Chapter 745: Bad at Studying [Thank You! Bow Again! 36k Words Owed]

In the afternoon,

no wind,

the weather was clear.

The wedding gift had been delivered that morning.

“Dong dong qiang,”

“Weng weng weng,”

The musicians walked at the very front of the Ningyuan Marquis’s Gu family’s wedding procession, their drumbeats lively and brisk, flutes and shengs harmonizing seamlessly, a festive aura naturally rising from the music.

Xu Zaijing, riding behind the procession, nodded repeatedly as he listened.

Hearing the wedding music, Liang Han turned and smiled at Xu Zaijing.

In Xu Zaijing’s line of sight, among those behind, there were few of Gu’s cousins—only one, the youngest unmarried son of the fifth branch, Gu Tingdi.

Xu Zaijing understood this well.

Gu Yan Kai, the late Ningyuan Marquis, though the eldest legitimate son of the Gu family, had several younger siblings, but his military service in youth delayed his marriage; he returned to the capital only when quite old.

The bride he chose was Qin Yan Yun, the eldest daughter of the Dongchang Marquis’s Qin family.

In the capital, rumors said this Qin Lady had been frail and sickly since childhood, her slender frame unsuited for childbearing; Gu Yan Kai’s parents had strongly disapproved.

But Gu Yan Kai was determined, begging and pleading relentlessly, even threatening to take his own life until his parents relented.

From this, one could see how much Gu Tingye’s stubborn nature resembled his father’s.

After marriage, this Qin Lady proved indeed frail; one day while serving the old Marquis’s mother her meal, she fainted outright.

Thus, out of consideration for her health, the old Marquis’s mother no longer required her to serve meals.

With such a constitution, bearing children was naturally difficult; after years of marriage with no pregnancy, Gu Tingyu was born no older than his other cousins.

And Gu Tingye, as the second legitimate son, was considerably younger than his other cousins.

As a result, most of Gu Tingye’s elder cousins were already married.

Of course,

Bai Shi had not asked Gu’s younger branch cousins to serve as groomsmen not only because they were already married,

but also because their reputations in the capital were poor: some were lawless, frequenting brothels and gambling dens—none were decent men.

Gu Tingye, now protected by his mother and guided by his elder brother and friends, had never been a wild youth of the capital—no bad reputation attached to him.

The mothers and fathers of those cousins remained unchanged; whatever dirty deeds Gu Tingyang, Gu Tingbing, and others had done could not be blamed on Gu Tingye.

And as for Gu Tingyang, upon hearing Xu Zaijing would serve as Gu Tingye’s groomsman, he quickly claimed to have caught a cold and dared not show his face.

Thus, Bai Shi readily agreed and directly appointed Xu Zaijing, Chang Bai, Qi Heng, and their fellow students as groomsmen.

Xu Zaijing, Qi Heng, and the others were sons of dukes and marquises; Chang Bai and Chang Feng were even juren-degree holders—far more dignified than Gu’s few cousins.

Thinking of this,

Xu Zaijing continued watching Gu Tingye ahead, mounted on a tall steed, dressed in wedding robes.

To avoid stealing the groom’s spotlight, Xu Zaijing rode a horse he’d had for over a decade—a fine steed chosen by his master Yin Bo, whose frame was slimmer by a full circle than its own offspring, Xiao Li.

It was the warmest part of the day,

and the route from Xingguo Alley’s Gu residence to Banyang Alley’s Yu residence passed mostly through the inner city,

amid the blaring wedding music,

many Bianjing residents, drawn by the noise, lined the streets and doorways to watch the spectacle.

People occasionally shouted auspicious phrases toward the procession, and Gu Tingye and Xu Zaijing and the others all smiled and bowed in return.

After walking for some time,

the wedding procession arrived on Chunming Alley.

The crowd on the road parted to either side, gazing curiously at the procession; carriages and donkey carts also pulled to the curb.

Xu Zaijing, accustomed to scanning his surroundings,

suddenly froze as his gaze locked onto something.

He saw a carriage by the roadside, its curtain drawn back, a woman inside pointing at Gu Tingye and speaking to a young girl beside her.

Seeing the woman in the carriage, the attendant Xiang Mama, and the wooden plaque hanging on the carriage bearing the character “Tan,” Xu Zaijing glanced at Gu Tingye and smiled faintly.

Some things, it seemed, were known only to him.

Inside the roadside carriage,

the girl turned to her mother and said: “Mother, the brother behind the groom just looked this way!”

Formerly Qin Shi, now Qin Yanwen, the principal lady of the fourth branch of the Tan family, smiled and patted her daughter’s cheek.

Xiang Mama whispered beside the carriage: “Miss, he must be riding just behind the Xu family’s fifth young master and his group.”

“Mm.” Qin Yanwen nodded, continuing to watch the procession.

Soon,

Qing Yun, laughing and chatting with Zhi Que, appeared in Qin Yanwen’s line of sight.

After watching for a long while,

the wedding procession was about to pass by,

“Let’s go, back to the mansion,” Qin Yanwen said softly.

In Banyang Alley,

before the Yu family’s gate, all was bustling,

neighbors and passersby gathered along the roadside.

The Gu family’s wedding procession slowed to a stop; Xu Zaijing and the other groomsmen dismounted alongside Gu Tingye.

Seeing Yu Erlang’s ingratiating smile at the gate, Gu Tingye walked straight over with his group, smiling.

Before Yu Erlang could speak, Liang Han stepped forward and clasped him in a friendly embrace; Yu Erlang, wise enough to yield, made no resistance and began chatting with Liang Han.

As Qing Yun, Han Niu, and others scattered coins and dried fruits, causing a commotion, Gu Tingye entered the Yu residence directly.

In the Yu family’s front courtyard,

Xu Zaijing followed Gu Tingye along the path to the main hall, where many Yu relatives and friends stood.

Suddenly,

a well-dressed young man, whom Xu Zaijing recognized at once, stepped forward with a bow and a smile.

Xu Zaijing blinked, thought a moment, then recognized him as Shui Jin Yu, the jinshi who passed the imperial exam last year; years ago, when he first came to the capital with little means, he had eaten from the porridge stalls set up to celebrate the birth of the young princess.

After passing the exam, he married a daughter of the wealthy Tan family of Bianjing.

And the Tan family’s residence seemed to be nearby.

“Brother Shui, pleasure to meet you.”

“Congratulations to Second Young Master and Fifth Young Master! Pleasure to meet you!” Shui Jin Yu replied with a smile.

After exchanging greetings,

they reached the entrance to the main hall; Xu Zaijing and the other groomsmen stopped there, waiting outside.

Watching Shui Jin Yu standing nearby, Qi Heng asked curiously: “Jing Ge, who is that?”

Xu Zaijing explained.

Chang Bai and Chang Feng, hearing he was a jinshi, immediately bowed and spoke respectfully.

After a few words,

“The bride is coming!”

A full-fortune woman’s voice rang out,

everyone fell silent and turned toward the sound.

Soon,

Yu Yanran appeared, holding a round fan, dressed in wedding robes.

Gu Tingye grinned like a fool.

The ceremony continued,

Yu Erlang and his sister Yu Yanhong had already joined Gu Da Niangzi’s side.

“Serve tea!”

At the full-fortune woman’s call, Xu Zaijing and the others outside watched as Gu Tingye approached with the tea tray.

Liang Han, standing beside Xu Zaijing, whispered: “Jing Ge, look at Young Master Yu—he’s smiling so hard his face is squished together.”

Xu Zaijing nodded, murmuring: “Looking at Gu Da Niangzi’s smile, you’d think she’s genuinely happy for Miss Yu.”

“Hmph!” Liang Han couldn’t help laughing softly: “These women in the inner quarters are such actors! Jing Ge, look at Miss Yu the third.”

“Huh?” Xu Zaijing quickly looked, then tugged at Qi Heng, who was glancing around.

“Hm?” Qi Heng, distracted, turned to Xu Zaijing: “Jing Ge, what is it?”

“Yuan Ruo, what are you looking at?” Xu Zaijing asked, glancing at the crowd outside.

Qi Heng forced a smile: “Chang Bai said Grandmother Sheng has come to the Yu residence—I wonder where Ru Lan and the other sisters are watching.”

Xu Zaijing nodded: “Oh! Look beside Gu Da Niangzi.”

“Huh?”

Qi Heng followed his gaze.

Then Qi Heng met Yu Yanhong’s eyes; Yu Yanhong immediately blushed and turned away.

Qi Heng scowled at Xu Zaijing: “Jing Ge, you!”

“Six Lang ’s idea!” Xu Zaijing grinned, pointing at Liang Han.

Liang Han looked utterly innocent: “No, Jing-ge, it’s not like that between you and me.”

At this moment,

Gu Tingye and Yu Anyan had already finished offering tea.

In the hall, Elder Yu smiled and nodded at Yu Anyan.

Elder Yu’s wife wore a broad smile, yet her eyes brimmed with glistening tears.

Neither of the elders rose; they watched as Gu Tingye and Yu Anyan left the hall.

Xingguo Fang,

Ningyuan Marquis’s residence,

the wedding procession had returned.

At the main gate of the marquis’s residence,

near the stone lions tied with red silk,

women from the Yu and Gu families continued scattering grains, beans, coins, and fruits; passersby scrambled to gather them, creating a lively scene.

In the main hall of the front courtyard,

Marquis Gu Yan Kai and Bai Shi sat on the raised chairs at the head of the hall.

Beside Bai Shi stood her elaborately dressed daughter-in-law, Pingmei’s daughter Tingyi; before Tingyi stood her nephew Gu Shixing and niece Yan Jie.

On the chairs flanking Gu Yan Kai sat the Gu clan elders, along with the younger brothers and their wives from the fourth and fifth branches, and Gu Tingye’s aunt, who had married into the prestigious Yang family.

Behind the heads of the fourth and fifth branches stood their own sons and daughters-in-law.

Nearby stood Xu Zaijing, Chang Bai, and their fellow students, as well as noblewomen like Chai Zhengzheng and Rong Feiyan, plus relatives such as Xie Shi, Hua Lan, and Anmei—the hall was nearly packed to bursting.

With his son married,

Bai Shi was naturally overjoyed; from the moment Gu Tingye and Yu Anyan entered the hall, she kept nodding and smiling.

Gu Yan Kai, usually stern and expressionless, could not help but smile slightly, his eyes filled with satisfaction as he gazed at Yu Anyan, the daughter of a scholarly family, and he nodded repeatedly.

“Bow to Heaven and Earth!”

At the matchmaker’s call, Gu Tingye and Yu Anyan began their wedding bows.

Wu Dangzi stood among the crowd, watching the newlyweds, then suddenly had an idea; she glanced toward the group of noblewomen gathered nearby—Zhang Wu Niang, Rong Feiyan, and others.

Seeing Chai Zhengzheng in the crowd, Wu Dangzi smiled inwardly: “Oh? Today, Miss Zhengzheng isn’t ‘focused on her studies.’”

Thinking this, Wu Dangzi followed the noblewomen’s gazes and turned to look behind her.

There, beside Xu Zaijing, Liang Han stood on tiptoe, craning his neck, grinning ahead. “Mother, what’s wrong? Why are you looking at us?”

Wu Dangzi glanced at Xu Zaijing, then scowled at Liang Han and whispered, “Stand properly!”

“Oh.” Liang Han sheepishly replied.

Xu Zaijing smiled at Liang Han’s expression.

Then,

Xu Zaijing continued watching the people in the hall.

He looked at smiling Bai Shi, then at Gu Tingye, and finally at Gu Yan Kai, who was stroking his beard.

“To the bridal chamber!”

In the bridal chamber,

the tying of hair, the sharing of the wine cup—these rituals were performed personally by Madam Chang.

After the ceremony, Yu Anyan’s face had flushed red countless times.

The redder Yu Anyan’s face became, the louder Xu Zaijing and the others laughed and teased.

This caused Gu Tingye to glare at them from time to time.

As the sun sank toward the west,

the sky darkened,

when Gu Tingye was escorted back to the bridal chamber by Zhi Que, Xu Zaijing, Chang Bai, and the others were nearly ready to board their carriages home.

At the beginning of the Xu hour (after seven p.m.)

east of the imperial city,

the Chai residence,

that night the sky held no moon, only stars flickering intermittently.

This made the darkness even deeper.

Outside, the winter wind bit through the skin; inside, the heated floor kept the room warm.

Inside, the candlelight glowed brightly, casting a patch of illumination onto the ground outside the door through the windows.

Inside,

a faint, soothing fragrance drifted from the incense burner, floating through the room.

Suddenly,

the light inside and out flickered—someone had opened the door and lifted the cotton curtain, causing the candle flames to sway.

“Click.”

The door closed, shutting out the cold.

“Did you pass on everything the mistress asked for?” Yun Mu asked Zi Teng as he helped Chai Zhengzheng remove her cloak.

Zi Teng glanced at Chai Zhengzheng and said, “It’s been sent. All shop managers within the capital and to the southeast will receive the message.”

As she spoke,

Chai Zhengzheng, accompanied by her maids, entered the inner chamber—her clothes had already been changed.

Seeing her mistress, who had returned home silent and now sat directly behind the table on a brocade-cushioned chair, Yun Mu hesitated: “Mistress, I heard the Xu family has already sent people southeast. What good will our efforts do?”

Chai Zhengzheng rested her elbows on the table, cupped her cheeks in her hands, and stared at the lantern before her: “The more effort we put in, the greater the chance that girl Qingcao will find her brother.”

Yun Mu nodded.

The next day,

at noon,

still a clear day,

a carriage bearing a wooden sign reading “Kang” traveled along the road west of Bianjing’s outer city.

The elderly driver, wrinkled and with white hair and beard, wore a plain earflap hat and a worn sheepskin coat; he cracked his whip.

“Snap!”

The whip cracked through the air; the slightly veering draft horses quickly pulled closer to the roadside.

As he whipped, the driver glanced nervously around him!

“Old man, you’ve come such a long way—rest! There’s a small charcoal stove inside; have some hot water to warm yourself.” A woman inside the carriage said softly.

“Thank you, young lady! But let’s get past this area first!” The old driver kept glancing behind him.

The woman, lifting the carriage curtain, looked at the driver and asked, “Old sir, why do you seem so fearful?”

“I won’t hide it, young lady—I once worked for the Kang household. That day, right near here, the passengers were ambushed by bandits!”

“Ambushed? Was it… Qi Mama’s family?”

“Yes! That’s them.”

Hearing the conversation outside, Kang Zhao’er stared fearfully at the woman beside her: “Young lady, are there really bandits who kill people?”

The woman, who had just returned to the capital after attending a funeral at the Kang estate, said nothing, only glanced nervously outside, her voice trembling: “Old man, let’s hurry!”

“Giddap!”

The carriage sped up.

Inside, Kang Zhao’er, ignoring the cold wind blowing in, lifted the curtain and peered out with wary eyes.

Suddenly,

the girl’s gaze sharpened; she cried out urgently: “Young lady, look! By the roadside—there’s someone lying down!”

(End of chapter)