“Third Master Mu, you should still step aside. Today, our Changfeng Marquess’s Mansion’s Seventh Master is marrying Princess Shumin, the daughter of Prince Qinghe. It won’t do to disturb the Princess’s wedding!”
The groomsmen from Changfeng Marquess’s Mansion had already begun to rally support. These groomsmen were either relatives from Lady Changfenghou’s side or brothers of Chen Mingyu. Having suffered a double loss in the previous land enclosure and restitution incident, they had long been seething with anger. How could they possibly yield now?
Both grooms were sons of a marquess’s household, their statuses comparable, leaving little room for comparison. What remained to be compared, then, was the status of the brides.
Their Changfeng Marquess’s Mansion was marrying the daughter of Prince Qinghe, a Princess, while Mu Shi was merely marrying the daughter of a Prefect, a humble family.
The distinction was clear at once—who should yield the right of way was immediately obvious.
Yun Niang, inside the sedan chair, also heard these words. She wondered, what would Mu Shi do?
At that moment, Mu Shi gripped the reins, his knuckles turning white from the excessive force, a sight that seemed alarming. He had long known this marriage would be difficult, and now it appeared truly so.
They were pushing him too far.
A raging fire had long been burning in his heart, but a smile hung on his face because he knew he had no choice but to yield, and he had to do so with a proper, humble smile: “Princess Shumin’s status is noble. It is only right that we yield. I, as an official, hereby wish the Princess and the Princess’s husband a long and harmonious union till old age.”
By referring to “the Princess’s husband,” he had already made it clear that Chen Mingyu owed his status to his wife. Although Chen Mingyu had won the right of way, it was also a humiliation for a man. This was the greatest counterattack Mu Shi could muster at the moment.
At the very least, he, Mu Shi, was the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, a Rank 4a official.
He had handled several thorny and high-profile cases that drew attention, while Chen Mingyu was merely a scholar, not even an official—far from comparable.
Yun Niang thought, “When hitting someone, avoid the face.” This Mu Shi certainly had a sharp tongue.
…
“First bow to heaven and earth.”
“Second bow to the parents.”
“Husband and wife bow to each other.”
The wedding matron joyfully called out, “Escort to the bridal chamber.”
Like a puppet on strings, Yun Niang followed the footsteps of the female relatives. Feixu and Shuangyan stayed close by her side, constantly reminding her to lift her feet or watch out for something.
Ahead, holding the red silk was Mu Shi. Although he served as a civil official, his steps were remarkably agile. Because he walked so quickly, Yun Niang nearly tripped.
Nanny Hu hurriedly guided Yun Niang along. Even so, Yun Niang felt as though she had walked for a long time before reaching the so-called bridal chamber.
When she sat down, she felt something poking her. Reaching down to brush it aside, the texture felt like longans or peanuts. Having attended weddings herself, she knew such things were placed on the bed, but she hadn’t expected to sit on them. Not to mention, she was genuinely hungry.
Anyone who has been hungry knows that the scent of food makes one’s mouth water.
“Please, groom, lift the wedding veil, so from now on, all will be as you wish. Groom, quickly lift the veil!”
Under the wedding matron’s urging, Mu Shi picked up the steelyard with a smile and lifted the veil in one swift motion. He was instantly stunned—why had no one told him that Madam Xia was so beautiful?
Cloud-like hair adorned with a phoenix crown, a full bosom, a waist as slender as a willow branch, and every curve of her brows and eyes radiated beauty.
Of course, he averted his gaze after just a moment.
As for Yun Niang, she hadn’t gotten a clear look at his appearance at all. Having been under the veil for so long, her eyes could barely open, let alone see what the other person looked like.
Having just avoided the marriage between Princess Shumin and the Seventh Master of the Marquis of Changfeng, everyone knows that stepping back can lead to broader horizons, but sometimes one must stand their ground to uphold their dignity. In this world, if only one could truly endure when necessary, many things would be easier.
Now, even though Madam Xia was still beautiful, the thought of the humiliation he had suffered made it all the more unbearable.
The wedding attendant cheerfully urged them to drink the ceremonial wine. Yun Niang, who did not particularly enjoy alcohol, merely touched it to her lips before setting it down, leaving no trace of romantic atmosphere.
Indeed, their marriage was far too unusual. Originally, she should have been Chen Mingyu’s wife, but everything had gone awry due to a twist of fate.
Moreover, they were surrounded by people, with so many eyes watching—who would dare to overstep the bounds?
After the ceremony, Mu Shi still had to go out to attend to the guests. Hearing that many had come today, the Heir Apparent asked him to offer toasts. He said a brief word to Yun Niang about having matters to attend to before leaving.
After he left, the maids from the Houfu who had been serving in the room hurried over to pay their respects.
“We greet Third Young Madam.”
Leading them was a gentle and considerate senior maid, who seemed very easy to get along with. She introduced herself as having been sent by Old Madam to serve Third Master, having previously attended to Old Madam herself.
Yun Niang smiled and said, “No need for such formality, please rise. You are called Yuping, right? As I am new here today, I will rely on all of you in the days to come.”
Although Madam Xia had just entered the household, she was the young madam, and her status was different. While it was not unheard of for servants in large families to overstep their bounds, everyone knew the importance of maintaining propriety and hierarchy on the surface.
Yuping dared not put on airs and thoughtfully said, “Third Young Madam, I have already asked Ying’er to bring over some food. You must not have had time to eat after your journey.”
“You are so considerate.”
Yuping personally called for someone to attend to Yun Niang as she washed her hands and ate. Yun Niang glanced at Feixu and Shuangyan and said, “In the future, you two should learn more from Yuping.”
The two understood their mistress’s meaning—to observe how Yuping conducted herself—and without any displeasure, they quickly agreed.
There were four dishes and one soup: a ginseng chicken soup and several meat and vegetable dishes. The most refreshing was the cold shredded radish, which Yun Niang couldn’t help but take a few extra bites of.
Yuping, understanding the unspoken cues, introduced, “This is the most famous Yanghua radish in the capital, also called small water radish. It’s juicy and slightly sweet, a seasonal delicacy, and most refreshing when served cold.”
“Back in Huzhou, we once ate a radish bought from the north. It was green on the outside and watery red on the inside, with the common name ‘Heart’s Delight.’ Even eaten raw with a bit of sauce, it was delicious. Now that we’re in the capital, this water radish is quite good too.”
When it came to food, everyone could join in with a comment or two, making the atmosphere much more relaxed.
Yuping and the others then had water brought in for Yun Niang to wash up. The Houfu was different from home—here, there were people specifically assigned to scrub one’s back during a bath and others to wash one’s hair. The experience was so comfortable that Yun Niang grew drowsy.
After her bath, Yuping led a few young maids out, covering their mouths to stifle giggles. Left in the room were only Yun Niang, the Niang she had brought with her, and her two maids.
Nanny Hu sighed with emotion, “I used to think a Prefect’s household was the height of luxury, but seeing the Houfu now, I realize what it truly means to be outshone.”
Feixu and Shuangyan also said, “We thought that as maids from the Houfu, they would treat us with disdain, but unexpectedly, they were so kind. No wonder Madam and the eldest young lady insisted that our young lady marry into a higher status—it truly makes a difference.”
Those who had followed along had an overwhelmingly positive impression of the Houfu.
Yun Niang glanced outside, her eyes flickering, and with an innocent expression, she added, “Yes, and the food was delicious too.”
…
“Only saying the food was delicious? How naive!” Mu Shi was utterly speechless.
On the wedding day, it was customary for the bride to be accompanied by the groom’s sisters-in-law in the bridal chamber. Yet, aside from the maids, no one had gone to her room, and she hadn’t even noticed. Despite such a humiliating insult, she had still managed to eat two bowls of rice. He had even instructed Yuping to show friendliness, yet she hadn’t asked a single question. He had given her the chance to make a scene, but she hadn’t taken it, foolishly waiting for the wedding night.
This was truly…
He had always despised foolish people the most. Spending a lifetime with someone like this would be nothing short of agony.