"But where are we going to stay tonight?"
Upon hearing Wang Xiangxiang’s question, Xiaoxiao was stunned; indeed, the bridal chamber was already arranged, and it was said to be meticulously prepared, a bridal chamber where no one should reside.
Yang Qiu’s room was already occupied by the embroiderer brought by Wang Xiangxiang, so it would not be good for them to squeeze in there. They considered staying in Yang Dong’s room but then thought better of it. Since they had to pick up Yang Ming tomorrow, they decided to head straight to the county town now.
"Sister Wang, let’s stay at your place in the county town tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll pick up my husband, and we’ll come back together."
"Okay, let’s hurry then."
Fortuitously, the carriage Wang Xiangxiang brought had been delayed due to feeding the horses and hadn’t returned yet. After notifying their family, they hastily boarded the carriage and headed to the county town.
Wang Xiangxiang’s house in the county town was enormously grand, looking very majestic from the outside, utterly unlike those in the town, and even more luxurious inside.
The two of them still shared a room, sleeping together.
Determined to be fully prepared for tomorrow, Xiaoxiao was energetically gearing up, vowing to succeed at all costs.
Just like a bride-to-be, she indeed seemed the most eager to marry.
To face her soon-to-be husband in her best condition tomorrow, Xiaoxiao took a bath and then made facial masks with Wang Xiangxiang.
"Xiaoxiao, do we just apply this stuff to our faces?"
"Haha, this is a facial mask I made myself. Just apply it. It’s all natural and pollution-free."
"..." Wang Xiangxiang, not understanding anything Xiaoxiao said, still followed her and applied the mixture of egg white and honey to her face. "It’s so cold."
"It’ll be fine in a bit. Doing this often is good for the skin."
After applying the mask, both of them lay there with stiff faces, chatting idly. Even their voices sounded weird.
"Xiaoxiao, I really want to see how you confess tomorrow."
"You’re not allowed to watch." She didn’t want anyone disturbing her moment with her low-cost husband. If the confession succeeded, anything could happen; how could she let others watch.
"If you want to watch, hurry up and find someone, then you can confess too."
"Don’t remind me of my sad story, okay?"
"I mean it. If you really meet someone you like, you should go after them. You must boldly express your love; if you don’t, someone else will."
Wang Xiangxiang lay there silently, deeply pondering Xiaoxiao’s words. Could she be bold like Xiaoxiao?
"All right, time’s up, we can wash it off now."
The two quickly washed their faces and then went to bed.
But near morning, Xiaoxiao woke from a nightmare, suddenly crying out, "Ah!"
Then she sat up and realized she was sweating profusely.
"Xiaoxiao, what’s wrong?" Wang Xiangxiang was awakened by Xiaoxiao’s cry.
"It’s nothing, go back to sleep."
Unable to fall asleep again, Xiaoxiao quickly got up to wash up, apply makeup, and comb her hair. After getting herself ready, she sat there feeling panicked and distressed, fearing that something bad was about to happen.
"Sister Wang, I’m going out to find my husband."
"Eh, you haven’t had breakfast."
Xiaoxiao hurried out, arriving at the Academy’s gate while it was still dark. She feverishly knocked on the Academy’s main gate.
Soon someone came to open the gate, speaking impatiently, "Who is it? It’s not even dawn yet."
"Attendant Student, it’s me; can you help me find Yang Ming? I need him urgently."
"Wait here." Recognizing Xiaoxiao as Yang Ming’s wife, the Attendant Student quickly ran into the Academy to find Yang Ming.