Chapter 63: Frail and Incapable of Fending for Herself

The day before the grand wedding, an auspicious matron holding five-colored silk threads chanted propitious blessings while meticulously performing the threading ritual on Hualan’s face.

Once the fine peach fuzz of the young maiden was completely removed, her skin appeared all the more jade-like and radiant.

That evening, Wang Ruofu specifically instructed the maidservants to prepare a five-seed soup for Hualan to bathe in, symbolizing a multitude of children and boundless blessings.

At this moment, the Rurui Pavilion was brightly lit and brimming with a joyous atmosphere.

Hualan leaned against Wang Ruofu’s shoulder, mother and daughter both having slightly reddened eyes, their faces filled with reluctance to part.

Nanny Liu cradled a brocade-wrapped package, walked lightly and carefully to Hualan’s personal dowry chest, and cautiously placed the bundle at the very bottom in the most hidden corner.

"Nanny Liu, what are you holding?" Hualan raised her eyes, asked with puzzled confusion.

Wang Ruofu’s aged face flushed slightly, and she gently patted the back of Hualan’s hand, scolding playfully, "Don't ask blindly, you'll know tomorrow."

Nanny Liu smiled faintly, "This is something every new bride must know; it does no harm to tell the young mistress now."

With that, Nanny Liu stepped forward and whispered a few words into Hualan’s ear. Hualan’s earlobes instantly flushed red with shyness, and she hurriedly turned her face away to bury it in Wang Ruofu’s embrace.

Rulan, who was practicing calligraphy at the round table, slapped her Hubian brush down with a crisp snap, akimbo, and looked at them with an expression of utter unconvinced defiance.

"What are you whispering about so mysteriously? Is there anything I'm not allowed to know?"

Wang Ruofu pointed a finger at her and gritted her teeth, "Get out of the way and practice your writing properly. This is not something for you to go inquiring about."

"Hmph!" Rulan let out a soft huff, unwillingly moving back to the table, her head lowered as she continued to copy the calligraphy model.

The characters she traced were deliberately written crookedly, every stroke of the brush exuding a sense of defiance.

After composing herself, Hualan raised her eyes to look at Rulan and said softly, "Mother, please don't scold Fifth Sister these past few days."

"Fine, I will agree to whatever you say." Wang Ruofu’s eyes were filled with maternal affection, and she could not help pulling Hualan closer into her embrace.

"Honestly, where else is there a mother like me who can only have a heartfelt, intimate chat with her own daughter on the very eve of her wedding?"

"The Old Lady is truly..." She stopped mid-sentence, picked up her handkerchief, and wiped away the tears spilling from the corners of her eyes.

Hualan stroked her chest and said, "Mother, Grandmother is only doing this for my own good."

"Over these past few days, Grandmother has covered every detail, teaching me numerous methods for managing a household and keeping servants in line."

"She taught me the rules of etiquette for interacting with the matrons of various noble houses, and even the ceremonial protocols for entering the palace to pay respects to royalty."

"Your daughter has benefited immensely; Mother must never blame Grandmother."

Wang Ruofu sighed softly, tears welling up in her eyes once more. "I know the Old Lady means well for you, but you are leaving the family tomorrow, and I don't know how we mother and daughter—"

Hualan hurriedly raised her hand to wipe away Wang Ruofu’s tears, forcefully suppressing the sob in her throat, and broke into a bright, radiant smile.

"Mother's words will surely become the laughingstock of others."

"The Zhao residence is so close to our home; if you miss me, just send Nanny Liu with a message, and I guarantee I will return immediately."

"By then, I'll even want to eat the lotus root starch and osmanthus cake made by your own hands."

Hearing this, the sorrow between Wang Ruofu’s brows faded slightly. She scolded affectionately, "You're just talking like a child; which new bride runs back to her maiden home every other day?"

"Then Mother can come visit the Zhao residence more often. I imagine the young master of the Zhao family won't say a thing." Hualan lifted her chin, her eyes sparkling with a lucid brilliance.

Watching them, Rulan felt a slight sting in the bridge of her nose.

She had always resented her eldest sister for bossing everyone around and had wished she would marry off sooner, but now that the eldest sister was truly leaving, her heart felt as uncomfortable as if stuffed with a ball of cotton.

She secretly wiped her eyes with her sleeve, smudging a streak of black ink across her face.

Catching sight of Rulan's appearance, Hualan smiled and beckoned to her, "What is the matter with Fifth Sister? Come here and let me look at you."

"No! I am not sad at all."

"I'm going to sleep with Little Six tonight." With that, Rulan briskly took her maidservant Xique and marched straight toward the Shou'an Hall.

Watching her retreating figure, Wang Ruofu curled her lips and muttered, "This wretched girl, she doesn't even know how to grow close to you."

"Right, if Hangeer wants to take concubines in the future, you must keep a tight rein on things. We cannot have you ending up with some fawning, cheap vixen like Lin Qingshuang."

Hualan's tone was gentle yet laced with firmness. "Mother, rest assured, I understand. When the time comes, your daughter will carefully vet them."

"They must not only have a clean family background, but above all, a gentle and kind disposition."

Fearing Hualan might follow in her own footsteps, Wang Ruofu anxiously urged further, "The few maidservants accompanying you as dowry were all meticulously chosen; use them when the time calls for it."

"Cuichan, whom the Old Lady gave you, is also a steady person. If you encounter any issues, you can consult her."

Hualan nodded repeatedly. Outside the window, the moonlight was like water, and mother and daughter lay awake for a long time, unable to sleep.

In Hanlin Lane, the Zhao residence was similarly brightly lit, as dazzling as day.

From the main gate to the inner courtyard, the paths paved with bluestone slabs were intertwined on both sides with festive red silks, and dozens of large red lanterns hung high under the eaves, swaying gently in the night breeze.

Gu Tingye had hurried back, travel-worn, from the Bailudong Academy, waiting to accompany Zhao Han to the Sheng residence the next day to fetch the bride.

At this moment, the two of them were exchanging toasts in the side hall.

Having not seen each other for many days, Gu Tingye's brows already carried a scholar-like scholarly air. He teased playfully, "Rest assured, Chengyuan brother, tomorrow I will carve a path of blood for you!"

"Leave those Sheng brothers to me; you just charge straight into the inner courtyard to welcome your bride!"

Zhao Han smiled and said, "That is merely the valor of a common brute. As the saying goes, all is fair in war."

"Tomorrow, those Sheng brothers will definitely not dare to stop me!"

Hearing this, Gu Tingye chuckled twice.

"Ah, indeed! As expected, you scholarly fellows have the most schemes up your sleeve!"

He suddenly leaned in closer and lowered his voice. "From now on, we are both men with families. We must visit Guangyuntai and Yiyun Pavilion much less often."

Then, gazing out the window, he muttered to himself, "I haven't seen her in many days. I wonder if Yunniang is still well?"

"We? When did you acquire a family?" Zhao Han seized upon the crucial point, a flash of astonishment crossing his face.

Gu Tingye raised his wine cup, drained it in one gulp, and waved his hand dismissively. "To not keep it from you, Chengyuan brother, I met her in Bianjing City just a few days before I set off for Bailudong Academy."

"Her name is Manini, an actress from the pear garden. I saw her surrounded and bullied by several ruffians and scoundrels on the street."

"Unable to just watch, I stepped in to help her beat off the ruffians and even gave her fifty taels of silver, intending to dismiss her right then and there."

"Who would have thought her brother was a gambler? After cheating her out of the silver I gave her, he gambled it all away in less than three days and unfortunately fell off a cliff to his death."

"Driven to desperation, she actually tracked me all the way to Bailudong Academy to seek refuge with me. Seeing how truly pitiful she was, I took her in."

"It was a momentary oversight on my part; I forgot to mention it in my letters. I shall punish myself with three cups!"

Zhao Han furrowed his brows tightly. True to form, this scoundrel Gu Tingye had not taken a single word of his advice to heart.

Sighing softly, he said solemnly, "Zhonghuai, Bailudong is a thousand miles away from Bianjing, and the route is mostly filled with desolate mountains and wild ridges."

"How did she, a delicate and frail woman, manage to find you?"

Gu Tingye replied lightly, "I know what you're worried about, Chengyuan brother, but Manini is delicate and helpless."

"When she found me, the soles of her embroidered shoes were worn through, and her feet were covered in bloody blisters. I couldn't just stand by and let her die."

"Tomorrow is your joyous wedding day; let's not discuss this for now."

"If you suspect Manini harbors ill intentions toward me, I will introduce you to her in a few days."

"She returned to Bianjing with me and is currently settled in a separate courtyard."

Hearing these words, Zhao Han cast a lingering look at him and had no choice but to let the matter drop.