Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 505 - 0477: Mass Wedding (2)_2

On the evening of the nineteenth day of the month, the entire Li Family’s house was adorned with red lanterns, glowing brightly.

Li Yuzhu heard from Second Lady Liu that, according to village customs, the lanterns should remain lit until the daughter’s third-day return.

The lively nineteenth day passed, and the twentieth day arrived—the day of departure from the home.

As the sky was just faintly lightening, fireworks began to crackle intermittently at the entrance of the Li Family’s house.

When the morning sun just reached the treetops, the banquet began.

There were six tables arranged on the open ground in front of the Li Family’s house, six tables in the courtyard, and four tables on the open ground in front of the school hall.

The Li Family did not collect gifts, and almost everyone from the two villages who could come was in attendance.

After enjoying the banquet, people spread the joyous occasion of the Li Family as they returned to their villages, talking village by village, and by afternoon the news reached the market in town.

The Pavilion Chief, having heard the news, also brought his family to attend the feast.

Upon learning that the Li Family’s second daughter was marrying into the Prefect’s house, people regarded the Li Family with even more respect.

By the afternoon, Pei Shenyan and Mu Yuanxiu’s wedding sedans arrived.

Pei Shenyan had hired sedan carriers from the market, specializing in carrying wedding sedans.

Mu Yuanxiu required no carriers; being on good terms with the villagers, the village chief’s two sons and two other village youths volunteered to carry the sedan.

The Second Princess was marrying afar, and the Lou Family did not have a sedan, so there was a carriage.

The carriage brought by Mr. Lou for Lou Chengye had been newly decorated by the town’s wedding maid yesterday.

With the arrival of the wedding sedans, the wedding bands hired by the three families played lively music in front of the Li Family’s house.

In the inner quarters, inside the bedroom shared by the three sisters, only Li Yuzhu stood before a bronze mirror, carefully checking her headwear and wedding attire, repeatedly asking the Great Princess and Second Princess whether her headpiece looked good.

The Second Princess, not savvy with fashion, agreed that her outfit looked beautiful.

"It looks nice, very nice," the Second Princess said with a smile.

The wedding dress on her body made her resemble the plump and blessed child in a Chinese New Year’s painting.

The Great Princess rolled her eyes at Li Yuzhu, "No matter how well you fix it, Mu Yuanxiu will undo it when he sees you."

Li Yuzhu chuckled and felt a bit annoyed, punching the Great Princess lightly, "You always tease me."

The Great Princess adjusted her sleeves, "The time is about right, isn’t it? The wedding maids should be here soon."

Her expression was indifferent, as though she was talking casually about going to the market to sell needlework, rather than a wedding day.

Likewise, the Second Princess stuffed two cloth bags into her sleeves.

Since she would marry far away, embarking on a long journey, she worried about getting hungry, so she brought snacks to eat along the way.

Only Li Yuzhu had a smile on her face.

"Silly girl, bring happiness to us," the Great Princess glanced back and saw Li Yuzhu smiling sweetly, feeling envious and pinching Li Yuzhu’s cheek.

There was a hint of rouge on Li Yuzhu’s cheeks; she didn’t know how to apply makeup, so the Great Princess helped her with it.

Seeing the Great Princess pinch her, the Second Princess also pinched Li Yuzhu’s cheek, "I’ll bring some delicious snacks from the prefecture for you, little sister."

The expressions of the two sisters showed slight sadness, making Li Yuzhu feel less cheerful.

She held their hands, "I believe we sisters will be the happiest sisters in the world. Cheer up, everything will be alright."

"Alright, I’ll trust your good fortune," the Great Princess hugged Li Yuzhu.

"Yes, I’ll be fine too," the Second Princess hugged her as well.

"You all ready?" Princess Consort Luling and Chai Eying, along with Sister-in-law Chai, entered their bedroom.

Following them were Li Jing and Guoguo.

"Ready," the Great Princess nodded.

Seeing the three sisters, Princess Consort Luling’s eyes reddened instantly, and she wiped her tears with a handkerchief.

Guoguo frowned slightly, looking at them without speaking.

Li Jing didn’t know what was happening; seeing his grandmother cry, he wanted to cry as well.

Sister-in-law Chai and Chai Eying didn’t know the real reason behind Li Family’s daughter’s marriage; they had always thought it was due to Princess Consort Luling’s belief in fortuitous match of the birthdates.

Seeing Princess Consort Luling cry, they thought it was like the customary pretend departure cries families performed at weddings.

Both comforted Princess Consort Luling.

Sister-in-law Chai laughed, "Aunt Li, on such a joyous day, we should be happy, why cry?"

Chai Eying also laughed, "Yes, Mother. Their sisters have grown up, found good husbands, we should be happy."

Princess Consort Luling took a deep breath, but what good is crying now?

She better face the future with a smile.

She forced a smile and patted her daughters’ shoulders, "Remember, no matter what happens, your father and mother will never abandon you."

The three sisters all nodded, "Got it, Mother."

Princess Consort Luling pushed the two children forward, "Jingjing, Guoguo, say goodbye to your aunts."

Guoguo walked over and hugged Li Yuzhu’s leg, "Aunt."

"Good Guoguo, Aunt won’t be living far, Aunt will live on the mountain with Uncle Yuanxiu."

"Okay," Guoguo grinned.

Li Jing glanced at the Great Princess and then at the Second Princess, "Where are you going, Great Aunt, Second Aunt?"

"I’m going to the market to look after the shop," the Great Princess patted the heads of the two children, "I’ll be back in a few days and bring fun stuff for you."

Li Jing clapped his hands, "Good good good."

Guoguo didn’t laugh and just replied with an "um."

The Second Princess didn’t have many sentimental thoughts, "Is it time yet? Should I get on the carriage?" Her stomach was growling, and she couldn’t eat now, but once on the carriage with no one watching, she could eat.

Princess Consort Luling was feeling sad, but hearing her, the sadness vanished with a spark of anger.

"Go see your father now," Princess Consort Luling led her daughters out of the bedroom.

Outside the door stood the Li brothers and the Chai father-son duo, along with Li Lixing.

Li Xingmao stood at the front.

The brothers escorted the three sisters into the North Courtyard Main House to meet Prince Luling.

Princess Consort Luling went over and sat at the upper seat.

The sisters knelt down in respect.

The couple felt a heavy weight in their hearts and asked the brothers to help them up.

"We’ve talked enough about everything, usually. Yu En, what worries me most is you; keep a vigilant eye when you’re at the Lou Family," Prince Luling kept reminding the Second Princess.

This has been said a hundred times, and the Second Princess’s ears were getting calloused, "I know."

The same indifferent tone made the couple’s heart ache.

Suddenly, three loud bangs were heard outside.

These were the loudest firecracker sounds, signaling it was time for the sisters to set off to their new homes.

After the ceremonial artillery, the jubilant music played again.

Six wedding maids, led by Lady Liu and Second Lady Liu, arrived outside the North Courtyard Main House, urging the three sisters.

The women outside sang wedding songs in succession.

Princess Consort Luling sighed silently and put the bridal veils on her daughters one by one.

Li Xingmao walked over and opened the door.

Six wedding maids stepped forward, saluted Prince Luling and his wife, and each helped the three sisters up.

They called their parents and brothers to take care and were assisted by the wedding maids as they left.

Li Xingmao, with his two brothers, followed.

Each brother escorted one sister.

Li Xingmao helped the Great Princess into the wedding sedan.

Li Xingsheng walked with the Second Princess to the Lou Family’s carriage.

Li Xing’an walked over and patted Li Xingsheng’s shoulder, "Second brother, don’t disappoint me."

Li Xingsheng turned back, nodded, "Rest assured, third brother."

The Great Princess’s sedan was in front, followed by Lou Family’s carriage and the Second Princess’s carriage.

After these two groups left, Mu Yuanxiu directed the carriers to lift Li Yuzhu’s bridal sedan toward Niu Tou Mountain.

Li Xing’an glanced at the leaving Great Princess and Second Princess and followed Mu Yuanxiu to the mountain.

Standing at the gate, seeing them off, Li Jing didn’t know what the departure signified; seeing everyone take away his aunts, he suddenly cried loudly.

Chai Eying and Sister-in-law Chai comforted him together, "Don’t cry, don’t cry, Guoguo is laughing at you."

"Nonsense, Guoguo is crying too." Li Jing pointed at Guoguo beside him.

Guoguo didn’t cry out loud; she gazed, eyes wide open, at the direction where the Great Princess and Second Princess were leaving, crying silently.