Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 536 Another Bird Flies In At Night (1)

Feng Xuxu stepped back from his embrace, her eyes on the people lying on the ground, no longer merely a spectator as before. The words she had just overheard pleased her, and given that today was her brother’s grand wedding day, she would have otherwise ensured those eavesdroppers paid a hefty price for their curiosity, teaching them that watching the show came with its costs.

"My husband," she cooed as she leaned against Dugu Chen, her red lips parting slightly, "let’s just forgive them, shall we? It’s a day of great joy, and I really don’t want to dampen the mood."

Looking down upon them with an elevated stance, a voice cold and piercing said, "If it weren’t for the Empress pleading on your behalf, hmm, your eyes would be dog food by now."

"Thank you, Empress, for pleading for us, and thank you, Your Majesty, for sparing us the fate of losing our eyes."

Quite the stir had arisen in the rear courtyard, slowly seeping through the ranks of servants until it reached the front yard. Upon hearing that the Emperor and Empress had arrived, the Magistrate and County Magistrate hurried towards the backyard as if carried by the wind. The wealthy merchants from town were even more impatient, rushing to catch a glimpse of the imperial couple’s elegance.

Seeing everyone rushing to the backyard in such a haste, the onlookers, out of curiosity and thinking something had happened, followed to join in, leaving the front yard nearly deserted in a blink.

When they reached the backyard, the various Magistrates caught sight of the Emperor’s face and knelt to pay respects, while the County Officials bowed even lower, as the most senior official they had ever encountered was a Magistrate—not to mention the Emperor and the famously powerful Empress they had heard stories about.

County Magistrate Cao Kun knelt with trembling legs, while his colleague Jia Yi next to him noticed his own wife lying on the ground not far from where the Emperor and Empress stood. Though it was just a quick glance, he saw clearly.

Whispering into Master Cao’s ear, Jia Yi said, "Master, it looks like the madam has fainted over there."

Cao Kun’s face turned even paler than before, hesitating whether he should go and check on her.

Dugu Chen, glancing over the people kneeling on the ground, noticed his wife tugging at his sleeve and blinking at him, her lips silently forming two words: "The auspicious hour."

"You may all rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty and Empress," Dugu Chen paused as they stood up and then continued, "Today, I am here to attend Feng Xi’s wedding feast. There’s no need for formality; just behave as you were." He looked over at someone who had fainted on the ground without giving them a second glance, then Xuan Yue emerged from the side, picked up the County Magistrate’s wife from the ground, and vanished in a swift motion.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Nobody dared to disobey the Emperor’s command, some chatting as they walked out, others smiling stiffly while speaking with the person next to them, their gaze still inadvertently drifting over to the imperial couple.

Seeing a look of disapproval in his wife’s eyes, Dugu Chen shrugged and blinked his very innocent eyes. Feng Xuxu rolled her phoenix eyes and turned to her brother, "Big brother, hurry up and go to fetch the bride. What are you still doing standing here looking silly?"

"Hehe, right away." Feng Xi laughed sheepishly, adjusted his ceremonial wedding robe, and put on the large red flower made with a red silk ribbon brought by the butler, blossoming brightly on his chest.

As the groom headed out, everyone else went to the front yard to witness the wedding ceremony.

Dugu Chen and Feng Xuxu exchanged a glance before heading to the front courtyard themselves.

In the front yard, they were greeted by a fiery red tablecloth covering a square table below, colloquially known as the "Heaven and Earth Table." On it were placed a scoop, a ruler, scissors, a mirror, an abacus, and a scale—the "Six Certificates," representing the inquiry into how much grain and how much fabric one had, the condition of one’s clothes, the fairness of one’s complexion, the clarity of one’s accounts, and the balance of weight among possessions. There’s a common saying that only when a marriage has both "three matchmakers and six certificates" is it considered legitimate and lawful. Thus, when couples argue, they often retort, "I was carried into this house, not walked in." This privilege is reserved for the principal wife.