Raising a wife? The mistress of the Hou family divorced and remarried her younger uncle

Chapter 295 Sending Flowers
The princess came and went, which puzzled Su Qingwan, but she didn't take it to heart. After the princess left, she went to the Ningyuan Marquis's residence, where she was to get married.

Lady Ningyuan and Chen Lanzhu were already waiting for her. The young men of the Marquis's mansion were all on the battlefield, and the mansion was full of women. Chen Lanzhu was a lively woman who introduced Su Qingwan to the sisters in the mansion. The Ningyuan Marquis's mansion was peaceful and the atmosphere was harmonious. Lady Ningyuan was like a mother to Su Qingwan, reminding her of the various rules to be aware of when getting married, the etiquette that a wife should observe, and the way husband and wife should get along. She avoided Chen Lanzhu and talked to her about things to pay attention to on her wedding night. Su Qingwan blushed. In fact, she hadn't thought that much about it. Lady Ningyuan made her blush.

"Has the Regent ever... done anything... improper to you?" Lady Ningyuan was somewhat worried. They had been engaged for a long time and had spent every day together on their journey from Huainan to the capital.

The boy was at the age of youthful vigor, and it was uncertain whether he could restrain himself. Although Lady Ningyuan believed in Lu Jing's character, and given the national mourning period, anyone with a gentlemanly demeanor would not overstep the bounds.

Su Qingwan smiled gently, "Aunt, he's doing well."

"That's good!" Lady Ningyuan couldn't help but mutter. She wondered how someone so young and vigorous could hold back like that, and whether he was in good health. She whispered a few questions in Su Qingwan's ear.

Su Qingwan's face turned completely red, and she shook her head.

Lady Ningyuan thought to herself, "Oh no, she's never tried this before. Her daughter is going to suffer on her wedding night." Lady Ningyuan hurriedly reminded her that she must know how to refuse on her wedding night and also be restrained. There's plenty of time in the future, so she can't be too indulgent, otherwise she'll be the one who suffers. Su Qingwan nodded repeatedly. Most of the maids around her were unmarried, and her wet nurse had returned to Jiangnan. Only Lady Ningyuan would worry about these things.

Chen Lanzhu didn't know what her mother and Su Qingwan were talking about. She walked in casually, unaware of the strange atmosphere. When the Lady Hou saw Chen Lanzhu come in, she didn't say much, having already given her all the necessary instructions.

"Xiao Wu, let's sleep together tonight and chat for a while."

"Xiao Wu is getting married tomorrow and needs to rest well. You are not allowed to disturb her. Go back to your courtyard." Madam Hou said sternly, afraid that her daughter would disturb Su Qingwan's rest.

Su Qingwan didn't really object to Chen Lanzhu keeping her company, but the Lady Hou was worried that she wouldn't sleep well, so she pulled Chen Lanzhu away early. Chen Lanzhu was resentful, as she had a rare opportunity to have a long talk with Xiao Wu all night, and it was ruined just like that.

"There will be plenty of time in the future. I will talk to you again when I return to my parents' home."

She married into the Marquis's household and would return to the Marquis's household for her homecoming.

As night deepened, the bride's boudoir was decorated with festive cheer. Su Qingwan felt complicated and couldn't help but think of her parents. The longing for her parents to be by her side when she got married grew stronger. It was precisely because she knew that her parents had passed away early and would not be able to see her off on her wedding day that she felt regret.

Everyone says that a woman should obey her husband at home and after marriage. Marriage is a lifelong commitment for a woman. If she marries poorly, it's like falling into an abyss. But her sister married well and survived a terrible ordeal.

She hoped that her relationship with Lu Jing, regardless of how it started or why they were married, would go smoothly.

A few days ago, Qingyun said that she would be nervous and anxious and unable to sleep well the night before her wedding. Su Qingwan swore that it was impossible, that she would stay calm and go to bed early and get up early, and that it would have no impact.

Lying in the wedding quilt, wide awake, she had to admit she was just being stubborn; she was incredibly nervous. She didn't know how the other brides were, but Su Qingwan hadn't slept a wink all night. Her heart felt like it was in her throat, pounding wildly. Qingyun tried to keep her company by telling her stories, but she didn't hear a word.

Qingyun sat cross-legged at the foot of the bed, feeling sorry for Su Qingwan as she looked so anxious, but she couldn't help her. Every bride is nervous the day before her wedding. Although Qingyun had never been married or organized a wedding, she felt that even if she hadn't eaten pork, she had seen pigs run.

"Then I'll play chess with you?" Qingyun said, unsure how to ease Su Qingwan's tension. "A game of chess takes a long time. If you don't sleep well, will you look ugly tomorrow?"

"If you're ugly, then who would dare call themselves beautiful? Don't worry, you're not ugly at all."

Su Qingwan didn't want to play chess, and Qingyun suggested several other games to pass the time, but she refused them all. Qingyun was at a loss. "But you can just keep flipping like a pancake. In another three hours, you should get up and put on makeup."

Su Qingwan waved her hand, "Go and rest, don't worry about me, you'll fall asleep soon."

Qingyun thought that there was really nothing to worry about regarding the new bride, so he left two maids to keep watch at night and took turns resting.

Su Qingwan didn't know why she was so nervous. Marrying Lu Jing was something she had decided long ago, yet it had caused her such emotional turmoil, which she hadn't expected.

She was never this nervous when she entered Xilin alone back then.

Even after midnight, unable to fall asleep, Su Qingwan got up, putting on her robe. The two maids at the door were startled awake. Su Qingwan gestured for them to continue sleeping; she didn't want to disturb them at night, so they rested on soft cushions laid out in the corridor. Su Qingwan walked alone in the courtyard, thinking that the reason she felt so lonely was probably because she had no blood relatives left.

Even with the presence of Lady Ningyuan, it couldn't soothe the regret in her heart.

But she didn't complain or blame others. She just couldn't help feeling sad. Some emotions were hard to talk about with outsiders and hard to resolve. She didn't even feel like confiding in the moon. She just wanted to walk around and wait for dawn.

Suddenly, a faint flute melody drifted in from outside the window. Su Qingwan paused slightly, then walked over with light, graceful steps. Su Qingwan's courtyard was against the wall and close to the west side gate. The side gate led to the long street, and there was only the Ningyuan Marquis's household nearby, making it a quiet place.

No one would be so inconsiderate as to play the flute and disturb the peace in the dead of night. Besides, the tune was becoming more and more familiar to her; she had been listening to it all the way from Huainan back to the capital.

Lu Jing said that this was a piece he composed himself, containing both tender sentiments of love and a spirited exuberance. Su Qingwan had studied with him for a while, and although her musical skills were decent, she didn't play it as well as Lu Jing. She had been too busy back in the capital and hadn't thought about playing the flute in a long time, so she had become rusty.

Now, hearing the familiar flute music, Su Qingwan smiled gently.

Lady Ningyuan arranged for her to stay in this courtyard because it was very beautiful. Roses were planted on one wall and gradually climbed up the wall. It was the season for them to bloom, and the flowers covered the wall, bright and eye-catching. Su Qingwan was amazed when she saw this courtyard.

She picked a rose, stood on tiptoe, and tossed it out. She didn't know if it hit the groom who was playing the flute, but the flute music stopped for a moment.

Suddenly, a brightly blooming rose was thrown back at her. Su Qingwan smiled as she caught it, but it wasn't the one she had picked.

These were picked by Lu Jing; I'm returning them to her.