CHAPTER 321: CHAPTER 321: THE GRAND WEDDING (PART 1)

The things Tong Xiyan usually used in the room, especially the books on the bookshelf, had all been moved to the Jiang Family; the originally full bookshelves were now completely empty. Tong Xiyan sat on the bed, with a bright red wedding robe hanging on the rack beside her. She sat there with flushed cheeks, twisting a handkerchief.

Seeing Xiqiu come in, her eyes lit up, and she pulled Xiqiu to ask, "Who has come from Jiang’s side?"

Xiqiu replied with a smile, "I heard it was a cousin of Lord Jiang and Mr. Zhou who delivered the betrothal gifts. I didn’t see them, but I’ve heard Mr. Zhou is quite a handsome man!"

Tong Xiyan had heard Xu Tianqing mention Mr. Zhou before. He used to visit the Tong Mansion often, but after Xu Tianqing’s incident, he hadn’t appeared for a long time. She didn’t expect him to be so close to Jiang Shilin now.

"What did they send?" Tong Xiyan asked eagerly.

Xiqiu, seeing her like this, laughed and roughly described the dowry, then added, "When the sister-in-law returns from the Jiang family tomorrow, you’ll know." Madam Jiang was staying at the Jiang Mansion tonight to prepare the bridal chamber.

Tong Xiyan, full of anxiety, pulled Xiqiu and said, "Nanny Fang mentioned that the bridal sedan chair will arrive at the mansion at 7 a.m. tomorrow, and advised me to go to bed early tonight and wake up before 1 a.m. when Quan Furen will come to groom me. Is that right?"

Xiqiu nodded, saying, "That seems about right. If you feel uneasy, maybe we should have Nanny Duan come back first, so you won’t head straight to the Jiang Mansion." The Lady finally agreed to have Nanny Duan back to accompany Tong Xiyan to the Jiang Mansion.

"That’s not possible!" Tong Xiyan waved her hand, saying, "Nanny Duan said seeing the Tong Mansion reminds her of Xinmei, and she’s determined to go to the Jiang Mansion directly tonight. Firstly, it would help her understand the situation there more clearly, so when I go there, I won’t be completely ignorant. Secondly, she wouldn’t be of much help here, and with her running back and forth, I wouldn’t feel comfortable concerning her health."

Xiqiu nodded and suggested, "Then perhaps invite Nanny Fang to stay with you and explain tomorrow’s rituals carefully." Tong Xiyan still shook her head and tugged at Xiqiu’s hand, saying, "Stay with me tonight, please; I really can’t sleep."

Before Xiqiu could say anything, the Second Lady happily entered from outside. Xiqiu knew she came on behalf of the Lady to teach Tong Xiyan about the wedding night.

Tong Xiyan’s face turned beet red instantly, and Xiqiu promptly stood up, making an excuse, "Since Second Aunt is here, I’ll take my leave first!" The Second Lady didn’t keep Xiqiu, and Tong Xiyan just stood there, her face flushed.

Xiqiu, holding back her laughter, hurried out with Chunyan.

After returning to her room and freshening up, Xiqiu felt like she had just fallen asleep when Chunyan called from outside the curtain, "Miss, it’s 1 a.m.!"

Xiqiu hurriedly dressed and, after a quick grooming, had half a bowl of porridge, then headed to Tong Xiyan’s room, where she found Tong Xiyan sitting at the dressing table. A lady named Shi, a colleague’s wife of the First Master, served as Quan Furen, applying makeup to Tong Xiyan while Tong Xiyu sat nearby, idly chatting with her.

Xiqiu sat down with her tea, and shortly after, Tong Xiyang returned as well. Xiqiu and the others had nothing to say, and Tong Xiyan, overwhelmed with nerves, couldn’t utter a single word despite wanting to speak.

Soon, the Lady was carried in on a sedan. She wore a burgundy overcoat, her hair meticulously styled, her face evidently groomed. Seeing Tong Xiyan, the Lady began to cry, and Nanny Fang, wiping her tears, said, "In the blink of an eye, Fourth Miss is about to get married!"

As Quan Furen cleaned her hands and burned incense, she began to arrange Tong Xiyan’s hair, continuously uttering auspicious words. After finishing, Tong Xiyang exaggeratedly praised, "Fourth Sister looks truly beautiful today!"

It felt like only a moment passed before the sound of firecrackers rang outside. Tong Quanzhi and Tong Minzhi shouted through the window, "The groom is here!"

Xiqiu saw Tong Xiyan’s body instantly tense up, and the Lady’s tears flowed even more fiercely, looking at Tong Xiyan with reluctance; she couldn’t even say a word, her tears pooling at the corners of her mouth.

Tong Xiyan, feeling heartbroken, leaned on the Lady’s knee, wanting to cry, but Quan Furen pulled her back, "Fourth Miss, it’s a good day today; no shedding tears!"

Xiqiu’s eyes reddened as well!

Tong Xiyang wanted to drag Tong Xiyu to the front to watch, but Tong Xiyu didn’t dare act too brazenly in front of the Lady. Tong Xijia, liking to stick with Tong Xiyu, also left Tong Xiyang with only Xiqiu as an option; since that huff from Xiqiu’s room, they hadn’t exchanged any words.

She didn’t call for herself, so Xiqiu naturally wouldn’t initiate conversation with her!

Tong Xiyang sat awkwardly to the side, sipping her tea.

Amidst the blaring firecrackers, Xiqiu faintly heard the bustling voices outside Tong Mansion. After a while, Tong Minzhi shouted through the window, "The groom has called for the door to be opened; he’s entered the mansion!"

The Lady nodded at Nanny Fang, and her sedan was once again lifted. She gave Tong Xiyan one last, reluctant look before being carried back into the main house.

In the courtyard, they had opened the feast; Xiqiu and her sisters grabbed a bite in the room while waiting for the main banquet to end. Quan Furen then came in to help Tong Xiyan don her bright red, flying phoenix bridal robe, and placed the veil over her head. Through the wide sleeves, Tong Xiyan held onto Xiqiu tightly...

"Fourth Sister!" Xiqiu whispered, "Young Master Jiang is waiting outside for you... the moment you’ve longed for is finally here..."

Xiqiu barely caught a muffled acknowledgment from Tong Xiyan through the crimson veil.

With two clear laughs, the matchmakers from the Jiang Family entered, speaking many auspicious things, and both matchmakers assisted Tong Xiyan in taking a bite of the lily and lotus seed soup, which she then spit out onto a handkerchief, dividing it in two; half would be placed on the Tong Family’s grain storage, the other half on Jiang Family’s grain storage...

With a chorus of singing, Tong Xiyan was supported by the matchmakers out the door, where she bowed before the First Master and Lady alongside Jiang Shilin, waiting in the Lady’s room. Nanny Fang spoke many words on behalf of the Lady, and only after a quarter past 7 a.m. did Tong Shen Zhi carry her out. Amidst another burst of firecrackers, Tong Xiyan carried the treasure vase into the bridal sedan, and the music began to play...

Xiqiu watched, her vision blurring!

Three days later, Tong Xiyan returned to visit her family.

After partaking in her return banquet, the First Master, Jiang Shilin, Tong Shen Zhi, and the rarely visiting Ren Jun, along with the Fourth Uncle from the Zhang Family of Yingtianlai, went to the study.

Xiqiu, along with Tong Xiyan, Tong Xiyang, and Tong Xiyu, returned to the courtyard where Tong Xiyan resided during her time at home. Tong Xiyan’s cheeks were a peachy pink, her eyes rippling like autumn waters, making Xiqiu secretly pleased, as it appeared her married life was harmonious...

Tong Xiyu’s gaze also landed on Tong Xiyan’s face, with a look of envy in her eyes.

Tong Xiyang, eyeing Tong Xiyan through squinted eyes, chuckled and said, "Now that Fourth Sister has married her ideal partner, she shouldn’t display such a smile in front of Sixth Sister." Tong Xiyan, startled, looked at Tong Xiyang, who raised her brows slightly, looking at Xiqiu and saying, "We don’t know when our Great Governor will return; Sixth Sister might be feeling sentimental and troubled now... Your actions might have hurt her heart."