In the live broadcast room
[If my eyes didn’t deceive me, God Xin, this little fox demon, was flirting with the monk just now, right?]
[I can prove that your eyes didn’t deceive you.]
[Facepalming.jpg, he’s really skilled, and his tail sways so seductively.]
[If we exclude falling in love with someone else, then this monk… is the big boss? But his face looks different from before.]
[Didn’t the big boss also use a different face in the campus copy?]
[So, it’s really the ascetic and compassionate monk vs. the charming fox demon? Whose XP is getting activated again?]
[Sigh, it must be mine! Wuuu, I’ve been waiting for this, it’s so satisfying to watch.]
[Hiss, isn’t there another big boss with white hair?! Wow, does this copy have two big bosses?! I just want to say, count me in.]
[God Xin is really fortunate in this copy.]
[“Fortune in Love”]
[I like the monk, but I don’t like that white-haired one. Even though he has the face of a big boss, I feel like something’s off about him.]
——————————–
At the break of dawn, a procession with a bright red wedding sedan arrived at the entrance of the Song family’s residence.
The Song family had decorated their front gate with red silk the previous day. Now, vecy the wedding sedan chair had arrived, the surroundings were filled with the sound of gongs and drums, and a crowd of onlookers had gathered.
“Who is marrying Miss Song?”
“Who else could it be? Haven’t you heard? It’s County Magistrate Lin.”
“County Magistrate Lin?! How can it be County Magistrate Lin?”
“Lower your voice! Be careful not to be heard by County Magistrate Lin’s people, they might cause trouble for you.”
“Ah, right, right, I’ll lower my voice. County Magistrate Lin is here too?”
“It doesn’t seem so. This is a remarriage, although it’s still a legal marriage, it doesn’t compare to the first one. I guess County Magistrate Lin feels a bit embarrassed, so he didn’t come.”
“Bah, he’s not embarrassed at all. I think he just finds it troublesome. And he doesn’t seem to have much respect for Miss Song, it’s like he just accepted her. When has the groom ever not attended the wedding ceremony?”
“You have a point.”
“Shh, stop talking. The bride is coming out.”
Amidst the bustling crowd, the gate adorned with red silk and lanterns was pushed open, and the bride, dressed in a phoenix crown and a red wedding gown, emerged with the help of her maids.
The bride quickly entered the sedan chair. With the command “lift the sedan,” the wedding procession officially set off.
As they watched the sedan chair depart, the crowd gradually dispersed.
“Strange, why did I feel like Miss Song has grown taller? Was she this tall before?”
“Who knows? Maybe Miss Song wore high boots to match her wedding dress.”
“Oh, right, that makes sense. Poor Miss Song, for others, marriage is a joyous occasion, but for her, it’s a funeral.”
“You’re right but it’s such a happy day, can’t you say something auspicious?”
“I’m speaking the truth. Such a beautiful lady is wasted on that local tyrant. It’s truly a tragedy.”
The whispers of conversation grew fainter and fainter. As the bride’s maternal maid, the thin maid had to accompany her miss to the Lin family. She carefully observed the men carrying the sedan chair and then glanced at the sedan chair with a complex expression.
She knew the person inside was not her young miss. But the thought of sending a perfectly good young lady into the arms of disaster made her uneasy.
Entering the groom’s house had its customs. The auspicious time and date for entering, as well as the inauspicious times to avoid, all had to be considered.
The Lin residence was not far from the Song family’s home and it only took the time it took for an incense stick to burn after crossing a bridge.
The matchmaker, dressed in a red robe, wiggled her hips and gestured for everyone to cross the bridge. Just as they reached the bridge, Bai Lixin felt a sudden jolt in the sedan chair, and it came to a halt.
Outside, the matchmaker’s voice could be heard.
“Who’s family are you from? Why are you standing here obstructing the way of the newlywed? Step aside quickly. If you delay the auspicious moment for the two newlyweds, you’ll incur heavenly punishment.”
“Hey, speak up! you’re blocking the way, move aside. And you’re also wearing red clothes, how unlucky. Hurry up and clear the path.”
‘Was someone blocking the way?’
Bai Lixin lifted the sedan curtain and looked at the thin maid outside. “What’s happening?”
The thin maid’s expression was grave. “To answer the Immortal Lady, there’s a woman in red blocking the bridge.”
Just as Bai Lixin was about to peek outside, the thin maid hurriedly interrupted him. “Oh my ancestors! Quickly cover your head, this can bring bad luck. Don’t worry Immortal Lady, it’s probably just some woman enjoying the scenery on the bridge. She’ll leave in a moment.”
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘Coming to the bridge to enjoy the scenery early in the morning and while wearing red clothes?
Is that reasonable?
This is very unreasonable, okay?’
He glanced ahead. Due to the obstruction of his view, he could only vaguely see a flash of red skirt and the umbrella top barely visible in front of the wedding procession.
The clothes were red, and the umbrella was white.
‘Red and white…very strange.’
Just as Bai Lixin was about to retract his gaze, he heard the matchmaker and the thin maid outside scream.
Bai Lixin stuck his head out again. “What’s happening?”
The thin maid’s face turned pale. She looked at Bai Lixin in panic, stammering, “Th-the woman just now, she jumped into the water.”
The matchmaker’s scream followed: “Save her, quick, save her!”
“Oh my heavens, encountering a suicide on such a joyous day! We can’t let her die in front of the bride, it’s ominous.”
With those words, Bai Lixin saw two guards diving into the water.
After searching for a while in the water, they resurfaced and looked at the matchmaker helplessly. “Mama, we didn’t find that woman.”
The matchmaker stomped her foot. “How could you not find her? Hurry and find her, she can’t die in front of us!”
Bai Lixin’s gaze fell on the water’s surface, where a white oiled-paper umbrella floated peacefully.
Just as the guards were about to dive in again, a voice came from the sedan chair. “No need to search, let’s continue on your way.”
The matchmaker quickly approached. “Bride, we can’t just stop searching. It’s inauspicious if the bride encounters a tragedy.”
Bai Lixin’s voice came from inside the sedan chair. “If you keep searching, a real tragedy will happen. Did you hear the sound of something splashing into the water when that woman fell just now?”
The matchmaker was silent for a moment. “I don’t think so.”
Bai Lixin: “Since you didn’t hear it, let’s go quickly. I suspect what we saw earlier wasn’t a human being.”
The matchmaker turned pale and didn’t dare delay any longer, trembling as she hastily urged the sedan chair to move forward.
After crossing the bridge, Bai Lixin lifted the curtain and looked back at the bridge. It was empty, with only a giant willow tree hanging over the edge, its branches swaying.
He stretched his hand outside; in the tranquil air, there wasn’t even a breeze.
The guards climbed out of the water, wrung out the water from their soaked clothes and hurriedly caught up.
Bai Lixin retracted his gaze and looked at the thin maid beside him. “Has anything strange like this happened on this bridge before?”
The thin maid didn’t hesitate. “It shouldn’t have. Our town is under the protection of the Immortals since it’s located under the mountain the immortals cultivate at. We rarely encounter such supernatural occurrences.”
She paused and forcefully swallowed her saliva. “Immortal Lady, w-was that woman, really a ghost?”
Bai Lixin: “I don’t know if she was a ghost, but she definitely wasn’t human.”
The thin maid’s face, which was already a little pale, became even paler.
————————–
They didn’t encounter any more strange events for the rest of the journey.
In order to match the auspicious moment, the wedding procession circled the Lin residence three times before stopping.
Probably due to the remarriage, there weren’t many formalities when he entered through the main gate. County Magistrate Lin didn’t come to welcome the bride. Bai Lixin broke the brazier and made a gesture for good fortune before going straight into the Lin residence.
There weren’t many people in the courtyard. Just as he walked into the Lin residence with the assistance of the thin maid, a respectful voice greeted them, “Madam, the county magistrate is busy handling official affairs today, so he has inconvenienced you. Let me take you to the bridal chamber now. Please rest assured, as soon as Master finishes his duties, he will come back immediately.”
“Is this your accompanying maidservant?”
The thin maid hurriedly replied, “Yes, that’s right.”
The steward then asked, “Are you leaving now?”
The thin maid suddenly tightened her grip on Bai Lixin’s hand. “I’ll stay and accompany my young miss. When she adjusts, then I can leave. Is that alright?”
The steward nodded, “Of course. Please bring Madam over here. Be careful with the veil, don’t lift it. Madam has to wait for Master to return before revealing her face.”
Bai Lixin lowered his head, his face hidden under a red veil. He could only see his own feet now.
With the thin maid’s support, he walked forward silently.
Suddenly, a leg appeared in front of him without any warning. Bai Lixin swiftly stepped aside, avoiding the leg, and the next moment, he heard a tinkling laughter.
The steward’s voice rang out, ”Oh my, Your Ladyship, if you had bumped into her, I wouldn’t survive even if I had ten lives. This lady is the newly wedded wife of the Master. She is the future mistress of the Lin family. Can you please not cause trouble today?”
The thin maid gripped Bai Lixin’s hand tightly once again.
A woman’s laughter rang out for a moment and then stopped. “You shouted so loudly that it scared me. I’m just a lowly maid, how could I bear for the steward to address me as ‘Lady’? I slipped just now, I absolutely had no intention of offending Madam. Please don’t spread false accusations against me.”
After saying this, the woman bowed slightly to Bai Lixin, “Xiaodie greets Madam.”
“I still need to deliver bird’s nest soup to our aunt. Steward, I’ll be leaving first.” After speaking, the woman’s footsteps gradually faded away.
The thin madam spoke, “May I ask, steward, who is that young lady?”
The steward sighed, “Aside from Madam, the Master also has three concubines. That young lady is Xiaodie, who serves by the side of the eldest concubine.”
He paused for two seconds and continued, “The eldest concubine is deeply favored by the Master. If not necessary, it’s best not to clash with her.”
The thin madam squeezed Bai Lixin’s hand hard, “Since the County Magistrate likes this eldest concubine so much, why not just elevate her to the position of a wife? Why bother marrying others?”
‘You deal with your own affairs, why harm other girls?!’
The steward lowered his voice, a hint of mystery in his tone, “You only know one aspect of the situation. The eldest concubine, despite being favored, has a lowly background. She used to be the top courtesan in the brothel, so she can’t bear the status of a wife. However, even so, the Master has been devoted to her for ten years. If it weren’t for her humble origins, Madam wouldn’t have ended up in someone else’s hands.”
As he spoke, the steward stopped in front of a door, “I am the steward of the Master’s household. Both of you are part of the Master’s family. I’ve shared all this with you today because I wanted to inform you about the special status of the eldest concubine in this household. If Madam is wise, don’t offend the eldest concubine for the sake of a momentary display of your status in the future.”
“The Master would indeed stand up for the eldest concubine.”
The thin maid was furious, “Why are you so keen to interfere? If that eldest concubine bullies our young miss, what then?”
The steward sighed, “In this household, there’s no talk of the eldest concubine bullying others.”
Bai Lixin’s hand hurt. He looked down through the veil and saw the thin maid’s hand bulging with veins.
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘If you’re noble and aloof, why don’t you squeeze your own hand when you’re angry? Why squeeze mine? ‘
After entering the bridal chamber and waiting for the steward to leave, Bai Lixin lifted the veil with one swift motion.
Inside the room, there was only the thin maid. She stood near the door a little indignantly, her fingers twisting a handkerchief as if she wanted to tear it apart.
Seeing Bai Lixin lift the veil, the thin maid didn’t try to stop him. Instead, she said resentfully, “Madam, you had the veil on just now and didn’t see the way that Xiaodie looked. She’s a maid but dressed so extravagantly, with no grace when standing or sitting. Even though her mistress is favored, she’s just a maid. How dare she look at you with such arrogance?”
“She’s presumptuous due to favor. When I saw her like that just now, I thought, if it were our young miss who had married here, how could she bear such humiliation? Our young miss is well-educated, how could she endure such injustice?”
“Look at her, she’s like a fox.”
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘The real fox is here.’
Bai Lixin: “Didn’t you say you would leave after dropping me off? Why haven’t you gone back?”
Thin maid: “I’m worried. I want to stay and see. I want to know what kind of family my young miss is marrying into.”
“My young miss is a talented lady, proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She’s as beautiful as a flower. It’s already a compromise for her to be taken as a second wife of the County Magistrate. Now, he’s showing such negligence.”
“Isn’t it better that he didn’t come?” Bai Lixin looked around, observing the bridal chamber. “Do you really hope he shows up so I have to deal with him?”
The room was decorated in antique style, with the bed and curtains all in red. On the table covered with a red tablecloth were snacks like longan and lotus seeds.
Two red candles burned quietly, although they were of no use during the day.
Suddenly, a distant conversation caught Bai Lixin’s attention. He perked up his ears, trying to catch the dialogue.
“Did you see it?” A voice, both charming and arrogant.
“I did, I did. I just didn’t see her face, only a big red veil.” He had just heard this voice; it was the voice of the woman called Xiaodie.
Woman: “What did you see then?”
Xiao Die: “That woman is quite tall. When I went to see her, that old woman was furious. Hehe, she probably found me unpleasant. Humph, let them know how formidable we are. This way, the Madam won’t overstep her bounds.”
Woman: “You child, you’re still so impulsive. With such a temper, who will dare to marry you in the future?”
Xiaodie: “I don’t want to get married. I want to follow you, Sister, for a lifetime.”
The woman’s voice suddenly turned cold. “Follow me for a lifetime? What’s this? Trying to snatch my husband from me?”
Xiaodie hurriedly said with fear, “No, no, how could that be, Sister? Even if I had ten times the courage, I wouldn’t dare to snatch your man.”
Bai Lixin was listening intently when the woman’s stern voice suddenly rang out, “Who’s eavesdropping?!”
The next moment, he felt a sharp pain in his ears, followed by some ringing.
He quickly covered his ears and rubbed them for a while before the ringing eased and they gradually regained their hearing.
The series of actions left the thin maid bewildered. “Immortal Lady, what happened to you? Earache?”
Bai Lixin rubbed his forehead. “I’m fine.”
This concubine was no ordinary person.
He had just been listening with his ears pricked up, yet she somehow detected his eavesdropping.
Not only that, he didn’t know what methods she used, but his ears were ringing like this.
Could this concubine also be a monster?
In the time that followed, he, the “Madam,” seemed to be forgotten, sitting there from morning until afternoon, even during lunch, no one cared for him.
Bai Lixin was fine, but the thin maid was starving, so she went out to find some food.
She was gone for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, and when she came back, she was furious.
Empty-handed and angrily slamming the door, she muttered to herself, “This family is outrageous.”
Bai Lixin: “What happened?”
Thin maid: “I was hungry and wanted to go to the kitchen to prepare something to eat. But only vegetables were laid out in the kitchen. I looked around and no one was there, so I thought I’d make something for myself. But as soon as I lit the fire, someone asked who I was. I said I was the accompanying maid of the new bride, then that kitchen maid then drove me out.”
Bai Lixin: “Why did she chase you away?”
Thin maid: “I asked the same thing! Not only did they not serve lunch, they wouldn’t even let me cook for myself. Guess what that person said?”
Bai Lixin was curious: “What did they say?”
Thin maid: “They said the Eldest Aunt has spoken. The new madam who just entered can’t be fed by anyone unless she goes to pay her respects to her first.”
Bai Lixin: “I, a Madam, have to go pay respects to a concubine just to have a meal?”
The thin maid was furious: “That’s exactly what I said! Then the kitchen maid drove me out.”
