FIMA Ch45: Marriage

In the room, Xie Changyue sat on the edge of a worn, hard bed, hugging his legs.

His spring water-like eyes blinked gently. He had vaguely and confusedly changed parents. Although he had decided to come here, who would have thought that he would suddenly be engaged?

Had he stolen someone else’s identity?

At the beginning, wasn’t it because he was forced to die for someone else? It was just a stroke of luck that he hadn’t died.

However, staying at the Xie household was indeed no longer an option.

Xie Er had some blood relations with him but valued Liu Zhi and her two children more.

And Liu Zhi, because she chose Shen Changhuan over him on that cliff that day, probably felt guilty towards him, so she usually avoided facing him, pretending he didn’t exist as much as possible.

As for Xie Qiu and Xie Dong, they were completely hostile towards him.

Xie Changyue’s pale fingers tugged at the loose threads on his sleeve, unable to stop pondering. When his mother decided to have him die in Shen Changhuan’s place, what was she thinking?

If she didn’t like him, why did she give birth to him? He didn’t necessarily have to be reincarnated into her womb.

Somehow, he suddenly thought of the young man he had encountered outside the Gu family wall yesterday afternoon.

Was that Gu Zhen?

Was he his future husband?

They say that when women and ger grow up and get married, it’s like a second reincarnation. Will he fare better this time?

In Xie Changyue’s mind, the man’s eagle-like eyes and his extremely cold, oppressive aura surfaced unconsciously, making him shiver. So terrifying.

He was more frightening than the young masters he had seen in the capital, even more so than his father and uncles.

At this moment, there was a commotion in the small courtyard of the Xie family.

Among the voices, one sounded like the matchmaker who had visited before.

Xie Changyue recalled what Xie Qiu had mockingly said to him not long ago, that Gu Zhen and Shen Changhuan had been close since childhood, and he might not even want to marry him.

Yesterday, outside the courtyard wall, he seemed to hear the Gu family talking about breaking off the engagement. Were they here to call it off?

So, he didn’t even have the chance to reincarnate into such a terrifying man’s house?

Xie Changyue reached out and gently combed his long black hair that hung to his chest.

Ah, how pitiful…

“Knock, knock…”

After a while, there was a sound at the door.

“Changyue, I have something to discuss with you.” Liu Zhi’s voice came from outside.

Xie Changyue got down from the bed, put on his shoes, and went to open the door.

When he opened the door, not only Liu Zhi was standing outside, but also the smiling matchmaker, and behind them, Xie Qiu was peeking in with a triumphant yet reluctant smile on his face.

Xie Changyue didn’t say anything, he invited them in to sit.

After listening to their explanation, Xie Changyue squinted his beautiful phoenix eyes: “The Gu family wants to change people?”

The matchmaker, skilled in saying nice things, quickly explained, “Your family has changed people, so it’s reasonable for the Gu family to do the same. Besides, although Gu Yang isn’t as good as Gu Zhen, he is still one of the best young men in our Huangyang Village, and he’s studying at the academy too. It’s said that he will take the imperial examination next spring, so you might become the spouse of a scholar.”

“Oh…” Xie Changyue responded indifferently, showing no emotion.

Even the best young men, he had seen them in the capital.

He just didn’t expect that reincarnation was still necessary, but the terrifying man seemed to be replaced.

The matchmaker continued, “Furthermore, Gu Yang’s parents are known to be good-tempered. Once you marry in, you’ll be in charge of the household immediately.”

Liu Zhi, seeing Xie Changyue’s expressionless face, felt a bit scared and guilty. Remembering what Shen Changhuan had instructed her before, she quickly added, “Yes, Gu Yang’s parents are the best people in the village, and you’ve seen Gu Yang, haven’t you? Tall and proper, a good young man. Didn’t you see him yesterday outside the Gu family’s courtyard?”

Xie Changyue squinted his eyes.

Oh.

So the terrifying man wasn’t Gu Zhen, but Gu Yang…

At this moment, the matchmaker suddenly giggled, “I see, no wonder Yang boy is so fond of you. Before I came, he even gave me something, saying that if you agree, I should give it to you.”

Xie Changyue extended his fair and slender hand, straightforwardly, “Then give it to me!”

Seeing this, the matchmaker was stunned for a moment, then covered her mouth and laughed, “Good! No wonder you grew up in a noble family, such a straightforward character, much better than us country folks.”

Liu Zhi also breathed a long sigh of relief.

After laughing, the matchmaker, seeing the hand still outstretched, quickly took out a small item wrapped in fine cloth from her bosom and handed it over.

Then, she happily got up, saying as she walked out, “Ah, young people are full of interest. I’ll go back and tell the Gu family. They’re very eager. When the wedding day comes, we’ll come to drink the wine!”

Liu Zhi got up to see the matchmaker out, and closed the door behind her.

Xie Changyue sat on the bed, unwrapping the small cloth in his hand.

At first glance, he could tell it was a small rattan-woven lion.

When he was in the capital, he was quite familiar with the County Prince of Qinshui and had once gone with him to the Leopard House in Jingyuan Garden, which housed tigers and lions.

This lion’s expression and demeanor were much cuter than those in the Leopard House.

However… the pose was a bit strange, with the front legs raised, the hind legs in an unstable stance, as if it was about to fall.

He stared at the stone under the lion’s legs for a while and finally remembered something.

This seemed to recreate the scene from yesterday when he was startled by Gu Yang while climbing the wall and slipped and fell.

“…” Xie Changyue.

Was his fiancé mocking him with this gift?

This person was not only terrifying in appearance and aura but also had a terrifyingly intricate mind…

May 26th, a good day was approaching.

On this day, before dawn, Huangyang Village became lively.

The village head was marrying off a grandson, and the Xie family was marrying off a ger. Both families were prominent and respectable in the village, always courteous and polite in their daily interactions.

Therefore, almost every household had someone coming to offer congratulations.

The Gu family’s courtyard was bustling early in the morning.

Although Gu Siyuan wouldn’t bring his new husband home until the evening, the courtyard was set up with more than a dozen tables, and the preparation of dishes was no simple task.

Before dawn, Old Madam Gu led her daughters-in-law and sons-in-law in the kitchen, chopping meat and vegetables.

Gu Siyuan also got up early.

He didn’t go out but stood by the writing desk under the window, practicing calligraphy to calm his mind.

It seemed this was the first time he was holding a grand marriage ceremony, and he hoped he wouldn’t let others or himself down in the future.

The waiting time felt both long and fast.

By mid-morning, the sounds of musical instruments and firecrackers began to ring out in the courtyard.

Typically, in the countryside, if one had an ox cart to pick up the bride, a red cloth outfit, and some firecrackers, it was considered a decent wedding.

But Gu Siyuan couldn’t treat Xie Changyue in such a manner.

So, he proposed hiring a small sedan chair and a small band of drummers.

Due to the change of bridegrooms, the Gu family felt somewhat guilty, and recently, thanks to Gu Siyuan’s idea, Gu Er and Mu Xia had earned a lot of silver from their vine weaving business on the Dragon Boat Festival, even contributing half to the family’s communal funds.

So, after some consideration, Old Master Gu and Old Madam Gu agreed.

Drums beat, firecrackers exploded.

The musicians, those carrying betrothal gifts, and those carrying the flower sedan chair, along with Gu Siyuan riding a donkey and the Gu family members accompanying them, formed a lively procession heading to the Xie family’s house.

The Gu family’s courtyard was near the village entrance, while the Xie family lived at the village’s end, so they made a round trip through the village.

Every household, hearing the commotion, gathered at their doors to watch the excitement.

“This Xie family ger is really fortunate, having lived nobly in the Marquis’s household for more than ten years, and now marrying in the village with such pomp.”

“If my daughter could have half of this for her wedding, I’d be satisfied and treat my son-in-law like a prince.”

“Ah, dreaming of even half of this is impossible. Fate is unpredictable.”

“Hey, you say this is grand, but the ger might not even care. When I visited my cousin in the capital, I saw a real wedding. The first dowry had already entered the in-law’s house while half of the dowry was still at the bride’s home…”

“Really? That’s unbelievable.”

“Do you think I’m joking? It wasn’t even my family’s wedding.”

“Ah, imagining such pomp is enough. But speaking of it, we didn’t realize Yang boy was so handsome. He’s no worse than Zhen boy!”

Usually, Gu Yang was silent, keeping his head down to avoid people. The villagers only praised the village head’s eldest grandson, Gu Zhen, and had little to no impression of Gu Yang.

But now, in a bright red wedding outfit, with his cold and deep face slightly raised, his tall and upright figure, and his dignified demeanor as he sat on the donkey, he attracted much attention.

He wasn’t the refined and handsome scholar like Gu Zhen, but he had a genuine, imposing masculinity, causing many onlookers, both young girls and young wives, to blush. They couldn’t help but think to themselves how they hadn’t noticed Gu Yang’s good looks and character before.

Gu Siyuan, without looking aside, followed behind the matchmaker and entered the Xie family’s courtyard.

Although the Xie family’s house wasn’t as impressive as the Gu family’s brick courtyard, it was clean and tidy, giving a good impression.

At this moment, several tables were already set up in the courtyard.

Weddings, also called “dusk ceremonies,” were grand ceremonies held at dusk.

The day’s schedule usually involved the groom arriving at the bride’s or groom’s house in the morning, meeting and having a meal and drinks with the bride’s or groom’s family. By mid-afternoon, the bride’s or groom’s mother would start crying and applying makeup, then the groom would carry the bride or groom onto the carriage, rushing to the groom’s house to perform the grand ceremony before dusk.

Since the Gu family and the Xie family were in the same village, there was no rush. The eating and activities were relaxed.

During the noon banquet, many of the Xie family’s relatives tried to get Gu Siyuan to drink.

Usually, at such times, the groom’s brothers would help block the drinks.

However, in the Gu family, Gu Zhen, who had scholarly honors, couldn’t be forced to drink, and for some reason, he had already left the table.

And Gu Siyuan’s younger cousin from his third uncle’s family was only thirteen, so the adults were embarrassed to make him drink.

However, Gu Siyuan handled it himself. Although he didn’t talk much, he was straightforward and accepted all the toasts.

Quickly, he won much goodwill.

The Xie family was particularly pleased, feeling that their son-in-law was giving them face.

Many families with daughters or ger were also pleased.

They had always known that the village head’s family had Gu Zhen, a promising son-in-law, and now they realized Gu Yang was also an excellent young man. If he could succeed in the imperial exams in the future, he would be no less impressive. Moreover, Gu Er’s family was easy to get along with, much better than Li Xiangtao from the main branch.

It seemed the out-of-towner ger was lucky.

Meanwhile, the out-of-towner ger, Xie Changyue, was sitting in front of a bronze mirror, being scrutinized by others.

He had changed into his wedding attire early, without needing help, and had tied his cloud-like long hair with a red ribbon, exposing his delicate, fair face.

He didn’t apply rouge or hair oil, only slightly darkened his fine eyebrows and touched up his lips for some color, making him look as lovely as a peach blossom dipped in water.

The matchmaker and the Xie family relatives who came to accompany him couldn’t stop staring.

Such outstanding looks and bearing, no wonder that cold man outside wanted to marry him after just one meeting.

As the day’s bustle died down, the sun began to set behind the mountains, dusk approached, and the auspicious time for departure arrived.

With the drums sounding again and the matchmaker’s singing, Xie Changyue’s door was opened.

Unlike women, ger didn’t need to wear a head cover. The weather at the end of May was already hot. Although Xie Changyue’s body was cold and didn’t sweat much, his face was flushed with the heat, making him even more beautiful.

Those in the courtyard who saw Xie Changyue’s face, regardless of gender, let out a series of exclamations.

But Gu Siyuan was the first to see him. He took a step forward, blocking all the gazes and prying eyes with his tall figure.

He bent slightly, and Xie Changyue immediately leaned onto his back, feeling the warmth and firmness beneath him. Somehow, his hands and feet felt weak.

At this moment, a faint scent of fresh snow and tea suddenly reached his nose, instantly making him clear-headed and refreshed. He felt he had smelled this scent before.

But after thinking for a moment, he realized he had never encountered such a fragrance.

Gu Siyuan’s steps were steady as he carried Xie Changyue onto the bridal sedan chair.

With the sound of musical instruments and drumming along the way, the procession quickly traveled from Xie’s house at the end of the village to Gu’s house at the village entrance.

Gu Siyuan carried him off the sedan chair and into the main hall.

The Gu family had everything prepared, with Gu Lao’er and Mu Xia seated in the hall and two cushions placed in front.

“First bow to heaven and earth!”

“Second bow to the parents!”

“Couple bows to each other!”

“Send them to the bridal chamber!”

Gu Siyuan held Xie Changyue’s hand and led him to their room.

Because of the wedding, the room had more furnishings than when he first saw it, including new wardrobes and bedding.

Xie Changyue looked around the unfamiliar room with a mix of curiosity and confusion, showing no trace of a newlywed’s shyness.

This would be the place he lived from now on.

…