Half a month later, Hua Niang's wedding day arrived.
The bridal chamber was in a newly completed side courtyard of the manor, adorned with bright red "xi" (喜) characters everywhere.
Early in the morning, long strings of firecrackers were set off outside the manor, crackling noisily and creating a lively atmosphere.
Even Changsun Ling'er and the other girls came to join the festivities.
Seeing Hua Niang dressed in her wedding attire, the girls were taken aback. They nudged Chai Yue, asking in confusion.
What was going on?
Chai Yue smiled charmingly. "It was the young master's idea. He said it wasn't easy for Hua Niang to raise Ma Yu alone. If she were to marry Zhu Zi, Ma Yu would lose her mother, which would be too pitiful.
"Besides, Zhu Zi is single and unattached. So, he decided to let Zhu Zi marry into the Ma family.
"This way, it fulfills the wishes of both individuals, the old Master Ma gains someone to care for him in his old age, and Ma Yu won't be without a mother."
Remarriage was permitted in this era. A widow, with the consent of her husband's family and after ensuring her children were provided for, could leave with the dowry she brought into the marriage.
Old Master Ma had long encouraged Hua Niang to remarry, and Ma Chao supported it. Therefore, Fang Er stepped in to help arrange the wedding for the couple.
The earlier talk of betrothing Zhu Zi to Hua Niang was not a jest but a genuine plan for Zhu Zi to become a son-in-law to the Ma family.
This meant Hua Niang's status in the Ma family would change from daughter-in-law to daughter, and Zhu Zi would become a live-in son-in-law.
Does this mean Hua Niang will be the one to pick up the groom later?
Changsun Ling'er suddenly became excited. In her life, she had only ever seen grooms being picked up by the bride's party; she had never witnessed a bride picking up the groom.
So, she tugged on Chai Yue's arm and asked, "Sister Yue'er, how about we be Hua Niang's attendants?"
Attendants were the equivalent of groomsmen. The thought of playing such a role made Changsun Ling'er feel it would be very interesting.
"Yes, Sister Yue'er! Such an opportunity is rare. How about we all go?"
Zhang Yuanshuang also joined in the excitement.
As for weddings, the livelier, the better. Chai Yue gradually became interested.
"Sisters, please wait a moment. I'll go and ask the young master."
"Let's go, I'll help you!" Seeing Chai Yue agree, Changsun Ling'er was thrilled.
The two supported each other and found Fang Er, who was standing by watching the excitement. They conveyed their wishes and then waited expectantly for his approval.
"Be attendants? It's a long way from the manor to the First Division's station. Are you sure you can handle it, Yue'er?"
Fang Er looked at her with concern.
The Duke's Manor was two hundred meters wide and two hundred meters long. Going through various turns, exiting from this side courtyard would be at least a li.
Furthermore, from the manor gate to Zhu Zi's place at the First Division's station, it would be at least a thousand meters. Chai Yue was due to give birth in just over a month, and Fang Er worried she might not be able to manage.
"Duke Fang, please rest assured. Don't forget, we sisters deal with pregnant women all day. We certainly won't let Sister Yue'er get tired."
Changsun Ling'er said with a face full of smiles, then deliberately asked Yuan Mengjia, Zhang Yuanshuang, Fang Fengzhu, and others who had followed behind.
"Sisters, isn't that right?"
"Yes, Duke Fang, you can put your mind at ease!"
"We will definitely return Sister Yue'er to you safe and sound," Zhang Yuanshuang and the others chimed in with a laugh.
"Alright, it's good that you'll be accompanying her." Fang Er said to Changsun Ling'er, then looked at Chai Yue, "Have fun, don't get too tired. If you feel uncomfortable, send someone back to fetch me."
"Mm, thank you, young master. Then Yue'er will go with the sisters!"
After Chai Yue spoke, she swayed her pregnant belly and went with Changsun Ling'er and the others to find Hua Niang.
Upon hearing that Chai Yue and this group of noble ladies wanted to be her attendants, Hua Niang was completely stunned.
She had never dreamed of such a glorious occasion in her life!
"My lady, please don't! Absolutely not!"
"I am merely a servant. How can I presume to trouble you and the young ladies to be my attendants?"
Although it was a glorious honor, Hua Niang was not an ungrateful person. She quickly waved her hands in refusal.
The difference in their statuses was like heaven and earth. To be able to serve Chai Yue was already a great honor for her, let alone having Chai Yue and the others truly act as her attendants.
"Hua Niang, what are you saying!"
"Zhu Zi has followed the young master through thick and thin, through countless battles, big and small. They treat each other as brothers. Why can't we sisters be your attendants?"
"Or are you afraid that we sisters will steal the spotlight on your wedding day?" Chai Yue asked, feigning anger, standing opposite Hua Niang.
"I dare not, I dare not! It's just..."
Before Hua Niang could finish speaking, Changsun Ling'er interrupted her.
"Just what? It's settled then. Today, we will be your attendants. Let's see who dares to make things difficult for you."
"By the way, Hua Niang, since you'll be picking up the groom later, you need to act like a man. Have you prepared the 'cuizhuangshi' (催妆诗 - poem asking the bride to get ready) and 'shangjiaoci' (上轿词 - words for ascending the sedan chair)?"
"Ah?" Hua Niang was taken aback by the question.
She hadn't prepared any 'cuizhuangshi' or 'shangjiaoci' at all!
"You haven't prepared them, have you?" Fang Fengzhu asked with a laugh from the side.
Hua Niang could only nod helplessly.
"Alright, it's fine. I'll go find the young master and ask him to compose a couple of poems," Chai Yue said, comforting Hua Niang as she took her hand.
With that, she turned to walk towards Fang Er. Just then, Changsun Ling'er leaned over and whispered something into Chai Yue's ear.
Following that, Chai Yue was seen covering her mouth and laughing.
When she found Fang Er and explained the situation, Fang Er was momentarily stunned. "A woman marrying a man also needs these?"
In truth, Changsun Ling'er and the others didn't quite understand either. They just thought that since it was a wedding, they should be prepared, just in case.
"It's too late to teach you now. Wait a moment, I'll go prepare something."
Fang Er returned to his room and took out a Bluetooth speaker from his spatial storage, along with a mobile phone.
He opened the phone and browsed the music list. Fortunately, there were a few songs pre-loaded from the factory. He decided they would have to suffice.
He called Hua Niang into the room, connected the speaker and the phone via Bluetooth, and then taught her how to use them.
Just as Hua Niang finished learning and before she could try it out, Yuan Tiangang's voice was heard from outside, "The auspicious hour has arrived, it's time to pick up the groom!"
In her haste, Hua Niang quickly put the speaker and phone into her pocket.
Fortunately, the speaker was small, about the size of a soda can. If it were any larger, she really wouldn't have been able to fit it in.