Chapter 282: Chapter 225: A Wedding Gift

Xueyan was steadily carried away in the bridal sedan, and Shen Ruoxi and Jun Moling were soon heading to their residence.

This time, they had only invited brothers from the Prince Mansion who had close ties with Mi Yi to come and celebrate with them.

Watching as Xueyan gradually moved farther away, Chuntao couldn’t help but start crying first, which prompted Xia Lian to glare at her and scold, “On such a joyful day, why are you crying?”

Though she said this, her own eyes were already red.

“Alright, today we are both hosts and guests. Later, let’s all go and have a celebratory drink, and stop crying. Moreover, this residence is not far, and we can visit her whenever we miss her.”

Shen Ruoxi comforted them.

Yet, her own eyes were also slightly reddened.

Jun Moling shook his head and chuckled, thinking inwardly that if her remaining two maids also got married, he couldn’t imagine what kind of scene she’d make.

“My lady, today is indeed a joyful day.”

Shen Ruoxi nodded in agreement, “I know, let’s go! We can watch them make their vows, and at least it’s a relief knowing she has a husband to care for her in the future, so we don’t have to worry.”

Everyone arrived at the residence Mi Yi had carefully prepared, and sure enough, it wasn’t far from the Prince Zhan Mansion.

At the moment, the house was newly decorated, with festive red symbols and fluttering red silk everywhere, exuding an atmosphere of joy.

After the ceremonial vows, the newlyweds were sent into the bridal chamber.

Xueyan felt as if it all were a dream, filled with gratitude that she had met her lady.

Not only did she save her life, but she also bought her, giving her a warm home.

Though Mi Yi appeared tall and imposing, somewhat stern and intimidating, he was genuinely kind to her.

Thinking back to when the Princess Consort was pregnant, the Prince rewarded Chuntao and Xia Lian, and Mi Yi firmly helped her gain some favor, warmth surged in her heart.

The door of the bridal chamber was slowly pushed open, and a little maid entered, just turned fourteen, named Cui Yin, who Mi Yi had specially bought to serve Xueyan.

Inside, Chuntao and Xia Lian were accompanying Xueyan, and upon seeing the maid enter with a delicate box in hand, they couldn’t help but ask in confusion, “What are you holding?”

Cui Yin hurriedly replied, “Reporting to the two ladies, this item was brought over as a wedding gift for my lady.”

Hearing this, Chuntao and Xia Lian were full of astonishment and asked in unison, “Who? Who gave it?”

“They said it was gathered by some servants who had a good relationship with the madam at the Xiao Mansion before,” Cui Yin answered truthfully.

Upon hearing this, Xueyan’s heart inexplicably skipped a beat, her hands unconsciously clenched tightly.

Chuntao and Xia Lian were puzzled, having lived in the Xiao Mansion for two years, they remembered Xueyan indeed had no friends there.

Because she had been Xiao Chengyi’s concubine, she drew envy and was nearly killed because of it.

In such circumstances, how could anyone bring her a gift?

“Let me see what this is?” Chuntao said, reaching out to open the box.

Xueyan felt her limbs go cold, suddenly speaking, “I know who it is, it’s a sister who cleaned the courtyard with me, give it to me! I’ll look at it myself later.”

Chuntao’s face was full of suspicion, and she inexplicably felt this was a peculiar item, unable to help but ask, “Really from your sister?”

Xueyan lowered her head and smiled lightly, “Though my time at the Xiao Mansion was truly miserable, there were still one or two sisters I was close to. Give it to me!”

The craftsmanship of that box was exquisite, clearly of high value.

Chuntao pondered over how any of her friends could be this wealthy?

If someone truly was, why would she have been bullied so mercilessly at the Xiao Mansion, nearly losing her life?

Chuntao gently shook the box, and there was a dull metallic sound coming from inside.

Xia Lian immediately recognized it as jewelry, quickly grabbing it, scolding, “Being so reckless, aren’t you afraid of damaging what’s inside?”

By now Chuntao also recognized it as the sound of jewelry, the sound of gold and silver clashing wasn’t loud, somewhat muffled, suggesting indeed someone had given Xueyan jewelry, and she was startled for nothing.

She then handed the box to Xueyan, laughingly saying, “Here, it was me being overly suspicious.”

Xueyan accepted the box, but her fingers couldn’t stop trembling, her face beneath the red veil instantly paled a few shades.

“Cui Yin will be here with me, you two shouldn’t stay here all the time, go join the lady, maybe enjoy some wine.” Xueyan tried to control her emotions as she spoke.

Xia Lian knew Chuntao loves a lively scene, laughed and said, “I’ll stay with Sister Xueyan, you go enjoy yourself in the front hall.”

“Summer Flower, you should go too! I have nothing here, I’ll munch on snacks if I’m hungry, and with Cui Yin around, there won’t be any problem.” Xueyan insisted.

Summer Flower nodded, “Okay, then we’ll go check the front hall, and come back to accompany you later.”

Xueyan clutched that small box, trying hard to force a reluctant smile, “Go on!”

Watching their departing figures, Xueyan asked Cui Yin to pour her a glass of water, she sipped a little, then whispered, “You should go too! I haven’t anything to do here.”

Cui Yin, just fourteen, was at an age fond of excitement, and having not witnessed many weddings, curiosity was unavoidable.

She thought for a moment and said, “Then I’ll go out for a look and be back shortly.”

Receiving Xueyan’s assent, Cui Yin hastily went outside.

After Cui Yin left, Xueyan slowly lifted her red veil, her trembling hands shook as she opened the mysterious box.

In an instant, her complexion was ashen as paper, and with a loud crash, the box fell heavily to the floor.

A distinctive silver hairpin, a delicately embroidered bellyband, and a bloodstained white strip lay bare for all to see.

Tears instantly brimmed her eyes, yet she desperately bit her lip, daring not let her sobbing escape.

Her lips broke under the bite, blood oozing out, her eyes full of despair and sorrow.

The blood-drenched strip was evidence of her first night, and the bellyband was the very item worn that night, while the distinctive silver hairpin was Xiao Chengyi personally placing it on her head that morning.

He knew so well how to humiliate her, how to stab the dagger directly into her heart.

She covered her lips, letting tears stream like a torrent. Her trembling hands gradually picked up the items from the ground, putting them back into the box.

The red throughout the room, so painfully vivid, seemed to scorch her soul.

Now it was Xiao Chengyi’s humiliation towards her, and possibly a future humiliation to Mi Yi.

As such a sullied woman, how could she talk of marriage, how could she let Mi Yi bear her disgrace?

She considered herself unworthy of living, let alone forming a union with anyone.

Despair laden, she forcefully tore the crimson bed sheet, muttering, “I’m sorry, sorry Mi Yi, sorry, Miss who treated me so well, sorry, in my next life, I will be your maid again.”

Then, trembling, she threw the bed sheet onto the beam, tied a death knot, found a stool to stand on, and placed the sheet around her neck.

Spring Peach and Summer Flower returned to the front hall, the feast had yet to begin, and Shen Ruoxi and Jun Moling were leisurely sipping tea.

Seeing the two maids return, Shen Ruoxi casually asked, “Why not keep company with Xueyan? Remember on my wedding day with the Prince, I sat alone all day, bored to tears. Go talk to her; there’s nothing here.”

Spring Peach, being straightforward, replied quickly, “It’s Xueyan who said no need for company, oddly enough, Sister Xueyan actually had friends in the Xiao Mansion who gifted her jewelry.”

Shen Ruoxi’s brow furrowed, her expression sharply changed, urgently questioning, “Spring Peach, what did you say? What friends? What jewelry?”

Spring Peach recounted the story of the exquisite box given to Xueyan.

Hearing this, Shen Ruoxi’s heart jumped, she stood up rapidly, anxiously declared, “Quick, come with me.”

Jun Moling, being a man, couldn’t enter a subordinate’s bridal chamber, was perplexed and asked, “My lady, what’s happening?”

Shen Ruoxi had no time to explain, only hastily saying, “I’m going to check on Xueyan.”

Inexplicably, tension arose within Spring Peach and Summer Flower, hastily following Shen Ruoxi to the bridal chamber.

When the bridal chamber door was pushed open suddenly, Shen Ruoxi’s eyes widened in shock at the scene before her.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep