Grand Elder Wei and Old Madam sat at the head of the room, while Duke Wei and Madam Wang sat to the side.
Wei Yuanyao knelt on a prayer mat. "Your granddaughter is getting married today, and I have specially come to bid farewell to Grandfather and Grandmother."
Wei Yuanyao offered tea, then bowed three times to Duke Wei and Madam Wang.
"Your daughter thanks Father and Mother for the grace of raising her. I know I was mischievous and caused you endless worry. As I leave today, I hope Father and Mother will not be anxious.
Though your daughter becomes the wife of another family, I will forever remain a daughter of the Wei family. I will never forget Father and Mother's teachings and will surely not disgrace the Wei family name!"
Duke Wei and his wife drank the tea. After some words of instruction from them, Wei Yuanyao nodded repeatedly.
Madam Wang held her daughter's hand, unwilling to let go, and accompanied her all the way back to Wei Yuanyao's bridal chambers.
Just then, a deafening explosion of firecrackers erupted from outside the courtyard.
Wei Yuanyao's grip on Su Li's hand tightened.
Su Li felt her nervousness and comforted her, "Your cousin-in-law is here."
A maid entered, happily announcing, "Madam, Miss, the groom has arrived! He's currently being stopped by the young master for some 'literary challenges'."
Madam Wang chuckled, "That mischievous monkey, he hasn't made things easy for the groom these past few days."
Madam Su smiled, "Let the young ones have their fun. As long as they don't miss the auspicious hour, the more commotion, the better."
After a while, another maid came in, saying, "The groom has reached the front courtyard gate and is now composing a 'make-up urging poem'."
Madam Wang didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Was he here to get married, or to pass the imperial examinations for the top scholar?
Su Li laughed, "This is good. It lets him know that our cousin isn't easily won over. He'll cherish her even more later."
Ji Huaizhou, stopped at the second gate, was holding a horse stance, while someone beside him counted.
"Alright, a quarter-hour is up!"
Wei Yuanling was racking his brains, thinking of ways to trouble Third Young Master Ji.
Jun Mo glanced at Wei Yuanling and said, "He's composed essays, written 'make-up urging poems,' and even held a horse stance. That's enough. Are you really not planning to marry in the future?"
Wei Yuanling suddenly realized. If he troubled Third Young Master Ji like this now, Ji Huaizhou would definitely retaliate when he got married!
But to just let his sister get married so easily, he was unwilling.
Ji Huaizhou patted his shoulder and said, "Brother-in-law, you don't have to be like this. Yuanyao is someone I've loved for many years. I will definitely cherish her deeply."
It would have been better if he hadn't said that. As soon as he did, Wei Yuanling shot him a glare.
"You sly fellow, secretly coveting my sister! If you dare to treat her poorly, I won't acknowledge you as my brother!"
"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare."
Seeing his good attitude, Wei Yuanling said, "Let's go."
Ji Huaizhou entered and bowed to Grand Elder Wei and Old Madam, then waited together outside the courtyard.
Wei Yuanling entered the room and looked at his bright and graceful sister, his eyes welling up.
"Sister, your brother will carry you out to your marriage." With that, he turned and squatted down.
Wei Yuanyao lay on his back, and Madam Wang personally placed the bridal veil over her daughter.
As they exited the door, the matchmaker began to chant, "Mandarin ducks play, twin flowers bloom, butterflies fly wing to wing..."
Wei Yuanling carried his sister on his back, walking steadily, step by step.
"Yuanyao, your brother is here. Don't be afraid."
Wei Yuanyao heard her brother's voice. Lying on his broad back, tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.
"Brother..."
Watching her cousin carry her older cousin out the door, with the congratulations of everyone ringing in her ears, Su Li secretly thought, "Cousin, you will definitely be happy."
In the previous life, I, Li'er, implicated you. In this life, you've finally married smoothly. We will all get better and better.
The sound of Qu Zhirou's sobbing reached her ears. Su Li smiled faintly, "Sister Qu, why are you crying? This is a joyous occasion."
"I'm just a little moved."
Su Li and Qu Zhirou stayed in Wei Yuanyao's courtyard until the banquet began before emerging.
Qu Zhirou said, "I wonder what Yuanyao is doing now?"
Su Li glanced at the sky. "She should be eating."
The formal rites wouldn't be until dusk, and she hadn't eaten anything all morning. Her stomach must be empty by now.
"Didn't they say you can't eat before the wedding ceremony?"
Su Li chuckled, "Do you think Cousin would last until then? Besides, Cousin-in-law wouldn't bear to let her starve."
Ji Residence
Wei Yuanyao ate the lotus seed paste, then finished off a crystal dumpling, her eyes squinting in satisfaction.
"Honestly, I've been starving since I woke up. I'm almost dizzy from hunger."
Ji Huaizhou, sitting opposite her, took a silk handkerchief and wiped her lips, chuckling, "It's tradition."
"What tradition? If we're talking tradition, you shouldn't even be here, nor should you have brought me so much food."
Ji Huaizhou looked at the bright-eyed, white-toothed woman opposite him. Her makeup was as vibrant as a lotus, and her sparkling eyes were lively and clear. Having just drunk some porridge, her crimson lips were slightly moist, soft, and full.
Ji Huaizhou's throat bobbed. He looked outside at the bright sunshine, thinking how slowly time was passing.
Wei Yuanyao, having eaten her fill, said, "You should go out and accompany the guests. Let my maids come in."
Ji Huaizhou rose. As the groom, it wouldn't do for him not to make an appearance.
He leaned down and kissed Wei Yuanyao's lips, giving a gentle nibble.
"Then I'll go out first. If you're tired, you can sleep for a bit. Our family doesn't have so many rigid rules."
Wei Yuanyao, blushing, said, "You should go quickly."
After Ji Huaizhou left, maids came in and took out the bowls and chopsticks.
Wei Yuanyao's maids entered and saw their young lady leaning against the headboard, looking as if she was about to fall asleep.
"Miss, today is your big day!" Qiandai, the maid, said helplessly.
Wei Yuanyao said, "I know."
Huamei also said, "Miss, the groom dotes on you, but you can't be this casual! Look, your lip rouge has come off. Allow this servant to reapply it for you."
Wei Yuanyao replied, "There's still so long until the formal rites. It's fine."
"No, that won't do! The maids from the Ji Residence are coming and going. If they see you, it's bound to cause gossip."
Wei Yuanyao sighed helplessly under the weight of her elaborate hair ornaments, allowing the two maids to reapply her lip rouge.
"Miss, let's put the bridal veil back on too."
With the bridal veil covering her, Wei Yuanyao initially sat up straight and proper, but eventually, overcome by drowsiness, she leaned against the headboard.
She had talked too late with her cousin last night and woke up too early today.
At first, she was nervous, but after seeing Ji Huaizhou, a sense of inexplicable calm settled over her.
Once she relaxed, she couldn't keep her eyes open.
The two maids looked at the person leaning against the headboard, covered by the bridal veil, sound asleep, and felt utterly helpless.
A bride who ate her fill and then fell sound asleep on her wedding day – in all of Tianqi, it was unlikely there would be another.
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