Chapter 90 : Wedding

Yue Shaozhi glanced at him, stood up, and went downstairs. “Don’t cause trouble.”

Wen Jun followed behind him. “You’re telling me not to cause trouble? Shaozhi, you’re worried about your ex-wife.”

Yue Shaozhi suddenly stopped walking, and Wen Jun stopped too, keeping a two-step distance from him.

“Oh, the look you’re giving me could kill. I’m scared, really scared. I promise, I’m just going to the wedding. I won’t do anything else.”

Yue Shaozhi looked at the two fingers Wen Jun held up, said nothing, and took the carriage back home.

Zuo Yin asked Wen Jun, “Does the Young Marquis really plan to attend the wedding banquet at the General’s Mansion?”

Wen Jun replied, “Why not? Huo Leiming sent an invitation to my house.”

Zuo Yin said, “But the Marquis is there too. You…”

Wen Jun interrupted, “What? Even you think I’m going to stir up trouble?”

Zuo Yin nodded.

Wen Jun chuckled. “Ha. Let’s go, then.”

—

Inside the General’s Mansion.

Huo Zhen carried Song Ying out of the bridal sedan, stepped over the fire basin, and finally entered the main hall.

Huo Leiming was seated in the place of honor. On the table in front of him was the memorial tablet of Huo Zhen’s mother.

Song Ying noticed a graceful and elegant woman sitting beside him, this must be her mother-in-law’s younger sister, Huo Zhen’s aunt, Xiao Zhou.

Behind Xiao Zhou stood a beautiful young girl.

This was likely Xiao Zhou’s daughter, Huo Zhen’s cousin, Ye Luoer.

The bridesmaid announced loudly.

“First bow to Heaven and Earth… Second bow to the parents… Third bow, the couple bows to each other… Escort them to the bridal chamber—!”

Cheers erupted.

“Wooo! Time for the bridal chamber hijinks!”

Song Ying and Huo Zhen were surrounded and escorted into the bridal chamber.

Two little kids, a boy and a girl were already sitting on the wedding bed.

Song Ying sat down between them, letting the children cuddle and play with her. After receiving red envelopes, the kids were taken away by the adults.

“Alright, alright, that’s enough. General Huo, now it’s your turn.”

“Yes, yes, we can’t let General Huo off the hook today!”

“Walk and drink!”

The lively bridal chamber soon quieted down.

A bridemaid came in carrying a food box.

“Princess, the General asked me to bring you something to eat.”

So he actually remembered.

The bridemaid added, “The General said Miss Faer has a portion too.”

Faer was amazed. “Wow.”

After the bridemaid left, Song Ying and Faer didn’t hesitate to dig in.

Faer ate happily. “I thought I’d be starving again tonight.”

Back in the palace, Faer never dared to slack off and would always stay by Song Ying’s side, even if it meant going hungry herself. Song Ying would only leave the bridal chamber when hunger finally hit her.

But that ended up hurting her stomach.

The master and servant enjoyed their food and laughter, unaware that something unpleasant was quietly approaching.

Wen Jun, carrying a wine pot, slipped past the crowd and made his way toward the bridal chamber.

“Young Marquis.”

Wen Jun stopped in his tracks and looked at the old man standing not far ahead.

He rubbed his eyes and smiled. “Oh, it’s Elder Song. Long time no see…wait, no, my bad. I should say: ‘Greetings, Elder Song.’”

He gave Song Yunshan an exaggerated bow while holding the wine pot.

Song Yunshan looked at Wen Jun kindly. “Where are you headed, Young Marquis?”

Wen Jun shook the wine jug in his hand. “Me? Oh, I’m going to toast the bride. I missed the wedding ceremony, so I have to drink in front of her to make up for it.”

That was a bold thing to say.

Song Yunshan didn’t show any anger, nor did he try to play word games with him. He simply said, “Young Marquis, for my sake, could you let Aying go?”

Wen Jun waved his hands. “Elder Song, you’re making it hard for me with words like that. ‘Let her go’? What’s that supposed to mean? I just felt a deep connection with Aying the moment we met. If I see her again—”

“Young Marquis.”

Just a light, clear call, yet it carried unmistakable authority.

Song Yunshan had once been Grand Tutor to Emperor Sheng. Even Yue Shaozhi had to show him respect.

Wen Jun was not foolish enough to force his way in, so he backed up a few steps and said, “Elder Song, calm down. It was just a joke. I’m leaving now, leaving right away.”

Song Yunshan returned to his kindly expression, “Please.”

As soon as Wen Jun turned around, the humble look on his face vanished, replaced by a gloomy expression as he left.

Fifteen stepped out from behind a pillar. He glanced at Wen Jun’s departing figure and said to Song Yunshan, “That man is narrow-minded. I’m afraid he’ll be a problem for the Song family in the future.”

Song Yunshan’s eyes were filled with disdain. “No need to be afraid.”

The two of them exited the General’s Mansion, where a carriage was already waiting.

Song Yunshan said to Fifteen, “I’ll be returning to the mountain. From now on, you’ll stay by the Marquis’s side.”

Fifteen: “Yes.”

The carriage departed. Fifteen bowed and turned to head back into the General’s Mansion… only to immediately get lost.

Fifteen…

He should have walked straight… so why was he drifting further and further off course?

“Who are you?”

A soft voice called from behind, and Fifteen turned around.

A girl in a pink dress was standing behind a tree.

Fifteen answered politely, “Apologies, I didn’t mean to intrude. I was trying to reach the front hall, but I got lost.”

Ye Luoer pointed to the front-right and said, “That way. Just go straight and you’ll reach it.”

Fifteen nodded. “Thank you.”

Then, under Ye Luoer’s gaze, he turned… diagonally left.

“Wait.”

Fifteen turned back. “Huh?”

Ye Luo’er pointed again. “Wrong, that’s not the way.”

Fifteen scratched his head. “Sorry, I’ll try again.”

Ye Luoer stared at his feet, which once again seemed ready to take him off in the wrong direction, and finally couldn’t take it anymore.

“Not that way.”

Fifteen…

To him, all the scenery in these courtyards looked the same.

Ye Luoer sighed and walked over.

She was simply and elegantly dressed, her light makeup highlighting her delicate features. The tassels on her hairpin swayed softly.

She crouched down, picked up a few stones, and tossed them one by one in a line at Fifteen’s feet.

“Just follow this path of stones. If you forget, turn around and look again.”

Fifteen nodded, somewhat confused. “I understand.”

Ye Luoer… Watching him start to veer off course again, she lost her patience.

“That’s the direction to the backyard…”

Fifteen: “Ah—sorry. It’s my first time here, I can’t tell directions.”

Ye Luoer: “Follow me.”

Fifteen: “Thank you.”

Ye Luoer soon discovered that if she walked just a little faster and widened the gap, the boy behind her would immediately get lost again.

“Wrong again. I’m over here.”

Fifteen blinked blankly. “Why did you go over there?”

Ye Luoer…

Spotting a broken twig on the ground, Ye Luoer picked it up.

She held one end and handed the other to Fifteen. “Take this. Don’t let go. Follow me.”

Fifteen responded earnestly, “Alright.”

Even then, Ye Luoer couldn’t help glancing back repeatedly to make sure he was still there.

A short walk ended up taking half a stick of incense’s time.

Fifteen was speechless, and so was Ye Luoer.

The two silent people finally reached their destination.

“Miss, where did you go? I was so worried!” said the maid Muxiang, noticing Fifteen behind Ye Luoer. “Huh? Who’s this?”

Fifteen: “I’m from the Marquis’s Mansion.”

The maid took Ye Luoer away. “Miss, Madam is looking for you. Let’s go.”

Ye Luoer: “Oh, okay.”

Once Ye Luoer disappeared from sight, Fifteen finally looked away. Holding the twig she’d given him, he successfully merged into the crowd.