Chapter 955: Chapter 951: Conversation (5)

When Shen Ji heard the news, he also had the same thought. This matter was of great importance and must not alarm the Emperor. It needed to be carried out secretly and flawlessly.

At the end of April, he led two hundred guards and traveled far to Fujian.

Xiqiu was helping Madam Jiang with Tong Xiyu’s wedding at the Tong Mansion. Madam Jiang, following the rules of their sisters’ marriages, had prepared forty-eight sets of dowry. Madam Mei and the First Master complained, "Those were the old rules; several years have passed. The Eighth Miss is marrying into the Marquis Mansion. If the dowry is too little, how can she hold her head up there?"

The First Master, busy with court affairs, looked coldly at Madam Mei upon hearing this and asked, "Then tell me, how much should we give her?"

Madam Mei shrank back a little and stammered, "At... at least fifty... fifty-six sets..." Then she explained, "Master, let me calculate the dowry arrangements for you..." She hadn’t finished when the First Master waved his hand to interrupt her, sarcastically questioning, "Fifty-six sets?"

Madam Mei stepped back, speechless, afraid to speak further. The First Master frowned, "Among the sisters, as I recall, only when Xihua got married were there fifty-six sets, but that was different because Lady contributed to her dowry. If you feel wronged for your daughter, you can add to it yourself. Otherwise, don’t bring this up again. Their dowries are evenly distributed, neither lacking nor exceptional."

Madam Mei was at a loss for words, wanting to say more, but the First Master was already impatient: "Leave!" With that, he lowered his head to continue reviewing the documents, ignoring her.

Madam Mei left dejectedly.

On May 6th, Xiqiu returned home early and went with Tong Xiyan to see off Tong Xiyu. Tong Xiyu was wearing a red wedding dress, sitting shyly at her dressing table. When the firecrackers sounded outside, Zhou Bohan and Tong Minzhi were blocking the gate, "troubling" the new son-in-law. Second Master Lou had invited many friends, and they began exchanging couplets inside and out. Tong Xiyan asked Daiju, "Were those answered by the people Second Master Lou invited or by Second Master Lou himself?"

"I heard they were answered by the people he invited," Daiju said with a smile. "It’s quite lively, and Seventh Master already has over ten thick red envelopes in his hand."

Tong Xiyan smiled lightly and said to Xiqiu, "Seventh Brother seems to have benefited the most."

"Elders should indeed have some advantages," Xiqiu replied with a smile, then turned to Daiju, "Go check; it should be about time."

Daiju rushed out, and shortly thereafter, firecrackers went off. The main gate opened, allowing the wedding party to enter. Someone came over and invited them, "The banquet has begun at the front."

Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan then went to Tong Xiyu’s room, chatted with her for a while, and after three-quarters past the hour of Chen, Tong Xiyu and Second Master Lou, dressed in a red robe, bid farewell to the First Master. Tong Shen Zhi then carried her to the sedan chair, accompanied by music, to the Lou Mansion.

After paying respects and drinking the nuptial wine, the people from the Lou Family who teased the couple left. Tong Xiyu had her maid help her change into a casual overcoat and sat by the bed waiting for Second Master Lou to return.

"Madam, you should eat something first," the maid whispered.

Tong Xiyu glanced at the snacks on the table, thought about having smoothly married into the Lou Mansion, and would soon see Second Master Lou. Her heart filled with sweetness, she shook her head and said, "I’ll wait to eat with my husband."

The maid chuckled softly.

It wasn’t until after the hour of Hai, a slightly intoxicated Second Master Lou cheerfully entered. Seeing the picturesque Tong Xiyu, he immediately embraced her eagerly, calling out, "Wife, wife."

"Husband," Tong Xiyu said shyly, pushing him away, "Let me help you freshen up."

Second Master Lou nodded at her, "Alright, alright." With that, he quickly went to the washroom, and Tong Xiyu changed clothes and removed her makeup waiting by the bed. Shortly after, Second Master Lou came out, "Wife, let’s rest." He said, embracing Tong Xiyu and lying down with her.

Tong Xiyu’s heart was pounding. She often heard that a night of passion is worth a thousand gold, her heart simultaneously filled with anticipation and sweetness. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Feeling a coolness on her body, she looked down to see her clothes were all removed by Second Master Lou. As he kissed her, he kept saying, "You are truly beautiful, so beautiful!" Tong Xiyu blushed, seemingly resisting yet yielding...

When the sharp pain pierced her body, she screamed, pushing at Second Master Lou, "Husband, it hurts!"

"It will be over soon, just bear with it," Second Master Lou comforted her as he moved once more, then collapsed on her, breathing heavily while holding her, "You’re so sweet, just like in my dreams..."

Like in his dreams? Despite the discomfort, Tong Xiyu felt a sweetness in her heart and asked, "Did you dream of me before, Husband?"

Second Master Lou, already sleepy, turned over and mumbled, "I often heard Madam talk about you, so I met you in my dreams..." With that, he turned over, "Get some rest soon," and began to snore lightly.

Tong Xiyu had many things to say to him but restraining herself to see him already deep asleep, a bit of her joy faded. Despite the soreness, she lifted the curtain, "Bring some water."

The door opened, and a maid came in with water. Tong Xiyu covered herself and said, "I’ll do it myself, you can leave." Once the door closed again, she cleaned herself, wringed a towel to wipe Second Master Lou. After finishing tidying up, she lay back in bed, looking at the man sleeping inside, her gaze drifting to the Dragon and Phoenix Candle flickering on the table, unable to sleep at all.

The wedding night was not quite how she had imagined.

On the third day after the wedding, Tong Xiyu and Second Master Lou returned home together for the family visit. At the recognition ceremony, Zhi ran over to tug on Second Master Lou, "Are you the Eighth Uncle?"

Second Master Lou crouched to meet his gaze, smiling, "Yes, I am the Eighth Uncle." He handed a greeting gift to Zhi, "Take this to play."

Zhi happily took it and bounced back to Xiqiu’s side. Xiqiu laughed, holding him, wrinkling her nose, "Did you thank the Eighth Uncle?"

"Thank you, Eighth Uncle," Zhi saluted Second Master Lou with a fist salute, and Second Master Lou glanced at Xiqiu, quickly looked away smiling, "No need to thank."

Xiqiu then looked at Tong Xiyu, who was wearing a coral patterned red overcoat with shimmering green gemstones clasps, exuding a woman’s charm more than before marriage. Seeing her dazed while holding the tea cup, Xiqiu softly asked, "What is it? Are you feeling unwell?"

"No," Tong Xiyu smiled, "Sixth Sister, I’m fine."

Xiqiu nodded with a smile and said nothing more. Second Master Lou sat beside Zhou Bohan, whom he had known for some time, and after exchanging some words, Zhou Bohan said, "...It’s a pity the Great Governor is not here."

Second Master Lou glanced at Xiqiu and replied to Zhou Bohan, "According to the days, the Emperor should be returning to the capital in half a month, right?"

"Yes!" Zhou Bohan nodded in agreement, his gaze fell on Tong Xiyan, who was chatting and laughing with Xiqiu. He then drank a sip of tea, motioning to Daiju, instructing, "Madam didn’t eat much in the morning, bring the prepared pastries from the carriage for Madam to have some."

Daiju agreed with a smile, Tong Xiyu, upon hearing, was slightly startled and looked toward Second Master Lou. Second Master Lou was conversing with Tong Shen Zhi, seemingly sensing her gaze, turned to glance at her, then side turned to drink tea.

"Master, First Young Madam asks if we can start the banquet?" Nanny Qiu entered with a smile to ask Tong Shen Zhi, who frowned and asked, "Has the First Master returned?"

Nanny Qiu shook her head, "Not yet."

Second Master Lou’s expression changed, and noticing, Nanny Qiu quickly turned her words, "Perhaps there’s something delayed with the court." Tong Shen Zhi nodded slightly, "Perhaps we should wait a little longer."

Second Master Lou had no objections and agreed.

Even after lunchtime, the First Master had not returned. Tong Shen Zhi sent someone to the government office to invite him back, but before anyone left, the usual servant from First Master’s side already returned, "Master, there’s been an incident."

Not only was Tong Shen Zhi surprised, but Zhou Bohan and even Xiqiu were taken aback.

"Just received a message from Fujian saying that the Imperial Uncle, Lord Shen, encountered an incident in Fujian. The corpse was found with multiple arrows, and the death was gruesome."

"Shen Ji died?" Second Master Lou’s expression changed; the death of the Imperial Uncle was shocking news.

Xiqiu held Zhi’s hand, her expression calm, listening to the others speak.