Time flew by, and soon it was the wedding day of Yan Peiyu and Liu Xuan.
Although the wedding was not extremely grand, it was the talk of the whole capital.
"Such a grand occasion! Who's getting married?"
"Don't you know? It's the wedding of Lord Yan, a fifth - rank official in the Ministry of Rites. He's the top scholar of the last imperial examination!"
"Wasn't the top scholar of the last imperial examination from a poor family? How come I see the carriages of the Duke Protector's Mansion?"
"Well! It has to do with the bride's identity. The bride is the birth mother of the heir of the Duke Protector!"
"The birth mother of the heir of the Duke Protector? Isn't that the wife of the Duke Protector?"
"No! The current heir of the Duke Protector was adopted from the clan."
"Then isn't the bride a remarried woman? I saw the top scholar when he paraded through the streets on a horse. He's really a handsome man. The bride already has such a grown - up son. Isn't she an old woman?"
A woman couldn't stand it and spat at him. "So what if she's remarried? You're just jealous. If you have the ability, find a top scholar to marry!"
There were many similar discussions.
In the carriage, Yingyue asked, "Heir, do you want us to teach these people a lesson?"
Shen Yan shook his head. "Blocking a few people's mouths won't stop the whole capital from talking. We still have to guard the door for Mother."
As the heir of the Duke Protector's Mansion now, Shen Yan represented the Duke Protector's Mansion. He also wanted to stay by his mother's side all the time, but going there from the Duke Protector's Mansion today would bring honor to his mother.
Those who wanted to bully her had to think twice before offending the Duke Protector's Mansion.
This was what his sister had taught him.
When there was a reasonable force, he should use it.
So he chose to go there early in the morning.
At the Liu Mansion.
Liu Xuan was woken up early by the maids and was getting her hair done. Shen Qing was also there, arranging things for the groom's arrival later.
Liu Xuan saw her bustling around and wanted to do it herself.
Shen Qing pressed her back onto the stool. "No way. Today, Aunt Liu just needs to be a happy bride. How can the bride arrange the blocking - door game herself? Am I right, girls?"
The maids in the room smiled and replied in unison.
The lucky old woman also stepped forward with a smile. "It's time for the face - threading ceremony."
The face - threading ceremony was an important ritual for a bride before getting married. It involved using a thin thread to remove the fine hair on the face and trim the bangs and sideburns, marking the transition from a girl to a woman.
Liu Xuan had been married once before, so she was familiar with these procedures and wasn't flustered. However, her heart was pounding.
The last time she got married, she was almost forced to go and marry a sickly man to ward off bad luck. This time, she was marrying someone who truly suited her heart.
After the face - threading ceremony, it was time to comb the hair. Liu Xuan stood up from the stool and put the comb into Shen Qing's hand.
"Can you comb my hair for me?"
Shen Qing was about to decline. "Normally, it should be a lucky person who combs the hair. How can I do it?"
She didn't consider herself a lucky person.
Liu Xuan shook her head. "But you're my benefactor. Without you, there wouldn't be the me today."
If it weren't for Shen Qing, she wouldn't be standing here, let alone have the courage to pursue love again.
"Okay."
Liu Xuan's long hair was well - maintained. Most of the time in the winery, she wrapped her hair in a headscarf and coiled it up. It was rare to see her with her hair down.
"Comb once to the end, comb twice until white hair touches the eyebrows, comb thrice until children and grandchildren fill the ground, comb four times until silver hairpins stand in line."
After Shen Qing finished combing, she handed the comb to the maid, who then helped Liu Xuan coil up her hair and put on makeup.
"It's almost time. The groom's entourage will be here soon!"
Just as the words were spoken, Shen Yan ran in. "Mother, I'm here! I'm here to block the door for you!"
As soon as he entered the room, before he saw Liu Xuan, he saw Shen Qing. Immediately, he became more solemn and bowed respectfully.
"Sister."
It had to be said that Shen Yan was becoming more and more like a worthy heir. Today was a joyous occasion, and there was no need to be so formal.
Shen Qing said, "You came just in time. The groom's entourage will arrive soon. The task of blocking the door today is yours. Don't let them take the bride away easily. Do you hear me?"
Shen Yan patted his chest. "I guarantee I'll complete the task!"
Shen Yan's serious tone and actions made everyone in the room burst into laughter.
Yan Peiyu was so excited last night that he hardly slept. Before the servants in the mansion got up in the morning, he was already awake.
After waiting for so many years, he was finally going to fulfill his wish.
He was even more excited than when he became the top scholar and paraded through the streets on a horse.
Every strand of his hair was neatly groomed.
As his best friend, Qin Heng watched him dress up in front of the mirror all morning.
"If you keep dawdling, you'll be late for the wedding procession!"
Only then did Yan Peiyu smooth out the last wrinkle on his clothes. "Let's go."
As a fifth - rank official in the Ministry of Rites, there were regulations for the wedding ceremony, but Shen Qing had added a lot to it.
The wedding procession was already ready. Yan Peiyu mounted his tall horse, and a large group of people set off in a grand manner towards the Liu Mansion.
"The groom is here!"
Just as Liu Xuan finished her makeup, she heard the sound of music outside and knew that Yan Peiyu had arrived.
Shen Qing said, "Hurry, everyone, get ready."
The maids retreated from the inner room. At this time, Shen Qing took out a small booklet and put it into Liu Xuan's hand.
Just then, Zhuxing rushed in and whispered a few words in Shen Qing's ear.
Shen Qing's face changed slightly. "Tie them up quietly and throw them in a deserted place. Have someone watch them. Don't let them ruin the wedding."
Liu Xuan noticed something was wrong and couldn't help asking, "What's going on?"
Shen Qing said, "It's nothing. There's a small problem. I've asked Zhuxing to take care of it."
Hearing this, Liu Xuan felt relieved.
As Shen Qing spoke, she took out a small booklet and put it into Liu Xuan's hand.
"This should have been given to you by your elder, but since there's no elder now, I'll give it to you on their behalf."
Liu Xuan wasn't a young girl anymore. Naturally, she knew what was in the booklet. She blushed and nodded.
"Thank you for your hard work today."
Shen Qing shook her head and held Liu Xuan's hand. "I'm happy to see Aunt Liu find her own destination."
"If he treats you badly in the future, just send someone to tell me. I'll always be your family. If Yan Peiyu ever does anything to let you down, I'll make sure he loses his official position and title and never has a chance to rise again!"
Liu Xuan nodded, and her eyes were red.
No one had ever said such words to her. Even when she got married last time, her parents just told her to take good care of her husband after marriage, get along well with her husband's family, and not offend anyone. They never said what she should do if she was wronged.
On the contrary, Shen Qing, who was much younger than her, could say such words to support her.
Well, anyway, she had already cut off ties with her family. They should never see each other again.
What Liu Xuan didn't know was that the people she thought she would never see again almost disrupted her wedding.
In a deserted alley outside, the Liu family members were tied up tightly, with rags in their mouths.
"Behave yourselves. If you dare to run out and disrupt Mrs. Liu's wedding today, we'll all be in big trouble!"
"Mmm..."
"Mmm..."
The Liu family members were extremely indignant. Why had the Liu family been getting worse and worse in the past two years while that dead girl Liu Xuan was doing better and better? She was about to become the wife of a high - ranking official. What was wrong with helping the family?
But they definitely had no chance today.