Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 679: On the Eve of the Grand Wedding (4)

"Silly girl, today your mother has invited Lady Hou to help you get ready. All you need to do is sit nicely," said Xiao Zheng with a chuckle.

Lady Hou watched the fleeting shyness on the bride-to-be’s face, picked up the comb on the table, and said to the Prime Minister’s wife with a smile, "Commandery Princess Yumeng truly is a gem. No wonder even the distant fallen emperor knows of the princess and came in person to seek her hand in marriage. She will have great fortune in the future."

Chortling, Xiao Zheng gratefully accepted Lady Hou’s words, "Thanks to Lady Hou’s kind words, I’m sure Jiazhen will indeed be very fortunate." Everyone loves hearing good things about themselves, including the wife of the Prime Minister.

Lady Hou with the comb in hand, gently ran it through Xiao Jiazhen’s black hair while chanting softly, "With the first comb, hair shall flow to the end; with the second, white hair shall meet the brows; with the third, children and grandchildren will fill the ground..." By the time she finished reciting, the combing was complete.

An observant nanny stepped forward to take the wooden comb from Lady Hou, beginning to arrange the bride’s hair. Xiao Zheng, beaming, led Lady Hou out of her daughter’s bedroom and toward the parlor.

As the sun climbed higher, Xiao Jiazhen donned the final Rosy Clouds Robe, concluding her pre-marital preparations. She settled quietly on her bridal bed, her gaze distant as she took in the sea of red around her.

Into the bridal chamber, a tall figure walked in, waving away the maids, nannies, and old women, and strolled toward the person seated on the bed.

"Little sister," he said.

Xiao Jiazhen came back to her senses, blinked, and upon realizing it truly was her elder brother, she excitedly stood up, rushed forward, and threw her arms around him, crying and laughing, "Why have you only just come back?"

Xiao Zhiqi patted her back affectionately and said apologetically, "Sorry, little sister, your big brother came back late."

"It’s just like you, big brother, to become a Magistrate in another province just to avoid our parents’ pestering about marriage. And our second brother is even more extreme, having run away from home without leaving a trace, not even knowing to come back for his sister’s wedding," Jiazhen chastised him, feeling both angry and missing them as she stepped back to look at him.

Xiao Zhiqi’s gaze flickered with discomfort, as if mixed with shame, guilt, and even a trace of helplessness.

Xiao Zhiwen, standing outside the door and overhearing the conversation, also felt the pangs in his heart. How much he wanted to return home, but still... He had to face it eventually. Firming his resolve, he stepped inside and said cheerfully, "As the second brother, how could I not return for my little sister’s wedding?"

"Second brother?" This time the surprise was not only on Xiao Jiazhen’s shocked face but also on Xiao Zhiqi’s even more startled expression.

Xiao Zhiwen nonchalantly spread his arms wide, amused by their astonished faces, "What, is it so surprising to see me?"

"Second brother, it is unexpected that you would return," Xiao Zhiqi said, his smile fading slightly, yet his eyes twinkled softly as he looked at him.

Xiao Zhiwen gazed at his elder brother, nodded emphatically after a moment and said with a light chuckle, "I am Zhenzhen’s second brother. How could I not return for my sister’s wedding."

Xiao Zhiqi looked at him deeply, then said with a smile, "Yes, our little sister, who’s been naughty since she was young, is about to be married, and before us, too," he said, shaking his head in mock despair.

"Hmph, it’s because you two wouldn’t come home. Otherwise, I’d be chasing after my nieces and nephews by now. And you, second brother, you’ve been gone for years without sending any word back," Jiazhen lamented past her initial excitement, recalling that the thought of her brothers often brought their mother to tears.

Xiao Zhiqi and Xiao Zhiwen exchanged a look, then moved aside, smiling. Xiao Zhiwen stepped forward, placing a hand on Jiazhen’s shoulder, "I promise you this time, second brother is back for good."

"Really!"

"Really?"

Xiao Jiazhen’s face lit up with joy, realizing that now her father and mother wouldn’t have to sigh with worry.

Xiao Zhiqi’s eyes widened in surprise. "Really?" It seemed too good to be true—could his second brother truly have forgiven him?

"It’s true." Xiao Zhiwen nodded firmly at his elder brother, then smiled faintly, resting his left hand onto his elder brother’s shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze.

Xiao Zhiqi raised his right hand to grasp his brother’s hand on his shoulder tightly, his lips pressed together until finally a small smile broke through.

"Big brother, no matter how excited you are, don’t keep holding onto your brother’s hand. I’m losing feeling in it," Xiao Jiazhen teased with a laugh, "Haha, second brother, big brother likes you more. He never hugged me that tight."

Turning to her, both brothers said in unison, "Leave the hugging to your husband."

When they turned back to face each other, they both broke into laughter.

Xiao Jiazhen gaped at them, pointing and accusing, "How dare you two gang up on me? I’ll tell mom and dad to deal with you later." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"From afar, all I can hear is you shouting. Who are you trying to deal with?" Before the person appeared, a commanding yet indulgent voice reached them first.