Binding Spring Love

Just after the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), Song Wan got up to prepare her makeup for entering the palace to meet the emperor.

"Your hairstyling skills are the best; you don't need to put in so much effort."

Seeing that Green Bamboo hadn't slept all night and had spent the whole night tying up Fragrant Grass's hair, Song Wan couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

Green Bamboo laughed and said, "This servant hasn't styled her hair in so long, my skills have become quite rusty. Fortunately, I had Fragrant Grass with me tonight, which helped me regain some of my touch."

As they were talking, Green Bamboo used a white jade spoon to scoop a drop of jasmine dew onto her wrist, then gently rubbed it until it released its fragrance before lifting Song Wan's hair and gently tying it up.

"This servant has chosen the 'Chaoyun Jinxiang' hairstyle for Miss. Normally, one should wear a peony-shaped hairstyle when entering the palace, but our dowry does not include suitable headdresses and jewelry, which cannot support such a luxurious appearance."

"Although the old lady and her wife sent several sets, they were more about wealth than vitality."

Song Wan half-closed her eyes, looking somewhat sleepy: "Good green bamboo, then you can decide."

She also knew that Green Bamboo was in a difficult position.

The Hou family is now in dire financial straits. Most of the jewelry and headdresses sent by the old lady and Jiang's mother were part of their dowries. Although they were valuable, they were not fashionable and the colors and styles did not suit her.

Moreover, she was a widow who had married into the Marquis's mansion, and her dowry included nothing but jewelry, cosmetics, and even a single piece of colored fabric.

Logically, when Jiang Xingjian returned to the capital, the Song family should have sent her a new dowry, but her father and brothers went to the mountain villa with the emperor to escape the summer heat, so the matter was delayed.

"Miss, what do you think, is this acceptable?"

Green Bamboo gently called out to Song Wan, who looked up at herself in the bronze mirror and felt somewhat unfamiliar with herself.

"After wearing my hair in a plain bun for six years, I suddenly felt a little uncomfortable wearing hairpins and bracelets."

The girl in the mirror, adorned with a golden crabapple blossom hairpin and a ruby ​​pomegranate-decorated hair ornament, appeared exceptionally beautiful and delicate. Her skin was as white as snow and as smooth as jade; with just a touch of adornment, she made the peonies and other flowers in the room pale in comparison.

Song Wan pursed her lips, her eyes curving into a slightly restrained smile.

"Miss is so beautiful."

Hengzhi and Hengwu brought the clothes into the room, and were momentarily stunned by Song Wan's beauty when they saw her with makeup on.

For her clothes, Song Wan chose a bright red dress embroidered with silver and green cloud patterns. She was now barely considered a newlywed, so wearing red was appropriate for the occasion.

By the time I was properly dressed, it was already getting light.

Jiang Xingjian was waiting in the courtyard. He was also dressed in crimson today. Song Wan arrived slowly, supported by Hengzhi. The two of them standing together did indeed have a sense of being a match made in heaven.

"Please, Madam."

Jiang Xingjian lifted the emerald sedan chair in the courtyard, and Song Wan bowed before getting in. Before lowering the curtain, she saw that Jiang Xingjian's neck and the area behind his ears were flushed red.

Song Wan pursed her lips, a hint of shyness appearing on her face.

Four old women carried the sedan chair to the outside of the hanging flower gate, where there was another empty sedan chair prepared for the accompanying maids. After Hengzhi and Hengwu sat inside, the four old women carrying the sedan chair stepped down, and eight other handsome and nimble young servants came from elsewhere.

When the sedan chair arrived at the corner gate of the Marquis's mansion, the old women in the mansion held up a blue gauze curtain to create a screen. Only then did Hengzhi and Hengwu get out of the sedan chair to help Song Wan get into the carriage.

Jiang Xingjian sat in the carriage and reached out to help Song Wan.

Song Wan blushed slightly and gently placed her hand in the man's palm.

The carriage was cramped, and the two were dressed in cumbersome clothes, so they couldn't stretch out and their knees inevitably touched.

Jiang Xingjian felt that the weather was hot and humid today, and soon his face was covered with sweat. He lifted a corner of the soft gauze to get some fresh air.

Song Wan's eyelashes trembled slightly, and her palms, resting on her knees, were slightly hot from nervousness.

The rules for entering the palace were complicated, so the two waited at the palace gate very early. When the emperor's decree was delivered, Jiang Xingjian felt that his inner clothes had been almost completely pierced.

When he got off the carriage, he reached out to take Song Wan's hand. Their palms touched, the heat was so intense that they both pulled away.

"lady……"

Jiang Xingjian's throat tightened, and he quickly coughed lightly to ease the awkwardness.

Song Wan was still in the car and hadn't gotten off yet. Heng Zhi wanted to help her up, but Jiang Xingjian was one step ahead of her. He grabbed Song Wan's slender waist and half-lifted her out of the car.

The two had never been so close before. The girl exuded a sweet fragrance, the faint floral scent blending with the man's cool aroma, creating a rather intoxicating atmosphere.

As soon as Song Wan landed, Jiang Xingjian immediately stopped.

Hengzhi looked up and saw that her young mistress and son-in-law seemed to have been in a censer. Both of them were flushed from head to toe, and her young mistress's earlobes looked as if they were about to bleed.

Jiang Xingjian has not yet inherited his title and is still a commoner. The Emperor summoned the two of them to the palace mostly out of consideration for his subjects. After inquiring about the events of that day and bestowing some gold and silver jewelry as a token of consolation, the Emperor went to attend to state affairs.

Therefore, Jiang Xingjian and Song Wan went to Consort Yun's Changxin Palace first.

In Changxin Palace, Song Yuning burst into tears the moment she saw Song Wan.

"Greetings, Consort Yun..."

"Wan'er, get up quickly. Your aunt can't stand you performing such a grand gesture."

Consort Yun quickly stepped off the bed and pulled Song Wan into her arms, stroking her back repeatedly.

She was seven years older than Song Wan, and although they were called aunt, they were more like mother and daughter. Song Wan was well-behaved and sensible from a young age, and she liked her so much that she took her in and raised her in her own courtyard.

However, since she married into the Marquis's household, the two had not seen each other for six years.

Song Yunning hugged Song Wan tightly, her voice choked with sobs.

The aunt and niece chatted warmly, with Jiang Xingjian keeping them company until Song Yuning, worried that Song Wan's makeup would be ruined by tears, stopped mentioning the sad things.

"Look what your aunt has prepared for you."

The lady-in-waiting beside Consort Yun announced the arrival of the servants, and soon a dozen eunuchs filed in, carrying six or seven boxes, each about half a person's height. Song Yun Ning opened them one by one; inside were jewelry, fabrics, and other items she had collected for Song Wan over the years.

"I used to want to keep these for you whenever I saw them, thinking that even if I didn't need them later..."

She stopped abruptly as soon as she spoke, but Jiang Xingjian understood what Consort Yun meant. These things were what she had prepared for Song Wan to be buried with in the future.

"Now it's all right, and my aunt's efforts have not been in vain."

Song Wan declined, but Consort Yun insisted, "These are nothing. Your aunt has something truly wonderful to give you both."

Consort Yun said, "I specially obtained this from Taoist Erhuan. When you return to the Marquis's residence, hang it in your room for good luck."

Song Wan took a painting from the female official. When Consort Yun asked her to open it, she assumed it was the work of a famous artist and opened it without any suspicion.

Jiang Xingjian stood beside her, gently supporting the scroll. When they saw the contents of the painting, both of them blushed.

The painting depicts a boy and a girl, the boy holding a bright red peach and the girl holding lotus leaves and flowers. The two are nestled together, a delightful sight. In terms of painting technique, the figures are charmingly innocent and lifelike, clearly a work worthy of being passed down through generations.

But this picture...

Song Wan hurriedly closed the painting, forgetting that Jiang Xingjian was still holding the bottom scroll with one hand, and almost tore the painting.

Seeing this, Jiang Xingjian calmly took Song Wan's hand, silently comforted her, and then put away the painting of the Two Immortals of Harmony.

The painting of the Two Immortals of Harmony and Union is a must-have for offering on the wedding night. It signifies joy and harmony, as well as continuous prosperity and many children and blessings.

Jiang Xingjian held the painting of the Two Immortals of Harmony in his hand, when suddenly his throat felt itchy.