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The Chen family in the capital city has a three-courtyard residence. Whenever Chen Shiying comes to the capital for duty or official business, he stays here.
The house is not large but exquisitely compact. Madame Jiang resides in the main courtyard, Chen Yulan in the west wing, while the three Chen sisters are arranged to stay in the rear wing.
In the rear wing courtyard, there is a willow tree whose branches are starting to sprout fresh green leaves, so tender that they seem to drip water. In the center, there is a curved azure pond with several colorful carps swimming, surrounded by casually arranged large stones.
The main building consists of five rooms with two side rooms, and the east and west wing rooms each have three rooms with two side rooms.
Chen Feng and Chen Yuqing each reside in the east and west rooms of the main building, while Chen Yuxia stays in the west wing.
The next day, Madam Jiang took her four children back to her maternal home, the Jiang residence. The Jiang family is a prominent family from Huguang, with a former Minister of Revenue in the previous two generations, and several members currently serving as officials across the Dachun Dynasty. Though not as influential as before, the most prominent official is Madam Jiang’s father, Jiang Daren, now holding the position of a third-rank Grand Minister of Works.
Madam Jiang was the most ordinary daughter of the Jiang family, who had even “cursed” two previous fiancés to death. However, she married the best match among the Jiang daughters. Although Chen Shiying came from a humble background as a scholar, he was appointed as the top scholar by the Emperor, possessing talent, wit, and within a decade rose to the rank of a fourth-rank official. Despite being just a Magistrate, he held a crucial position as the Magistrate of Dingzhou. Occupying this position well would lead to further advancement.
The Chen siblings kowtowed to Old Lady Jiang, who then gave gifts to Chen Feng and Yuxia, embracing Yuqing and Yulan affectionately.
Realizing her presence might be disturbing, Chen Feng took Yuxia to the garden with the Jiang family girls to look at the flowers, allowing the three generations of close relatives to have intimate conversations.
On the twenty-fifth day, the Chen Residence in the Capital was adorned with red silk and lanterns, the main gate wide open, as it was the day of the betrothal from the Chu Residence.
Since Chen Shiying was absent, Madam Jiang invited her brother to help greet the guests.
Chu Lingxuan and the elder matchmaker personally came to the Chen Residence for the betrothal. The betrothal gifts amounted to sixty-four carriages, with a dowry of five thousand taels of silver.
Following Chen Shiying’s wishes, Madam Jiang included the betrothal gifts and gold accessories into Chen Feng’s dowry, giving her a substantial sum of six thousand taels of silver as her personal savings. With this generous dowry, she was now a bona fide wealthy woman.
On the sixth day of the second month, the Chen family went to the Chu Residence to set up the bridal bed.
Chen Feng’s heart was also on edge as the wedding day drew nearer.
On the afternoon of the ninth day of the second month, Chen Feng and her two sisters were squeezed together on the heated kang in the east wing room, with Chen Yulan sitting on a brocade stool by the kang. Chen Shiying arrived just then, having recently come to the capital and headed straight here after dining.
The four siblings quickly got up to bow, calling out, “Father.”
Chen Shiying nodded approvingly and said, “Your elder sister is about to get married, so you should spend more time with her.”
Knowing her father wanted to speak privately with her sister, Chen Yuqing took Chen Yulan and Chen Yuxia away.
Chen Shiying sat on the kang, patting the space beside him, and said to Chen Feng, who was still standing, “Come here, sit next to Daddy. From now on, you will be part of your husband’s family and must behave accordingly.” After saying this, he let out a melancholic sigh.
The closeness between a father and daughter was quite common in previous lives. There was even a heartwarming saying that a daughter is her father’s lover from a past life, destined to be cherished forever.
However, in ancient times, the relationship between fathers and children was not typically so intimate. Moreover, Chen Feng was already a seventeen-year-old young lady about to get married, so Chen Shiying’s behavior was considered inappropriate. Yet, being well-read and possessing a reformist mindset, coupled with his emotional nature, he was someone who did not strictly adhere to conventions and could do such things.
Chen Feng was not a product of this era and sat down next to him.
Chen Shiying took her hand and said, “Feng, you didn’t grow up by Daddy’s side. I never held you, never taught you how to write or recite poetry, never fed you sweets or meals. This has been Daddy’s lifelong regret. Seeing you now, this tall young lady, Daddy can never make up for those regrets. Starting tomorrow, you won’t be my Chen family’s daughter, you’ll be the Chu family’s daughter-in-law. Daddy hasn’t spent much time with you, and it will be even less in the future. Daddy can’t bear to part with you…”
Before finishing his words, his eyes welled up with tears.
These words from Chen Shiying suddenly brought back memories buried deep in Chen Feng’s, or rather, Chen Yanyan’s mind. Before she turned three, her father used to lift her high, playfully tickling her with his rough beard, making her laugh uncontrollably, and her mother would join in with laughter… These fragments that she couldn’t recall no matter how hard she tried suddenly resurfaced in her mind. Moreover, the warmth and expression in her father’s eyes resembled Chen Shiying remarkably.
Her tears welled up, and she let out a soft sob, “Dad, Dad…”
Chen Shiying didn’t quite catch it and thought she called him “Daddy.” Seeing his daughter in tears, he felt even more distressed and quickly comforted her, “Don’t cry, even after you get married, you’re still Daddy’s girl. If that boy Chu Lingxuan dares to mistreat you, or if the Chu family causes you any grievances, don’t bear it, come back and tell Daddy. Although Daddy’s rank may not be as high as theirs, Daddy won’t allow his daughter to be mistreated. Daddy won’t let you suffer as you did in the past, or in the future…”
When Chen Shiying and Chen Feng appeared in the dining hall of the main courtyard, everyone could tell they had just been crying.
Madam Jiang jokingly remarked with a smile, “Daughter is getting married, and the Father can’t bear it, right?”
Chen Shiying felt a bit embarrassed.
Madam Jiang continued, “Not just the Father, even I can’t bear it. Although Feng wasn’t in my womb, we have a bond. We haven’t spent much time together, and she’s already getting married. I’ve been restless these days.”
After wiping her tears, she said, “Even though she said it so nicely, Chen Feng quickly blushed and hugged her arm, calling her ‘Mother.'”
Chen Shiying chuckled and said, “Truly, women tend to get emotional at critical moments. It’s a joyous occasion for the daughter to get married, yet still crying.”
After dinner, Chen Shiying and the others went to the main hall to chat. Madam Jiang followed behind, noticing her husband and the other children had already left the room. She quietly remarked to Chen Yuqing, who was supporting her, “Look at you, feeling jealous?”
Chen Yuqing was indeed jealous, pouting and saying, “Daddy treats elder sister much better than me.”
Madam Jiang replied, “Even if he does, you are your father’s only legitimate daughter, a position no one can take from you. Silly girl, there’s no point in being jealous. Your father is our sky. Do what’s best for you, as he knows best…”