Capítulo 53: Gates of Ning Duke Estate

There was a sea of red that stretched out as far as the eye could see. The entire Ning Duke estate had been decorated for the wedding and though the masters were somewhat somber, the servants were in high spirits. The young miss was being married off at last! Who knew how many bets had been made in secret as people wondered if she'd ever get married at her age. On top of that, she was marrying into the imperial family. It made quite the story.

Yan Qiu Yue sat in her boudoir as Chu Hua finished doing her hair. She felt strangely calm. She'd had months to think about it, to feel depressed, and try to envision ways out. For some reason, once her partner was changed to Wei Tian Ao she had felt even more resigned. Yan Qiu Yue had struggled so much to change or get out of her marriage, but with one word her husband could be changed just like that. It made her resistance seem even more futile.

What did it matter whom she married? She would simply have to do her best wherever she ended up. She was of noble birth and would be bringing a hefty dowry with her. Everything would be fine.

Her mind wandered for a moment to a particular folding fan that she still hadn't gotten back...and then she resolved to stop thinking about it.

Chu Hua finished up fixing her hair into a complicated updo and put the red veil into place. It was almost entirely opaque, but Yan Qiu Yue could make out the back of the embroidery she'd done. Somehow or another, she had managed to finish her embroidery. Her entire wedding outfit was resplendent and beautiful--if she said so herself.

Now she would have to wait. Wei Tian Ao would be traveling from Prince Rui's estate with his retinue and would have to deal with Yan Qiu Heng and her other cousins before being allowed to come and pick up his bride from her quarters. There was a custom among common families where the bride's brother would be the one to carry her on his back towards the groom's party, but of course, that wouldn't happen here. Yan Qiu Yue tried to imagine her twin carrying her and laughed at the thought.

"Are you feeling nervous, young miss?" Zhi Lan asked her.

"Zhi Lan, I think you all are feeling more nervous than I am."

"...You've always been good at pretending to be strong."

"Can't you just overlook it this time, too, then?"

"Miss..."

That's right. In all likelihood, she was just pretending to be strong. She had strongly convinced herself that everything was fine. But what else could she do?

Yan Qiu Yue's Peony Courtyard was on the opposite side of the estate from the gate. While it wasn't the furthest courtyard from the gate, it would take some time for Wei Tian Ao to get there. He had to face an "obstacle course" made up of Yan Qiu Yue's brothers and cousins from the gate, across the garden, around the Lotus Courtyard where her parents resided, finally culminating with a confrontation with Yan Qiu Heng who was standing in the pavilion right outside Peony Courtyard. It seemed a pity that Yan Qiu Yue could only hear about such an interesting event and not get to see it for herself, but she had sent her favorite storyteller Mu Rong to observe and report back later.

At this moment, Wei Tian Ao had passed through the gate and was heading towards the garden. Yan Shen Li had been guarding the gate to the estate, but as expected, his challenge had been the easiest. It consisted of some riddles that Wei Tian Ao was able to muddle through.

According to the customs of Eastern Wei, the groom was supposed to be able to bring along a retinue of his own brothers to face off against the bride's brothers. However, his only brother was Wei Hong Sheng. It had been deemed inappropriate for Wei Hong Sheng to be part of the wedding party considering his previous status as Yan Qiu Yue's fiance, but it wasn't as if Wei Tian Ao could have his royal cousins be by his side. Thus, the emperor decided to allow him to choose a few of his closest friends and aides to accompany him instead. Of course, this was meant to embarrass Wei Tian Ao while being masked as a magnanimous favor, but the prince-shizi didn't mind it. Everything else aside, he felt reassured with Yi Cheng Rui and Hua Yan Ting with him. The latter had gotten closer to him in recent weeks ever since that harrowing hunting trip.

"Since Tian Ao's good brother isn't here because of his previous status, it's a wonder that you were allowed to come, Golden Barley Scholar," Yi Qiang Li teased. After all, there had been rumors of Hua Yan Ting being engaged to Yan Qiu Yue in the past, as well.

"You jest, Second Princess Consort. The elders in my family may have had some ideas, but nothing ever happened. More importantly, I have never wanted to marry the Yan family's young miss." Hua Yan Ting smiled as he cast a glance at Wei Tian Ao. "I think it's a good thing that she's marrying Wei Tian Ao here. It is her good fortune." On the other hand, he was looking forward to seeing how funny Yan Qiu Heng would look in his festive wedding clothes.

"Hmm... According to custom, shouldn't Yan Shen Li have been inside the compound? He's the eldest of the second branch, after all," Yi Cheng Rui ignored the banter to bring the subject back to the task on hand.

"I hear that Yan Qiu Yue is closer to her third brother than her second brother," Yi Qiang Li replied. "Makes sense if you consider their ages, I suppose. Yan Shen Li is likely busy with his work in the Ministry of Personnel."

"So that Yan Chang Yuan is next..." Hua Yan Ting grimaced. Though Yan Chang Yuan seemed like a friendly, bright person, there was an edge to him. The two had crossed paths a few times and he couldn't help but feel that the Yan family's third son had more depth to him than appeared. His challenge would likely not be easy.

Sure enough, once they were about to get through the garden, they spotted Yan Chang Yuan standing in the middle of the path, a bright grin on his face. "You've been progressing quickly, Prince Rui-shizi! I didn't expect you to best my elder brother so easily."

Wei Tian Ao straightened his back. "Greetings to Yan third young master! I, Wei Tian Ao, am here to retrieve my bride." The words still felt strange in his mouth, but he would see this through to the end.

Yan Chang Yuan nodded. "Alright. You must know that my fourth sister has long been treasured by her family. We are all loathe to give her up. So answer me this...what are your feelings towards my fourth sister? Do you truly like her or is this merely a political match to you?"

Despite his practice and studies in the last weeks and months, Wei Tian Ao was still not the best at flowery speeches and polite lies. Besides, in such a situation and thinking of his promise to Yan Qiu Yue's father... He decided to simply tell the truth. "When I was bestowed this marriage by the emperor, I didn't know what to think. It's hard for me to say that it's a political match for me, someone so far removed from the politics of this country at present, but it's true that I did not seek this marriage for myself. Still, I do not understand your question. What nobleman or noblewoman can escape their marriage partner being decided upon by others? Nevertheless, I will make sure that Yan Qiu Yue lives well."

"That's not what I asked. Do you like her? Or do you not like her?"

In his mind's eye, Wei Tian Ao conjured up that treasured image that he kept in his heart: the memory of Yan Qiu Yue clothed in the colors of the sea, softly smiling as she stood nobly. Looking at her made it feel as if everyone else melted away. Wei Tian Ao's heart softened and when he felt an ache in his chest, he wasn't sure whether it was caused by his injury or by that remembrance. He said softly, "......Like." The truth was they had met too few times. This "like" was a budding flower at the beginning of spring, still weak. At this point, it had been so long since he'd seen her that he almost couldn't remember what her face looked like. They were not close, but there was a lot of time to remedy that.

"Good good, I was hoping you'd say that!"

"......?"

"So, for the strapping young groom who likes my fourth sister, my challenge is...a quiz! But these questions will not be simple riddles like my elder brother's. No no, this is a quiz about something that is of the utmost importance to my sister."

Standing behind his friend, Yi Cheng Rui suddenly had a bad feeling about this. Also, this Yan Chang Yuan had just casually dissed his older brother.

"I will ask you ten questions relating to Inspector of the Whistling Pines. If you find all of the correct answers, then you may pass. You are free to discuss the questions amongst your group, as well, and I don't even mind if you get someone to retrieve the books for you to search for the answers within."

"This doesn't seem too bad...?" Yi Qiang Li said, tilting his head to one side.

However, these instructions only made Yi Cheng Rui feel even more foreboding. By this point, the series had many books. If Yan Chang Yuan was allowing them to discuss the questions and even look for the answers in the books themselves, these questions would certainly not be easy!