Chapter 17 : The Headless Bride
17: The Headless Bride
The red ceremonial banners and brilliant wedding lanterns drifted slowly from the end of the long street like a cloud of brilliant crimson. Having met Yan Chi and now seeing her future granddaughter-in-law finally arrive, the Grand Princess was visibly moved.
"They’re here, they’re here! Finally here!"
As she spoke, the Grand Princess took Yan Chi by one hand and Heir Yue Jia by the other.
"Jia’er, come, your grandmother will go with you to welcome them…"
Originally, etiquette dictated the Grand Princess remain seated on high within the ceremonial hall. However, everyone present had practically worn out their eyes waiting for this bride. Considering the bride’s long, arduous journey from afar, going out to meet her personally would demonstrate the Anyang Marquis’s household’s sincere warmth and enthusiasm.
Thus, the Grand Princess led the way, pulling Yue Jia and Yan Chi forward, with the Anyang Marquis Yue Qiong and Jiang‑shi following, accompanied by the Young Princess Yue Ning and the Marquis’s second son, Yue Qing. Seeing the hosts move toward the gates, the guests hurried to follow. In no time, the grand, dignified entrance of the Anyang Marquis’s estate, adorned with red silk and celebratory insignia, was packed with an unprecedented crowd of several hundred guests.
"They’re here! Finally here!"
"Look, now this looks like a proper bridal procession. Truly befitting a renowned capital family. Such grandeur, such spectacle. In all my hundred years in Jinzhou, I’ve rarely seen the like. Ah, I can see the wedding sedan now…"
The procession advanced slowly. From a distance, aside from the leaders, only the shadow of the wedding sedan was visible.
The sedan was carried by eight bearers, lacquered red with precious curtains. Following closely was the considerable dowry procession from Duke Song’s household, snaking through the night like an endless dragon, bearing the nobility and lofty prestige of the capital.
"I heard there are over twenty carriages just for the dowry this time, plus the accompanying servants. Duke Song’s household has certainly spared no expense."
"Well, she is marrying into the Anyang Marquis’s household. The Marquis has military achievements to his name, and there’s the Grand Princess too…"
The guests’ chatter continued. Qin Wan, jostled by the crowd, ended up at the very edge. Just as she steadied herself, Fuling squeezed her way out from the throng. "Finally found you, Young Miss. You vanished into the crowd right after we left the hall…"
Qin Wan pulled her close to stand firm. "There are too many people. Don’t worry."
Fuling nodded, then suddenly lowered her voice. "Young Miss, the Old Madam and the others are over there."
Fuling pointed. Qin Wan lifted her gaze and looked. Sure enough, separated by seven or eight people, Jiang-shi stood with Lin-shi and the others. They had clearly spotted Qin Wan already and were now looking at her with complex expressions.
Qin Wan understood perfectly well, they must have learned about her saving the Grand Princess.
Among them, Jiang-shi’s gaze was especially profound and dark. The Qin Wan of the past would not only have dared not meet her eyes but would have been terrified by a mere glance from Jiang-shi. Now, however, Qin Wan met Jiang-shi’s gaze calmly for a moment before looking away with neither submission nor defiance.
That composure made Jiang-shi narrow her eyes sharply.
"Young Miss, what did the Grand Princess say to you? Why did she keep you the entire day? This servant sees the Old Madam’s look, and it seems displeased. Young Miss, who would have thought the person you saved was the Grand Princess herself."
Qin Wan had been kept for a full day. Though Fuling had accompanied her, she had waited outside and hadn’t had a chance to speak with her until now.
Qin Wan smiled gently. "The Grand Princess said my medical skills were very good. As for the Old Madam… she won’t be displeased."
Fuling blinked, momentarily confused. Jiang-shi’s gaze had clearly been frightening!
"They’re here! Jia’er, your bride is here!"
The bridal procession drew nearer. In an instant, firecrackers and fireworks exploded before the marquis’s estate gates, filling the air with boisterous celebration. Almost simultaneously, a fast horse galloped forward. Upon it sat a handsome young man in fine indigo robes.
The horse halted before the gates. The man deftly reined in, dismounted, flicked his robe aside, and knelt in salute.
"This humble nephew Wei Yanzhi pays his respects to the Grand Princess, to the Marquis and Lady. By order of the Duke, I have come to escort the bridal procession!"
The Anyang Marquis’s household already knew the identity of the escort, Duke Song’s nephew. A promising young man, currently serving in the capital’s patrol garrison. Yue Qiong stepped forward, smiling as he helped him up. "Excellent, excellent. Please rise, worthy nephew. You’ve had a long, hard journey…"
Wei Yanzhi stood, repeatedly murmuring "I dare not." As he turned, the wedding sedan was nearly upon them.
With the sedan’s arrival, the wedding ceremony would commence. The sounds of firecrackers and fireworks swelled, and celebratory music rose. Amidst this brilliant, colorful tumult, the eight-bearer wedding sedan, inlaid with gold and gems, embroidered with phoenixes greeting the sun and qilin delivering sons, slowly came to a halt before the estate gates.
Seeing they had reached the Anyang Marquis’s estate, the maids and servants who had escorted the bride all breathed a sigh of relief.
Everyone was caught up in the festive atmosphere, their faces beaming with joy.
The Marquis’s ritual master immediately stepped forward. "The bride has arrived! The auspicious hour is at hand! We request the Heir to determine heaven and earth!"
The Great Zhou had many wedding customs; this "Determining Heaven and Earth" upon receiving the bridal sedan was one of them.
As soon as the ritual master finished speaking, an attendant promptly presented a bow tied with red silk. The Yue family were all military men, each possessing formidable martial skill. Yue Jia took the bow, nocked an arrow, and drew the string with an imposing air.
The ritual master continued chanting, "First shot to heaven! Heaven bestows a blessed match; the new couple joyfully approaches the gates! Second shot to earth! Earth pairs them as a couple; the new couple enjoys a harmonious century! Third shot to the sedan door! Strike the beloved wife’s heart and determine heaven and earth!"
With a thunk, the final arrow lodged firmly in the sedan door.
Cheers and applause erupted from the crowd, mingling with the continuing fireworks and firecrackers, pushing the excitement to its peak.
Even someone like Qin Wan, who did not crave bustle, was infected by the atmosphere now. Her eyes sparkled, filled with anticipation as she watched the sedan door.
"Heaven and earth are determined! Enduring as the heavens, lasting as the earth! We request the Heir to kick the sedan door…"
Following the ritual master’s chant, Yue Jia’s spirits lifted.
The Grand Princess, her face wreathed in smiles, said, "Go on, go on. But be gentle. Don’t frighten your granddaughter-in-law."
Yue Jia acknowledged with a smile and strode toward the sedan door. This was the second stage of receiving the sedan. After this, the bride would emerge to perform the rites.
Under everyone’s gaze, Yue Jia reached the sedan door. He smoothed his sleeves, assumed a solemn expression, clasped his hands respectfully, and bowed toward the door. "I invite my lady to descend from the sedan…"
With that, he lifted his foot and gave the door a gentle kick.
Kicking the sedan door signified mutual respect and equality between husband and wife after marriage. After the groom’s kick, he had to wait for the bride’s return kick before he could lift the sedan curtain.
However, after Yue Jia’s kick, there was no reaction whatsoever from within the sedan.
Yue Jia waited a moment, frowned, and looked at the ritual master.
The ritual master hadn’t expected this either. Clearing his throat, he said, "We request the Heir to kick the sedan door once more. Henceforth, the husband shall not fear his wife’s temper, the wife shall not show weakness. Together, they shall cherish each other until white-haired old age…"
Yue Jia complied, kicking the sedan door again. Being a military man, his first kick had been exceedingly gentle and polite. This second one carried a fraction more force. Had the bride, exhausted from the long journey, perhaps fallen asleep?
After the second kick, there was still no movement from within the flower sedan.
Yue Jia’s brow furrowed. His warrior’s instincts subconsciously sensed something amiss.
Even if the bride had fallen asleep, or was unwilling to follow the ritual, separated only by a curtain, he should at least be able to hear her breathing inside. Yet now, as human voices quieted and the firecrackers and fireworks ceased, behind that sedan curtain lay only a deathly silence, not the slightest sound. Where was the bride?
Not only Yue Jia; the surrounding crowd also froze when the second kick elicited no response.
Even in an ordinary family’s wedding, let alone one marrying into the Anyang Marquis’s household, the bride would never fail to cooperate. A wedding’s auspiciousness lay in its smooth and perfect completion. Could Duke Song’s young lady really be so lacking in propriety?!
Everyone’s expressions tightened, their gazes fixed intently on the sedan door.
The ritual master felt awkward, and a trace of resentment stirred in his heart. This Duke Song’s daughter was showing far too little face to the Anyang Marquis’s household!
With this thought, the ritual master simply announced, "The auspicious hour has arrived! We request the Heir to lift the sedan curtain…"
Yue Jia, already feeling strange, hardly hesitated upon hearing this. He grasped the curtain and flung it open.
The curtain lifted. Yue Jia’s pupils contracted violently!
At the same moment, the guests brimming with anticipation, upon seeing the scene inside the sedan, also underwent a drastic change in expression. Immediately after, horrified, piercing screams swept away the last remnants of festive celebration.
Yue Jia’s bride was still inside the sedan. She wore a grand red wedding dress embroidered with peonies, pomegranates bursting with seeds, and a hundred sons, sitting demurely and properly.
Yet Yue Jia, who had fought on battlefields and slain countless enemies outside this sedan door, felt a chill of terror crawl down his spine.
He stared fixedly at the bride’s bare, blood-matted severed neck. The blood in his veins seemed to freeze solid.
His bride, her figure graceful, her wedding dress fiery red was, uniquely, missing a head.