Wen Nuan hadn’t expected to be asked about this matter. In fact, when she married into the Han Family, even she was bewildered. She hadn’t even come to terms with it, and she was already sitting in the Han Family’s bridal room, slowly recalling the events that had transpired...
She remembered that just yesterday afternoon, she was practicing her calligraphy in her boudoir when she heard her father’s excited voice come in.
"Wen Nuan, get ready, someone from the Han Family has come to have you marry immediately."
A look of surprise flashed in Wen Nuan’s eyes, "Father, what’s going on? Isn’t the Han Family supposed to marry the young lady from the Cloth Shop in Shanshi County today? Why am I being sent to marry instead?"
"The wedding procession hasn’t returned, and the Han Family is in a hurry to find a replacement. It’s your good fortune to be chosen; so many others are queuing up."
She didn’t want to go, but she couldn’t defy her family. So, amidst the servants bustling in and out, she found herself dressed in a wedding gown, her head covered with a bridal veil, and taken away by the people sent by the Han Family.
The wedding ceremony concluded quickly, and she was escorted to the bridal chamber, where she sat on the festively adorned bed. She felt anxious, having no idea whether Han Yongsheng knew it was her he was marrying.
Indeed, when Han Yongsheng lifted the veil, he exclaimed in surprise, "Why is it you? Where’s Miss Wang?"
His shout startled her, yet she remained silent, wanting to see how he would react. As expected, he stormed out of the room in anger.
She thought he must be unable to accept the fact that the bride had been switched and had gone to confront his family about it.
She thought perhaps he would send her back to the Wen Family when he returned.
She thought that might be for the best; she wasn’t particularly willing to marry, merely following her father’s arrangements.
After waiting for a short while, she saw him return and approach her, asking, "Your name is Wen Nuan, right?"
"Mhm," she nodded her head.
"Since I’ve married you, you are my wife now."
She was extremely surprised; she thought he wouldn’t accept her. Somehow, his family must have persuaded him after he went out.
"However, I must now hurry to Shanshi County to find Miss Wang. The wedding procession wouldn’t be absent for no reason until now. If something unfortunate happened on the road..." He paused before continuing, "But don’t worry, after I find her, I will sincerely apologize and tell her I cannot marry her because I’ve married you."
She hadn’t expected such an outcome, "I understand what you’re saying. I don’t want Miss Wang to be in any trouble, but could you take me with you to Shanshi County..."
She hadn’t even finished speaking, and he had already agreed?
"Change out of your clothes, and we’ll leave immediately."
Wen Nuan snapped out of her recollections and returned to the present, saying to Xiaoxiao and Wang Xiangxiang, "It turned out that we encountered someone on the way back to deliver the message, and he guessed that someone had been up to mischief. Later, we ran into the wedding procession, and he guessed that it was Master Chu’s doing, so we went straight to find them."
Wen Nuan paused before continuing, "In truth, I can’t blame him for being so angry just now; after all, he’s the biggest victim in this affair."
Listening to Wen Nuan’s story, her expression remained faint, concealing her inner thoughts. Wang Xiangxiang always felt it was because of her that those two were hastily joined. Clutching Wen Nuan’s hand, Wang Xiangxiang asked with concern, "But what about you, do you like him?"
Wen Nuan still wore a faint smile, "We’ve only just met; it’s too early to talk about liking or not liking, but I don’t dislike him."