The wedding day arrived as scheduled.
On the day of the marriage, villagers packed the area in front of the Su family home, waiting for the groom’s arrival in hopes of receiving a few lucky coins.
Su Yu was already dressed in a bright red wedding gown, fully prepared and waiting in the inner room. Two young maidservants and a wedding matron kept her company.
The noise outside was tremendous. Through it all, she could vaguely hear Wu Xiu’s loud voice directing people.
“The groom is here! The groom is here!” Someone shouted, and a barrage of firecrackers erupted immediately afterward.
The wedding matron standing nearby beamed and said, “Miss, quickly put on your bridal veil. The groom has entered the courtyard!”
Perhaps the celebratory coins had been distributed generously enough, because the women and children customarily blocking the groom’s way were too busy scrambling for money to stop him. Before long, someone was knocking on the door to Su Yu’s room.
Chuckling happily, the wedding matron helped Su Yu to her feet and opened the door. She then placed the red silk ribbon from Su Yu’s hands into the groom’s.
The wedding hall had been set up in the main room of Su Yu’s home.
Because Ji Xuanyue no longer had any living parents, they held the formal wedding rites at the bride’s family home instead.
Through the narrow gap beneath her bridal veil, Su Yu could see the hem of Ji Xuanyue’s bright red wedding robe and his black boots.
A gentle tug came through the red silk ribbon connecting them, accompanied by his familiar voice. “Su Yu.” He paused before changing the way he addressed her. “My wife.”
The cool, smooth quality of his voice, combined with the lingering tone on the final words, made Su Yu stumble for a moment as she walked.
The wedding ceremony itself was simple. First, they bowed to Heaven and Earth, then turned and paid their respects to her grandmother in place of the elders.
After the husband-and-wife bow, Ji Xuanyue reached out and helped her back to her feet.
The bridal veil blocked her vision, preventing her from seeing the expressions around her. She heard only a trembling voice from above.
“Good children… off you go now.”
“Grandmother?” An uneasy feeling immediately rose in Su Yu’s heart. Through the narrow gap beneath the veil, she could see only the hem of her grandmother’s robe where she remained seated. “Grandmother… aren’t you coming with me?”
“Silly child.” Madam Chen’s voice was gentle. “How can I really impose on you newlyweds?”
“Besides, your grandfather is buried behind the house. Your grandmother must stay here and keep him company.” Madam Chen took her hand and patted it gently. “At first, Grandmother was still a little worried. But after seeing how Xuanyue treats you today, there’s really nothing left for me to worry about.”
At last, Su Yu could no longer hold back her tears. They fell one after another.
“Grandmother, please don’t worry. This junior will take good care of Yu’er.” Seemingly sensing her sadness, Ji Xuanyue added reassuringly, “My wife needn’t worry either. A physician will continue to visit regularly to monitor Grandmother’s health. Several capable maids will remain here in the old house to attend to her daily needs. Please set your mind at ease.”
“Alright, alright.” Seated in the place of honor, Madam Chen finally spoke. She solemnly placed Su Yu’s hand into Ji Xuanyue’s. “It’s getting late. Xuanyue, take Yu’er with you. Yu’er is kind and good-hearted. You must treat her well.”
“I know.” The cold sharpness Ji Xuanyue usually hid beneath his composed exterior vanished completely. He bowed deeply to Madam Chen. “I will treasure Yu’er well.”
Su Yu climbed into the bridal sedan chair, and it swayed as it carried her out of Lingyin Village. Suppressing her reluctance to leave, she wiped away her tears and lifted the bridal veil to peek outside.
Ahead of the procession, Ji Xuanyue rode on a tall horse. The brilliant red of his wedding robes stood out especially in the sunlight.
Thinking back to what he had said earlier, she comforted herself. Once she was married, she could still visit her grandmother every few days. That would be good enough. As she was thinking this, the man riding ahead suddenly turned around. His gaze traveled across the long wedding procession and met hers directly.
Startled, Su Yu immediately dropped the curtain.
After nearly half a day of travel, the wedding procession finally entered Qingyang County.
The moment they entered the city, the accompanying servants began scattering lucky coins and wedding sweets along both sides of the street, drawing an endless stream of congratulations from the crowds.
When they finally arrived at the Ji residence, another wave of deafening celebration and excitement erupted.
Su Yu stepped out of the sedan chair, and the wedding matron led her into the bridal chamber.
“Madam, please sit and wait a moment. Young Master will be here shortly.”
Su Yu looked puzzled. “Doesn’t Young Master Ji need to entertain guests outside?”
“No, no, our young master doesn’t need to bother with such things. Madam, just sit and wait.” With that, the wedding matron withdrew and closed the door behind her.
Su Yu sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her sleeve beneath her robes.
She was married now. From this day forward, she would spend her life with Young Master Ji, a man she had only met a handful of times.
The thought of the illustrated booklet the wedding matron had given her the day before made her mind descend into even greater turmoil.
She sat there by the bed in anxious silence for who knew how long before the sound of the door opening finally reached her ears. Then a few light footsteps came, as though maids had entered to place something on the table.
“That will be all. You may leave now.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
The maids withdrew, and in her lowered field of vision, a pair of black brocade boots appeared.
“My wife.” Ji Xuanyue’s voice came from above her. At the same time, a wedding scale extended toward her and gently lifted the red bridal veil covering her head.
The red silk slipped away. Instinctively, she raised her eyes and found herself staring directly into those amber-colored eyes.
He looked as handsome, refined, and noble as he always had. Yet beneath the glow of the scarlet wedding decorations filling the room, an indescribable warmth seemed to smolder in his gaze.
For no reason at all, Su Yu suddenly thought of the booklet she had read the night before. Flustered, she quickly looked away.
“H-Husband…”
“Mm. You’ve had a long day, my wife.”
Contrary to what she expected, Ji Xuanyue didn’t reach for her clothes. Instead, he reached out and helped her to her feet. “You must be hungry. Let’s eat something first.”
Su Yu was genuinely surprised. Only then did she notice the table nearby, laden with dishes.
After a brief hesitation, she finally took Ji Xuanyue’s hand. He led her to the table and helped her sit.
By now, darkness had fallen outside. Red wedding candles burned in the room, their warm light falling across his face and casting his brow and nose into even sharper relief.
“Go ahead and eat,” he said gently. “There’s no need to be so reserved, my wife.”
Ji Xuanyue placed a piece of fish into her bowl and said casually, “Try it, my wife. See whether these dishes suit your taste.”
Su Yu was indeed hungry. Seeing Ji Xuanyue start eating as well, she finally picked up her chopsticks. Yet it was her first time sharing a table with a man she barely knew. She ate nervously and set her chopsticks down after only a few bites.
“Are you full, my wife?” Noticing that she had stopped eating, Ji Xuanyue asked gently.
Su Yu nodded. Then she watched as he lifted a cup of nuptial wine and handed it to her.
“My wife, once we drink this wine, our wedding rites will be complete.”
Su Yu’s gaze settled on the wine in the cup. A moment later, she picked it up. They leaned closer and crossed their arms. In an instant, the distance between them disappeared. The faint fragrance of pine and the warmth of his breath enveloped her.
Su Yu did not dare raise her eyes. Following the line of his arm, she brought the cup to her lips and drained it in a single swallow.
*
Steam curled lazily through the air as Su Yu remained immersed in the bath, making no move to get out. The hot water had soaked away the exhaustion from her body, leaving her pleasantly languid. She submerged half her face beneath the surface, leaving only her eyes visible as she stared absentmindedly at the flower petals drifting across the water.
The maid waiting outside had been standing there for quite some time. Worried something might have happened to her, she called softly through the door. “Madam, would you like this servant to help dry you off?”
“N-No, that’s not necessary. I’ll be done soon…” Startled, Su Yu hurriedly straightened up in the bath, panic creeping into her voice.
There was no point putting it off any longer.
Thinking of Ji Xuanyue’s earlier words, “My wife, go and bathe first. Your husband will join you shortly,” her heart fluttered with unease. In the end, she gripped the rim of the tub and slowly rose to her feet.
Water splashed and rippled. Her graceful figure stepped out of the bath. After drying herself, she hurriedly wrapped herself in a soft sleeping robe, concealing all traces of her delicate beauty beneath the fabric.
The door opened gently.
Hearing the sound, the maid outside looked up, then froze for a brief moment.
Su Yu’s raven-black hair had been pinned high, exposing her slender neck. A few damp strands clung to her faintly flushed cheeks. Her fair skin was tinged with rosy color, making her look like a peach newly ripened on the branch.
The maid quickly lowered her gaze. “Madam, allow this servant to escort you back to your room.”
“No need, no need. I can walk by myself. You… you don’t have to follow me.” Having grown up independent, Su Yu was unaccustomed to being attended to. Without waiting for a reply, she hurried away.
The bedchamber window stood open.
Beside it stood a tall, elegant figure: Ji Xuanyue. He appeared to have finished bathing as well. Dressed in moon-colored night robes, with several loose strands of hair falling casually over his shoulders, he looked even more aloof and otherworldly than usual. At that moment, he stood with his head lowered, absently brushing the blooming orchid on the windowsill with slender fingers. The tiny white petals trembled softly beneath his touch.
A night breeze drifted through the window, stirring his hair and carrying the orchid’s delicate fragrance toward her. As if sensing her gaze, he lifted his head and looked toward her.
Amid the quiet perfume filling the courtyard, Su Yu finally heard Ji Xuanyue speak. “My wife, it is late. We should retire for the night.”