Where the Mask Ends - Chapter 27
Chapter 27
For noble families, a standard wedding process usually takes six months to a year. However, because Lu Zhuo’s condition was critical—with the King of Hell potentially claiming his life at any moment—there was truly no time to delay.
The Duchess of Ying and Old Madame Wei conferred and decided that both families would finalize the marriage documents that afternoon and send out the invitations. The next day, the Cheng’an Earl’s Mansion would host the dowry-display banquet, the Duke of Ying’s household would deliver all the betrothal gifts, and on the thirteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, the groom would officially come to collect the bride.
For the Duke of Ying’s household, they were merely moving up the date from the eighteenth to the thirteenth; since everything had already been prepared, the preparations were orderly and efficient. As for the Cheng’an Earl’s Mansion, their household was small and their circle of relatives and friends was not vast, so organizing ten or so banquet tables on short notice was not a difficult task.
The only tricky part was the tight deadline: where could they find a wedding dress for Wei Rao that was both decent and spectacular?
The Duchess of Ying offered to take care of this, but just as she was about to make arrangements, Eunuch Zheng from Emperor Yuanjia’s side arrived at the Cheng’an Earl’s Mansion with two female officials from the Bureau of Palace Attire.
Old Madame Wei led her whole family to receive the edict, kneeling in a sprawling group in the front courtyard.
The Cheng’an Earl’s Mansion was exceptionally bustling today, and as a result, there were still curious onlookers outside the gates, and the neighbors on both sides were all pricking up their ears.
Eunuch Zheng raised his voice to read the imperial edict. The gist of it was that since the Duke of Ying’s heir, Lu Zhuo, had been gravely wounded while fighting bravely against the enemy, and the Fourth Miss of the Cheng’an Earl’s Mansion, Wei Rao, possessed a sense of righteousness and was willing to perform a luck-changing marriage for him, Emperor Yuanjia was deeply gratified. Knowing the marriage was hurried, he specially bestowed upon Wei Rao a phoenix crown and ceremonial robes, to honor the virtue of the Wei daughter and to comfort the loyalty of a fine general who had protected the country.
Accompanying Eunuch Zheng’s modulated, rhythmic voice, tears shimmered in Old Madame Wei’s eyes.
Her own granddaughter had been forced into this luck-changing marriage for the Lu family because of threats from the Empress Dowager. At the very least, the Emperor was wise, and this act somewhat compensated her granddaughter.
"This subject’s granddaughter kowtows to thank the imperial grace!"
Under Old Madame Wei’s gratified gaze and the envious, hateful glares of Madam Guo and her daughter, Wei Rao kowtowed in gratitude and received the imperial edict with both hands.
Eunuch Zheng helped Wei Rao up and said to Old Madame Wei, "Time is tight, so please take the Fourth Miss to have her measurements taken now. My party needs to return to the palace as soon as possible. The Emperor has ordered that the Bureau of Palace Attire must finish embroidering the wedding dress by sunset tomorrow and deliver it to the Fourth Miss."
Old Madame Wei hurriedly accompanied Wei Rao to have her measurements taken.
After seeing Eunuch Zheng’s party off, Old Madame Wei told Wei Rao to return to her room, while she, her son, and her daughter-in-law went to discuss the various affairs of the next two days.
"Have the invitations been sent out?" Old Madame Wei asked.
This task primarily fell to Madam Guo. Madam Guo forced a smile and said, "They have all been sent. Would Mother like to look them over?"
Old Madame Wei only asked about one household: "Did you send one to Lady Shou’an?"
The Cheng’an Earl looked at his wife. Madam Guo’s expression shifted, and she stammered, "Since the marriage ties are broken, why invite her?"
Old Madame Wei sneered. Before she could speak, the Cheng’an Earl scolded Madam Guo: "Lady Shou’an is Rao Rao’s maternal grandmother; you ask why we invite her? Why are you still sitting there? Hurry up and write the invitation!"
Madam Guo glared at her husband and scurried off to write the invitation.
Old Madame Wei sighed and exhorted her son: "Tonight, talk some sense into her. Tomorrow, when Lady Shou’an arrives, we must not be impolite." Because of her late second son, Old Madame Wei did not want to see Lady Shou’an, but for the sake of Rao Rao, Old Madame Wei was willing to set aside past grievances. Over these next few days, Rao Rao’s dignity was the most important thing.
While the elders were busy, Wei Chan came to find Wei Rao.
Wei Rao was packing her trunks. Hearing that Wei Chan had arrived, she told Bitao and Liuya to continue organizing and walked out of the inner chamber to the living room to meet her.
"Is there something you need, Third Sister?" Wei Rao asked with a smile, inviting Wei Chan to sit down.
Wei Rao was born with an enchanting beauty. When she smiled, her phoenix eyes were filled with infinite tenderness, and looking at anyone made it seem as if they were the only person in her eyes.
Wei Chan had been a sister to Wei Rao for fifteen years and was long past being influenced by Wei Rao’s charms. Instead, she believed Wei Rao was doing it on purpose—pretending to be so beautiful and alluring to deceive everyone, meticulously crafting a reputation as a "peony" for herself. The peony was the king of flowers, and the herbaceous peony (peony-in-the-field) was the prime minister. Was Wei Rao even worthy?
Wei Chan preferred to call Wei Rao a little vixen—a loose vixen!
The fact that Wei Rao was about to marry Lu Zhuo deeply triggered Wei Chan, fueling a jealousy more intense than ever before.
"Fourth Sister is getting married soon. As your sister, I couldn't bear to let you go, so I came to keep you company," Wei Chan said, bitterly concealing her true thoughts.
Wei Rao was amused to watch the show. "Sister, there’s no need to be sad. When I have time, I will often come back to visit Grandmother."
Wei Chan had been observing Wei Rao the whole time. Seeing Wei Rao smiling so happily and acting so pleased about marrying Lu Zhuo, she couldn't help but strike with a barbed comment: "Is Fourth Sister really willing to perform this luck-changing marriage? I heard the young heir has been in a coma for nine days straight. What if he... wouldn't Fourth Sister have wasted five years for nothing?"
The first two conditions Wei Rao had proposed had long since spread throughout the capital; Wei Chan was among the first to know.
Wei Rao lowered her head, clutching her handkerchief, and said, "That is the young heir. To remain a widow for him is also my destiny."
Wei Chan knew it! Wei Rao couldn't possibly dislike Lu Zhuo. What was most infuriating was that Wei Rao was actually getting her wish!
She had wanted to anger Wei Rao, but Wei Rao had taken it as sweet nectar. There was no point in saying anything more. With a sour expression, Wei Chan stood up and left directly with her maids.
Wei Rao looked up at Wei Chan’s storming back. She suddenly thought that the young ladies who both admired Lu Zhuo and took pleasure in belittling her were probably in the same mood as Wei Chan at this very moment.
And this was only the luck-changing ritual. If Lu Zhuo woke up and she had to act as a loving couple with him in public per their agreement, how much more would those ladies hate her then?
Wei Rao didn't care about their cold sarcasm, nor did she care about their envy and jealousy; it was all just passing smoke. However, being able to see them in a state of exasperation while being utterly helpless was like watching a ridiculous play—it added quite a bit of amusement.
The next day, the twelfth day of the twelfth lunar month.
In the morning, the Cheng’an Earl’s Mansion held the dowry-display banquet, and in the afternoon, the Duke of Ying’s household would deliver all the betrothal gifts.
From early morning, Yongle Lane was packed. Guests and onlookers alike were rubbing shoulders.
"Make way, make way!"
A carriage driver tried to clear a path. The commoners blocking the middle of the road turned to look, and soon someone recognized it and shouted, "It’s Lady Shou’an’s carriage!"
Hearing the shout, everyone turned around in a flurry. While making way, they craned their necks to look inside the carriage.
Lady Shou’an sat inside the carriage. The dowry gifts she brought followed behind. As her maternal grandmother, she had prepared eight chests of dowry: one chest of land deeds, one of silver and treasures, one of pearl jewelry and hairpins, and one of silk and satin, in addition to common gifts like tea and wedding fruits.
The onlookers had not yet seen enough, but Lady Shou’an’s carriage had already entered the Cheng’an Earl’s Mansion.
Among those who came to display dowry today, none were more spectacular or generous than Lady Shou’an.
The eight chests were carried directly to Old Madame Wei’s Zhengchun Hall.
Madam Guo and Wei Chan’s eyes widened, and even Old Madame Wei was startled by Lady Shou’an’s display. Was this still the usually low-key Lady Shou’an?
"Old Madame, you really have set a fine marriage for Rao Rao!" In front of the guests, Lady Shou’an made no effort to hide her dissatisfaction, praising her overtly while disparaging her covertly.
The guests could clearly see that the legendary Lady Shou’an, who was said to be obsessed with social climbing, did not approve of marrying her granddaughter to the Duke of Ying’s mansion for the sake of glory.
Since Lady Shou’an played the "bad cop," Old Madame Wei could only play the "good cop," smiling as she said, "The young heir is dignified and has served the country well. If our Rao Rao can bring good fortune to him, it can be considered serving the imperial court. Old Madame, please sit. You’ve had a bumpy ride; why don't you have a cup of hot tea to warm your stomach first?"
Lady Shou’an did not sit; she went straight to the inner courtyard to find Wei Rao.
Wei Rao had been entertaining some female guests, but when Lady Shou’an arrived with such imposing momentum, the guests scattered like birds and beasts.
Wei Rao sat on the couch in her red wedding attire. Seeing her grandmother enter the room and glare at her without a word, Wei Rao smiled, stepped down, pushed her grandmother onto the couch to sit, and whispered, "Aren't you afraid of offending the Duke of Ying’s mansion by acting this way?"
Lady Shou’an snorted. "You are already the future Duchess of Ying; why should I be afraid of offending the Lu family?"
She had wanted her granddaughter to marry into a prominent family, but not to become a widow. Remarrying was one thing, but when everything was fine, why did she have to rush to become a widow?
Wei Rao leaned into her grandmother’s ear and explained her intentions.
Lady Shou’an breathed a sigh of relief. She had thought it was Old Madame Wei and the Earl who had forced her granddaughter into it.
"It’s still a loss. For the third condition, you shouldn't have set a five-year limit. You should have made it so that Lu Zhuo is never allowed to divorce his wife. Only by becoming the mistress of the Lu household would you not be wronged," Lady Shou’an said, dissatisfied.
It wasn't that Wei Rao hadn't considered such conditions, but she was disdainful of them. "The Duke of Ying’s mansion is good, but if Lu Zhuo doesn't like me, why would I desperately cling to the status of his wife? I am marrying him only to balance out the Empress Dowager, not because I want him. When the Empress Dowager dies in the future, I will immediately leave the Lu family with 50,000 taels of the dowry and find a good man who likes me and whom I like."
Lady Shou’an had never met Lu Zhuo; she only heard that the young man was quite outstanding.
But her granddaughter was right: no matter how good a man was, it was not worth a woman giving up her dignity to beg for his favor. The more you begged, the less you would receive.
"Fine, anyway, the Emperor has already bestowed the phoenix crown and robes; whether you want to marry him or not, you must." Lady Shou’an decided to let it go and prepared to sit at the banquet. "Let’s talk more tonight; don't let it delay the serious business."
Lady Shou’an bustled into the room and bustled back out just as quickly.
By the afternoon, the Duke of Ying’s household came to deliver the betrothal gifts. The 100,000 taels of silver alone almost blinded the commoners.
"100,000 taels—and you still say the Wei family isn't doing this for money?"
"Doing it for money? They’ve already stated that if the ritual fails, they won't take a single cent of this silver and she will remain a widow for the heir for five years."
If it were any other woman, remaining a widow for life would be expected and not worth mentioning. But because the Zhou family women had a custom of remarrying, for the Fourth Miss Wei, Lady Shou’an’s granddaughter, no one had expected her to remain a widow. Her voluntary offer to remain a widow for five years had instead become a virtue.
"And what if the young heir lives? Then all 100,000 taels belong to the Fourth Miss Wei?"
"So what if they do? She revived the heir and will have to carry on the Lu family line. As a daughter of an Earl’s house, is she not entitled to 100,000 taels of dowry? The Fourth Miss’s aunt is the wealthiest person in Jin Province; do you think she lacks this 100,000 taels? Didn't you see how many land deeds and silver Lady Shou’an added to the dowry this morning?"
"I—I just feel that because the Fourth Miss has a bad reputation, she doesn't deserve to marry the young heir, let alone take so many benefits."
"Heh, what a haughty tone. If a daughter of an Earl’s house isn't worthy, does your pock-marked daughter deserve it? Why didn't the Duchess of Ying take a fancy to her and bring the Duke personally to your house to propose?"
"You—I wasn't talking about you! Why are you always targeting me?"
"I just look down on small-minded gossips like you! You can't get what you want, so you step on the Fourth Miss to make snide remarks!”