“Fine, I’ll be back early.”
He lowered his head.
Whenever he behaved like this, Sister Yunshu would usually reach out to pat his head.
Seeing him lean in, Shen Yunshu smiled and gently ruffled his hair.
Noticing ink stains on his sleeve, she said, “Change your clothes and go quickly.”
While Qingjian prepared the carriage, Pei Huaijin and Shen Youran sat in the front courtyard’s flower hall.
Shen Youran couldn’t help but ask about the Meng family cousin.
“Did Grand Madam really want to marry that cousin to you?”
Pei Huaijin disliked lying, so he answered honestly, “Mother once had such thoughts…”
“Then why didn’t you marry her?”
“She’s very good, just not suited for me…”
“Then I’m even less suited for you. Why don’t you let me go?”
Pei Huaijin glanced at the girl who grew taller but hadn’t learned much and gave her a look to figure it out on her own.
Shen Youran remembered he hated hearing such talk and immediately pursed her lips, staring with big innocent eyes and fluttering her long lashes.
“Okay, okay, I won’t say that again…”
Pei Huaijin’s briefly stern expression immediately broke.
After Qingjian hitched the carriage, he came to the flower hall.
By then, Pei Huaian had changed and, holding a wedding gift and money, hurried to catch up.
“Big Brother, sister-in-law, wait for me! I’m coming with you.”
Pei Huaijin turned around with displeasure.
“If you can’t study properly, why follow us?”
Pei Huaian ignored the cold glare and said, “What nonsense! They sent me a wedding invitation; how can I not go? It’s not like I can’t afford the gift money…”
Seeing his insistence, Pei Huaijin accepted.
“The carriage is small. There’s no room for three. You’ll have to ride a horse.”
“Fine, I’ll ride…guarding my brother-in-law this much…”
Pei Huaian muttered.
Suddenly, a hand smacked the back of his head.
Finally, he quieted down.
Marquis of Changxing Manor.
The two Pei brothers arrived together, but Pei Huaijin’s gift and money were recorded for the bride, while Pei Huaian’s were for the groom.
The groom and wedding procession hadn’t returned yet, and the guests mingled in small groups in the courtyard.
As an official, Pei Huaijin naturally drew many greetings.
Shen Youran followed by his side, feeling bored, when she suddenly spotted someone familiar among the crowd.
The man also noticed her and whispered to a fair young woman beside him before they walked over.
Before Shen Youran could greet, Pei Huaian suddenly stepped before her to welcome the man with surprise.
“Young Master Liang!”
Hmm?
Pei Huaian also knew Liang Liu Lang?
“Seventh Young Master Pei,” Liang Xu came forward, bowing slightly to Pei Huaian and Pei Huaijin.
“Big Young Master, I am Liang Xu, the sixth son of the family, currently serving in the Imperial Archery Division…”
Pei Huaijin returned the polite bow with a calm but deep gaze.
“A few days ago, my wife’s purse was stolen at the temple fair. It was Young Master Liang who helped catch the thief. I thank you again on my wife’s behalf.”
“Just a small favor. No need for thanks, Big Young Master.”
Pei Huaian interjected, “Oh? There’s more? Big Brother, you don’t know yet, but Liang Liu Lang didn’t just catch the thief for my sister-in-law. On the wedding procession day, we encountered bandits. If it weren’t for Liang Liu Lang passing by and shooting them with his bow in time, the consequences would have been terrible…”
Neither Pei Huaijin nor Shen Youran knew until now that the chivalrous man who shot several arrows to stop the kidnap bandits on the wedding day was Liang Liu Lang.
“That brave hero was you!”
Shen Youran stepped out from behind Pei Huaian, her face full of gratitude and admiration.
“You’re amazing—one arrow took down one man, four arrows two pairs! Without you, my sister and I would have been dragged into some dark alley…”
“Just practiced a lot,” Liang Xu smiled humbly and asked, “By the way…did you use the slingshot?”
Shen Youran had already told Pei Huaijin about the slingshot, so he didn’t think much of it and answered calmly, “Yes, I did. It’s quite fun.”
“Though the effect is slight at first, long-term practice will only benefit your eyes.”
“I understand. Thank you.”
He then introduced the young lady beside him.
“This is my younger sister, Qingluo. She’s the ninth child in the family and is fourteen this year. When the seating separates by gender later, I won’t be able to take care of her, so may she follow you?”
The girl was pretty and lively, her expression bright.
She seemed spirited and active.
Shen Youran readily agreed.
“Of course. Qingluo, later you’ll go with me to the women’s side.”
The girl obediently nodded.
“Thank you, sister…”
Just then, distant drums and gongs sounded.
Shen Youran took Qingluo’s hand.
“Let’s go, sister will take you to watch the ceremony.”
The setting sun merged with the horizon.
The wedding procession arrived amid the music.
Lin Wulang jumped off his horse, lifted the bridal sedan curtain, and led out the bride.
Among the many guests, Shen Youran couldn’t see Lin Wulang’s face clearly but vaguely noticed a forced smile.
The bridesmaids carried a mirror and led the bride to step over a horse saddle, grass, and scales.
Then the bride was seated in the bridal canopy.
The groom sat briefly in the hall before heading to the bridal chamber to greet the bride and pay respects at the family altar.
Qingluo, seeing many guests follow the groom to the backyard, curiously asked Shen Youran, “Sister, why is everyone going to the backyard?”
“They’re going to grab the Celebration Red Ribbon…”
At weddings, a colored silk ribbon is hung horizontally over the bridal chamber’s door frame.
The ribbon is torn into strips.
After the groom enters the bridal chamber, the guests rush to grab strips of the ribbon.
Whoever catches one receives the couple’s good fortune and blessings.
Though Shen Youran hadn’t joined before, her mother explained the ritual to her at her wedding.
Hearing this, Qingluo was excited.
“Sister Youran, let’s join the fun! I want to grab a strip for my brother. He’s getting old and needs some luck to bring a sister-in-law home soon…”
“Okay, let’s go.”
They followed the crowd to the backyard.
Once they entered the groom’s courtyard, they quickened their pace and squeezed to the front.
After the groom entered the bridal chamber, the guests immediately scrambled to grab the Celebration Red Ribbon.
Qingluo, being short, couldn’t grab any.
Shen Youran got lucky and caught a strip.
Turning to give it to her, she realized Qingluo had disappeared.
Probably pushed aside by the crowd.
Shen Youran searched desperately and suddenly heard someone shout, “Water is flooding! The neighboring courtyard is flooding!”
The already crowded crowd became chaotic.
She heard a shout from the bridal chamber, “Mei Niang, help Mei Niang…”
Moments later, Lin Wulang, dressed in the wedding garment, looked pale and desperate as he pushed through the crowd to run out.
Shen Youran guessed Mei Niang must be the name of his concubine.
He actually kept his concubine in the courtyard next door?
It seemed he truly cared for that concubine.
Then someone yelled, “Run! The fire is spreading this way…”
Disaster!
The crowd at the bridal chamber door surged.
The maids carrying the bride rushed out, and the scene spiraled out of control.
“Qingluo, Qingluo…”
Shen Youran was swept along by the crowd, trying to find her sister’s friend.
The crowd was too dense, her voice drowned out by panicked cries.
Finally, she heard Qingluo’s voice and pushed against the flow, finding her knocked to the ground, struggling to get up.
“Sister Youran…ah…”
More panicked people came rushing.
Seeing Qingluo in danger of being trampled, Shen Youran shielded her.
Others fell instead.
Qingluo propped herself up with her hands but was stepped on twice.
Ignoring the pain, Shen Youran helped her up and pulled her into the courtyard.
The fire had spread to this courtyard.
Smoke billowed thickly.
Guests crowded near the moon gate, making evacuation slow.
Because of their delay, Shen Youran and Qingluo lagged behind.
The thick smoke made them cough violently.
She crouched with Qingluo, covering their mouths and noses with handkerchiefs to filter the smoke and barely breathe.
Shen Youran imitated her sister’s manner, holding Qingluo protectively.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. I’m here.”
Fewer people were ahead, but evacuation was still slow.
The black smoke thickened.
Shen Youran was choking badly, struggling for breath, limbs weak.
Just then, someone dashed into the smoke and found them.
That person scooped Qingluo up with one arm and carried her out quickly.
Once safe, they gently put them down.
Shen Youran coughed, bent over, struggling to speak, her throat hoarse and sore.
“Thank you, Young Master Liang. You saved me again…”
“You alright?”
Liang Xu handed her a blue handkerchief.
“Wipe your face first.”
After great fright, people instinctively seek their closest companions.
Qingluo, overwhelmed by shock, had thrown herself into her brother’s embrace, crying.
Shen Youran, dazed, searched for Pei Huaijin.
Her eyes poor, it took a while before she spotted him.
Pouting, she took a step toward him but saw a green figure arrive first, grabbing Pei Huaijin’s sleeve and crying out, “Cousin, I’m so scared…”