Chapter 202 — The Wedding

Her aunt cackled and said to Sixth Aunt, who sat beside her, "What a silly child! You only need to take a symbolic bite or two." Then she added, "It's a good thing the groom's family doesn't live far, or I don't know what you'd do."

Once the bride is in the sedan chair she may not touch the ground, so as a rule a girl begins to cut back on food several days before the wedding; on the wedding day itself she eats only two eggs to stave off hunger.

Sixth Aunt laughed too, drew out a handkerchief, and wiped the corners of her mouth, saying indulgently, "Eat a little less. Mind you don't ruin your makeup." Then she asked Su Xin, who would accompany her to the groom's house, "Did you bring the pouch I gave you? Once you've bowed to Heaven and Earth and entered the bridal chamber, you mustn't eat and drink however you please the way you do at home. There are a few pastries in it—if you're hungry, nibble something to fill your belly."

Dou Yan answered "Yes" with a giggle.

Sixth Aunt said to her aunt, "Look how she laughs—how will she ever manage to cry later?"

Her aunt and Sixth Aunt exchanged a smile.

Yet Dou Zhiwei's tears came pattering down.

The matter of Dou Ming taking her place as bride was kept from only the two elders closest to her and kindest to her.

Her aunt quickly gathered her into her arms and coaxed her: "Don't cry, don't cry—this is a happy occasion. What are you crying for?"

Han Shi, Dou Yong's wife, appeared in the doorway: "Mother, the two ladies from Yuqiao Lane have both arrived. Fifth Aunt says for you to go over and sit with them awhile."

Sixth Aunt hastily stuffed the handkerchief into Dou Yan's hand and said, "Stop crying now—when you get over there the groom's family will want to look at the bride, and you mustn't show up with a tear-streaked face." Then she went off to the flower hall with Han Shi.

Mrs. Cai sent Su Xin off: "Go and see whether everything the young lady is to take has been packed."

Some things travel with the dowry, but the items needed on the wedding night itself are carried over by the bride's personal maid.

Su Xin smiled and said, "The young lady told me to stay home, and after the three-day return visit, to follow along then."

Mrs. Cai was taken aback. Clearly she had not expected such a slip, but she quickly found a way to deal with it and said in a low voice to Su Xin, "In a little while the aunt will have something to say to the young lady. Come out with me first."

So the situation had changed; they had arranged for her aunt to speak with her privately.

Dou Yan covertly shot a look at Su Xin.

Only then did Su Xin follow Mrs. Cai out the door.

Ma Jun's wife casually drew Zhao Zhangru out as well.

Then her aunt sat down with a smile beside Dou Zhiwei: "Properly speaking, your mother ought to be the one to tell you this..." As she spoke her eyes dimmed a little, and she gave a soft sigh, then quickly pulled herself together and, leaning close, began to speak of the things of the wedding night.

As Dou Yan listened and listened, her head began to feel heavy and muzzy.

She knew the lotus-seed and lily soup had taken effect.

Dou Yan forced herself to rouse up, and at last her aunt finished speaking. Then Mrs. Cai came in beaming: "Aunt, come out and have a cup of tea, and let our Fourth Miss catch her breath and get things straight in her mind."

Her aunt, suspecting nothing, followed Mrs. Cai out with a smile.

By now Dou Yan's upper and lower eyelids were at war.

She simply lay down on the bed fully dressed.

Someone was calling "Shouyuan" at her ear, the voice sometimes loud, sometimes faint, sometimes far, sometimes near.

Dou Yan guessed it was those people, uneasy, come to test her.

Duan Bing was hiding up in the ceiling beam of the hall.

She could not be bothered with it, and fell soundly asleep.

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Dou Yan was shaken awake by someone.

She opened her eyes drowsily and saw her father's ashen face.

"Shouyuan, Shouyuan, how are you?" Dou Huaiying shook his daughter.

Dou Yan blinked, and only then realized that her aunt, her cousin, Su Xin, Fifth Aunt, and Old Nurse Liu and others were all gathered around her bed, gazing at her with faces full of worry.

The lamps and candles in the room burned bright; all around was still. There was neither the sound of strings and pipes nor of drums and music.

Dou Ming must have already been married off in her place.

Dou Yan pondered, gently shook her head, and said, "I'm fine!" Her voice was hoarse, and her head felt as if it were filled with lead—rather miserable.

She had not expected the drug to be so potent.

As Dou Yan thought this, she saw everyone in the room breathe a collective sigh of relief.

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Added the update for May 12.

Today's update should be around 10 p.m.

o(n_n)o~

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