courage.
She blinked and said,
“How about we all stand? We’re all innocent.”
Wei Xinian nodded.
“That makes sense.”
He stood up and reached for Wei Nancheng.
“Come on, Big Brother. Let’s stand together.”
Before he could pull him up, the Old Madam struck her cane against the floor.
Wei Xinian immediately knelt back down.
Watching the whole thing, Li Zhenchun secretly felt lucky.
Fortunately, she had been slow and hadn’t stood up yet.
Otherwise, she would have had to stand and kneel all over again.
Wei Xinian licked his lips and didn’t dare say another word.
“When did you switch places?”
The Old Madam asked.
Wei Xinian straightened his back.
“Grandmother, if we knew when we switched, we wouldn’t have entered the wrong bridal rooms.”
The moment he finished speaking, someone kicked him from behind.
He turned around and saw Yue Jingque staring coldly at him.
Wei Xinian: “…”
What was that for?
Was she telling me to shut up?
Well, I won’t.
He stood again and dusted off his knees.
“In my opinion, this is very simple. The two brides accidentally entered the wrong rooms. Just switch them back. My brother never touched Li Zhenchun, and I wouldn’t dare have improper thoughts about Yue Jingque. Both ladies are still completely innocent.”
“It’s only a misunderstanding. Grandmother, there’s no need to get angry. The servants simply made a mistake. Don’t hurt your health over something so small.”
Li Zhenchun nodded eagerly.
She was about to agree when she noticed Wei Nancheng’s expression from the corner of her eye.
She immediately shut her mouth.
She was truly afraid of him.
“You unfilial child!”
Wei Xinian’s mother, the Second Madam, hurried over.
“How dare you speak such nonsense in front of all your elders?”
She forced him back onto his knees.
“Kneel down immediately and apologize to Miss Yue.”
Wei Xinian pointed at himself.
“Me? Apologize to her?”
“Mother, you have no idea what she did! She locked me in the room, wouldn’t let me leave, and even forced me to kneel! Why should I apologize? She should be apologizing to me!”
Li Zhenchun quietly watched the argument from beside him.
She was only the daughter of a merchant.
In the Wei household, even an ordinary maid probably had more authority than she did.
This was not the time for her to speak.
If anyone was going to fight for their freedom, it had to be Wei Xinian.
“You brat!”
The Second Madam pointed angrily at her son.
“A respectable young lady somehow ended up in your room, and you…”
She was so angry that she couldn’t finish her sentence.
“Enough.”
The Old Madam interrupted.
“Second Madam, you know his temper.”
Then she looked at Wei Xinian.
“You believe you did nothing wrong, and the young ladies did nothing wrong. Then who is at fault?”
Wei Xinian frowned.
“Grandmother, this whole thing is just an accident. We simply switch them back. Why must someone be blamed?”
The Old Madam gave a quiet, unreadable laugh.
She turned toward Yue Jingque.
“What do you think, Miss Yue?”
Supported by her maid, Yue Jingque slowly knelt down.
“Since I have already married into the Wei family, I will naturally follow Grandmother’s decision.”
“But this matter is not as simple as Second Young Master says.”
“We must first find out exactly when the brides were switched and who I actually married during the ceremony.”
The Old Madam asked,
“And once everything is clear, what then?”
Yue Jingque answered calmly,
“Marriage rites have existed since ancient times. The first bow is to Heaven, the second to the elders, and the third is for harmony between husband and wife.”
“Since Heaven has already witnessed the ceremony, then whoever I bowed with is my true husband.”
Wei Xinian turned to stare at her.
Li Zhenchun also stared at her.
The two of them looked like two foolish little quails, stretching their necks and staring with wide eyes.
The Old Madam nodded.
She turned to Wei Nancheng.
“What do you think?”
Wei Nancheng raised his eyes calmly.
“I have no objections.”
“In that case, bring in the wedding hostess.”
As soon as the Old Madam finished speaking, Wei Xinian and Li Zhenchun exchanged another glance.
Neither of them had expected this.
Neither could even remember who they had bowed with during the ceremony.
They both quickly looked away.
Let’s wait and see.
Maybe we’re right after all.
…
When the wedding hostess arrived, Li Zhenchun was already standing.
She stood beside Wei Nancheng and secretly glanced at him before looking across at Wei Xinian.
Only then did she realize she should probably be standing beside Wei Xinian instead.
Why was she standing next to Wei Nancheng?
Wei Xinian also glanced sideways at Yue Jingque.
This woman is terrifying.
Having her as my sister-in-law is bad enough.
Marrying her would be even worse.
The Old Madam asked the wedding hostess,
“When the two couples bowed during the ceremony, do you remember who married the eldest young master and who married the second?”
The wedding hostess looked at the four newlyweds in confusion.
Still, since the family asked, she answered honestly.
She pointed at Wei Nancheng and Li Zhenchun.
“These two were one couple.”
Then she pointed at Wei Xinian and Yue Jingque.
“And these two were the other.”
Aren’t they already standing together? Why are they asking me?
Wei Xinian was about to object when his mother pinched his waist so hard that he nearly screamed.
Li Zhenchun also wanted to speak, but the Old Madam interrupted first.
“Are you certain?”
“Of course.”
The wedding hostess looked at Li Zhenchun.
“You see? This young lady wore the Full Moon and Perfect Union wedding dress, while the other wore the Dragon and Phoenix Blessing wedding dress.”
“I remember it clearly.”
“The bride wearing the Full Moon and Perfect Union dress entered first, led in by the eldest young master.”
Li Zhenchun stared blankly at Wei Xinian.
You idiot… didn’t you remember that?
The truth was that Wei Xinian had never noticed any difference between the two wedding dresses.
The Old Madam turned to Wei Nancheng.
“Did you notice?”
Wei Nancheng nodded.
“The woman who married me was indeed wearing the Full Moon and Perfect Union dress.”
“The peony embroidery on her veil also matches.”
The moment he finished speaking, Li Zhenchun wished she had changed clothes with Yue Jingque earlier.
Damn it!
If only we’d switched dresses!
Wei Xinian regretted it just as much.
I should have lifted the veil during the ceremony.
These blind arranged marriages are giving me a headache.
“Grandmother, I think this…”
Before he could finish—
“Ouch!”
“Mother! Be gentler! You’re going to bruise my waist!”
The Second Madam dragged him into the center of the room and kicked him behind the knees until he knelt with a loud thud.
She respectfully addressed the Old Madam.
“Mother, although my useless son was fortunate enough to receive such a marriage, Miss Yue comes from a distinguished family and is an outstanding noble lady.”
“Even though Xinian was the one who married her during the ceremony, perhaps we should allow Miss Yue to choose for herself.”
Li Zhenchun immediately understood.
Whichever man Yue Jingque did not choose would become her husband.
She also understood why no one asked for her opinion.
Whether she married Wei Nancheng or Wei Xinian, both were already far above the status of a merchant’s daughter.
But the Wei family absolutely could not offend the Yue family.
Yue Jingque looked at Li Zhenchun.
Li Zhenchun suddenly had a very bad feeling.
“I will follow Heaven’s will.”
“I won’t—”
Wei Xinian widened his eyes, ready to object.
But his mother immediately covered his mouth.
The Old Madam looked toward Wei Nancheng.
“In that case… our eldest son will have to accept this.”
Li Zhenchun was stunned.
She immediately dropped to her knees.
“Old Madam, I have—”
Before she could finish, the First Madam interrupted.
“Miss Li, you must understand. Marrying Nancheng is not a hardship for you. Don’t cause any more trouble.”
But that’s exactly the problem!
I’m marrying Wei Nancheng!
The terrifying Deputy Prefect Wei Nancheng!
She turned toward Wei Xinian, whose mouth was still covered.
She knew his mother had once served in the military.
Subduing a spoiled young master like him was easy.
Wei Xinian looked back at her with desperate hope in his eyes.
Li Zhenchun: “…”
I wish someone would save me too.
Perhaps the shock had made her lose her senses.
She forced a smile at the First Madam.
“Madam… please have Wei Nancheng divorce me. I’ll go home immediately and won’t stop him from marrying another noble lady.”
If she couldn’t marry Wei Xinian…
Couldn’t she just leave?
The moment Wei Xinian heard that, his eyes nearly popped out.
Traitor!
They had promised to give each other freedom.
Now she wanted to escape alone!
Traitor!
You ungrateful woman!
If it weren’t for you, I would never have agreed to this fake marriage and ended up marrying the terrifying Yue Jingque!
Overcome with anger, he broke free from his mother’s grip.
“What do you mean? Are you looking down on my brother or on the Wei family?”
“You’ve only been married for one night, and you already want to leave?”
“What will everyone think of our family?”
He continued,
“Aunt, she’s just a merchant’s daughter. She doesn’t understand reputation.”
“But surely you do.”
“If you really let her leave, people will later think my brother is incapable as a man.”
Li Zhenchun stared at him in disbelief.
Wei Xinian proudly lifted his chin.
Come on.
If you’re going to hurt me, I’ll hurt you too.
Li Zhenchun gritted her teeth.
You jerk!
If I ever married you, I’d beat your head off!
She quickly turned back to the First Madam.
“Please don’t listen to him.”
“I never meant that.”
“I’m simply not worthy of the eldest young master.”
“Please let him divorce me.”
The First Madam looked at her.
“The eldest young master is standing right here.”
“Why don’t you tell him yourself?”
Because she was afraid.
What ordinary person wasn’t afraid of government officials?
She didn’t even dare look at Wei Nancheng.
So Wei Nancheng found himself looking only at the back of her lowered head as she quietly said,
“I’m not worthy of you.”
“Please divorce me.”
Wei Nancheng looked down at her calmly.
“There is no need.”
“Simply remain as the Young Madam of the Wei family.”
Remain peacefully?
How am I supposed to be peaceful?
Unable to argue against him, Li Zhenchun was escorted back to her room.
Even as she left, she turned and shouted to the First Madam,
“First Madam! If you ever find another suitable daughter-in-law, please tell me immediately! I’m not the jealous type!”
…
After all the younger people had left, the First Madam and the Second Madam looked toward the Old Madam.
“Mother, what do you think of Miss Li and Miss Yue?”
The Second Madam asked.
The Old Madam sighed.
“In this world, reputation is everything.”
“Since the bridal chambers were entered by mistake, we can only let the mistake remain.”
“If word got out that a sister-in-law entered her younger brother-in-law’s bridal room, that would truly disgrace the Wei family.”
“As for Miss Yue, she’s a clever girl. She understood the situation immediately.”
“Miss Li seems a little slow, but she doesn’t appear to have a bad heart.”
“Runiang, watch over her carefully in the future.”
“Don’t let her make any serious mistakes.”
“Yes, Mother,” the First Madam replied.