Chapter 39 2/2

Taoyu looked at her siblings, who were all envious, and she said, “When I was young, I had to drink medicine every day and wasn’t allowed to go out, but none of you said a word about it.”

“Otherwise, I’ll exchange this body with you.”

“Come on, let’s exchange then! Whoever regrets it is a coward.”

There was a burst of laughter in the room, but when Ji Yangzong hurriedly passed by outside and heard the noise at the window, he shouted, “Stop messing around! It’s a joyous day! You’re all grown-ups now; it’s really inappropriate!”

Upon hearing this, everyone covered their mouths and stopped laughing.

—

Because of the different status of the families, the wedding customs were somewhat awkward, and they couldn’t follow the normal customs.

So when the time came, Huo Shu’s side came with drums and gongs, and the ceremony was held here.

In the afternoon, relatives and friends from both sides gradually arrived, and the spacious courtyard became more lively.

The weather was pleasant, with no rain, and although the ground was muddy, it was still warmer without rain.

When they heard the firecrackers and the sound of gongs and drums, all the guests stood up from their seats and went to see the bride.

“This kid, even on such a joyous day, still has a stern face.”

“Even if her face is stern, her heroic spirit is undeniable. She’s quite a talent.”

The villagers watched the hustle and bustle while enjoying the wedding candies and discussing.

Amidst the firecrackers, the newlyweds bowed to Yuan Huiru and the Ji family.

Taoyu was covered with a veil and escorted out of the house. Apart from being able to see her own feet, she couldn’t see anything else around her. Although it was her own family, she heard her cousin say that there were braziers prepared outside, so she had to step over them.

She was led into the courtyard, walking carefully, afraid of accidentally stepping into the braziers and embarrassing herself in front of the guests.

When she heard the elders in the family singing to step over the braziers, she slightly lifted her hem and prepared to step over them, but unexpectedly, her body suddenly felt weightless, and the surroundings erupted in excitement.

Taoyu nestled in Huo Shu’s arms, her face under the red veil turning red.

Just now, she was annoyed by the veil blocking her view and preventing her from seeing what Huo Shu looked like today, but now she was grateful for the veil. Otherwise, she didn’t know how embarrassed she would be.

Huo Shu paid no attention to the teasing of the crowd. He only looked at his bride, wrapped tightly in her wedding dress. After making sure everything was in order under the veil, he strode towards the hall.

“Make sure they didn’t switch the bride by mistake. Be cautious in everything.”

Entering the hall, Huo Shu set Taoyu down. Worried that Taoyu couldn’t see and might stumble, he wanted to hold her hand, but unfortunately, the ceremonial official gave them a piece of red cloth, so they each had to hold one end.

Due to etiquette, he could only do so, but it also shortened the distance between the red cloths.

Perhaps because she stayed up late, got up early, and even washed her hair early in the morning, at the moment Taoyu felt a bit dizzy. She heard the ceremonial official say to bow to the heavens and bow to the ancestral hall.

When they bowed to each other during the ceremony, Taoyu was slightly more awake and saw Huo Shu’s big feet.

After the hustle and bustle, Taoyu was sent back to the room.

Earlier, her siblings accompanied her in dressing up, but after the morning ceremony, they all went out to enjoy the banquet, leaving her alone in the quiet room.

Taoyu sat obediently by the bed for a while, listening to the singing outside and feeling her stomach grumble. She couldn’t help but swallow her saliva. She first lifted the veil covering her head, feeling suffocated by its weight.

She slowly walked to the table and poured herself a glass of water. Suddenly, the door creaked open, and she hurriedly returned to the bedside, only to see her mother entering.

“After eating, wipe your mouth, touch up your makeup with red paper, and I’ll come in later to clean up the dishes.”

Taoyu saw her mother bring in a lot of food, including chicken, duck, fish, and river delicacies. Although there wasn’t much on one plate, the variety was complete, filling up half of the table.

She quickly rushed over again and moved a stool to sit at the table. “Didn’t they say you can’t eat anything during the wedding?”

“Huo Shu asked me to bring it for you.”

Huang Manjing said as she arranged the dishes, “He spoils you. He’s afraid you’ll be hungry.”

Taoyu felt a little embarrassed: “I mentioned it to him before, saying that I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the banquet after getting married and could only eat leftovers. I didn’t expect him to remember.”

Embarrassment aside, her chopsticks were not idle.

She picked up a piece of sauce meat and put it in her mouth. After tossing and turning all morning without eating, her stomach had long since been empty.

“What about him?”

“Look how anxious you are, not afraid of being laughed at. He’s outside with your father, toasting relatives and friends.”

Taoyu chuckled at the words: “I’m afraid no one dares to persuade him to drink.”

Huang Manjing also laughed along: “That’s right, even the wine steward wouldn’t dare argue with him.”

Taoyu closed the door and ate chicken wings in the room, then peeled a big shrimp, her stomach bulging.

Satisfied with her meal, she washed her hands and wiped her face as her mother instructed. As the guests mingled outside, the sky gradually darkened. After finishing tidying up, she covered her veil again and sat back on the bed, looking dignified.

Today, almost everyone from the village had come, and there were also some guests from other places who had a good relationship with Ji Yangzong, adding up to dozens of tables for the banquet.

It was rare to have such a lively banquet, and Ji Yangzong led the son-in-law to toast table by table, his face radiant.

Huo Shu didn’t say anything fancy either. Whoever Ji Yangzong said to toast to, he would comply and then raise a toast.

As a guest on Huo Shu’s side, Ge Liang was afraid that Huo Shu couldn’t handle it, so he helped to block the wine.

After making a round, seeing that it was getting late and the banquet was entering the second half, Ji Yangzong waved his hand very understandingly and let Huo Shu go on his own.

With Huo Shu’s appearance, no one dared suggest going to the bridal chamber to make trouble.

Thus, there was one less part of the wedding that the new couple didn’t particularly enjoy.

Huo Shu looked at the door, which was tightly sealed with the word “Double Happiness” pasted on it, and even he held his breath. It was the first time he had entered this room from the doorway.

Upon opening the door, the sight of red silk and window decorations everywhere greeted him, completely different from before. It was all refreshed and new.

He walked straight to the bedside and looked at the person lying there, unable to suppress a flicker of surprise.

There should have been someone sitting by the bed waiting for the groom, but unexpectedly, the person had already collapsed on the bed, sleeping soundly. There was no sign of the nervousness of a newlywed.

Huo Shu found it somewhat amusing. He bent down with a light touch, intending to pull the blanket over the person who had collapsed on the bed. However, as the corner fell on the person, Taoyu, who was lying curled up, opened her eyes.

She glanced at Huo Shu in a daze, still a little confused at first, but soon came to her senses.

“Have they finished outside?”

Taoyu quickly sat up, hastily tidying her hair and clothes.

“I ate something and felt a bit drowsy. I accidentally fell asleep.”

Huo Shu grabbed her busy hands and asked, “Are you full?”

Taoyu paused at his words, her face turning red as she nodded.

“Why are your lips so red?”

Taoyu pursed her lips at the question: “It’s dyed with red paper. Is it… not good-looking?”

Huo Shu examined Taoyu’s lips carefully, like April’s crabapple blossoms.

He didn’t respond; he just stood up and suddenly loosened his belt.

Seeing Huo Shu suddenly take off his clothes, Taoyu’s face flushed with embarrassment. She quickly turned her head away but couldn’t help but sneak a peek at the undressed Huo Shu.

Huo Shu tossed the wedding robe aside, leaving only a red inner garment. Although he had rid himself of the restraint of the belt, the loose inner garment accentuated his broad shoulders and tall stature even more.

Seeing him approaching without his clothes, Taoyu’s face blushed uncontrollably, her heart pounding like a drum.

Why isn’t he? wearing anything underneath? No, what he meant was, Why did he enter like this? It seemed a bit too hasty.

She grasped her clothes tightly and said, “N-No! The wedding wine hasn’t been drunk yet.”

“What’s wrong?”

Huo Shu rolled up his sleeves: “The wedding robe is soaked with alcohol. Don’t you feel suffocated without drinking?”

“Oh?”

Taoyu opened her mouth dumbfoundedly, her face even hotter. She had really slept in a daze.

She raised her chin and smiled at Huo Shu: “I thought you were tired and wanted to sleep.”

Huo Shu looked at the person in the wedding robe, who seemed softer after waking up than usual. Thinking about how he would wake up to see him every day, it felt like there was hope for everything.

He reached out to Taoyu, who hesitated for a moment before placing her hand in his palm.

Huo Shu led her to the table, poured two glasses of wine, and performed the ceremonial toast.

Taoyu was not used to drinking alcohol, but seeing Huo Shu drink the wine so casually, she also swallowed hers in one gulp, tears stinging her eyes from the strong taste.

The wine had the taste of peaches. It was made from peaches picked from the courtyard and buried under the peach tree. They had just taken it out yesterday to prepare for the wedding toast.

Unfortunately, no matter how good the wine was, she couldn’t tell if it was good or bad. All she could feel was the strong, spicy taste.

“Where did my veil go?”

After drinking the wine, Taoyu belatedly touched her head, realising that she had forgotten to ask the groom to lift her veil.

Huo Shu picked up the veil from the foot of the bed.

Taoyu took it: “How about I cover you and then you lift it?”

“Formalities.”

Taoyu looked at Huo Shu’s tall figure and asked, “Are all these formalities? Then what isn’t formal?”

Huo Shu raised an eyebrow, then bent down and lifted Taoyu around the waist: “The bridal chamber isn’t.”