In a flash, it was mid-June, the day of the Weiguo Duke's daughter's wedding.
The afternoon before, Su Li followed her mother to the Weiguo Duke's Manor.
Looking at the manor adorned with festive decorations, even the tree trunks were wrapped with colorful ribbons.
As soon as they entered the gate, they saw Madam Wang directing the maids to arrange potted flowers.
Su Li stepped forward to pay her respects, "Aunt."
Madam Wang turned around, "Little sister and Li'er are here? Your cousin is in her own courtyard, hurry and go."
Su Li agreed, leaving her mother to help her aunt, and went with her maids towards Wei Yuanyao's courtyard.
Wei Yuanyao's courtyard was even more festive.
The maid led Su Li into the room, where she saw Wei Yuanyao sitting at the table, seemingly lost in thought.
"Miss, the young lady from the Su family has arrived."
Wei Yuanyao came back to her senses and smiled, "Li'er, you're here."
Su Li stepped forward and took her hand, saying, "Cousin, what were you thinking about so intently just now?"
Wei Yuanyao said, "I'm just getting married like this. Thinking about leaving the home I've lived in for over ten years, leaving my parents, makes me a little scared."
Su Li laughed; this was a common ailment for a bride-to-be.
Naturally, there would be joy and uncertainty in her heart when getting married.
"Cousin, the Wuyang Marquis Manor isn't far, and Young Master Ji San—no, now he's your husband—your husband dotes on you so much. If you want to come back for a few days, I'm sure they won't stop you, so don't be reluctant. Your future in-laws are understanding, and you have your husband to protect you, so what's there to be afraid of?"
Wei Yuanyao shot her a reproachful glance, "You're good at talking. When you get married, I don't believe you won't be scared."
Su Li chuckled. Of course, she was afraid, but wasn't she trying to comfort her?
Wei Yuanyao got up and lay on the bed, sighing as she looked at the top of the bed curtains, "It's not that I don't want to marry. That fellow Ji Huaizhou is impeccable towards me, but I haven't had enough fun yet! Being a daughter is different from being a daughter-in-law and a wife."
Su Li also went over and lay down beside her. "Cousin, you're just overthinking it. Madam Ji has given birth to three sons. I've heard people say she's been wanting a daughter so badly, but fate hasn't granted her one. You marrying into the family is perfect. Besides, after the new year, Cousin Qu will also marry into the Ji family. The two of you will have company, which is truly enviable."
Wei Yuanyao thought it over and agreed, sitting up and looking at Su Li, "You're right. Now that you mention that Rou'er will also marry into the Ji family, I'm not so scared anymore."
Thinking that Su Li would also be getting married in another month, she secretly took out a small booklet from under her pillow.
Mysteriously, she said, "Li'er, look at this."
Su Li leaned her head closer, "What is this?"
"My mother secretly gave it to me. I took a quick glance but was too embarrassed to look properly. Let's look together since you're also getting married soon."
Su Li opened it and took a look, her face flushing slightly.
It was a booklet about bedroom matters. Although the drawings weren't explicit, they were enough to make two unmarried young ladies blush and their hearts race.
"I'm not looking. This is your aunt's gift to you. Look at it yourself." Su Li turned her head away and covered her face with the quilt.
Wei Yuanyao chuckled, "Aunt will definitely give you one too later. Just consider this a preview."
"No, I'm not looking."
"If you don't look, then I'll... hehe..."
Wei Yuanyao laughed and pounced on her. The two of them played around on the bed for a while.
Suddenly, Su Li's voice, both delicate and angry, came, "Cousin! You rogue!"
Wei Yuanyao, still in shock, withdrew the demonic claw from Su Li's chest and then touched her own chest.
"Cousin, what did you eat to grow so big? Yours are like this, while mine are so small!" Wei Yuanyao stared enviously at Su Li's chest.
Su Li's already flushed face turned even redder.
She grabbed the quilt to cover her chest, blocking Wei Yuanyao's fiery gaze, and glared at her angrily.
Wei Yuanyao regretfully withdrew her gaze, shook her head, and sighed, "Comparing people really is infuriating. His Highness Prince Jing is truly fortunate."
"Say that again!"
Wei Yuanyao chuckled, "I won't, I won't."
Finally, under Wei Yuanyao's persistent coaxing, the two small heads huddled together, their faces red, and they read through the booklet.
"The wonders of the world are truly marvelous. Men and women are so different, yet so harmonious," Wei Yuanyao exclaimed.
Su Li laughed, "Quickly put your booklet away. If your maids see it, see if you still have the face to meet anyone."
Wei Yuanyao quickly put the booklet away.
Just then, a maid came in to call them for dinner.
During the meal, Wei Yuanling looked at his younger sister, constantly lamenting how she was still clearly a little girl, yet she was about to get married.
"Yaoyao, if that Ji San dares to bully you after you marry into their family, you tell your brother, and I'll teach him a lesson!" Wei Yuanling was very displeased. It turned out that that brat Ji San had been eyeing his beautiful younger sister since childhood. He had truly made a mistake in choosing his friends, bringing a wolf into his house.
Su Li laughed, "Cousin, your future brother-in-law wouldn't bully Cousin. From what I see, it's more likely that Cousin will bully him."
Wei Yuanling's anger subsided a little, and he looked at Su Li, saying, "Cousin, the same goes for you. If Ziyan dares to bully you in the future, your cousin won't let him off either."
Although he couldn't beat him, if his cousin was bullied, he would have to step up even if he couldn't win.
Su Li nodded with a smile, "Alright, if he dares to bully me, I'll definitely tell Cousin."
After the meal, Su Li and Wei Yuanyao returned to the courtyard hand in hand.
After bathing, the two of them talked for a long time.
"Cousin, it's late, hurry and rest. We need to get up early tomorrow."
Wei Yuanyao kept her eyes open, reluctant to fall asleep, and said, "Once I close my eyes and open them again, I'll be someone else's wife."
These words made Su Li feel a little sorry for her. Her cousin, who seemed optimistic on the surface, was actually so insecure inside.
Su Li turned and hugged her, saying, "Cousin, it'll be fine. It's all the same. You'll just have a few more family members who love you. Everything else won't change."
Wei Yuanyao hugged her back, "Cousin, we shall all be happy."
"We will."
The two of them embraced and fell asleep.
The wind tonight also became gentle and tender, only lightly brushing the treetops, unwilling to startle the birds returning to their nests.
A large and bright full moon hung in the treetops, its moonlight like water, shining into the window ledges of countless lovers, adorning the thoughts of young girls.
It felt as if they had just closed their eyes when a maid came in.
Amidst her hazy sleep, someone lit the lamps.
"Miss, Miss, wake up, it's time to get up. The makeup artist has arrived."
Wei Yuanyao turned over and mumbled, "Don't make noise, I'm so sleepy."
Su Li woke up and said to the maid, "I'll handle it."
"Cousin, the groom has come to welcome the bride!"
Wei Yuanyao sat up abruptly.
After a while, she came back to her senses amidst the laughter of Su Li and the maids.
"Li'er, you tricked me." Her voice was soft and sweet, charmingly naive.
Su Li didn't expect her cousin to be so adorable upon waking and couldn't resist pinching her rosy cheeks, saying, "Cousin, hurry up. Are you planning to get married like this?"
Wei Yuanyao kept her eyes half-closed, letting the maids dress and groom her.
She only fully woke up when the wedding matron used five-colored cotton threads to perform the face threading ceremony.
"Hiss! It hurts!"
The wedding matron smiled, "It's a bit painful. If the bride wants to be beautiful, she has to have her face threaded."
After putting on the wedding dress and makeup, Su Li exclaimed, "Cousin, you're so beautiful!"
Wei Yuanyao looked at the person in the mirror and said, "This whole headpiece is about to break my neck."
The wedding matron quickly spat three times for good luck, "Bride, you mustn't speak carelessly today."
Wei Yuanyao stuck out her tongue and looked at Su Li, who was snickering on the side, saying, "Just you laugh. When you get married, let's see if you can still laugh. You're the Jing Wangfei. Logically speaking, you'll have even more on your head than I do."
Just as Su Li was about to speak, she saw a maid leading Qu Zhirou in.
"Yaoyao, I've come to add to your dowry." Qu Zhirou took out a delicate box and handed it to Wei Yuanyao.
Wei Yuanyao accepted it and thanked her.
"Yaoyao, is this outfit heavy? Be careful during the wedding ceremony."
Wei Yuanyao smiled, "Rou'er is still the most thoughtful. That heartless little Li'er only knows how to snicker."
Su Li, who hadn't said a word, said aggrievedly, "Cousin, I wasn't snickering."
Qu Zhirou said, "It's alright, you can laugh back when Li'er gets married."
Su Li surrendered, "Alright, alright, you two sisters-in-law are just bullying me. I can't win against you."
Qu Zhirou's face flushed red, but Wei Yuanyao said, "You know it. Right, Eldest Sister-in-law?"
Qu Zhirou didn't know whether to agree or not.
"Is everything ready?" At this moment, Madam Wang and Su Mother came in from outside the room.
Madam Wang looked at her daughter in her wedding gown, tears welling up in her eyes.
Su Mother quickly said, "Sister-in-law, today is an auspicious day, no crying allowed. Look, our Yaoyao is so beautiful."
Madam Wang smiled, "Yes, my daughter is truly beautiful."
Wei Yuanyao took her mother's hand and said, "Mother, your daughter will come back often."
Madam Wang patted her daughter's hand, "Alright, let's go. Go and offer tea to your grandparents."
Su Li and Qu Zhirou supported Wei Yuanyao on either side as they slowly walked towards the front hall.
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