Drizzle hung like mist, the wind carrying a faint chill.
When Cui Wenyin went to the main hall to pay respects to her mother, Madam Yang, she happened to find her two elder brothers there as well.
“To think such a thing could happen—unbelievable…” Madam Yang covered her lips in astonishment.
Cui Wenyin, hearing half phrases here and there, made her bow, then could not help but ask curiously: “Mother, brothers, what are you discussing? What is so unbelievable?”
Since it concerned matters of the inner household, Madam Yang was unwilling to speak. But the second son could not hold his tongue: “You may not believe it if I say it—Pei Shouzhen’s wife has died! She passed away back in the fifth month, yet his family has concealed it from him till now!”
Cui Wenyin was taken aback. “Such a thing?”
She was shocked that the young Madam Pei, so young, was gone just like that—and also astonished that the principal wife’s death could be kept hidden from her own husband for so long!
It was unheard of, no wonder even her usually composed mother was shaken.
“Brother, how could someone just die so suddenly? If his family concealed it, how did you learn of it?” Cui Wenyin seated herself beside Madam Yang, her bright eyes full of puzzlement. “Could it not be only rumor?”
The second son recounted the events of the previous night truthfully, then added: “Before dawn, Brother Shouzhen rode out of the city. The western wing is empty now!”
Having heard the whole matter, Cui Wenyin felt both astonishment and absurdity. Learning Pei Xia had already departed, she could not help sighing: “If she passed away already in the fifth month, what difference can it make even if he rushes back now?”
“Cousin Jin said the same yesterday, but Shouzhen insisted on returning, saying he must find out exactly what had happened.”
Eldest Brother Cui held his teacup and shook his head. “But this matter is indeed full of oddities. The principal wife of the Pei clan—gone just like that. He ought to return and investigate.”
Second Brother Cui suddenly lowered his voice. “In truth, I had heard of this Madam Pei before. That Shen Hui toppled the Shenghua Tower he had built for the late Empress Dowager. His Majesty, remembering the old chancellor’s past tutelage, spared his life and instead exiled the whole family. I thought then that the marriage alliance between the Peis and Shens would surely be dissolved, but who would have thought that on the very day of the exile, Brother Shouzhen actually took the Shen girl back to Wenxi…”
Saying this, Second Brother Cui turned to Madam Yang: “Mother, if you were Madam Pei, would you be willing to have such a daughter-in-law?”
Madam Yang was caught speechless.
Seeking benefit and avoiding harm is human nature. From the perspective of a household’s matriarch and mother, of course she would not wish her son entangled in such a marriage.
Moreover, though she had only met Madam Wang once, she knew that the legitimate daughter of the Wang clan of Langya was a woman of exceedingly strong character. A widow raising her only son, holding up the Pei household on her own—after all that hardship to bring her son up so outstandingly, she naturally hoped he would have a bright future, all things smooth and complete…
Thinking thus, Madam Yang began to taste something unusual in the matter.
But then again, Madam Wang was a shrewd woman. However much she disdained such a daughter-in-law, she would not stoop to such a clumsy and rash move—
Even if she confined her daughter-in-law within the inner chambers and slowly wore her down, waiting three or four years until she “died of illness,” that would have been a hundred times better than this bungled scheme.
As Madam Yang pondered, her eye fell on her daughter, whose brows were tightly knit. Fearing to frighten the unmarried girl, she quickly signaled her two sons: “Enough. Pei family matters will be handled by the Peis. Why should you two young men meddle in others’ inner-courtyard affairs?”
Then she waved her hand: “Off with you both. Ah Yin, stay and keep me company.”
When the two sons had withdrawn, Madam Yang took Cui Wenyin’s hand, gently soothing her not to dwell on it. She promised: “Your father and I have only you as our daughter. We will be sure to keep sharp eyes when choosing your marriage, to find you a husband from a household upright in conduct. We won’t send you far away—at most somewhere near Yuhang. If you suffer wrongs, you may come back home, or your brothers will ride over at once. We will never let you be bullied…”
While Madam Yang was offering reassurance, Cui Wenyin’s thoughts had already drifted elsewhere.
In the fifth month, Madam Pei—Shen Yujiao—had already passed away.
But in the seventh month, that distant cousin named Shen Yujiao, whose family had suffered disaster and who came to Jinling to seek refuge with Xie Wuling…
This… was this not too great a coincidence?
A bold suspicion suddenly arose in Cui Wenyin’s heart, and once the thought was there, she could not help pursuing it further and further.
Seeing her daughter’s face turn pale and then green, Madam Yang frowned. “Ah Yin, what’s wrong?”
“Mother, my stomach suddenly feels unwell.”
Cui Wenyin hurriedly rose, one hand clutching her belly. “I’ll return to my own quarters first.”
Startled, Madam Yang asked, “Shall I fetch a doctor for you?”
Cui Wenyin quickened her steps toward the door. “No need. A little rest back in my room will do.”
Madam Yang frowned. How strange—why was her daughter so restless today?
No sooner had she left the main hall than Cui Wenyin immediately ordered her maid: “Go find someone clever and tight-lipped. Send him to the yamen to seek out the registrar in charge of the household registers. Have him copy for me the record of Shen Yujiao.”
The maid was startled. “My lady, what do you need that for?”
Cui Wenyin replied, “Just do as I say! Don’t ask so many questions. Go quickly and return quickly!”
Once the maid had gone, Cui Wenyin looked up at the gloomy, faintly bright sky. Her heart pounded.
To think that the young lady Shen she had once glimpsed could circle around to their Jinling, and now was about to wed Xie Wuling…
What had she gone through? A noble lady, a principal wife—reduced to marrying a street thug.
And pitiful Lord Pei still believed his wife dead, riding out in the rain before dawn.
It was absurd. Yet since she had stumbled upon it, she could not simply stand by.
Only—it was already mid-morning. She did not know if there was still time.
—
At an inn beside the Shingwong Temple, upstairs in the best room.
Early in the morning, Shen Yujiao was woken by Aunt Liu and thejoyful matchmaker to have her face washed, hair dressed, and clothes changed.
Neither she nor Xie Wuling had family present, and of course no close friends or clan sisters surrounding her. This wedding ceremony, though differing in form from last year’s, was just as cold and lonely.
But Shen Yujiao dared not hope for too much. To have even this much of a ritual was already sufficient dignity for her—a remarried woman, pregnant besides.
“One stroke to the end, riches without worry. Two strokes to the end, no sickness and no grief. Three strokes to the end, many sons and long life…”
The joyful matchmaker, dressed in a reddish-brown gown, held a wooden comb in one hand and a strand of the bride’s silk-black hair in the other. With each stroke, she recited a blessing.
When the ten auspicious strokes were finished, the matron laughed as she coiled up the hair: “The bride is as beautiful as a fairy, and this hair is truly splendid!”
Hearing the praise, Shen Yujiao’s powdered cheeks flushed faintly. Sitting quietly before the bronze mirror, she gazed at the red-adorned beauty reflected there, and in a daze it was as if she had returned to last year’s wedding.
Then too, she had been lodged in a house outside the Pei estate, woken early to have her face washed and hair dressed, a crowd of maids buzzing around her like bees, busily flitting to and fro.
By the time the dressing was complete, it was already near noon. That golden phoenix coronet inlaid with pearls and jade was so heavy it felt as if it would snap her neck.
When great clans married, there were always heaps of rites and rules. She only remembered how nervous she had been that day, her head muddled and dazed, only knowing to follow beside Pei Xia—whatever he did, she followed along.
When the bridal sedan finally stopped at the main Pei residence, a brazier was set up in the central courtyard.
She knew crossing the brazier was part of the rite and thought nothing of it. She was just about to lift her skirts and step over when Pei Xia suddenly took hold of her hand.
At that moment she was startled—for they had not yet bowed to Heaven and Earth, and he ought not to touch her. Even if everyone knew they were to be husband and wife, before the formal rites were completed, one must not touch. That was the rule.
She knew the rule, and surely he knew it even better, yet he still held her hand.
She felt a bit uneasy, but meeting those dark, glistening eyes through the partition, her heart suddenly stilled.
In the end, it was with him holding her hand that she stepped smoothly over the brazier.
The sidelong glances of the relatives all around—she had noticed them. But Pei Xia’s gaze did not waver, calm and upright. With him holding her, she too felt a strange, borrowed boldness, like a fox flaunting the tiger’s might.
Brother Ah Zhen is here, she thought. There’s nothing to fear.
It was not until several days after the wedding that she learned from the maid Bai Ping that someone had tampered with the brazier that day—made it larger and stoked the fire higher.
Had she rashly stepped over on her own, she might very well have caught fire.
How dangerous. She shuddered with belated fear, and at the same time felt grateful—thank goodness her husband had been there.
Knock, knock, knock. Knock, knock, knock—
Suddenly a knocking came from outside the door: “Xie Niangzi, is it convenient now?”
It was the voice of the inn’s waiter.
Shen Yujiao’s thoughts drew back, and the joyful matchmaker and Aunt Liu behind her also froze.
Aunt Liu turned to answer the door: “What is it?”
The waiter said: “Might Xie Niangzi step out for a moment, just a short while? I have a small matter I’d like to beg of you.”
Though they had only lodged one night, this waiter had been especially attentive with meals and water.
Now hearing he had something to ask, Shen Yujiao rose from before the mirror and walked to the door. “Little brother, what do you seek me for?”
The waiter said: “I must trouble Madam Xie to come out a bit—it’s a little embarrassing…”
Shen Yujiao frowned. Though puzzled, she still stepped out a few paces.
Seeing Aunt Liu had gone back inside, the waiter scratched the back of his head: “Actually, it’s nothing much. It’s just that Master Xie especially told me yesterday to take good care of Xie Niangzi. Now that you’re about to go out, I just wanted to greet you. Should Master Xie ask later, please do speak kindly of me.”
So it was merely such a trifling matter.
Surely that fellow Xie Wuling had threatened him again with harsh words.
Shen Yujiao couldn’t help but laugh. “All right, I will.”
After a pause, she even gave the waiter a bow. “And thank you too, little brother, for your attentiveness these past days.”
The waiter was stunned, then hastily waved his hands, flustered. “Oh, Xie Niangzi, you’ll crush me with such courtesy. Please, hurry back inside and finish your makeup, don’t delay your fine day.”
Shen Yujiao nodded and turned back inside.
Once the door closed, the waiter’s smile gradually faded. He quickly walked to the end of the corridor, where a young lady hiding at the corner awaited. “Young lady, did you see clearly just now?”
The veiled girl gave a low hum, took a bit of silver from her pouch, and handed it to him. “Much obliged.”
The waiter received the money happily, but recalling Xie Niangzi’s courtesy earlier, he could not resist asking: “May I ask, what business do you have in seeking Xie Niangzi?”
“Not yours to ask—ask less.”
Under the veil, Cui Wenyin said coolly, then turned to go downstairs in haste, rushing back to the manor.
….
“Cousin Jin, it’s true—I’m certain that woman was Shen Yujiao! I saw her with my own eyes. Not only the same name and surname, the same face and figure, but even the bow she made was the courtesy only a noble lady of Chang’an would know!”
Within the governor’s residence, Cui Wenyin, having hurried over, was still a little out of breath, her eyes full of urgency. “Cousin Jin, should we not send men to bring back Lord Pei?”
If they did not hurry, his wife would be marrying another man!
The Second Prince had never thought that this cousin of the Cui family, who usually hardly spoke, would rush to him bearing such a shocking piece of news.
“You’re certain you didn’t mistake her?”
“Certain—utterly certain.”
As she spoke, Cui Wenyin handed him a page copied from the government register: “And this too—Shen Yujiao, seventeen years old, originally from Dongyang Township, Taiyuan County, Heluo Commandery. The clerk who entered the record also said the lady spoke in standard Chang’an official speech. Putting all this together, it cannot be wrong—unless Shen Yujiao has a twin sister in this world.”
Her words were so firm, and the evidence lay before his eyes, that the Second Prince already believed it by more than half.
“Cousin, shall we bring back Lord Pei?” Cui Wenyin, seeing the Second Prince sitting silent, could not help but urge again.
The Second Prince’s gaze deepened. His long fingers tapped lightly, again and again, upon the copied yellow page.
Cui Wenyin did not understand—was her cousin Jin not close to Lord Pei, even treating him as a confidant? Why, in such urgency, was he still so calm?
But she was only a woman of the inner chambers, unable to fathom the calculations of men. She could only wait patiently.
After a long while, the Second Prince finally rose, walked to the window, looked out at the pale sky, and called: “Qingrong!”
The eunuch Qingrong hurried in. “Your Highness.”
“Send six personal guards, split into six routes to pursue Pei Shouzhen.”
After a pause, the Second Prince added: “The one taking the main road—ride my horse in the chase! When you find Pei Shouzhen, let him ride my horse back.”
The Second Prince’s horse was an imperial gift from the emperor himself—an elite Ferghana steed that could truly cover a thousand li in a single day. And now, just to chase after that Pei Shouzhen, His Highness was actually willing to let another man ride this bestowed treasure.
A flicker of astonishment crossed Qingrong’s eyes, but he dared not delay further and hastily withdrew.
Seeing the Second Prince finally send men in pursuit, Cui Wenyin let out a quiet breath of relief.
But looking at the sky, she could not help but worry—at this rate, could they even make it in time…?
“Cousin, should we also send others to block the wedding?”
Otherwise, even if they caught up, if they were too late, it would be all for nothing.
The Second Prince, however, said: “No need.”
Cui Wenyin was puzzled.
The Second Prince stepped before her. His expression remained gentle, yet his gaze carried a heavy authority. “Ah Yin, younger sister, what you could do today—you’ve already done. The rest is not something a young lady like you should concern herself with.”
Seeing her caught in a daze, the Second Prince smiled faintly. “Go back to your quarters.”
Once Cui Wenyin had left, the Second Prince walked to the window, lifting his head to the distant sky, his dark eyes shifting slightly.
He wanted to see just how Pei Shouzhen would handle this matter.
—
At high noon, when the light was at its brightest.
Amid the lively beating of gongs and drums, Xie Wuling, head capped in black gauze and clad in a bright red wedding robe, rode a fine steed at the head of the procession, leading the great red bridal sedan and ceremonial retinue to fetch his bride.
“Fetching the bride! Fetching the bride!”
Children loved such excitement most, calling out auspicious phrases as they stretched their hands to snatch at scattered wedding candies and copper coins.
This area around the Shingwong Temple was the most bustling, and townsfolk crowding the roadside all stared and whispered at the groom on his tall horse.
“Whose young master is this? To be so handsome?”
“Exactly! In that red robe, he looks just like a flower-ranking scholar!”
“Isn’t this Xie Wuling, one of Sixth Master’s men? Heard he was getting married, so it was true!”
“Is the bride from elsewhere? Why fetch her from an inn?”
“Supposedly she’s from another place—don’t know what she looks like though?”
“With such a dashing groom, surely the bride won’t be lacking. Hey, hey—look, the bride is coming out—”
At once the crowd gathered before the inn craned their necks and tiptoed to see.
Supported by two Momos, the bride emerged slowly, dressed in a great red wedding robe and veiled in a red bridal cover.
Though her face could not be seen, her slender figure and the snowy pale hands revealed outside her sleeves were enough to mark her as a delicate, fair-skinned beauty.
One who stood close scrutinized her up and down, then suddenly said: “Everything’s fine, but why are there two ducks embroidered on her veil?”
At these words, Shen Yujiao’s eyelids beneath the red veil gave a twitch.
When she first saw the embroidery on this veil, she too had been stunned for quite a while.
She tried to persuade herself they were meant to be mandarin ducks playing in water—but those plump, dazed little creatures… to call them mandarin ducks, even real mandarin ducks might rush to the yamen overnight to lodge a complaint of slander.
But there was no time to change the bridal veil now. Soon she would be in the sedan anyway—no one should notice…
Well. Clearly someone had.
Flustered, Shen Yujiao lowered her head even further.
“Ah, young groom, don’t be hasty! You mustn’t touch the bride yet!” came the voice of the joyful matchmaker, stepping forward to block Shen Yujiao.
Xie Wuling’s voice rang out, carrying a trace of nervous eagerness: “Can’t I at least help her into the sedan?”
“That’s my task!” the matchmaker said.
“Then can I take just one look at her?”
“We haven’t even completed the ceremony yet! How can you be so impatient, young groom? Do you think such a big bride could run away? Quickly, back on your horse.”
Xie Wuling muttered, somewhat unwilling, “All right then.” He walked forward a few steps, but couldn’t resist turning back. “Jiaojiao, I’ll be just ahead. If anything happens, just call me.”
Shen Yujiao: “…”
Aunt Liu answered in her place: “Got it, got it!”
Before long, Shen Yujiao bent down and entered the great red bridal sedan. Outside, the matchmaker began to chant the blessings.
“Lift the sedan—”
The sedan was raised, firecrackers crackled in a burst, and blessings and applause rose in waves from the lively crowd.
“Many thanks, many thanks.”
Xie Wuling sat tall on horseback, cupping his hands to the people on both sides. “The joy is shared, the joy is shared.”
His face was already finely handsome; the red robe made his looks even more dazzling. With smiles lighting his eyes and brows, he looked the very image of graceful charm and triumphant pride.
Young ladies who had come upon hearing the news of his marriage saw him in red riding tall on a steed, and one by one clutched their kerchiefs, hearts sour with envy—bitterly wishing that it was not another woman seated in that bright red bridal sedan.
The formal wedding rite was set for dusk. Since the couple had neither groom’s family nor bride’s family present, Xie Wuling had the bridal procession go outside the city—to the Earth God temple where he and Shen Yujiao had first met.
The temple had already been freshly arranged; the once old idol of the Earth God had been newly lacquered, shining bright.
Fresh fruits and pastries were laid upon the altar, with a new incense burner as well.
Xie Wuling himself lit three sticks of incense, then lit three more and handed them to Shen Yujiao. “Jiaojiao, the Earth God is the matchmaker of our bond. We must bow and give thanks to him, the elder.”
Shen Yujiao softly gave an “mm,” received the three sticks of incense, and as she bowed three times, the memory of her first meeting with Xie Wuling flashed in her mind.
At that time, she had been half scared to death, terrified he would sell her or kill her.
Who could have thought that two months later, she would actually become his wife…
In this world, truly nothing can be said for certain.
Her thoughts drifted, and the incense was already offered.
Just as she was about to leave, Xie Wuling suddenly leaned closer, speaking low: “Jiaojiao, let me take a look?”
Seeing his hand reaching over, Shen Yujiao quickly stepped back, bit her lip, and said with a playful reproach: “No.”
“They’re all outside, no one will know.”
“Still no.” Shen Yujiao said. “This is the rule.”
“All right.”
Xie Wuling sighed: “You don’t know how handsome I look today. Just now on the way here, so many people praised this Laozi for being good-looking.”
Shen Yujiao couldn’t help laughing and crying, then corrected him: “It’s our wedding day—don’t keep calling yourself Laozi like that. It’s not proper.”
“Fine, fine, fine, I’ll listen to you, Master Shen.” Xie Wuling was in such a good mood that he couldn’t hide it in his tone. “Even though I can’t see you now, I imagine you must look especially beautiful today.”
Shen Yujiao’s ears grew warm, and she whispered: “When night comes, you’ll know.”
Xie Wuling said: “Yes, ol—… cough, I, I can’t wait for it to be night already.”
But when the words entered Shen Yujiao’s ears, they carried another meaning.
Thinking of the things Aunt Liu had taught her yesterday, her heart fluttered wildly. She quickly lowered her head, lifted the hem of her bridal dress, and said: “I’ll go get into the bridal sedan first.”
After a round of preparation, dusk was approaching, and the wedding procession returned to the city in full sound and spectacle.
The matchmaker, riding a small donkey beside the bridal sedan, chatted idly with the bride inside: “Today Heaven has favored us. Though the sun didn’t come out, at least there’s no rain.”
Shen Yujiao gave a soft reply, then lowered her head, staring blankly at the embroidery on her skirt.
So she was truly marrying again.
Father, Mother, Brother, Sister-in-law—if you could know, please be at ease.
Xie Wuling… should be a good husband.
Her palm moved once more to her slightly rounded belly, and in a haze she thought of her former husband.
At this time, he should already be on the road back to Chang’an, right?
Through the bridal sedan curtain, it seemed as though a strong wind swept past.
The red curtain lifted at one corner.
Shen Yujiao instinctively glanced out the window, but the red curtain quickly fell back down, as if it had been an illusion.
Xie Wuling, mounted on horseback, had just seen two figures flash like lightning past the wedding procession. He froze for a moment.
Which rich wastrel’s sons would dare be so reckless, galloping horses through a crowded street?
But that fleeting, refined figure just now… why did it look somewhat familiar?
Without thinking further, he cupped his hands and smiled at the onlookers on both sides, offering his thanks.
—
Dusk arrived, the auspicious hour had come. The Xie family’s small courtyard gate stood wide open, red lanterns lit on either side, casting the red silk into a brighter glow.
With the crackle of firecrackers, children cheered, and neighbors and townsfolk came to join in the fun, clapping as the bride and groom, holding a length of red silk, slowly walked into the courtyard carpeted in red.
The main hall had already been prepared. Sixth Master Chang sat as honored guest in the seat of the groom’s father, while in the mother’s seat on the right was placed a black memorial tablet, inscribed with “Seat of Madam Xie Xiangniang.”
“One strip of red silk, two hands on the embroidered ball, the Matchmaker of the Moon ordains three lifetimes, hand in hand till white-haired old age—here come the newlyweds!”
The matchmaker waved her kerchief, walking in front, raising her voice in cheerful song: “Jade Phoenix lifts her foot across the fire basin, all evil spirits scatter on either side. Joy descends from Heaven into the nest of blessings, good days burning bright and red! Cross the fire basin—”
Through her red bridal veil, Shen Yujiao saw the fire basin, and her heart stirred.
So this is the proper size of a fire basin. Last year’s really had been much larger.
Without needing Xie Wuling’s support, she stepped over it easily.
The matchmaker called again: “Bride and groom, please step forward—the auspicious hour has come, time to bow to Heaven and Earth!”
Perhaps because this was her second marriage, Shen Yujiao did not feel overly nervous. Holding onto the red silk, she followed Xie Wuling up to the main hall.
She could not clearly see the scene before the hall, but along the way the matchmaker had told her: today’s honored guest was Sixth Master Chang, which was quite a high honor.
“First bow to Heaven and Earth, give thanks for a blessed union, Heaven’s gift of a fine match!” the matchmaker called.
This was supposed to be a kneeling rite, but since Shen Yujiao was with child, Xie Wuling had asked the matchmaker to change it to a bow.
Shen Yujiao and Xie Wuling turned, facing the open sky and earth outside the courtyard, and bowed together.
The onlookers all cheered: “Good!!!”
The matchmaker called again: “Second bow to the high hall, thank the parents’ kindness of raising, and may you soon bear a plump grandson!”
Shen Yujiao and Xie Wuling turned to face the hall, bowing toward the memorial tablet on the table and toward Sixth Master Chang.
Sixth Master Chang stroked his beard, smiling like the Buddha Maitreya: “Good, good, good! Ah Ling, you rascal, now you’ve made a family—you must treat your wife well from now on!”
Xie Wuling showed a flash of white teeth: “That’s for sure!”
Sixth Master Chang then said to Shen Yujiao: “Little lady, if Ah Ling ever bullies you, just come to me. I’ll hammer him for you.”
Shen Yujiao, infected by the lively atmosphere, let a smile color her gentle voice: “Then I’ll trouble you, Sixth Master.”
Everyone laughed and said: “With Sixth Master as guarantor of this marriage, you two will surely live in love and harmony, together until your hair turns white!”
After another round of cheers, the matchmaker laughed and said: “Dragon soaring, phoenix dancing, a blessed union. Husband and wife bow together, joy fills the house. Newlyweds turn, husband and wife, bow—”
Before the word “bow” was even uttered, a sudden commotion rose outside the courtyard gate, the clatter of armor and the abrupt halt of horse hooves.
“Out of the way, out of the way, clear the way—”
The crowd gathered outside screamed and scattered. Inside the courtyard, the guests all turned in shock toward the noise.
When they saw the armed soldiers with blades pushing into the courtyard, everyone’s faces changed dramatically.
“What’s happening?” Shen Yujiao also sensed something was wrong. She wanted to pull off her bridal veil, but feared it inauspicious, so she forced herself to restrain.
Xie Wuling frowned at the armored soldiers entering the courtyard. He could no longer care about propriety—he grabbed his little bride and pulled her behind him: “I’m here. Don’t be afraid.”
Shen Yujiao gave a soft “mm,” her hand instinctively clutching at his sleeve.
Beneath the red bridal veil, her heart guessed—could this be enemies Xie Wuling had provoked, come to wreck the wedding?
But when Xie Wuling saw the white-robed gentleman slowly step forth from among the soldiers, astonishment flashed in his eyes—
Why is it this pale-faced fellow?
“What do you mean by this?”
Xie Wuling’s brows knotted. “Could it be, for a mere flower, you chose today to come smash my wedding?”
The white-robed man only gave him a cold glance and strode forward.
Before Xie Wuling could react, Pei Xia lifted a hand and struck deftly at his shoulder.
Catching him off guard, Xie Wuling staggered.
When he regained his footing, he saw the man had already seized his little bride’s hand. Thick brows pressed low, his voice hoarse and heavy: “Yuniang, is it you?”
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