Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Husband

Chun Zhi usually wore no makeup, her face clean and bare, and her clothes were simple and a little worn. Today she had put on makeup and wore a red wedding dress. She was so beautiful that even peach and plum would be ashamed, bright and stunning. Even Huo Zheng, who had seen many great beauties, could not look away.

Chun Zhi noticed him staring. Her cheeks, tinted with rouge, grew even redder. She lifted her bridal fan to hide her face, but the man’s gaze felt like it could burn through anything.

Two aunties stood to the sides and called out: “Bride and groom, come bow for the ceremony.”

Supported by two sisters-in-law, Chun Zhi walked toward Huo Qi. His leg injury had not fully healed, so his steps were slow, but each one was steady. No one could tell he had been sitting in a wheelchair moments before.

A red silk cord held a red embroidered ball. One end was pressed into Chun Zhi’s hand, the other was taken by Huo Zheng. The small courtyard buzzed with familiar voices, laughter, and nonstop blessings.

The two aunties called out together: “First, bow to Heaven and Earth.” Chun Zhi and Huo Qi bowed high.

“Second, bow to the parents.” Their elders were not present, so they bowed to empty high seats.

“Husband and wife bow to each other.” Chun Zhi and Huo Qi faced one another. The moment their eyes met, she felt as if set alight and quickly lowered her gaze to complete the bow. She did not see how the man’s eyes stayed on her, thick and weighty as if they had shape.

When the crowd saw them finish the bows, they laughed and cheered: “Send them to the bridal room!”

Holding one end of the red embroidered ball, Huo Qi led Chun Zhi slowly toward the small room. Just then, four yamen runners burst into the courtyard and shouted: “Stop!”

At the sight of them, Chun Zhi immediately lowered her bridal fan and stepped in front of Huo Qi: “The Magistrate’s Office gave me three days to marry. I am wed within the time limit, so why are you here?”

Huo Zheng found it a little funny to see her guard him like a hen shielding a chick, yet warmth rose in his heart. In more than twenty years, no woman had ever stepped in front of him without hesitation like this.

The lead yamen runner had not expected her to be so firm. He said: “You’re marrying an outsider. Who knows if he is a vagrant or a bandit?”

Another runner added: “By the laws of the realm, good citizens may not marry vagrants. Where is the Travel Permit? Show it.”

Normally, when a woman like Chun Zhi came to the Magistrate’s Office and was given three days to find a husband, the runners would not come again. Even if they did, they would not ruin the wedding day. But the young lady from the Chancellor’s Manor could not stand to see Chun Zhi do well, and they were only following orders. If the groom had no Travel Permit, they would arrest him on the spot.

“Huo Qi,” said Chun Zhi, calling to the man.

Thankfully, he had fetched the permit yesterday. Huo Zheng was prepared too and took the Travel Permit straight from his sleeve.

The lead runner read it: “Huo Qi, from Cloud Capital, in Nanzhou to trade tea.” The household origin, reason for travel, and the Magistrate’s Office seal were all in order.

The permit was real. The runners passed it around and found no problem. Chun Zhi had truly found a husband within three days. They could not make an arrest today.

The lead runner returned the Travel Permit to Huo Qi, though he kept eyeing him up and down.

Chun Zhi said: “Would you officials like to stay for a cup of wedding wine?”

Hearing the bite in her tone, the lead runner snapped: “Go,” and he and his men slunk away.

As they left, Chun Zhi let out a quiet breath. The courtyard returned to lively chatter. People laughed again: “Send them to the bridal room!”

“Send them to the bridal room!”

She had already lowered her bridal fan earlier; picking it up now felt too late. A little shy, she sneaked a look at Huo Qi’s face. Huo Qi, however, looked back openly and steadily.

Just then, a few uninvited guests came in. “This spread is too shabby,” someone said. “The wine is cheap too.”

Everyone turned toward the voices. Chun Zhi also looked back and saw Ji Ru Zhen and Lu Jing Yun enter hand in hand, with several maids and attendants who began picking apart the dishes she had ordered.

It was Huo Zheng’s first time meeting the top scholar face to face. Without a change in expression, he moved to shield Chun Zhi behind him.

Ji Ru Zhen looked up and froze at the sight of the striking groom. For some reason, he seemed familiar, as if she had seen him somewhere before. She had always thought Lu Jing Yun’s looks were unmatched, yet Chun Zhi’s new husband was even more handsome. Jealousy surged in her chest. Chun Zhi was just a poor tofu seller. Why? Why was she so blessed?

Chun Zhi stared at the pair with cold eyes: “What are you here for?”

Ji Ru Zhen said: “To drink your wedding wine, of course.”

A maid beside her added: “No matter what, you once served in the Lu clan. How could a maid get married without reporting to her master?”

Smiling, Ji Ru Zhen gave the maid a look. The maid understood and tossed a money pouch at Chun Zhi’s feet: “This is a reward from the top scholar and the top scholar’s wife. Hurry and kowtow to give thanks.”

Chun Zhi kicked the pouch straight back: “If someone should kowtow, you do it. Kneel however you like. Don’t come here to make trouble.”

The maid planted her fists on her hips and shouted: “You don’t know what’s good for you!”

Chun Zhi was about to speak when she saw several attendants behind Ji Ru Zhen move to flip the tables. Her face changed. She started forward, but Huo Qi moved faster, swept past her, and pressed a palm lightly on the tabletop. With that simple touch, the attendants could not budge the table an inch. They ground their teeth, but the table did not move at all.

A heartbeat later, Huo Zheng struck, sending a man flying. The crashing man took several attendants with him, and they all tumbled to a stop at Ji Ru Zhen’s feet.

Hit in the leg, Ji Ru Zhen yelped in pain and fear. She ducked behind Lu Jing Yun and cried: “Husband.”

Lu Jing Yun said: “Chun Zhi, my lady meant no harm. The servants were out of line. Please don’t hold it against them.”

Before Chun Zhi could answer, Huo Qi said in a low voice: “It is true we should not argue with servants.” He added: “But without their master’s orders, how would they dare behave like this?”

People around them chimed in: “Exactly.”

“Top scholar, don’t go too far. You wronged Chun Zhi, and now that she has a good husband, you bring your wife to shame her. That is too much. Have a conscience.”

“Chun Zhi only let it go because she is generous. Top scholar, search your heart. When was Chun Zhi ever the Lu clan’s maid?”

Voices rose one after another until Lu Jing Yun’s face turned dark green. Hiding behind him, Ji Ru Zhen peeked out at the crowd, then shrank back again.

Huo Zheng lifted his hand, looking ready to send both Lu Jing Yun and Ji Ru Zhen flying. Chun Zhi hurried forward, took Huo Qi’s hand, and called softly: “Husband.”