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High Society Wedding Turmoil
墨書 Inktalez
1
The most prominent family in Jing City is the Han family, known as the foremost family in Jiangnan.
Young Master Han Zhiqing achieved a personal fortune of millions at the age of 16, becoming famous far and wide.
Many young ladies pursued him, but he ultimately chose the daughter of Jiangnan's richest man, Fu Xiaoxiao.
This delicate beauty is like a proud canary, with her eyes only for Han Zhiqing.
Han Zhiqing is also someone who appreciates beauty, and the two are well-matched. They held their wedding on the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the Year of Yongjin.
On the day of the wedding, the entire city was abuzz. Han Zhiqing laid out a bridal carpet worth one hundred thousand silver dollars,
and gifts and flowers presented to friends and family amounted to over five hundred thousand silver dollars.
Truly, they were a celebrated couple in Jing City for a century.
Han Zhiqing sat proudly atop a tall horse, full of vigor and glory.
In the soft sedan chair, Fu Xiaoxiao was filled with joy and satisfaction.
No one could have married better than her.
Compared to her classmates who focused on their studies, she felt accomplished marrying Han Zhiqing right after graduation.
However, what Fu Xiaoxiao did not expect was that on the day of the wedding, Han Zhiqing had a competition waiting for him.
Three years ago, before Han Zhiqing met Fu Xiaoxiao, he became acquainted with a classmate and friend, Ji Furong.
This person was exceptionally talented and highly educated, being the only one among his peers who could match him academically.
Han Zhiqing once thought about harmonizing with such a talented woman, but in the end, he could not resist Fu Xiaoxiao's charm, and he had grown accustomed to life with her.
He maintained a distance that was neither too close nor too far from Ji Furong.
Later, after Han Zhiqing and Fu Xiaoxiao became engaged, Ji Furong naturally ended up with Gu Cheng, the senior brother from Tiancheng Academy.
The two gradually lost contact.
The three-year agreement between them was something Fu Xiaoxiao reminded him of; Han Zhiqing, being proud by nature, did not take this matter to heart on his wedding day.
On the other hand, Ji Furong had also forgotten about it until her mentor, Mr. Shi, reminded her of this matter.
After all, it was a joyous day for both friends.
At the wedding venue, Han Zhiqing invited many classmates, all of whom envied him for marrying a wife who was talented, wealthy, and beautiful.
Among the crowd of congratulators, there was no sign of Ji Furong or her boyfriend Gu Cheng.
On the wedding invitation, Han Zhiqing clearly remembered to include these two.
His mood gradually turned cold, claiming he needed to change into another wedding outfit, and returned to his study.
Han Zhiqing's study was usually tidy and organized, as he took care of it himself.
But today, he felt inexplicably irritable.
It was one thing for Ji Furong not to come, but Gu Cheng also did not make an appearance.
Truly not enough of a brotherhood.
What was supposed to be a joyful wedding had taken a turn due to his suddenly emerging thoughts.
Han Zhiqing was indeed one of the few who understood Ji Furong the best. He guessed that if she did not attend his wedding banquet, she must be at Sanwei Academy with a group of children from noble families.
Compared to the lively Fu Xiaoxiao, the image of Ji Furong reappeared in his mind—steady and reserved, he had never seen her lose her composure over people or matters.
He even recalled once witnessing a grand scene where Ji Furong embraced Gu Cheng and laughed together,
and suddenly it didn't feel quite right.
He felt certain he must be ill; after being with Fu Xiaoxiao, Ji Furong had never affected him before.
In his study, he picked up his brush and ink, and wrote a letter to Gu Cheng.
In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Gu Cheng had not arrived. However, the gifts he prepared for Ji Furong had arrived. It turned out that today was an Auspicious Day, and the newlyweds in Jing City were reaching their peak. Gu Cheng and Ji Furong's wedding gift had encountered a collision with a wedding procession on the way, causing a delay.
The gift was a fine item he had cherished for several years, but as he held it in his palm, he felt a hint of displeasure.
He changed into festive attire, holding a fan, and stood among several classmates.
"Senior Brother Gu Cheng didn't come today!" The words carried an unspoken sense of grievance.
The groom held the highest status; even if Gu Cheng was signing a multi-million dollar contract today, he still needed to be present at the event.
After some discussion among his classmates, they devised a little trick, claiming that Ji Furong had gotten drunk at the Han family's wedding banquet.
Gu Cheng was most concerned about Ji Furong. He knew that Han Zhiqing held some significance in her heart. Despite his doubts, he rushed over in great haste, hurriedly concluding the signing event for the multi-million dollar deal.
When Ji Furong received the news from her classmates, she was at Gu Cheng's home.
In the large courtyard, people moved about in a hurry.
The grandmother of the the Gu Family was unwell today. After Ji Furong came to pay her respects, she stayed behind to take care of her.
Looking at the note in her hand, "Gu Cheng is very drunk," it was written by Han Zhiqing.
Ji Furong initially did not believe it, but in the afternoon while resting in the courtyard, she overheard a maid saying, "Gu Cheng hurriedly went to the Han family wedding banquet this morning; I wonder what it was for."
Ji Furong's heart tightened. She turned away from her sisters and the maids and headed to the Han family.
Gu Cheng sat opposite Han Zhiqing, who was heavily intoxicated but showed no signs of joy or anger.
In contrast, the groom, Gu Cheng, claimed to be able to drink a thousand cups without getting drunk; no one had ever seen him lose his composure due to alcohol.
The only time he appeared tipsy was when his ailing aunt married into a good family, and he had a few extra drinks that day.
That night, he insisted on holding Ji Furong and demanded a kiss from her.
Ji Furong, unable to sleep due to his antics, comforted him in her arms, and he eventually fell asleep with a smile on his face.
After that one occasion, Ji Furong kept a close watch on his drinking, and he laughed, saying, "Wives are always right."
When Ji Furong arrived at the Han family banquet, Han Zhiqing was already passed out drunk.
Gu Cheng was about to leave when he saw his little girl approaching, his face slightly flushed. He gently called out, "Wife."
Ji Furong nodded and did not scold him for drinking again; she simply said, "Someone saw you drunk."
Gu Cheng smiled, intending to act cute, but Ji Furong took his hand.
A few classmates noticed that the main character of the evening, Ji Furong, had arrived, and they knew the show was about to begin.
They exchanged sly smiles as they waited for the entertainment to unfold.
It is said that Han Zhiqing wasn't actually drunk; he was pretending to be. He was in a bad mood tonight and wanted to use Ji Furong for some amusement.
As he saw the person arrive, he had everything planned out.
Just as the banquet was about to end, they needed something entertaining to liven things up.
Ji Furong was unaware of the situation, but Gu Cheng couldn't be kept in the dark. He picked up Ji Furong and was about to leave.
This made Han Zhiqing anxious; he couldn't afford to show any flaws now.
"Senior Brother Gu Cheng, Ji is just here; how can you leave in such a hurry?" The speaker was Wang Chuan, Han Zhiqing's best friend. Gu Cheng could see right through Han Zhiqing and his friends; they were clearly after his girlfriend.
He absolutely couldn't allow anyone to have designs on his girlfriend.
"What? Am I kicking your doorstep by holding my own girlfriend?" Gu Cheng's tone was quite rude. The girl he held in front of so many people had her little face flushed like it had been roasted, her clear eyes shining brightly like a sunflower. "Gu Cheng..." she called out sweetly.
Gu Cheng responded and then chuckled, saying, "You should call me husband!"
Ji Furong clung to Gu Cheng, both their hearts racing.
Han Zhiqing's patience was wearing thin, but he couldn't explode; he had to remember that he needed to keep up the act of being drunk. He had to give Ji Furong a warning.
Suddenly, a cough was heard from the crowd, and Mr. Shi's robust figure appeared among them.
He looked up at Han Zhiqing, frowned slightly, and instructed someone to wake him up. Mr. Shi said, "The two most outstanding students from Tiancheng Academy's class of '99, Han Zhiqing and Ji Furong, will compete here today as per their three-year agreement."
Everyone was surprised; Han Zhiqing was completely drunk. Even if Ji Furong won this match, it would feel unearned.
Mr. Shi's words were shocking, and the guests at the banquet began to discuss among themselves.
This joyous occasion was unexpectedly interrupted by Ji Furong. Although she was known as the most talented woman in Jing City, Han Zhiqing was already someone else's husband.
Fu Xiaoxiao felt a surge of anxiety upon hearing that Ji Furong had arrived.
She wasn't worried about Ji Furong stealing Han Zhiqing away; she had confidence in this man.
However, this inexplicable unease made her restless. She lifted her veil and walked out of the bridal chamber.
As she looked up, she saw everyone trying to wake Han Zhiqing. She smiled and said, "My husband is drunk; I'll take his place in the competition!"
Fu Xiaoxiao was already stunningly beautiful, and standing opposite Gu Cheng and Ji Furong, she resembled a vibrant peony, exuding an air of superiority.
Ji Furong looked at Fu Xiaoxiao in surprise; this proud little princess had come to challenge her.
Ji Furong initially intended to decline the challenge, thinking that since it was their wedding day, neither she nor Gu Cheng planned to participate.
Unexpectedly, Fu Xiaoxiao smiled and said, "Ji Furong, do you have the courage?"
This statement infuriated Gu Cheng. He set Ji Furong aside and embraced her from behind. "Miss Fu, know your own worth and don't embarrass yourself!"
Gu Cheng is an extremely protective person. If Fu Xiaoxiao wants to deal with her daughter-in-law, she must first ask for his consent.
Fu Xiaoxiao's face turned pale as she was choked by the situation. She called the housekeeper and said, "The talented woman Ji Furong, I have heard you possess excellent medical skills. The Han family has an uncle who has been ill for many years without a cure, which is quite troublesome. If you truly have integrity, make this matter a success today, and our Han family will remember your kindness. Otherwise, do not blame me for being rude!"
Everyone in Jing City knows that Fu Xiaoxiao is domineering and lacks compassion. However, those present sided with her because she was newly married and disturbed. Some even said, "Mr. Shi, this competition is trivial; they are newlyweds and should not be disrupted."
Ji Furong is a very intelligent person; she knows that even if she saves the Han family's uncle without a competition, she would still be labeled as meddling in others' affairs. What position does Ji Furong have?
Xiaoxiao pushed the situation into an awkward predicament.
All the classmates from Tiancheng Academy were initially enjoying watching Han Zhiqing outsmart Ji Furong, but now it seemed that the competition was about to fall through because this "tiger" from her family was too formidable. No wonder people say not to provoke a woman's anger, especially one's own wife.
The atmosphere became tense.
Mr. Shi felt somewhat awkward; he is the chairman of the Jing City Chamber of Commerce and has always spoken with authority that no one dares to challenge.
Tiancheng had promised Han and Ji a three-year agreement, which was recorded in the Chamber's annals. Who would have thought that the Han family would take it so lightly? They insisted on holding a grand wedding today, even though this competition had been arranged three years ago without regard for order.
Mr. Shi suppressed his displeasure and scoffed, "Since Han Xianzi is drunk today, let us consider this competition with Ji as lost for the Han family and conclude it here; there is no need to mention it again in the future."
Who is Mr. Shi? Who would dare to challenge him?
Upon hearing Mr. Shi's judgment, the Han family's previously arrogant demeanor vanished entirely, their faces turning ashen.
Fu Xiaoxiao coldly looked at Ji Furong and said with a smile, "I thought you had more abilities than this!"
Gu Cheng's expression was gloomy, yet he still maintained a carefree demeanor. He squeezed Ji Furong's small hand and pecked it near his mouth, asserting his position as her lord. He said, "Miss Fu, Uncle Han can be saved; just pay for my wife's consultation and medicine! Besides, treating people isn't a show, and you chose to do this tonight? I actually feel a bit sorry for Junior Han! My wife is the best!"
After saying this, Gu Cheng affectionately kissed Ji Furong's small hand again.
Everyone in Jing City knew about Gu Cheng's feelings for Ji Furong, and his protection of her clarified the situation.
Several concubines from the Han family came over to persuade Fu Xiaoxiao to return to her room, but she stubbornly refused. Seeing that the situation had become irreconcilable, Han Zhiqing steeled himself and decided to pretend to be drunk until tomorrow.
When dawn broke the next day, he would go to Gongjinmeng to apologize to Mr. Shi. After all, it was his wedding day, and being drunk wouldn’t matter. As for Ji Furong, he really couldn’t fathom how much Gu Cheng genuinely cared for her.
Fu Xiaoxiao was truly anxious; she hadn’t expected that Mr. Shi, a significant figure, would side with Ji Furong, while Ji Furong's boyfriend Gu Cheng was someone not easily provoked.
However, Fu Xiaoxiao had been spoiled since childhood and didn’t hold many people in high regard.
Today marked her first day in the Han family, and she needed to handle things properly while Han Zhiqing was drunk.
She knew that among their peers, Han Zhiqing's only competitor in Jing City was Ji Furong.
Whether in academics or business competition, their families were always at odds with each other.
In the half-month leading up to their wedding,
the Ji Family had taken over a significant portion of the pharmaceutical business in Jing City, snatching away the top position from the Han family.
For this matter, Han Zhiqing had been angry for many days.
She was determined to let Ji Furong know who was more formidable on the day of her wedding with him.
Han Zhiqing was fully aware of all of her plans.
She was confident that she could make Ji Furong even more embarrassed.
Fu Xiaoxiao stood firmly in the center of the crowd, her cherry-red lips curling into a smile as she said, "My Third Uncle is the pillar of our family. Everyone knows he has a chronic illness, and his long-term suffering makes both me and Zhiqing feel uneasy. Today happens to be my wedding with Zhiqing, as well as the day for Zhiqing's competition with Miss Ji. Since Zhiqing is happily drunk today, as his wife, I will take his place."
The crowd murmured among themselves.
Ji Furong looked at Fu Xiaoxiao's performance with indifference. As a valued member of the Ji Family, she realized that Fu Xiaoxiao was setting a big trap for her to fall into.
The Ji Family had always treated others sincerely, so this kind of competitive sport was nothing new to them.
Ji Furong's gaze turned towards Mr. Shi.
Mr. Shi nodded at her.
"Miss Fu, what do you intend to do?"
Fu Xiaoxiao's face twitched again; Gu Cheng was not easy to deal with, and Mr. Shi was also formidable. She had just married Han Zhiqing, and their marriage certificate had not yet been issued. Yet they treated her so lightly, not even addressing her as Young Lady Han. Many people in the Han Family were waiting to curry favor with her.
Fu Xiaoxiao cleared her throat and glanced at the concubine beside her. The concubine lowered her head obediently and said to everyone, "Young Lady Han Fu Xiaoxiao has put in great effort for today's competition. The topic for the contest was set three years ago: we must find one specific Medicinal Bone from among ten thousand types of bones as designated by Mr. Shi. Our Han Family has no intention of changing the topic."
Fu Xiaoxiao noticed that everyone referred to her as Young lady Han, which felt inappropriate since outsiders called her Miss Fu. Her mood lifted slightly.
She said, "Third Uncle needs a type of Medicinal Bone for treatment. The Han family has searched for renowned doctors and found this bone among ten thousand types within five years. This does not violate the challenge's requirements. My demand for the competition is to upgrade the task; besides finding this Medicinal Bone, it must also be able to alleviate my uncle's old ailment on the spot. Otherwise, it's just empty talk."
Han Zhiqing suppressed a laugh, surprised by how capable his wife was.
Who was Han Zhiqing? He would not allow his family to be ridiculed.
Before them lay ten thousand types of Medicinal Bone arranged in the courtyard, each one unique and bizarre.
Fu Xiaoxiao's gaze turned cold; she had long been prepared for this competition.
"Mr. Shi, don't you think the Han family's challenge is a bit excessive?" She was truly pleased with herself; Han Zhiqing being drunk meant he couldn't compete, and since Ji Furong was here, it was clearly for the sake of rivalry.
She and Han Zhiqing were perfectly in sync, just waiting for him to kiss his capable wife later.
Fu Xiaoxiao's gaze fell once more on Gu Cheng's face; she couldn't believe that in this trap she had set, this man could still defend his wife.
Gu Cheng sensed the smell of conspiracy.
He felt that among these ten thousand types of Medicinal Bone, there could not possibly be one that could heal Han family's Third Uncle.
But this trap had already been laid out by Fu Xiaoxiao.
It’s too late to leave now.
Mr. Shi looked in surprise at the score presented by the Han family.
His gaze, filled with meaning, briefly glanced at the still hungover Han Zhiqing, but ultimately landed on Ji Furong.
“ lady Furong, what do you think we should do about this situation?”
Ji Furong maintained a steady gaze, indifferent as she watched Fu Xiaoxiao put on a grand performance.
It seemed that Han Zhiqing was quite serious about today’s competition; otherwise, why would he even care about his most treasured...
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