Second Brother Wen’s wedding day drew steadily closer. Having experienced several major ceremonies in prominent households by now, I was no longer as curious as I once was. As Muyu and the others bustled in and out, rummaging through chests to find me the right clothes and jewelry, I forced a smile and let them dress me. In truth, my heart recoiled at the arrival of the big day. According to my contract with Fourth Master Wen, I was required to leave the capital within three days of the wedding banquet—or, at the very least, I could no longer remain in the Wen manor.
The day before the wedding, Fourth Master Wen uncharacteristically summoned me. He rambled on, expressing his gratitude for my efforts. By the end, I finally grasped the hidden meaning behind his words: he wanted me to hand over everything I had seen and experienced over these three months to the real Wen Qi. This was an obligation stipulated in our contract. I promised that upon my return to the mountain, I would ask my Master to extract my memories and refine them into a pill; once the young miss consumed it, she would know everything.
The following day, the banquet began at noon, followed by opera performances in the afternoon, with the wedding ceremony itself set for the evening. Dressed in elegant, refined purple robes, I felt listless, fanning myself with half-hearted strokes. I couldn't focus on the opera, the pastries tasted like ash, and I had no appetite for tea—all because Wei Qingming had not appeared early as I had expected. It wasn't until the sun began to dip and dusk approached that the grand bridal procession entered the main gates amidst a cacophony of pipes and drums. Enchanted fragrant petals rained down upon the inner hall where we waited. Wen Xiang hurriedly pulled me up from my lethargy, and together with Wen Gan and Wen Shu, they laughingly ushered me forward to meet the procession.
The presence of hundreds of people made my head spin. The magnificent carriage, pulled by two fiery-red simurghs, was so heavily draped in red silk that nothing could be seen inside. I stood on my tiptoes for a while until my legs went numb, only to suddenly realize that among the four pairs of attendants leading the carriage, the one in the center was Wei Qingming!
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry; I felt a mix of joy and a twinge of bitterness. So, the reason she hadn't come to see me was that she had gone to fetch the bride... I had never seen Wei Qingming in such gaudy, flamboyant red robes, complete with a large red silk rosette pinned to her chest. Yet, her posture remained steady and poised, her elegance as refined as a scholar strolling beneath the moon. She lacked the usual festive vulgarity of a wedding, appearing altogether unique. If anything, that pure red hue only served to highlight her noble temperament and handsome, heroic bearing.
Wen Xiang and the others were doubled over with laughter. Wen Gan even went as far as to burst the bubble of decorum, asking with feigned confusion, "How strange. We have so many brothers in the family who weren't used, yet they squeezed Cousin Wei in. Whatever for?"
Wen Jiang, who had been her partner in many endeavors over the years, covered her lips with a fan and gave a charming smile. "Ah, I have a theory. Perhaps they specifically invited a handsome gentleman whose own wedding is fast approaching, as an omen of double blessings?"
I didn't understand the customs of these great families and couldn't refute her, so I stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to say. The girls clutched each other's sleeves, laughing until they were breathless. Flustered, I grabbed Wen Shu, whose hairpins were trembling from her laughter, and said, "Look at her laughing! They should have squeezed her 'special someone' in as well!"
"Excellent, excellent!" everyone hooted. "Eldest Aunt was so thorough in organizing this wedding, yet she remembered this one and forgot that one!"
I watched longingly as Wei Qingming vanished into the crowd of the wedding party, disappearing into the rear hall. After a bout of rowdiness, the sisters huddled back to their seats to watch the opera. I picked at my fingers, waiting for Wei Qingming to come over. I waited for a long, long time, until the evening banquet was nearly served. Only then did she arrive, having changed into expensive formal attire, walking with a vigorous stride.
Without waiting for anyone to offer a seat, Wen Xiang had already cleared the spot next to me. Wei Qingming smoothed her robes and sat down gracefully. I wanted to get a good look at her, but mindful of the public setting, I only dared to steal occasional glances. I finally managed to see her outfit clearly: she was rarely dressed in such light colors, wearing a summer robe of moon-white with a gauze over-tunic patterned with pale mountain-green grass and leaves. With her jade belt and jade crown, she looked fresh and otherworldly. The only thing out of place was a large red pomegranate flower pinned to her lapel. Just as I was eyeing the flower suspiciously, she plucked it off and tucked it into my hair behind my ear.
"I got this for winning the makeup-hastening poem contest just now. It wasn't a gift from anyone in particular."
I huffed. As if it wasn't a reward from some beautiful matron or pretty young miss of the bride's family!
We sat in silence for a moment. I couldn't care less about what was being performed on stage, so I finally asked her, "Have you been busy these past few days?"
"It’s been alright," Wei Qingming said. "I’ve been at the yamen, and I just rushed over from the Duke of Zhao’s estate."
The Liang family, the Duke of Zhao, was the bride's natal home. Hearing this made me feel a bit better; at least she hadn't been busy with this wedding specifically for a long time. But then I felt bad for her hard work—she could have easily taken a day off from Eunuch Feng today!
There were rituals to observe during the evening banquet, so she had to sit with the Wen brothers. I reluctantly scratched her palm over and over before letting her go. Throughout the feast, across the bustling crowd and the flowing trays of fine delicacies, we occasionally made faces at each other and shared secret smiles. Finally, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived: the wedding ceremony. The perfect couple, joined by a large red silk ball, walked in slowly. Second Brother Wen, usually so grave and steady, was visibly nervous, constantly turning his head to check on his bride for fear she might trip. Such careful protection made it clear that this lady was truly the one his heart desired. Though the bride was covered in elaborate ornaments, one could still glimpse her graceful, flower-like silhouette, making one yearn to see the true face hidden beneath the veil.
As the three bows were completed, the room erupted in celebration. I clapped while searching for Wei Qingming with my eyes. I saw her holding a cup in one hand and resting her chin on the other, her gaze tender and lingering, as if lost in thought. Her expression was not unlike Wen Shu’s, whose heart was clearly stirred by the sight of the newlyweds. A sudden thought struck me: would there be a day when such a person walked beside her? And I... would I ever have such a person?
My heart suddenly swelled, though it wasn't exactly happiness. It was more like a surge of nameless anger mixed with a frantic sort of bitterness. Just as I was about to suppress those swirling, wild thoughts, I saw Wei Qingming looking at me from afar. She had been watching me for quite some time. Seeing me turn my head, she smiled faintly and flicked her wine cup three times with her finger, like striking a gong—likely a silent metaphor for the three bows of the ceremony. I couldn't help but snicker. Indeed, who would have the courage to marry this fierce God of Slaughter? For starters, they might not even be as tall as she was...
While the bride waited in the nuptial chamber, the groom still had to patiently toast his guests. When he reached Wei Qingming’s table, Second Brother Wen filled her cup to the brim. Fifth Brother Wen threw an arm around her shoulder, laughing and talking loudly. Wei Qingming actually looked slightly flustered for once, raising a hand to stop the somewhat uncouth drunken teasing of the young men at the table before respectfully sharing a toast with her second cousin. A sudden sense of dread washed over me. It seemed all of the capital knew that the marriage between Wei Qingming and Wen Qi was set in stone. But what would she do? And what about the real Wen Qi, who knew nothing of this?
Seeing me looking dejected, not even touching my favorite fish balls and just poking at the food aimlessly, the observant Wen Shu touched my hand. "Sister, why the long face? They’ve had too much to drink and are just talking nonsense. Cousin Wei is sensible and reliable; don't take it to heart." She was likely thinking back to the relationship between Yindeng and Wei Qingming that night. I couldn't very well throw a tantrum, so I smiled and said, "Oh, I’m not worried about that. Don't fret over me, Sister. It’s just been a long day, and I’ve had my fill of food."
Though Wen Shu made a few more jokes with a smile, she kept a concerned eye on me throughout the evening. Finally, as the banquet was winding down, she called Wei Qingming over, who was still being pestered by the drunken Fifth Brother. Wei Qingming hurried over, frowning as she looked at me. "What is it? Is the crowd too noisy? Is the summer heat too much?"
Seeing that if I didn't say something, she would likely roll up her sleeves and perform a Frost Art on the spot, I quickly grabbed the corner of her sleeve to stop her. I opened my mouth but found myself speechless for a moment. Finally, a spark of inspiration hit me, and I blurted out, "Didn't you say Fifth Brother’s grape wine was good? You promised to let me taste it!"
Wei Qingming blinked and smiled. "Alright. Let’s go to the cellar then."
I stuck out my tongue. "Without letting the host know?"
"Stolen wine tastes sweeter," she chuckled, then frowned with disdain. "That fellow runs wild at my house all the time. Stealing from him is only just."
The two of us then sneakily blended into the departing crowd and slipped out of the central hall. Wei Qingming, familiar with the layout, led me over several courtyard walls to take a shortcut. Because of the heat and the heavy formal wear, and the fact that we were climbing and jumping, we both stripped off our cumbersome ornaments. I was the one with the most trouble; men's clothing is more or less the same regardless of the occasion.
Even the usually dignified Wei Qingming loosened her collar and tucked up her long robes. With one hand carrying a handkerchief full of my clinking jewelry and the other supporting my waist, she flew across the rooftops.
It was another night of the sixteenth's full moon. The moonlight was as clear as if it had been washed, spilling over our shoulders. Every time I turned my head, I could see the silver smile in her eyes. I couldn't help but feel dazed again. I was a practitioner of illusion arts, yet I truly couldn't tell if what was before me was real or a dream... because it felt too happy, unlike anything in this world of suffering.
Bypassing the night watchmen, we entered Fifth Brother Wen’s back courtyard without hindrance. Wei Qingming jumped down from the wall with me in her arms and walked straight to a secluded spot in the yard. She tapped a specific stone brick, and a trapdoor to the cellar swung open. I gasped, "He brought you here before?"
Wei Qingming shrugged. "Men have simple minds. This place is right under his bedroom window; he can just hop out and step right in. It's convenient." Her expression was full of contempt; she had clearly seen through it long ago and simply hadn't bothered to expose him.
I laughed until my stomach hurt. Wei Qingming went down first and reached back to take my hand.
Even though we were stealing, I was terrified of seeing something I shouldn't, so I kept my eyes averted. Wei Qingming, however, walked in boldly. She moved aside some coverings and, with a flick of her long fingers, lifted a well-hidden lid. Inside were dozens of slender-necked glass bottles, neatly arranged in three square wooden crates. The crates looked out of place; I thought about it and couldn't help but laugh. Weren't those book crates? Piled on top of them were three stacks of books half a person high, covered in dust. It was a wonder Wei Qingming wasn't afraid of the dirt and was willing to put in the effort to move them.
She opened the three crates one by one, her fingertips hovering over them for a moment before she selected three bottles. Seeing that each bottle was thin and held barely half a catty, I demanded more. She shook her head with a helpless smile but pulled out one more. Once the selection was made, she set the wine on the ground and, without even looking, moved the crates and books back in a few swift motions. Everything was exactly as it had been, and she even used a spell to blow some dust back over them, restoring the scene perfectly. I couldn't help but marvel once again at the professional skills of a secret agent.
While she was moving things, I idly picked up a book to look at. The cover said *Zizhi Tongjian*, but the contents were an illustrated erotic manual... I let out a yelp of fright and tossed the thick book away in disgust. Wei Qingming caught it mid-air, flipped through it, and chuckled before putting it back in its original place.
With two bottles tucked into each of our robes, clinking together like a pair of chiming windbells, we climbed out while chatting and laughing. After concealing the entrance, we crept behind the wisteria trellis in the back garden. Each of us found a patch of lush grass and sat down comfortably. Wei Qingming pulled out a small metal knife she had swiped from the wine crate. With a quick glance, she understood how to use it, twisting it into the cork and prying it off. She then produced a pair of jade cups shaped like green lotus leaves. Instantly, the red liquid swirled, and the jade vessels filled with fragrance.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 傧相 | Groomsman / Attendant | Specifically the male attendants in a wedding procession. |
| 催妆诗 | Makeup-hastening poem | A traditional poem recited to "hurry" the bride to finish her makeup and join the ceremony. |
| 寒冰诀 | Frost Art / Ice-Chilling Incantation | A magical technique involving ice or cold. |
| 资治通鉴 | Zizhi Tongjian | "Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance," a famous Chinese historical work. |
| 风月保鉴 | Erotic manual / "Precious Mirror of Romance" | A play on titles, referring to erotic literature or "Spring Palace" paintings. |
| 碧荷 | Green Lotus | Specifically referring to the color and shape of the jade cups. |
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