diskusbooks Chapter 168 Getting married
Chapter 168 Getting married
They arrived at the post station when it was completely dark. The post station was brightly lit and had been arranged in advance, with the backyard specially set aside for their group to stay in.
Duan Mingzhu fell asleep and didn't wake up even when they arrived at the post station.
Xue Yunting carried her to the bed, removed Duan Mingzhu's hairpin, and covered her with a blanket.
Duan Mingzhu's face was very pale, the kind of pale that is devoid of any color. Her health was already poor, and pregnancy was even more difficult for her than for ordinary people.
Even though her mother was strong, she complained to her father about how hard it was to be pregnant with her younger sister. But Duan Mingzhu never told him about the hardships. No matter how uncomfortable she was, she would just habitually pat her chest.
Xue Yunting sat on the edge of the bed, wanting to stroke Duan Mingzhu's face, but stopped just before touching her and slowly lowered his hand. Xue Yunting stared at Mingzhu for a long while before getting up and leaving.
When Xue Yunting opened the door, he saw Qin Jiu and Nian Yao talking. They both looked over when they heard the door open.
Xue Yunting walked over: "Ninth Brother, is something the matter?"
Qin Jiu said, "Young General..."
Xue Yunting said, "Ninth Brother, you don't need to be so polite. Just call me Yunting."
Qin Jiu was quite blunt: "Yun Ting, tell me the truth, why did you personally come to Dongyang to facilitate this marriage?"
Xue Yunting wanted to say a few polite words to get by, but then he remembered Duan Mingzhu's words: Honesty is the best and last resort.
Xue Yunting honestly replied, "It's for money, money from Jingzhao Manor."
Qin Jiu wasn't surprised at all: "Was all the money the Great River Gang had in the Songjiang Official Bank squandered by Prince Rui?"
Neither Nianyao nor her father expected to be able to withdraw all the money they had deposited in the government-owned bank, but...
Nianyao said, "We can't possibly squander it all, can we? We have to leave some money for our survival."
Xue Yunting said, "Given Prince Rui's style of doing things, he should have taken them all."
Nianyao said, "I was just discussing it with Ninth Brother. After we get back, we'll sort out the accounts, go to Songjiang to withdraw the money, and distribute it to the brothers so they can settle down on land. Xu Sheng went too far, didn't he?"
Xue Yunting said, "The prince said that this is what my brother-in-law owes him. If my sister needs money, she can ask my brother-in-law for it."
Qin Jiuqi asked, "When did you, young master, owe the prince money?"
Xue Yunting said, "Prince Rui said that when he first came to Chongming Island, his brother-in-law drugged him. Prince Rui lost face and became depressed. That money is his compensation for mental distress."
Nianyao retorted angrily, "Depressed my ass! Luo An should have been poisoned to end it all. My father said the Great River Gang was richer than a country, but now they're penniless. How am I supposed to explain this to my brothers when I get back?"
Seeing Nianyao's predicament, Xue Yunting said, "Sister, the Dahe Gang has a cellar. The entrance is under Uncle's bed, and the key is a longevity lock."
Qin Jiu suddenly realized: "The old gang leader said that the accounts always had errors before, and the books didn't match. Only after I went there did the Great River Gang's accounts become clear. So he wasn't just praising me..."
Nianyao felt quite uncomfortable: "Why did you know about this but I didn't?"
Xue Yunting said, "Before my uncle married you off to my brother-in-law, he wrote a letter to my father mentioning this matter. My uncle never intended to take back the money that the Dahe Gang had in the official bank. So my uncle must have left a way out for my sister and the Dahe Gang. Since it is a way out, my uncle naturally does not want to have to use it."
Nianyao felt a pang of sadness when she thought of her father and sighed softly.
Qin Jiu asked, "Was the accountant before me from the Xue family?"
Xue Yunting said, "I am now the steward of the Xue family."
The wet nurse held Bu Zhi and gazed at Qin Jiu from afar.
Xue Yunting said, "Ninth Brother, you should go quickly. It's not appropriate to keep the bride waiting."
Qin Jiu asked Xue Yunting, "Yunting, can the young mistress ride a horse?"
Xue Yunting said, "Okay. We'll set off on horseback earlier tomorrow. Sister, you should get some rest early tonight too."
The wet nurse saw Qin Jiu approach and whispered, "Young master, the princess's veil hasn't been removed yet. Young master, why don't you sleep with me tonight?"
Qin Jiu asked, "I wonder, who do you usually sleep with? Who do you want to sleep with tonight?"
Having been carried by Qin Jiu while riding a horse today, he naturally became closer to Qin Jiu. He said in a childish voice, "I usually sleep with my mother, but today I want to sleep with my father."
Qin Jiu hugged Buzhi and said, "Okay, Buzhi will sleep with Daddy tonight."
Qin Jiu carried Bu Zhi back to the main room in the back courtyard. Two maids were guarding the door, and they immediately opened it when Qin Jiu arrived. Inside the room, there were two more maids, one on each side of the bed. They bowed and then withdrew.
The room was covered with a bright red wedding quilt, the windows were decorated with large red "double happiness" characters, and dragon and phoenix wedding cups were placed on the table, with bright red wedding candles burning...
Qin Jiu thought she would be unveiled at Chongming Island, but to her surprise, the post station had already made arrangements. Qin Jiu wondered if this was Princess Minghui's idea or An Liangchen's arrangement.
Qin Jiu placed the veil on the bed. He took the wedding scale and slowly lifted the veil. Under the bright red candlelight, Liang Qingcheng, adorned in her magnificent phoenix crown, shone with radiance.
He stared at them with wide eyes, his expression full of curiosity and excitement. He pulled Liang Qingcheng and said, "Mom, I'm sleeping with Dad and Mom tonight."
Liang Qingcheng clutched her bridal veil, feeling somewhat awkward, and softly replied, "Okay."
Qin Jiu turned to the side, folded up the veil, and placed it on the cabinet. He thought he should make a joke to ease the atmosphere, but then he heard Liang Qingcheng softly call out, "Husband."
Qin Jiu's body stiffened slightly, the joke stuck in his throat.
Qin Jiu cleared his throat and said seriously, "Now that everything is ready, let's formally hold the wedding ceremony. Although it's a bit simple, all the rituals will be included, is that alright?"
Liang Qingcheng said, "Okay."
Qin Jiu held Bu Zhi's hand with one hand and Liang Qingcheng's hand with the other, and the three of them walked to the middle of the house.
Qin Jiu said, "I bow to Heaven and Earth!"
Qin Jiu and Liang Qingcheng bowed in unison, and, following their example, followed suit.
Qin Jiu said, "I bow to my parents twice!"
Liang Qingcheng glanced at Qin Jiu, then followed Qin Jiu in bowing towards the void.
Qin Jiu said, "Husband and wife bow to each other."
The two turned and smiled at each other before bowing. Feeling that standing on either side was inappropriate, they simply stood between the two, bowing first to Qin Jiu, then turning to bow to Liang Qingcheng.
Qin Jiu laughed and carried Buzhi to a chair. He then raised the wedding cup and said, "To the Princess."
Liang Qingcheng slowly relaxed: "Husband, you're too kind."
After the two finished drinking the nuptial wine, Liang Qingcheng sat down and said, "Husband, you must be hungry too. Eat more."
Little did he know that he was too small to reach the table while sitting on the chair, so Qin Jiu lifted him up and sat him on his lap: "What do you want to eat? Daddy will get it for you."
After the three had eaten their fill, Liang Qingcheng called for a maid to clean up and fetch water for washing. Qin Jiu helped Buzhi undress and wash her face and feet. Buzhi had been sleepy for a long time, but had forced herself to stay awake until now, and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the bed.
Qin Jiu lowered her head and kissed Liang Qingcheng's chubby cheeks, then covered her with the blanket and turned to say, "He's taking good care of himself, thank you."
“He is my son.” Liang Qingcheng seemed dissatisfied with Qin Jiu’s distant manner and repeated, “He is also my son.”
Qin Jiu smiled and said, "Princess, I have a favor to ask."