Chapter 147

"Having drunk the wedding cup, may you grow old together in harmony." The unfamiliar woman spoke auspicious words, tidied away the cups and the bridal veil, then led the maids who had held the lifting pole and presented the wedding wine out of the room, leaving only Fu Tingjun and Zhao Ling seated on the bed.

The room was quiet, while the laughter and loud chatter of guests outside, along with the melodious singing of the performers, drifted in noisily and boisterously, making the stillness within seem even more serene and peaceful.

Zhao Ling studied Fu Tingjun.

She wore a heavy phoenix crown, and her fair cheeks were tinged with a faint blush—whether from shyness or because of the bright red wedding gown, he could not tell. Her lips were soft and moist, as elegant and beautiful as winter plum blossoms in the snow... He remembered that he had once tasted their flavor, warm and soft and sweet like spring flowers... His gaze suddenly grew as scorching as summer.

"Little one!" Zhao Ling murmured, gently taking the hand Fu Tingjun had resting on her knee.

Fu Tingjun's face grew even redder.

She thought of the erotic paintings tucked at the bottom of her trunk.

Could it be that tonight she truly would...

At that thought, her expression began to stiffen.

Zhao Ling thought about how he had been up since the middle of the night, busy until now, with no elders to help them—it had all been on their own. Surely his little one must be exhausted too!

"Bear with it a little longer," he coaxed her in a low voice. "We only have four or five female guests, all wives of my subordinates. After the sitting-on-the-bed ceremony, they'll come in to see you. At most, they'll stay for the time it takes to drink two cups of tea before taking their leave. Once they're gone, today's wedding will be just about over. You don't need to wait for me—go ahead and remove your makeup, eat something, and rest early. After I finish entertaining the guests, I'll naturally return to the room."

Fu Tingjun nodded, her face flushed crimson. Catching the scent of alcohol wafting from him, she couldn't help but murmur, "You... you should drink less!"

Zhao Ling chuckled. "I know!" He leaned in close to her ear and added, "Don't worry, I won't get drunk."

Whether he got drunk or not—what did it have to do with her?

Fu Tingjun shot Zhao Ling a sideways glare, feeling her face burn.

Zhao Ling just smiled, knowing Fu Tingjun was thin-skinned and not daring to tease her further. He quickly changed the subject. "When did you last eat?"

Speaking of mundane matters made Fu Tingjun feel much more at ease. "I had a bowl of assorted noodles before getting into the sedan chair." Then she asked him, "And you? When did you last eat?"

"I scraped together half a bowl of leftover rice with the cooks by the stove at noon," Zhao Ling said, deliberately trying to win Fu Tingjun's sympathy. "The cook originally wanted to make me a couple of dishes to go with the rice, but Mo Yi and the others arrived early, so I had to make do with a quick bite. Then guests kept arriving one after another—I exchanged pleasantries with this one and that one, planning to have dinner once everyone was settled. But by the time I got the guests arranged, it was time to send off the sedan chair." He sighed with feeling. "When our son gets married in the future, I'll definitely be there to help and guide him. I won't let him be as flustered as I was today."

Fu Tingjun couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Someone knocked on the door. "Lord Zhao, the time has come."

After drinking the wedding cup, the newlyweds were to sit on the bed and remain alone together for half an hour—this was called "sitting on the bed."

Fu Tingjun was slightly surprised.

Had half an hour already passed?

She looked toward Zhao Ling.

Zhao Ling's lips were slightly parted, as if he too were surprised.

When two people were together, chatting and laughing, time passed quickly, and one didn't feel lonely or bored.

Fu Tingjun couldn't help but smile softly, giving Zhao Ling a nudge. "Hurry up and go!"

Zhao Ling said in a low voice, "Then wait for me!"

Fu Tingjun's face burned fiercely. She turned her head away shyly, ignoring him.

Zhao Ling laughed quietly.

The unfamiliar woman had already pushed the door open, with Lady Chen Shi following behind her.

Zhao Ling clasped his hands and bowed to the two women. "Thank you both for your trouble!"

"Not at all, not at all." It was Lady Chen Shi's first time seeing Zhao Ling. She stole a quick glance at him and said with a smile, "Everyone is waiting for Lord Zhao to come toast them! Don't worry about your wife here—Madam Li and I will keep her company."

Fu Tingjun was startled to hear this.

She... she was now already being called "wife"... She thought of her eldest sister-in-law, who had married into the Fu family over twenty years ago and was still addressed as "young mistress"...

Zhao Ling thanked the two women once more before leaving the bridal chamber.

Lady Chen Shi introduced the unfamiliar all-lucky woman to Fu Tingjun: "...She is the wife of Li Yunxiang, Vice Commander of the Left Guard of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Although Zhao Ling was a third-rank official, the emperor had not yet bestowed any title of honor upon his household. And even if the emperor were to grant such honors, they would typically go first to Zhao Ling's mother, and only then would it be Fu Tingjun's turn... Since Li Yunxiang's wife was addressed as "Madam," she must indeed hold an official title.

Fu Tingjun couldn't help but take a second look at Madam Li. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of A Sen peeking into the bridal chamber from the doorway.

She broke into a smile and beckoned to him.

But A Sen scurried away in a flash.

Everyone laughed.

Lady Chen Shi remarked, "This must be your husband's younger brother, right? He's quite handsome."

Before she even finished speaking, a woman's hearty laughter rang out: "I've heard the bride is very beautiful—today I must take a good look."

Other women chimed in with laughter in agreement.

Fu Tingjun was taken aback.

Two ornately dressed women entered. One appeared to be in her early forties, with a face as round as the full moon and a beaming smile; the other was around thirty-seven or thirty-eight, with an oval face and a composed, refined demeanor. Both were complete strangers to her.

Zheng Sanniang, drenched in sweat, emerged from the side and first introduced the woman with the moon-like face: "This is Madam Wu." Then she introduced the other with the oval face: "And this is Madam Ji."

It took Fu Tingjun a moment to recall who they were.

Madam Ji was one thing—they didn't live on the same lane anyway—but Madam Wu had sent her head stewardess to pay respects right after Fu Tingjun first moved in, and then there had been no word since. She never expected to see her at her wedding!

She smiled and greeted both ladies.

Madam Ji remarked, "Indeed, she is very beautiful."

Madam Wu chuckled, "Otherwise, why would the Grand Empress Dowager have taken it upon herself to bestow a marriage!" With that, she warmly stepped forward and took Fu Tingjun's hand. "Our two families are neighbors. Earlier, because of family matters, I returned to my hometown and never had the chance to visit. Now we must make a point of visiting each other more often."

Fu Tingjun neither took such social pleasantries to heart nor found them difficult to handle. She exchanged pleasantries with Madam Wu, as warm and gentle as a spring breeze, which gradually brought a hint of solemnity to Madam Ji's brow as she stood quietly nearby with a faint smile.

When Madam Wu's conversation with Fu Tingjun came to a pause, Madam Ji interjected at the right moment: "Lord Wu and Lord Ji had both intended to come and toast the wedding, but because the Marquis of Wuding has re-established his household, many of his former hereditary servants were sold off to noble families. Even if the various households wished to return them, it would take time. And just then, the Grand Empress Dowager bestowed this marriage, so Lord Ji and Lord Wu were both pulled away by their superiors to assist at the Marquis of Wuding's residence. We came ahead instead. Once they have some free time, Lord Ji and Lord Wu will come to ask Lord Zhao for a cup of wine."

Fu Tingjun was quite surprised.

Madam Wu, who had been thoughtfully glancing at Madam Ji, quickly added with a smile: "Madam Zhao has been waiting at home for her wedding these past days, so it's no wonder you wouldn't know—the Grand Empress Dowager issued an imperial edict, betrothing the Marquis of Yingchuan's cousin, the Nineteenth Miss of the Duke of Fuguo's household, to her own nephew."

An image surfaced in Fu Tingjun's mind: a young girl in a peach-pink gauze robe patterned with scattered flowers, wearing a gold necklace, as radiant as spring itself.

She never imagined that girl would marry the Marquis of Wuding!

Fu Tingjun's thoughts drifted slightly, until she heard Madam Li laugh and say, "The Nineteenth Miss of the Meng family just reached adulthood this year, didn't she? Everyone says she's now the youngest marchioness."

"Indeed," Madam Wu laughed. "She's a fortunate one, too."

"Anyone favored by the Grand Empress Dowager is fortunate," Madam Ji said, deftly steering the conversation elsewhere. She turned to Fu Tingjun and said, "I hear Lord Zhao's parents have both passed away, so you two are living on your own. If anything comes up, just send word to me. A close neighbor is better than a distant relative!" Then she smiled and added, "It's getting late, and you've been busy all day, so we'll take our leave. Once your affairs settle in a few days, I'll send out invitations, and we'll all gather at my place to enjoy the osmanthus and eat crabs!" With that, she glanced smilingly at Madam Li and Lady Chen Shi.

Both women voiced their agreement.

Madam Wu, feeling somewhat overshadowed by Madam Ji, smiled stiffly along with the others and took her leave together with Madam Ji.

Madam Li and Lady Chen Shi chatted for a bit before also taking their leave.

Fu Tingjun let out a long sigh of relief and quickly instructed Zhenzhu: "Hurry and take off this phoenix crown for me."

Zhenzhu moved swiftly, deftly helping Fu Tingjun remove her ceremonial adornments while asking, "Madam, what would you like to eat? I'll go to the kitchen and prepare it for you."

Fu Tingjun was too exhausted to have any appetite. After a moment's thought, she said, "Just brew me a cup of clear tea."

Zhenzhu acknowledged with a "Yes," and Kou'er had already gone to brew the tea.

Fu Tingjun nodded inwardly, thinking of Yuwei, who was still at the Sun household handling matters.

With such competence, she wondered who would be fortunate enough to marry her someday.

By the time she was settled, the faint sound of the second watch could be heard.

Whether it was because the guests outside had drunk too much, or because in the stillness of the night even small sounds seemed amplified, the noise outside had grown louder.

Kou'er, without waiting for Fu Tingjun's instruction, ran out to check and returned to report: "All the other guests have left, only Lord Mo and a few others are still drinking. Lord Mo is currently plying our master with wine!"

Success in the imperial examinations, and the wedding night.

No wonder they were taking the opportunity to indulge themselves.

Fu Tingjun smiled faintly. Thinking that the gathering wouldn't break up anytime soon, she said to Zhenzhu, "I'm going to rest for a while. You keep watch outside the room. Kou'er can go back to her quarters and rest now, then come on duty early tomorrow morning. If Ninth Master returns, come and fetch me right away."

Zhenzhu had just responded with a smile when a commotion erupted outside.

Fu Tingjun quickly said, "Go and see what's happening."

Although Zheng San and his wife, along with Master Lyu, were outside, she was still worried since Jin Yuanbao and Yang Yucheng were not by Zhao Ling's side, leaving him without anyone to look after him.

Before long, Zhenzhu returned: "Madam, Lord Mo has had too much to drink and is making a fuss. Ninth Master and Lord Tao have taken Lord Mo to the study in the south wing. Zheng Sanniang has already gone to make hangover soup."

This Mo Yi—nothing good ever happened when he was around!

Fu Tingjun grumbled to herself, then sent Zhenzhu to check again.

But Zhao Ling pushed the door open and entered, saying, "Don't worry. Mo Yi just drank too much. A Sen and Yanqing are looking after him over there. He'll be fine."