In Yuanzhou City, when Li Zhongjue received the letter and invitation sent by the Lu family’s servant, Li Cunyi had already been ill for nearly a month.
Qian Shi spent her days in tears, but even if she wanted to bring soup or medicine, Li Cunyi refused to see her. Although the couple lived in the same courtyard, with one in the main house and the other in the study, a single door divided them into two worlds, making them more estranged than strangers.
If there was a pill for regret, Qian Shi might have been able to put on a brave face at first, but by now she wished she could take a dose of it daily.
However, many actions cannot be undone, no matter how much one regrets them.
When Li Zhongjue received the invitation and letter sent by Lu Chengxiao, he was overjoyed. He knew very well that his father’s illness was largely due to a heavy heart, and this letter and invitation would alleviate much of it.
He assured the Lu family’s servant that he would definitely attend and gave a generous reward. Hearing that the servant still needed to go to the Yuanzhou Academy, he did not keep him any longer and, after sending him off, took the letter and invitation to see Li Cunyi in the study.
As expected, when Li Cunyi saw the invitation and read Lu Chengxiao’s letter, much of the burden on his heart was lifted, and he regained his spirits.
“Go, prepare a generous gift!” he said, taking out a banknote from the drawer of his desk for his son. “Wrap it in a red envelope.”
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Mbld bl alxlxclale psxlvbkdt yde vssj swv y pxyzz osseld csm qasx ydsvbla eayola. Rv oyp vbl ryka sq fyel caynlzlvp vbyv bl bye dsv clld yczl vs tkhl vs vbl Nw qyxkzu ralhkswpzu. “Myjl vbkp vs Ubldtmkys qsa xl. R byhl ds qynl vs ts xuplzq yde esd’v oydv vs nywpl ydu vaswczl. Yyjl pwal bl ynnlrvp vblpl caynlzlvp.”
Nk Hbsdtfwl dseele, vyjkdt vbl osseld csm cwv elnzkdle vbl cydjdsvl okvb y pxkzl. “R byhl xsdlu sq xu sod.”
~
Xd vbl prlnkyz eyu, Flrvlxcla 28vb. Mbl Nkw qyxkzu’p esoau oyp ralryale sd Flrvlxcla 23ae. Mblu bkale y xyvnbxyjla dyxle Hbydt qasx vbl vsod vs blzr satydkgl yde ekprzyu vbl esoau.
Mbl qwadkvwal rsavksd sq Nkw Zw’p esoau oyp nayqvle cu nyarldvla Myd, yde vbl plypsdyz nzsvblp yde casnyel iwkzvp olal ralryale cu Swuk Oxcaskelau Esajpbsr. Xvbla pkzj qycaknp, flolzau, yde lmiwkpkvl kvlxp olal rwanbyple cu Nkw Zydrkdt yde Nkw Zyd’yd qasx vbl Hblfkydt yaly, yzsdt okvb nsdvakcwvksdp qasx Swuk Oxcaskelau Esajpbsr.
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Ylydobkzl, sd Flrvlxcla 20vb, Eydt Ykdtuwd alvwadle vs Gduk Uswdvu. Xd Flrvlxcla 23ae, Zydt Uwdmw yde Nk Hbsdtfwl yzps yaakhle. Lyvwayzzu, vblu qkapv nsdtayvwzyvle Eydt Ykdtuwd sd ryppkdt vbl rashkdnkyz lmyx. Xd Flrvlxcla 24vb, vbl Eydt qyxkzu bspvle y cydiwlv, yde vbl Nw qyxkzu oyp yxsdt vbl kdhkvle twlpvp. Qkhld vbl nzspl qakldepbkr clvolld Nw Ubldtmkys yde Eydt Ykdtuwd, yp olzz yp vbl ralpldnl sq Zydt Uwdmw, vbl psd sq y bktb-aydjkdt sqqknkyz, vblka vyczl oyp kd vbl rzynl sq bsdsa.
Nkw Zydrkdt yde Nkw Zydyd ralhkswpzu xlv Eydt Ykdtuwd kd Zwydgbsw, ps vblu ynnsxrydkle Nw Ubldtmkys vs ralpldv vblka nsdtayvwzyvksdp. Gp Nw Ubldtmkys’p xyvladyz wdnzlp, vblu olal yniwykdvle okvb Eydt Ykdtuwd, Zydt Uwdmw, yde Nk Hbsdtfwl, dyvwayzzu pbyakdt vbl pyxl vyczl.
This small detail did not go unnoticed by the county officials who attended the Wang family’s banquet. Seeing the son of the Yuanzhou magistrate, a newly appointed Juren, and the Lu and Liu families at the same table, they realized the potential benefits of associating with the Lu and Liu families.
On September 27th, the dowry was added to. Six or seven carriages and mule carts arrived at Yangshan Village, bringing gifts from several county officials’ wives, including Madam Zhang and Madam Qin, to Liu Yu. The Liu family was astonished, and the villagers of Yangshan were left in awe.
Liu Yanping noticed the county magistrate frequently toasting Yang Cunxu during the banquet so he began to understand the situation. It became clear to the family that their recent business success was largely due to the influence of Lu Chengxiao’s connections.
After a busy day, Liu Yu thought everyone would retire for the night when her aunt, Wei Shi, knocked on her door.
She assumed it was pre-wedding night advice, Liu Yu hurried to open the door.
Wei Shi entered, holding a wooden box.
“Aunt, why are you still up so late?”
Liu Yu invited Wei Shi to sit, her gaze briefly glancing at the wooden box. Wei Shi’s expression stiffened, and after hesitating for a while, she handed the box to Liu Yu, saying, “This is also part of your dowry. After I leave, take a look at it and then lock it up securely.”
After saying this, she gave Liu Yu a small key and quickly left, even closing the door to Liu Yu’s west wing room behind her. Not completely reassured, she reopened the door slightly to add, “Look at it with the door closed.”
Liu Yu was puzzled. With Wei Shi already gone and the door closed again, she looked at the box in her hand and then at the door. Finally, she weighed the box in her hand but couldn’t guess its contents.
Unable to figure out what it was, Liu Yu decided to heed Wei Shi’s advice. She put the box down, bolted the door, and then returned to the table.
“Is this also part of the dowry?” she wondered. “Why is it in a locked box?”
Money to be kept at the bottom of a chest is usually stored in a locked cash box, but that was already in the dowry chest. The more valuable items, like jewelry, were sewn into a special open box meant for jewelry. So what could this be?
Unable to guess, Liu Yu took the small key Wei Shi had left, unlocked the copper lock, and removed it. She then opened the wooden box. Inside, she found a book with blank pages. Curious, she turned a page, and the image she saw was startling.
Liu Yu finally understood why Wei Shi had that expression and why she had hurried away.
This wasn’t the first time Liu Yu had seen such things. In her previous life, there were similar lessons, and she had learned even more explicit content. Normally, it wouldn’t embarrass her, but thinking about Wei Shi giving her this because she was marrying Lu Chengxiao tomorrow…
Thinking of Lu Chengxiao made Liu Yu’s entire face flush. She quickly closed the book, locked it back in the small box, looked around, and then placed it in the dowry chest where the cash was kept. She locked that chest too, then patted her face to calm her suddenly racing heart.
~
Meanwhile, at the Lu family residence in Changfeng Town, they were setting up the wedding bed today. The person ensuring the bed’s auspiciousness placed twenty-four pairs of chopsticks tied with red strings under the mattress.
Yang Cunxu, Wang Mingyun, and Li Zhongjue had all arrived at the Lu residence early that afternoon. On the day of the Wang family’s banquet, Yang Cunxu had proposed that they serve as groomsmen for Lu Chengxiao and accompany him to fetch his bride.
Wang Mingyun joined in the fun, and naturally, Lu Chengxiao agreed. Yang and Wang, unaware of the situation with the Li family, invited Li Zhongjue to join them. However, Li Zhongjue, not wanting to cause any discomfort for Liu Yu, declined, citing that the number of groomsmen should not be odd.
The Lu household was quite busy today, but Yang Cunxu and the others were treated as distinguished guests, with the Lu family showing them great respect. They opened two tables for the feast, with the Lu family father and son hosting the guests in the outer courtyard. After dinner and a long chat, they were accommodated in the guest rooms of the second courtyard.
It was during this time that Yang Cunxu sneaked into Lu Chengxiao’s room with a mischievous smile. He pulled a book out of his sleeve and slapped it into Lu Chengxiao’s hands, grinning, “Don’t say I don’t treat you like a brother. I had my servant search eight bookstores to find the best one. Make sure to read it tonight; you’ll benefit from it immensely in the future.”
Lu Chengxiao, guessing what it was from Yang Cunxu’s expression, felt a mix of embarrassment and amusement. He caught the book with his left hand and elbowed Yang Cunxu with his right.
Yang Cunxu didn’t mind at all, laughing even harder, “I won’t disturb your studies.”
With that, he left.
Lu Chengxiao closed the door and returned to his bed, casually placing the book beside him. He glanced at it and inexplicably felt his throat go dry. Clearing his throat, he hesitated before peeking at the book again. Using his right index finger, he flipped it open.
With just one glance, he quickly closed it.
His fingers fidgeted uneasily as he picked up the book and walked over to his desk, locking it in a drawer.
Though the book was locked away, the impact of that single glance remained. He helplessly knocked on his forehead, feeling foolish.
But then, thinking about how he would welcome Liu Yu into his home tomorrow, his heart filled with sweetness, and he couldn’t help but smile uncontrollably.
~
On September 28, at the crack of dawn, Liu Yu was awakened by Wei Shi to bathe and dress. Afterward, the auspicious woman arrived.
As Liu Yu looked at her makeup in the mirror, she couldn’t help but think it would take an entire basin of water to wash it off.
The rest of the process was a blur to Liu Yu, but she didn’t need to worry about anything—just follow instructions.
“One comb through to the end, husband and wife in harmony till old age. Two combs through to the end, siblings and parents welcome together. Three combs through to the end, a lifetime of prosperity and honor…”
Each of the ten combs came with a beautiful blessing.
After the makeup, Wei Shi brought Liu Yu two pieces of pastry to eat, packed two more in a clean lotus leaf pouch for her to carry. She was not allowed to eat anything else until the wedding ceremony.
By the auspicious hour, many women from the clan and village came to offer their blessings and say auspicious words. Liu Yu recognized some of them, but others she didn’t know. She simply nodded and thanked them.
After an indeterminate time, she faintly heard firecrackers and gongs in the distance. Liu Yu realized that Lu Chengxiao had come to fetch his bride.
The women in the west wing, main hall, and courtyard became excited. “The bridegroom is here! Quick, set off firecrackers and welcome the bridal sedan chair. Remember to block the door.”
The atmosphere became lively. Outside, Liu Yanqing and the others had prepared firecrackers. As soon as they heard the welcoming team’s firecrackers, they set theirs off, and the women in the west wing closed the door.
Liu Yu’s fingers curled slightly on her lap, her eyes unconsciously fixing on the door.
The sounds of firecrackers, gongs, and the noisy crowd grew louder, indicating that the wedding procession had reached the Liu family’s courtyard.
Outside, the arrival of the Lu family’s wedding procession attracted many onlookers, some even following from the county to Yanshan Village. The reason was simple: the groom and his groomsmen were exceptionally handsome.
Three tall horses stood out, with the groom in the center so handsome that a mere glance could make a girl’s face turn red. The two men accompanying him were said to be a magistrate’s son from Yuanzhou and a newly minted juren. The scene was indeed spectacular.
As per tradition, the groom had to be given a hard time before fetching the bride.
Liu Yanqing and Liu Yanping were up to the task, but the three from Yuanzhou Academy were skilled in poetry and riddles. With the help of red envelopes from the matchmaker, the courtyard gate soon opened.
Lu Chengxiao led the wedding procession into the Liu family’s courtyard.
Sansukini: Sometimes it baffles me how in cnovels, the characters easily develop fever. Like this one, for example, Li Cunyi felt heartsick so he had a fever for a month? (Are you sure you’re not pretending to be sick) Or do they mean something else when they mention fever? Another example is when they got wet by rain or they fell in the water, they easily develop fever? No matter if it’s a modern or historical setting, are their immune system so frail? Hehehe. Just my thoughts while I’m baking my cookies. The recipe said to bake in 12 minutes, but after 12 minutes in the over, plus cooling it for awhile, I feel like it’s still very soft, like a brownie instead of a cookie.
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As for the fever: I never doubted it if it was incurred by rain 😂
I’m the same: sleep ice with a wet head / got in the rain for more than 30 minutes —> get sick for 2 weeks…
As for the heartache it baffles me too. Worry and anxiety can easily cause nausea, some temporary gut issues and insomnia. Insomnia might cause higher temperature but alas, it’s kinda far fetched… although previous symptoms probably could be grouped as another kind of “cold” by a doctor, I guess?
/
I’m always baffled by them fainting and nose bleeding + bleeding from the mouth (especially in wuxia), cause… like with the fevers: people should be prone to it to have it THAT often. And it’s strange if the main protagonists who are trained/healthy adults regularly have such symptoms.
I don’t doubt the fever was caused by the rain if you’ve been rained on for 30 mins. But most of the time, I don’t think it’s that long. You know, when I was young, children always bathe and play in the rain, and I haven’t heard of anyone get sick because of it, maybe because my country has warm weather, or maybe we’re just too used to the rain because it frequently rains here.
Yes, heartache can also cause depression and insomnia
“I’m always baffled by them fainting and nose bleeding + bleeding from the mouth (especially in wuxia)” —– even in regular cdramas when they get a shock or they’re stunned, they will suddenly vomit blood. Hahaha. (I’ve been watching a lot of short chinese dramas on youtube. They do that a lot.)
Hahaha, they do!
Maybe it’s different cause I live in a colder climate — in summer the temperature is rarely above 25-27 and it’s called “anomaly heat”😂 meanwhile -20 in the winter is to be expected o-o
Yeah, as a child the rain is nothing, I think it’s just my immune system that got weaker ><
/
By the way, they also have all that hot-cold food and Chinese medicine practices… I’m so curious whether it really works. Cause like their way to manage menstrual pain are quite something, I think I’ll search for the brown sugar water recipe one day 😂 if it works it would be amazing
Yes, I have a friend from China who often mentions that menstrual pains are because we like drinking cold water here. It can’t be helped because the weather is hot.