In ancient times, the powerful and wealthy seized power step by step.

The third day of the third lunar month is the Shangsi Festival, an auspicious day suitable for all activities.

As a member of the bride's family, Zhang Shen personally handled the wedding arrangements for Zhu Qingyu, even learning from the shortcomings of her own previous wedding and taking every aspect into consideration.

Everything is ready. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, all that remains is to send the bride to the bridal sedan chair at the last moment, and then everything will be fine.

As expected, at the last moment, something unexpected happened: the bride actually went to Huiyi Clinic to treat the wounded!

Zhu Qingyu ran swiftly, but the Zhang family was thrown into chaos.

Although the professional Granny Qin was momentarily flustered, her extensive experience allowed her to quickly regain her composure. She immediately gave orders, sending people in all directions:

"Go quickly to the Governor's Mansion and tell the young master that he should go to Huiyi Clinic to pick up the bride this morning, and don't go to the wrong place!"

He then hurriedly ran to find Zhang Shen:

"Lord Zhang, let's quickly take the people and supplies to Huiyi Clinic!"

Not only was the Zhang family thrown into chaos, but Madam Zhuang, as the person blessed by all in this wedding, went to the Governor's Mansion yesterday to make up the new bed for the newlyweds, and this morning she was to do the bride's makeup and comb her hair.

Madam Zhuang had ample time to leave home, but as soon as she stepped out of the government office, she was hurriedly forced into a carriage.

It was still dark and people couldn't see clearly. Madam Zhuang was terrified, thinking she had encountered Lord Zhuang's enemy. But when she asked, she was even more frightened: the bride had run away!

Good heavens, what is going on here!

Still shaken, Madam Zhuang arrived at Hui Medical Clinic and drank several sips of tea before her pounding heart finally calmed down.

Lord Zhu was still in the consultation room. The doctors from the clinic were coming and going, but no one dared to disturb him. They didn't know when the bride would be getting ready. Madam Zhuang could only sit and wait. It was already dawn when Lord Zhu still hadn't come out.

As a woman of great fortune, Madam Zhuang also had a mission to complete, and she was already getting a little anxious:

"We need to get into the sedan chair at 9:45 AM, and even combing our hair takes time. How can we possibly have enough time!"

Granny Qin, accompanied by a string of maids, waited at the door. Looking at the sky, she had already given up hope that Lord Zhu would come out on time. She comforted Madam Zhuang, saying:

"If all else fails, just cover your head with a veil, and no one will be able to tell whether your hair is combed or not."

This old woman is really carefree! Madam Zhuang sighed, rubbing her forehead.

"Oh dear, Granny, we might not be able to tell, but once she's in the bridal chamber and the veil is lifted, do you think the groom won't be able to tell? On this joyous day, the bride went without a face, which has displeased Lord Gu. What are we going to do?"

If it were anything else, Granny Qin might have some concerns, but if it were this, Granny Qin was absolutely certain and had complete confidence, replying:

"Don't worry, as long as the bride hasn't run away and she's here, even if you have to wear a sack to the wedding, the young master will be happy to set off firecrackers."

At 3:45 AM, amidst the deafening sounds of gongs and drums and the crackling of firecrackers, the wedding procession was already heading towards Huiyi Medical Clinic. Just as Gu Zhao rode his horse to the door, the door to the clinic finally opened.

Zhu Qingyu seemed to have just washed her hands; while drying them with a handkerchief, she said to the person inside:

"I'm going to get married first. You all keep an eye on him. If anything happens, come to the Governor's Mansion to find me."

At this moment, nothing else mattered. Madam Zhuang jumped up and quickly unfolded her wedding dress for Zhu Qingyu, then proceeded with the ritual of reciting the blessings:

"The auspicious time has arrived! Wishing the bride and groom a long and happy marriage! Quickly, the bride is coming out!"

Granny Qin, accompanied by several maids, surrounded Zhu Qingyu, dressing her, changing her embroidered shoes, and putting on her veil. Her movements were so smooth that Zhu Qingyu had the illusion of being in an operating room wearing surgical scrubs.

A long line of people was blocking the entrance, working in an assembly line fashion. As soon as the veil covered their heads, Granny Qin led her people away, and Zhang Shen, who was standing guard to the side, reached out and came over:

"Help me, I'll take you out."

According to custom, the bride must be escorted to the sedan chair by her brothers. It was no problem for Zhang Shen, her cousin, to escort her to the sedan chair. Zhu Qingyu took Zhang Shen's hand and let him lead her into the sedan chair.

The wedding procession, with its constant banging, drumming, and firecrackers, headed towards the governor's mansion.

Gu Zhao rode alongside the bridal sedan chair, quietly lifting a corner of the curtain, and asked Zhu Qingyu:

Are you hungry?

Zhu Qingyu replied pitifully:

"I'm so hungry, when will we arrive?"

The constable was seriously injured. Zhu Qingyu had been busy since the fourth watch of the night and finally managed to save him. She hadn't had a chance to drink a drop of water or eat a bite of food. Now she was starving and even felt nauseous.

A handkerchief was suddenly handed in from the corner of the sedan curtain, followed by a water pouch. Gu Zhao said:

"I knew you wouldn't have time to eat, so I packed you some snacks before you left. Have some first, and I'll tell them to hurry up so we can get back quickly."

The horses' hooves clattered as Gu Zhao ran ahead to urge them to hurry up.

Zhu Qingyu took out the handkerchief and opened it to look at it. The more she looked at it, the more familiar it seemed to be. It looked like the handkerchief she had used to wrap snacks for him on the way to the Northern Frontier.

The handkerchief contained a few small peach blossom pastries, perfect for this occasion. They could be eaten in one bite without dropping crumbs on the wedding dress.

Anyway, no one in the sedan chair would see her, so Zhu Qingyu took off her veil and, disregarding the elegant image a bride should have, drank from a water pouch with one hand and ate a peach blossom pastry with the other.

The peach blossom pastries looked delicious and tasted delicious, but perhaps because she was too tired, or perhaps because the wedding procession was rushing forward and the sedan chair was a bit bumpy, Zhu Qingyu ate two but still felt a bit nauseous. She wrapped the handkerchief back up as before, and for the rest of the journey she just held onto the water pouch and drank until she was half full.

Upon arriving at the Governor's Mansion, Zhu Qingyu quickly covered her head with her veil.

Lady Zhuang, the woman of perfect fortune, lifted the sedan curtain, and the groom, Gu Zhao, reached out his hand:

"Slower."

With Gu Zhao's help, Zhu Qingyu got out of the sedan chair. Following Gu Zhao's instructions, she went through the entire process of bowing to heaven and her parents, and the couple bowed to each other. Finally, amidst the hustle and bustle, she was led into the bridal chamber.

At this point, according to the established procedure, Gu Zhao should theoretically go out to entertain the guests, while Zhu Qingyu should sit by the bed waiting for him. This waiting would take all afternoon, and she would have to wait until he returned after seeing off the guests in the evening before she could lift the veil and drink the nuptial wine.

That's how it works in theory, but as soon as Zhu Qingyu sat down on the edge of the bed, Gu Zhao lifted the veil, and Qin Mama quickly came in with a food box.

Gu Zhao instructed:

"Eat, drink, and sleep well on your own. I'll be back after I see the guests off tonight."

Zhu Qingyu was starving, but without the slightest hesitation, she happily sat down at the table, eagerly waiting for Granny Qin to serve the food, and replied:

"Then you should drink less alcohol."

Since it was prepared for Zhu Qingyu, Granny Qin arranged for the cook to prepare it, and it was all Sichuan-style food.

A bright red dish was laid out, and Zhu Qingyu picked up a piece with her chopsticks. Even though it was a dish she was used to, and that she usually found incredibly delicious, today it made her feel even worse. The smell itself was unpleasant. She quickly waved her hand and said to Granny Qin:

"Granny, I'm feeling a little unwell. I'll just have a few snacks and I'll feel better. Please put these away for now."

After finishing her snacks, she started to feel sleepy again. Anyway, Gu Zhao had told her to eat, drink, and sleep, so Zhu Qingyu quickly took off her wedding dress, hugged the quilt with the mandarin ducks playing in the water, and fell asleep.

Seeing how at ease the bride was, Granny Qin remained calm throughout. After accepting the gifts, she even arranged for a maid to stand guard at the door to prevent any wedding night pranksters from disturbing the proceedings. She then called over a maid who was in charge of Zhu Qingyu's clothes, pulled her aside, and asked softly:

"Is your monthly letter late this month, my lord?"