September 18th is an auspicious day for marriage.
The wedding procession, accompanied by music and fanfare, stopped at the Fulai Inn. Yuzhi, her face covered by a veil, sat in the bridal sedan chair, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
"Whose wedding is this?"
"At No. 3 Baihu Street, Mother Yu asked in a gentle voice."
The fourth young lady was taking a concubine today. Those who knew about it dared not ruin their mistress's plans and replied, "Madam, please wait a moment while I go and inquire."
Half a cup of tea later, the servants returned, and Yu's mother, supported by her maids, walked out of the room and stood on the steps 'looking into the distance': "When Zhizhi got married, it was probably just like this in terms of scale and fanfare."
"Reporting to Madam, it is the Li family that is holding a wedding."
"The Li family," Yu's mother muttered.
She is blind and has never left the house since she arrived. Servants take care of everything for her, so she doesn't need to do anything.
She was told it was the Li family, but she didn't even know which way the Li family's gate faced. Her hand rested on her jade cane, and she inexplicably started thinking about her daughter.
"Zhizhi said she was coming, why aren't you finished yet?"
"Being a housewife always keeps you busy."
Upon hearing this, Yu's mother nodded: "That makes sense." Before the Liu family fell from grace, there were many things to do at home, and her mother was always busy.
She stopped thinking about it and just hoped that her daughter would come to see her after she finished her work in a few days.
Yu Zhi sat in the bridal sedan chair, feeling uneasy. The noisy chatter from both sides of the road reached her ears, and her face turned red and then white.
She couldn't help but wonder, if she felt this way sitting in the sedan chair, how must the fourth young lady, who was riding a horse to greet her, feel?
He was cursed by thousands, but no one offered congratulations; all around him were pointing fingers and whispering.
For a woman to take a concubine is undoubtedly to violate the laws and regulations of the Great Yan Dynasty. It would be one thing to do it secretly, but for Miss Wei to dare to take a concubine so openly and blatantly is truly the first person in five hundred years.
Wei Pingxi, dressed in wedding attire, looked as elegant as a fairy.
As the sun sets in the west, its golden rays cast shimmering, flickering golden threads. The fairy on horseback sheds her dazzling elegance, revealing a worldly joy and celebration.
Wherever she went, the cursing and pointing stopped abruptly.
Miss Wei's beauty is like that of an immortal in the Nine Heavens, unapproachable and inviolable. If she so desired, her beauty could also be as sharp as a blade.
No one dared to comment on what they saw.
The world was captivated by the beauty of the Fourth Miss, lamenting why such a fairy would willingly fall into depravity, and experiencing a variety of indescribable feelings about her beauty.
Men and women alike were heartbroken for Wei Pingxi, and every man and woman envied the woman in the sedan chair.
The surroundings suddenly fell silent, and Yu Zhi's palms were sweaty.
Wei Pingxi lowered his eyes and chuckled lightly, a mocking smile that startled the lost souls of the mortals: "May I ask you all, how long will you block my way?"
The wedding procession stopped, and the music and drumming also ceased.
Miss Wei was displeased. She glanced to the side, but the stopped music resumed its noisy clamor.
The person blocking the front of the line was a student from Jingde Academy, dressed in a scholar's robe, looking very respectable. When Wei Pingxi gave him a dismissive look, his heart was greatly shaken, and his eyebrows instantly lit up with excitement.
"The Fourth Miss is a celestial being of this world, how could she have fallen for a witch's trick? I, Wen, am not talented, but I am willing to be the one to awaken the Fourth Miss with a resounding voice! If the Fourth Miss wants to take a concubine, she has the guts to step over my body, otherwise we would rather die than sit idly by and watch such a disregard for propriety and morality happen!"
"Indeed! Fourth Miss, it's time to turn back before you tarnish your reputation! How can the Wei family's century-old honor be ruined in an instant?"
"I urge the Fourth Miss to see the error of her ways!"
"I urge the Fourth Miss to repent and turn back from her misguided path!!"
When one person stands up, more people will voice their support. If many people know something is wrong and shout it out, it will become the truth.
While most of the people who come here cannot bear to see the fairy fall into the mortal world and commit such filthy acts, some also use this incident to gain fame—stepping on Miss Wei's great reputation to rise to prominence, needless to say.
"So, you're here to cause trouble?"
Wei Pingxi spoke in a calm tone.
"How can you call it 'causing trouble'? We are risking our lives for the greater good!"
"What a fine display of selflessness!" Wei Pingxi smiled wryly. "Then please, all of you, die first."
Her expression was indifferent: "Step over it."
"I will obey your orders, Miss!"
Emerald raised her voice and shouted, "Let's go! Anyone who doesn't want to die, get out of my way!"
"Does Fourth Miss really dare to do such a thing? Such disregard for human life, how could it be... how could it be..."
Before he could finish speaking, the horse's hooves kicked up, startling the students into a panicked flight.
"This is an insult to scholarship! Absolutely an insult to scholarship!"
"How could the Wei family, with its century-long reputation for integrity, have produced someone like you?"
The insults continued unabated, but Wei Pingxi ignored them completely.
After a period of chaos, some people, unafraid of death, blocked the way.
"Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, you're overestimating your own strength." Wei Pingxi said, one hand on his sword.
...
In the capital city, thousands of miles away, the imperial city stands majestically, magpies perch on branches, and an autumn wind suddenly rises.
In the Gan Ning Palace, the dignified and elegant Empress, like a fairy from another world, said: "His Majesty has lost again."
Despite losing five games in a row, His Majesty showed no sign of dejection: "The Empress is far superior; I am ashamed to admit my inferiority. What do you want this time?"
"I'll owe you for now."
"Very well, as Your Majesty would decree."
The emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty was known as the most handsome man in the world. For decades, no man in the world could surpass him in terms of temperament and appearance.
His Majesty, who stirred the hearts of countless women in his youth, was a rare romantic in the royal family. Even in middle age, he remained the most unforgettable figure in the hearts of many women.
For many years, the emperor and empress lived in harmony. The empress bore the emperor a princess and a crown prince, while the emperor left the harem empty for the sake of the empress alone. Because of his love for the empress, the Yan family was favored by the emperor and enjoyed a long-lasting prosperity.
"Today is the day Xi Xi takes a concubine."
"Your Majesty, it is indeed the day that the Fourth Miss is taking a concubine."
The Empress gently picked up a chess piece and tossed it into the chess box: "She wants to take a concubine, what does Your Majesty think?"
"Rules are rigid, but people are flexible. If she wants to take a concubine, so be it. I have already sent you and my congratulatory gifts."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Huh? The Empress is going to give me another son?"
"I'll give you three sons."
The palace maids serving at Gan Ning Palace covered their mouths and chuckled, while His Majesty the Emperor, who had dominated the beauty list for many years, was not angry but pleased, his eyes and brows full of tenderness and affection.
...
Wei Pingxi slashed down with her sword, and a crack about four inches long appeared in the bluestone slab. The students who had been cursing loudly in the street instantly fell silent, not expecting that she would actually dare to strike without mercy.
"I...I am a good friend of Young Master Wei, how dare you...how dare you..."
"Second Brother's friend?"
One sword strike after another landed on the students' legs, until they were so frightened they wet themselves and knelt on the ground.
Having witnessed the grotesque behavior, Wei Pingxi sheathed his sword: "Those who block my way shall die. If you are not satisfied, go ahead and talk to my grandfather, or even tear down the plaque of the Marquis's mansion. It is truly unlucky for you to block my way on the day I take a concubine!"
"No bad luck, no bad luck. How could it be bad luck for the Fourth Miss to take a concubine?"
A shrill voice pierced the air as the Grand Eunuch, using his light-footed skill, landed on his feet and lightly waved his whisk: "His Majesty's decree—"
The crowd fell silent, kneeling in unison.
Just as Wei Pingxi was about to dismount, the eunuch delivering the imperial decree smiled obsequiously and said, "Fourth Miss, you may just sit and listen."
There was a commotion inside the bridal sedan chair, and the eunuch said again, "The bride does not need to come out. By the grace of His Majesty and the Empress, she is exempt from kneeling. We only hope that the young lady will serve the Fourth Miss well after entering the family."
Yu Zhi rode in the sedan chair with trepidation, listening to the words of congratulations, marveling at the favor the Fourth Miss received from the Emperor and Empress, and feeling dizzy from the overwhelming glory and grace bestowed upon her.
After His Majesty finished speaking, the imperial procession carrying the congratulatory gifts arrived late.
The gifts were carried in sixteen baskets; half were prepared by His Majesty, and the other half were personally selected by the Empress.
The Empress Dowager gave her utmost respect as it was her niece's first time having a wedding.
"Her Majesty the Empress said that one can only be truly happy once in a hundred years of life. Taking a concubine is nothing, so be it. This old servant dares to ask Fourth Miss: Did you enjoy yourself today? Were you happy?"
Wei Pingxi's brows relaxed: "Originally, it wasn't enjoyable at all; not only was it not enjoyable, it was also quite frustrating."
The crowd was thronging, and those prostrating themselves or kneeling on the ground were all trembling.
She looked down at them and suddenly realized that there was no fun in arguing with these people. She laughed and said, "However, since my aunt and uncle have sent people from so far away, how can I not be happy? Please tell my aunt that I am very happy!"
"As long as Fourth Miss is having a good time, that's all that matters. I wouldn't dare trouble you with anything." The chief eunuch waved his whisk again, pointing a cold finger with a stern look: "Aren't you going to make way?"
In an instant, the Great Dao reached the heavens, and the entire world became vast.
Wei Pingxi spurred his horse and shouted, "Let's go home!"
They returned home in high spirits and great enthusiasm.
Yu Zhi loosened her palm and slowly exhaled, her fingers glistening with fine sweat.
...
Wei Mansion.
Old Master Wei was fishing in the middle of the lake when a servant overheard this and whispered something to the steward, who immediately turned pale.
"Your Majesty, someone from the palace has arrived."
The fishing rod trembled slightly, and a surge of resentment rose in Old Master Wei's chest. In the blink of an eye, a fake smile appeared on his face: "Let's go, let's go see the angel."
The emperor sent his attendants from afar; regardless of the reason, it was a great honor for the Wei family.
When the Emperor and Empress took a concubine, they sent people to congratulate Wei Pingxi. The young men of the Wei family, who had originally intended to embarrass Wei Pingxi, rushed back from outside upon hearing the news.
Where are the angels?
Young Master Wei was busy tidying his clothes.