Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 92 - 18: Wedding Preparations in Full Swing

The Heir of Shun’an Earl and the legitimate daughter of Marquis Wenchang are getting married, attracting guests from all directions, a bustling affair, akin to a modern-day grand wedding.

Although the Shun’an Earl Mansion lacks deep foundations, it’s clear that the elders are capable and the younger generation is ambitious. Now, with the alliance with the Marquis Wenchang Mansion, their momentum is unstoppable!

Adding to this, Old Madam Song’s "Old Madam diplomacy" has recently ensured that many princesses, princess consorts, and ladies first went to Marquis Wenchang Mansion for the wedding procession, then came to Shun’an Earl Mansion for the celebration. Two tables are set in the flower hall of Sui’an Hall, hosting these royal and top-tier families’ women from the Capital.

Other women of lower status are accompanied by the First Madam, Second Madam, and Third Madam. Old Madam gave a stern warning that anyone who disgraces the Song Family would not be tolerated there, regardless of who they are.

The First Madam and Second Madam are not foolish, they naturally know what to do!

As for the young ladies who have arrived, they are accompanied by the young ladies of the Song Family, though the seventh young lady is still quite young, so Nanny Qin and the other women must take good care of her to prevent any fright! 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Susu and Yang Liu’s main task is to stay by Old Madam’s side, watching and listening attentively, ensuring the flower hall guests are satisfied.

Ning Cui and Yun Duo have full responsibility for entertaining the maids and women attending along with the masters. No lady goes out without more than one attendant, so twenty tables are specifically arranged for these attendants to eat and drink!

Others may not know, but Old Madam is certainly aware that a dignified maid or woman speaking a word to the master is far more effective than hundreds of words from outsiders!

Today, with the Heir’s grand wedding, all the maids in the mansion have changed into new outfits according to their ranks: the lowest rank in green clothes and grey pants, today especially given a goose-yellow vest; third rank in red silk jackets, green pants, and azure satin vests; second rank maids in green shirts, yellow skirts, and silver-red vests; head maids in goose-yellow tops, moon-white skirts, and pomegranate-red vests. All maids and women are tied with bright red palace sashes.

In the inner courtyard, a woman is stationed every ten steps, especially in the garden where the young ladies are, guarding so even a male fly cannot sneak in.

By five in the morning, the masters of each room have risen. In ancient times, marriage was analogous to "dusk", with weddings generally held at night. The morning was to greet the bride, similar to enduring countless challenges, going around the city’s main paths once, bringing the bride home by afternoon was considered good! (I checked many resources, still unclear, purely fictional, criticisms welcome!)

Though the wedding is held at night, it does not mean the day is free.

The guests, close connections arrive early, unfamiliar ones late, those joining for fun come casually. Though the proper evening banquet generally starts at five o’clock and ends at nine o’clock, the Song Family hosted continuous feasts from the day before the wedding until the Heir’s wife returns to her parental home.

The chef for the feast is from Wangxiang Building, resulting in a two-day closure, with fresh ingredients continuously delivered to Shun’an Earl Mansion since the day before until this morning.

In ancient times, people were ranked, and naturally, the banquet tables are ranked high and low, distinguished by social status.

The master chef from Wangxiang Building only managed the two tables in Sui’an Hall and five tables in the outer courtyard, with a steward overseeing candies, pastries, and tea, alongside ready cold plates, and steam trays for big dishes; the usually idle large kitchen is bustling. All kinds of utensils, tea sets, and wine vessels are brought out from the storeroom.

The two tables of guests in the flower hall of Sui’an Hall are considered the highest among guests; all utensils are carefully selected: tableware is carved red agate with a noble entangled lotus pattern, tea sets are white jade with gold thread peonies, and wine vessels are green jade carved plum blossoms.

These utensils were arranged for the Heir’s wedding by the third elder himself, large sums of silver were spent like flowing water, and a famous opera troupe from the Capital was also invited, hoping the main guests would enjoy themselves.

Today, Old Madam wears a moon-white square-neck middle garment, shallow gold base brocade embroidered with intertwined peonies, with a claret skirt trimmed with gold on the border.

Her hair is styled in a round bun, with a red agate-amber stone sculpted magpie-plum blossom hairpin on the left, three double happiness hairpins set with red gemstones on the right, and adorned with a pale gold edged emerald embedded bats and clouds headband.

A necklace with one hundred and eight beads of imperial green glass jade decorates her neck; earrings, rings, bracelets made from the same jade, exuding indescribable elegance.

Susu selects a palm-sized peony gauzy flower, red with hints of purple, from the makeup box and pins it behind the old woman’s head, smiling: "Congratulations to Old Madam!"

Yang Liu, along with all the underlings in Sui’an Hall, call out in unison: "Congratulations to Old Madam!"

Old Madam laughs: "Congratulations to all! Give orders today for everyone to be alert and vigilant, after today, all the staff will receive two additional months’ reward money."

The servants who heard this cheered enthusiastically; last month the Heir achieved great success, rewarding two months in advance. This month for the Heir’s marriage, another two months’ salary is given. This makes everyone hope that next month, the Heir’s wife becomes pregnant and two more months’ rewards will come!

For the sake of reward money, everyone renewed their spirit, ensuring not a single mistake occurs!

After breakfast, the three Madams, several young ladies, and friends from Yangzhou gathered at Sui’an Hall, with Second and Third Aunt, and Big Aunt given tasks by Old Madam—entertaining guests.

These aren’t mentioned for now; only when the auspicious time arrived, the Heir, dressed appropriately, rode a tall horse, with bearers for the sedan chair, drummers, young masters, and several friends recognized by the Heir acting as groomsmen.

The procession, drumming and knocking, exited.

In Sui’an Hall, Old Madam conversed with Old Mrs. Li, when the stewardess (Yang Liu’s mother) from the outer courtyard approached, entering and saluting both Old Madam and Old Mrs. Li, stating: "Master requests Old Madam to clear the courtyard, except for Nanny Qin and four head maids to attend, all others should avoid, as our Lady and Little Princess have arrived!."

Old Madam was startled, "How did they come, where are they? There wasn’t even a prior notice!"

Yang Liu’s mother replied, "The nobles arrived at the gate before Master got the message; the Emperor accompanies Lady and Princess, conducting an informal visit unknown to others. The Emperor and Lady prefer no public announcement, staying briefly and leaving soon. Master is currently hosting the Emperor in the study, Lady and Princess are taking a sedan chair and will soon arrive at Sui’an Hall."

Old Madam quickly instructed Susu and Yang Liu to tell the servants to move to the back courtyard, to prevent collision with Lady.

Originally, Old Mrs. Li also wanted to avoid but was stopped by Old Madam, "Others may, but you are the Lady’s legitimate aunt, how could you be unseen! You haven’t seen her in nearly twenty years; who knows when next could be!" Only then did Old Mrs. Li relent.

Outside, Susu and Yang Liu simply mentioned a noble guest arrival, settled the servants, then saw the luxurious sedan chair Old Madam frequently uses, carried over by eight robust women.

Susu saw the women carry the sedan into the courtyard, and after they retreated outside, closed the courtyard doors, she and Yang Liu opened the sedan curtain, inviting Lady to disembark.

At this point, Old Madam and Old Mrs. Li supported each other and emerged from inside...