Chapter 947: Chapter 3: The Wedding Ceremony

Leaving Yanyun Pavilion, Zhao Xunyin sent Dou Kou to gather information.

Soon enough, Dou Kou came jogging back.

Zhao Xunyin asked her, "How is it?"

Dou Kou replied, "The young master had the gentleman paint, which is why it took longer."

"What kind of painting?"

"It seems to be Phoenix Seeking Phoenix. The young master told the gentleman that this is a Lu Family tradition, called the door-opening ceremony; the gentleman must complete the painting before he can take the bride away. Right now, the guests and young masters from the family are all outside the gate watching the gentleman paint."

Zhao Xunyin chuckled, "Is it well painted?"

"There were so many people, I didn’t see it," Dou Kou recalled the scene earlier. "But I heard them all praising it, saying the gentleman painted it really well, worthy of being the third-place scholar of that year."

Back then, Song Wei was Pingjiang County’s renowned talent, so painting was naturally no challenge for him. Zhao Xunyin instructed, "Go and keep an eye on it, and as soon as the painting is done, take it straight away to avoid it being taken."

While Song Wei was still in Ningzhou, although his luck was somewhat unfortunate, resulting in some criticism, his calligraphy and paintings were adored with people willing to buy them, though not at high prices. Additionally, since Song Wei rarely painted, he didn’t make much money from it.

Now it’s different. As the Imperial Tutor, he’s famous, known by everyone. Even if he painted something worthless, people would still be eager to collect it.

It’s said that the books he annotated in Ningzhou are being sold at sky-high prices now. The county and provincial schools where he stayed have students from all over flocking each year, almost worshipping Song Wei like a living sage.

When Dou Kou hurried back, she was already a step late; Lu Yanbin had taken the painting.

Dou Kou had to return to report to Zhao Xunyin, who laughed, "Never mind, it was Brother Bin’s idea in the first place, so it’s only right he takes it. Let it be."

Song Wei put down his brush and, amidst the admiration of the young masters and scholars, passed through the gate, went around five or six courtyards, and arrived at the Mingde Courtyard of the Old Mrs. Lu.

Duke Lu and Old Mrs. Lu sat at the top.

Zhao Xunyin and Lu Xingzhou sat on the lower left, Lu Pingzhou and Aunt Wen on the lower right.

Not long after Song Wei entered, the bride, already covered with a red veil, was also escorted in.

The last time they parted in the Capital, and after more than two years without seeing each other, they finally meet in such a manner.

Song Wei didn’t need to look to imagine the exquisite, glamorous face under the veil. His lips curled up slightly. After the servant handed over the prayer mats, he and Wen Wan knelt down in front of their elders. "Grandfather, Grandmother, Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, Uncle, Aunt, your son-in-law is here to take Wanwan."

Duke Lu huffed lightly, "You are about to take her away, and you still haven’t thought to quell the rumors outside. Do you want my granddaughter to bear infamy for her whole life, or what?"

Aunt Wen said, "Old Master may not know, the rumors outside have already completely changed."

Duke Lu usually doesn’t concern himself with gossip, especially being busy with court affairs at the end of the year, having even less time to listen to idle chatter. Seeing Aunt Wen speak up, he asked, "How has it changed?"

Aunt Wen glanced at Song Wei, choosing her words carefully, "I also heard it from the servants, saying that on their way back to the Capital after ancestor worship, the couple quarreled midway, during which Old Mrs. Song was ill, Third Son was troubled and drank too much, his words became unpleasant... even... even got physical with Wanwan. Wanwan couldn’t take it, which is why there was that scene in the memorial hall."

Upon hearing this, Wen Wan’s mouth twitched hard, wondering who devised such a storyline. How unreliable did it sound?

The entire Lu Family, only Lu Xingzhou and Zhao Xunyin knew the true reason for the separation of the two.

Hence hearing this, Duke Lu’s face darkened, his gaze fixed on Song Wei, "What’s the matter with these rumors? Did you indeed lay hands on Wan?"

These rumors were released by Song Wei during a meal with colleagues, though he casually mentioned that three years ago it was his own careless words that upset her, and now he returns to apologize and ask for marriage, which is only proper.

But the spread version turned into what it is now.

However, in his view, the version of the story about drunkenly beating Jin Zhi wasn’t all that bad either.

Lowering his long lashes, Song Wei said, "It was all my fault."

Duke Lu almost threw a teacup at him, but Old Mrs. Lu stopped him in time, "Hasn’t it been said there were reasons? Since Third Son is sincerely remorseful, and Wan has forgiven him, let the couple reconcile and live peacefully from now on. It’s a joyous day; if you really hit him, it will just cause a big scene again."

Duke Lu couldn’t quite believe Song Wei would be that kind of person, but he was more unwilling for his granddaughter to suffer injustice, considering the truth of their separation was undisputable.

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