Though it was said that there would be words spoken tomorrow, when the day truly arrived, there was not a moment fit for conversation.
Early in the morning, as Shang Ruyi had just risen, a maid attended to her for bathing and dressing. Returning to her room, a joyful troupe led by a joyous woman came to celebrate, offering her peanuts, longans, and various fruits. Shang Ruyi tasted one of each, seeking good fortune.
By the time the celebrations ended, it was already noon.
After a brief tea break, the maids brought clothing and jewelry to assist the bride in dressing.
Once Shang Ruyi was attired in a fiery red wedding robe, seated before the dressing table, as Tushere prepared to take up the comb to style her hair, Aunt Hui approached, smiling, saying, "Let me comb Miss Ruyi’s hair."
Shang Ruyi hurriedly responded, "How dare I trouble Aunt Hui?"
Aunt Hui smiled and replied, "This is what I ought to do."
As she spoke gently, she also, without a word, pressed Shang Ruyi back into her seat, taking up the comb to lovingly comb through her long, glossy black hair, then laughed, "This combing skill of mine was used back when I accompanied the Lady’s wedding."
At the mention of that "Lady," Shang Ruyi felt a twinge of embarrassment.
After all, she was the mother of the man she was once promised to marry, yet reneged on that engagement; Aunt Hui bringing up the Lady at this moment inevitably led to discomfort.
Just when she didn’t know how to respond, Aunt Hui smiled again and said, "In truth, there’s a question in my heart that I’ve long wanted to ask Miss Ruyi."
Shang Ruyi somewhat understood; this was the matter Aunt Hui had alluded to last night—there would be words spoken tomorrow.
She replied calmly, "What does Aunt Hui wish to ask?"
Aunt Hui raised her head, her gaze piercing as she stared into the copper mirror at Shang Ruyi’s eyes, saying, "Miss Ruyi, is it that you hold dissatisfaction with Qian’er?"
Shang Ruyi’s face changed.
This "Qian’er" in Aunt Hui’s mouth was precisely Yu Wenqian, whom she had refused to marry!
Bringing up Yu Wenqian at this moment was already beyond mere discomfort.
Shang Ruyi said solemnly, "Ruyi dares not."
Aunt Hui remained steady in her motions, her smile unwavering, "The words ’dares not’ seem too emphatic."
"Besides, regardless if dare not, didn’t Miss Ruyi end up marrying the second young master instead?"
"I have no other intentions; I simply wish to know if Miss Ruyi is dissatisfied with Qian’er? Otherwise, why promise marriage and then repudiate it?"
It was afternoon, the sun blazed fiercely, yet Shang Ruyi felt a chill enveloping her from all sides, seeping into her skin, causing her to shiver uncontrollably.
This Aunt Hui was here with ill intent.
Moreover, it wouldn’t do to dismiss her with a few courteous remarks.
Sensing Aunt Hui’s hands still gently busy at the back of her head, unaffected by the conversation, Shang Ruyi took a deep breath, raised her head, and looked into Aunt Hui’s eyes reflected in the copper mirror, calmly saying, "Each has their own fate, Ruyi can only say perhaps Ruyi’s fate with the eldest young master has not arrived yet."
"Or perhaps—only to this point."
Aunt Hui repeated these four words, suddenly let out a soft laugh.
Her tone carried a hint of sarcasm, "Miss Ruyi is indeed an insightful person, presumably one who sees matters not so shallowly as others, able to see far ahead."
Her gaze suddenly bore a sharp edge, "I only wonder, when it comes to those closest, matters closest, can Miss Ruyi truly see clearly?"
Shang Ruyi’s heart suddenly moved.