Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 94 - 20: Sent Into the Bridal Chamber

Around two in the afternoon, guests began to arrive one after another. By this time, the bridal sedan chair had toured most of the Capital, and it only needed to arrive before the auspicious time.

Once both tables at Sui’an Hall were full, only a quarter of an hour was left before the bride would enter.

As the hostess, the Old Madam naturally took the main seat. Also at the table were the Old Princess Consort Gong and Princess Consort Gong, Princess Changlong, the Old Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion, Princess Ke, the Old Madam of Earl Annan, and Madam Changle Earl.

The second table was occupied by the female members of the families of officials of the first and second rank. Although their husbands were not nobles, their families were related to some of the noble guests present. Among them was the Madam from the Zhou Family, whose husband was the Minister of Revenue, and the Old Madam from the Xue Family, whose husband was the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. The Old Madam often attended banquets, where these women introduced her, allowing her to quickly integrate into the elite circle of the Capital’s noblewomen.

No matter how high the status, the women always discussed gossip, although more subtly and tactfully.

Susu stayed by the Old Madam’s side, while Yang Liu managed the second table. After serving tea, they offered various kinds of pastries and candies, shaped like flowers and animals.

Princess Changlong picked up a pastry shaped like a peony and said, "This flower mold looks familiar, almost like a real flower." Princess Ke responded, "I find it familiar too, as if I’ve seen it at the Empress’s place. However, it wasn’t a pastry but an incense shaped like a peony. The Lady said it was a gift from Princess Anning."

The Old Madam smiled, "The molds were made in two sets, one for incense and the other for these pastries!"

The Old Princess Consort Gong said, "I haven’t visited the palace recently and haven’t seen it. Was it prepared by Susu?"

The women, upon entering, noticed Susu behind the Old Madam. Some knew her, while others did not. Despite her maid’s attire, she seemed different. Hearing that even the Old Princess Consort Gong knew her surprised them further!

Susu curtsied to the Old Princess Consort, "Our Old Madam instructed me to prepare this birthday gift specifically for the Lady."

The Old Princess Consort said, "The incense your Old Madam gave me that day was also wonderful! No wonder Princess Anning gifted it to the Empress, so filial!"

After discussing the incense for a while, they heard firecrackers outside. The sounds traveled from the main gate to Sui’an Hall, very loudly. Princess Ke laughed, "The bride has entered!" Everyone cheered, and the ladies couldn’t stop smiling.

Due to their status, especially with a few being older, they didn’t join the commotion directly but instead sent a few young maidens to the front to have a look.

Susu then instructed Ning Xiang and Wu Tong to take on this delightful task. Soon, word came back, "The Heir’s wife has stepped down from the sedan chair, wearing a red wedding dress as bright as fire, unlike anything I’ve seen before!"

Upon hearing this, the Old Madam of Duke Zhen said to Princess Changlong, "As bright as fire? Did Princess Wu Yue really give that Fire Cloud Brocade the Emperor granted her to Lan Zhi for her wedding dress?" The Grand Princess nodded, "Wu Yue is very fond of her younger sister-in-law." The others looked puzzled.

Princess Changlong laughed, "It’s natural that you haven’t heard of it. The Fire Cloud Brocade was a special fabric overseen by my imperial great-grandfather for the Imperial Grandmother. It’s as bright red as fire and has a gemstone-like sheen. It took a year, and countless manpower and silver, to weave sixty bolts as a sixtieth birthday gift for the Imperial Grandmother. Although she liked it, she said it was too extravagant and ordered the Weaving Bureau to never make it again, even destroying the weaving technique. Those sixty bolts are the only ones ever made. Today, perhaps only the Imperial Palace and the Duke Zhen’s Mansion still have a few left."

Princess Changlong’s imperial great-grandfather was the founding Emperor, and her Imperial Grandmother was the direct sister to the first Duke of the Nation. Although the love story between the founding Emperor and Empress is celebrated through generations, those within the founding nobles have pieced together a more or less accurate picture from the bits and pieces left by their ancestors, and they found themselves at a momentary loss for words.

Fortunately, just then, another young maiden came to report, "The Heir’s wife has crossed the fire pan and completed her obeisance to heaven and earth, and is now bowing to her elders." Further reports arrived, "The couple has exchanged bows and has been sent to the bridal chamber!"

The young maidens returned with rosy cheeks, the last being Wu Tong, seriously reporting the nuptial rites, amusing everyone to no end.

The Old Madam laughed, "Susu, give these kids a few pouches, and some fruits as well!"

Susu smiled and led Wu Tong out, "Tell your little friends to go to the small kitchen for some fruits, saying it’s a reward from the Old Madam." She untied a pouch from her waist, filled with gold and silver coins she had specially prepared, "Go and split them among yourselves!"

Grinning from ear to ear, Wu Tong accepted it, thanked Susu, and ran to the back courtyard to peek for the other young maidens, including Ning Xiang, Qing Zhu, and Chun Feng. Susu waved to them and then instructed the housekeeper, who had been ready for a while, "Serve the banquet!"

With the order given, the main kitchen became a bustling place. Neatly dressed maids, two by two, carried food boxes to the different courtyards.

Sui’an Hall, naturally, had the top banquet. As the tea and pastries were cleared, red agate bowls and plates paired with ivory inlaid chopsticks were brought out, surprising even those accustomed to grand occasions.

While the materials were one thing, the craftsmanship was undeniably of a master level. The renowned masters were said to have eccentric temperaments, refusing to work unless provided with the finest jade. Such sets of tableware could rightly serve as family heirlooms!

The set of white jade tea ware earlier had already drawn attention, and now with the tableware, it was evident that the Song Family was not afraid to flaunt their wealth!

Especially Madam Changle Earl, who, upon seeing this, was filled with mixed emotions.

The Changle Earl Mansion was among the Eight Great Earl Mansions but hadn’t seen capable descendants since the first generation, and in recent decades had been struggling to maintain appearances, relying on the name of the founding Earl. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

The Old Madam invited her to the main table this time mainly to support the Second Miss! Changle Earl was interested in the Song Family because they had wealth and generosity, albeit known as nouveau riche in the Capital. However, their marriage alliance with the Wenchang Marquis Mansion and royal connections through the Princess made them a formidable rising power.

The head of the family didn’t force the Second Madam to retract the Second Miss’s engagement because the heir from the Changle Earl Mansion only indulged in women, nothing else. While they couldn’t offer the Song Family any support, they wouldn’t be a hindrance either. Besides, as one of the founding nobles, even a lean camel is bigger than a horse. The Second Miss, being naturally shrewd and ambitious, would have her hands full just managing the household affairs.

It’s not as if the grandmothers and uncles were being cruel, for there was a rule in the Changle Earl Mansion: even if a concubine was favored, she couldn’t bear children. If the legitimate wife had no offspring, they could adopt from elsewhere, but no children could be born out of wedlock!

The concubines, upon entering the household, had to drink a bowl of sterile soup. No matter how much unrest they caused, what could they achieve without children?

Madam Changle Earl’s mind was in a whirl, but no one paid attention to her anymore.