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Lan Chi Gets Married
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Indeed, Lu Qi Yang came back to marry Shen Lan Chi.
According to Zhennan Wangfei’s words that day, once Lu Qi Yang returns from the border, he will take Shen Lan Chi as his wife. Zhennan Wangfei and Shen first madam have long calculated the wedding date, both having made all the preparations, just waiting for the groom to return from the border.
As soon as Shen first madam thought of her daughter marrying soon, she just felt somewhat reluctant.
Shen first madam took out more than half of her own dowry, also gathering shops, land deeds, household items, silk, and such, filling up several dozen chests. Not only so, she even specially ordered the renowned embroiderer of the capital to finish making the bright red wedding dress before the end of the year.
Shen Lan Chi had just reunited with Lu Qi Yang not long ago and will soon get married.
The An Duke Manor had gone through falling and rising, so now, mostly kept a low profile everywhere, fearing that they will arouse the new emperor’s suspicion. But, on the day of the young miss’s wedding, the An Duke Manor also decorated itself for once, even giving out new clothes to all the servants.
Shen Lan Chi woke up in the morning and got pressed onto a chair by a few mamas, carefully threading the face. Before threading the face, a layer of white powder needed to be applied. As soon as she saw herself in the mirror, she actually laughed out loud.
The mama tightened the thread in hand, saying: “Miss, don’t randomly move.”
And so, Shen Lan Chi obediently sat there.
She although likes to move around normally, on such an important day, she needs to endure no matter what.
After the Shen family moved back to the An Duke Manor, Ah Luo also came back with her. Bi Yu had married far away, so it wasn’t convenient for her to come back. Lü Zhu, however, came back to become a little housekeeper, usually assisting Shen first madam. As such, on Fulan Courtyard’s side, there was only a diligent Ah Luo.
“Miss, today is the day of your wedding. According to wangfei’s words, miss should properly think about what you want to say to the heir when you see him later.” Ah Luo counted on her fingers as she passed on Zhennan Wangfei’s instructions, “Wangfei said, the heir, being newly married, certainly will have a lot to say to miss. Although there are thousands of words, you should still rest early……”
With a face full of white powder, Shen Lan Chi’s line of sight slightly drifted upwards.
What does she and Lu Qi Yang have to talk about…..?
Actually, there wasn’t anything to talk about. After all, the two of them have long done the deed. Between the bedsheets, they’d already finished saying everything that should be said.
After cleansing the face and fixing the hair, faint sounds of merriment could be heard outside. Afterwards, the Blessed Madam in charge of combing the hair came in. It was the Ji family’s madam, Liang-shi. This Liang-shi was probably feeling somewhat guilty inside, thus as soon as she saw Shen Lan Chi, she just grinned and began praising non-stop.
“Aiya, no wonder your maternal grandmother frequently thinks about you, really a good-looking young lady.” Madam Ji, Liang-shi, took a jade comb from the mama’s hand and inserted it into Shen Lan Chi’s hair, saying with a grinning face, “You have been blessed since birth, so in the future, you will certainly have many descendants.”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Liang-shi smiled as she sized up Shen Lan Chi, endlessly clicking her tongue inside.
This Shen family was lucky. Now that they’ve re-obtained the duke title, even this Shen Lan Chi rose with the tides. Her daughter, Fei Xia, said that his Majesty once liked her in the past, don’t know if it’s true or not. Now that she has married, it’s a good chance to put an end to his Majesty’s thoughts.
Thinking to here, Liang-shi smiled even brighter, “In the future, Lan’er must nicely spend your days with the heir, in harmony and happiness.”
After she finished combing, a mama came over to coil up the hair for the bride, then opened a dressing case, and had the prepared pearl hairpin inserted into the bride’s hair. Afterwards, it was the rouge, powder, and bright red wedding dress.
The style of this wedding dress was carefully decided on by Shen first madam and the embroiderer, able to bring out her slender figure the most. The dress itself was covered in peony blossoms, the wide sleeves flowing, vibrant like the red clouds in the horizon. Once she put it on, the mamas in the surrounding endlessly praised.
The wedding dress has four layers inside and out, extremely thick and heavy. Shen Lan Chi tried to move a few steps, but felt somewhat uncomfortable, softly muttering, “Really a bit cumbersome…..”
“Oh miss, on the day of your wedding, naturally need to dress grandly!” A happily said with a grin, “How can you just randomly put on something?”
Because it was the day of their young lady’s wedding, the little Fulan Courtyard was crowded with people. Three to four mamas stood before the mirror, one straightening the clothes there, one adjusting the hairpin here, each competing to do a little something for Shen Lan Chi.
Shortly, Ah Luo came in from outside and said, “Miss, madam has come to see you.”
When the mamas heard, they all withdrew. Shen first madam stepped in from the outside, her face filled with a gratified look.
“My child, you’re finally marrying today.” After going through the family’s decline, Shen first madam’s face no longer appeared as round and well-maintained as before, but the look in her eyes at this time was extremely soft.
She held Shen Lan Chi’s hand and sat down together on the bed with Shen Lan Chi, softly saying, “Mother is reluctant to part with you, but mother is further unwilling to have you kept by my side. Our family although has experienced ups and downs, we’re still just a plaything in his Majesty’s hand that can be casually grasped. If you stay in the An Duke Manor, it ultimately won’t be peaceful.
Shen Lan Chi nodded, softly replying, “This daughter understands.”
“The Zhennan Wang Manor holds military power in hand, so even his Majesty can’t look down on them. Furthermore, you and the heir grew up together, knowing each other well, so in the future, he certainly will treat you well.” As Shen first madam spoke, her eyes slightly reddened, her voice also choking up, “Once you marry over, you will need to respect him and honor him. Don’t be willful like in the past, making fun of the heir.”
Pausing for a moment, Shen first madam sighed and said, “It’s a pity your older brother isn’t here, unable to see you get married. He is now also hated by many, so unable to return to the capital.” Her voice was full of dejectedness.
Shen Lan Chi was helpless, consoling her mother instead, “Older brother leaving with sister-in-law, for him, is already a fortunate thing. Mother doesn’t need to worry.”
Shen first madam finally revealed a smile. She lifted her head and gazed upon her daughter before her, yet felt as if not matter how much she looked, it wasn’t enough, “Although the heir lives nearby, but once you go out this door, you will belong to the Zhennan Wang Manor…….” After saying this, tears slightly pooled in the bottom of her eyes.
The mother and daughter pair chatted for a long time, seemingly unable to stop. The mama outside repeatedly urged three to four times, saying that the auspicious time was approaching, and in a while, the heir will come to pick up the bride. Shen first madam finally let go of Shen Lan Chi’s hand.
Shen first madam was just about to step out of Fulan Courtyard when a little servant girl hastily ran over, whispering something by her ear. Upon hearing, Shen first madam’s complexion changed, saying, “This…….what should we do?”
His Majesty actually came in person.
Pausing for a moment, she sighed and said, “Can only welcome him in.”
The heavenly son personally gracing the home of a subject with his presence, this was originally a normal matter. But, his Majesty picking such a time, where the bride has yet to be escorted out, coming to the bride’s hime to meet the bride, this was just a bit inappropriate. But, even so, no one dared to refuse, even needing to help his Majesty cover up these inappropriate matters.
• • •
Shen Lan Chi was sitting in her room, flinging around the bright red wedding veil for fun when she heard the door open again.
“Mother, how come you’re…….” As she spoke, she turned around, the sound of her voice stopping abruptly.
Lu Zi Xiang stood at the door, staring at her from afar with a strange and meaningful look.
A while later, he said: “Since Miss Shen is getting married today, this emperor also came to congratulate.”
Shen Lan Chi
Lu Zi Xiang naturally was unable to guess her thoughts. He could only stand by the door and slowly size her up, from top to bottom——–The girl was dressed in a bright red wedding dress, the color like a ball of fire. The peonies on the dress were lifelike, but this king among flowers was unable to surpass her beauty. Merely light powder and rouge, and lightly drawn crescent brows, yet she was like an immortal fairy of the jade terrace in heaven, breathtakingly beautiful.
“Thanking your Majesty.” Shen Lan Chi softly said, “Just, Lan Chi will be marrying soon. Such act afraid is a bit inappropriate.”
“Is that so?” When Lu Zi Xiang heard, he lightly smiled, slowly saying, “You don’t need to worry. This emperor really just came over to look at you and won’t go as far as to be like those low-class scoundrels, doing something to you. For the Zhennan Wang heir to be able to marry such a beautiful wife, this emperor can only envy.”
“Your Majesty’s words terrify Lan Chi.” Shen Lan Chi had her head hung even lower, “Moreover, your Majesty and the empress are very loving. It is known by all of Chu from top to bottom, so why the need for your Majesty to envy?”
Hearing these words of hers, Lu Zi Xiang fell silent. A moment later, he slightly sighed and said, “Yes, the empress is also a sincere person.”
An ordinary subject absolutely won’t have the opportunity to hear such words from the current emperor. Shen Lan Chi slightly retreated a step and said, “Your Majesty, the auspicious time is near. How about asking your Majesty to first go to the front banquet?”
Zhennan Wang Manor and the An Duke Manor were just separated by a wall to begin with. Saying that the ‘auspicious time has come’, Lu Qi Yang very likely has already set half a foot through the Shen Manor gate. Currently, it was that noisy outside, so perhaps it was the wedding procession playing the instruments.
When Lu Zi Xiang heard, the smile on his lips deepened, “This emperor knows, will head there now.”
Right at this time, there was a racket outside, followed by the startled cries of women.
“Heir——”
“Heir! You can’t go in right now…..”
“Must wait for the bridesmaid to have the bride escorted out…….”
Before the clamor subsided, the figure of a man directly charged into the courtyard. He was tall to begin with, so at this time, his strides were like a meteor, simply no one was able to stop him. In just a few steps, he directly burst into Shen Lan Chi’s room, standing face-to-face with Lu Zi Xiang.
Lu Qi Yang was wearing the wedding attire, his handsome face carrying slight frost, fixedly staring at Lu Zi Xiang. He was dressed in bright red, his entire demeanor exuded a bit of ostentatious boldness. In the past, he was always frivolous, yet now, carried a sharpness that couldn’t be restrained.
Even if Lu Zi Xiang was already the esteemed emperor, he still felt his edge was too sharp, faintly sensing a threat.
Lu Zi Xiang’s eyes spun, sweeping his gaze back and lightly chuckling, “Heir, to directly intrude like this, afraid it’s somewhat against etiquette.”
When Lu Qi Yang heard, he also sneered and said, “To have let your Majesty see something embarrassing. I was born into a military family, not understanding etiquette too well since childhood. Right now, I’m going to do something even more against the rules, hoping that your Majesty don’t blame me.”
“Oh?” Lu Zi Xiang was slightly interested, saying with a smile, “What?”
Lu Qi Yang tightened his narrow sleeves and went forward in three steps, going all the way before Shen Lan Chi. Raising his hand, he had her picked up horizontally. Amidst the girl’s startled cry, he turned around and said in a bright voice, “I’m going to have the bride carried back home.”
After saying this, he just held her horizontally like this and directly walked out. When leaving, he didn’t forget to have the red wedding veil placed onto Shen Lan Chi’s head.
How important was the process of welcoming the bride? There has never been anyone that had the bride brazenly carried out like this. But, Lu Qi Yang did it. Not only so, he even carried her all the way through the hanging flower gate and past the shadow wall, heading outward.
The An Duke Manor and Zhennan Wang Manor’s wedding attracted quite a few commoners over to spectate. These two families lived close to begin with, even spared from the hassle of having an escort squad. The commoners were very curious as to how the heir will have the bride who was rumored to be ‘extremely incompatible with him and mutually disappointed in’ married back home. They’d long stuck their heads out, watching from outside.
The wedding procession sounded the instruments, the ceremonial music quaking the skies, extraordinarily lively. The bride’s dowry got lifted out like flowing water, immediately turning and entering the groom’s home.
Shortly after, the groom came out, even coming out with the bride in his arms.
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