"No need for thanks. When you marry into the Zhao family and become the second sister-in-law, if you suffer any grievances in the future, I’ll need you to cover for me. It’s only right to butter you up in advance!"

Chun Nuan replied to Qiu Yan with a smile.

"Stop with that! You’re the one marrying into the Zhao family first, making our mother-in-law so delighted, and even the servants say the Third Young Madam is the most favored. Tell me, how could I possibly have any standing in our mother-in-law’s eyes?"

Chun Nuan was so amused by her mock-serious expression that she laughed until she doubled over, the handkerchief in her hand dropping onto the table.

"Then you only need to have a place in my second brother’s heart."

Qiu Yan’s face turned bright red with embarrassment.

Seeing her shy demeanor, Chun Nuan couldn’t help but find it amusing.

You see, Mrs. Qiu always said she was carefree and silly.

But actually, Qiu Yan always had her own plans.

"Qiu Yan, let me call you Qiu Yan one more time. The next time we meet, I’ll have to call you second sister-in-law." Chun Nuan laughed and said, "I came today to add to your dowry, but I won’t come on the day you marry. I’ll wait for you at the Champion Scholar Mansion."

"Nuannuan." Qiu Yan grasped her hand, "I’m actually a little scared."

"Don’t worry, everything will be fine."

Afraid of what?

She, who was not afraid of heaven or earth, not even of not getting married, was actually scared.

"I..."

"Don’t be afraid, everyone in the Zhao family is eagerly waiting for your arrival."

On the auspicious day and at the auspicious hour, the Qiu Mansion sent their daughter to be married.

Mrs. Qiu wiped her tears, repeatedly instructing her daughter to be filial to her in-laws and to be a virtuous wife and good mother...

"Yes, daughter will remember mother’s teachings."

Qiu Yan was crying too.

She finally understood why brides cry when they marry.

Leaving the Qiu Mansion, where she was born and raised, to live in the entirely unfamiliar Zhao Mansion.

From now on, she couldn’t run to her mother to act spoiled whenever something happened.

She’s getting married, she’s like water poured out.

So sad.

"Madam, the auspicious time is waiting. Quickly cover the veil on Miss and let the Young Master carry her to the sedan chair."

The maidservant beside her hurriedly persuaded the mother and daughter.

The crying for the bride’s departure must be kept within limits; they mustn’t miss the auspicious time, and it wouldn’t be good to cry and ruin the makeup.

"Oh yes, Yan’er, come, let mother put the veil on you."

"Daughter bids farewell to both parents. Father and mother, please take care."

Kneeling down once more to kowtow, Young Master Qiu crouched in front of his sister and carried her onto the bridal sedan chair.

"Sister."

"Brother, what is it?"

"Luckily you’re marrying now. If you waited another twenty years, I’d be unable to carry you."

"You good-for-nothing brother."

Qiu Yan knew how her brother could tease; even at this moment, he couldn’t resist ribbing her about marrying late.

"Brother, you’re eager for me to be like water thrown out!"

"Of course, since girls all have to get married," Qiu Cheng said without thinking, "Do you know why our mother was wiping her tears just now?"

How could I not know, it’s because she can’t bear to see me go.

"Wrong, mother is thinking that finally, this girl is getting married, and she won’t end up staying on her hands."

Qiu Cheng said cheekily, receiving a pinch on the shoulder from Qiu Yan in return.

These siblings, a year apart in age, had grown up bickering with each other.

For Qiu Cheng, his sister’s pinch was akin to being tickled.

Just as he sent her off on the bridal sedan chair, he suddenly said something else.

"If you suffer any grievances, come back immediately and tell your brother. Your Champion Scholar brother will still beat him up!"

Qiu Yan’s eyes were red again!

That’s her brother who’s different inside and out!

The bridal sedan chair lifted, with music and drums playing in harmony.

Watching as the Zhao family’s wedding procession walked farther and farther away, Mrs. Qiu wiped her tears.

"This girl is finally married off, she won’t end up staying on my hands anymore."

"Pfft," Qiu Cheng couldn’t help but laugh.

"What are you laughing at, you brat?"

Mrs. Qiu asked, puzzled.

"Mother, I said the same thing when carrying Yan’er, I’m certain that’s what you were thinking. Yan’er even pinched me for it."

"Serves you right."

Mrs. Qiu cried and laughed at the same time!

Her son’s words had pinpointed her thoughts, but this thoughtless son had said them to his sister, how hard it must have been for Yan’er to hear?

"Mother, are you not worried about Yan’er at all?"

"Worried about what? The Champion Scholar is kind-hearted, and the Zhao Mansion has its rules, no concubines for men, and women don’t become concubines," Mrs. Qiu said. "There’s not even a single maid around the son-in-law, nor any servant girls. Plus, with Chun Nuan in the Zhao Mansion, with Nuannuan there, there’s nothing for me to worry about."

Qiu Yan only recognized Chun Nuan as a true friend in the Capital.

The two had a friendship as solid as gold.

And it was Chun Nuan who originally helped set up this marriage.

So, Mrs. Qiu was quite satisfied with her daughter marrying into the Zhao family.

"Thinking back, in the circle of noblewomen in the Capital, how many thought our Yan’er would either never get married or not marry well."

Every time there’s a flower-viewing event or something, people would openly or covertly laugh at her.

And the suitors brought by matchmakers were either second marriages or flawed; faulty choices all presented to her, making Mrs. Qiu offend several matchmakers.

Qiu Yan also became a negative example for young ladies in the capital to push them to marry.

"Don’t be picky; your parents are doing it for your own good. If you’re too choosy, you’ll end up like Miss from the Qiu Mansion, unable to get married."

But as it turned out, it wasn’t that she couldn’t marry, she was just waiting for the right person, the right one.

At the Champion Scholar Mansion, the house was brightly lit and full of guests.

Mr. and Mrs. Zhou were busy running around.

They couldn’t have imagined so many guests would come for their son’s wedding.

Many of them were not even acquaintances.

Of course, they knew why in their hearts.

These people were all drawn by the title of Champion Scholar.

While he’s still young and in a low official position, it’s still possible to curry favor.

If they don’t seize the opportunity now to build connections, they might miss the chance once he rises in rank.

They might be indifferent now, but they won’t be able to reach him later.

"Nuannuan, there are so many guests, have we prepared enough?"

Mrs. Zhou was flustered.

"Mother, don’t worry. I’ve already instructed the kitchen to prepare extra, as long as there are enough ingredients, everything will be fine."

"I really didn’t expect so many guests."

Just as when Zhao Minghua and Chun Nuan got married, it was also full of guests.

The difference is, they were in Changzhou, where having many guests was normal.

But here in the Capital, they didn’t even know many high officials.

Yet quite a few officials have come, truly unexpected.

"That’s normal; this is the Capital."

It’s always like this, even the wealthy in remote mountains have distant relatives, while the poor in bustling streets are ignored.

Chun Nuan learned this cold truth of human nature after her grandfather’s incident.

People are only interested when the tea is hot.

And Zhao Minglang is the newly crowned Champion Scholar, so this tea is indeed piping hot.

"The bride is here, the bride is here."

A child shouted excitedly.

"Quick, go welcome the bride!"

Mrs. Zhou quickly went to the mansion gate with Chun Nuan.

The sedan chair was placed down, and Qiu Yan was helped out by Zhao Minglang.

With the red veil covering her head, she couldn’t see the outside, but she could feel the excitement.

"Don’t worry, you’ll have to step over a fire basin soon," Zhao Minglang said, "Wait a moment."

Zhao Minglang bent down to stir the firewood in the basin slightly, making the flames reduce immediately. Qiu Yan smoothly stepped over the fire basin and entered the Zhao Mansion.

"I didn’t expect, the second one is also thoughtful."

Mrs. Zhou saw this scene with delight: "Second one is finally married, now I can finally breathe easy."

"Time for the newlyweds to pay respects."

"First bow to the heavens and earth."

"Second bow to the parents."

"Husband and wife bow to each other."

"Ceremony complete, escort to the bridal chamber."

Chun Nuan quickly followed into the bridal chamber, not wanting any funny business to happen in there.