A grand wedding, a sorrowful farewell

  Days passed like flowing water, and the wedding day was getting closer and closer. Yuan Rou's calm heart also became anxious, and after several attempts to comfort her, she gave up. Typical pre-marital anxiety, she couldn't do anything about it, so she stopped her own work and helped embroider some pouches as gifts for after the wedding.

  May 23rd is auspicious for weddings.

  Yu Rong put on the big red wedding dress she had embroidered herself, looking radiant and beautiful, but unable to hide the deep sadness in her eyes. She had just cried bitterly with Chu Niang, ruining her makeup, and had to reapply it. Afraid of missing the auspicious hour, she dared not indulge in sorrow again, and though tears welled up in her eyes, they did not fall.

  She grasped Yuan Yi's hand, choking back several times, and finally only said: "Sister, I don't want to part with you. This time we're separated, who knows when we'll meet again."

  Yuanni's heart was also distressed, her eyes reddened, and she smiled: "Sister, don't say that. It's just a wedding, as long as we're still in the capital, why worry that we won't have chances to meet again? You can rest assured, I'll take care of Chu Niangniang, let her be a happy bride."

  The sisters saw off the bride before marriage, although they didn't have deep feelings for each other. At that time, Yuan Yi and Yuan Hua were also present. Seeing how deeply in love Yuan Yi and Yuan Rou were, she felt a little uncomfortable at heart.

  Yuan Hua lifted her delicate chin, gave Yuan Yi a sideways glance, before speaking to Yuan Rou in a clear voice: "Second sister, isn't there still three days until the return visit? At that time, we sisters can see each other again, right?"

  Yuan Yi also chimed in from the side, "With Aunt Chu taking care of her mother, Second Sister can rest assured."

  San Niang and Wu Niang's relationship with Yuan Rou was just superficial, but at this moment, listening to their awkward comfort, she felt a warmth in her heart and said: "Thank you, sisters. We four sisters share the same bloodline, from the same root, those trivial frictions are nothing, in the future we still need to rely on each other for support."

  Zhu Changren had few sons, and apart from his eldest son Zhu Ande, there was only one other young son, Zhu Anling. For a married woman who relied on her natal family for support, this was somewhat inadequate. She could only rely on the mutual help of her sisters to avoid being isolated and helpless. Yuan Ruo's words were reasonable, but both she and Zhu Changren had their own reservations, and it was unclear whether they would ever be implemented.

  Yuán Yì's gaze swept across the faces of the crowd, each with a different expression, and he inexplicably felt a pang of sadness in his heart.

  At this moment, the door outside suddenly became noisy, with a burst of cheers and teasing voices that didn't stop ringing in their ears. Everyone's heart was clear, and a loud voice rang out at the right time, "The auspicious hour has arrived, the groom is coming to welcome his bride!"

  Everyone hastily helped Yuan Ruo put on the red veil, holding her hand and walking out of the door. At this time, Chu Niangniang couldn't help but lose her composure, grasping her hand and shouting without regard for propriety: "Child, in the future you must follow wifely virtue, serve your husband, and absolutely don't suffer any grievances."

  Yuanyi only saw the red canopy dip down, a crystal tear drop fell rapidly and disappeared into the large red carpet. Yuanyi was carried on her brother's back, along the long and endless red carpet, turning around the corner and disappearing through the gate, the noise gradually faded away, leaving only the sound of Aunt Pang's sobbing growing clearer.

  Women of this era, from the moment they put on their red veils, embark on a life shrouded in mist. They manage the household, continue the family line, serve their husbands and teach their children, attend to their parents-in-law. From black hair to white temples, from crimson wedding dresses to mourning attire, they struggle through a lifetime, living an aimless life - all for whom?

  Lived two lifetimes, the original meaning remains unsolved until now.

  After comforting his aunt, Yuan Yi returned to the courtyard, where he felt a sense of desolation and loneliness. He lay down on his bed, still in his clothes, and fell asleep, passing the time until dawn.