110
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was the day of Xu Ying and Fang Yuan’s wedding.
Mu Peixuan and Xu Ying had grown up together, their friendship deep and extraordinary. Xu Ying had long ago arranged for Mu Peixuan to accompany him to receive the bride, and Mu Peixuan naturally agreed. Xu Ying was the only son of the Xu family. Besides Mu Peixuan, Madam Xu had also invited two of Xu Ying’s cousins who held official positions to join them, making the groom’s welcoming procession quite grand.
Duan Linzhou had continuously soaked in medicinal baths for ten days, which invisibly alleviated the discomfort brought by the new medicine, and his health had greatly improved. He looked much better. It was precisely because of this that Mu Peixuan felt reassured letting Duan Linzhou go out to attend Xu Ying’s wedding.
The wedding day was a rare auspicious day according to the calendar, and the weather was also beautiful. The sunlight was warm, chasing away the winter chill. The large Xu mansion was decorated with red and colorful hangings, and an uncontainable joyous atmosphere permeated the entire household.
Because Mu Peixuan had to accompany Xu Ying to welcome the bride, he left the mansion early, unusually wearing a dark red wide-sleeved brocade robe, his hair held up by a golden crown. It accentuated his handsome and radiant face, giving him a spirited air that made Duan Linzhou look at him frequently before he left, saying, “Whose young celestial being is this, so dashingly handsome?”
Boss Duan concluded, “He should be abducted to be someone’s husband.”
Being shameless and having spent a long time together, Mu Peixuan had also learned a bit of it. He leaned in and kissed Duan Linzhou’s lips, saying, “Pick a dark and windy night, when no one is around.”
Duan Linzhou nodded in deep agreement. “You’re right, I’ll put a sack over your head and carry you away.”
Mu Peixuan said, “If it’s Boss Duan, I’ll go with you even without a sack.”
Duan Linzhou was overjoyed and said with a smile, “Sweet talker.” He pinched Mu Peixuan’s cheek and said, “Where did the Xiao Junwang with thin skin who blushes easily go? Return him to me quickly.”
Mu Peixuan suddenly picked up Duan Linzhou and said, “Too late.”
Suddenly, Duan Linzhou’s feet were off the ground, and he was instantly amused and exasperated. Mu Peixuan had been fond of picking him up like this recently, sometimes supporting his bottom, sometimes lifting him horizontally, and once he held him, he wouldn’t let go. The young man was sturdy and strong; when he exerted force with his arms, the muscles hidden beneath his clothes would tense up, hard as iron. Mu Peixuan pressed him against the edge of the table, lowered his head, and nibbled at his soft lips like a puppy nursing, lingering on them long enough before seeking out Duan Linzhou’s tongue and teeth. With just this kind of kiss, he could tirelessly draw it out for half an hour, being clingy and affectionate. By the time he released Duan Linzhou, the other party’s lips were already unbelievably red.
Seeing that Mu Peixuan had already begun to passionately kiss his neck, Duan Linzhou gently tugged at the ends of his hair, panting as he said, “If you don’t leave soon, you’ll miss Xu Ying’s auspicious time for receiving the bride.”
Mu Peixuan bit his adam apple, a bit impatiently, and casually responded, but his feet didn’t move. In this position, Duan Linzhou smoothed out Mu Peixuan’s collar that he had crumpled. His eyes were lowered, and he looked truly gentle. Mu Peixuan loved this look so much that he almost didn’t want to go. He rubbed Duan Linzhou’s ear and whispered, “Just one more kiss.”
The way he begged for a kiss was too alluring for words. How could Duan Linzhou refuse? Naturally, he touched his lips to Mu Peixuan’s again, saying, “You’ll see me when you return from fetching the bride.”
Xu Ying had originally wanted Duan Linzhou to accompany him to greet the bride, but Mu Peixuan hadn’t agreed. Although the Xu and Fang families were close, according to the customs, they had to parade through the city. November was cold, and they would be riding horses. Even though Duan Linzhou looked to be in good health now, Mu Peixuan didn’t dare to risk it. So, he simply had Duan Linzhou go to the Xu family first as a guest.
When Mu Peixuan arrived at the Xu mansion, the auspicious hour was approaching, and Xu Ying had already changed into his groom’s wedding robes. He was young and had handsome, upright features. The wedding attire made him look as refined as jade, quite striking. However, he couldn’t control the smile on his face, his mouth wide open, revealing a row of white teeth, a picture of beaming joy that bordered on silly.
Madam Xu watched, covering her face with a fan. Although she was over forty, she still possessed graceful charm, and there was a hint of heroic spirit between her eyebrows. She said earnestly, “Mu Nu, be more solemn.”
Mu Nu was Xu Ying’s childhood name, and usually only his parents would call him that. Xu Ying didn’t like it, but he couldn’t stop his parents.
Xu Ying said, “Why?”
Madam Xu worriedly said, “Your silly grin is truly too foolish. What if the bride’s family sees you like this when you go to receive him and decides they don’t want to marry Yuan Ge’er to you anymore?”
Xu Ying: “…Mother!”
Madam Xu said, “Your father wasn’t like this back then.” She glanced at Master Xu standing beside her, who immediately said, “Madam, I was most composed in my youth.”
Xu Ying curled his lip, but his expression did become a bit more solemn. However, when he left the Xu mansion and mounted his white horse with a silver saddle, the thought of seeing Fang Yuan made his mouth spread into a grin again. He was in an excellent mood, and suddenly remembering something, he said to Mu Peixuan and his two cousins, “Peixuan, big brothers, you must help me when we go to receive the bride later.”
The Fang family was a scholarly family, and regardless of their natural disposition, the children in the clan had all studied literature since childhood. Fang Yuan was an outstanding member of the younger generation of the Fang family and the youngest son as well, so he was particularly doted upon. Xu Ying feared that taking him away wouldn’t be easy. If it were a martial arts contest, Xu Ying wouldn’t even blink, but the Fang family were all scholars and only engaged in literary contests. With Xu Ying’s mediocre literary skills, even if he poured out all he had, he might not be able to win them over.
One of Xu Ying’s cousins laughed and said, “Don’t worry, we’ll definitely help you bring the beauty home today.”
Xu Ying chuckled, then looked at Mu Peixuan. Mu Peixuan nodded at him, and only then did Xu Ying’s heart completely relax. He said, “My lifelong happiness is entrusted to you, brothers!”
The Fang family’s relatives were indeed not so easy to deal with when fetching the bride.
From the moment they entered the gate, at every doorway, someone waited with questions. They were all members of the Fang clan, starting with antithetical couplets, then moving on to poetry, lyrics, and prose, testing Xu Ying until he was sweating profusely even in the winter cold. Fortunately, Mu Peixuan and Xu Ying’s two cousins were all literate. Although not exceptionally talented scholars, they were more than capable enough for a wedding procession, leaving little room for the Fang family to find fault. After all, the Fang family didn’t truly intend to make things difficult for Xu Ying either.
When they reached the final hurdle, the person guarding the half-moon archway was Fang Yuan’s elder sister. She was a Tianqian. With her arms crossed, she said with a smile, “In ancient times, Cao Zhi composed a poem in seven steps. Mu Nu, considering our acquaintance, I won’t make things too difficult for you. Let’s make it fourteen steps.”
“Fourteen steps, a quatrain. If you can compose it well, you can take Yuan Ge’er away.”
Xu Ying wore a pained expression and grumbled, “Jiejie[mfn]Elder sister[/mfn], isn’t this still making things difficult for me—” He subconsciously looked towards Mu Peixuan, only to hear Fang Yuan’s elder sister say, “Xu Ying, only you can write this poem. Anyone else won’t count.”
She smiled and said, “Hmm… just compose a short poem to express your feelings for our Ah Yuan.”
Xu Ying: “…Ah? With so many people watching?”
Fang Yuan’s elder sister raised an eyebrow and said, “What? Are you unwilling?”
Xu Ying said, “No, it’s not because there are many people… I’m just shy.”
Fang Yuan’s elder sister glanced at him and said, “You didn’t seem shy when you were climbing over our wall as a child.”
The courtyard was full of the younger generations from both the Xu and Fang families. The Fang family members all looked at Xu Ying with smiles, teasing him, “Hurry up and do it! Could it be that you don’t like our Yuan Ge’er?”
“Yuan Ge’er!” Some mischievous ones had already started shouting loudly, “Xu Ying can’t even compose a poem for you, he must not be sincere—”
“I didn’t! I’ll compose! I’m just thinking first, don’t rush me!” Xu Ying’s face flushed with anxiety. “Let me think some more!”
Xu Ying’s two cousins and Mu Peixuan had nothing to do, so they simply watched the lively scene from the side. Xu Ying had, after all, studied at Qinghe Academy. Although he wasn’t fond of reading, he had still done his share. After racking his brains for a good while, he actually managed to squeeze out a few lines of poetry.
The Fang family members said, “Not good, not good, the rhymes don’t match!”
“Exactly, this poem is too common, not even as good as Xiao Shijiu’s.”
Xiao Shijiu was a nine-year-old Kunze in the Fang family.
Seeing their dissatisfaction, Xu Ying grew anxious. Suddenly, a voice came from inside the door. It was a servant from Fang Yuan’s side who said with a smile, “Eldest Miss, our Young Master says he likes the groom’s poem very much. Please don’t make things difficult for him.”
Fang Yuan’s elder sister chuckled and said to Xu Ying, “Yuan Ge’er is soft-hearted and protective of you. You must treat him well.”
Xu Ying breathed a sigh of relief and said earnestly, “Definitely, I will definitely cherish Yuan Ge’er.”
Fang Yuan’s elder sister nodded with satisfaction and said, “Even a common man, when enraged, can cause blood to splatter five steps away. If Yuan Ge’er suffers even the slightest grievance in your Xu family, even if my entire Fang family are all scholars, we will certainly not let you off easily.”
Xu Ying said, “Jiejie, please rest assured, and please let all the brothers of the Fang family bear witness. My heart for Yuan Ge’er can be attested by heaven and earth and witnessed by the sun and moon. In this life, I will never betray him. If I violate this oath, may gods and humans abandon me, and may heaven destroy me.”
With a creak, the door opened, and Madam Fang supported the beautifully dressed Fang Yuan as he walked out.
Xu Ying was stunned. Through the beaded curtain, he couldn’t clearly see Fang Yuan’s face, but it was enough to make his heart drunk with infatuation, his soul topsy-turvy.
He stood there dumbly. The people around him exchanged knowing smiles. Mu Peixuan said to Xu Ying, “What are you standing there like a fool for?”
“Ah—” He seemed not to know what to do. After hesitating for a moment, he finally lifted his leg and walked towards Fang Yuan. He first raised his hand in a salute to Madam Fang, then stood up and looked at Fang Yuan, saying dryly, “Yuan Ge’er, I’ve come.”
Immediately, he heard Fang Yuan’s soft laughter. Xu Ying couldn’t help but smile as well, but as he smiled, his eyes turned red.
The hall was filled with the sound of good-natured, joyful laughter and chatter. Mu Peixuan stood a few steps away, watching this scene. He was suddenly reminded of the day he went to receive his own bride. The Duan family had offered no resistance, and the journey had been smooth and unimpeded. Although everything was decorated in celebratory red, looking back now, it felt somewhat desolate.
Duan Linzhou was escorted out of the house by Duan Lin’an and Duan Weiru. Everyone just watched him, and due to his status and his cold and annoying expression, the scene was somewhat stiff. In the large Duan family, no one supported him, and no one, like the elder sister of the Fang family, gave the groom earnest advice, urging him to treat Duan Linzhou kindly.
Thinking of this, Mu Peixuan’s heart ached.
If Duan Linzhou’s parents were both alive and the people around him weren’t those with their own agendas, even hoping for his death, then when he went to welcome the bride, he would probably face some good-natured teasing, as if Duan Linzhou were a precious treasure in the Duan family, not to be slighted by anyone.
But he had no one.
Duan Linzhou had even arranged the wedding himself.
Mu Peixuan’s eyes grew hot, and he restrained himself again and again, finally managing not to lose composure on such an occasion. At this moment, Mu Peixuan really wanted to see Duan Linzhou.
Obrigada pela tradução 🥰💞❣️