BMN : Chapter 2

Although it was still the chilly season of early spring, today the Duke of Sui’s mansion was devoid of any early spring chill. The entire residence was adorned with magnificent decorations, and the gate was crowded with guests. Even the birds in the trees chirped merrily, joining in the festivities.

After a busy morning, three or five maids, granted a moment of rest, gathered in a small side room to drink tea and chat.

“…I heard this person has quite a temperament…”

“What kind of temperament?”

“I heard it from my granduncle, who often works outside. He intentionally inquired about it. It is said that this person is quite the romantic, often mingling with young masters from well-off families in the capital, not doing anything serious, just having fun, frequently visiting pleasure quarters, and not being very discreet…”

“Hush, how dare you say such things openly? Be careful, the walls have ears. When that person enters the mansion, who knows what might happen!”

“In my opinion, it’s nothing to worry about. You don’t need to scare yourselves.”

“Why do you say that? After all, he is going to marry into our master’s family as the main spouse.”

“Think about how our master feels about this marriage.”

“I heard from Yingyu, who follows Sister Bailu, that the master has lost his temper a few times, probably because of this matter. Although the master doesn’t dislike male relationships, he was very much in love with the late mistress, so he probably prefers women more.”

“Moreover, this person is from the Fu family, and there has never been any relationship worthy of forming an alliance between our side and theirs.”

“The Fu family is now managed by this person’s uncle’s household, with Mrs. Li as the matriarch. The couple doesn’t seem to care much about this nephew. How much did we send to their house? And what did they send back?”

“Exactly, exactly. I heard from the people upstairs that our old lady wasn’t pleased at all at the time.”

“So, you see, with a bad reputation and a lack of support from his own family, plus the master’s dislike and the old lady’s displeasure, what kind of waves can he create after marrying into our household?”

“I just hope I don’t get assigned to serve in the new husband’s room. If the master is unhappy, we’ll suffer even more.”

“Not necessarily. Sometimes, when the master’s status is low, the servants can be a bit more lenient.”

“In any case, we should be careful with our words and actions. No matter what the future holds, we should maintain proper manners now that he’s newly married. If things don’t go well later, that’s another matter.”

“Elder sister is right, but…”

Suddenly, a call came from outside the room: “Stop talking and get to work, the Third Prince has arrived, and we need more people at the front!”

The maids quickly dispersed and returned to their duties.

The third Prince came in person, Jin Yi, the groom, naturally had to go out to greet him, escorting him all the way to the main hall. The guests who had already arrived made way and saluted. The Third Prince, devoid of any arrogance typical of royalty, smiled and invited everyone to sit down again, then took Jin Yi’s hand and whispered beside him, “Changjie, this time, it’s a bit of a compromise for you.”

Jin Yi quickly replied, “I am humbled. It is an honor to receive a marriage decree from the emperor.”

The Third Prince smiled, patted Jin Yi’s shoulder, and said no more. After having lunch with a group of distinguished guests, the Third Prince left before Jin Yi could go to greet his bride.

In the afternoon, the procession set out from the Jin residence to the Fu residence. The procession wound through the streets, crossing the Rainbow Bridge and skirting the river embankment, providing the townspeople with quite a spectacle. A marriage decreed by the emperor, a wedding between men, was a rare event. Even after the procession had passed, the citizens did not disperse but gathered in groups at tea houses, taverns, and snack stalls, discussing the marriage and expressing their various opinions.

When a man marries outside the family, he doesn’t need to wear a bridal veil. When Fu Ming was helped out of the sedan chair by Jin Yi, his eyes could see, and the expressions of the people around him were all captured in his gaze. He steadied himself and, holding hands with Jin Yi, walked step by step into the ceremonial hall. They bowed to heaven and earth, parents, and to each other, completing the solemn ceremony that officially changed Fu Ming from a young master of the Fu family to the main wife of the Jin family. After the final bow, he looked at Jin Yi’s stern and cold expression and wondered, “Is this the person who will accompany me for the rest of my life? He doesn’t seem like someone easy to get along with. What will happen between us in the future?” Fu Ming took a deep breath, suppressed his chaotic emotions, and smiled slightly at Jin Yi.

However, that night, Jin Yi did not return to the meticulously decorated bridal chamber.

In the middle of the night, Bailu came to inform Fu Ming that Jin Yi was drunk and had retired to his room, leaving Fu Ming to his own devices.

Wanlan was so angry she nearly threw her handkerchief and drew the curtains, exclaiming, “Is this a show of power?”

Lüfei shook her head at her and then said to Fu Ming, “Master, let me help you rest.”

To be so coldly treated on the wedding night, Fu Ming naturally felt displeased and disappointed, but there was also a trace of relief mixed in. He waved his hand and said, “You all heard earlier, you can no longer address me as ‘Master.’ There is a proper master in this mansion now, so call me Young Master Ming.”

“What kind of situation is this? No matter what, it’s unreasonable to call you that; it’s too much of an insult!” Wanlan was still indignant.

“If you can’t endure this little grievance, there will be more to come in the future.” Although Lüfei was also upset, she knew that Fu Ming’s situation was even more difficult, so she forced a smile and gently comforted him, “Young Master, don’t think too much about it. Things will get better over time. With your character, who wouldn’t like you after getting to know you?”

Fu Ming nodded slightly in acknowledgment and said no more, but he did not go to bed either. Instead, he took the wine pot and poured a cup of wine from the prepared cups, raising his head to drink.

As he drank, he felt a growing desire to get a little tipsy, so cup after cup, he gradually drank the entire pot of wine.

Late into the night, the lamps had not yet burned out, and the warm wine made him feel slightly cold.

As the wine took effect and he became slightly intoxicated, his thoughts faded into emptiness. Eventually, he took off his clothes and went to bed. When he woke up the next morning, the red candles on the candlestick had melted down to nothing, leaving a pile of wax.

Author’s Note:

Jin Yi, courtesy name Changjie (jie, fourth tone).

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