TSWRLM -Chapter 49 She Should Change How She Addresses Him to “Husband”

The marriage alliance between the Wei and Xiao families was conducted on a grand scale.

Two days in advance, both families had already arranged for alms to be distributed outside their residences—common folk in the city could receive cloth, pastries, and even silver.

On the wedding day itself, the Wei family invited the largest musical troupe in Hanjing. With gongs and drums sounding all the way, they went to the Xiao residence to escort the bride. Along the route, they even scattered copper coins so that the onlooking townsfolk could share in the festive joy.

Chun Xi had to stay home to dress and prepare, so she couldn’t go out to watch the excitement, but she still heard all about the spectacle from Aunt Li.

Aunt Li had collected the Wei and Xiao families’ offerings and even timed things to follow part of the wedding procession, picking up twenty or thirty copper coins along the way.

“The Wei family is truly generous! The wedding money was scattered like flower petals all along the road. The procession was so grand you could barely see its end. And that Young Master Wei—so handsome! I’ve lived this long and never seen such a fine-looking groom.”

Aunt Li chattered endlessly while cracking sunflower seeds.

Madam Wang grew more and more irritated listening.

The more extravagant the Wei family’s procession was, the more it highlighted how shabby Chun Xi’s own wedding would be.

Though Shen Qingyuan was also from a noble household, his betrothal gifts had only been two wild geese and some tea and pastries—far too modest. When Young Master Wei had arranged for the Liu family to deceive Chun Xi, he had casually spent five hundred taels of silver.

Finding an excuse, Madam Wang drove Aunt Li out of the room and once again asked Chun Xi unwillingly, “So later, is it really just Shen Qingyuan and that attendant of his coming to fetch the bride?”

“What else would it be?” Chun Xi rolled her eyes. “This is his third marriage, and he’s marrying someone like me who doesn’t even have a dowry. Is that something worth making a big show of?”

Madam Wang glared at her in frustration. “I was just saying—if you softened your attitude a bit, would I really not prepare a dowry for you? With such a shabby wedding, who knows how much hardship you’ll face after entering the marquis’ residence.”

By the end, Madam Wang’s eyes reddened.

After all, Chun Xi was the daughter she had carried for ten months. No matter how upset she had been before, at this moment she still couldn’t help but feel distressed.

But Chun Xi didn’t respond.

She knew better.

If she really asked for a dowry, her mother would definitely demand ten or even dozens of times more in betrothal gifts from Shen Qingyuan—and later expect her to bring even more back from the marquis’ household to support her family.

That kind of “dowry” was something she didn’t want.

After muttering for a while, Madam Wang finally wiped her tears and said coldly, “This is the path you chose. Don’t come back crying later.”

Not long after, Shen Qingyuan arrived with Qing Shu, bringing a small two-man sedan chair.

Though the procession was small, Shen Qingyuan himself made it anything but shabby.

Dressed in red wedding robes, he looked less stern than usual and somewhat more refined and handsome. With a faint smile on his lips and a gentle expression, his natural good looks—usually overshadowed by his imposing presence—became fully visible.

The onlookers couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.

Though Lord Shen was a bit older, he was truly handsome and didn’t look old at all.

And judging by his tall figure, broad shoulders, and narrow waist… surely he would be quite capable in the bedroom.

Cao Wu blocked the door as part of the customary ritual, and Shen Qingyuan handed out red envelopes and spoke kindly, showing no airs at all. The crowd couldn’t help but praise Madam Wang a few times.

After all, in life, one either seeks money or a good person.

With such looks and such a temperament, what was there to complain about even if the wedding was simple?

After about fifteen minutes, Cao Wu carried Chun Xi onto the sedan chair.

Shen Qingyuan mounted his horse, Qing Shu called out, and the bearers lifted the sedan, moving briskly forward.

Madam Wang and Cao Wu followed for a few steps, both with tears in their eyes.

Madam Wang choked out, “A-Xi, take care of yourself!”

Cao Wu, meanwhile, shouted to Shen Qingyuan, “Shen Qingyuan, you must treat my sister well! Otherwise, I’ll risk my life to make you pay!”

The scene moved everyone.

But once the sedan disappeared down the alley, Madam Wang wiped her tears and returned to the courtyard to entertain guests—she still had to settle how to divide that one hundred taels of silver from the Qian family.

Inside the sedan, Chun Xi looked down at the wedding dress she had stitched herself, her lips slowly curling into a smile.

She was getting married.

Though the ceremony was simple, she was marrying the best man in the world—Lord Shen—and as his proper wife, not as a concubine or a hidden mistress.

Father, if you can see this from heaven, you must be happy for your daughter.

Halfway along the route, the two wedding processions crossed paths.

The Wei family’s procession was so massive that the crowd, busy scrambling for coins, didn’t even notice another wedding. But Wei Lingze immediately spotted Shen Qingyuan—and the modest sedan behind him.

Inside that sedan sat Chun Xi.

Shen Qingyuan sensed Wei Lingze’s gaze at once and looked up.

Though they were far apart and Wei Lingze couldn’t clearly see his expression, he could distinctly feel the dominance and ferocity in Shen Qingyuan’s eyes.

It was completely different from the calm demeanor Shen Qingyuan usually showed at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

It felt as if, if Shen Qingyuan wished, he could crush him beneath his feet.

Where did this old man get such confidence?

Wei Lingze tightened his grip on the reins, but Shen Qingyuan had already withdrawn his gaze, leading the sedan into a side alley as if nothing had happened.

“Young Master, what’s wrong?” Xingzhou asked when Wei Lingze halted his horse.

“Nothing,” Wei Lingze replied, suppressing the turmoil inside him.

The Wei residence was filled with distinguished guests. After the ceremony, Wei Lingze drank with them until late into the night before finally returning to the bridal chamber, reeking of alcohol.

Inside, Xiao Qinghe sat quietly on the bed in her phoenix crown and wedding robes.

Wei Lingze lifted her veil with a ceremonial rod. She looked up, her stunning face calm and smiling, her eyes shimmering with gentle affection.

They exchanged locks of hair and drank the ceremonial wine. Then all the servants withdrew.

Xiao Qinghe ordered someone to prepare a sobering soup and, without even removing her heavy ornaments, moved to help Wei Lingze change his clothes.

But just as her fingers touched his collar, she heard his hoarse voice: “It hurts.”

“Where?” she asked anxiously.

“My leg.”

Without hesitation, Xiao Qinghe crouched down to check.

A dark satisfaction flashed through Wei Lingze’s eyes. Then he grabbed her arm and threw her onto the bed.

“Wei…?” she exclaimed in shock.

Before she could react, she was swept into a storm of force and intensity. As pain spread through her, she heard Wei Lingze’s low, breathless voice: “From today on, you should address me as ‘husband.’”

His tone carried command and absolute control—but not a trace of tenderness.