MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 5

Glossary

· Qin Yuan: The female protagonist, reborn. Former wife of Lin Ziqi.

· Qin Wan: Qin Yuan's Di Mei, also reborn.

· Marquis of Dingbei: A military lord, Qin Yuan's fiancé.

· Lin Ziqi: A poor Juren scholar, Qin Wan's fiancé.

· Hongye: Qin Yuan's maidservant.

· Cuiming: Qin Yuan's other maidservant.

· Cui Shi: The primary wife (Madame Cui), mother of Qin Wan and Qin Heng.

· Qin Heng: The younger brother.

· Chancellor Qin: Qin Yuan's father, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy.

· Di: Legitimate, referring to children born to the primary wife.

· Shu: Referring to children born to concubines.

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Chapter 5: Listening to What the Beauty Says

The dowry had to be delivered to the groom's family by the day before the wedding at the latest.

The Qin family, being a scholarly household, would not do anything that lacked propriety. All the betrothal gifts were included in the dowry.

The amount from the family funds for Qin Yuan and Qin Wan's dowries was originally the same. But because of Qin Wan's foolishness, an extra twenty percent was given to Qin Yuan, making hers twelve chests, while Qin Wan received ten.

The dowry left by Concubine Chen amounted to four chests, two of which were filled with medical texts.

The Chen family had no surviving members, so the medical texts that should have been passed down to sons and daughters-in-law all became part of Concubine Chen's dowry.

Qin Yuan knew the preciousness of this part of the dowry and ordered the books wrapped in oilpaper to prevent them from getting damp if it rained at night.

In her previous life, these books had been left in the courtyard. Unexpectedly, it rained halfway through the night, damaging some of them. She only later discovered they were rare, unique copies, with no way to replace them.

The Marquis's residence had sent one hundred chests of betrothal gifts. Madame Cui added two chests from her own funds, making a total of one hundred and eighteen chests.

An auspicious number, a good omen.

On Qin Wan's side, the Lin family sent forty-six chests of betrothal gifts. The family funds contributed ten, and Madame Cui subsidized thirty from her private funds, totaling eighty-six chests.

Although Qin Wan was unhappy, she didn't make much of a scene, clearly understanding that Lin Ziqi had already done his utmost.

Listening to the steward announcing the number of dowry chests at the courtyard entrance, Hongye whispered to Qin Yuan, "Miss, Juren Lin often came to our family for assistance, and we frequently had to send him supplies. Where did he get so much for the betrothal gifts?"

Qin Yuan chuckled softly. "Mice have their paths, snakes have their routes. He has his own methods. As long as my sister and her husband live well, that's all that matters."

If these betrothal gifts weren't Qin Wan secretly using her own funds to help Lin Ziqi save face, then it was just like her previous life: Lin Ziqi had borrowed money to prepare the gifts.

That debt was ultimately repaid using her dowry.

But Qin Wan's dowry was substantial; presumably, she wouldn't mind.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Cuiming shot Hongye a glance. "Why bring that up now?"

The man was marrying, the woman was marrying; their paths would not cross again. The Miss was about to become a Marquise; why bother about someone named Lin?

Hongye also came to her senses and quickly said, "Yes, yes, right. Look at my mouth. Miss, you should rest early. You need to wake up early tomorrow for the facial threading and makeup."

Remembering how Hongye had suffered in the past because of her loose tongue, Qin Yuan warned her, "Right now, we're in the Qin family, so it's somewhat acceptable. But when we go to the Marquis's residence, it will be an unfamiliar place with many strict rules. You might offend someone without knowing how, bringing not only suffering upon yourself but potentially implicating your master."

"Miss, I will change, I truly will."

Hongye also felt a belated fear.

If her words today had been overheard in the Marquis's residence, it would certainly invite many troubles.

Qin Yuan said, "You and Cuiming are my most capable personal maids, my right and left hands. I would be distressed to lose either of you. You'd better remember: trouble comes from the mouth. Be cautious in speech and deed from now on."

Being cautious in speech and deed was very difficult for Hongye, but constant reminders could at least reduce her mistakes.

Hongye assented, ashamed.

The next day, as soon as the sky lightened, Qin Yuan got up to dress and apply makeup. Looking at her newly adorned self in the mirror, she couldn't get enough of her own reflection.

She had always been good-looking, but before marriage, she had to conceal it in front of her stepmother and Di Mei. In her previous life, after marriage, Lin Ziqi's mother was wary of her, afraid she would distract Lin Ziqi from his studies. From now on, she wouldn't have to do that anymore.

Cuiming exclaimed, "Our Miss is so incredibly beautiful today, simply like a fairy maiden descended to the mortal realm."

Hongye nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes."

Qin Yuan knew she was frightened into silence and couldn't help smiling faintly.

The wedding attendants helping with the makeup also chimed in with flattery: "We've never seen such a beautiful bride."

Qin Yuan said with a smile, "Hongye, reward them."

On such a good day, she deserved to be praised and flattered.

The wedding attendants expressed profuse thanks as they received the red envelopes and served with even more care.

Once the makeup was set and she changed into the wedding dress rushed from Brocade Pavilion, everyone's eyes went wide.

Brocade Pavilion employed the top embroiderers in the capital. This wedding dress was perfectly tailored, uniquely conceived, with intricate and exquisite embroidery that shimmered and flowed with Qin Yuan's every movement.

Wherever she stood, all eyes were drawn to her.

Everyone said in unison, "Beautiful, truly breathtakingly beautiful."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Qin Yuan slightly lowered her powdered neck, her fingers gently stroking the brocade and embroidery on the sleeves. She loved this wedding dress immensely. Her previous wedding had been too shabby, and even later wealth and status couldn't erase that regret.

This experience now made up for it all.

Perhaps Heaven pitied her for the difficulties of her previous life. From her rebirth until now, everything had gone smoothly, like a dream.

If this was a dream, she hoped it would be a long one.

Unconsciously, the auspicious hour arrived.

She and Qin Wan, both surrounded by maids and wedding attendants, were escorted to the main hall to kneel and bow to their parents.

They had just gracefully knelt before their parents when the hall erupted in murmurs.

Qin Wan was trembling with jealousy. Today, Qin Yuan wore a phoenix crown woven from gold and silver thread, adorned with agate and other precious stones and jades, edged with twelve large hairpins, exuding overwhelming magnificence.

Beneath the floral crown was a small face carved from jade and snow, with bright, cool eyes that made it impossible to look away once seen.

Madame Cui's hands clenched tightly, barely maintaining her composure.

She knew this Shu daughter was good-looking, but she never knew she was this stunning.

The wedding dress on Qin Yuan emitted a shimmering light with her every movement, accentuating her graceful and captivating figure.

Everyone who saw her couldn't help but think that such a woman was fit even to be an imperial consort.

Chancellor Qin stared dumbfounded at his celestial-looking daughter walking step by step before him and kneeling on the cushion. It took him a moment to remember he needed to deliver the admonitions.

"Marriage is predestined by Heaven... Uphold wifely virtues... Be diligent and thrifty in household management..."

After the admonitions were recited, it was time for the brides to tearfully bid farewell to their parents.

This time, Qin Wan's tears were genuine. Ever since the marriage exchange, she had been suppressed by Qin Yuan at every turn. Today, she was compared and overshadowed into the dust—how could she not be heartbroken?

Madame Cui also cried, unable to control her emotions.

She had been comforted by Chancellor Qin just last night, but seeing Qin Yuan's grand, glorious wedding, the pain returned uninvited.

"My darling girl, from now on you must rein in your willfulness and be a good wife."

Qin Wan: "Wuu wu wu wu."

Qin Yuan: "..."

After the veils were placed over their heads, the brides were to be carried to their sedans by their brothers.

Qin Heng naturally carried Qin Wan.

Qin Yuan was carried by a cousin who had come to seek refuge with the family. In her previous life, this same cousin had also carried her. The cousin was taller and sturdier than Qin Heng and delivered her safely into the bridal sedan chair.

The grooms had already sung the poems urging the brides to don their attire. When the auspicious hour arrived, the wedding attendants urged the bearers to lift the sedans and depart.

The Marquis's side naturally had an eight-person grand sedan.

The Lin family had a four-person sedan.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Marquis Gu, leading the procession to fetch his bride, wore his xīnláng (groom's) robes and guānmào (ceremonial cap. He rode a thousand-li horse, entirely ink-black except for a circle of white above its hooves. Behind him followed a group of robust, formidable young men in martial attire carrying baskets piled high with copper coins, their presence imposing and awe-inspiring.

Compared to this, the slender Lin Ziqi inevitably appeared somewhat frail.

Hongye couldn't help but whisper to Qin Yuan outside the sedan, "Miss, the groom is truly handsome, very dashing, and a perfect match for you."

Qin Yuan smiled without speaking.

Hongye added, "This servant previously wondered if Second Young Miss had seen the groom at the flower appreciation banquet and disliked him for not being handsome enough or for being too old. It turns out Second Young Miss truly has a brain ailment."

Far ahead, riding on his horse, Marquis Gu unconsciously held his breath, straining to listen.

He wanted to hear what the beauty inside the sedan was saying.

(End of Chapter)

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