Second, a warm welcome.

I gently twisted my waist and asked with a hint of pride, "Isn't it quite strange? I usually never style my hair in such a complicated bun!"

At this point, she fell silent, probably reflecting on herself; she is also a married woman, and I am the younger sister-in-law of the Yin family

My eyes feel a bit sore and swollen, and I can't help but feel a sense of blockage in my heart

Liu

He pressed his lips together, his gaze lightly sweeping over me before finally resting on Liu Xiu. The fifteen-year-old boy, still not fully grown, bore a youthful innocence in his features, yet the words he spoke carried an undeniable, pressing force. His voice was not loud, but the implied pressure was evident to anyone: "This woman is foolish, but no matter how foolish, she is still a member of the Yin family. Even if she marries into the Liu family, she remains a member of the Yin family. Today, you yourself sought her to be your wife; regardless of your intentions, since she has become your wife, you must treat her sincerely and genuinely. If in the future you fail to treat her well..." He turned his face to glance at me, as if speaking to Liu Xiu, yet also addressing me, "Since this marriage can be formed, it can naturally be dissolved!"

Amber accompanied me as I stepped out, with young boys and girls trailing behind. The shadow looked at me with delight and remarked: "Sister, you are truly a great beauty!"

Liu Ji smiled brightly, gently gazing at me

I smiled faintly, spreading my arms wide, allowing Amber to kneel on the mat and smooth out the wrinkles beneath my skirt, making the final adjustments to my makeup. The deep black curved hem of my dress, with its long train trailing like a phoenix's tail behind my heels, caught my attention as I turned my head to see a pair of children, around five or six years old, each holding onto the flowing hem. A moment of daze washed over me—if the black skirt were to be replaced with white, wouldn’t it resemble a wedding dress?

My heart was filled with joy as I experienced the cuteness of this younger brother for the first time. Unable to resist, I reached out and hooked my arm around his neck, leaving a bright red lip print on his cheek with a soft kiss.

Liu Xiu held my hand, the palm warm to the touch, my fingers trembled slightly, and I finally smiled calmly. Friends and relatives outside the door cheered and congratulated us. I counted briefly; there were not many people sent by the groom's family, most were from the bride's side coming to welcome us. However, there was not a single person who truly belonged to the Liu clan, not even Liu Jia, who was usually the closest to me.

After the banquet concluded, everyone began to make a ruckus in the bridal chamber, fueled by their drunkenness. I was forced to drink a considerable amount of alcohol by them, but fortunately, my tolerance is decent; otherwise, I would have surely embarrassed myself. This kind of revelry continued until the early hours of the morning, and only then did the crowd disperse

Three black lines appeared on my forehead, what is this kid babbling about

He told me not to bow and just go out directly, which sounded considerate, but in reality, it was a significant disregard for me

After driving for more than 10 meters, a melodious sound of silk and bamboo suddenly floated in from behind. I focused and listened for a moment, then shouted, "Stop!" I scrambled out of the car using both hands and feet, not expecting that Liu Xiu was entangled with me. Halfway through my climb, I tripped and fell onto him.

This scene reminds me of the day after the defeat of Little Chang'an, when he too experienced such a sense of confusion and sorrow in the cramped and damp cave

The golden hairpin atop the head swayed, and the branch-like tassels clashed against each other, producing a melodious tinkling sound

Due to the tight wedding schedule, the matriarch Deng and the elders of the clan are still in Xinye and have not been able to arrive in time. In terms of seniority, Yin Shi holds the highest position here. When a woman gets married, it is customary to bid farewell.

I blinked and came to my senses

The carriage finally set off, and most of the relatives and friends who came to greet us walked alongside it, the procession moving at a leisurely pace. As I nestled in Liu Xiu's embrace amidst the jolting, inhaling the faint, familiar fragrance, I felt as if I were slightly intoxicated.

I smiled slightly, and inexplicably felt a surge of joy in my heart, sweeping away the earlier gloom. Many people gathered both outside and inside the door, some from the bride's family coming to welcome, and others from the groom's family sending off. Liu Xiu stood out prominently in the crowd, like a crane among chickens. Upon seeing me gracefully walk out, he hurriedly approached me, eliciting a burst of laughter from the crowd.

Yin fell to the ground with a solid thud, letting out a cry of distress, which was met with a light laugh from Liu Xiu beside him

Do not cry

No wonder Yin Shi bluntly stated that Liu Xiu is not an ordinary person; even I have to admit this at this moment. To endure this grievance, is it something that an ordinary person can accomplish

In the past, when Deng Chan got married, the number of people sent by the groom's family was hardly less than that of those welcoming her from the bride's family. Now, looking at my situation, almost all those standing at the entrance are servants, and there are hardly any familiar guests present. Even the acquaintances avoid me, and not a single shadow can be seen.

Just as I was about to glare at him in warning, he suddenly lowered his head, his voice choked with emotion: "She is the most contradictory person... Even though she appears indifferent on the surface, her feelings for you, brother-in-law, are truly rare in this world... Sister, I am so happy today; the wish I have longed for all these years has finally..."

As soon as the cry escaped, his large hand tightly covered my lips. With tears streaming down my face, I looked up in confusion, only to see him looking at me with both pain and pity, silently saying: "You must not cry"

Is that true? I revealed a hint of a joyful smile

The bun on the top of the head feels somewhat heavy, and the hairpin used to secure the wig pulls on the scalp a bit painfully. However, the woman styling the hair insists that this is necessary; otherwise, even if the wig is intertwined with the natural hair in a bun, it will not be secure enough and may fall off.

The oppressive gasps gradually intensified, transforming from faint to coarse, each weak breath ultimately turning into sobs, muffled and drilling into my ears. ... My heart felt like it was being cut, I could not share his pain, his suffering, I could only tremble as I held him tightly, firmly ... . ... Holding him tightly.

I felt a pang of sadness in my heart, but I could not show it on my face, so I smiled and turned to Liu Ji, saying: "With my brother absent, the elder sister-in-law is like a mother; this gesture is also appropriate for my sister-in-law!"

Before even stepping out the door, I saw a tall man in a similarly styled black long robe standing straight outside, eagerly looking up in anticipation

I will not let go! If he is drowning in the water, I will undoubtedly jump in to save him. Regardless of whether I can swim or not, I must save him

The car swayed twice but did not continue moving forward. After a while, a shadow loomed overhead. I looked up and saw Yin Xing peering in, looking at the two of us with a strange expression.

The date was set for the first day of July, which happened to be the hottest day of the summer this year. Fortunately, the welcoming ceremony took place in the evening, as per tradition, one must wait until the sun sets. It was only close to dusk that the groom would come to receive the guests

My heart is clear

The upcoming wedding ceremony will be simple, but it is essential to host a grand banquet for the guests at the General's residence. However, all the attendees are subordinates of Liu Xiu, including individuals such as Zhu Hu, Ji Zun, and Zang Gong. Not a single member of the Liu clan is present. In addition, Wang Feng, Chen Mu, Zhang Ang, and even Li Yi and Zhu Wei are also among the guests.

Liu Xiu gently patted my back, a hint of relief appearing on his face

The sound of the heartbeat missed a beat

Sister, the time has come!" Coming back to her senses, she saw the two brothers, Yin Xing and Yin Jiu, standing at the door. Yin Jiu had a face full of joy, and Yin Xing was also smiling, but his smile seemed a bit strange, giving off an impression of being insincere.

Yin Xing's face turned alternately pale and flushed. After being stunned for a few seconds, he frantically wiped his cheek with his sleeve, muttering in a low voice, "Madman!" He shrank back and quickly disappeared from in front of me, fleeing in a panic

What is Liu Xuan thinking now? The Yinshi can see through Liu Xiu's thoughts; could it be that the astute Emperor Gengshi is the only one who is blind to it?

If there are tears, please do not cry in your heart! ... Please believe me ...

"Lihua, Lihua..." He held me tightly again, resting his chin in the nook of my shoulder, his warm breath brushing against my ear. Again and again, he called my name, his voice weak, low, melancholic, and even desperate

Liu Xiu joyfully helped me into the car, and while I was looking around, someone tied me and Liu Xiu together with a ribbon. This was similar to the scene in historical dramas where the bride and groom each hold one end of a red silk ribbon, except that I was neither wearing a red veil nor adorned with a phoenix crown and embroidered gown

The marriage ceremony of the Han Dynasty is divided into six parts: the proposal, the inquiry of names, the auspicious date, the betrothal gifts, the request for the wedding date, and the welcoming of the bride, commonly referred to as the "Six Rites." I originally thought that during extraordinary times, extraordinary measures would be taken, and that my wedding with Liu Xiu would naturally be simplified. However, I did not expect that even in such extraordinary times, Liu Xiu still entrusted this classmate to act as the matchmaker, meticulously following the steps of the Six Rites without omitting a single one.

I choked back my tears, and they streamed down my face as I crawled out of bed and threw myself into his arms, weeping bitterly

I swallowed hard, good heavens, we have just started our marriage, yet it seems I can already foresee a divorce. However... that Yin Xing fellow, cold on the outside but warm on the inside, truly has a sharp tongue. Although he has not been particularly fond of me, his elder sister, over the past few years, speaking without respect and behaving arrogantly, when it comes down to it, he actually still cares for me deep down.

Compared to these cunning individuals, I am clearly not well-versed in the ways of the world. I have only scratched the surface of these conspiracies and schemes. Moreover, my personality is too straightforward; I cannot keep things to myself. In terms of intelligence, I, as a modern person with a bachelor's degree, may not be much different, but when it comes to depth of character and cunning, I am indeed far behind

Hold your breath, the corners of my lips have bitten out blood, the metallic sweet taste pierces my taste buds, a bit astringent, a bit bitter: "Cry! I beg you... cry it out!"

Regardless of the significance of this wedding, after all, it is the first time in my life... I am getting married, and the groom is Liu Xiu. No matter how awkward and strange the relationship of interests may be between him and me, at least for a girl, throughout history, it remains the same—being a beautiful bride who is worthy of admiration is a dream etched in the hearts of every woman for eternity

At dawn, the Yin family welcomed a guest—Zhu Hu.

It is a performance ... . ... I just do not know how many people will seriously complete this performance

So many familiar people have disappeared one after another from my life, I do not want Liu Xiu's fate to be the same as theirs

I was so exhausted that I collapsed onto the bed, too lazy to even remove my makeup. However, as I closed my eyes, the faces of Li Yi, Zhu Wei, Zhang Ang, and others kept appearing in my mind, swirling around and completely disrupting my drowsiness

What is meant by "hiding one's talents and biding one's time"? After all the commotion of this night, I have finally understood everything clearly

Indeed, marriage is not a trivial matter; every family has its own difficulties to contend with. Upon reflecting on this, I suddenly felt a sense of relief, as my marriage with Liu Xiu is merely a fleeting performance.

He walked towards me, suddenly tearing off his belt, and the dark black robe he wore immediately fell apart. I was left dumbfounded, the latter half of my sentence stuck in my throat

I shivered, unable to imagine such a result, and in fear, I tightly embraced his waist. I want to protect him! This thought may seem quite ridiculous, but I just want to do my utmost to keep him safe!

Alas, if only Deng Yu were here, at least there would be some matters I could discuss with him. In this world, is there anyone smarter than him?

At the time of the toast, watching these people engage in lively conversation, openly expressing congratulations while covertly filled with provocative remarks, I nearly lost control of my swelling anger and erupted on the spot. In contrast, Liu Xiu handled the situation with great composure, exchanging cups and toasts, his face radiating joy without a hint of discomfort, completely embodying the happy demeanor of a groom

His smile is the best weapon to conquer the enemy, under such a gentle blade, one would truly be wounded if not dead... I stared blankly at him, this man... will he really be my husband from now on

Once upon a time, crying became a luxury! I silently shed tears, the tears never ceased, yet my voice had gone hoarse

Someone shouted outside, and the carriage jolted slightly, as if it was about to set off. Liu Xiu continued to gaze at me without any hint of avoidance, and there was an indescribable tenderness and affection in his smile, which unexpectedly stirred a subtle sweetness in my heart.

I lowered my head and said, as if crying yet smiling, "Elder brother does not blame me..."

On the night of the wedding chamber, candle tears accompany until dawn

Smiling is far more difficult than crying! Especially in times like these, weeping has become a luxury, and a smile has turned into a facade of resilience. Such a life is truly filled with sorrow; the pressure on his shoulders is too heavy and burdensome. I can hardly imagine if I were to experience the same feelings, whether I could endure even one ten-thousandth of the pain.

Be careful! He has his arms around my waist

Alas, the younger aunt truly possesses the beauty of a celestial being

Yin Xing glanced at me from head to toe, blocking my way, and pointed to the path leading to the main gate, saying: "Elder brother has instructed that sister need not go to pay her respects, the welcoming party from the groom's family is right at the main gate, you may proceed now"

I leaned against the carriage and turned my head to look. Yin Xing and Yin were standing at the door with a large group of people. The sound of silk and bamboo music was coming from within the walls of the Yin family courtyard. My eyes grew warm, and I was so excited that my fingers trembled.

Indeed, one must not cry! There are ears on the other side of the wall; who knows how many eyes and ears are watching outside, just waiting to catch us making a mistake. Liu Yan was killed by them, and next it will be Liu Xiu. As long as they find the slightest excuse, Liu Xiu will meet a tragic end at their hands, just like Liu Yan.

Yin Xing busily arranged everything, while Yin stood reluctantly by the car, watching me, repeatedly saying to Liu Xiu: "Brother-in-law, you must treat my sister well..."

"Brother-in-law! Brother-in-law!" Yin grabbed Liu Xiu's arm and shook it vigorously, "Although my sister has a bit of a temper, her heart is the purest and kindest. If she does anything wrong in the future, please do not hold it against her too much..."

However, it can be seen from the final date set that this wedding is still somewhat rushed and hasty

"No way!" Liu Ji laughed and said, "My little aunt has styled her hair into this high 'Wangxian' bun, and with this outfit, she truly resembles a celestial being, as if a fairy has descended to the mortal realm."

Liu Xiu smiled and assured, his gaze gentle enough to soften everything, and I nearly lost my composure, almost drowning in his watery eyes. If it weren't for my clear understanding, if it weren't for the remaining thread of rationality, I would have almost been moved by his earnest and sincere expression, believing that everything he said was true

I heard that Liu Yan's funeral was even less grand than my wedding, so simple that it seemed as if Liu Yan had never existed in this world. I felt a pang in my heart, but I also understood that this was unavoidable

Liu Ji looked surprised, and before she could decline or evade, I respectfully knelt down in a bow.

With a flush on my cheeks, I cast a shy and delicate glance at him, my anxious and excited feelings growing ever stronger

This scene resembles a modern wedding, but... my family seems rather unenthusiastic.

I could no longer endure it and pushed him off the car with a single palm strike

I covered my lips and laughed so hard that my shoulders trembled. Liu Xiu reached out and embraced me; I leaned against his chest and felt the same tremor in his torso. In surprise, I looked up, and that bright smile, as radiant as the morning glow, unreservedly entered my view

I tugged at the strap, feeling an uneasy sweat break out on my back: "He... he is not telling the truth, the words of a young child are mere nonsense, you..."

I smiled with a blush

"Xiu He Xing, marrying the beautiful Li Hua, is indeed a treasure." He gently bowed his head and placed a kiss on my forehead

I gasped in astonishment! ... I never expected that on such a hot summer day, he would actually wear a set of plain white mourning clothes beneath his dark black ceremonial robe. This is ...! ... This is in mourning for Liu Yan!

Do not cry

My heart raced, and I couldn't help but retreat to the corner of the bed. His clothing was unfastened, and the wide celebratory robe fell to the floor. To my surprise, Liu Xiu was not wearing undergarments beneath the celebratory robe, but rather a proper white plain silk deep robe.

The rain, which had been falling continuously in a light drizzle for two days, finally ceased on the night of the third day

The true painful tribulations and trials quietly unfold with the dawn of the rising sun

The creaking sound of a door closing came from not far away, and I jolted upright from the bed. After Liu Xiu closed the door, he walked heavily into the inner room. Under the flickering yellow candlelight, his smile had vanished, replaced by a face full of fatigue and sorrow

"Lihua." Liu Xiu embraced me and let out a slight sigh

As a warmth spread across the back of my hand, Liu Xiu smiled gently and reached out to hold my hand, her face full of tenderness

wedding, marriage ceremony

I shyly scratched my painful scalp with my fingers, but she hurriedly stopped me: "Don't move around, you just need to get used to it, you'll gradually adapt..." She held my hand, her palm very warm, comforting, "Aunt, in the future, as a wife, although the Liu family has no parents-in-law to serve you, your aunt is still here, you..."

A tightness gripped my heart, an indescribable feeling

After several days of absence, Liu Xiu's complexion no longer appeared as haggard as it did during his illness, yet the bruise on his chin remained. I tilted my head back, my gaze meeting his with a flicker. His eyes curved into a smile, radiating joy, yet I suddenly felt a wave of confusion, unable to help but ask myself, how much of this smile is genuine?