Grasping Yun Zihan’s hand, she said, "You must live a good life with your husband in the future. If you can endure, then endure. You may not be able to rely on the Yun Family, so you must depend only on yourself. Remember, everything is governed by fate, and very little is in our hands. You must make sure to secure your husband’s heart, understand?"
"Auntie, I really wish I could take you with me!"
She had truly grown cold towards the Yun Family.
In the past, when she saw her younger sister being mistreated, her heart would chill, yet she could do nothing about it.
Fortunately, her little sister was blessed.
"Silly child, where have you ever seen an aunt get married along with someone!" Auntie Cui said, laughing, but she was also somewhat sad.
Mother and daughter talked for a long time before Auntie Cui reluctantly left.
Yun Zihan leaned against the headboard.
The dowry from the Yun Family consisted of just two storefronts in the Outer City, a hundred-acre farm in the suburbs, and two thousand taels of silver as her nest egg. As for her dowry,
Yun Zihan hadn’t seen it but, judging by her aunt’s troubled expression, she knew it must be quite poor.
She was determined to prove herself, determined to find a way to get her aunt out of there.
On the eighteenth day of the twelfth month, an auspicious day for marriage,
Yun Zihan was woken up, bathed, dressed in her bridal gown, and had her makeup done.
Ruan Wanrong, Chen Danyan, and Dai Hanmi had agreed to come early to help add to her adornments, each gifting her a set of exquisite and lavish headdresses.
Mrs. Han gave two sets of headdresses, one of Imperial Green and one of pink jade, both truly valuable.
Mrs. He and Yun Muyou were green with envy, thinking that when Yun Muyou married, Mrs. Han should also add such adornments.
Many from the main branch of the Yun Family also came, bringing simple gifts like gold bracelets and hairpins.
Yun Zihan sincerely thanked each one of them; she would stay in touch with those she could, and for those she couldn’t, today’s gifts would be enough.
Liao Shijie’s family did not come; those who came to the wedding today were friends made in the Capital City, including Feng Wushuang.
Though his parents were not in the Capital City, Liao Shijie had still prepared eight grand bridal chairs, making quite the festive procession.
Yun Zhen and his brothers, accompanied by their male cousins, stood guard at the door and interrogated Liao Shijie, who responded calmly and accurately.
The onlookers then realized that this son-in-law of the Yun Family was not someone to be trifled with.
In the imperial examination three years later, he would surely secure a place.
Yun Zihan bid her parents farewell and was carried out of the house on Yun Zhen’s back, riding in the bridal sedan.
She tossed away a folding fan, and as a basin of water was thrown out at the doorway, Yun Zihan officially became a daughter-in-law of the Liao Family.
A married daughter is like water spilt out of the house.
Auntie Cui hid in a small courtyard, weeping till she became a tear-stained figure.
Fortunately, fortunately the fourth young miss had planned ahead for her daughter, marrying her to a young and promising man as his principal wife. If they had been a step later, and she had been married off by Mrs. He’s black heart to Tongqu City, to be a concubine to some old man over fifty, Auntie Cui couldn’t bear the thought.
Auntie Cui, weeping, actually started to laugh.
Now that her daughter’s future was bright, she should stop crying and instead be happy!
From now on in this household, she too could live more freely and unrestrained, far better off than Auntie Kang.
Thinking of Yun Tai, the third young miss of the house, Auntie Cui couldn’t help but sigh.
When the bridal sedan arrived at the Liao Residence, Yun Zihan was led by the wedding matron down from the sedan and into the main hall.
Since Liao Shijie’s parents were not there, and there were few elders present, it was mostly Liao Shijie’s friends, making the occasion less oppressive and quite lively.
After leading the newlyweds to the bridal chamber, everyone clamored to see the bride.
Liao Shijie, smiling, lifted the veil, revealing Yun Zihan’s delicate and lovely visage.
"Liao brother is truly fortunate!"
"Indeed, sister-in-law is like a heavenly fairy!"
Liao Shijie, smiling, clasped his fists towards his friends, "Thank you, thank you!"