The noble girl is beautiful.

On the day of Shen Yourong’s wedding, the weather was clear and crisp, a perfect autumn day. Pots of golden chrysanthemums filled every corner of the courtyard, and bright red silk ribbons, like clouds, stretched from the Duke of Qi’s mansion all the way to Prince Duan’s residence.

That morning, Shen Yourong rose before dawn. The maidservants, each adorned with red silk ribbons and hairpins with red flowers, surrounded her, helping her change into her radiant wedding dress, as brilliant as the morning glow. The phoenixes embroidered on it seemed ready to take flight, with their tail feathers intricately crafted from gold and silver threads, adorned with gemstones and coral, making the gown a dazzling array of colors.

Du Juan and Hua Mei competed to compliment her beauty. As Shen Yourong dressed in her bridal attire, four or five elderly women gathered around her at the dressing table, placing a phoenix crown encrusted with pearls and jewels on her head. Du Juan stood nearby, holding over ten gold hairpins, watching the women decorate Shen Yourong’s hair.

Hua Mei quietly brought a bowl of bird’s nest porridge and said, “Miss, you should eat something.”

Before Shen Yourong could respond, the elderly women replied, “She can’t eat! Smudging her makeup is a small matter, but appearing unsightly in front of others is a big one. Miss, let’s endure it for now.”

Shen Yourong had no choice but to relent.

It took over an hour to finish her makeup and hair. When she finally stood up and looked at herself in the full-length mirror, she was momentarily taken aback, almost not recognizing herself. She had grown into a graceful young woman, with an elegant figure and a captivating presence. The luxurious wedding gown, despite its weight of gemstones and crown, couldn’t outshine her radiant beauty.

As the first light of dawn appeared, someone outside announced that it was time to go to the ancestral hall.

In the ancestral hall, Shen Yourong’s birth mother, Lady Zhou, was now only a wooden plaque, silently watching over her.

She had passed away over a decade ago. The heart-wrenching pain of losing her mother had long since turned into a lingering ache. Kneeling before the memorial tablet, Shen Yourong found herself at a loss for words.

If her mother were here today to see her daughter off on her wedding day, what would it have been like?

With reddened eyes, she silently kowtowed three times.

Afterward, she went to her grandmother’s courtyard to bid farewell. Shen Qinghan and Shen Sihui were also present. Concerned about her elaborate attire, none of them dared to cry. They merely held her hand with red-rimmed eyes, unsure of what to say.

This was supposed to be a day of joy, meant to be filled with happiness.

As the morning light brightened, guests had already gathered in the front courtyard. Firecrackers began to explode, and the music from the opera troupe started to play.

The old Lady placed the bridal veil over Shen Yourong’s head and said, “Go on.”

Shen Yourong bowed low in respect, then, escorted by her maidservants, went to the main hall to bid farewell to her father and stepmother.

Shen Ying’s eyes were moist, and Lady Yang, filled with emotion, held her hand, giving her a few words of advice.

The sounds of celebration filled Shen Yourong’s ears. She saw a pair of shoes before her, and even at this moment, Shen Shuo’s voice remained calm and clear.

“Let’s go. Your brother will see you off.”

He lifted her onto his back. His sister was light, but the weight of the bright red wedding dress seemed to press down on her. She heard him mutter under his breath, “This wedding dress is so heavy, and the phoenix crown too. It must be exhausting to wear all this.”

She smiled and said, “I’m not afraid of being tired.”

He was silent for a while before he replied, “That’s good. As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters.”

She then sat inside the bridal sedan chair, the embroidered curtain falling over the door, obscuring her view.

With a shout, the sedan chair was lifted. A sudden bang from the firecrackers startled everyone. Immediately, Shen Yourong’s ears were filled with the sounds of firecrackers, congratulatory voices, and the lively music from the opera troupe.

Both sides of the road were lined with red silk, with commoners standing outside the silk barriers watching. Along the way, women scattered coins, silver melon seeds, gold leaves, sugared treats, and dried fruits, the sounds of which drew children to scramble and collect them.

She removed the bridal veil and was about to lift the curtain to peek outside, but Du Juan held it down firmly. “Miss, it’s not proper to look outside.”

Shen Yourong chuckled and muttered, “I’m the one getting married, yet the wedding dress on me is something I can’t fully see, I can’t exchange words with the people who came to congratulate me, and I can’t even take a look at my ten-mile-long wedding procession.”

As she murmured to herself, she carefully folded the bridal veil on her lap, as if doing so would somehow give her more courage.

The sedan chair passed through street after street, finally coming to a stop. The noise outside grew lively again, and Shen Yourong hurriedly placed the veil back over her head.

Soon after, light suddenly streamed in as someone lifted the embroidered curtain of the sedan chair. She quickly composed herself, sitting upright. With her gaze lowered, she could only see the hem of a red dragon robe.

Someone outside the sedan called for the bride to be received. Ji Zhuo, seeing the girl in her red bridal attire, hesitated for a moment before suddenly leaning in, blocking the view of the others, and swiftly lifted her bridal veil.

Caught off guard, Shen Yourong found herself face-to-face with him. He was dressed in a bright red robe embroidered with colorful clouds, wearing a golden crown and jade belt. The vibrant colors of his outfit made him appear even more dazzling and imposing.

She was stunned for a moment before she said, “What are you doing?”

His gaze lingered on her face for a long moment before he casually looked away and said, “Your veil was on backward.”

She blushed, “Oh.”

The people outside noticed Ji Zhuo had entered the sedan and cautiously urged him to hurry. He unfolded the bridal veil, embroidered with phoenixes and peonies, and carefully placed it back over Shen Yourong’s head. As he watched the bright red silk veil cover her fair skin and delicate features, he felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

He extended his hand, helping her out of the sedan chair. Although his earlier actions were somewhat unconventional, no one dared to challenge him, and the joyous reception of the bride continued.

He held her hand as they stepped over the fire basin, walked along the stone path, and entered the main hall. This was the first time he had touched her hand. Her hands were soft and delicate, with a slender finger adorned with a ruby ring, accentuating amid the calls of the ceremony officials and the blessings of the guests, Shen Yourong and Ji Zhuo completed the grand ritual, bowing to the heavens and the earth.

No one knew how long the festivities lasted, but eventually, the sky outside darkened. Shen Yourong sat in the bridal chamber, with Du Juan and Hua Mei standing beside her, while the maidservants and stewards from Prince Duan’s residence waited outside. The room was brightly lit with red candles, adorned everywhere with red silk and festive decorations. The noise from outside seemed distant, and Shen Yourong, waiting for what felt like an eternity, only felt the weight of the crown on her head growing unbearable.

Finally, Ji Zhuo arrived, much to her anticipation. The sound of hurried footsteps filled the room, and suddenly, there were many people in the inner chamber. A steward brought in a set of scales, requesting Prince Duan to lift the bride’s veil.

Ji Zhuo picked up the scales and lifted the veil from Shen Yourong’s head. Instantly, her vision cleared, and she felt as if she could finally breathe freely.

She looked up to see him, who was smiling warmly at her.

The steward then suggested it was time for the couple to drink the nuptial wine.

A maid promptly brought out a pair of white jade cups, each filled with wine. Ji Zhuo picked up one cup and handed the other to Shen Yourong. They linked arms and drank the wine together.

The stewards began to congratulate them, one after another offering blessings.

Ji Zhuo, in high spirits, said, “You may all go now and receive your rewards.”

They all filed out of the room, leaving only Shen Yourong and Ji Zhuo behind.

Whether it was due to the red candlelight or the effects of the wine, Shen Yourong’s cheeks were tinged with a soft blush, making her even more beautiful.

“Sit down; it’s tiring for me to keep looking up at you,” she said.

Ji Zhuo chuckled and stepped forward, helping her remove the phoenix crown.

Her long hair, now fully styled and piled up like clouds at the back of her head, was relieved of the crown, leaving only a few golden hairpins. With the crown gone, she felt much more comfortable.

She shook her head slightly and looked up, only to meet his smiling gaze. Feeling a bit shy, she asked, “What are you looking at?”

He smiled and said, “I’m admiring my beautiful wife and counting my blessings.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “But you already saw me when you lifted the sedan curtain earlier, and you didn’t seem that amazed.”

Ji Zhuo, still smiling, said nothing. Just then, there was a commotion outside. He stepped out and soon returned, carrying a food box.

Even from the inner chamber, Shen Yourong could smell the fragrance emanating from the food box. Ji Zhuo placed it on the Eight Immortals table and said, “I knew you hadn’t eaten anything all day, so I had something prepared for you.”

He personally set the meal before her—a steaming bowl of shrimp congee and a few side dishes. The enticing aroma made Shen Yourong’s mouth water.

The candles on the table were still burning brightly as Ji Zhuo sat beside her, patiently watching her eat.

She glanced at him and asked, “Did you drink a lot of wine tonight? Would you like something to eat as well?”

He rubbed his forehead, “I didn’t drink much. Shen Shuo couldn’t stand the thought of anyone ruining his sister’s wedding night, so he helped me fend off a lot of drinks.”

Shen Yourong nodded and, after setting down the white porcelain spoon, said, “I’m done.”

Ji Zhuo raised his hand, signaling the maidservants waiting outside to clear away the dishes.

After finishing the meal, Shen Yourong unconsciously yawned, her eyes blinking with a touch of drowsy affection. She had risen early and been busy all day, and now she was truly exhausted.

But with Ji Zhuo still before her, she looked at him and said, “Shall we…”

“Your lipstick is smudged, he suddenly remarked.

She touched her lips, realizing that the lipstick must have smudged after eating.

He took her hand and led her to the dressing table, where he picked up a box of lipstick. He dabbed a bit on his fingertip and leaned in close to her.

Never having been so close to anyone before, She looked at him with a mix of shyness and confusion.

Ji Zhuo, in a good mood, applied the lipstick to her lips and casually remarked, “I put your veil on and took it off. I applied your lipstick, so naturally, I should be the one to…”

Shen Yourong finally understood, and her face flushed instantly.

The red candles on the table continued to burn tirelessly, and at some point, the hibiscus curtains around the bed had been drawn. Occasionally, a swallow would perch by the window, peeking in, but the heavy doors remained tightly shut, and the delicate curtains quivered in the night.
—————————–Translator’s Note
Hi lovelies,I’ll be releasing 3 or more chapters daily cause it’s close to completion. Thank you for reading:)
https://ko-fi.com/quarinnah