My Lord, your wife is spreading rumors about you again.

Chapter 70 Wedding (5)

On the night before the wedding, none of the servants in the Zhenbei Marquis's mansion could sleep, and Zhang Zhi even sat in the yard in his wedding dress for the entire night.

He has been embroiled in the vortex of political politics since he was young, like a ghost. The world only knows Zhang Zhi as a playboy, but does not know that he cares about the people and how he can ensure the peace of the country.

From today on, he is a husband. As a husband, he should not let his wife down.

When it was just getting light, Mingli was carried out by Shancha and Nanny Li. Jiang Tong and Madam Jiang also came early in the morning. Wei and Aunt Wang were busy counting the dowry in the yard outside.

Zhang Zhi sent someone to deliver the wedding dress last night. The deadline was very tight, but he wanted the best and refused to compromise. So he gathered all the embroiderers in the Shanggong Bureau of the palace to the Marquis' Mansion, and they worked non-stop for three days and three nights to get such a wedding dress that looked like flowing clouds in the sky.

I heard that during these three days, even if the Queen wanted to make a dress, she had to wait until Mingli's wedding dress was completed.

"Qi Hui went to the palace to ask for the Queen's decree, granting the pattern of the phoenix pattern to be embroidered on the wedding dress." Madam Jiang's face was full of joy. She pulled Ming Li to stand in front of the bronze mirror, pointed at a spot, and said, "Look, this is the phoenix pattern."

The Great Qi Dynasty strictly enforced the distinction of seniority between legitimate and illegitimate children, and the phoenix robe could only be used by the empress and legitimate princesses.

Mingli's skin was as white as cream. Because she had a good sleep last night, her snow-white skin was a little pink, so tender that you could squeeze water out of it. Her lips were already rouge-covered, and they were red and cute. She opened her arms slightly and stared at the completely different self in the mirror.

This wedding dress was made of Moonlight Brocade, which was even more expensive than Floating Light Brocade. It was embellished with ninety-nine oriental pearls, and embroidered with phoenix and peony patterns in gold thread. The waistband was mainly made of Suzhou embroidery, with flowers, grass, flowing clouds and auspicious patterns. She hadn't tied her hair into a bun yet, and her black hair flowed down like a dark mountain spring, soft, shiny and extremely moist.

Mrs. Jiang asked Jiang Tong to bring a stool for Mingli and sit down in front of the bronze mirror. She walked behind her and combed her hair with a peach wood comb.

"I comb your hair, and wish you peace and good health."

"Second Comb, I hope you and your wife live in harmony."

"Three combs, I wish you a smooth life."

"Four Combs, I hope you get what you want."

"Wu Shu, I hope you have a bright future ahead of you."

"Six Combs, please be safe and sound."

After finishing her sixth combing, Madam Jiang stopped where she was, not moving or saying a word. Mingli looked at Madam Jiang in the mirror and called her, "Aunt?"

"Ah." Madam Jiang suddenly came to her senses, and two tears fell. She said quickly, "I was distracted. I was distracted. I just remembered that I was the one who made a bun for your mother when she got married. I was just sentimental for a moment."

Mingli was silent. She said, "Then please take the trouble to make my bun for me again, aunt."

"That's how it should be."

Mrs. Jiang had very deft hands and she was able to make a beautiful bun in no time, but she was troubled by the last finishing hairpin.

The last hairpin a woman wears when she gets married is always given by her mother, but Mingli's biological mother died early, her stepmother was not kind, and Mrs. Jiang happened to have forgotten about this matter.

As a result, there are no hairpins available now.

"Second Miss, use this one." Shancha came over holding a brocade box, inside of which lay an ordinary sandalwood hairpin.

Madam Jiang asked, "Who sent this?"

Jiang Tong smiled and replied, "It belongs to my daughter." This sentence might sound irrelevant to others, but Mingli understood that this sandalwood hairpin belonged to his sister.

Mingli's nose felt slightly sour and his eyes were hot. "Okay, I'll wear this one."

Seeing Mingli had spoken, Mrs. Jiang naturally had no intention of doing anything. She pinned it into Mingli's hair and said, "It's very beautiful."

Mingli was not like the young ladies from the noble families in Kyoto who loved clothes, cosmetics, etc. She only had a few simple plain clothes and a silver hairpin. She was pretty, but her features were a little cold. Now that she wore a red dress and gold jewelry, she looked like a beautiful rose standing proudly in the wind and snow, bright and charming.

Wei came in from outside. She had also chosen a dress in festive colors today. As soon as she entered the door, she was stunned by Mingli's beauty. She sighed, "I used to think that the second young lady was pretty, but I never thought that she was so stunning! Is the second young lady ready? Young Master Zhang has been waiting for half an hour outside."

When these words were spoken, everyone in the room was stunned.

Mingli's eyes flashed with astonishment. Why did he come to pick up the bride by himself? The groom's brothers always came to pick up the bride, unless the bride was marrying a rich man.

The daughter of the prime minister and the son of a marquis were considered a perfect match, and Mingli was marrying for the second time, so it was okay for them to be so extravagant, but Zhang Zhi even came in person.

Jiang Tong, however, looked as if he had understood it all along, and explained, "My senior brother said that marriage requires sincerity, and he was afraid that you didn't feel his sincerity, and might get upset on the way and run away from the marriage on the spot."

Mingli's expression changed and he suppressed his smile.

"Let's go."

Mingli was holding a face-covering fan in her hand, Shancha and Jiang Tong supported her on her left and right, Nanny Li led the way in front, and Liuliu followed behind, holding three or four flower baskets and scattering flowers.

At today's wedding, Ming Boyuan and Meng simply showed up, symbolically presented a few pieces of expensive jewelry, and then hurriedly left to greet the guests.

The banquet was their home ground.

Ming Qi had changed into a bright red robe today. He was just chatting and laughing with someone, but when he heard the noise, he quickly stopped talking and ran over to squat in front of Ming Li: "Second sister, come up, I'll carry you out!"

"Big brother?"

Mingli was a little surprised that Mingqi would carry her. Shancha helped her to lean on Mingqi's back. Mingqi had been hanging around in casinos for many years and smelled of alcohol. Today, he had specially used incense, which smelled of plum and bamboo.

He straightened up slowly, afraid of shaking Mingli on his back.

He said in a muffled voice, "The Zhang family gave too much betrothal gifts. My uncle and his wife are black-hearted. The little dowry you are given will definitely be looked down upon by others at the Marquis' Mansion! Second sister, I have added three loads of dowry for you. It contains all the silver I won from gambling over the years. I have converted it into cash at the bank. When we go to the street later, I will have someone open it. It will be a full box of silver. It will shock people. No one will dare to look down on you!"

Mingli's heart ached. She went to Jucailou to save Mingqi purely out of profit, but he treated her so sincerely.
"In the past, I never fulfilled my responsibilities as a brother. Now I want to love you, but you married Zhang Zhi, that playboy." Ming Qi choked up and said, "Second sister, don't forget that you always have a brother after you get married. If you are not happy living in the Zhang family, then divorce. Even if you are wronged, divorce."

Next, Ming Qi cursed Zhang Zhi's moral character from childhood to adulthood, and listed in detail how there had not been a single good person in his Zhang family for thousands of years.

Finally, he walked to the sedan chair and saw Zhang Zhi, then he shut up.

Mingqi gently put Mingli down. He was sobbing and had already become a tearful man. Mingli looked at him through the round fan and couldn't help wanting to laugh.

Just as Shan Cha was about to go forward to help Ming Li into the sedan chair, Zhang Zhi came over. He was dressed in a red robe and walked in the dim light. He put his hand on her arm.

Zhang Zhi's eyes were filled with smiles, making people feel like they were in the spring breeze. He stood in front of her and said, "I'm sorry that this is a little crude, as time is short."

(End of this chapter)