In early summer, all the neighbors in the lanes received wedding invitations from the Pei residence.
Everyone knew that Pei Xu's parents had passed away and he had no brothers or sisters. Yet for such a joyous occasion as a wedding, the Pei residence was strangely quiet, with no elders to make arrangements for him. Feeling sympathetic, they put aside their gossip and enthusiastically lent a hand.
Soon, red silk banners were hung around the Pei residence, a master chef from Dongxing Tavern was hired to cater the feast, and the bridal chamber was decorated under the guidance of the neighborhood aunties.
Over on Qinghuai Lane, Matchmaker Liu was also passing on wedding wisdom to Yun Lou.
Here was another poor soul with no elders to manage things—it seemed fitting that two such pitiable people had found each other.
"It was about ten-odd years ago that young Master Pei and his mother fled here as refugees. A widow and her child, they had a hard time of it."
Matchmakers were known for their chatter, and Yun Lou had already drunk three pots of tea without the woman pausing for breath. Now she was telling stories about Pei Xu's youth.
"Master Pei's mother had some knowledge of medicine, so she set up a stall at the door and treated the ladies of the city. That was how they managed to get by. We were all amazed back then—how could a helpless woman, alone and without support, raise such a refined and distinguished young gentleman?"
Yun Lou noted the key point: Pei Xu had been handsome since childhood.
Matchmaker Liu was already lost in her own memories, oblivious to the world: "In those days, little Young Master Pei didn't talk much. A truly handsome, icy-faced young lord, he was. He often carried a medicine basket and went into the mountains to gather herbs. Everyone urged him not to go—that Beiwu Mountain always had bandits lurking about, enough to scare anyone to death—but the young lord wouldn't listen."
"Luckily, he had courage, and that's how he found his good fortune. Once, while gathering herbs, he found a thousand-year-old ginseng, precious beyond compare! Master Pei sold that ginseng for a large sum of silver, and his mother used the money to open Xuanji Hall. She specialized in treating women's ailments, and later hired more physicians to sit in consultation. As time went on, their lives got better and better."
Yun Lou cracked melon seeds and asked, "So why didn't Master Pei follow in his mother's footsteps and become a physician?"
"Oh, my dear girl! What a silly question! If Master Pei had studied medicine, how could he have, at the age of fourteen, passed all three imperial examinations in a row and become the famed prodigy of these parts?"
The matchmaker's look at Yun Lou seemed to accuse, "You're still eating melon seeds? Do you even realize what a catch you've landed?!"
"...Three in a row!" Yun Lou slowly set down her melon seeds and said seriously, "That's very impressive."
"Impressive is an understatement!"
The matchmaker rambled on with a string of praises, then shifted tone with a hint of regret: "Unfortunately, right after he topped all three exams, his mother fell gravely ill. Being a filial son, he tended to her and never sat for the higher examinations again. Because of that, the magistrate and the prefect called on him several times, but Master Pei refused to take the provincial exam. Who doesn't hope their district produces a zhuangyuan? Magistrate Cui still sighs every time he sees him."
"A few years ago, Master Pei's mother finally passed away. He said he needed to observe mourning for her, so he wouldn't discuss marriage or pursue further studies. It seemed he meant to live out his days alone with that clinic—until he met you."
With that, the matchmaker took Yun Lou's hand and patted it sincerely: "Aunt Liu has seen many women in her time, and I knew at a glance you had a good heart. May you and your husband be of one mind, and grow old together."
The sound of firecrackers scattered the morning mist.
Fengping City finally witnessed this grand celebration.
The bridal procession wound its way through the streets to Qinghuai Lane, with the groom perched atop a tall horse, clad in dazzling bridal red that blazed like sunrise. Seeing him so bedecked in red and flowers, onlookers couldn't help but imagine that had he continued on the path of the civil exams and returned home as the top scholar, he might have ridden through town just like this—full of vigor and pride.
The auspicious hour arrived, and the bride was led out by her maids.
Her cloud-patterned wedding gown trailed along the ground, a curtain of beads veiling her face. Though her features were hidden, her figure was superb—slim and elegant—matching perfectly with the groom across from her.
Since neither had parents, the reception ceremony skipped many elaborate steps. Pei Xu solemnly took his bride's hand from Matchmaker Liu.
His palm was warm and dry as he steadily guided her toward the palanquin.
"Miss Yun, mind your step."
At the courtyard gate, he reminded her in a low voice. Yun Lou stepped lightly over the threshold, the beads at her forehead clinking softly.
She tilted her head for a glance. Pei Xu, handsome in his red robes, was courteous and composed, his expression calm and steady as always—unlike the flushed excitement she had seen in other bridegrooms.
Ever since she had met him, he had always been this gentle and proper.
A scholar stuffed full of propriety and virtue—why he had married her, Yun Lou knew full well.
But... who cared? Getting to eat her fill was a win!
-
The Pei residence was already packed wall to wall with guests who had come to witness the ceremony. Even those who hadn't received invitations rushed over to join the crowd.
Fortunately, Magistrate Cui was present as well. He ordered his attendants to hold back the curious onlookers who pressed to see the bride, clearing a path for the couple.
Since both their parents had passed, only two memorial tablets were set before the hall. After bowing to Heaven and Earth and to the tablets of their ancestors, then performing the mutual bow of husband and wife, the ceremony was complete.
Surrounded by jubilant shouts of congratulations, Yun Lou peered through her beaded veil with curiosity. But before she could take in her own wedding festivities, the matchmaker hurried her off to the bridal chamber.
The wedding banquet began, and the front hall grew ever more boisterous. The main courtyard behind was peaceful, the bridal chamber lavish with pearl screens and silver ornaments, every detail showing Pei Xu's careful attention.
With all the guests in front, Yun Lou was alone in the new room.
She took off her beaded crown and walked to the window, pushing it open to look outside.
The place where Pei Xu lived had a large courtyard, and in the middle stood a tall paulownia tree. The leaves fractured the sunlight into scattered specks that fell upon the green-tiled eaves, giving the summer day a touch of coolness.
She quite liked this place.
Back in her days with Xi Ren, she'd had a courtyard just like this—perfect for training in martial arts.
Before long, Yinyin and Wensi pushed open the door, carrying steaming soup bowls.
"Madam, Aunt Zhou made you fish-and-lamb broth. Do give it a taste."
Yun Lou found this new title of address rather amusing.
The broth was milky white and fragrant, clearly slow-simmered. Yinyin seized the moment to add, "The master worried you might be hungry, so he told Aunt Zhou to start simmering it before he left to fetch the bride."
Did Pei Xu think she'd faint from hunger or something?
Yun Lou hugged the soup bowl and gulped it all down. Her limbs felt warm and toasty, so she flopped spread-eagle onto the bridal bed and sighed contentedly: "Stuffed. Time for a nap."
Yinyin and Wensi were long used to her sleepiness: "Rest easy, madam. We'll keep watch outside the door."
The banquet in the front hall was in full swing, and Pei Xu was coaxed by enthusiastic guests into cup after cup of wine. Fortunately, he had a decent tolerance for liquor and kept his wits about him.
When he came to toast Magistrate Cui, Pei Xu cupped his hands in a bow. "Thank you, Magistrate Cui, for honoring us with your presence."
Cui Zeshi: "...Ah!" He downed his wine, then looked at Pei Xu again. "You... ah...!"
He took another drink.
Pei Xu: "..."
After a full three sighs, Cui Zeshi finally spoke: "You're married now, so we'll set aside the matter of Lingyi. But this year's autumn exam is approaching—what do you say—"
"Magistrate Cui." Pei Xu interrupted him gently. "I am now a married man, with no interest in officialdom. I only wish to live a peaceful life with my wife."
Cui Zeshi's face was full of grievance. "If you had no interest in officialdom, why did you bother taking the exam back then? You scored the Little Triple Crown and gave me such high hopes, only to say such heartbreaking things now."
Before Pei Xu could speak, a sinister voice sounded from behind his ear. "Congratulations on your wedding, Master Pei."
Pei Xu turned around and saw Cui Lingyi standing behind him, having appeared there without his noticing, a cup of wine in her hand.
Father and daughter wore the same exact expression of grievance.
All the drunkenness instantly cleared from Cui Zeshi's mind. He scolded his daughter, "How did you get out here?!"
"I came to drink Master Pei's wedding wine."
Ever since she had caused that big scene at Qinghuai Lane, Cui Lingyi had been locked up at home by her father. Stuck inside for over a month, she had nearly moldered away. Today, she had finally found a chance to slip out.
Cui Zeshi puffed out his beard and glared. "Get back home this instant! Don't you dare embarrass yourself—and me—out here!"
If she were to snatch the groom right then and there, would he, Magistrate Cui, have any face left to show?
Cui Lingyi said wistfully, "Master Pei has already bowed to heaven and earth with his bride. It's not like I can steal another woman's husband. I'm just here purely to drink some wedding wine and join the fun in the bridal chamber."
She even wanted to join the fun in the bridal chamber—the shamelessness knew no bounds!
Magistrate Cui said, "Get back home, now."
Father and daughter tussled back and forth, until finally Cui Lingyi plopped herself down right next to her father and began feasting as if no one else were there.
If Magistrate Cui had been able to manage his precious daughter, she would never have spent so many years chasing after Pei Xu's tail.
Seeing that no drama would unfold, the surrounding crowd reluctantly averted their eyes.
Pei Xu went around toasting each table, and even with his decent tolerance for alcohol, he was beginning to feel dizzy. As he sat resting in the side hall, Le'an suddenly came running over with a large box in his arms.
"Master, someone left this box next to the gift register without writing their name. I opened it for a look—it's filled with gold and jewels! I brought it straight to you!"
Pei Xu's hand, which had been pressing against his brow, paused. The flickering candlelight in the room grazed his brow, casting it in a somewhat somber shadow.
Pei Xu took the box.
It was a plain, unremarkable redwood box, its surface smooth, save for a small unobtrusive fish carved into the lower left corner of the lid.
The box was heavy. Pei Xu opened it for a look—inside was at least ten taels of gold and countless hairpins.
At the very bottom, tucked away, was a note.
Pei Xu pulled it out and unfolded it. Scrawled across the paper in handwriting like crawling worms were the words: Congratulating you on your wedding, present these hairpins to your wife.
At the last few words, Pei Xu shot to his feet, the alcohol dissipating from his system.
He rushed out with hurried steps. "Follow me to the back courtyard!"
-
Yun Lou had a wonderfully restful sleep, and the drowsiness from waking up and doing her makeup was gone entirely.
Yinyin and Wensi were nowhere to be seen, and the outside was perfectly quiet.
Yun Lou sat up, stretched lazily, walked over to the table, and poured herself some water.
Suddenly, from the half-opened window behind her came the faint rustle of sleeves brushing against the window frame. Then a large, dark, rough hand reached out toward her shoulder.
But before that hand could land, the soundless wind had already arrived.
Yun Lou sharply sidestepped, hurling the cup in her hand like a hidden weapon.
The attacker never expected such a frail-looking bride to react so quickly. The cup caught him square on the bridge of his nose. The force was so great that the cup shattered across his face, leaving his nose bleeding profusely and his cheeks cut open.
Yun Lou finally got a good look at the man—tall and burly, with a flat head and deep-set eyes, and a scar behind his ear. He was clearly a vicious, desperate thug.
"You damned woman!"
The man wiped the blood from his face and lunged forward with fists as big as rice bowls. He believed his previous miss was just a fluke, paying no mind to this slender-waisted girl.
But before his eyes could adjust, the red-clad bride who had been standing right in front of him vanished like a ghost.
His fists struck nothing but air. The momentum carried him forward, stumbling off balance. At the same moment, a blow landed on his back—a redwood chair slammed him hard to the ground.
The man was thick-skinned and tough; even after such a fall, he found the strength to scramble up. But no sooner had he pushed himself onto his elbows than that ghost-like figure delivered another flying kick, straight at his elbow joints.
Two cracks. The man let out a pained scream. Both arms bent backward and snapped. He crashed to the ground again.
Yun Lou had crippled both his arms. Her hand instinctively went for a knife to slit his throat, but found only air—she remembered then that her blade had been lost in the stream at Beiwu Mountain.
Without a moment's hesitation, she pulled the golden hairpin from her bun and drove it toward his neck.
Suddenly, from outside the room, Le'an's shouting voice rang out: "Master! Yinyin and Wensi are lying unconscious at the door!"
Yun Lou's wrist paused.
Damn. Not good.
Rapid footsteps were already approaching the door.
The bridal chamber had nowhere to hide. In a flash, Yun Lou changed her strike from a stab to a twist, grabbing the man's head with both hands and jerking it sharply.
An extremely faint sound.
The massive, struggling body went still, slumping limply to the floor.
Her wounds hadn't fully healed yet, and hoisting this corpse up was especially strenuous. Clenching her teeth, ignoring the needle-like pain of her chaotic internal energy, Yun Lou hauled the burly man to the window.
And shoved him straight out.
The silhouette of Pei Xu was already reflected at the door.
Yun Lou immediately dropped to the ground and lay flat.
Oh, so dizzy~
