Chapter 2 The Hasty Wedding
Stepmother sent a letter to the Pei family in Jinling.
Soon, a reply arrived.
Pei Zhao had agreed.
There was no time to waste. The next day I bid Stepmother farewell with tears and set off for Jinling.
The wedding was rushed.
It was only a formality.
On the wedding night, I sat in the bridal chamber with my head covered.
After a long time, I heard someone push the door open.
My heart beat very fast.
I was so nervous I did not dare move.
Yet he remained still for a long time.
I secretly lifted a corner of the veil and peeked.
He had drunk too much and was already asleep on the bed.
I had to remove the veil myself, take off the heavy wedding clothes and headdress, then remove Pei Zhao's outer robe, shoes, and socks.
I covered him with the quilt.
Pei Zhao was really heavy. By the time I finished, sweat beaded on my forehead.
I squatted by the bed and stared at him for a long time.
Red clothes, black hair, dark eyebrows, a high nose, and red lips.
His eyes were closed now.
They would look even better when open.
His eyes were brown, unlike anyone else's.
His features were sharp and refined.
He had not changed much from childhood.
Back then I was consumed with grief for my dead mother and hatred for Father and Stepmother.
I never bothered to notice whether Stepmother's nephew was handsome.
I sighed softly.
I only regretted that I had been young and foolish.
Such a good-looking man had stood before me, yet I drove him away instead of cherishing the chance.
Now fate had brought us together again by mistake.
Meeting me must have been his misfortune.
Still, Stepmother had said that once the family survived this crisis, we could divorce.
In that case, I would not ruin his life.
After all, he was my benefactor.