Thrown out of the house, the wet nurse enters the noble household and becomes a person of high statu

With the choice of the bride and groom settled, the wedding was conducted efficiently without excessive extravagance.

Two large red embroidered balls hung above the door, their colors contrasting with the vermilion window decorations pasted on the courtyard wall, adding a touch of festive cheer.

The lanterns that were hung during the Lunar New Year have not yet been taken down, and their warm red light spills into the courtyard, reflecting the newly pasted "double happiness" characters.

The village has no shortage of cloth. The wedding dress made of new red cloth has fine stitches. Although it does not have gold thread embroidery of twin lotus flowers, it is still well-tailored.

The men's wedding attire was trimmed with gold, adding a touch of joy.

The women's wedding dresses were specially designed with a larger waistline to perfectly cover the lower abdomen.

The wedding was simple, but all the traditional customs were observed.

Granny Wang personally washed and combed Liu Wenying's hair. The bronze mirror reflected the images of the two people: one with graying temples, and the other with flowing black hair.

"One comb to the end, and you'll have no worries about wealth. Two combs to the end, and you'll be free from illness and worries. Three combs to the end, and you'll have many children and a long life..."

After combing her hair, Granny Wang put a red agate headdress on her and held her hand.

"At least you have something to rely on now. I can finally rest easy knowing you have someone to be with you."

She didn't understand the intricacies of real or fake marriages; she just wanted Liu Wenying to live a peaceful life without suffering.

"Thank you for your trouble, Granny."

Liu Wenying nodded gently, without the shyness of a bride, but rather with a sense of naturalness.

Outside, Lu Ye leaned against the wall, arms crossed, looking up at the clouds in the sky.

In the courtyard, Luo Luo and Xiao Ya were holding handfuls of sunflower seeds, cracking them open until their mouths were full of shells.

"Luo Luo, I just peeked through the window, and Aunt Liu looks so beautiful today!"

Luo Luo popped a melon seed into her mouth and said matter-of-factly, "Of course, my mother is beautiful all the time, and I'm going to have a new father soon."

The little girl blinked and held up her fingers to count.

"You're going to have Master Xue, Uncle Lu Ye, and that Uncle Liu who lives in the east room? You're going to have three new fathers all at once?"

Luo Luo was confused by her counting, and waved her hand, "Oh, a little more doesn't matter. Who told others to say I don't have a father? I have more fathers than all of them."

Children speak without thinking; after the two children finished speaking, they looked at each other and giggled.

In the east room, Xue Bi pushed open the door and entered. Xiao Yiheng was already dressed and ready.

The new red cloth clothes he wore somehow gave him an air of elegance and grace.

It's not that his physical form is particularly good, but rather that his bone structure is such that even if he were draped in a piece of hemp cloth, he couldn't hide his innate nobility.

Xue Bi's lips curved slightly, but the curve was less of a smile and more like a knife with its blade hidden in its sheath.

"Your Highness is quite capable; being blind has no effect whatsoever. This outfit actually makes you look like a proper groom."

Xiao Yiheng wore his wedding attire admirably, without relying on anyone else's handiwork.

"Master Xue, you are mistaken. Am I not Wenying's groom today?"

Not to be outdone, he said, "I should thank Master Xue for all he did to help me with the wedding arrangements. I will remember this kindness."

The two engaged in a heated exchange, going back and forth.

Xiao Yiheng's words were sharp and to the point, and he was about to gain the upper hand when Xue Bi suddenly changed the subject.

"Speaking of which, I should thank you for deliberately mentioning me in front of Wenying the other day, otherwise I would not have had the opportunity to confess my feelings to Wenying."

Xiao Yiheng's breathing became somewhat labored.

He did indeed have ulterior motives that day, hoping to use Xue Bi's status as the descendant of a disgraced official to make Liu Wenying wary.

Unexpectedly, this backfired, leading to a heart-to-heart talk between the two.

Every time I think back on those days, I feel so regretful.

He hadn't tasted the bitterness of losing more than he gained by trying to steal a chicken in a long time.

"Master Xue has a good memory, but don't you think it's indecent to say these things on my joyous occasion?"

What does it really mean when someone tells the groom that he and the bride are in love?

"Great joy? It's just a fake marriage. Does Your Highness really think you're the groom?"

Xue Bi's tone carried a hint of sarcasm, "Or are you hoping this charade will become real?"

Xiao Yiheng clenched his fist at his side. In the past, who would have dared to speak to him like that?

But now that he's fallen from grace, even a schoolteacher dares to step on him.

However, Xiao Yiheng maintained his smile and said politely, "The time has come. I won't say any more. It's time to perform the wedding ceremony."

Six tables were set up in the courtyard for a banquet. The red lanterns that had been hanging for the New Year had not yet been taken down, and brand-new paper-cut window decorations were scattered around, creating a warm and joyful atmosphere.

The guests invited were all elderly people and children from the nursing home, as well as farmers from Zhiyun Manor.

Liu Wenying had always been very kind to them, so they naturally had to come.

Xue Bi helped Xiao Yiheng to the center of the courtyard.

There was a red felt mat laid out there, with an incense table set up and ancestral tablets for Heaven and Earth.

Liu Wenying was also helped over by Granny Wang, and she was covered with a red veil.

The veil was made of plain red cloth, without embroidery or beads.

But the vibrant red against her exposed chin and the back of her hands made her skin appear even whiter.

Luo Luo stood on tiptoe and strained to peek under the veil, but Xiao Ya pulled her back, and the two girls burst into laughter again.

The two stood still on the red carpet.

The master of ceremonies, who was also the village head of Tanxi Village, cleared his throat and announced loudly.

"Bowing to Heaven and Earth—"

The two bowed deeply towards the heavens and earth.

"Bowing to the parents twice—"

The two, who had no parents, bowed to the two empty chairs.

"Husband and wife bow to each other—"

Just as the two were about to bow and complete the final bow, and the ceremony was about to end, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from afar, like thunder rolling across the snow.

"Willow Singing Oriole—!"

The voice came through the courtyard, hoarse and urgent.

Everyone in the courtyard was stunned and turned to look at the gate.

A fine horse galloped in, its hooves shattering the thin ice and splashing up fine snowflakes.

The man on horseback wore a black cloak, and the hood was blown off by the wind, revealing a pale and haggard face.

Pei Zeyu's hair was disheveled, and his lips were cut and bleeding from the biting cold wind.

Upon seeing the dazzling, festive red in the courtyard, his pupils constricted, and he couldn't wait to dismount.

Too hasty, too frightened, his exhausted body collapsed to the ground, his cloak billowing out to reveal the dust-covered mourning clothes underneath.

He was completely unaware that his palm was bleeding and blood was dripping into the snow.

Pei Zeyu staggered over, the sunlight so bright it was almost blinding, but he kept his eyes glued to the figure covered by the red veil.

Something was pounding wildly inside his chest, making his throat taste metallic and almost causing him to vomit blood.

"Liu Wenying, you are not allowed to marry."

The veil was suddenly lifted, and Liu Wenying's gaze broke free from the cramped red space.

She looked past the swaying figures and fixed her gaze on the man at the courtyard gate, who was covered in dust and whose hands were bleeding.

There was something in Pei Zeyu's eyes that she had never seen before. It wasn't the usual composure and strategic thinking, but a kind of almost crazy, intense emotion.

The thing was like fire, burning his eyes until they turned red and his voice became hoarse, leaving him unable to even describe himself.

Pei Zeyu pushed through the crowd and grabbed her hand.

"You're going to take my child and marry someone else?"

…………