In the scorching heat of June, the Capital City felt like a giant steamer. Fengyu put on her thinnest snow gauze summer clothes and stayed in the plum garden every day, inseparable from the ice. The Feng Mansion was decorated with lanterns and streamers. At the end of May, Feng Ling’s coming-of-age ceremony was held, and at the beginning of June, it was time for Feng Shu’s grand wedding. After the weather turned hot, Fengyu disliked going out, staying at home to review the accounts and gather the shopkeepers to cope with the impact of new political changes, busy yet fulfilling.
Since returning from Yiling Village, she hadn’t seen Xie Xun. However, the young marquis frequently sent people to deliver jewelry and the food she loved, or small handmade trinkets he crafted at leisure.
The Third Miss reciprocated, sending him self-embroidered handkerchiefs and sachets. Chunlu and Qiuxiang, seeing the Third Miss’s exquisite embroidery skills, felt a twitch in the corner of their eyes.
Qiuxiang volunteered to help her by completing the patterns, suggesting she just stitch a few casual stitches. But Fengyu felt that giving something required sincerity, selecting the silk, and doing the embroidery without involving others. Along with the handkerchiefs and sachets, she also sent gold.
In fact, when Fengyu received the jewelry from Xie Xun, she returned gold to him, leaving Xie Xun both amused and exasperated. It was only later he understood that giving gold represented Fengyu’s sincerest intentions.
When Nuanyang sent jewelry again, he subtly told the Third Miss that their master didn’t lack gold anymore. If the Third Miss truly wanted to give something, it would be better to craft a small item herself.
The Third Miss then became entangled with the handkerchiefs and sachets.
Fengyu stayed up two nights, spoiled eleven handkerchiefs, and lamented with frustration, "Might as well just give gold."
During these past two weeks, both the Marquis Mansion and the Feng Mansion were bustling. Many issues arose during the implementation of new policies, requiring Xie Xun to involve the Kyoto Capital Guard, making him extremely busy. Fengyu had to deal with the new policies, and both were too occupied to meet each other.
Soon enough, it was June 6th, the wedding day of Xie Zhang and Feng Shu.
After breakfast, Fengyu went to find Feng Shu, who was already dressed with exquisite makeup. The bright red dragon and phoenix wedding robe set off her fair skin like snow, the phoenix crown embedded with pearls and surrounded by kingfisher feathers. Her forehead was adorned with a floral pattern, her eyes like autumn water, strikingly beautiful. She sat quietly at the bedside, a gentle smile on her lips as she listened to Su Yuejiao’s exhortations.
There were many female relatives in the room, besides Su Yuejiao, the Duchess Marquis An Yuan, the first lady, Feng Wan, and Feng Ling, along with the relatives of the Feng Family. Everyone exchanged auspicious words, praising Feng Shu’s beauty and saying she and Xie Zhang were a match made in heaven.
Fengyu leaned against the door, suddenly her eyes reddened.
Her sister was getting married!
Fengyu turned to leave, wandering aimlessly in the garden, tears slipping uncontrollably. Qiuxiang and Chunlu were startled, Chunlu softly asking, "Miss, what’s wrong?"
She didn’t know why either, but an intense sadness and reluctance swelled within her. From a young age, she depended on Feng Shu, only wanting to always remain by her side as her little sister. On such a joyous day, except for the bride, seeing tears was inauspicious. Fengyu didn’t want to ruin her sister’s perfect wedding, only wishing to suppress her sadness before seeing her again.
"It’d be nice if one never had to grow up." Fengyu rubbed the Soul Suppressing Pearl, "Always eight, nine, or ten years old."
Qiuxiang remarked, "Miss, if you stay ten forever, you’ll never be able to marry the young marquis."
Filled with sadness, Qiuxiang’s words shattered her completely, leaving her unsure whether to laugh or cry. Recently, because of Feng Shu’s upcoming marriage, her spirits had been low. She wished her sister and Xie Zhang a loving and enduring marriage but couldn’t help but think about being separated from her sister. Feng Shu sensed her younger sister’s sensitivities and had been sleeping next to her lately. They chatted until midnight last night, Fengyu clinging to her as she did in childhood, coquettishly declaring her reluctance to part, and Feng Shu repeatedly expressed her love.
Fengyu wiped away the tears, suppressing the sorrow in her heart. She couldn’t immerse herself in the sadness of losing her sister; this was a much-anticipated wedding, and she should send her sister off with happiness.
When she returned to Feng Shu’s boudoir, the female relatives were still present. Fengyu obediently sat next to her sister, praising her as the most beautiful bride in the world. Feng Shu, noticing her reddened eyes, knew she had been crying.
The Duchess Marquis An Yuan teased, "The Third Miss can’t bear to part with the Second Miss. Wait a couple of years, and when sisters become sisters-in-law, you and your sister will never be apart for the rest of your lives."
Fengyu’s private thoughts were exposed, her face flushed with embarrassment, causing everyone to laugh.