Once Wed to the Disabled General Chapter 7

After the Lantern Festival, the heavy snow stopped suddenly as if saying hello.

By the end of January, when there was still some snow on the distant hills outside the city of Yanjing, spring had already begun to show in the city, but this was also the coldest time of the year.

As the saying goes, it is chilly in spring, and what the old people say about keeping warm in autumn and covering up in spring means that the wind and cold are prevalent in spring, so it is not advisable to take off clothes too early.

Lorraine almost counted the days and watched the weather. On the first day of February, the day of making the bed arrived. Early in the morning, the dowry team of the Nian family set out in a mighty manner.

This was a much grander affair than the one that day when the betrothal ceremony was held. The two elder brothers were responsible for delivering the ceremony, as they passed by the morning market which had just closed, and attracted countless onlookers.

Under the morning sun, it was impossible to tell what was inside the big red boxes, but everyone could count them. The Gu family gave four extra boxes as a betrothal gift, and the Nian family added double that, a total of seventy-two boxes. That was not counting some things hidden in the carriages, because according to royal etiquette, the number of boxes could not exceed that of the princess and the duke, so there were no more than a hundred.

"There are Nian family lands in my hometown, all in Weiyang. There is also an old Nian family mansion in the town."

"Isn't the Nian family's ancestral home in Huicheng? What is Weiyang?"

"People from the Nian family, do you think there is only one Jin'an Marquis Mansion?"

"Then the eldest daughter of this family will marry off as soon as the emperor marries off his daughter."

"You have never seen the world. When the richest businessman in Sangju married his daughter, he had more than 200 sets of dowry. On the day of making the bed, the move lasted from morning to afternoon. There was no room in the man's front yard. There was no place for even one person to stay."

"He is really rich. I still haven't paid back the ten taels of silver I borrowed to marry my wife. It costs several taels to make a box."

"Then you still have time to watch the fun."

Amid the heated discussion among the people, the dowry was delivered to the Mansion of the Loyal and Brave Marquis. Helena and Xu were already waiting in the front yard. Even though they were mentally prepared, they were still a little surprised by the scene at the Nian family.

In recent years, His Majesty has advocated thrift and diligence, and marriages in the city have been considered more or less carefully. The Nian family is like this, and they are really afraid that their beloved daughter will be bullied.

After the things were counted in the front yard, they were all carried to the Qingpu Courtyard. After the yard was cleaned up, it finally did not embarrass itself in front of the Nian family. However, in order to make a new bed, Ethan Gu moved to the study yesterday.

But they were only two rooms apart, and Yan Jin came to report from time to time, so Ethan Gu became impatient after a while.

"The dowry of the seventy-two sets and the four sets of rewards given by the general were all taken back intact. The bed in the new room is made of Hainan sandalwood. It took more than ten people four or five times to install it. And the young lady..."

Yan Jin paused with a tense face, "Some of the future young lady's things have been put in. There are gilded boxes and cages on one wall, four yellow pear flower wood square corner cabinets, and two cloud screens. The things originally placed in the main room have been removed and replaced with the things brought by the future young lady."

"The remaining boxes have been carried to the warehouse. In addition, several craftsmen from the Nian family have come to redo the small kitchen. There are also two gardeners who want to tidy up the yard before tomorrow. Some of the future young lady's accompanying servants have already arrived. I'm afraid Qingpu Courtyard is not big enough to accommodate them."

He only heard the servants' instructions coming from outside. Yan Jin glanced outside and said, "There is also a big swing being carried in. The second son of the Nian family is personally directing the installation."

...

Is this a wedding? Why does it feel like a bandit invasion?

Ethan Gu had little patience to begin with. When he heard the clanging outside, his face was already dark. He used the sound of the wheelchair rolling to stop Yan Jincai from continuing, "Get out!"

Yan Jin then walked out and met Daniel Nian trying out the swing not far away. Seeing him coming out of the study, he called him over and asked him, "Can we dig a stream in this courtyard? I see there is a river outside the Mansion of the Loyal and Brave Marquis, and we can divert it here. Ah Yu likes the sound of the stream."

...This is really a bit exaggerated.

When everything was settled, everyone in the Marquis' Mansion was stunned by the Nian family's actions. Although the dowry, from birth to death, even the coffin was prepared by themselves, which showed the strength of the girl's family, it seemed as if they were afraid that the girl from the Nian family would not know anything when she came to the family to be meticulous.

"There are dozens of servants alone." Gu Ruoqiang looked at those people in an orderly manner and couldn't help but doubt, "I've heard people say that the girl from the Nian family is a little stupid recently. Could it be true?"

Xu glanced at her and said, "Don't talk nonsense."

Due to her mother's authority, Gu Ruoqiang didn't say anything else, but she was still frightened by what happened when she met her eldest brother that day. She never thought that her eldest brother, who doted on her so much when she was a child, would have such a violent temper.

When she returned to Yanjing this time, she also learned about her eldest brother's injuries. When he was brought back from the northern border, he was still in a semi-comatose state. Several military doctors took care of him along the way and did not dare to relax. His life was saved, but his legs were disabled.

What a huge blow this is for a man who has been fighting enemies outside for years.

Because of the injury of the eldest brother and the loss of more than 10,000 soldiers, the battle that was originally a sure win was lost.

The gap between the girl from the Nian family and the eldest brother is so huge now, I wonder if there will be any rift between them.

Gu Ruoqiang was lost in thought. After the Nian family kept the servants who came with her, they left. It was already afternoon and everything was almost ready in the Marquis' Mansion. Xu sent someone to do a final check and went to the big kitchen herself to monitor the ingredients for tomorrow's wedding banquet.

At night, when the entire city of Yanjing was sleeping in the twilight, the lights in the marquis' mansion were on all night long.

To worship the ancestors according to the time, in the absence of elders, Ethan Gu should go and kneel and worship all night, but it was inconvenient for him, so Gu Mingyi worshipped on his behalf.

Every half hour, firecrackers would be set off outside when the incense and candles were changed. Gu Mingyi forced himself to hold the incense and wanted to take a nap, but was awakened by Helena's slap and continued to perform the ceremony.

Ethan Gu, who was still in the study, was quietly listening to the noise not far away, as well as the busy movements of Amelia Nian's married servants in Qingpu Courtyard, and he frowned from time to time.

He had not changed his clothes yet, and the wedding dress with a bright red patch on the collar was hanging on the rack behind him, until he heard Xu's voice asking about it from outside again, and Yan Jin came in to remind him to change his clothes.

"General, the carriage is ready."

The second young master can do the worshipping, but the wedding cannot be done because the whole city is watching.

Ethan Gu had no idea what he was thinking as he looked at the big red wedding character pasted on the window, which reflected the figures of two magpies cuddling each other. Although it was a paper-cut, it was very lifelike, and the joy seemed to be overflowing.

In an instant, a way to ruin this marriage flashed through his mind.

The sound of wheelchair axles was then heard.

Soon the sky turned gray. In the small pavilion of the Nian Mansion, which had been busy all night, Amelia Nian was pulled out of bed by the maid Yun Su. She washed up while still half asleep and was taken to the dressing table.

The room was as bright as day, with festive red everywhere. Amelia Nian, who had changed into a more transparent inner dress, was fair-skinned. She looked at herself in the bronze mirror with a pair of beautiful eyes, and then smiled. Her eyebrows were curved like crescent moons, and she looked exceptionally sweet.

After inviting Madam Quanfu to dress her up, Yunsuo put on a bright red long-sleeved robe for her.

Under the royal blue collar, there is an exquisitely embroidered pattern of a kirin chasing auspicious clouds. After it is tied with a narrow translucent jade belt, it is hung with seven gold-inlaid gems.

At this moment, Amelia Nian already felt heavy. After putting the whole set of hairpins on her head, she felt her head also felt heavy. So she held her chin with her hand and ate the dumplings that Cuizhu fed her lovingly.

She shouldn't have eaten, but no one wanted to see her hungry, so she ate half a bowl of food while sitting upright. She stopped only when she felt a little bloated around her waist.

At daybreak, there were bursts of firecrackers outside. The wedding procession was about to arrive according to the time. Lorraine came in. She was always tough, but after giving some instructions, she left wiping her tears.

Half an hour later, the wedding procession from the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery arrived.

Due to Ethan Gu's physical condition, he was allowed to enter without any obstruction at the door. It seemed that there was a silent consensus between the Nian family and the Gu family. In order to make the marriage go smoothly, Amelia Nian soon got on a special carriage and sedan chair, with her and Ethan Gu sitting alone.

The cold aura emanating from her body formed a sharp contrast with the lively crowd. Today's weather was actually quite good, yet Amelia Nian actually felt a little cold under her heavy wedding dress.

She glanced secretly to her side through the bottom of the veil. She was wearing a bright red wedding gown with a string of purple jade tassels hanging around her waist. A little higher up, she saw a pair of slightly pale hands resting on her knees, wearing several jewel rings that seemed to be too big for her and were hanging a little loosely between her fingers.

Amelia Nian silently memorized the size in her heart, and suddenly, as if he noticed her gaze, he withdrew his hand.

Amelia Nian's gaze followed subconsciously, forgetting that she was in a carriage. She rushed towards Ethan Gu, her head hitting his shoulder and she let out a soft groan.

Even without seeing her expression, he could already imagine how aggrieved she was at the moment. Through the carriage, he could also feel the various gazes of the people outside.

Everyone who comes to pick up the bride must ride on a fine horse. Even if one is a sickly person, one must endure this journey to avoid being laughed at.

Soon there will be a joke in Yanjing City that "the bride and groom both ride in sedan chairs", but this is not the only thing that makes people laugh.

Suddenly, he heard a rustling sound. Ethan Gu glanced over and saw the pair of small hands on the knees moving restlessly. After a while, it stretched out something in its fist towards him.

Slowly, tentatively, it moved from the edge of the robe to the legs.

...

For some unknown reason, Ethan Gu did not move, and even wanted to see what she was going to do.

Then, the little hand touched the back of his hand, hooked two fingers out of the fist, turned his flipped hand over, and with a snap, placed it in his palm.

Two peanuts and a red date.

She would always say with a hint of pride, "You've been hungry all day, eat quickly."

The jewel rings on her chubby fingers gave off an invisible sense of joy, as if they were artificially added. When compared with the peanuts and red dates, the atmosphere in the sedan changed in an instant.

With a "crackling" sound, the peanuts were peeled. This extremely light sound even covered up the noise and chaos outside, and the world suddenly became quiet.