Chapter 62: Wedding Preparations

Baruke Cheng had never been so lively.

After Aikesi Yan brought back the news of Wusennuo and the nine Four-Winged Angels' deaths, the surrounding duchies that had been waiting on the sidelines each sent envoys, expressing their willingness to submit. Linlei Baluke seized the momentum to announce that the Baruke Duchy would be elevated to a kingdom, with Baruke Cheng as its capital, and he enfeoffed his younger brother Wodun as king.

And what the townspeople talked about even more was two weddings.

Linlei Baluke was to marry Diliya.

Aikesi Yan was to marry Monika.

With double joy arriving, the entire Baruke Cheng was shrouded in a festive atmosphere. Red silk banners hung on both sides of the streets, and colorful flags were planted before every household. Children chased and played in the alleys, clutching candies and candied fruits in their hands—all distributed by palace staff on the streets. The taverns and teahouses in the city were packed from morning till night, with everyone discussing the two weddings.

Aikesi selected a three-courtyard mansion in the eastern part of the city to serve as the Earl Mansion. The layout was elegant, with artificial hills and flowing water in the courtyard, and the backyard was filled with white camellias that Monika loved. To ensure the flowers would bloom vigorously before the wedding date, Aikesi specially hired three gardeners to tend to them day and night, and even bought flower-prompting powder from the medicinal herb shop of the Dawson Chamber of Commerce.

"Did you have these flowers planted?" Monika stood before the flowerbed, her eyes full of surprise.

Morning sunlight spilled over the camellias, and dewdrops still clung to the white petals, crystal clear. Monika crouched down and gently touched a half-open bud.

Aikesi walked to her side and smiled, "I asked your mother-in-law, and she said you loved camellias most when you were little. Fortunately, there is a gardener in the city skilled in this art, so I asked him to transplant some."

Monika turned around, her eyes slightly red, and threw herself into Aikesi's arms: "You... you are always like this."

"Like what?" Aikesi pretended not to understand.

"Makes one want to cry," Monika mumbled, burying her face in his chest, her voice thick with a nasal tone.

Aikesi gently patted her back and smiled, "That won't do; on such a joyous day, one must smile. Come, Diliya has invited you to pick out a wedding dress. She sent someone to urge you early this morning, saying if you don't go, she will buy all the wedding dresses herself, leaving you nothing to choose from."

Monika raised her head, wiped the corner of her eye, and chided, "You only know how to use Sister Diliya to pressure me."

"As long as it works."

The two held hands and walked out of the mansion, heading toward the largest tailor shop in the city.

The tailor shop was on West Street in Baruke Cheng, the oldest established shop in the city, operated by three generations for over eighty years.

Diliya had already been choosing for quite a while.

Five or six wedding dresses lay before her—gold, red, and white—each exquisite and unparalleled.

Gold-thread embroidery and pearl embellishments shimmered in the sunlight. Beside them lay several fabric samples; Diliya had clearly hesitated for a long time. A booklet lay open on the table, displaying various wedding dress styles, each page flipped through several times, its corners curled.

"Monika, come quickly and help me decide!" Diliya waved, her tone carrying a hint of urgency. "This gold one is too magnificent; wearing it would make me look like a golden peacock. This white one is too plain. Linlei said he likes me in pale blue, but how can a wedding dress be blue? I had pale blue fabric dyed, and the embroiderer said she could try, but I fear it might be too unconventional."

Monika walked over, carefully examined the several wedding dresses, and picked them up one by one to inspect. She looked very seriously, not only at the style but also touching the fabric, checking the stitching, and even holding one up against herself to try it on, turning to look in the mirror. Finally, she pointed to a bright red one in the middle: "This one is the best. A red base with gold patterns, solemn yet festive. The neckline and cuffs are embroidered with twin lotuses, symbolizing a husband and wife with one heart. And look at the stitching; it uses double-sided embroidery, equally exquisite on both front and back. Lady Shen's craftsmanship truly lives up to its reputation."

Diliya's eyes lit up. She picked up that wedding dress, held it against herself, and turned to look left and right in the mirror: "It does look good! Monika, your taste is excellent. I also like this twin lotus pattern; it is far more elegant than those dragon-and-phoenix auspicious designs."

She then turned to look at Monika: "You pick one too. Since we are holding our weddings together, how about we wear the same style but in different colors? I'll wear bright red, and you'll wear moon-white; one passionate, one elegant. We'll look great standing together."

Monika felt a bit embarrassed: "I... shouldn't we spare such expense?"

"Don't refuse," Diliya pulled her hand, her tone leaving no room for argument. "You and Aikesi also have your auspicious day; how can you be careless? This is the most important matter of your life; it is only right to dress beautifully. Come, Mistress, make one for my sister too, same style, but with a moon-white base and silver embroidery. The silver thread must be the finest kind, bright but not glaring; it will match the moon-white perfectly."

The mistress hurriedly agreed, taking out a soft tape measure to measure Monika. As she measured, she praised with a click of her tongue: "This young lady has a wonderful figure; narrow shoulders and a slender waist. She will certainly look good in moon-white. I have made clothes for decades, and I rarely see a figure as good as yours, maybe only a few a year."

Monika stood there, allowing the mistress to measure her shoulder width and waist circumference.

"Sister Diliya," Monika said softly.

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

Diliya smiled and pinched her hand: "Silly girl, thank me for what? From now on, we are one family. If you truly wish to thank me, come and keep me company and talk more often."

Meanwhile, at the city gate of Baruke Cheng, three luxurious carriages entered one after another.

The first carriage descended a slightly plump young man in magnificent attire, none other than Yelu Daosen, the young master of the Dawson Chamber of Commerce. He wore a deep purple brocade robe, a white jade belt at his waist, and a pigeon-egg-sized jadeite pendant around his neck, exuding an aura of "I am very rich."

As soon as he stepped out, he shouted at the top of his lungs: "Fourth Brother! Third Brother! Your big brother has arrived!"

His voice was so loud that it startled the city gate guards, and street vendors on the roadside turned to look.

From the second carriage stepped a young man with a refined and scholarly temperament, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a gentle smile; it was Qiaozhi. He wore a moon-white long gown, clean and simple, forming a sharp contrast with Yelu. He stepped down slowly and deliberately, adjusted his sleeves, and smiled as he surveyed this unfamiliar city.

From the third carriage jumped a young man with an agile build and a face full of smiles; it was Leinuo. As soon as he landed, he stretched widely, loosened his muscles and bones, and then looked around as if searching for something delicious or fun.

"Big Brother, keep your voice down; the whole city can hear you," Leinuo laughed. "Are you here to drink the wedding wine or to smash the place?"

Yelu glared: "What? I come to see my brother get married, and I'm not allowed to be happy? Let me tell you, my voice has been trained; I won a prize in the speech contest at the Ernst Institute back in the day."

Qiaozhi shook his head, walked up to the guard, and said gently, "Please announce that old friends from the Ernst Institute have arrived."

The guard had already received orders and immediately saluted: "Three lords, please follow me. Lord Linlei and Lord Aikesi are already waiting in the palace. Preparations at the palace have been underway since early morning. Lord Linlei specifically instructed that once the lords arrive, they are to be brought directly to see him without further announcement."

Upon hearing this, Yelu immediately perked up: "Let's go! Hurry!"

The main hall of the palace.

Linlei and Aikesi stood side by side before the hall, watching Yelu, Qiaozhi, and Leinuo stride forward. Sunlight spilled onto the stone steps before the hall, stretching the shadows of the four men very long.

"Big Brother!" Linlei rushed forward first.

"Fourth Brother!" Yelu opened his arms and hugged Linlei, patting his back.

Yelu released Linlei and turned to Aikesi, sizing him up from head to toe: "Third Brother, you look even more spirited. I heard you married a girl like a fairy? Where is she? Let big brother take a look! Don't hide her away."

Aikesi smiled: "She and Diliya went to pick out wedding dresses; you'll see her later. But Big Brother, put away your jadeite first; it's too dazzling, I can barely open my eyes."

Yelu looked down at the jadeite on his chest and proudly stroked it: "This is called presence, do you understand? How can the young master of the Dawson Chamber of Commerce appear shabby?"

"Good!" Yelu clapped his hands. "I brought thirty carts of wedding gifts this time. You two couples will each get half; no one is favored. Inside are three hundred bolts of brocade, twenty boxes of jewelry, and ten boxes of precious medicinal herbs."

Leinuo leaned over and said with a grin: "Big Brother, you are generous indeed. I only brought a few bottles of fine wine, aged fifty years in my family's winery cellar."

Qiaozhi took two exquisite wooden boxes from his robe and handed them to Linlei and Aikesi respectively: "I have nothing special; these are two pairs of jade discs I collected while traveling the continent these past few years. They are not worth much money, but the meaning is good: one pair symbolizes 'flying wing to wing,' and the other 'one heart, one virtue.'"

Linlei opened the wooden box; inside was a pair of green-white jade discs, warm and fine-textured, carved with exquisite patterns.

He said solemnly, "Qiaozhi, this is too precious."

Qiaozhi pushed his glasses and smiled: "You are getting married; I couldn't possibly come empty-handed. What are these two jade discs compared to that?"

Yelu shouted from the side: "Enough, enough, stop being sentimental. Come, take us to see your mansions!"

"I must go help you plan, see what is missing. Let me tell you, I have traveled north and south these years and seen countless fine residences; even a few casual pointers from me will be enough for you to use."

Aikesi smiled helplessly: "Big Brother, you are still the same."

"That's a must!" Yelu proudly lifted his head. "A person must have some spirit to live. Wherever I, Yelu Daosen, go, I carry this style."

The group arrived at Aikesi's Earl Mansion.

Yelu walked all around, from the main gate to the back courtyard, from the front hall to the kitchen, entering every room to look, not even sparing the latrine. He shook his head now and then, sighed now and then, and finally stood in the center of the courtyard, hands on his hips, delivering his final verdict: "No, no, this garden is too small. How will children run later? Look at this open space, how little is it? A child runs two steps and reaches the wall. And this study, the bookshelves are only three rows, how many books can they hold? Third Brother, you are a scholar; the study is your battlefield. How can a battlefield be this small? The kitchen won't do either; the stove is too small, how can it suffice for banquets? When you invite guests to eat later, you can't keep mooching off the Royal Palace, can you?"

Aikesi was at a loss for words: "Eldest Brother, only two of us live here; it doesn't need to be that big."

"Two people?" Yelu widened his eyes. "What about when you have children? What about when the children grow up and marry wives? You two will need to live more spacious when you get old, right? Listen to me; this mansion must be expanded. I have already thought it through: expand the garden three zhang to the east, add two floors to the study, demolish and rebuild the kitchen; the stove must have at least six burners."

Qiaozhi chuckled from the side: "Eldest Brother, are you going to turn Third Brother's Earl Mansion into a palace?"

"What's wrong with a palace?" Yelu spoke with righteous confidence. "The place where my brother lives must be grand! Ask Fourth Brother; if he didn't live in the Royal Palace, I would expand his mansion too."

Reynolds squatted by the pond in the garden, looking at the koi inside, reaching out to scoop one up, then pulling his hand back.

He turned back and shouted: "Third Brother, your fish are good; let's stew them tonight? I brought fifty-year-old aged wine; paired with braised koi, it's perfect!"

"Monika raised those; if you dare touch one of her fish, she will get angry with you." Aikesi smiled.

Reynolds shrank his neck: "Then forget it."

The group burst into laughter.

In the evening, Diliya and Monika returned to the Earl Mansion.

They carried large and small bags in their hands, containing not only wedding dresses but also several bolts of fabric and some jewelry. Diliya walked ahead, enthusiastically talking to Monika about something, while Monika followed behind, a faint smile on her face.

As soon as Yelu saw Monika, his eyes went straight: "Third Brother, your bride is even more beautiful than you said! You said 'not bad', but this is far from 'not bad'; this is clearly stunning enough to topple nations and cities!"

Monika bowed slightly: "Hello, Eldest Brother Yelu. I often hear Aikesi mention you. He said you are the most righteous person he has ever met; back in the Institute, you took care of him quite a bit."

Yelu hurriedly returned the greeting, then turned to Aikesi, winking and making faces: "Third Brother, you are capable! How did you find such a good girl?"

Aikesi helplessly shook his head.

Diliya walked to Linlei's side, took his arm, and said softly: "Eldest Brother Yelu and the others have arrived; we can discuss the wedding matters. Monika and I have both chosen the wedding dresses; same style, different colors; I am in bright red, she in moon-white; they will surely look beautiful on the wedding day."

Linlei nodded, looking at the group: "Tonight we will eat here at Third Brother's place; let us gather properly. I have already had people prepare wine and dishes, but if Eldest Brother Yelu is not satisfied, he can have his cooks show their skills."

Yelu waved his large hand: "I'll treat! Let the cooks from the Dawson Chamber of Commerce come to cook; I guarantee they will be tastier than those in the Royal Palace!"

"I brought two cooks this time, one for dishes and one for pastries; I hired them from Didu at great expense."

Qiaozhi laughed: "Eldest Brother, are you going to blow up Third Brother's kitchen?"

"Blowing it up is fine for rebuilding; anyway, I plan to expand it for him." Yelu was unconcerned. "I even had someone draw the blueprints; I will show them to Third Brother tomorrow."

The group laughed again.

Night fell, and long tables were set up in the garden of the Earl Mansion.

The cooks brought by Yelu indeed possessed extraordinary skills; over a dozen dishes were complete in color, aroma, and taste, plated exquisitely like works of art. There were steamed bass, braised pork knuckles, crab roe tofu, honey-glazed roast duck, dry-braised giant river prawns, and a dish of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall; when the lid was lifted, the fragrance overflowed, and even passersby outside the courtyard couldn't help but swallow their saliva.

Paired with the fifty-year-old aged wine brought by Reynolds, the group ate heartily.

After three rounds of wine, Yelu raised his cup and stood up: "I propose, for the first toast, to Third Brother and Fourth Brother—both are about to become grooms! May you have children soon and grow old together! Come, drink it all!"

"Cheers!"

The group drank it all in one gulp.

Qiaozhi also stood up: "For the second toast, to our brotherhood. After graduating from Ernst Institute, we went our separate ways; now reuniting in Baruke Cheng is not easy. Along this journey, some experienced life and death, some experienced partings, but no matter what, we are still sitting together; this is the greatest luck."

Reynolds added: "For the third toast, to the future. No matter what happens later, we five will always be brothers! If anyone has difficulties, just say the word; I will go through mountains of knives and seas of fire!"

"Always brothers!"

Five wine cups clinked together, making a crisp sound.

"Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, Fifth Brother." Linlei put down his wine cup and said seriously, "Thank you all. Thank you for rushing here from thousands of miles away; thank you for the wedding gifts you brought."

Yelu waved his hand: "What are you thanking for? We brothers don't talk about that."

Night deepened, and the group dispersed.

After seeing Linlei and the others off, Aikesi returned to the courtyard and saw Monika still sitting on the stone bench in the garden, staring blankly at the pool of koi. Moonlight spilled on the water surface, shimmering; the koi swam beneath the water, occasionally leaping out, splashing up a small water flower.

"What are you thinking about?" Aikesi walked over and sat beside her.

Monika leaned on his shoulder and said softly: "Thinking about our days in the future."

Aikesi put his arm around her shoulder, gazing at the stars in the sky: "The future will be better. After the wedding is over, I will take you out for a walk. Haven't you always wanted to see the sea? I will take you."

Monika hummed in agreement and closed her eyes.

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