"How can my master and I be bought with money?" Wu Shao answered for Lu Yu from the other side.
"Then—you two?"
"It's not money, it's affection."
Hearing Lu Yu's serious reply, Zheng Yu's eyes widened, and she gritted her teeth, "Do you think I believe that?"
"I don't," Lu Yu glanced at her and replied, suppressing a smile, his face red, not daring to look at her.
"If you want to laugh, just laugh. It's not good if you hurt yourself holding it in," Zheng Yu, dressed in a bright red bridal gown, smiled and patted Lu Yu's shoulder.
"You guys are really something!" Gu Yitong said, then turned to face Lu Yu, "I haven't settled the score with you for the gate-blocking challenges you set last time, and now you've come to my door yourself. Don't blame me for being impolite."
Lu Yu suppressed a smile and glanced at Gu Yitong, "Mm."
He then turned to Zheng Yu and said, "The price needs to be increased."
"Alright! Enough talk, I have five challenges in total, so just endure them," Gu Yitong suppressed her anger and forced a smile.
"Bring it on, I have two good sisters, I'm not afraid!"
The laughter and noise from outside the house reached inside, which helped to relax Gu Yi's tense mood.
"First challenge, next!" Gu Yitong waved her hand, and a servant behind her brought out a bowl of vinegar.
Gu Yitong took it and walked towards Zheng Yu with a smile, "The five flavors of life—sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty—are all things you will experience with Yi'er. Today, you'll have a small taste first."
"Okay." Zheng Yu didn't hesitate, took the bowl, and drank it down.
Gu Yitong was quite protective of her sister-in-law, giving her a bowl of vinegar, which was much milder than the later tastes.
"Second challenge, come."
The servant behind her actually brought out a bitter gourd, startling the three of them, their eyes wide as they swallowed.
"This is the bitterness among the five flavors. You and Wu Shao can split it," Gu Yitong said to Lu Yu with a mischievous smile.
"Alright." Before Lu Yu could answer, Wu Shao stepped forward, broke the bitter gourd in half, and handed a smaller piece to Lu Yu.
"I've never been afraid of bitterness since I was young, so I'll leave the smaller piece for Master," Wu Shao said, and then ate it bite by bite in front of everyone, as if thoroughly enjoying it.
Lu Yu, on the other hand, found it quite difficult, each bite feeling like torture.
Gu Yitong nodded with satisfaction and waved her hand, bringing out the third item, "It's a bowl of water."
"Is this sugar water?" Wu Shao craned his neck to look.
Gu Yitong didn't answer, turned, and handed it to Lu Yu with a mischievous smile, "This one's for you. I originally only wanted to make things difficult for Zheng Yu, but since you came along, I can't bear to torment her too much, so you drink it for her."
"Oh no, this is saltwater," Wu Shao recognized Gu Yitong's expression and moved back slightly, whispering to Zheng Yu.
"Okay." Lu Yu forced a smile and gulped it down, his expression incredibly varied.
"Bring on the chili!"
As soon as Gu Yitong finished speaking, the servant brought out three skewers of small red chilies.
"You can each have a skewer of these chilies," Gu Yitong's expression was like a demon's, making the three of them shiver, "Eat them all, don't waste them."
The three of them ate the chilies bite by bite, their faces contorted.
Gu Yitong had personally tested the same variety of chilies beforehand. She ate a whole one to ensure it was alright before giving them to the three to eat.
The last flavor was sugar water, one bowl for each person, to help relieve the spiciness in their mouths.
"Today you have tasted sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty. From now on, you will bear them together with Yi'er. Remember, you are not allowed to treat him badly."
After speaking, Gu Yitong stepped aside, clearing a path and signaling Zheng Yu to enter the house to pick up the bride.
Zheng Yu bowed respectfully to Gu Yitong and solemnly promised, "I will cherish Yi'er in my hands from now on and treat him well for my entire life."
"Go in, Yi'er has been waiting for you for a long time."
The procession was noisy and festive all the way.
The wedding procession walked grandly through the streets. The town mayor was getting married, and people on both sides of the road craned their necks to watch, the crowds surging endlessly.
Behind Zheng Yu was the grand red sedan chair. Dressed in a bright red wedding gown, she held her head high, her face beaming with smiles, constantly cupping her hands in thanks to the well-wishers.
The sound of gongs and drums ahead filled the entire street with a festive atmosphere.
When the carriage arrived at the Zheng residence, Zheng Yu personally helped Gu Yi out of the sedan chair, assisted him to cross the horse's saddle, and then over the brazier, walking steadily step by step on the red silk laid out on the ground.
Hearing the blessings around him, Gu Yi, hidden beneath the veil, lowered his head and smiled softly, his eyes filled with joy and happiness.
The two stood in place under the guidance of the master of ceremonies. Gu Yi nervously tightened his grip on the red silk ribbon, his heart pounding.
The red ribbon in his hand suddenly moved, as if Zheng Yu had tightened it. Feeling this silent reassurance, he was about to purse his lips and turn his head slightly, but the veil blocked his view.
"First bow to heaven and earth!"
The master of ceremonies' voice rang out. Gu Yi dared not be distracted, quickly stood straight, and slowly bowed along with Zheng Yu beside him.
"The ceremony is complete!" the master of ceremonies announced, and applause erupted around them.
Gu Yi's eyes couldn't help but moisten slightly. He had finally married her.
Carefully led into the bridal chamber by Zheng Yu, Gu Yi's heart finally settled, and he urged Zheng Yu to go and toast the guests quickly.
Gu Yitong had her good sisters Lu Yu and Zheng Yu to help her fend off drinks during her wedding, but most of the guests attending Zheng Yu's wedding banquet today were Zheng Yu's colleagues from official circles, so Zheng Yu had to handle it all alone.
Gu Yi sat alone in the bridal chamber, his fingers lightly touching the wedding quilt beneath him, feeling the festive red color outside the veil. He took a deep breath; this would be his home from now on.
The bed was spread with longan, lotus seeds, red dates, and peanuts. These four items had been carefully selected by Zheng Chen the day before their wedding. They were all large and plump. Gu Yi reached out and quietly touched one, bringing it under the veil. It was a red date.
Looking at its bright red, tempting color, Gu Yi raised his hand slightly and sniffed it. The rich, distinctive aroma of red dates quickly filled his nostrils.
Gu Yi involuntarily swallowed, and his stomach rumbled ungraciously. Although it only rumbled once, and there was no one else in the room, he still blushed uncontrollably.
According to wedding customs, he hadn't eaten all day, but the red dates on the bed were probably not to be eaten yet.
There were ten red dates, ten longans, ten lotus seeds, and ten peanuts spread on the bed. If he ate them, he would definitely be discovered.
But he was so hungry, his stomach ached a little. Yet, being discovered after eating would be very embarrassing. Should he eat it or not...
Gu Yi knocked three times on the side of the bed. Wu Ji, who was guarding outside, heard the sound, immediately pushed the door open, and stood at the doorway awaiting Gu Yi's instructions.