Chapter 565: Wan’er Enters the Mansion

The ZhaoMansion was eerily quiet in the darkness of the night. There were few pedestrians on the streets, with only soldiers on patrol passing by from time to time. The pale moonlight cast a faint glow across the ground. Pei Wan’er’s sedan chair did not enter through the main gate but took a detour, entering through a side door.

Inside the chair, Pei Wan’er was already prepared. She wore a lake-green four-panel skirt, her hair styled high into a cloud-like bun adorned with gold beads and jade ornaments. At the top of her bun sat an emerald feather hairpin. Her face was painted a flawless white; her brows were like dark mountains, and her eyes like deep pools, making her exceptionally beautiful.

Tonight, she would become a bride, marking the beginning of a new life. Yet, there was little joy in her eyes. The heavy political implications of marriage overshadowed the hopes and happiness that should have belonged to her.

Next to her sat Zhu’er, her personal maid who had grown up with her. Holding the bride’s arm, Zhu’er whispered soothing words, “Miss, don’t worry. Actually, the groom really likes you. Besides, he’s still young—just in his thirties. You’re very lucky.”

“Sigh!” Wan’er let out a soft sigh. She liked Li Qing’an too, but she didn’t want this kind of marriage. The interests of her family trapped her like shackles, leaving her breathless. More than once, she had dreamed of wearing a six-panel bridal dress and enjoying the sweetest moments at a grand wedding, under a blue sky with white clouds and blooming flowers.

But now, she was being brought to her new home at night, under dim moonlight, through a side door. Her beautiful dreams were destined to remain just dreams.

The sedan chair passed the main gate. Unable to resist, Pei Wan’er lifted the curtain and peeked outside. The towering gate was tightly closed, with two dim lanterns hanging lifelessly. On either side stood tall, dark walls, exuding a sense of oppression. Thinking that she would have to live here for the rest of her life, Pei Wan’er felt her nose sting, and tears nearly spilled over.

The chair arrived at the side door, which was open, with five or six lanterns lit. Several strong women stood at the entrance, along with Pan Xiaoliang, the chief steward of the ZhaoMansion. They came to receive the sedan chair. When it was set down, Pei Yun, who had come to see her off, whispered to Pei Wan’er, “Wan’er, I’m leaving now. I hope you can return home happily in three days.”

Tears finally streamed down Pei Wan’er’s face. She managed to nod in response, her eyes fixed on her cousin and the Pei family members as they walked away.

At that moment, Pan Xiaoliang stepped forward and said gently, “Miss Wan’er, we’re about to enter.”

Pei Wan’er wiped away her tears. Zhu’er beside her quickly asked, “Should our lady get out of the chair?”

“No! Not yet. She’ll need to get out later.”

Pan Xiaoliang waved his hand, and six strong women lifted the sedan chair. It creaked as it entered the royal mansion. Two maids carried large red wedding lanterns to lead the way. Pei Wan’er’s sadness gradually faded, replaced by nervousness as her heart pounded. Although she had been to the Zhao family’s mansion many times before, it felt utterly strange to her tonight—imposing halls, vast buildings, exquisite pavilions, lush trees, and all kinds of rare flowers and plants lining a small river. It was this river, about twenty feet wide, that divided the mansion, with the inner courtyard on the other side.

The six strong women walked swiftly to the riverbank and stopped. Pan Xiaoliang said, “Miss Wan’er, it’s time to get out of the sedan chair and take the boat.”

Pei Wan’er suddenly understood. Her wedding would take place at Penglai Pavilion, the most beautiful spot within the Zhao family’s mansion. A hint of anticipation arose in her heart.

The maid Zhu Er helped her out of the sedan chair. A painted boat was already docked at the shore, its lights bright and radiant. Ru Hua stood there, smiling, waiting for her. Seeing Ru Hua, Pei Wan’er felt as if she were reuniting with a long-lost relative.

“Ru Hua!” She stepped forward quickly, her voice trembling with excitement.

Ru Hua supported her and examined her face, then joked, “Has the bride-to-be been so upset that she cried?”

“No, it’s just that my cousin left just now, and I felt a bit sad.”

“Don’t worry! Everyone has been waiting for you for a long time. No one will make you feel wronged. Come, let’s go aboard.”

Ru Hua helped her onto the boat and into the cabin. Two boatmen began rowing away from the shore, and the painted boat drifted deeper into the river.

The cabin was softly lit, with silk fabrics spread out and a pair of large red wedding candles burning. Pei Wan’er sat by the window. In the distance, the sound of music could be heard. Ru Hua smiled at her and said, “Actually, we’ve been preparing for three days. It was my idea to have your wedding at Penglai Pavilion. I hired musicians for the dance, and the boatmen and maids were all brought from the palace. There are no outsiders among the guests—just our own sisters, to make the occasion more lively.”

As she spoke, Ru Hua noticed Yu Zhu looking at the scenery outside. She leaned in and whispered to Wan’er, “That matter… did your mother teach you about it? Ru Shi will teach you later.”

Wan’er’s face turned red instantly. She knew what it was. Her mother had explained it to her in detail the previous night. It was actually the thing she feared and was most nervous about. All night last and all day today, that thought had haunted her like a ghost, filling her with fear at the mere thought of it. She twisted her skirt in her hands, bit her lip, and stayed silent, head bowed.

Seeing her shy expression, Hua Shu couldn’t help but cover her mouth and laugh secretly.
Li Qing’an’s ZhaoMansion was rebuilt on the basis of Princess Taiping’s mansion. Princess Taiping’s mansion could be considered the most magnificent and splendid residence aside from major palaces like Daming Palace and Xingqing Palace. Covering about 200 mu, it had around 500 to 600 rooms and halls, with soaring beams and elegant eaves, creating a grand atmosphere. The largest hall, Taiping Hall, could accommodate thousands of people. There was also a 30-mu lake within the estate called Yufeng Pool, with an island of 3 mu in it. On this island, a replica of Daming Palace’s Taiye Pool was built, along with a Penglai Pavilion. When Princess Taiping was executed, one of the charges against her was overstepping her authority.
Although Princess Taiping was executed, her mansion was preserved and now became Li Qing’an’s ZhaoMansion. Li Qing’an had not moved in for long, so the Penglai Pavilion had never been used. But today, to welcome Pei Wan’er, it was used for the first time.
The painted boat left the small river, gliding across the autumn waters and entering Yufeng Pool, heading toward the Penglai Pavilion in the center of the lake. At that moment, the sounds of music grew louder, filled with joy. The lights of the Penglai Pavilion were all lit up, shining brilliantly, as if a celestial pagoda had descended to earth.
On the dock of the Penglai Pavilion, a large group of women had been waiting for a long time, their laughter echoing. Leading them was Lady Dugu Mingyue, also dressed in a six-panel imperial gown, adorned with pearls and jewels, exuding elegance and grace. There were no guests tonight—only family members, not even a single male guest. The only man on the island was the bridegroom, Li Qing’an, along with the young master Li, who was still babbling in his nurse’s arms.
Behind Mingyue were her sisters—Wuyi, Rushi, Mingzhu, Gaowu, Xiaolian, Pei Yu, and others, along with dozens of palace maids and musicians. Additionally, there was a special guest: Empress Dowager Shen Zhenzhu. According to protocol, it should have been tomorrow when Mingyue would take Wan’er to the palace to receive the empress dowager’s coronation. But Empress Dowager Shen secretly asked Mingyue to allow her to attend this private Li family wedding as well. Although Mingyue found it somewhat inappropriate, she eventually agreed.
“They’re here! They’re here!”
Mingzhu, with her sharp eyes, saw the painted boat first and exclaimed excitedly, “Go tell the bridegroom! The bride has arrived.”
“Back off!”
Mingyue glared at her sister. “Stop meddling. Tonight is for us sisters to have fun—this has nothing to do with him.”
Frustrated, Mingzhu pouted and muttered unhappily, “Of course it does! If the bride has arrived, how can there be no bridegroom involved?”

Ru Qi gently placed her arm around her shoulders and whispered an explanation, “Wan’er isn’t getting married formally, so there’s no need for a wedding ceremony. The groom can’t appear in person; she has to wait until the eldest wife agrees to let her enter before she can meet him. Though it’s lively, rules are rules—do you understand?”
“Oh—” Mingzhu nodded; now she understood.
At that moment, the painted boat docked at the pier. Two boatwomen tied down the ropes, and two pipa players stepped forward, playing softly. The sound of the pipa was like pearls falling onto a plate, signaling that it was time for the bride to disembark.
Pei Wan’er came out of the boat. Her maids, Zhu’er and Ru Hua, supported her from either side as she stepped onto the shore. Everyone praised her stunning appearance.
Pei Wan’er’s face turned red as she bowed to Mingyue, saying, “Wan’er pays respects to my elder sister.”
Mingyue smiled and nodded. “I’m sorry for making you go through this tonight—entering the house at night. Please don’t take it to heart.”
“I won’t!”
Pei Wan’er then bowed to everyone else. “Wan’er greets all the sisters.”
Mingyue added, “We’re all quite familiar with each other, so there’s no need for such formalities. But there’s one person you should meet—this is probably the first time you’ve seen her.”
Mingyue took her hand and led her to Gao Wu, introducing her with a smile, “This is Sister Wu. You can call her Sister Wu. She’s the daughter of General Gao Xianzhi.”
Pei Wan’er had heard from Xiao Lian that Gao Wu was a remarkable woman. She quickly bowed and said, “Wan’er pays respects to Sister Wu.”
Gao Wu’s face turned slightly red. She touched her body and took out a pure gold dagger inlaid with gems, handing it to Pei Wan’er. “It’s our first meeting, and I don’t have anything to give you. But this dagger is something I cherish, so I’m giving it to you.”
The two boatwomen nearby couldn’t help but laugh secretly. This woman really didn’t understand propriety—how could one give a bride a knife on her wedding night?
Mingyue knew Gao Wu meant well and didn’t point it out. Instead, she took the dagger for Pei Wan’er and placed it in a colorful gift box. Then she smiled at everyone and said, “It’s getting late. Let’s go inside!”
The women surrounded Pei Wan’er and led her into Penglai Pavilion. The pavilion was beautifully decorated, with eighteen large red lanterns hanging high in the hall. A huge ‘Double happiness’ character was pasted on the front wall, and a long table was filled with various gifts. In the front was a seating couch, with a small table in the middle. On that table stood a jade pot and two jade bowls. Someone was already sitting there, sipping tea slowly—it was Empress Dowager Shen Zhenzhu.

Shen Zhenzhu was also under thirty years old, yet she lived alone in the vast and desolate Daming Palace. The indescribable loneliness made her heart grow older day by day. Today, upon hearing that Li Qing’an had married Pei Wan’er—both women, with no outsiders present—she became tempted and quietly asked Mingyue to allow her to attend. Mingyue, understanding her loneliness, agreed.

Shen Zhenzhu attended the wedding in a personal capacity. Due to her status, it was inappropriate for her to go out to greet Pei Wan’er, so she sat in the main hall drinking tea while waiting for her. Sitting beneath the character “Xi” (happiness), the glowing wedding candles illuminated her face, making her feel as though she were back on her own wedding night.

At that moment, Pei Wan’er entered the hall surrounded by others. The moment she saw Shen Zhenzhu, she was stunned and somewhat at a loss. Mingyue whispered to her, “The Empress Dowager is here in a personal capacity; there’s no need to be too formal.”

Pei Wan’er quickly stepped forward and bowed, saying, “Wan’er pays her respects to the Empress Dowager.”

Shen Zhenzhu said gently, “Miss Wan’er, there’s no need for formalities. Just consider me your sister.”

Actually, calling her sister wasn’t entirely accurate. Li Qing’an had pretended to be Li Ting, who was of the same generation as Li Heng, while Shen Zhenzhu was Li Yu’s wife, thus one generation younger. However, intergenerational marriages were not uncommon in the Tang Dynasty, so it wasn’t wrong for Shen Zhenzhu to call herself a sister.

Yet at this moment, the term “sister” carried another meaning. Mingyue was the elder sister, and she had asked Pei Wan’er to call Gao Wu “Sister Wu”—all out of purpose. So it felt a bit awkward when Shen Zhenzhu called herself a sister.

Especially Mingyue, who was very sensitive, knew that her husband had visited Shen Zhenzhu in the palace several times alone, so she couldn’t help but glance at her.

Rushi, the hostess of the evening, knew that Li Qing’an was still upstairs waiting for the bride, so she said with a smile, “A single night of spring is worth a thousand gold pieces. The bridegroom upstairs is eagerly waiting. Let’s get started!”

Everyone laughed and took their seats. Mingyue sat down on Shen Zhenzhu’s other side. By then, Pei Wan’er had put on her phoenix crown, and two bridesmaids draped her in a red robe. They led her to step over two small basins filled with dates, pears, and plump bean pods—symbolizing the hope that Pei Wan’er would soon bear children for the Li family.

Finally, they led her in front of Mingyue, and Rushi announced loudly, “The bride offers tea!”

As the legitimate wife, Mingyue, who entered the Li family, had to offer tea to Li Qing’an’s elders. Pei Wan’er, being a concubine, could only offer tea to Mingyue—just as ordinary employees could only report to their direct supervisors rather than going straight to the boss.

Mingzhu played the role of the tea server. She picked up the jade teapot on the table, poured a bowl of tea, and handed it to Pei Wan’er. Pei Wan’er knelt down, raised the teacup, and said in a low voice, “Wan’er presents tea to my elder sister!”
This was the most crucial step in taking a concubine. If Mingyue refused the tea, Pei Wan’er would have to return to her family’s home. Only when Mingyue accepted the tea could she enter the Li family’s home.
However, it was rare for a wife to refuse the tea, as she also needed to save face for her husband. As the saying goes, “A wife is not as good as a concubine.” If she angered her husband, he might find an excuse to divorce her, which would be a great loss.
Mingyue took the teacup, took a sip, and smiled at her, “Get up! From now on, you are my good sister.”
Joyful noises filled the hall immediately, with continuous applause, congratulations, and laughter. Ru Shi pulled Pei Wan’er into the back room to teach her how to bear children, while Mingzhu and Ru Hua excitedly rushed upstairs to prepare for the wedding night.
Mingyue smiled at Shen Zhenzhu and said, “It’s getting late. The Empress Dowager should stay here tonight. I’ll chat with her, and send her back to the palace early tomorrow morning.”
Shen Zhenzhu naturally didn’t want to return to the deserted Daming Palace. Though it was a bit improper, she still nodded and smiled, “Then I’ll trouble the Princess Wang tonight.”
At that moment, laughter from Ru Hua and Mingzhu came from upstairs. The two ran down and said to Mingyue, “The bridegroom says he’s tired and wants the bride to hurry into the bridal chamber, so he sent us away.”
Mingyue shook her head smilingly and said to everyone, “Since the bridegroom is in a hurry, let’s be sensible and not disturb their wedding night. Let’s go!”
Everyone blew out their lanterns and left Penglai Pavilion, closing the main door. Now, inside Penglai Pavilion, and even on the entire island, only Li Qing’an and Pei Wan’er were left. The women boarded the large painted boat parked on the shore, and the boat slowly sailed away from the island toward the inner palace. Although there was no one on the island, there were more than a dozen small boats patrolling the lake—these were Li Qing’an’s personal guards, keeping strict vigilance.
The lake was very quiet, with only the sound of oars. All the women held their breath, their eyes fixed on a window on the third floor lit by red candles. When they saw the candles go out suddenly, even though the boat was less than thirty steps away from the island, they couldn’t help but bend over and laugh.
“That guy is really too impatient!”