Gu Jianli smiled lightly and nodded in greeting to the others in the room. Without saying much, she went to select bracelets for Long Yujun. In this world, the bride takes precedence over everything.
Everyone in the room began bustling around Long Yujun.
The lucky lady stood upright behind Long Yujun, holding a jade comb. The jade comb ran through Long Yujun’s long hair, combing from top to bottom. With each stroke, she loudly recited a blessing.
“First comb to the end, wealth without worry.”
“Second comb to the end, health without ailment.”
“Third comb to the end, harmony in marriage.”
“Second comb to the end, flying together like two birds.”
“Third comb to the end, forever united in heart.”
“With a beginning and an end, wealth and prosperity—” ①
The lucky lady’s voice was rich and melodious, deliberately drawn out, making the third blessing sound devout and solemn. The previously busy people stopped their tasks, gathered around Long Yujun, and smiled at her.
After the third comb, the women in the room began to congratulate her one after another. The bridal chamber, adorned in red, was filled with laughter and joy.
The hairdresser started to style Long Yujun’s hair, inserting one exquisite hairpin after another into her hair. Today marked the completion of her bridal look.
Gu Jianli watched Long Yujun, her eyes smiling.
Outside, the sound of firecrackers and drums celebrating the occasion grew closer. The auspicious hour was approaching. The girls in the room teased and joked, and even the usually composed Long Yujun showed some signs of nervousness.
A maid ran in with a beaming smile, announcing that the old lady from the Prime Minister’s residence had arrived. Not only had Long Yujun’s grandmother come, but also her stepmother. Long Yujun’s biological mother had passed away years ago. Her grandmother and stepmother held Long Yujun’s hands, giving her meticulous and heartfelt advice. During their conversation, the old lady’s eyes turned red, while Long Yujun’s stepmother, though appearing sorrowful and reluctant, didn’t truly show it in her eyes.
Gu Jianli glanced at them and, listening to the advice from Long Yujun’s grandmother and stepmother, understood their attitude towards Long Yujun’s marriage.
While Long Yujun spoke with her grandmother and stepmother, the other girls also relaxed and began chatting in small groups.
Tang Honghui casually walked over to Gu Jianli and said with a smile, “Jianli, who did you invite to comb your hair when you got married? I am getting married at the end of the year and haven’t decided on a lucky lady yet.”
Lucky lady? Gu Jianli didn’t have one. She had put on a cheap red dress from the market, sat in the bridal sedan chair, and got married without any of the formalities.
Several girls nearby looked over.
Gu Jianli glanced at Tang Honghui quietly and said, “Sister Yujun invited Madam Yao, who is an excellent choice. Sister Tang can also invite Madam Yao.”
Before Tang Honghui could respond, He Baojun interjected with a playful smile, “Honghui, Madam Yao is right here. Why are you thinking of inviting someone else? Aren’t you afraid Madam Yao won’t like it and refuse to come and comb your hair?”
Madam Yao, who was talking to a maid a little further away, vaguely heard someone calling her and looked over.
Tang Honghui’s face reddened, and she glared at He Baojun, clearly showing her embarrassment. Her little ploy to embarrass Gu Jianli was bluntly exposed by He Baojun, and she couldn’t think of a retort.
He Baojun didn’t actually mean to help Gu Jianli. She just felt that although Gu Jianli was now disfigured and poorly married, she was still a princess. It was fine to gossip behind her back with close sisters, but they had to maintain appearances in public.
The auspicious time arrived, and the room became a flurry of activity. Long Yujun’s smile stiffened slightly as the lucky lady covered her with the red veil and led her out of the bridal chamber. She bid farewell to her elders in the main hall and was carried to the bridal sedan chair by her brother.
Gu Jianli and the other girls boarded carriages arranged by the Long family. Long Yujun’s cousins rode in one carriage, while Gu Jianli and several other close friends rode in another.
Gu Jianli lifted the curtain of the small window and observed the groom, Yu Changhuai, who sat on a tall horse ahead.
Long Yujun’s marriage was against her family’s wishes, making the groom’s family situation particularly important. Gu Jianli didn’t notice any flaws in Yu Changhuai at first glance, but it was too brief to make a definitive judgment.
As the carriage bumped along, Tang Honghui, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke halfway through the journey, “Jianli, have the pox marks on your face cleared up?”
The other three official daughters riding with them were stunned. None had expected Tang Honghui to ask so bluntly. This was too obvious!
Gu Jianli was also surprised. She let go of the curtain, slowly turned to Tang Honghui, and looked at her calmly, without any anger or resentment. This composure made Tang Honghui even more conflicted. She disliked Gu Jianli’s calm demeanor the most. If Gu Jianli cried or made a fuss, Tang Honghui might have kindly comforted her and helped her find a doctor. But why did Gu Jianli remain so high and mighty despite her downfall?
Gu Jianli spoke softly, “Naturally, they haven’t cleared. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be wearing a veil. Surviving smallpox is already fortunate. As for these scars, it would be best if they could heal. Is there a cure that Tang girl can suggest?”
Tang Honghui’s expression stiffened, and she stammered, “I, I don’t have a cure…”
Gu Jianli smiled lightly, her gaze sweeping over the other girls in the carriage, and said gently, “If any of you know a cure, please let me know. I would be immensely grateful.”
“If I find out, I’ll send word to you immediately. I have a relative who also suffered from smallpox, and their family is looking for a cure too,” Cheng Meiya said first.
“My brother knows some local doctors. I’ll ask him when I get home,” He Baojun added.
“I don’t have the connections like you, but I do have some pretty headbands and veils from foreign lands. Would you like them?” Yue Bilan offered hesitantly.
“Of course,” Gu Jianli said with a gentle smile. “Thank you all for your concern.”
Yue Bilan breathed a sigh of relief and tentatively asked, “Does it hurt a lot? Oh, during that time, smallpox was everywhere in the city, and people were dying every day. It was terrifying!”
“Of course it hurt,” Gu Jianli replied seriously and briefly talked about smallpox.
Tang Honghui clenched her silk handkerchief, twisting it until the threads pulled apart. She hated Gu Jianli’s upright demeanor! Why wasn’t Gu Jianli angry? Why didn’t she cry or throw a fit?
What a pretense!
Ha, she might be keeping a brave face, but inside, she must be crying and bleeding.
Thinking this way, Tang Honghui felt a bit better.
Gu Jianli chatted with the girls for a while longer, then lifted the curtain again, observing the conduct of the Yu family servants. She genuinely cared about Long Yujun and was paying extra attention. So far, everything seemed fine.
Tang Honghui’s eyes flashed, and she spoke again, “Although the Yu family’s status is lower, they are a family of scholars. The groom, in particular, is as handsome as Pan An and well-read, and his devotion to Sister Yujun is enviable.”
Tang Honghui paused for a moment, ignored He Baojun’s glance, and asked with a smile, “Jianli, how is Master Ji treating you?”
Cheng Meiya frowned and spoke up, “Honghui, are you not feeling well today?”
Yue Bilan also chimed in, “Today is Sister Yujun’s big day. Let’s focus on her.”
“I am concerned about Jianli,” Tang Honghui said with a smile. “Jianli, sometimes my words can be harsh, but it’s because I care about you. Master Ji is known by everyone in the capital. Since I learned you married him, I have been worrying about you day and night. Jianli, don’t worry about keeping up appearances. If you’re unhappy, it’s okay to cry and talk to your sisters. Keeping it all inside will only harm you.”
“Honghui, stop it!” He Baojun slapped the back of her hand.
At that moment, the carriage stopped at the Yu family’s main gate.
Gu Jianli’s calm expression finally turned to a frown. She stared at Tang Honghui and said, “Enough with the sisterly address. Next time, address me as ‘Princess.’ I won’t hold it against you today because of Yujun’s wedding, but if you overstep again, you will face punishment.”
Tang Honghui’s face stiffened, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes. She had only wanted to make Gu Jianli lower her stance, to see her soften. But Gu Jianli still maintained her high and mighty demeanor. Now, Tang Honghui could only think of making her truly embarrassed during the banquet.
The carriage door was opened, and Gu Jianli gracefully alighted with Jixia’s help. The Yu family’s guests gathered, and her appearance immediately drew numerous gazes.
Jixia, supporting Gu Jianli, whispered through clenched teeth, “I heard everything!”
Gu Jianli smiled lightly and asked, “Itching to act?”
“You know me well, my lady! But… aren’t you angry?”
Gu Jianli shook her head with a smile, “I’m not angry. But if my Jixia is itching to act, you can do so after the banquet. Today, no one should overshadow Yujun.”
As Gu Jianli walked toward the guest seats, she encountered many familiar faces or those she recognized but couldn’t name. She smiled and greeted them briefly.
Unlike Tang Honghui and the others, the Yu family’s guests were not surprised to see Gu Jianli. In fact, they all had a complex look of understanding on their faces.
No wonder Master Ji came uninvited to the wedding…
Heaven knows, when they saw Ji Wujing among the guests, they nearly turned and fled. Could today’s banquet be an ambush by Xuanjing Sect? A signal flare, a red flash, and it would be a slaughter?
Gu Jianli scanned the guest seats and spotted Ji Wujing sitting alone at a corner table. He sat lazily in red robes, completely out of place with his surroundings.
Gu Jianli smiled wryly. Ji Wujing clearly disliked such occasions, yet he insisted on coming.
“Lady Ji!”
Just as Gu Jianli was about to walk toward Ji Wujing, she heard a familiar voice behind her. She turned to see Lin Shaotang, smiling with dimples, running toward her.
“It really is you!” Lin Shaotang panted as he reached her. His gaze at Gu Jianli was both joyful and sorrowful. “I thought you would never attend social gatherings again… It’s wonderful to see you here today!”