Chapter 65
AS HE WAITED TO GET MARRIED, Lin Qingyu spent the days at home, going nowhere else. Everything related to the wedding was seen to by servants and other parties, so Lin Qingyu only had to read and keep his little brother company.
In the blink of an eye, the night before the wedding arrived. Lin Qingyu hadn’t slept for even four hours when matrons of honor came from the general’s residence. When he married Lu Wancheng, Lin Qingyu remembered, the marquess’s residence had also sent matrons. Lin Qingyu didn’t know whether it had stemmed from his emotional state, but when he’d seen those two matrons last time, he’d loathed them. He was well aware that they were only following orders, but he’d still resented them. He’d never taken revenge on them, though.
This time, the two matrons were graceful young women who helped Lin Qingyu freshen up and change.
“I remember that I have to take a bath before doing my hair, right?” Lin Qingyu asked. After bathing, male and female brides alike needed to apply ointment to a certain part of their body to make the subsequent activities easier for their husband.
The matrons smiled. “That’s the usual procedure, but Great General Gu said to do whatever you’re comfortable with, Physician Lin.”
Lin Qingyu laughed. “He’s considerate.”
Lin Qingyu did take a bath. He wanted to wash away the misfortune he’d brought out of the palace with him, if nothing else. Afterward, the matrons dried and combed his long hair.
“Do you want to wear the wedding headdress, Physician Lin?”
“Is that decision also mine to make?”
“Yes. According to the great general, it would be fine with him even if Physician Lin wanted to marry him in everyday clothes.”
How could that be fine with him? If Lin Qingyu didn’t wear wedding robes, that young man would most likely be smiling happily on the surface, but who knew how long he’d complain in private?
“Do my makeup however you usually do makeup on men.”
The matron studied Lin Qingyu’s face carefully. “How do I even start? Whatever I apply to Physician Lin’s face will seem unnecessary.”
“Such sweet words. You want a tip, hm?” Lin Qingyu said indifferently.
The matron giggled behind her hand. “A tip? How would I dare? I was simply telling the truth.” She opened her makeup box and took out a sheet of rouge paper. “Please place this between your lips, Physician Lin.”
Lin Qingyu hesitated, then pressed his pale lips to the paper, which stained them bright red immediately.
The matron drew on his brows lightly, then placed a huadian on his forehead. After all that, she said in satisfaction, “Your skin is perfect, Physician Lin—so fair and flawless. It doesn’t even need any powder.”
Even if his skin weren’t perfect, Lin Qingyu wouldn’t have put up with powder. Gu Fuzhou could deal with his skin. Eyebrows, rouge, and a huadian were his limit.
The matrons had finished his makeup quite quickly; his hair didn’t dry for another hour. At that point, the women helped him put on a wedding headdress specifically fashioned for a male bride, and two servants spread out the wedding robes, each holding one side. “Please change into your robes, Physician Lin.”
The servants wanted to help him up, but Lin Qingyu said, “I can do it myself.”
Then he put his arms through the sleeves, and the servants draped the robes over his body. As the matrons tied the belt around his waist, one of them couldn’t help exclaiming, “Physician Lin’s waist is as thin as a girl’s.”
“Not necessarily,” the other one teased. “Not every girl’s waist is this thin and delicate!”
Afterward, the matrons placed the wedding veil over Lin Qingyu’s head, covering his vision with a field of red.
This scene was familiar; it had once been his most shameful memory. Back then, he might never have imagined that, one day, he would willingly become a male wife again. Even if he and Gu Fuzhou were just doing this to avoid trouble, it was still a bit unbelievable.
A thought flashed through Lin Qingyu’s mind—had there really been no way to solve the difficulty at hand but to marry Gu Fuzhou?
There might’ve been a different solution, yet he’d chosen to marry Gu Fuzhou once again.
After all these preparations, the sky was already bright. At the chosen auspicious time, Lin Qingyu went to the Lin residence’s main hall to bid farewell to his parents. They had already been through this process once, and as complicated as their feelings were, they took it much better than last time. They gave him some reminders, and then the wedding procession arrived.
The procession, which was headed by General Wu Zhan, consisted mostly of military officials who were close to Gu Fuzhou. Warriors generally welcomed their wives with a loud, rowdy procession, but today, these rough-mannered soldiers looked more refined than ever before. Having been cautioned directly by the great general, they didn’t dare cause any chaos in front of this great beauty; they were perfectly behaved as they ushered Lin Qingyu into the bridal litter.
Eight people carried this bridal sedan; in Great Yu, that was an honor only a first wife could enjoy.
The eldest Lin son’s second marriage attracted plenty of civilian onlookers. The heroic Great General Gu—whom everyone knew stories about—would, in his thirties, be marrying for the first time, and to a recently widowed male wife. Truly, if one lived long enough, one could come across anything.
“Ever since the emperor granted a marriage to two men last year, people have gone crazy imitating them. My second uncle’s youngest son also took a male wife recently—how terribly public morals have declined!”
“Say, why would those guys marry a man instead of a good, proper woman? Men can’t even bear children!”
“Hey, he’s so pretty, I’d marry him too…”
“Beautiful people are bad luck. And if his first marriage was unlucky for his first husband’s family, then his second marriage could be unlucky for the general. And wouldn’t his third marriage be unlucky for the empire?”
“Shh! Are you even listening to yourself? Do you value your life or not?!”
The attendants lifted and carried the bridal litter step by step toward the general’s residence, leaving the rumors and gossip far behind. A swarm of people and an endless line of carriages laden with dowry items followed behind. The wedding procession moved around half of the capital before stopping in front of the general’s residence.
“Place the litter!” the officiant yelled.
The curtain was lifted, and Lin Qingyu was helped toward the general’s residence. As soon as he went in the door, a hand appeared below his veil.
This hand was large and warm, the fingers thick and rough with calluses; it was obviously the hand of a warrior. When he placed his own hand upon it, Lin Qingyu heard a familiar, excited voice whisper, “Our Physician Lin really wore wedding robes!”
Who else would whisper to him during such a solemn occasion?
Although Lin Qingyu knew that it was against the rules, he still replied, “You don’t need the rooster to take your place this time?”
The matrons noticed the whispering and gave Gu Fuzhou a reminder: “General, you can’t talk to the lady right now.”