Chapter 829: Chapter 349: Tingyi’s Wedding (Part 1)
The siblings talked until evening. Only after Tingzheng finished dinner at Begonia Garden did he return to the front yard. The next day, he went back to the barracks.
The day of Tingyi’s wedding quickly arrived.
Yueyao didn’t plan to attend Tingyi’s wedding. She was just about to pretend to be sick but unexpectedly fell ill for real. The previous night, Yueyao caught a cold while admiring the Begonia flowers under the moon. Yueyao wanted to tough it out but was overpowered by Xiang Wei.
Doctor Zhang checked her pulse, saying a lot of scholarly gibberish, with the main point being that Yueyao had a cold wind in her body and needed complete rest due to overwork.
After the doctor left, Yueyao said, "They always say I’m overworked. How have I been overworked?"
Xiang Wei sarcastically replied, "Yes, you’re not overworked; you’re very leisurely every day. Even the Chancellor isn’t as idle as you." It was meant as irony, as Yueyao was busy from morning till midnight, barely having any rest throughout the year, yet she claimed she wasn’t overworked. Xiang Wei felt an impulse to vomit blood! Even the Chancellor wasn’t as busy.
Seeing Xiang Wei’s look, Yueyao knew that if she said any more, this woman would definitely get angry, so she wisely kept her mouth shut. She closed her eyes, pretending to sleep, but unexpectedly fell asleep immediately.
Xiang Wei looked at the sleeping Yueyao, her eyes filled with admiration. Ten years without a day of slacking off, such perseverance was truly moving. If Yueyao didn’t reach the pinnacle of the painting world at this rate, Xiang Wei would feel like the heavens were blind.
The Lian family heard that Yueyao was sick and assumed she was making an excuse to dodge them again. Tingyi recalled Yueyao’s words from before and believed she wasn’t someone who went back on her word. He thought for a moment and said, "Let the Big Sister-in-law take the Second Sister and the Fourth Sister to visit Yueyao! Whether it’s true or not, they will know when they see her."
Lady Lian harbored deep hatred against Yueyao; if not for Yueyao, she wouldn’t have been confined in the Buddhist hall for so many years, eating vegetarian food and living like an ascetic. Unfortunately, Yueyao was at Ma’s Mansion, so she couldn’t complain even if she wanted to because it was beyond her reach: "With all the affairs inside and outside, your Big Sister-in-law can’t leave, so let your Second Sister go instead!" Lady Lian even excluded Lian Yuehuan.
Madam Peng noticed Lady Lian’s trace of resentment. Her heart tightened, realizing that her mother-in-law hadn’t let go at all. But the Third Sister was no longer the same as before; the old nanny’s resentment was useless against her. They juniors would only be burdened by this.
Yuebing’s wedding date was set for the 26th of the twelfth lunar month. Since the date was set, Yuebing had been embroidering her dowry in the room, rarely even stepping out into the courtyard.
When Yuebing arrived at Begonia Garden, she saw that the scenery hadn’t changed much since her last visit. Though the scenery was unchanged, the people had changed a lot.
Yuebing looked at the maid who greeted her and hesitantly asked, "Are you Xi Yu?" Xi Yu had grown so tall?
Xi Yu smiled and replied, "Yes, it’s me, Second Young Lady. Our lady is very happy to hear you’re coming and is waiting for you in the room!"
Although Yuebing knew these words were filled with flattery, they felt comforting. As soon as she stepped into the room, a whiff of medicinal smell hit her, and the first thing she noticed was a sweet white porcelain bowl on the round wooden table, with a lump of black at the bottom.
Yuebing didn’t expect Yueyao to be truly sick; she thought Yueyao was feigning illness. She hastened to the bedside and softly called, "Third Sister."
Yueyao had just finished her medicine and was eating candied fruits, still feeling the bitterness in her mouth. Seeing Yuebing, she quickly sat up and leaned against the headboard: "Second Sister, you’re here." Yuebing no longer looked like she did in her memory. Nowadays, Yuebing was strikingly beautiful with a curvy figure, and her skin was unusually flawless.
Xi Yu hurriedly grabbed a pillow to place behind Yueyao’s back.
Yuebing asked with concern, "What happened?"
Xi Juan, standing by, complained, "Second Young Lady, you wouldn’t know. Our lady insisted on seeing the Begonia flowers last night and caught a cold. The doctor said the wind entered her body, and she needs a few days of rest."
Yuebing scolded, "The body is not to be trifled with; you really don’t take your health seriously. Nanny Cui always says that a young lady must take good care of her health, or she’ll suffer in the future."
Yueyao didn’t explain but merely smiled, "Who would have thought that looking at Begonia flowers could result in catching a cold?" She was generally very healthy and rarely got sick. She thought a minor cold would pass quickly, but after several doses of medicine, her body still felt weak. Indeed, illness struck like a mountain but went away like unspooling silk!
Yuebing couldn’t understand this. On a cold October night, going out to see Begonia flowers and not catching a cold would have been the real wonder!
Seeing the conversation falter, Yueyao proactively brought up a topic: "Second Sister, has your marriage been arranged?" Yueyao asked, already knowing the answer.
Yuebing nodded, "My wedding date has been set for December 26th. Yuehuan’s wedding date isn’t set yet; father wants to keep Yuehuan at home for another year." With her wedding date confirmed, the burden in Yuebing’s heart was lifted, and she became more amiable towards Yuehuan. Their relationship was now harmonious.
Thinking of Yuehuan, Yueyao smiled and said, "Congratulations, Second Sister."
Yuebing had always looked forward to marrying into a prestigious family, but now that it was finalized, her feelings were complicated. In front of others, she might express joy, but before Yueyao, she felt no need to pretend: "What’s there to congratulate, Third Sister knows, Marquis Luyang has legitimate children... If there were no children, it would simply be a matter of lesser rank, but being a stepmother to legitimate heirs is no easy task. It involves future succession of nobility; the thought of it troubles me deeply."
Yueyao was a bit surprised. From her memories of the past life, Yuebing was ecstatic over her betrothal to Marquis Luyang’s household. Why was she now so unwilling?
What Yueyao didn’t know was that in her previous life, under the influence of Lady Lian, Yuebing believed becoming the Marchioness, even as a stepmother, was a great match. However, in this life, with Tingyi achieving Tanhua’s rank and Lian family’s status rising, along with Tingli and Tingyi both disapproving of the marriage, Yuebing felt wronged. Yet, marriages were determined by parents’ command and matchmakers’ word since ancient times; she could only keep her grievances to herself.
Yuebing finished with a bitter smile, "Forget it, let’s not talk about this. Third Sister, you must come when I get married."
Yueyao pulled herself out of her memories and back to reality: "Yes, if nothing unexpected happens, I’ll be there." The future cannot be predicted.
Yuebing felt a bit depressed.
Yueyao smiled and asked Xi Juan to fetch the new wedding gift she had prepared for Tingyi.