Having said that, he bowed and took his leave, leaving Prince Rui standing there, his brocade robes and jade belt swaying slightly in the wind, his expression unreadable.
Putting aside the months of weighing and dodging, the person before her was once her beloved. From childhood sweethearts to this point, it's hard not to feel a mix of emotions. More than ten years have passed in the blink of an eye. The vows of unwavering love they made back then still echo in her ears, but now they are strangers. He has married someone else, and she is about to marry far away in Qizhou. From now on, the mountains and rivers are far away, and there is no hope of ever meeting again.
In that instant, Prince Rui vaguely realized that he might have truly lost her.
He kept his gaze fixed on You Tong's back until she turned the corner of the corridor, his heart churning with emotion, and he was momentarily stunned.
Seeing this, Xu Shu gritted her teeth and almost crushed the handkerchief in her hand.
She strolled over, took Prince Rui's arm, and tugged at it twice. Only then did he come back to his senses, looking completely distracted.
Xu Shu had a guilty conscience. She felt that Xu Chaozong still clung to his old love and was afraid that the Wei family would be gossiped about. So she deliberately acted as if they were old friends. She was sure that the whispers of others were mocking her for stealing Xu Chaozong's love and for the couple to be only superficially united.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, she felt extremely embarrassed, but could only suppress her jealousy and hatred, and whispered, "Your Highness, it's time to go."
"Oh." Xu Chaozong was a little dazed. He pulled his sleeves back and followed her away.
The Buddhist temple was filled with crisscrossing corridors, and a mountain path wound its way up a short distance from the main hall. Looking back, the temple was clearly visible through the upturned eaves and the ancient pines and cypresses. You Tong stopped, tired from walking, and looked back down. He could vaguely see a magnificent sedan chair outside the mountain gate, with a large retinue of attendants. Prince Rui and Xu Shu boarded the carriage arm in arm, as if nothing had happened.
She glanced at them coldly for a moment, fiddling with the beads on her wrist, a resolute look appearing in her eyes.
Today, with such a vast disparity in power, her future is uncertain and she herself is in grave danger, making it impossible for her to settle old scores. The Xu family is on high alert, and with so much public scrutiny, she can't even clear her name of those stigmas—if the Wei family retaliates, the Xu family will surely spread a deluge of rumors, and Xu Chaozong, with his vested interests in the Xu family, will likely tacitly approve. How can the Wei family possibly stand against them?
But if given the chance, she will eventually return to the capital.
The burning, sincere heart reflected in the cold lake on a chilly night, yet feeling as if it had fallen into an ice cellar, must finally be addressed amidst the overwhelming rumors and slander!
...
You Tong thought that her entanglement with Xu Chaozong would be temporarily severed after their chance encounter at the Buddhist temple. However, just a few days after returning home, she received a letter. It was unsigned, but the handwriting on it was extremely familiar.
It was handed over by Xu Chaozong.
The letter was brief, and judging from the hesitant handwriting, it seemed he had written it with considerable difficulty. The gist was that he had made this choice out of necessity, and was constantly filled with guilt, only avoiding it for fear of lingering ties. He hoped she could let go of her inner turmoil, protect herself, and refrain from further foolish actions. He remembered the past events vividly and would never forget them; if his wishes were fulfilled in the future, he would do his utmost to make amends.
You Tong looked at it twice, shook her head, and burned it over the candle.
Regardless of Xu Chaozong's predicament at the time, or what hidden thoughts were concealed in the letter, it was ultimately too late.
Rumors are like swords, and heartlessness is like a knife. The one who loved him so deeply has already died in the icy lake on a cold night, and can never turn back.
And she also needed to plan for the future—although the Wei family held several official positions in the court, their power and ability were limited, and You Tong's reputation was notorious, so she would not have been noticed by nobles. The fact that the Fu family chose that time to propose marriage and even fabricated the story of "saving a life" was obviously strange.
The road ahead is long, and what awaits her is likely not a smooth one.
However, we have to take it one step at a time.
You Tong took it in stride, and together with Zhen Shi, they prepared the dowry and tailored the wedding dress. By early July, the betrothal gifts from Qizhou had arrived.
Knowing that You Tong had a bad reputation, Wei Sidao tried his best to make up for it with her dowry. He prepared everything from silk and satin, gold and silver utensils to land and servants, and added a few valuable items from the betrothal gifts.
He had been studying since childhood and was of upright and strict character. Now, as the Director of the Ministry of War, he devoted himself to the maps and defenses of the country and rarely concerned himself with the affairs of the household. Previously, when You Tong acted recklessly, he was furious several times, feeling that he had failed his daughter. Now that his daughter was of marriageable age, he rarely showed up, whether out of cold-heartedness or intentionally avoiding his daughter, it was unclear.
Only Zhen was reluctant to part, so You Tong often went to keep her company and take the opportunity to tease her younger brother, who was three years younger than her.
Before they knew it, the wedding was at the end of the month. The journey from the capital to Qizhou was long, so the Fu family sent people to fetch the bride two days earlier.
You Tong bid farewell to her parents and, accompanied by her dowry, was escorted by the Fu family. She arrived in Qizhou on the afternoon of the 30th, as agreed.
...
While in the capital, due to the turmoil in December, You Tong was confined to the mansion by the Grand Madam. Except for the occasional pilgrimage or banquet with Zhen Shi, she rarely went out. In her spare time, she could only entertain herself with delicious food and knew very little about what was happening outside. The original owner of this body was also preoccupied with romantic love affairs and only thought about flowers and moonlight. Over the years, she had paid little attention to the affairs of the court and the world. Therefore, before her marriage, You Tong only felt that although the emperor was mediocre, the world was generally peaceful.
But her journey eastward took an unexpected turn.
The capital city was relatively peaceful with the Imperial Guards stationed there, but the area more than two hundred miles outside the city became unsettling.
First, bandits blocked the road and caused trouble, causing many people to flee. Then, a murder occurred in an inn, but the government stood by and protected the culprit. You Tong heard the people talking and realized that the outside world had become chaotic.
Fortunately, the Fu family of Qizhou was a formidable force, and although she encountered several disturbances along the way, nothing serious happened.
According to Qizhou custom, the wedding ceremony is held at dusk. The Fu family, being the governor of the region, has a large number of guests on their wedding day, so they cannot afford to waste a single moment. You Tong rushed as fast as she could, and upon entering the city, she was stuffed into a bridal sedan chair and carried to the Fu family's gate amidst the lively and noisy drumming and music.
The firecrackers were deafening. After the bridal sedan chair came to a stop, the matchmaker lifted the curtain and came over to help her.
You Tong straightened her wedding dress, took a small step forward to stand firm, and looked up. Through the red veil, she could see a group of people around her, whispering among themselves. In front of the mansion gate, a man stood proudly like a lone pine tree, his appearance stern and resolute, as upright as Mount Hua. The wedding dress he wore made him look exceptionally upright and dignified.
This person was none other than Fu Yu, who was renowned throughout the court for his bravery and skill in battle.
Upon seeing her, Fu Yu frowned impatiently, turned away, and left with a dismissive back view.
This seemingly insignificant gesture sent a jolt through You Tong's heart, who had traveled a long way.
Author's Note: Mom, brandishing her little whip: "You're getting impatient? Don't you want your wife anymore?" ← ← Take a break from Chenxi's mom's landmines, muaa~!
Chapter 4 The Newlyweds
The music and revelry continued as before. You Tong glanced at the indifferent, blurry figure behind the veil and silently accepted the red silk handed to her by the matchmaker.
Today, she was getting married in her wedding attire. Before dawn, Granny Xu dragged her out of bed and had her dressed and made up by the matchmaker. Although she had eaten some food at noon on the way here, she was still exhausted from the journey and had to sit properly to avoid damaging her wedding dress, so her whole body ached and was very uncomfortable.
At this moment, her stomach was empty, and her head was weighed down by the heavy phoenix crown with pearls and jade. She was exhausted and had no time to care about these things.
Then, holding the matchmaker's hand, they stepped over the brazier, and then, each holding one end of a red silk ribbon, they slowly entered the mansion.
The courtyard was lined with guests who had come to offer their congratulations. The men wore elaborate hats and belts, while the women were adorned with brocade and jewels—all members of the local elite. Amidst the subtle fragrance of perfume and incense, a warm evening breeze carried the aroma of food from the banquet in the next courtyard: savory meat and rich soup. You Tong took a couple of sniffs, and the delicious food appeared before her eyes, making her feel even hungrier.
Unfortunately, in such situations, one cannot afford to break the rules in the slightest.
—Especially for someone like her who married into the family with a terrible reputation.
So he forced himself to stay alert, moved lightly and steadily, and respectfully performed the wedding ceremony before heading to the bridal chamber surrounded by everyone.
The Fu family made careful preparations for the wedding without revealing any flaws. Everything inside and out was quite grand. In the bridal chamber, red candles burned brightly, and the fragrance of sandalwood was faint. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see that the tables, chairs, utensils, bed curtains, and beaded curtains were all exquisite.
Madam Fu arrived with several female guests, chatting and laughing. After the curtain-setting ceremony was completed, she left unhurriedly.
Fu Yu seemed unwilling to stay there any longer. He stood silently for a while, and when the commotion outside faded away, he left as well.
You Tong had exerted all her strength to hold on until now, and she was exhausted and hungry. She felt dizzy and lightheaded. She finally heard the door close and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She then told the matchmaker to let the others wait in the outer room, leaving Chuncao by her side. After the beaded curtain was lowered, she secretly took off her phoenix crown and took some pastries and tea from the table to fill her stomach.
The subsequent hustle and bustle had nothing to do with her, the bride.
...
The Fu family was a powerful force in the region, and Fu Yu was a renowned general who was famous even among enemy troops. Regardless of You Tong's reputation, the Fu family was in charge of the wedding, so they had to make it a grand affair. From dusk until midnight, hundreds of tables were set up outside, and generals and their relatives took turns toasting each other. Even across several courtyards, laughter could be heard occasionally carried on the breeze.
You Tong sat on the couch, listening to the commotion outside, feeling uneasy in her heart.
Finally, as the night deepened, the red candles gradually melted into piles of wax tears, and finally, some footsteps could be heard in the night wind outside.
Fu Yu seemed to deliberately make his footsteps heavy, and the maids and servants outside, hearing this, quickly stood up straight and were very respectful. You Tong didn't dare to give herself away either, so she quickly lifted the phoenix crown covering her head and placed it on her head, sitting up straight and steady.
A moment later, the door opened slightly, and the servants bowed in unison, "General."
Fu Yu walked straight into the house without stopping and headed straight for You Tong.
Chuncao stood by the bed, stealing a glance and clearly seeing the cold expression on his face. She hurriedly bowed and, following the matchmaker's instructions, went to retrieve the golden plate and jade ruyi used to lift the veil. But before she could even take a step, she saw Fu Yu slightly raise his right hand, and the red brocade covering the phoenix crown floated lightly onto the bed.
—She simply lifted the veil without even looking at it!
Chuncao's heart pounded, and she subconsciously looked at her daughter.
You Tong didn't show any surprise. Her slender fingers, like tender onions, were clasped on her knees. She raised her beautiful eyebrows under the phoenix crown, her expression calm.
Then, she met Fu Yu's indifferent eyes.
His pupils were jet black, like polished black jade, deep and cold. There was a lingering smell of alcohol on him, but there was no sign of drunkenness in his eyes; he was perfectly sober and detached.
The twenty-year-old man stood tall and proud like a bamboo shoot, with clear and bright features and a dignified demeanor. Having commanded elite cavalry and frequently engaged in battle, he possessed a commanding and robust presence. He stood half a step away, rubbing his calloused fingertips together, his expression cold and calm. When he looked at You Tong, it was as if he were sizing up a complete stranger.
You Tong only glanced at him once, but she was already certain in her heart that the man in front of her was not sincere about marrying her!
They even... didn't like her very much.
While in the capital, she had suspected that the "life-saving grace" was a fabrication by the Fu family, and now it seems that she was right.
It's not surprising, really. Putting aside Wei Youtong's infamy, even without those fabricated rumors, what man would want his wife to have another man in her heart? Not to mention that Wei Youtong was so devoted to him, even going so far as to try to kill herself for Xu Chaozong. Even an ordinary man wouldn't tolerate such a thing, let alone Fu Yu.
This man comes from a prestigious family and holds considerable military power. Although he is cold and ruthless, he is a remarkable figure, and it wouldn't be unreasonable for him to marry a princess.
Marrying her despite the gossip and rumors was by no means a willing decision.
The reason the Fu family fabricated when they proposed marriage was probably to suppress gossip and prevent speculation. This marriage must have been arranged by both families for their own benefit. However, the Wei family holds only a mediocre position in the court and has little influence. If Fu Yu dislikes her so much, why would he travel all the way to the capital to propose marriage?
Before the marriage, Wei Sidao often avoided her and did not reveal any details about the marriage negotiations.
Seeing this situation, You Tong felt even more awkward asking questions. After glancing at her, she remained seated with her eyes lowered.
Fu Yu remained silent, his gaze lingering on her beautiful features for a moment, trying to remember his new wife's appearance so as not to mistake her for someone else. He then took two steps back, leaning wearily against the rosewood table behind him, and raised his hand to rub his temples.
A maid brought in the nuptial wine, but he waved it away, indicating that it was unnecessary. He simply looked around the bridal chamber and instructed, "Aunt Zhou, help her rest. I have other matters to attend to." With that, he turned and walked around the curtains to leave.
As soon as he left, the subtle, somber atmosphere dissipated.
You Tong inwardly grimaced, her slightly tense fingers relaxing. She then realized that, for some reason, she had felt a little nervous when she met Fu Yu's indifferent and cold eyes. Fortunately, he was gone, and she no longer needed to bother dealing with him, allowing her to bathe and rest in peace and get a good night's sleep!
So she removed the phoenix crown and handed it to Chuncao to put away.
The maidservant who was holding the nuptial wine and was called "Aunt Zhou" didn't find it strange. She smiled at You Tong and said, "The general is always busy. Even though it's a joyous occasion today, matters in the military camp can't be delayed. He just got back and will probably have to personally inspect the area before he feels at ease. Young mistress, you don't need to wait any longer. Tell them to prepare water and serve you a bath."
She had a round, chubby face, spoke kindly, and acted with proper decorum.
You Tong didn't delay, instructing Yan Bo to take the cups and plates, and nodded, saying, "Thank you for your trouble."
Aunt Zhou beckoned in and called in several maids from the outer room, instructing them to pay their respects to the young mistress one by one.
You Tong had assumed that everyone in the household had the same attitude as Fu Yu, but seeing Zhou Gu's attitude, she felt somewhat relieved. She ordered Chuncao to give her some gifts and made a mental note of the faces of the women. This courtyard must have been vacant for a long time and rarely inhabited, as most of the furniture and furnishings were new. There weren't many maids in the room, but they were all dressed quite neatly. Among them, the one named Su Ruolan was the oldest and quite beautiful.
Perhaps because of the rumors, Su Ruolan's attitude was much colder than Zhou Gu's.
You Tong was so tired that her bones felt like they were about to fall apart, and she was too lazy to care about anything else for the time being, so she just kept it in mind for now.
Once the hot water was ready in the inner room, Chuncao helped her remove her wedding dress and go in to bathe.
She had come from afar to marry into the family, and Madam Zhen was worried about her. In addition to Granny Xu, Chuncao, and Yanbo, who were already with Youtong, she also brought her capable maids Muzhu and Muxiang with her as part of her dowry, instructing them to do their best. Now that Yanbo and Chuncao were enough to serve her during her bath, Granny Xu led the others out to make the bed and warm the quilts.
The fragrant soup is warm and soft, with flower petals floating around. The warm water washes over the body, making every part of the body feel comfortable.
You Tong sighed contentedly, closed her eyes, leaned against the bathtub, and let Yan Bo style her hair.
There was no one else in the room. Yanbo was young, and perhaps she was shocked by Fu Yu's rough way of lifting the veil. After holding back for a while, she looked around and saw that no one was around before lowering her voice and complaining with heartache, "This marriage was proposed by the Fu family. The young lady has been so tired from all the running around, and the young master's attitude... is too indifferent."
"Be content," You Tong said lazily, her eyes closed. "The fact that he came to lift the veil is already quite a show of courtesy."