The wedding preparations were a whirlwind of activity, and by the time dawn broke, the Yun Ge pavilion was already abuzz.
Chi You, having slept poorly the night before with worries weighing on her mind, was awakened early by the commotion.
Weddings in the Central Plains were a complex affair, filled with intricate rituals. However, with her pregnancy, there was no choice but to expedite the ceremony at the earliest auspicious time, and the pre-nuptial rites were simplified.
Yet, she hadn't anticipated how exhausting the wedding day itself would be.
Even before the sky had fully brightened, she was being fussed over, whisked away for a bath by the governesses without even a sip of tea.
"It's only the fourth watch," she murmured.
A maid replied, "This is already considered late, to accommodate your condition, Miss."
Chi You was speechless.
Her aunt, Madam Qin, had attempted to instruct her before, but she couldn't retain the information, nor did she wish to, and had simply brushed it aside. Now, being handled by governesses and maids, she felt a growing sense of overwhelm.
After a fragrant bath, attended by her maids, she saw a throng of people gathered in the outer chamber.
"This old servant is here to do the facial preparation for the young lady," a voice announced.
Chi You calmly moved to sit. As she gazed at her reflection in the bronze mirror, she was suddenly reminded of the day of the betrothal. He had arrived in white, presenting a live goose as the betrothal gift and red silks as the dowry, his presence accompanied by the biting chill of the snow. She recalled how the wild geese of her Western regions favored high flights, their cries echoing through the heavens. In her youth, she had loved hunting these geese, tearing down those who held themselves high, a surge of satisfaction filling her. Now, she realized, the geese of the Central Plains were just as fierce.
"Young lady, have a little something to eat."
Fu Ling brought a plate of pastries. Strictly speaking, the bride was not allowed to eat before the ceremony. However, the Prime Minister had instructed her to disregard such rules, and she had obtained food from the kitchen earlier. Chi You, now pregnant, was prone to hunger, and after the lengthy preparations for her facial and makeup, she was indeed famished. She glanced at Fu Ling, her hand brushing against the maid's wrist as she took the plate.
Fu Ling felt a subtle, almost imperceptible sting enter her body. She frowned slightly and withdrew.
"Fu Ling, you may attend me in the room," Chi You suddenly called out.
Fu Ling paused. "Yes."
Outside, red silk streamers and colorful ribbons adorned every surface, and the sounds of celebratory music and firecrackers filled the air. By the time the卯时 arrived, Chi You heard the clamor of gongs and drums from beyond the courtyard, a sense of unreality washing over her. More and more people bustled in and out of the room. Several of the Qin family ladies, along with their servants, brought the dowry chests into the courtyard. All of it had been personally arranged by the Liu Mansion, with ninety-nine dowry carriages, a gesture of immense respect. Madam Qin had personally chosen a tassel hairpin for her, adorned with cloisonné enamel, jade, pearls, and adorned with a pair of golden lotuses, and a specialized makeup artist applied a full face of makeup, highlighting her captivating allure. Chi You looked at herself in the mirror, her gaze darkening slightly.
"When the Prime Minister sees the young lady, he won't be able to take his eyes off her," one of the ladies remarked.
"Third Sister is so beautiful," another chimed in.
The occupants of the room chatted and teased amidst the flickering red candles. Outside, the incessant sound of music continued, punctuated by the excited chatter of children. As the auspicious hour drew near, the lady responsible for the bride’s final preparations hurried to help Chi You into her wedding gown. Chi You knew that in the Central Plains, the wedding ceremony usually took place in the evening. However, during the day, they were expected to parade through the imperial city, offer sacrifices, and participate in other elaborate rituals. Watching the comings and goings, she glanced at the time outside, her eyes dimming. Calculating the hours, she realized he should be arriving soon to escort her.
This wedding day was the most relaxed, yet the busiest, for Liu Rongruo. With guests arriving and wine flowing, he was consumed by various duties and likely wouldn't have time for anything else. The Qin family resided in the outer city, and by the time her news of her elopement reached him, he wouldn't be able to arrive in time to stop her. Her only task was to neutralize the hidden guards around her and escape with Xuan Qing, who was waiting to receive her, during the window before his arrival. This was her sole opportunity to leave him.
Just as the thought crossed her mind, the sound of an assassin's intrusion suddenly erupted from outside, causing widespread panic. The people inside the room, seeing the swarm of assassins, were thrown into disarray, their screams filling the air. The guards hidden in the shadows instantly revealed themselves, engaging the intruders.
Fu Ling, seeing the unexpected assassins, immediately sought out Chi You.
"It hurts, my stomach hurts."
"Madam, Madam---"
Fu Ling, believing she had been agitated and that the child was in danger, hurried to support her. In her haste, she failed to notice she was under attack. Greatly alarmed, she was about to draw her dagger.
Suddenly, Chi You produced her jade flute and began to play. The people in the room were instantly struck with searing headaches and collapsed onto the ground. She had no intention of harming these innocent people; she merely wished to render them incapable of obstructing her. Fu Ling, true to her nature as a trained assassin, still possessed some strength. Clutching her stomach, she launched a vicious attack towards Chi You.
"If Madam dares to run, they will all pay with their lives."
Chi You ignored her, evading the attack while continuing to play her flute. From all directions, strange snakes and insects emerged, coiling around and attacking her. Fu Ling’s body was wracked with sudden, intense pain. She found herself unable to muster her internal energy, her very bones aching from the piercing flute melody. As various蛊 (gu) insects swarmed towards her, she was unable to pursue, watching helplessly as Chi You escaped through the window.
Outside, the number of assassins continued to grow, holding back all the guards. Fu Ling mustered her remaining strength to release a smoke flare into the air before collapsing.
Chi You, making her way out of the manor through the back gate, saw the signal flare. She immediately dropped the knife in her hand, her blood-stained fingers clutching her skirt as she fled swiftly out of the alley. Amidst the flashing blades and clashing swords, she, in her red wedding gown, swayed elegantly. The cold wind whipped at her skirt. As she ran, she began to remove the phoenix coronet and hairpin from her head, tossing them to the ground. The golden coronet tumbled from the sky, its pearls and jewels scattering across the ground. The red wedding gown was also torn and discarded, a pool of crimson blooming on the earth.
Xuan Qing's carriage waited outside the alley. From a distance, he saw her shedding her wedding gown and running towards him in white.
"Little You'er."
Chi You heard his voice and glanced back at the pursuing guards. A蛊 master instantly appeared, entangling them. Xuan Qing leaped forward, grabbed her by the waist, and tossed her into the carriage. With a shout, he urged the horses towards the city gates.
Bai Ze, upon seeing the signal, immediately went to find Liu Rongruo in the front hall. The hall was crowded with people. He spotted his master, dressed in red, and quickly approached, whispering in his ear.
"Master, Fu Ling is in trouble."
Liu Rongruo's face froze. An infinite coldness spread across his eyes as he strode out. Li Qiongyu, just rounding the corner from the covered walkway, saw his hasty departure.
"What's going on? The auspicious hour hasn't arrived yet."
"What's wrong with Brother Liu? He seems to have a lot of pent-up anger," Wei Qingge asked, scratching her head in confusion. "Oh well, never mind. When is the feast starting? I'm hungry."
Pushed by her, Li Qiongyu snapped back to attention. "It's probably going to be more excitement."
"Ah, what do you mean?"
Li Qiongyu grabbed her hand. "Come on, let's go see."
"No, I still have to wait for Ah Luan and Mu Rou to come eat."
Li Qiongyu ignored her, dragging her along. Wei Qingge stood stubbornly, refusing to move. "Where are we going? I want to eat."
"Eat, eat, eat, what are you eating for? Brother Liu's wife is gone, and you're still eating."