The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 646 - 644: Getting Married 3

Chapter 646: Chapter 644: Getting Married 3

Jinchai gulped down saliva, trying to maintain her composure, and lightly nodded her head, "Get up."

After exchanging glances, Hong Hua spoke up, "Concubine, please come inside."

As she spoke, she was about to take the bundle Jinchai had been holding all along.

Jinchai’s hand shrank back, but she quickly realized that something was amiss. Recalling the attitudes and expressions of the young ladies accompanied by their personal maids she had observed when socializing with Lady Qian, she made an effort to naturally hand the bundle over to Hong Hua.

Qing Ye hurriedly stepped forward to support Jinchai’s arm and led her into the room.

The old granny who had brought her in pointed at Hong Hua and Qing Ye and said, "These two have been assigned by Madam to serve the concubine. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you may ask them. Concubine, is there anything else you wish to instruct? If not, I must report back to Madam."

Jinchai nodded, making herself appear very calm, "Thank you for your trouble, Sister."

Having said that, she remained silent.

The old granny felt a slight indignation; her words had hinted that she was someone from Madam’s side, and she had hoped that this new concubine, if astute, would give her some reward upon hearing this, to fawn over her a bit.

To her dismay, the new concubine pretended to be ignorant and did not give a single penny.

Instantly, she huffed with displeasure and turned to leave.

Hong Hua and Qing Ye exchanged puzzled looks; they were just rough-hewn maids recently bought for the County Yamen’s back courtyard, vaguely instructed in some of the rules and principles before being assigned to the new concubine’s service, unaware of these subtleties.

Seeing the granny upset, they immediately felt flustered. Qing Ye hurriedly chased after her to see her out.

Hong Hua placed Jinchai’s bundle on the table and poured her a cup of tea after some thought, "Concubine, please enjoy the tea—"

Although Jinchai had never ordered maids around before, when she returned to the Wang Family, she had ordered Jinhua around; and with the old granny gone, she felt more relaxed and adopted a full air of dignity, taking the tea and sipping it.

The tea was the most common kind in the County Yamen, yet it was better than the tea Jinchai usually drank.

Jinchai felt her unwillingness fade a bit.

When Qing Ye returned from seeing off the granny, the three exchanged glances.

It was Qing Ye who spoke first, "Concubine, it’s about time for dinner, and according to the mansion’s rules, today is a lucky day for the concubine. The kitchen will soon prepare a table of dishes for this room. Would you like to have dinner first or would you prefer to bathe and change clothes?"

Having not eaten all day, and not having touched the pack of pastries given by Lady Qian due to nervousness, Jinchai felt extremely hungry after drinking the hot tea, "Let’s eat first."

After a moment’s thought, she asked, "I’m new here and not familiar with the mansion. Could you tell me about it?"

As mere junior maids, Hong Hua and Qing Ye knew little, but they were aware of the general situation in the back courtyard of the County Yamen.

The County Magistrate, Gao Jin, besides his Eldest Lady, Lady Xia, had around a dozen concubines he had taken in. Some had been recognized and given small courtyards to live in, while those without status lived a little better than maids, each in a room within a shared courtyard, bickering and squabbling day in and day out.

A newly arrived concubine would be arranged to live in a separate small courtyard. If she captured Gao Jin’s favor and earned a status, she could continue living in the small courtyard.

If she fell out of favor within a few days, she would have to cram into the large courtyard with other nameless ones, fighting endlessly over a hairpin or a pair of handkerchiefs.

In the mansion at present, the most favored was Maternal Aunt Zhang, but this too had been the case for several months now, and her favor was waning, not as strong as before. Fortunately, she was clever and had secured a status for herself, living securely in her little courtyard.

Upon hearing this, Jinchai’s face paled immediately...

Meanwhile, Wang Yongzhu was bustling with lively merriment, happily turning corners on the streets until she arrived at the gates of the courtyard purchased by Song Chongjin.

The courtyard gate was already adorned with large red lanterns in the shape of the character for happiness, and the eaves were equally draped in red and green, a scene of great festivity.

The bridal sedan was carried directly into the courtyard. Song Chongjin lifted the sedan curtain and personally helped Wang Yongzhu out.

The next step would have been the wedding ceremony before the ancestral tablets, but unfortunately, Song Chongjin had neither parents nor his mentor by his side; aside from Wang Yongzhu beside him, he was indeed alone.

However, he didn’t care about these things. Guided by the master of ceremonies, the two of them bowed to heaven and earth, and then to each other, as a substitute for bowing to parents, and with that, the marriage rites were completed.

Although there were no parents to help with the arrangements, Song Chongjin had everything well organized. Wang Laozhu and Old Granny Zhang were accommodated in the front courtyard, already settled in.

Wang Yongzhu was escorted to the bridal chamber in the back courtyard.

Several banquet tables were set up in the side rooms. One table was reserved for the Wang Family, while the others were filled with Song Chongjin’s subordinates and hired helpers, all sitting snugly together.

Given the special circumstances, no one pressed Song Chongjin to drink too much. A symbolic toast of two cups to court good luck was all that was needed.

After the meal, everyone bid their farewells and left, leaving only a few trusted people to help clean up the aftermath.

Song Chongjin’s mind had been on Wang Yongzhu all along, and without any further ado, after seeing off the guests, he first checked on Old Granny Zhang and Wang Laozhu, saw that they had eaten dinner and gone to bed, and then hurried to the back courtyard.

Compared to the bustle of the front courtyard, the back courtyard was rather peaceful.

The door to the bridal chamber was closed, but light shone from within. The dim yellow glow hinted at the girl of his dreams waiting inside. Song Chongjin couldn’t help but feel his heart beat faster.

He hastened his steps, pushed the door open, and was greeted by a room full of warm and fragrant air.

The hired old lady had been keeping Wang Yongzhu company, chatting idly.

Wang Yongzhu took the opportunity to ask about life in Qi City, resulting in a harmonious conversation.

The old lady, very perceptive, hurried out when she saw Song Chongjin enter, closing the door behind her.

Song Chongjin took a deep breath to calm his racing heart and walked toward the bed with steps that appeared steadied, but felt as if walking on air.

Wang Yongzhu was dressed in a bright red bridal gown and had a red veil covering her head, sitting gracefully on the edge of the bed.

Hearing Song Chongjin’s footsteps, she tilted her head slightly. In the light, her figure was graceful and alluring. "Brother Song?"

With trembling hands, Song Chongjin picked up a scale bar from the bedside table and lifted the veil from Wang Yongzhu’s head.

Wang Yongzhu raised her head.

Directly before his eyes, Song Chongjin was dazzled.

Wang Yongzhu was exceptionally beautiful that day, with lightly brushed eyebrows and long, curling eyelashes that fluttered like tiny fans, charming straight to the heart.

In the lamp’s light, her skin was as white and tender as a peeled egg.

Her cherry lips were painted, even more dazzling and beguiling.

Her hair was done up, adorned with several hairpins, lending her an indescribable allure unlike any other day.

Seeing this, Song Chongjin’s gaze became fixated, his breathing heavier...