Chapter 99: The Groom’s Thoughts

Under the night sky, a bright, clear moon hung high in the heavens.

The Ren family’s courtyard, bustling with noise during the day due to the wedding preparations, had now fallen into a deep silence.

At a stone table in the courtyard, Li Xunshan sat alone, pouring himself drinks from a wine jug, toasting his own shadow.

After eating sweet dumplings together in the kitchen, Gu Ning’an, Wei Hai, and Wen Songmo came out and spotted Li Xunshan still seated in the courtyard. They exchanged glances and walked over to him.

Wei Hai plopped down beside him and asked with a grin, “What’s this? The groom sitting here late at night, drinking by himself? What’s on your mind?”

Wen Songmo, dressed in a simple long robe, gestured at Wei Hai and added, “Exactly. Xunshan, you shouldn’t learn from this fellow Wei Hai, reeking of alcohol all day, making both people and dogs despise him!”

“Well, excuse me!” Wei Hai rolled up his sleeves, glaring as he huffed, “Old man Wen, don’t think that just because you’re back to being a magistrate, I’m scared of you!”

Seeing the two of them about to start bickering, Gu Ning’an interjected with a smile, “I’ll go make some tea.”

“Mr. Gu, let me…” Before Li Xunshan could finish his sentence, Gu Ning’an had already walked away.

Wei Hai pushed him back into his seat and said, “Just sit tight and tell us what’s on your mind.”

Li Xunshan waved his hand dismissively, muttering, “It’s nothing,” while taking another swig from the wine jug.

Seeing his cheeks flush red from the drink but still refusing to speak his thoughts, Wei Hai’s temper flared. Snatching the jug from his hand, he slammed it onto the table and barked, “Enough with the drinking! What’s this nonsense? A grown man, sulking and being dramatic here?”

“You’re getting married tomorrow—can’t you use your head a little?”

“What if you get drunk and mess up the ceremony? Are you going to regret it for the rest of your life?”

“Keep your voice down, don’t wake everyone up.” Gu Ning’an’s reminder came as he returned, setting four cups of tea on the table.

The light green tea leaves floated and sank, filling the air with a refreshing aroma that tantalized their senses.

Wen Songmo was the first to pick up a teacup, sniffing it appreciatively. “Good tea. You can tell just by the fragrance.”

“This tea smells amazing.” Wei Hai took a large sip with a satisfied slurp.

Meanwhile, Li Xunshan held his teacup in his hand but didn’t drink, instead fidgeting with it. Gu Ning’an couldn’t resist teasing him, “What’s the matter? Are you looking down on this humble tea now that you’re about to become the son-in-law of a wealthy family?”

“No, no, absolutely not, Mr. Gu!” Li Xunshan hurriedly took a sip from his teacup to prove his point.

After setting the cup down, he fell silent for a moment before letting out a bitter laugh. “To be honest, I’ve dreamed of marrying Yue’er for so long.”

“But now that the dream is suddenly coming true, I feel a bit lost—and even a little scared.”

Smack!

The sharp sound of Wei Hai slapping Li Xunshan’s shoulder broke the silence. Leaning in, Wei Hai lowered his voice and said, “Do you think this is the right time and place to say such things?”

“What do you think the Ren family would think of you? And what would Miss Ren, who’s marrying you tomorrow, think?”

Feeling the soreness in his shoulder and seeing the concern on Wei Hai’s face, Li Xunshan’s eyes began to glisten with unshed tears.

Noticing this, Wei Hai quickly let go and, looking puzzled, asked, “Mr. Gu, do you think this kid might be possessed by something?”

“Why else does it feel like he’s about to cry?”

Gu Ning’an shook his head. “He’s not.”

“Huh?”

Hearing Gu Ning’an’s serious response, Wei Hai twitched his mouth and said, “Mr. Gu, I was joking! Don’t tell me you can actually see ghosts?”

Without responding to Wei Hai’s joke, Gu Ning’an turned to Li Xunshan and asked, “Tomorrow, are you picking up the bride from the riverside at Xiangjiang River and bringing her to the manor?”

Li Xunshan nodded. “Yes.”

Gu Ning’an pressed further, “What time will you set out?”

“At the third quarter of the hour of the Rabbit (5-7 AM. The third quarter should be 6:00-6:30 AM). The wedding procession will depart from here,” Li Xunshan replied, then asked curiously, “Why do you ask, Mr. Gu?” [Check Chinese Zodiac page for more info on these hours.]

“Picking up the bride requires companions from the groom’s side,” Gu Ning’an said, gesturing toward himself, the old beggar, and Wei Hai. He continued, “How about the three of us accompany you as your companions from the groom’s side?”

Li Xunshan froze at the suggestion.

A significant part of his melancholy stemmed from his background as an orphan.

Although he had grown accustomed to living without family, having been raised on the goodwill of many households, he couldn’t help but yearn for family during such a pivotal moment in his life.

Additionally, he worried that his background might cause others to criticize Ren Yue.

So, when Gu Ning’an saw through his concerns and made the offer, Li Xunshan couldn’t help but be momentarily stunned.

“Of course, we’ll go with you!” Wei Hai eagerly rubbed his hands together, his enthusiasm evident.

Wen Songmo hesitated for a moment before saying, “Going is fine, but how should we introduce ourselves to the guests as members of the groom’s family?”

After thinking for a moment, Wei Hai chuckled. “That’s easy. Li kid here is about the same age as my son. If need be, I’ll just say he’s my son.”

Wen Songmo raised an eyebrow and replied wryly, “Fair enough. Since I’m about old enough to be his grandfather, I suppose that means you’ll have to call me ‘father’ in front of everyone.”

“Wen—Song—Mo!” Wei Hai’s voice dropped to a menacing growl.

“What?!” Wen Songmo retorted casually, smirking as he met Wei Hai’s glare.

Watching the two bicker yet again, Gu Ning’an could only shake his head in exasperation, raising his teacup for a sip.

“Thank you… thank you all!” Li Xunshan suddenly stood up and gave the three of them a deep bow, his voice choked with emotion. “Meeting all of you must be the blessing of several lifetimes.”

“Alright, alright!” Wei Hai waved him off. “What’s with all this crying and sniffling? Act like a man!”

“Go get some rest. Tomorrow morning, we’ll go with you to fetch the bride!”

Li Xunshan straightened up, wiped away his tears, and nodded resolutely. “Alright!”

…

Before the third quarter of the hour of the Rabbit, the sky was still dark, with only a faint hint of dawn on the horizon.

Outside the Ren family’s courtyard, a long wedding procession stretched down the street.

At the very front sat the groom, dressed in a bright red wedding robe, wearing a jade crown, and riding a majestic horse. His feet were clad in golden-threaded boots, completing his formal attire.

Beside him stood Gu Ning’an, Wei Hai, and Wen Songmo, each wearing a red sash as a symbol of their role as the groom’s companions.

Behind them came the rest of the procession: the bride’s eight-carrier sedan chair, a drum troupe, and a firecracker team.

“Xunshan, straighten your collar,” Wei Hai said, sounding like a doting “father.”

On horseback, Li Xunshan quickly complied. His nervous, fumbling movements as he adjusted his collar betrayed his unease.

“Alright, that’s enough,” Wei Hai called out, finally halting Li Xunshan’s clumsy efforts.

“It’s the third quarter of the hour of the Rabbit!”

“Time to fetch the bride~~~”

A servant tasked with keeping track of the time called out loudly, his drawn-out voice echoing through the air.

The next moment, the drum troupe and firecracker team sprang into action, while the jubilant sounds of suona horns filled the atmosphere.

Taking a deep breath, Li Xunshan steadied himself, glanced at his three “companions,” and urged his horse forward, leading the procession slowly down the road.