The sound of Aunt Liu's suppressed sobs was discernible.
After all, Song Chaoyu's marriage was supposed to be a joyous occasion.
What reassured Song Chaoyu even more was that Mu Changxi, standing ahead, took the end of the red silk from her hand and whispered, "Don't be afraid, stay close to me."
Song Chaoyu's steps slowly advanced. Mu Changxi then said to Xiao Ruizhi, who was pushing the wheelchair behind him, "Slower."
The two then slowly moved forward to pay their respects to Song Chaoyu's parents.
Originally, they should have knelt to bid farewell to their parents, but given Mu Changxi's status as a prince and his leg inconvenience, only Song Chaoyu knelt.
She did not hear her grandmother's voice. However, the matchmaker had already told Song Chaoyu that the old madam would not be attending the main hall today. She claimed it was to prevent herself from crying, and since Song Chaoyu was not marrying far away, it would feel like a permanent separation, which the old madam did not wish to dwell upon. Song Chaoyu understood her grandmother's nature and was grateful.
Otherwise, wouldn't she have become a bride with tear-streaked makeup today?
In truth, bidding farewell to her parents was merely a formality for Song Chaoyu. Her heart truly belonged to the old madam and Aunt Liu.
She worried that after leaving the Song family, Aunt Liu's situation would become even more difficult. She also wanted to protect Aunt Liu and Xiao Qing'er, which caused her some unease.
Unfortunately, Aunt Liu was merely a concubine and could only watch her daughter from behind the crowd. She knew she couldn't make a sound at this moment. Even though everyone in the capital knew Song Chaoyu was the daughter of an outside mistress, Aunt Liu only hoped that Song Chaoyu was now officially registered under the main wife. She couldn't disgrace Song Chaoyu, as that would hinder her future happiness.
Thus, until Song Chaoyu stood up and was carried on Song Jiayang's back at the instruction of Nanny An, she did not hear Aunt Liu's voice again.
She only knew that her aunt must be by her side, seeing her off on her wedding day!
Just like all mothers in this world, treating their daughters.
Although Song Jiayang had been ill for many years, his back remained strong and sturdy.
Furthermore, behind them, a throng of maids and nannies supported Song Chaoyu firmly on Song Jiayang's back.
They proceeded all the way to the entrance of the Song mansion, where Song Jiayang placed Song Chaoyu into the bridal sedan chair.
The moment she entered the sedan chair, Song Chaoyu wasn't sure if she had misheard.
She seemed to hear Song Yanjiao's voice softly outside the sedan chair: "Hasn't their sedan chair exceeded the rules? It's even more magnificent than when I married Prince Ning."
It was only after the sedan chair began to move that Song Chaoyu heard the matchmaker accompanying the sedan chair say to Qiu Qing, "Did you hear what the second young lady meant just now?"
Qiu Qing, who usually didn't gossip, spoke up this time, "She's just jealous of our young lady's sedan chair, which was bestowed with a golden canopy of 'Double Phoenixes Facing the Sun' by the Emperor. It's the Emperor's will, so no matter how jealous she is, it's useless."
Song Chaoyu already knew that her sedan chair was extravagant enough!
The sedan chair was covered in red satin, made from gauze imported from the South Sea. It was also adorned with many pearls and golden tassels as embellishments, and even the handles for lifting were lacquered with gold.
Now, with the addition of a golden canopy of "Double Phoenixes Facing the Sun," wouldn't it appear to others as exceeding the rules?
However, the Emperor's favor towards Mu Changxi extended far beyond this.
When the sedan chair arrived at Prince Ning's manor, Nanny An called out from outside, "The bride alights—"
There should have been a groom kicking the sedan chair, but since Prince Ning had leg inconvenience, this ritual was naturally omitted.
Her brother from her maternal family accompanying her this far was sufficient.
Next, Nanny An would carry Song Chaoyu up the steps.
This smooth journey allowed Song Chaoyu to relax slightly: only the final hurdle remained! Once inside the manor, others could no longer interfere.
However, as Nanny An stepped forward and took Song Chaoyu's hand, Song Chaoyu realized something had gone wrong!
The massive skirt of her wedding dress had gotten caught in the gap of the sedan chair's seat!
It seemed a pearl was stuck in the gap, and when she tugged, she couldn't pull the skirt free. Instead, she heard a faint tearing sound.
This wouldn't do. If she used brute force, she might damage the skirt, which would be unsightly.
Outside, many guests were laughing and teasing the bride for not alighting from the sedan chair. Song Chaoyu knew she had no time to hesitate.
She lifted her veil and looked back at her skirt.
Fortunately, because she had adjusted her clothes after entering, it wasn't the outermost layer of the skirt that was caught.
Her wedding robe had as many as six layers of skirts, signifying "going smoothly in all six directions." The skirt caught by the pearl was the third layer.
So, she decided to go all out and pulled hard on the skirt—
With a "rip," the skirt was torn open, and the pearl fell into the gap.
She didn't have time to lament the torn skirt. She hid the torn part within the layers of other skirts and tied the ripped area with a loosened golden thread to the inner skirt. Then, she let down the outer skirt and the phoenix robe, almost completely concealing it. From the outside, there was no sign of damage.
Nanny An, seeing that Song Chaoyu inside was slow to move, seemed to realize that something might have happened.
So, she called out a few more auspicious phrases from outside to stall for time, and finally saw Song Chaoyu's hand reach out to hers.
When Song Chaoyu emerged from the sedan chair, she was still the bride with her veil on, dignified and beautiful.
Nanny An carried her on her shoulders, and Song Chaoyu immediately leaned in and whispered into Nanny An's ear, "Go and check that sedan chair, don't let anyone else see."
Nanny An immediately understood and gave a look to the matchmaker, who also realized that the sedan chair might have a problem.
At this moment, Mu Changxi was sitting before the brazier at the entrance of Prince Chang's manor. Watching Song Chaoyu arrive, the corners of his mouth curved slightly.
When Nanny An placed Song Chaoyu before the brazier, Mu Changxi didn't even use the red silk this time. Instead, he proactively extended his hand to Song Chaoyu.
This was not according to custom, which made Song Chaoyu pause, and also caused the surrounding people to start cheering.
But Mu Changxi's hand remained firmly in front of Song Chaoyu, and Song Chaoyu finally placed her hand on the back of his hand with peace of mind.
She suddenly remembered what Han Xi had told her in the past.
The woman he would marry in the future, their hands would be joined for a lifetime.
Song Chaoyu's heart beat faster and faster.
Why hadn't she felt nervous before, but now, upon reaching the entrance of Prince Chang's manor, she felt a sense of nervousness?