The little bundle, finally having a legitimate reason to throw hands openly, was secretly excited.
Lately, Su Xinyan had been controlling her tightly, not letting her throw any punches.
Being born a fierce spirit, Si Zhiruo was already pent up inside, secretly gathering strength, waiting for a chance to vent.
Now that there was an official reason, she was even more frustrated by how slow time passed.
Why wasn’t the baby born yet?
She howled silently inside her heart again.
She was eager to try.
I ate a few bites casually, then returned to my large bed.
It was not yet 10 PM, and I was already yawning nonstop.
Without a phone to entertain me, I just slept earlier and earlier each day.
After washing up, I laid my head on the pillow and quickly fell into a dreamless sleep.
Si Zhiruo stared at her mother a little longer.
She curled her legs and, after leaving a protective thought as a warning, drifted off into a deep sleep as well.
Mommy was exhausted from studying.
She stayed by her side all day; her little body was exhausted too.
October 19th.
The afternoon of the last day before the wedding, I finally finished all the lessons about etiquette.
The entire manor was bustling with activity.
Everywhere hung red lanterns with traditional “囍” (Double Happiness) characters pasted on them, and special tassels hung beneath the eaves, making each house more delicate and elegant.
The two “囍” characters in traditional script symbolized double blessings, carrying deeper meaning.
Many people busily prepared the items needed for tomorrow.
The ground was already covered with a red carpet stretching from my boudoir all the way to the main gate of the wedding escort’s house.
Tomorrow, I would wear a bright red veil while someone else led me until I sat inside the bridal sedan chair.
That person would probably be Su Liumeng.
Since I had no relatives, there would be no heart-wrenching farewell moments filled with tears, awkward warmth, and parting words, as I was sent to Su Liumeng’s care.
My pre-marriage room would become my own small home in the future.
I valued it deeply.
In the evening, I hid alone inside, secretly trying on the red wedding veil meant for tomorrow.
The sudden darkness was unsettling.
My gaze seemed limited to the small patch of ground at my feet, making me feel insecure.
At this moment, one usually needed their other half to hold their hand, or a close servant to guide them through the wedding’s many rituals.
To hold your partner’s hand is itself an expression of trust.
On the dressing table in the boudoir, various decorations for tomorrow were placed.
A phoenix-like headdress occupied the largest space on the table.
Though beautiful, it looked very heavy.
I hoped my neck wouldn’t be bent by its weight tomorrow.
“Miss, the wedding is tomorrow. Are you nervous?” Chunqiao paced anxiously nearby, looking even more tense than me.
“No.” I clenched my small hand but didn’t say the truth.
This girl talked a lot, continuing, “I’m so nervous! It’s only once in a lifetime! It’s my first time accompanying Miss to marry. What if I mess up? What should I do? When should I hold Miss’s arm? Su Liumeng has told me many times.”
Chunqiao’s usual mature demeanor made one forget she was only sixteen.
If she weren’t a born daughter of the Su family, she’d still be studying in high school and cherished by some other family.
I took out a delicate little box from my personal belongings and slowly handed it to Chunqiao, “Take this out and distribute it among the servants. You decide how much each gets. Let everyone share some of the joy.”
Su Liumeng had already rewarded the servants generously.
She gave small bonuses every three days, larger ones every five days.
On the wedding day, there would be an enormous reward.
I wasn’t as wealthy as her.
These few pieces of gold jewelry were my own savings from during my pregnancy.
Rewarding the servants on my big day was my own gesture.
Using others’ money would feel different.
Chunqiao went outside and opened the box.
Inside was a heavy handful of gold jewelry.
She was inwardly startled.
Miss was giving out the very last of her treasured jewels.
Seeing Chunqiao’s hesitation, I called to her, “Go distribute it. I’ve been happy these days, so everyone should be happy. It’s a good thing.”
“Thank you, Miss, for your generosity.”
Chunqiao bowed sincerely, this time a heartfelt thanks, truly from the bottom of her heart.
This was nearly a year’s worth of her income.
I gently picked up the headdress on the table.
It was heavy in my palms—at least three or four jin.
Countless luxurious little stones adorned it, not quite diamonds from nature, but more like the spirit stones described in novels.
When I ran my fingertip over them, I could feel subtle streams of energy.
The entire piece was made of gold, and the central connecting parts seemed to be formed from some unknown meteorite, showing a dazzling, colorful hue.
In summary, only one sentence described it properly: priceless beyond price, noble beyond nobility.
Compared to this, I actually preferred lighter and prettier step-shaking ornaments.
They were called step-shakers because they swayed side to side when you walked.
They were like deluxe hairpins with dangling tassels, usually decorated with phoenixes or butterflies—very beautiful patterns.
Since it would only be worn for one day, the more magnificent, the better.
The Su family’s wedding only focused on one thing: showing others the family’s heritage and power.
And this heritage was displayed through the bride’s wedding attire—a perfect stage to show off the rarest and most luxurious items, piled high on the head without holding back.
After Chunqiao finished distributing the gifts and returned, she brought my wedding dress, holding it carefully on her arm.
The wedding dress seemed to be protected by a barrier.
When I lightly touched it, a white glowing layer dissipated.
It was a magnificent red wedding gown.
The details were so exquisite it was almost outrageous.
Countless tiny patterns were so delicate and vivid it was as if a living creature moved on the fabric.
The dress’s main color was even more vivid than the daytime dress—like a blazing flame wrapped around the graceful figure of a young lady, showing a tenacious life force.
Focusing on the golden phoenix embroidered on it, I almost heard the legendary True Phoenix soaring and screeching in the sky above.
In a fleeting moment, all illusions vanished, and the image of the True Phoenix settled on the fiery skirt, seeming to dance vividly, willing to become the wearer’s companion.
It looked ready to be reborn in flames at any moment, transforming myth and miracle into a symbol of the wearer’s noble status.
I held the wedding dress in my hands, habitually weighing its heft.
The fabric was not as thin as cicada wings but felt weightless.
The dress was so light it seemed to not exist at all, as if it weren’t even in my hands.
What kind of material was this?
Could it be the legendary Heavenly Silkworm Silk…?
But even Heavenly Silkworm Silk wasn’t this light.
Wait—cutting?
I caught the word I had just said.
I carefully examined where the sleeve joined the main body—seamless, not even a single stitch trace, like a garment made by the heavens themselves.
This mysterious aspect made me hold my breath unconsciously.
The Su family’s master weavers combined with the rarest materials proved one thing: this was an irreplaceable treasure.
After wearing it once on the wedding day, I would likely treasure it forever.
I unfolded the dress fully and spread it out in front of me.
Despite folding, there was not a single crease on the golden phoenix embroidery, nine in total, which still deeply moved me even after the first glance.
Lost in excitement, I suddenly became curious about Su Liumeng’s wedding dress tomorrow.
It would probably be a True Dragon, matching the Su family’s image.
What color would it be?
Just then—
A white paper crane, folded from a single sheet, fluttered its strange wings and landed by my window.
I opened it and saw a note inside.
I recognized the handwriting—it was Su Liumeng’s.
【Baby, did you receive the wedding dress?】
【Are you satisfied? I personally took part in making it. If there’s anything you don’t like, it can still be changed now.】
【Just thinking about seeing you tomorrow, standing together before everyone to exchange vows, makes me so excited I can’t sleep at night. I hope that moment comes quickly so I can make you completely my treasure.】
A smile spread across my lips, impossible to suppress.
I picked up a brush on the table and wrote back in my clear, elegant handwriting.
【Received the wedding dress, I’m very satisfied. No need to change anything.】
I thought for a moment, biting the brush’s end, then added one more sentence.
【I also hope that moment comes soon.】
【May we grow old together.】
In my mind’s sea, a certain little bundle rolled her eyes and whispered, “Sending love notes before the wedding, so childish… That Su girl, you’re so nauseating.”
As the ultimate hypocrite, she immediately dismissed her mother’s words.
“I’ll find your weak spot.”
“Sooner or later, I’ll have Mommy kick you out.”
I barely caught the whispered voice and asked, “Zhi Zhi, what were you just saying?”
“Nothing, just wishing Mommy eternal happiness.”
Her weight was about six jin eight liang, with probably six jin four liang of it being rebellious spirit.
Such little things probably didn’t count as lying.
That’s right, she was already almost seven jin—a weight heavier than a normal baby at the same stage, with room to grow.
That was why, even though Su Xinyan still had six or seven weeks to give birth, her belly was already so large.
I chatted with my daughter a little more, then carefully folded my wedding dress and placed it on the dressing table.
Tomorrow, I’d have to get up very early for dressing and makeup.
I had hardly ever worn makeup before.
Tomorrow I would put on a relatively bright and fresh layer, mainly to complement the noble dress and extravagant accessories.
Otherwise, if my face looked too plain, the dress’s color might overwhelm my own charm, which would be inappropriate.
My boudoir was also decorated with festive colors.
I sat alone inside, my eyes falling into the brief confusion many brides-to-be experience, as if my mind hadn’t caught up yet and my memories were still stuck in my girlhood.
How had I come to be getting married?
Looking up at the window decorations, recalling the heavy experiences shared with Su Liumeng, love flooded my mind like a tide.
Only then did it feel real— I was really getting married to the one girl I truly liked.
Time flew by.
Everything before the wedding was ready.
The auspicious day finally arrived.
Before 6 AM on December 20th, before dawn broke, even before the first crow of the rooster echoed through the skies, the servants in the manor were already busy behind the scenes, preparing subtle arrangements for their young lady’s wedding.
There was not a trace of the morning grumpiness that used to appear on my face.
My beautiful face was alight with smiles, like the sweetest candy.
Like countless servants already busy at work, I too got up unusually early.
With Chunqiao’s gentle support, I slowly sat before the dressing table, already decorated in red, to undergo the final preparations before the wedding escort.
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