As if to confirm Fu Youqin’s words, the Jiao family’s wedding team arrived in a hurry a full half-hour late.
The honor guard must have rushed all the way. They weren’t even lined up in a neat formation. They hastened to the door of Wen’s house chaotically, then reorganized their formation once they got there, beat the gongs and drums, and prepared to welcome the bride.
Wen Shuyue had already dressed up, put on her wedding dress that she hand-embroidered herself, and sat on the wedding bed covered with red silk. She twisted her handkerchief nervously, her expression a mixture of unease and shyness.
“The Jiao family has arrived.” Dai Fu ran in happily and delivered the message.
Wen Tian covered her with her veil and asked nonchalantly, “Has Jiao Changxian arrived?”
Dai Fu was flabbergasted for a moment. The Jiao family’s wedding party arrived half an hour late. If they didn’t hurry up, they would miss the auspicious time. The two families were already in an uproar, and it wasn’t until Wen Tian asked this that he remembered that he really didn’t see the groom. The leader of the party seemed to be one of Jiao Changxian’s cousins.
“I didn’t see him. It was a mess outside.”
Wen Huang concealed the smile on his lips, his taut nerves relaxing as he handed Wen Shuyue to his personal maids, asking them to take care of Wen Shuyue.
He led Dai Fu to the front to see the situation.
Before Wen Tian even stepped out the door, he already heard the deafening sound of gongs and drums. Unlike the clamor outside, the servants in Wen Mansion all stopped what they were doing and seemed to be watching for something.
In the front hall, Jiao Changxian’s cousin Jiao Changqing was sitting awkwardly in the guest seat. Fu Youqin and Wen Boli were sitting in the main seat. There was an atmosphere of silence in the room, out of step with the celebration outside.
“Father, Mother, did something happen?” Wen Tian’s arrival broke the silence. He seemed like he didn’t know anything and looked at Jiao Changqing with a puzzled expression.
Jiao Changqing reluctantly curled the corner of his mouth, looking at Fu Youqin who was obviously unhappy, and explained: “It was indeed an accident that Changxian fell on his leg. When he was about to get on the horse, the horse got spooked and threw him off.”
“Why did he get thrown off today of all days? If I didn’t know any better, I’d think it was the Jiao family making an excuse because they’re dissatisfied with this marriage.” Wen Tian glanced at everyone’s expressions and said this as if he was joking without malice.
Sure enough, Fu Youqin and Wen Boli’s expressions turned uglier when they heard this.
The corners of Jiao Changqing’s eyes twitched, and the hands in his sleeves clenched tightly. He was actually holding anger in his heart. Jiao Changxian was his cousin, and had always been ahead of him in every aspect of his life. He was even getting married ahead of him. But Jiao Changxian wasn’t doing so well. The night before his wedding, he secretly went to a brothel, and it was not until the next day that the Jiao family realized that he had disappeared.
At first they thought there was an accident, so they sent out all the servants to search for him with great fanfare throughout the town. But in the end, they found him in the brothel.
According to the report of the servant who was looking for him, Jiao Changxian had been fooling around with four prostitutes all night. When they arrived, Jiao Changxian was still lying on top of the prostitutes and refused to get up. There were traces of shame all over the room.
This was a lot of fun. The Jiao family had made a big fuss beforehand, only to find him in a brothel. Almost the whole town now knew that the young master of the Jiao family spent the night before his wedding with four prostitutes. The wedding was now impossible.
Not to mention how the reputation that they built up was now in ruins. The Wen family couldn’t bear it.
They took that person back by force, but Jiao Changxian was acting too wild, presumably having taken a lot of fun drugs. When no one was paying attention, he rolled together with a dressing maid. The auspicious time for the wedding was approaching and Jiao Changxian was still fooling around, but this wedding could not be ruined, so he simply lied and asked Jiao Changqing to come to welcome the bride.
As long as that person was welcomed into the family, no matter how it happened, she'd still become part of the family.
Jiao Changqing wished for this marriage not to happen, but he could not go against his elders’ words, so he could only apologize. “Honorable younger brother, you have misunderstood. Changxian is devoted to the young lady. He originally insisted on coming, but he broke his leg and couldn’t withstand the bumpy ride, so Grandmother asked me to welcome the bride on his behalf…”
His words were so earnest that, except for Wen Tian, both parents of the Wen family were a little swayed.
Wen Boli looked outside and saw that the gongs and drums had not stopped. He hesitated and discussed with his wife beside him, “Madame Qin, the hour is almost here. Do you think…?”
Fu Youqin sighed; not even the groom was present. She was unwilling to hand over her daughter like this, but it would be too unkind to make a scene over this. After all, Jiao Changxian breaking his leg was an accident. After thinking for a long time, she yielded and nodded.
A smile appeared on Jiao Changqing’s face. He stood up and cupped his hands to apologize. “Thank you for your understanding.”
A lot of time had already been wasted. After receiving this confirmation, Jiao Changqing hurried out to make preparations, followed by Wen Boli and Fu Youqin. Wen Tian deliberately fell behind and stretched out his hand to pull Fu Youqin’s sleeve.
Fu Youqin turned around curiously. “What’s wrong?”
Wen Tan had already prepared the script beforehand. Now, with downcast eyes, he expressed his worries: “The horse broke his leg on the wedding day of all days. How could such a coincidence happen? We’d better send someone to the Jiao family to take a look first.”
Although Fu Youqin was dissatisfied with Jiao Changxian’s absence, she didn’t think to go this far. She hesitated and said: “Changxian is a good boy and has always been considerate of your sister. Maybe there was an accident this time, and events have also delayed things for the auspicious time…”
Wen Tian had already guessed that this would be the outcome.
Jiao Changxian had been so good at pretending before. After the two families got engaged, he would come to visit every holiday and every festival, bringing small gifts to Wen Shuyue from time to time. If Wen Tian hadn’t experienced what happened later, he wouldn’t have believe it. It was all Jiao Changxian’s deliberate attempt to deceive them, all for the sake of Wen Shuyue’s dowry as well as the Wen family behind it.
So later, when Wen Boli abandoned his first wife, took over the Fu family’s property, and put his concubine in her place, Jiao Changxian followed suit and hooked up with the concubine’s niece instead.
“I’ll have Dai Fu take a shortcut and go to Jiao’s house to inquire about the situation first at once.” Wen Tian tugged at Fu Youqin’s sleeves. “I’m just a little worried. There’s nothing wrong with letting someone go check first. If everything’s fine, then we can forget all about it. If the Jiao family is lying to us, it would be better to come back halfway than let my sister marry him and then suffer injustice.”
When he said this, Fu Youqin actually felt that it made sense. Wen Shuyue was her only daughter. She had been proficient in chess, calligraphy and painting since childhood, and had a gentle personality. If the Jiao family was really lying, even if they repudiated the wedding halfway through, she wouldn’t want to let her only daughter marry and then be bullied.
“All right. Let Dai Fu go and investigate the situation first.” Fu Youqin touched his head. Wen Tian was actually taller than her, but because of his delicate and innocent nature, she couldn’t help but protect him like a child. It wasn’t until today that she realized that this child had suddenly matured a lot and finally seemed like an adult.
First, he asked Dai Fu to go to Lehe Town to inquire about what happened. Wen Tian told him the location of the old fisherman, and then went to the backyard.
The delay was too long. Fu Youqin brought food to Wen Shuyue and fed her two bites. Then she wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and said, half-smiling and half-crying, “Eat a full meal before you go out.”
Wen Shuyue held her hand tightly. The mother and daughter looked at each other, their eyes reddening unavoidably.
After eating, it was time to set off. Wen Tian put the veil back on, then squatted down and let Wen Shuyue get on his back.
Wen Shuyue was a head shorter than him, and it was not difficult for Wen Tian to carry her on his back. He held her steady and carried her out step by step.
There were loud gongs and drums and firecrackers blasting in front of the Wen Mansion. Wen Tian carried Wen Shuyue across the brazier and placed her firmly in the sedan chair.
The curtain of the sedan chair fell. Wen Tian got on the horse. After bidding farewell to his parents, he followed the welcoming procession beating gongs and drums to Lehe Town.
Upon leaving Sifang Town, the wedding team did not take the official road, but turned to the trail at the top of West Mountain.
Too much time had been wasted at Wen’s house, and they had to rush to the Jiao family before the auspicious time. Jiao Changqing calculated and took everyone to the shortcut at the top of West Mountain.
Although bandits were rampant in West Mountain, few bandits would dare to attempt anything against a group with such a large number of people.
The wedding party formed a long red queue and walked slowly towards the top of the west mountain.
“Brother Chang Xi, they’re heading to our mountain!”
A ten-year-old child nimbly climbed over a small hill and said this to the burly man hiding behind the hillside.
The burly man’s name was Chang Xi, and he was a bandit from West Mountain. Hearing that the bastard young master of the Jiao family was getting married, he especially came down the mountain to keep watch, ready to give this scumbag a little lesson. He worried about how to attack so many people, but he didn’t expect that this group of people would actually dare to take the road towards his territory.
“Hey, this is not good. Our brothers1 are worried that they won’t get a chance to avenge your sister Xiao Qiao.” Chang Xi jumped up from the grass, spat out the grass roots in his mouth, threw the child on his back, and ran towards the top of West Mountain. “Let’s go back and ask people to watch them. This grandfather must teach the Jiao family a lesson today, and the women in West Mountain Fortress are also bullied!”
West Mountain Fortress was to the west of Sifang Town. It was small mountain range extending from Qitian Ridge. Because the terrain next to Qitian Ridge was easy to defend and difficult to attack, this became the stronghold of West Mountain Fortress.
West Mountain Fortress was established some years ago, and there were many old and weak women and children in the gang. The men’s main occupation was still farming. Only in their spare time did they go out to scare passing wealthy folks as a kind of small business to earn extra money. Later, after the boss and the military advisor came, West Mountain Fortress gradually grew in size and became a well-known bandit gang in Sifang Town, and now few people dared to take the shortcut.
The Jiao family would not have dared to take this road if it had not been for the strength of their numbers.
Chang Xi was familiar with the terrain and hurried back early with the child on his back. Then he gathered a few brothers who could fight and went to set up an ambush on both sides of the mountain road.
Wen Tian rode a horse to the side of the sedan, whispering to Wen Shuyue while looking back somewhat anxiously.
Dai Fu had set off ahead of them, and it was faster to travel by water during the day. He should be back with news in a little while.
“Is that him?” Chang Xi asked, pointing to Wen Tian who was following the sedan.
The child nodded, “Xiao Qiao-jiejie said that Jiao Changxian is very good-looking. He’s the best-looking among them all, so it must be him.”
Chang Xi squinted his eyes and looked for a while. The only one who was good-looking and wearing red was Wen Tian. Moreover, he was talking to the sedan along the way. He must be the groom.
He pointed his finger at the brother opposite him and pointed in the direction of Wen Tian, indicating to catch him later.
The person on the other side responded with a gesture of understanding and waiting patiently in the grass.
The long queue of people moved forward slowly. Wen Tian frequently looked back, and when he turned around for the one hundred and first time, he finally saw Dai Fu at the end of the line, riding his horse toward them.
The corner of his mouth lifted a bit. Wen Tian looked at the Jiao family in front of him and quietly called Dai Fu to his side.
“What did you find out?” Wen Tian deliberately slowed down slightly and let the sedan go first so that Wen Shuyue wouldn’t hear.
After Dai Fu learned of the situation, he feared that he would not be able to catch up in time, so he ran all the way to catch up. Without even catching his breath, he lowered his voice and told the news he had learned.
The result was pretty much what Wen Tian had expected. Jiao Changxian’s scandal had spread throughout Lehe Town. After Dai Fu made some inquiries, he knew everything.
“The Jiao family has gone too far!” Wen Tian raised his hand with an angry look on his face and stopped the advancing team.
Jiao Changqing, who was walking in front, turned back in confusion and asked what was going on.
Wen Tian’s anger was unmistakable. He raised his head and pointed at Jiao Changqing’s nose unceremoniously, “You Jiao family are simply too deceitful!”
Jiao Changqing’s heart trembled, and he felt secretly happy. Could it be that they all knew about Jiao Changxian’s evil deeds…?
“Honorable younger brother, what are you…”
Wen Tian’s eyes widened angrily. Even his cheeks turned red with anger. “Do you want me to talk about the Jiao family’s scandal in public?!”
The expressions of the Jiao family members who followed them over suddenly changed. Jiao Changqing was secretly happy, but on the surface he apologetically explained, “It’s all just a misunderstanding. We can wait until we later to talk about this.”
Wen Tian sneered. As he looked at the Jiao family’s shameless behavior, he felt all the old and new hatreds surging up without slightest bit of mercy. “The Jiao family boasts of being a family of scholars. I think even the beggars on the roadside are not as disgusting as Jiao Changxian. We shall not let the marriage proceed!
“Dai Fu, take the Young Miss back!”
Dai Fu responded loudly and directed the bearers to carry the sedan back. The people behind, who were not aware of the situation, were forced to split the road.
The Jiao family members wanted to stop them, but Wen Tian whipped them back. The two people in front let out a cry of pain and lay on their horses holding their wounds. Jiao Changqing wanted to step forward, but saw his fierce expression and stepped back with some fear.
Wen Tian sneered, “The Wen family is not over this matter!”
“What’s going on with them?” The bandits lurking in the grass were confused. They were far away and couldn’t hear what was being said. They only knew that the groom suddenly stopped and drove the sedan chair back.
“Is he going to break off the engagement?”
Chang Xi spat into the grass, “Good-looking ones are no good. After wrecking havoc on Xiao Qiao, he’s bringing trouble to other girls!”
The people below had split into two groups, with only a few people left in the center. It was a good opportunity to kidnap someone.
Chang Xi stood up and waved his hand. “Brothers, come on!”
Four or five burly bandits rushed towards Wen Tian down the mountain. Chang Xi’s movements were fast and strong. Before anyone could react, he knocked Wen Tian unconscious with a hand-knife strike, then threw him on his shoulder ran away.
Jiao Changqing was surprised, “What are you doing–“
Before he finished speaking, several men rushed down and started grabbing and beating people regardless of who they were, then left a message and rushed up the mountain like the wind.
“Tell the Jiao family to bring silver as ransom!”
The stunned Jiao Changqing said: “???” Why do they want the Jiao family to ransom a kidnapped Wen family member?
The bandits’ process of kidnapping people was smooth and swift, arriving and departing like the wind. By the time the stunned people came to their senses, they had long since disappeared.
Dai Fu looked at the direction in which Wen Tian disappeared, and then at the panicked Wen Shuyue who was peering out. He gritted his teeth and shouted: “Go back to Wen Mansion first!”
Chang Xi took point and carried the man back to the village. He threw the unconscious Wen Tian on the ground, wandered around twice, found a hemp rope, and tied Wen Tian firmly to the room pillar.
The brothers who followed behind circled around the pillar and exclaimed, “He sure is a pretty boy. No wonder even Xiao Qiao was deceived.”
Chang Xi kicked the person who spoke. “Go, go, hurry up and call Xiao Qiao. The brothers have kidnapped this person for her. You can kill or behead him as she pleases.”
It didn’t take long for Xiao Qiao to come over. She was wearing a coarse dress and her hair was pulled back with a smooth stick. She looked delicate and soft, with the fragility of xiaojiabiyu2.
When Chang Xi saw her, he immediately had a silly smile. “Xiao Qiao, look, I tied up Jiao Changxian to let you vent your anger.”
Xiao Qiao was in the middle of washing clothes when she was called over. She became furious when he heard him mention Jiao Changxian. She punched him viciously and said, “If you mention that person again, I’ll yank your ears off.”
After hitting the man, she returned to her delicate appearance. She looked at Wen Tian tied against the pillar and asked, “Who is this?”
Poor Chang Xi, a big man over eight feet tall, was so beaten that he didn’t dare say a word. He cowered in aggrieved manner and whispered, “Isn’t that… who?” He originally wanted to say Jiao Changxian, but then he remembered being beaten just now, and immediately closed his mouth.
“Who is that who?” Xiao Qiao raised her eyebrows.
Chang Xi shrank back pitifully. “Just that one, Jiao something or other. Didn’t you tell me not to mention his name?”
Xiao Qiao stood silently for a while, pointed at the unconscious Wen Tian and said in shock: “You mean him, Jiao Changxian?”
“Ah.” Chang Xi nodded honestly and looked at Xiao Qiao expectantly, like a big wolf-pup waiting to be praised.
However, what awaited him was not compliment and a reward, but another furious beating from Xiao Qiao. Although it didn’t hurt, it was particularly aggravating. “Why are you hitting me again?”
Xiao Qiao smiled coldly and stared him down. “You idiot, this is not Jiao Changxian!”
“Ah?” Chang Xi was confused for a moment and pointed at Wen Tian stupidly. “Then who is he?”
Xiao Qiao crossed his arms and said, “You arrested this person, and then you ask me who he is?”
Chang Xi looked at Wen Tian and then at the others, “Then we arrested the wrong person? What should we do now?”
No one answered. Everyone looked at the sky and the earth.
Chang Xi frowned bitterly. “We even told the Jiao family to bring silver to ransom him.”
Xiao Qiao rolled her eyes and turned to go back to the laundry. “The boss will be back soon. Ask him what to do.”
Chang Xi: “…”
He muttered in a low voice, “Isn’t asking the boss just asking for a beating?”
However, everyone was obviously afraid of being beaten by the boss. As soon as Xiao Qiao left, they made as though the birds and beasts and dispersed, leaving Chang Xi alone and fretting about Wen Tian.
“How about you just sneak me down the mountain secretly.” Wen Tian opened his eyes and tried to give him a little suggestion.
He had woken up while he was tied up. Chang Xi carried him like a sack. His whole body hurt from being knocked around, not to mention being strangled by the rough rope, and he woke up from the pain. It was just that he didn’t understand the situation clearly, so he kept pretending to be unconscious.
Chang Xi was so startled by his sudden voice that he jumped back and stared at him as if he was seeing a ghost. “When did you wake up?”
Wen Tian said, “Just now.”
Chang Xi breathed a sigh of relief and said with a fierce look on his face, “I will not release anyone without the ransom.”
Wen Tian cut through him, “But didn’t you kidnap the wrong person? The Jiao family won’t ransom me. They’re poor.”
Chang Xi looked like a frightened bear, his eyes as wide as bells. “Didn’t you just wake up?”
“Well, I heard this sentence just after I woke up.” Wen Tian had been listening for a while and knew that this man was a very careless person, so he wanted to coax him into let him go. “I also have a grudge against Jiao Changxian. If you let me go, I’ll go home and deal with him, and I can give Miss Xiao Qiao a chance to vent, as well.”
===Author’s Notes===
Boss Chu: My wife is so witty
Lao Gong will appear tomorrow! ! Today, the witty Tiantian is giving out red envelopes to everyone =3=
===Translator’s Notes===
First of and most importantly, what an amazing chapter title hahahahaha.
Dai Fu is having the weirdest day.
Wen Tian for best actor award.
- Xiongdi (兄弟), in this case, not literal blood-related brothers. The first draft of this translation retained “xiongdi” in pinyin, but it wasn’t flowing well. ↩︎
- 小家碧玉: According to here, literally “Biyu of a small family”; an idiom that generally refers to young and beautiful women from small families ↩︎
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