Chapter 434 - Chapter 434: Chapter 430: Wedding Ceremony_1

Chapter 434: Chapter 430: Wedding Ceremony_1

“Have we found Chen Tiantian yet?” Yingbao asked.

Jiang Jie shook his head. “No, we haven’t. My men haven’t been able to find where Chen Tiantian and her mother have hidden themselves. Maybe what Xiao Chengjun said is true, that they have left the city.”

Left? Where could she go?

Yingbao didn’t believe that Chen Tiantian could survive on her own without Xiao Chengjun.

Plus, she was with her mother, Han Yueniang.

And Han Yueniang’s youngest son was still with the Xiao Family.

Wei Zhan suggested, “Yingbao, we could assign someone to surveil Xiao Chengjun. As soon as he moves, we can follow him.”

Yingbao nodded.

There was no other way.

She didn’t understand why Chen Tiantian and Xiao Chengjun couldn’t just live happily together, embodying the beautiful story of lovers eventually getting married.

As long as she lived peacefully, Yingbao might have let them go. After all, nobody should live in hatred alone.

Yet Tiantian and Xiao Chengjun insisted on provoking her and challenging her again and again.

If she caught her this time, Yingbao would make sure Tiantian wouldn’t see the light of the next day.

“Tomorrow is Xiao Chengjun’s wedding to Xiao Mo. Will you go, Sister?” Jiang Jie asked.

Yingbao asked, “Did the Xiao Family invite us?”

Jiang Jie nodded. “Yes, they did.”

This invitation was an honour bestowed on Xiao Family by the Imperial Court. All officers of sixth rank or higher in the capital who had dealings with the Xiao Family were invited.

Because of Wei Zhan, the Jiang Family received an invitation too.

“Let’s go.” Yingbao said. “I’ll go with you.”

She could have opted not to go, but since her brother Jiang Jie would be there, she had to go for his safety.

Wei Zhan added, “Yingbao, I’ll go too.”

Yingbao looked at him, “Hmm, we three will go together.”

Only then did Wei Zhan smile. “Then I’ll have someone prepare the presents.”

“Sure.”

…

The twentieth day of the first month came quickly.

The entrance to the Xiao Residence was bustling with carriages and horses. There was a never-ending stream of guests who came to congratulate them.

At the entrance, greeting guests, was Xiao Mo in his wheelchair and his younger brother Xiao Chengjun.

Weizhan helped Yingbao out of the carriage, and they went into the Xiao Residence side by side.

A ceremonial officer announced loudly, “The Countess of Qinchuan has arrived!”

Xiao Chengjun and Xiao Mo greeted her with a bow.

Yingbao glanced at Xiao Chengjun indifferently, then looked at Xiao Mo, who looked thin and weary, his face devoid of any emotion.

Once inside the Xiao Residence, they were guided to their seats in the hall.

Weizhan and Jiang Jie were worrisome about Yingbao, little did they know Yingbao was more worried about them. She quietly handed both of them an antidote and whispered, “Drink less booze, and don’t follow the Xiao Family’s servants alone.”

Both of them nodded, watching as Yingbao and her retinue entered the inner courtyard.

This time, Yingbao had brought four palace maids and two eunuchs, filling up the small hall as they entered.

Then, Madame Xiao came to give her thanks to Yingbao, talked with her for a while, and then left for other places.

Many women had come this time. Madame Xiao was busy catering to them all and there was seemingly no one to help her.

Fortunately, nobody minded. The women all sat together, talking and gossiping about trivial matters.

In a while, Wu Jiang came over with a lady, greeting Yingbao, “County Mistress! I’ve been looking all over for you.”

Yingbao: “Aunt Wu, please sit down. What brings you to me?”

Wu Jiang brought the lady next to her over, sat down next to Yingbao, and introduced: “This is the wife of Minister Qin of the Ministry of Households.”

Yingbao greeted with a slight bow: “Greetings, Lady Qin.”

Lady Qin smiled: “Today I finally see the true face of the County Mistress, indeed extraordinarily striking.”

“You flatter me. Lady Qin, your beauty and grace are equally incomparable,” Yingbao complimented.

This Lady Qin was only in her forties, really quite beautiful, but a bit thin.

Although thinness is considered beautiful these days, Lady Qin is already of such age, a little fullness would make her perfect.

Lady Qin touched her cheek and smiled: “Ah, I’m getting on in age, far from truly beautiful.”

“County Mistress, actually, I should thank you for saving my life.”

Yingbao blinked: “Lady Qin, what do you mean?”

Lady Qin smiled: “My husband is named Qin Zhaolin. A few years ago, you treated his hunched back, don’t you remember?”

“Oh.” Yingbao really couldn’t remember.

Lady Qin: “My husband is clueless sometimes. He only recently told me that the one who treated his disease was the County Mistress. Ah, how disrespectful, we have not visited you since.”

“Lady Qin, it’s not necessary to worry, I had long forgotten about this.” Yingbao then recalled. This Qin Zhaolin should be her master’s friend. During that time, she indeed treated him.

Lady Qin expressed her apologies, finally saying, “I gather the courage to ask you for something today. My grandfather’s health has been poor recently, and I… I want to buy a bottle of Health Pills from you.”

Yingbao was surprised: “Lady Qin, how did you know I have Health Pills?”

“My grandfather heard it from Master Wu.” Lady Qin said bashfully.

Wu Jiang chuckled and said, “My father sometimes takes the Health Pills to court. When others see and are curious, he simply tells them straight.”

Yingbao: “…”

“Alright, I will prepare some when I get back, at that time I will give them to Grandfather Wu to give to Minister Qin.” At present, she could only prepare these health pills for outsiders.

As for the better ones, other than giving them to her family, the rest went to her master Zhou Wuchang who would then distribute them to lower officials.

Luckily, her master the Emperor was not stingy either. Every time he would send a lot of gold, silver, and jewels, making her now quite wealthy. She has stored a lot of gold, silver, jewels, jade, and piles of silk in her cave residence.

Seeing Yingbao agree, Lady Qin was very happy and held her hand for quite some time expressing her gratitude.

After a while, a servant came to invite them to their seats, and the three of them set off for the main hall.

The main hall was large, with an incense table set up in the middle, waiting for the newlyweds to perform the bow ceremony.

High-ranking ladies sat on the right side of the room.

The left side was where the male guests sat.

The rest of the guests were sitting under the tents in the courtyard, separated by gender.

A long red carpet was laid in the middle of the main hall, running straight to the front of the incense table. A brazier was also placed at the entrance of the hall. When the bridal sedan chair arrived at the main entrance, the master of ceremonies would come to light the brazier for the bride to step over.

While the banquet was going on, the sound of gongs and drums rang out. The bride’s sedan chair had arrived.

Yingbao could see the newlyweds entering the main hall without even getting up.

It was Xiao Mo, he sat in a wheelchair, being pushed by a palace maid.

He held a red silk rope in his hand, the other end held by the bride.

The two, one standing and one sitting, managed to complete the ceremony. Finally, Xiao Mo brought the bride to the bridal chamber.

As soon as this ceremony was over, the sedan chair of Xiao Chengjun’s bride arrived.

The musicians continued to play their instruments. Marquis Changshou and his wife continued to sit in their high chairs, waiting for the newlyweds to show their respects.

Yingbao was very curious about Xiao Chengjun’s expression at this time, so she watched closely without shifting her gaze.

Suddenly, Xiao Chengjun turned his head and looked to the right. His gaze passed over several people and directly met Yingbao’s.

His face darkened as he glared at Yingbao for a couple of moments before withdrawing his gaze and dutifully completing the bowing ritual with his new bride.