The night before, Zhou Song tossed and turned, barely sleeping a wink. Before dawn even broke, he was up, checking over all the things he had organized the previous day.

As the sky began to lighten, those responsible for preparing the wedding feast arrived. There was plenty to do, and without an early start, they might not get everything ready in time.

Soon after, more helpers began to trickle in, including Lin Erzhu and Aunt Qian, who arrived bright and early. Unfortunately, Liu Fang, still in confinement from her recent childbirth, couldn’t come due to the cold weather, so she stayed home with the baby.

Lin Erzhu noticed Zhou Song’s tense expression and couldn’t resist patting him on the shoulder. “Hey, Brother Song, what’s with the serious face on your big day? Anyone seeing you would think you’re not happy about getting married.”

Hearing this, Zhou Song paused and tried to force a smile, though it came out even more awkward.

Lin Erzhu burst out laughing, “Brother Song, I’ve known you for years, and I’ve never seen you this nervous—not even the first time you went hunting in the mountains! What’s going on? Is Shen Xiaolang scarier than the wild beasts?”

Zhou Song shot him a look. It wasn’t fear; it was the preciousness of the moment that was making him so anxious.

Taking a deep breath, he reminded himself to relax a bit.

Seeing this, Lin Erzhu decided not to tease him further and changed the subject. “Oh, by the way, I noticed there’s a big red wedding sedan parked outside! You never mentioned you’d rented one.”

In the village, weddings were usually kept simple—a donkey cart or ox cart was already considered quite respectable. Renting a sedan chair with four bearers would cost several taels of silver, which few could afford.

Zhou Song, however, didn’t want Shen Qingzhu to feel slighted. He’d once heard that the wealthy city folk always had grand wedding processions with eight-bearer sedan chairs, creating quite a spectacle. While he couldn’t afford such extravagance, he’d made sure to get a red sedan chair for his groom.

“What are you doing still standing here chatting?” Aunt Qian, who’d been busy coordinating the arrangements, came over and dragged Lin Erzhu away, urging Zhou Song toward the house. “Quick, go change into your wedding robes! If you delay any longer, you’ll miss the auspicious hour.”

Zhou Song was still wearing his usual clothes from running around all morning. Not wanting to dirty his wedding robes, he hadn’t put them on yet. But hearing that the auspicious hour was near, he quickly headed back to his room.

“Once you’re dressed, let Aunt Li do your hair!” Aunt Qian called after him, making sure he’d heard.

The wedding hairstyle was a bit more intricate than their everyday looks. Although it wasn’t as elaborate as the groom’s, it was still something Zhou Song couldn’t manage on his own, so he’d asked Aunt Li, who was skilled with such things, to help him.

The winter wedding attire was thick and well-structured, and with his tall, broad-shouldered frame, Zhou Song wore it well. Aunt Qian had worked diligently on the robes, stitching with care and consulting Aunt Wu for tips on needlework. The garment fit him perfectly, with fine embroidery at the hem and cuffs. Still, Zhou Song felt a little awkward in the long, wide sleeves.

He sat in front of a brass mirror, allowing Aunt Li to style his hair, securing it with a red hair ribbon adorned with tassels.

“Zhou, my boy, you look quite handsome! No wonder even the daughter of a local official once tried to propose marriage for you,” Aunt Li remarked as she admired her handiwork. “With looks like these, you could easily rival the young lords of grand families.”

Having never worn such vivid red clothing before, Zhou Song felt slightly uneasy and adjusted his collar, moving the hair ribbon back behind him as he observed himself in the mirror. He couldn’t help but wonder—would Shen Qingzhu like what he saw?

Bang, bang, bang.

“Brother Song, are you ready? We need to go over the plan for the procession!” Lin Erzhu knocked on the door, calling for him.

Zhou Song composed himself, adjusting his sleeves one final time before opening the door.

“Whoa!” Lin Erzhu’s eyes went wide as Zhou Song stepped out. Circling him with an appreciative gaze, he muttered, “Looking at you all dressed up, I’d say Shen Xiaolang taught us the perfect word—‘like a jade tree in the wind!’”

For once, Zhou Song didn’t mind his playful comment. He straightened his collar and asked, “Really?”

“Absolutely! You don’t believe me?” Lin Erzhu patted his own chest. “Trust me on this—you look perfect.”

Seeing Zhou Song’s nervous expression, he leaned in and whispered, “I’m telling you, Shen Xiaolang is going to be thrilled when he sees you.”

Seeing his intentions so clearly read, Zhou Song paused, a faint blush rising to his ears as he put on a serious face. “Who asked you?”

Lin Erzhu chuckled and raised his hands in surrender. “Alright, alright, I’ll stop talking.”

Zhou Song didn’t respond further, but as he looked down, a faint smile tugged at his lips.

When the auspicious hour finally arrived, firecrackers crackled and drums and gongs resounded, filling the air with joyous noise that could be heard across half the village.

Zhou Song led the wedding procession, a red flower tied to his chest, his normally stern expression softened by a smile. He looked more relaxed now, allowing himself to enjoy the festive atmosphere.

The bright red sedan chair followed behind, drawing the admiration of young married women who looked on with envy. Back when they got married, even having an ox cart was a big deal; they hadn’t had anything this grand.

As for the unmarried girls, they gazed wistfully at Zhou Song, lamenting the lost chance to be with such a fine man—handsome and generous, willing to spend on his groom for such a grand wedding. They had hoped when he was single, but now even that was out of reach.

But when they thought about Shen Xiaolang, they couldn’t feel too upset. If he weren’t a Kun Ze, they’d be just as smitten, so it was no surprise that even Zhou Song, who was like a stone, had fallen for him.

Some children who had been waiting by the roadside quickly ran up when they saw the procession, chirping blessings and asking the groom for wedding candies.

In a good mood, Zhou Song generously handed out sweets along with the other men in the procession, ensuring every child received some. The kids’ faces lit up with joy, their sweet words flowing freely.

With their sweets in hand, they happily scattered, allowing the wedding procession to continue.

Zhou Song’s home wasn’t far from Shen Qingzhu’s, and they could have arrived quickly. But for the sake of tradition, they paraded around the village first, meeting people who wanted to join in the festivities.

Along the way, villagers—young and old alike—came to ask for wedding candies, each exchange adding to the sense of community and goodwill.

Finally, after circling the village with drums and gongs, they made their way toward Shen Qingzhu’s house. Zhou Song, who had been calm until now, found himself growing tense again. He checked his hair, straightened his sleeves, and adjusted the red flower on his chest, wondering if he still looked presentable after the walk.

Lin Erzhu, noticing his friend’s nerves, chuckled to himself, understanding well the mix of excitement and jitters Zhou Song must be feeling.

“We’ve arrived!” A member of the procession shouted as Shen Qingzhu’s house came into view. His voice carried across the distance, signaling the groom’s arrival.

As they approached the courtyard, another round of firecrackers went off, accompanied by a fresh surge of lively drumming.

Wu Lanshu, wearing a new outfit, stood cheerfully by the entrance, welcoming Zhou Song and his companions into the courtyard, where everything was decked out in festive red.

Once inside, though, entering the house itself was no easy feat. According to tradition, the groom had to face a series of playful challenges before he could be allowed to meet his bride. Although they wouldn’t make it too difficult, they’d ensure it was a lively affair.

Zhou Song had seen this before when he helped Lin Erzhu with his wedding. It was usually just playful questions about whether he’d treat his spouse well and spend money on them, or tests of strength with the bride’s family.

He thought it’d be the same this time, but Aunt Wang and the others had other ideas. They asked him to recite poetry and even provided paper and a brush for him to write it down, which they’d then take inside for approval.

The content wasn’t too difficult—it was the same material Shen Qingzhu had assigned him for homework. Zhou Song had taken it seriously, completing it all without complaint.

Lin Erzhu, on the other hand, often grumbled about getting dizzy from all the writing, but Zhou Song didn’t mind in the least. In fact, he rather enjoyed it.

Passing the test, Zhou Song finally saw the door open, and everyone cheered for him to go inside and fetch his groom.

After asking Lin Erzhu to check that he looked presentable, Zhou Song took a deep breath and stepped through the doorway.

There, seated on the bed in a red wedding robe, was Shen Qingzhu. As a Kun Ze, he didn’t wear a veil. Hearing the commotion, he raised his head and looked over, his faintly powdered face with those strikingly refined features shining even brighter, his eyes hinting with a smile.

His dark hair was swept up, adorned with a crown, and on each side of his face, pearls dangled and swayed gently as he moved, casting a subtle glimmer.

In the cold weather, Shen Qingzhu wore a fox fur collar in a deep red-brown color, the same one Zhou Song had given him during their engagement. His chin was nestled into the fluffy collar, lending him a softness that stirred something deep in Zhou Song’s heart.

Zhou Song froze in the doorway, struck by the sight, until Shen Qingzhu raised an eyebrow and said, “If you don’t come in soon, you’ll miss the auspicious hour.”

At his voice, Zhou Song snapped out of his daze, unable to take his eyes off his groom. He’d known Shen Qingzhu would look stunning, but the reality surpassed anything he’d imagined.

His heart pounded, his face grew hot, and he walked slowly toward Shen Qingzhu, the face before him more beautiful than he had dared to dream.

As he came closer, Shen Qingzhu looked up at him, openly admiring his groom, his gaze filled with approval. “You truly are a handsome groom.”

Zhou Song’s face warmed even more at his groom’s straightforward compliment, but he couldn’t help feeling a little proud.

Shen Qingzhu extended his hands to him. Zhou Song remembered what he needed to do and, despite his nervousness, carefully lifted Shen Qingzhu into his arms, enveloped by the scent of orchids.

He tightened his hold and walked out with Shen Qingzhu in his arms, surrounded by cheers.

Wu Lanshu stood outside the crowd, her eyes red with emotion. The young master she had watched grow, cherished and protected, was finally getting married. From now on, whether happiness or hardship, it all depended on how his husband would treat him.

Seeing her, Zhou Song paused, gazing at her solemnly. “Aunt Wu, I promise to love and cherish him for a lifetime, to never let him suffer.”

Wu Lanshu nodded through her tears, feeling both happy and sad, but mostly reluctant to let go.

Understanding her feelings, Shen Qingzhu smiled and said, “I’ll be alright, and you must take good care of yourself too.”

Wu Lanshu wiped her tears, nodded, and smiled. “Go now, don’t miss the auspicious hour.”

Zhou Song gave a respectful nod, carrying his groom through the gate as the drums started up again, and the villagers beamed with joy.

As Zhou Song gently placed Shen Qingzhu in the sedan chair, he lingered, reluctant to let go, even considering carrying him the rest of the way himself.

Noticing his hesitation, Shen Qingzhu glanced up. “What is it? Are you planning to sit in here with me?”

Realizing he was lingering, Zhou Song quickly withdrew, his face reddening as he left, catching a faint laugh from inside the sedan.

With the groom secured, the wedding procession set off for the return journey. The drummers, seemingly more energetic than before, beat their drums with renewed vigor, eager to let the entire village hear the celebration.

Zhou Song strode ahead, chest puffed with pride, knowing that the one he’d cherished for so long was finally his, and he was taking him home.