The dowry must be delivered to the husband's family at the latest one day before the wedding.
The Qin Family is a scholarly family and would not engage in disgraceful acts, so all the betrothal gifts were made into a dowry.
The dowry given from the family to Qin Yuan and Qin Wan was originally the same amount, but because of Qin Wan's antics, two additional portions were given to her. Qin Yuan had twelve sets, while Qin Wan had ten.
The dowry left by Aunt Chen consisted of four sets, two of which were medical books.
The Chen family had no one left, so the medical books that should have been passed to the son and daughter-in-law became Aunt Chen's dowry.
Qin Yuan knew the value of this dowry, so she ordered people to wrap it well in oilpaper to prevent it from getting wet in the overnight rain.
In a past life, these medical books were left out in the courtyard, and some were ruined by unexpected rain. Later, it was known that these were rare copies with no replacements available.
The Marquis Mansion sent a hundred sets of betrothal gifts, and the stepmother supplemented it with two, totaling a hundred and eighteen sets together.
The number is auspicious; it's a symbol of good luck.
As for Qin Wan, the Lin Family sent forty-six sets of betrothal gifts, ten from the family, and the stepmother supplemented thirty, amounting to a total of eighty-six sets.
Qin Wan, although unhappy, didn't make much fuss, obviously understanding that Lin Ziqi had done his utmost.
Listening to the steward announcing the number of dowry sets at the courtyard gate, Hong Ye quietly asked Qin Yuan, "Miss, Scholar Lin often comes here trying to freeload and constantly asks us for things. Where did such a large betrothal gift come from?"
Qin Yuan chuckled softly, "A mouse has its path just as a snake has its ways; he has his methods. As long as my younger sister and brother-in-law are doing well, it's fine."
If this betrothal gift weren't for Qin Wan secretly funding Lin Ziqi to save face, it would still be like the previous life where Lin Ziqi borrowed money to buy the betrothal gifts.
That money was ultimately repaid with her dowry.
But Qin Wan's dowry was ample, so she likely wouldn't care.
Cui Ming gave Hong Ye a glare, "Why discuss this now?"
Men marry women outside, and it has nothing to do with us. Our lady is going to be a Marchioness, so what's it got to do with the Lin surnamed chap?
Hong Ye realized and quickly said, "Yes, yes, yes, look at my mouth. Miss, rest early, tomorrow you have to rise early to get dressed."
Remembering that Hong Ye had suffered from her loose tongue in the previous life, Qin Yuan advised her, "Currently, you're in the Qin Family, so it's alright. But if you go to the Marquis Mansion, where everything is unfamiliar and the rules are stringent, you never know how inadvertently offending someone might lead you into trouble, and it might even implicate your master."
"Miss, I will definitely change."
Hong Ye felt a bit of fear too.
Her words today, if they were heard at the Marquis Mansion, would definitely cause a lot of trouble.
Qin Yuan said, "You and Cui Ming are my closest maids, my right and left arms. I'd be uncomfortable without either of you. You'd better remember that calamities arise from careless words, so be cautious in word and deed from now on."
Keeping quiet in words and actions was difficult for Hong Ye, but constant reminders might lead her to make fewer mistakes.
Hong Ye responded with shame.
The next day, as the sky just brightened, Qin Yuan got up to groom herself and couldn't admire her transformed self in the mirror enough.
She was beautiful, and before marriage, she had to hide it in front of her stepmother and stepsister. After marrying in the previous life, she was feared by Mrs. Lin, worried that she might lure Lin Ziqi into neglecting his studies. From now on, she wouldn't need to do so.
Cui Ming sighed, "Our lady is truly beautiful today, like a celestial fairy descending to the mortal world."
Hong Ye nodded constantly, "Yes, yes."
Qin Yuan knew she was frightened into silence, so she couldn't help but smile gently.
The wedding maids helping with the makeup also harmoniously praised, "We have never seen such a beautiful bride."
Qin Yuan smilingly said, "Hong Ye, reward them."
On a day as grand as this, there naturally should be compliments aplenty.
The wedding maids, profusely thanking her, accepted the red envelopes and served her more diligently with increased enthusiasm.
Once her look was set, she changed into the wedding dress rushed to completion by Jixiu Pavilion. Eyes all around fixed on her.
Jixiu Pavilion used top embroideresses from the Capital City, making this wedding dress meticulously crafted; its exquisite design and embroidery shimmered and glimmered with each move Qin Yuan made.
Standing there, all attention was drawn towards her.
Everyone was in unison, "Beautiful, truly stunning."
Qin Yuan slightly lowered her pink-tinged neck, fingertips gently caressing the floral embroidery on the sleeves; she adored this wedding dress. Her past wedding was so poorly managed that, irrespective of future prosperity, it remained a regret.
This time, everything made up for that.
Heaven must have pitied her difficult steps in the past life, as since being reborn, everything has gone smoothly, like a dream.
If it is a dream, let it be a long one.
Unknowingly, the auspicious time had arrived.
She and Qin Wan, surrounded by maids and wedding attendants, proceeded to the main hall, kneeling in front of their parents.
Just as they lightly knelt before their parents, the hall burst into excitement.
Qin Wan was trembling with jealousy; today, Qin Yuan wore a phoenix coronet made of gold and silver threads, intricately woven with precious stones such as agate and jade, and adorned with twelve large hairpins, exuding an extravagant aura.
Beneath the headwear, her delicate face, seemingly sculpted from jade, with bright, cold eyes, captured everyone's gaze.
Mrs. Cui's hands clenched tightly, keeping her from losing composure.
She knew this concubine-born daughter was pretty, but not this ravishingly beautiful.
Qin Yuan's wedding dress, as she moved, emitted glistening radiance under the light, enhancing her graceful and enchanting presence.
Such a lady could even be a concubine in the palace.
Everyone who saw her couldn't help but think so.
Qin Jijiu stood dazed, eyes locked on his daughter, comparable to a celestial being, walking step by step toward him before kneeling on the prayer mat, before recalling he should deliver a speech of admonition.
"Marriage is predestined... uphold the virtues of a wife... be frugal and manage the household well..."
After delivering the speech, the bride was supposed to weep and bid farewell to the parents.
At this moment, Qin Wan cried genuinely; ever since her marriage was exchanged, she was suppressed by Qin Yuan in every way, and today was compared to mere dust, how could she not be heartbroken?
Mrs. Cui also cried uncontrollably.
Only last night did Qin Jijiu console her, yet seeing Qin Yuan's grand marriage sent pain knocking uninvited.
"My darling, now you must curb your temper and be a good daughter-in-law."
Qin Wan: "Waaa waaa."
Qin Yuan: "..."
After covering the brides' heads, the brides were to be carried on the wedding sedan by their brothers.
Qin Heng naturally would carry Qin Wan.
Qin Yuan was carried by her cousin, who was staying with them. In a previous life, it was also her cousin who carried her; he was taller and stronger than Qin Heng, stably and steadily bringing her to the sedan chair.
The groom had already recited the urging-to-dress poem, and when the auspicious time arrived, the wedding maids prompted the sedan-bearers to lift the sedan and proceed.
The Marquis Mansion naturally had an eight-person sedan.
The Lin Family had a four-person sedan.
The groom, Marquis Gu, came to receive the bride, donned in groom's attire, crowned with a headpiece, riding on a steed completely dark but for a white circle near its hooves, trailed by a group of robust, formidable young men in vigorous attire carrying baskets overflowing with Copper Coins, exuding a commanding presence.
Comparatively, the slender Lin Ziqi appeared rather frail.
Hong Ye couldn't help but comment to Qin Yuan outside the sedan, "Miss, the groom is quite handsome, very fitting match for you."
Qin Yuan smiled and said nothing.
Hong Ye added, "This servant used to think the Second Miss might have seen the groom at a flower banquet, disliking him for his looks and age, but it turns out the Second Miss truly had something wrong with her mind."
In front, riding the horse from afar, Marquis Gu couldn't help but hold his breath, listening intently.
He wanted to hear what the beauty inside the sedan was saying.