Луна ярко светит над пустынными горами, а небо усеяно цветами

Глава 7

The servants all bit their tongues, suppressing their laughter, but a muffled chuckle escaped unrestrainedly from behind Shi Wuji. Huan'er recognized the voice; it was the voice of the substitute bridegroom. She struggled to her feet and looked over from her husband's arms. Between two tall, handsome northern men stood a petite and delicate young girl; they looked remarkably alike and must be Shi Wuji's blood relatives.

Shi Wuji spoke in a low voice, casting a warning glance at his underling, so Shi Wujie quickly stopped laughing.

“Wuxia, come and ride in the carriage with your sister-in-law. Huan’er, this is your younger sister Wuxia.” He helped Huan’er to the three of them, and all three of them looked momentarily stunned.

The way they looked at her made Huan'er wonder if she was indecently dressed. She quickly looked down and around, finding nothing amiss. Her face flashed with confusion and annoyance as she looked at her husband. "What's wrong with me?"

Shi Wuji said softly:

"This is my eldest brother, Wuhen, and my youngest brother, Wujie."

In terms of expression, Shi Wuhen resembles Shi Wuji. However, Shi Wuhen possesses an added air of refined gentleness, yet the profound sharpness beneath that gentleness cannot be underestimated. Shi Wujie, on the other hand, is much simpler; his likes, dislikes, joys, and anger are all clearly etched on his handsome face, making him quite endearing. In his early twenties, as he matures further, he will, like his two older brothers, possess a fatal attraction.

As Huan'er was sizing up the Shi family members, she was also being assessed by them: there was no denying that Su Huan'er was indeed beautiful!

She, a beauty from the south, was strikingly different from Wuxia, a beauty from the north; each had her own unique charm.

Shi Wuxia is like a lovely lady stepping out of a painting, with the moon as her spirit, the willow as her posture, and the flower as her figure, her gentle and graceful beauty is unbelievable! She is very different from Su Huan'er's delicate beauty.

Using flowers as a metaphor, Shi Wuxia is like a pristine orchid in a secluded valley, untouched by worldly dust. Su Huan'er's appearance and demeanor are like a narcissus living by the water, alone and helpless.

After they introduced themselves, Shi Wuji helped her to the carriage. Huan'er's attention shifted, her large, bright eyes fixed on the three tall, spirited, and glossy black horses in front of the carriage. Her gaze revealed an eager longing; perhaps it was better to hesitate and speak abruptly:

"Shall I ride a horse with you?" In the 20th century, her only riding experience was at the Houli Horse Ranch in Taichung, where she rode a thin, small, and old horse that seemed to be on its deathbed. The exhilarating feeling of galloping freely against the wind had always been a longing she could never fulfill. Now, seeing such a strong and beautiful horse before her, how could she not be eager to try? So, she naturally asked! But this drew surprised glances from all sides.

"You can ride?" Shi Wuji didn't believe she could. How could her frail body withstand the strain of a horse? Besides, no woman was ever allowed to ride a horse; it was simply improper, especially for girls from noble families.

"No, but I want to ride," Huan'er said honestly. Seeing Shi Wuji's resolute expression, she knew her hopes were dashed, which was truly disappointing!

Before Shi Wuji could speak, she shrugged resignedly.

"Alright, let's hit the road, never mind."

Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, Miss Su Huan'er, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Shi family, walked directly to the carriage, using her hands to support herself as she jumped in. Only after Su Huan'er adjusted her skirt did she realize the unusual atmosphere. What was going on? Her gaze, filled with question marks, turned to Shi Wuji. However, Shi Wuji merely glanced at her without saying a word, helping Shi Wuxia towards the carriage. The servants quickly brought over a low stool for her to stand on as she boarded. So this was the procedure for young ladies boarding carriages! Refined and elegant, that's the proper way for a lady of a noble family to behave. Unaware of her own embarrassment, Su Huan'er secretly stuck out her tongue. Little did she know that this playful little gesture had been observed by Shi Wuji.

The carriage was very plain on the outside, painted in black and gold—these two colors were the Shi family's signature colors. The interior was quite spacious, with feather cushions on both sides for them to rest on. A small table was nailed to the center, towards the inside, with tea and snacks on it. Later, she discovered that the table surface was made of magnets, while the cups, plates, and teapot were all made of iron; no wonder the carriage didn't wobble when it moved. Under the table were six hidden compartments, containing snacks, tea, silk fabrics, colored threads, embroidery needles, and the like. Next to her seat, her aunt had some small luggage, books, and a light blanket.

She had imagined that ancient carriages were as cramped as the bridal sedan chairs often seen on television. But that wasn't the case at all; at least the carriage she was currently riding in was spacious and comfortable.

The journey back north is estimated to take half a month.

For the first day or two, she could pass the time by looking at the carriage and watching the scenery outside the window; but after the third day, none of this attracted her anymore, and she was so bored that she just wanted to scream.

She had tried many times to chat with Wuxia, but Wuxia was naturally quiet and reserved, usually responding with a kind smile without saying a word, then lowering her head to concentrate on her embroidery. It seemed as if an invisible wall separated them; in any case, they simply had nothing to say to each other. Strange, Huan'er considered herself always popular, so why had her charm vanished as soon as she arrived in ancient times? Accommodation and meals were all conducted in silence; no one spoke unless Shi Wuji gave her instructions. Boring! Incredibly boring!

Su Huan'er was going crazy! Were all people in the Song Dynasty this sarcastic and eccentric? Or was it just a difference of several hundred years, with lifestyles changing too drastically? She was reincarnated into an evil family, suffering endless bullying. The very next day, she was married into a family where everyone was serious and rigid. Her husband, who was supposed to spend his life with her, was cold and polite, except for the tenderness on their wedding night—if threatening to beat her or strangle her could be considered tenderness! But, after all, he smiled. Huan'er was right; this man never smiled, rarely smiled, and even didn't want to smile! It was a real shame that his loud laughter on their wedding night wasn't recorded.

Far from any village or shop, the group usually had a midday picnic in the wilderness. Without servants, the three Shi brothers naturally had to cook themselves. Besides dry rations and smoked meat, Wu Jie hunted a pheasant for an extra dish. Mealtimes were always conducted in the highest quality—quietly.