Beneath the Surface Chapter 66

Two days before the wedding, at General Song’s suggestion, He Wan moved back to the Song Mansion. She then directed the servants to begin decorating the mansion with lanterns and colorful banners.

Although everyone, even the citizens of the capital, had noticed something was amiss, they still tried to maintain a tacit understanding.

Old Madam Song finally dared not cause trouble for He Wan again. She didn’t interfere with any of the matters related to the wedding at the Song Mansion. Of course, this was also because she had no energy left. After Song Guangyuan’s outburst, she hadn’t recovered for a long time.

He Wan borrowed several capable mamas from Tang Zhirou. These women were all skilled workers, and they helped her manage everything in an orderly manner. As a result, Tang Zhirou became particularly familiar with the progress of the wedding between the Gu and Song families.

Another person who was overjoyed was Chundong.

Chundong flitted freely between the Gu Mansion and the Song Mansion every day, sometimes delivering something for Gu Fengjian, sometimes sending gifts to Song Chuzhao. And every time she appeared before Song Chuzhao, she would smile with a strange expression, making Song Chuzhao feel uneasy.

The decorations for the wedding at the Song Mansion, after incorporating the combined aesthetic preferences of He Wan, Chundong, and Tang Zhirou, became particularly extravagant.

Originally, there were very few flowers that could bloom brightly in winter. Moreover, He Wan hadn’t prepared for it, so she couldn’t buy many. But Tang Zhirou somehow managed to get several carts full of flowers, which she sent to the Song Mansion as a wedding gift. He Wan happily accepted them and displayed them lavishly. As a result, wherever Song Chuzhao went, she could see flowers blooming in full glory, adorned with red streamers.

The flowers were beautiful, of course, but the problem lay with the streamers.

The elegant script on the paper was written with a single stroke, neat and beautiful, extremely eye-catching. Upon closer inspection, one could discover that they were all love poems from ancient times, along with a few of his own original compositions.

Tang Zhirou said she had asked Fifth Son Gu to write them.

Song Chuzhao felt deeply sympathetic for Gu Fengjian. She wondered how many words he would have to write in these few days. Even the wedding invitations were written by him personally. He must be trapped in his study, unable to escape.

She herself also felt awkward, feeling that every knowing smile people gave after reading the poems held a deeper meaning, making her feel embarrassed.

Chundong told her that the Gu Mansion was even more extravagantly decorated, and they had even given all the servants new red clothes. The gifts sent by Tang Zhanglian and Fu Changjun were enough to fill a courtyard.

Song Chuzhao felt like her eyes were about to be blinded by the glare of the silver.

They were busy and bustling until the day of the wedding arrived.

The night before, He Wan had dragged Song Chuzhao to try on clothes and makeup, and it was late at night before she finished washing up and went to sleep. She had only slept for a little over an hour when He Wan pulled her out of bed again, saying it was time to start applying makeup.

Because it was still dark, Song Chuzhao was extremely sleepy. When she sat down on the chair, she was still not fully awake.

As the sky was still dim, Tang Zhirou also rushed in. She and He Wan were both extremely excited, their eyes showing no sign of sleepiness. They chatted enthusiastically about the jewelry on the table, then gestured back and forth over Song Chuzhao’s head.

Song Chuzhao couldn’t hear what they were saying. She propped her chin up and almost fell asleep, earning a scolding laugh from He Wan.

Then Chundong came in with a bowl of porridge, urging Song Chuzhao to quickly have a few bites. Once she got into the sedan chair, there wouldn’t be any chance to eat properly.

The porridge was sprinkled with meat slices and vegetables, smelling fresh and appetizing. Song Chuzhao drank two bowls and ate two buns before finally regaining her energy.

Tang Zhirou was speechless, wondering how she could eat so much.

“If I were getting married, I wouldn’t dare eat that much,” Tang Zhirou said. “My wedding dress wouldn’t fit.”

He Wan laughed, “Our family doesn’t care about those rules. This child has always eaten a lot and doesn’t get hungry easily.”

Chundong also laughed, “Our Miss has a slender waist, even if she eats a lot, she doesn’t look fat.”

He Wan: “Hurry up and change clothes. Let me see if we really need to make any adjustments.”

Song Chuzhao stood up and skillfully put on the intricate and exquisite crimson wedding dress.

Every so often, a servant would excitedly rush in to announce the time as a reminder. He Wan nodded in response, but continued to work leisurely.

Just as Song Chuzhao was finally ready and about to relax, Song Guangyuan strode into their courtyard, shouting loudly from outside, “The wedding procession has arrived! Zhaozhao, come out quickly!”

He Wan quickly grabbed the veil and covered Song Chuzhao’s face, checking left and right to make sure her daughter’s attire was perfect and without any flaws. Then she led her up, saying, “Come, let’s go with Mother.”

The red bridal veil wasn’t thick, allowing a glimpse of a figure’s silhouette through the light.

Song Chuzhao lowered her gaze, trying to discern the path within her limited field of vision. But the obstruction made her feel insecure. The sounds in the courtyard were too chaotic, she couldn’t make out what everyone was shouting, let alone anything useful.

Finally, when He Wan signaled her to stop, Song Chuzhao saw two pairs of shoes in front of her.

Song Guangyuan had brought Big Brother Song with him. Old Madam Song and the other elders were already waiting in the front hall. With Song Guangyuan personally present, the Song family members were remarkably kind and cordial.

Song Guangyuan said, “The person is already waiting in the hall. He arrived early, it’s barely dawn.”

He Wan chuckled, “These young people are all impatient. I was just putting on some makeup for Zhaozhao, and she couldn’t wait.”

Song Chuzhao was led to the main hall, where she and Gu Fengjian offered tea to their parents and bid farewell. After another round of elaborate rituals, it was time to leave.

He Wan slipped a fan into her hand, and Song Guangyuan instructed his eldest son to carry Song Chuzhao out.

Song Chuzhao wasn’t familiar with this elder brother, only finding that his physique didn’t seem like that of a martial artist.

The jewelry she wore was all heavy gold and silver, weighing down her hair, making her feel like a peacock with its feathers spread. Plus, her muscles were firm, making her look light but actually heavy. She worried that this elder brother might not be able to carry her.

Big Brother Song initially didn’t think much of it, but when he carried Song Chuzhao, his body swayed noticeably, and he gasped for breath.

Song Chuzhao whispered nervously in his ear, “Don’t drop me.”

Big Brother Song gritted his teeth and said, “Don’t be ridiculous.”

Song Guangyuan, seeing Big Brother Song’s trembling legs from behind, closed his eyes helplessly, ready to lend a hand.

Fortunately, Big Brother Song was still reliable, and he managed to carry her to the sedan chair. Relieved of his burden, he retreated back into the crowd, placing his hand on his lower back, secretly letting out a sigh of relief.

Gu Fengjian rode his horse, circling her sedan three times, leading the procession ahead. Chundong followed Song Chuzhao, bringing up the rear.

As soon as they reached the street, Song Chuzhao heard even louder commotion than inside the mansion. Judging by the commotion, there must have been hundreds of people gathered outside the Song Mansion.

As she emerged, the sounds of applause and cheers were deafening, like waves crashing one after another.

Why are there so many people? Song Chuzhao wondered. It’s just a wedding, do people in the capital like to make a spectacle of everything?

Unable to contain her curiosity, she lifted a window crack and looked out.

With a casual glance, she saw Fan Chongqing and his brothers standing by the roadside, beating drums and gongs, excitedly cheering.

“Good!”

“A match made in heaven, may you have a hundred years of happiness!”

“Newlyweds, may you grow old together!”

The surrounding people cooperated by making “ah ah” noises, serving as their background music.

Song Chuzhao shivered in fright, lowered the curtain, and touched her arm.

The sedan started moving, but the sound of drums didn’t fade away, instead, it got closer. Song Chuzhao, unconvinced, peeked out again. Fan Chongqing and the others were actually following behind the procession, determined to make a scene.

Then, she heard Ji Yutang’s voice.

Ji Yutang wouldn’t just shout a simple “good” like Fan Chongqing. He was reciting poetry, the poems Gu Fengjian had written on the colorful ribbons. Song Chuzhao listened carefully for a while before understanding, her face turning redder and redder.

Hearing someone reciting poetry, the people became even more excited, cheering constantly, making Song Chuzhao’s ears ache.

Chundong was oblivious to her worries. She even laughed merrily, leaning out the window and saying to Song Chuzhao, “Fifth Son Gu’s brothers are really interesting.”

Thankfully, the journey wasn’t long. While Song Chuzhao discreetly ate a plate of fruit from the carriage, the sedan chair stopped. They had arrived at the entrance of the Gu Mansion.

The curtain in front of the sedan chair was lifted, allowing light to stream in.

Song Chuzhao half-rose and took a step forward, pondering how to get out.

A pair of hands with distinct knuckles reached out to her. Song Chuzhao felt inexplicably nervous and took his hand.

The hands were a bit cold, likely from riding in the wind on a winter day. He carefully clasped Song Chuzhao’s hand, using his thumb to soothingly rub her back, guiding her out of the sedan chair and towards the main gate.

The joyous atmosphere seemed to reach its peak, with everyone clamoring and shouting, making it impossible for Song Chuzhao to hear the officiant’s voice.

Gu Fengjian whispered instructions in her ear, telling her how to step, where to watch out for steps.

He had to lean in close for Song Chuzhao to hear him. As he did, the crowd around them became even more excited.

Song Chuzhao heard Gu Fengjian’s laughter and felt him grip her hand a little tighter. She realized she couldn’t stay calm either.

From entering the main hall to bowing to heaven and earth, Song Chuzhao’s mind was a blur. She followed the instructions of those around her, confusedly, and then followed them to the back courtyard.

Only when she was ushered into a room and the surrounding area fell silent did she slowly regain her composure from her daze.

Song Chuzhao touched her face, feeling her cheeks burn. She thought it was because she was wearing too many layers of clothing.

Chundong sat on a chair nearby, excitedly chatting with her. She talked about how many guests had come to the banquet, what they were wearing. She mentioned how during the wedding ceremony, a group of young men jostled and pushed, almost falling and making a fool of themselves.

She also mentioned how Big Brother Song’s legs were trembling as he carried her out.

Song Chuzhao listened and laughed with her.

Meanwhile, in the banquet hall.

Fourth Son Gu and Fan Chongqing, along with their brothers, were drinking and toasting everyone at the tables in the front row, taking turns to drink for Gu Fengjian.

They were naturally jovial men, and a little alcohol was nothing to them. Moreover, Madam Gu knew that Gu Fengjian was a light drinker, so she had specially prepared wine with a lighter taste and a fragrant aroma. They had two rounds of drinks and were still lively.

Most of the guests were court officials, and they were very restrained when it came to drinking at banquets. They were also worried about drinking too much and making a fool of themselves at the banquet, or even causing trouble. After a round of drinks with Fan Chongqing and the others, they stopped bothering Gu Fengjian, allowing him to just take a small sip before letting him go.

The Gu Mansion had put a lot of effort into preparing for this wedding banquet, with every detail meticulously crafted. It was also the Lantern Festival today, so the mansion was adorned with many beautiful lanterns. Wherever you went, it was a beautiful sight.

Fan Chongqing and his brothers had been touring the mansion, praising the decorations and arrangements. Suddenly, they noticed that Ji Yutang and his friends were taking advantage of the occasion to sneak off and chat with the young ladies. They were heartbroken but then realized what they had to do. They followed the footsteps of these shameless scoundrels, scattering to different parts of the mansion to find young women for a romantic encounter.

Many young ladies had come today, all drawn by Song Chuzhao’s reputation. The most famous ones in the capital were probably all here.

With the festive atmosphere and everyone celebrating, it was truly a good opportunity for romance. Perhaps the ladies, influenced by the environment, would take a liking to them?

Fan Chongqing searched for a while and finally saw a graceful figure under a tree. The lady had long, black hair that cascaded down her waist, carefully adjusting a lantern that had been blown askew by the wind. Her delicate movements and patient figure exuded a gentle aura.

Fan Chongqing was quite excited, feeling a sudden jolt in his heart. He thought to himself, “Fifth Brother will be my matchmaker. This is truly wonderful.”

He straightened his clothes, strode forward, cleared his throat, and asked, “Why are you alone, Miss? Do you need my help?”

The lady froze.

Seeing this, Fan Chongqing quickly said, “Miss, don’t misunderstand. I’m Fan Chongqing, the second son of the Fan family. I happened to pass by and saw you alone…”

As he spoke, he realized something was wrong. He felt like a lecherous character from a play, forcing a conversation, both sleazy and unbearable.

The beauty standing before him turned around, revealing a face that shocked him even more.

“Fan Chongqing!” Tang Zhirou said with a stern face, “Are you out of your mind?”

Fan Chongqing shuddered violently, his drunkenness instantly sobering up. He turned to flee.

“Don’t leave!” Tang Zhirou quickly grabbed him, chuckling, “You’re already here, why are you running away?”

Fan Chongqing said, “I’ve mistaken you for someone else.”

Tang Zhirou wouldn’t let him go, quickly chasing after him: “Don’t leave, let’s chat a bit~”

---

Song Chuzhao and Chundong were in the room, cracking open peanuts. They had eaten their fill, and Song Chuzhao felt thirsty. She had just asked Chundong to pour her a glass of water when a sound of footsteps came from outside.

Chundong also heard it and immediately stood up, putting away the small plate filled with peanut shells. Soon after, Gu Fengjian pushed open the door and entered.

Song Chuzhao felt nervous and quickly clapped her hands together, retracting them, pretending nothing had happened.

Gu Fengjian’s low laughter echoed again nearby. The quietness in the room made all emotions even more intense, and Song Chuzhao felt like even the air had become thick.

Chundong smiled, “Young Master, you’re not drunk tonight, are you?”

Gu Fengjian gave a low “hmm.”

Chundong said quickly, “If Young Master doesn’t need Chundong to attend to you, I’ll go down now.”

Gu Fengjian said, “Go and rest.”

Chundong hugged her things and ran out with a clatter.

Gu Fengjian’s footsteps were very clear. He walked to the table, poured a cup of water, then walked to Song Chuzhao and handed her the cup.

Song Chuzhao thought it was wine, took it in her hand, and didn’t know what to do next.

Gu Fengjian also looked at her quietly.

After a while, Gu Fengjian reminded her, “Who is it, didn’t you just say you were thirsty?”

Song Chuzhao, exposed, raised the cup and drank it all in one gulp. The ornaments on her head made a soft, pleasant clinking sound.

It could be confirmed that Gu Fengjian was truly not drunk.

Seeing her finish, Gu Fengjian asked, “Do you want more?”

Song Chuzhao handed him the cup.

Gu Fengjian poured her another cup.

Song Chuzhao finished it and gestured that it wasn’t enough.

“That thirsty?” Gu Fengjian laughed again, teasingly, “Are you really thirsty, or are you just embarrassed?”

Song Chuzhao said loudly, “I’m really thirsty!”

Gu Fengjian: “Alright.”

After drinking three cups of water in a row, Song Chuzhao finally felt better. Gu Fengjian sat down beside her, and because of his movement, Song Chuzhao felt the bed dip slightly.

The faint scent of alcohol from him drifted into Song Chuzhao’s nose. Even though she herself had a good tolerance for alcohol, she felt a little tipsy.

Gu Fengjian said softly, “I’m lifting the veil.”

Song Chuzhao nodded.

Gu Fengjian waited a moment, then reached out and lifted the red veil.

Their eyes met.

Song Chuzhao noticed that Gu Fengjian was still a little tipsy. His eyes held a hazy mist, blurring the figure in his pupils, making it appear hazy and beautiful. When he smiled, his gaze became particularly gentle.

They were so close that they could feel each other’s breath on their faces.

Gu Fengjian stared at Song Chuzhao’s face for a while, then stared at her hair for a while. He reached out and touched it, feeling a slight headache.

Finally, they stood before the mirror and carefully removed the ornaments.

Since neither Song Chuzhao nor Gu Fengjian were familiar with these hairpins or hair ornaments, and Song Chuzhao had pulled at her hair several times due to discomfort, the removal process was fraught with difficulties. Her hair became tangled together.

Gu Fengjian dared not use force, so he could only slowly fumble around. Whenever he saw Song Chuzhao about to make a rash move, he would pat her hand and stop her. By the time they had finished untangling her hair, they were both sweating.

Gu Fengjian took a wooden comb and carefully combed her hair straight.

The mirror reflected a tranquil scene.

Gu Fengjian saw a strand of long hair that had been pulled out and felt a pang of concern. “Did it hurt when you pulled it?” he asked.

Song Chuzhao said generously, “No. It’s normal for hair to fall out.”

Gu Fengjian put down the comb and leaned close to her ear. “I want to hug you.”

Song Chuzhao stood up and reached out to him, wanting to give him a hug. Gu Fengjian simply bent down and scooped her up in his arms.

Song Chuzhao was startled and cried out.

Gu Fengjian carried her to the bed and leaned down to kiss her…

Author’s Note:

As you requested, #but it’s really going to be jjed later.

Leg Brother’s romance masterpiece! The main story ends here~ The extra chapters will be updated tomorrow~ Don’t forget to collect the column. The next book hasn’t been decided yet, I might open a new brain hole, I’ll tell you tomorrow~

Is it not a romance enlightenment work?!