Chapter 39 1/2

Before dawn, Taoyu was pulled out of bed.

Huang Manjing carried a large basin of fragrant water into the room and soaked Taoyu’s sleepy hands in it.

“What day is it? Still sleeping in? Wake up quickly!”

Taoyu muttered with sleepy eyes as she propped her hands in the warm water, “Getting married, getting married, it’s only twilight. The earlier you wake up, the longer you have to wait.”

“Stop talking nonsense and get up to tidy up and change into your wedding dress.”

Huang Manjing urged, “I’ve heated water for you to clean the room; go take a bath.”

Taoyu had trouble waking up with her mother nagging at her like this all the time.

It was partly because she had been too excited last night and had stayed up half the night reviewing the little album under the covers. She couldn’t fall asleep until she lit some sleeping incense.

The aftermath was that she found it even harder to wake up early.

“I shouldn’t have gotten married in the winter. It’s too cold to take a bath early in the morning!”

Huang Manjing took out the wedding dress sent from the city, shook it out, checked it for any flaws, and couldn’t help but laugh when she heard the sounds coming from the bathroom.

“Then go tell your father and Huo Shu that you’ll get married next year when summer comes.”

Taoyu thought to herself as she sat in the tub, realising that preparations for the banquet had already begun outside and she had no chance to back out now.

“Don’t stay in the water too long; be careful not to catch a cold.”

Huang Manjing brought in a charcoal basin. “Your mother has brought you a charcoal basin again. It’s very warm in the room; just wear your underclothes and put on your wedding dress.”

“Coming out, coming out.”

Taoyu put on a thin inner garment, hugged her arms, and ran back into the room, hurrying to the charcoal brazier to warm herself up.

Huang Manjing took out a dry cloth and began to wipe Taoyu’s hair. Seeing that Taoyu’s inner clothes and trousers were all in festive red, she smiled and said:

“This red fabric looks so good; it really brightens up your complexion.”

Taoyu couldn’t help but glance at herself in the bronze mirror at the mention, her lips rosy and teeth white, indeed looking quite spirited.

She couldn’t help but feel a bit conceited, thinking that she had really lucked out with such a caring little brother, while Huo Shu was such a rough old man.

“You’re just like your little great-grandfather. He was famous for his beauty back then.”

Taoyu immediately came to her senses at the mention. She pursed her lips and whispered, “Mother, didn’t you see my little great-grandfather before?”

Huang Manjing’s voice suddenly became somewhat melancholy: “I’ve seen his portrait in your great-grandfather’s room.”

Taoyu rarely heard her mother talk about her little great-grandfather. It was said that he passed away because of a difficult childbirth during his mother’s birth.

The bond between Great-Grandfather and Little Great-Grandfather was deep, and Little Great-Grandfather’s death was a big blow to Great-Grandfather. He even remained melancholic for a long time.

When Little Great-grandfather passed away, Great-grandfather was still in his teens, but he never remarried until today.

Today, being able to hear her mother voluntarily mention Little Grandfather, Taoyu thought she must be truly happy.

She said, “Great-grandfather said that Little Great-grandfather was once a noble young master. Great-grandfather was a wandering physician at that time. How did he become connected with a noble young master? Every time I asked him, he wouldn’t tell me.”

Huang Manjing said, “Your great-grandfather’s family had fallen; that’s why he travelled around as a physician. In the past, his ancestors were also imperial doctors in the palace. It can be said that there is quite a family medical heritage.”

“When your great-grandfather travelled to Yuchang Prefecture, there were many mountains and dangerous places, but there were also many herbs in the mountains. Your great-grandfather was passionate about medicine when he was young, so he stayed in Yuchang Prefecture for a while. Your little great-grandfather was from Yuchang Prefecture, and he was also in poor health since childhood, always carrying medicine with him and often seeing various doctors.”

At that time, Huang Yinsheng collected herbs in the mountains while also practicing medicine to help people.

Coincidentally, he was invited by the Xiao family to diagnose Xiao Gongzi.

At that time, Master Xiao was in the prime of his youth, and although he was weak due to illness, he was well-read and talented. Huang Yinsheng’s ancestors were also from a family of physicians, and his knowledge was not lacking.

Apart from being doctors and patients, the two got along well.

Through their interactions, other feelings began to develop.

“The Xiao family is also a reasonable family. Seeing that both of them were talented and beautiful, and your great-grandfather was also skilled in medicine, it was decided that he would take care of your little great-grandfather. Even though your great-grandfather had nothing at that time, he agreed to this marriage.”

“The days after marriage were very harmonious. Your little great-grandfather’s health improved a lot, but later… your mother was born.”

Taoyu saw her mother’s voice falter slightly and rubbed her hand to comfort her.

“Your little great-grandfather couldn’t travel far due to his poor health. He always said he wanted to come to Jiangnan to see it, but he never got the chance. Several years after his death, your great-grandfather brought your mother to Tongzhou, and later your mother married your father. Your great-grandfather never mentioned wanting to return to Yuchang again.”

“These are things that should have been told to you. There was no chance before, but now that you’re grown up and married, you should know about the past of the family.”

After saying that, she pinched Taoyu’s cheek. “Okay, your hair is almost done.”

Taoyu was about to speak when there was a commotion outside, and siblings from the Ji family rushed over.

Several siblings who were not much older than Taoyu squeezed into the room and shouted in unison, “Sixth Sister, Taoge.”

It had been a long time since Taoyu had seen her siblings gather like this, and a smile appeared on her face as she greeted each of them in turn.

Huang Manjing said, “Everyone’s here, perfect. Help Taoyu with her makeup.”

“Okay, Sixth Sister, you go ahead; people from the Fourth Division and Sixth Bureau are here!”

As soon as Huang Manjing left, the siblings immediately became lively and relaxed.

There were eight siblings in the Ji family’s younger generation, and today, the cousins from the same generation have all come over. Four of them rushed into the room all at once, making the atmosphere instantly lively.

“Taoge, your wedding dress is so beautiful! The craftsmanship is exquisite, and the design is unique. I’ve never seen fabric like this before!”

Li, the eldest son of the main branch, saw the big red wedding dress hanging on the rack and was both amazed and envious as he touched it. “Was this made by yourself or by a tailor shop?”

“It was made by a tailor shop ten miles away, and the fabric was provided by the shopkeeper. The red fabric used for this dress was only a few feet left when I went to pick it up.”

Taoyu happily raised her eyebrows. How could the fabric not be unique? It was specially chosen by Wu Sanjie for her. Others could buy it if they had money, but they couldn’t get it.

“If I could have such a wedding dress when I get married, that would be great.”

Li regretted, “It’s a pity that my father took my measurements a few days ago and said he would make one for me. Even if I get married later, it will be almost two years. The size will be wrong by then.”

Yuanhong, the cousin from the fourth uncle’s family, said, “I heard that Taoge’s husband gave her a dowry of one hundred and twenty taels of silver. My father’s eyes widened when he heard about this much dowry. He already wanted a high dowry, and now with Taoge’s reference, he probably has more to say.”

Yuanhong sighed. “According to my father’s requirements, I don’t know when it will be my turn.”

Jichun, from the second branch, was combing Taoyu’s hair. “I don’t want a fancy wedding dress or a large dowry. If I could get married and still live at home like Taoge, that would be great. On the day of the wedding, men are happy because they are marrying someone into the family. But for the women, it’s sad because they have to leave home, and their parents will have one less daughter or son.”

At this point, everyone empathised completely.

“Uncle Six has such good taste, finding such a good son-in-law.”

“Taoge has been blessed since childhood. I’ve never missed a meal since I was little. This blessing will last a lifetime.”