Thanks to the kind protection of this venerable elder, Yu Zixi managed to grow up safely in this perilous inner courtyard. Wei Dongling was extremely grateful for this. She chatted with Granny Yu about Yu Zixi's childhood anecdotes. Yu Zixi silently accompanied them, chiming in from time to time. The three of them had a wonderful conversation.
Before long, a young servant stepped forward to report that the bride had been welcomed into the house. Granny Yu took Wei Dongling's hand and went out excitedly to have a look.
The bride, He Yao, was dressed in red with a red veil on her head. She was being supported by the matchmaker as she stepped over the brazier and was led to the groom's side.
Yu Xingze, who had finally won his beloved, was naturally elated. He returned the greetings one by one amidst the joking and support of the crowd.
Wei Dongling was enjoying cracking sunflower seeds when Yu Zixi dragged her back into the courtyard.
Cui Huan sneaked into the Yu Mansion among the wedding - escorting crowd and rushed straight to Yu Zixi's room. She immediately saw Wei Dongling sitting by the couch waiting for her. She rushed over and hugged her tightly.
This made Luo Xunlong, who was standing beside them, extremely jealous.
Wei Dongling hugged Cui Huan's slender waist and murmured, "Huanhuan, I missed you so much!"
Tears of excitement welled up in Cui Huan's eyes. She asked anxiously, "I heard you were seriously injured. Have you been taking your medicine obediently? Is your injury getting better?"
Wei Dongling smiled and said, "Thanks for your concern, Huanhuan. I'm much better. But these days I have to listen to those etiquette - teaching ladies talk about the palace rules every day. It's driving me crazy."
Cui Huan said worriedly, "If you enter the palace in the future, will it be difficult for us to even meet?"
Hearing this, Wei Dongling felt a bit sad, but she still replied with a smile on her face, "I'll find a way to come out and see you."
Cui Huan nodded, and the two sat and chatted about intimate things for quite a while.
Before long, Wei Dongling heard the maids outside whispering scolding, which interrupted their chat.
During the past few days, these maids had quite good tempers and were very strict with the rules. They would never overstep the mark. But now they were scolding the servants in the inner courtyard of the Yu Mansion, which surprised Wei Dongling.
There was a commotion outside. Just as Yu Zixi was about to get up to open the door, it was kicked open. Soon Wei Dongling knew why the maids were scolding. He Yao, in her red wedding dress, actually broke into Yu Zixi's courtyard without regard for etiquette.
The veil on her head was lifted, and she was wearing a phoenix crown made of pure gold, inlaid with pearls that swayed with her every move, dazzling people's eyes.
As soon as the door opened, He Yao didn't even look at the others. She directly threw herself into Yu Zixi's arms with a sorrowful look on her face.
The two maids outside who had been pushed away by her changed their expressions.
Yu Zixi's two concubines who came after hearing the noise were also stunned.
The matchmaker who followed was even more shocked. She stepped forward and grabbed He Yao's arm anxiously, saying, "My lady! How can you do such an unrespectful thing on your wedding day? Hurry up and go back to the wedding hall with me! Don't miss the auspicious time!"
He Yao refused to listen to the matchmaker's persuasion. She hugged Yu Zixi's shoulders tightly and cried like a pear blossom in the rain. Her tears washed away her delicate makeup.
Yu Zixi wanted to push her away but was afraid of hurting her. He felt so embarrassed that he didn't know where to put his hands and feet.
Seeing this, Cui Huan's face darkened. She never thought that He Yao would make such a scene on her wedding day.
Luo Xunlong immediately clenched his fists so tightly that they creaked.
Wei Dongling coughed softly and slowly placed the teacup on the table.
Hearing the sound, He Yao looked up. When she saw that the woman sitting upright on the couch was actually Wei Dongling, her delicate face instantly turned pale. She asked in shock, "Wei Dongling? Why are you here?"
Only then did Yu Zixi find a chance to break free from He Yao's embrace.
Wei Dongling covered her lips and smiled, saying, "Sister County - Lady is getting married today. Naturally, I'm here to share the joy and ask for a cup of wedding wine! I've even prepared a red envelope for you. Although the amount is not much, it represents my sincere wishes. I wish sister County - Lady a happy marriage and many children soon."
A happy marriage and many children soon?
He Yao was so angry that she trembled all over. She didn't want to marry Yu Xingze at all. How could she talk about a happy marriage? And wishing her to give birth to a child for Yu Xingze soon? Dream on! She would rather die than give birth to a child for that lecher!
He Yao's face turned green and then red. She glared at Wei Dongling fiercely and said, "You're here to laugh at me, aren't you! If you hadn't snatched Brother Zixi away from me, I wouldn't have ended up like this. Why are you still sitting in Brother Zixi's room? Get out!"
Luo Xunlong and Cui Huan were stunned. Yu Zixi was speechless.
The two maids at the door saw the Fifth Princess being so scolded by this shrew and were about to step forward to teach her a lesson. But Wei Dongling waved her hand to signal them to go out, and they stepped back.
Wei Dongling moved further into the couch and said cheerfully with a smile, "I heard about sister County - Lady's amorous affairs, and that's how she managed to get married. So I want to follow her example and see if I can be as lucky as sister, so that I can marry into this family earlier and be sister's sister - in - law!"
Hearing this, He Yao was struck like lightning. Wei Dongling's words were clearly and implicitly mocking her for her improper behavior. She had already had a physical relationship with a man before marriage, which was why she was forced to marry into the Yu Mansion. Although it was the truth, saying such things in public made the people around her look at her with contempt.
What's more, Wei Dongling even claimed that she wanted to be as immoral as He Yao and have a physical relationship with Brother Zixi so that she could marry in quickly. This was really stabbing at He Yao's heart! He Yao roared angrily, "You're so shameless, Wei Dongling!"
Cui Huan's face darkened even more. She was really impressed that Wei Dongling could still smile sweetly and calmly as if she was being praised when being scolded like this.
Yu Zixi was unhappy. He frowned and said angrily, "Yao Yao, watch your words. She is your sister - in - law!"
He Yao was already feeling wronged, and now facing Yu Zixi's cold and stern scolding, her tears fell one by one. She pointed at Wei Dongling and sobbed, "If it weren't for her, the one who should be marrying me today would be you... Yao Yao's heart is full of you. How can you scold me so coldly for the sake of another woman?"
Seeing that He Yao was about to pounce on him again, Yu Zixi took three steps back and said coldly to her, "Yao Yao, my heart only belongs to her. There's no room for any other woman. Love doesn't follow the order of arrival! You'd better go to the wedding hall earlier and don't miss the auspicious time."
He Yao burst into tears and roared, "If the one I'm marrying is not you, I'd rather die."
Hearing this, the matchmaker beside her was shocked. What was going on? The bride was about to get married when she suddenly took a fancy to the groom's elder brother! In her many years of match - making career, she had never encountered such an outrageous thing!
She was afraid that the bride would do something drastic and miss the auspicious time, which would make the master of the Yu Mansion deduct her reward. She quickly grabbed He Yao's sleeve and advised, "You silly girl, if love is not reciprocated, even if you force it, there won't be a good result."