My Dearest Sister-In-Law, I've Been Waiting For You To Get A Divorce For A Long Time - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

◎ “What were the rules for drinking the nuptial cup wine again?” ◎

Mama Liu opened the door from the inside. Seeing only Gu Wenyao arriving, her eyes searched left and right, as if looking to see if Gu Shufeng had followed her.

Gu Wenyao let out a soft laugh, her gaze sweeping past Mama Liu. She lifted the hem of her skirt and, with her embroidered shoes, stepped directly into the room. “Is sister-in-law waiting for my brother?”

Her tone held a hint of regret, yet her face showed none of the guilt the Gu family should have for leaving the new bride alone on her wedding night. “Unfortunately, brother can’t make it. I heard that after he sobered up, he learned Chunshui was threatening to hang herself, so he rushed over to coax her.”

“After all, it’s a matter of life and death. I’m sure sister-in-law can understand, can’t you?”

On the table, the pair of dragon and phoenix candles were still burning fiercely, but the room held only the bride.

Gu Wenyao’s slender, pale fingers traced the surface of the large red table. Her hand came to rest on the small, long golden scale in a tray, which she casually picked up and began to toy with.

She sat on the edge of the table, one leg planted on the ground for support, the other slightly bent, her posture casual and lazy. Her gaze, however, remained fixed on Mo Shuqing, who sat quietly by the bed, like an icy animal staring at its prey.

“Mother said that since it’s the wedding night, and the Mo family is so strict with their rules, the bride can’t go to sleep until the veil is lifted,” Gu Wenyao said with a soft sigh, still holding the golden scale. She sounded troubled. “From the looks of it, it seems I’ll have to be the one to complete these necessary rituals with you.”

Having a younger sister substitute for her brother during the ceremony was for appearances. After all, the Marquis Gu household had so many guests today, with all eyes watching. The Gu family couldn’t let the bride go through the ritual alone, nor could they skip the ceremony altogether, so they had to find a substitute.

The two families’ face-saving efforts had ended an hour ago. Now, in the inner courtyard, there was no need to follow these procedures, as no one was watching.

Just as Mama Liu was about to speak, Gu Wenyao looked over, her face wearing a gentle smile that no one could find fault with, the curve of her soft lips just right. “Although my brother’s behavior is absurd, we in the Gu manor still need to give sister-in-law the ceremony and procedures she is due.”

With a single sentence, she silenced Mama Liu.

Everyone in the room shifted their gaze from Gu Wenyao to Mo Shuqing, who was sitting quietly by the bed, waiting for her reaction.

No matter how bizarre the events of the day were, Mo Shuqing, the new bride, remained calm throughout. Even upon hearing that her new husband had been lured away by a concubine, she didn’t so much as flicker her eyelashes.

“Do these rituals have to be completed?” Mo Shuqing asked, her voice as cool and clear as the collision of jade stones.

Gu Wenyao was momentarily distracted, then smiled. “Of course, otherwise it would be bad luck.”

Mo Shuqing seemed to sigh faintly and replied, “Alright.”

Seeing her agree so readily, Gu Wenyao, holding the scale, was momentarily stunned. It seemed she hadn’t expected it to go so smoothly and had prepared to waste more words.

She glanced at Yi Yun beside her.

Yi Yun immediately bowed her head, pulled a red paper from her sleeve, cleared her throat, and stood to the side, reading the first line. “First step: lifting the veil.”

On the wedding night, the groom uses a golden scale to lift the bride’s veil, symbolizing a relationship that is “as you wish” (chèng xīn rúyì).

Gu Wenyao straightened up, about to go forward with the golden scale, when she saw Mo Shuqing move first.

In the bright candlelight, Mo Shuqing raised her hands and, with gentle movements, lifted the veil covering her face.

Gu Wenyao stared at Mo Shuqing. The moment the bride’s fingers pinched the red veil, she seemed to forget how to breathe, frozen in place. She could only stare at Mo Shuqing’s pale, jade-like fingers, forgetting even to stop her.

The veil moved up inch by inch, the tassels of the concentric knot swaying as Mo Shuqing’s cool and ethereal face was slowly revealed.

In eight years, Mo Shuqing had fully matured.

As she sat by the bed, lifting her veil and looking over, she was so beautiful she looked like a Celestial Maiden who had descended from the Heavenly Pond.

The garishly red wedding dress did not detract from her ethereal air in the slightest. The intense color failed to give her pure and otherworldly beauty even a hint of worldly vulgarity; instead, the red dress accentuated her porcelain-like skin, making her appear even more refined and detached.

Gu Wenyao stared at Mo Shuqing, and after the initial shock, a sense of unease filled her heart. She wanted to find some trace of the past on her face to reassure herself.

But eight years was too long. Long enough that at a glance, the Mo Shuqing before her was so unfamiliar and distant that Gu Wenyao didn’t dare to speak to her.

Especially with Mo Shuqing’s cool and clear gaze, like a handful of soft, white snow from a mountaintop, with not a speck of dust in her eyes, as if she had never truly taken anyone into her sight or heart.

“Sister-in-law is so beautiful,” Gu Wenyao’s eyes flickered. She smiled and lowered her long, dense eyelashes, hiding the emotions in her eyes. But to others, her lips were still curved in a smile, and her voice was as gentle as ever. “My brother doesn’t know what he’s missing.”

Gu Wenyao felt that Mo Shuqing’s change was too great, so great that she didn’t dare to look at her directly.

After eight years apart, Mo Shuqing had only become better, while she was still stuck in the same place.

Gu Wenyao’s emotions stirred. A slight tickle in her throat made her cough uncontrollably. She casually tossed the small golden scale she had been holding for so long, pulled out a handkerchief to cover her mouth, and bent her shoulders to cough.

She coughed until the corners of her eyes turned red, until her lips were pale, until there seemed to be a shimmer of moisture in her eyes.

When did her health become so poor?

Mo Shuqing fully removed the veil from her head and placed it on the bed. She frowned slightly and began to walk towards Gu Wenyao.

In Gu Wenyao’s blurry vision, she saw Mo Shuqing approaching. Her shoulders couldn’t help but tremble slightly, as if she was vaguely anticipating something, yet also too nervous to move forward.

Yi Yun was the quickest to react.

Seeing Mo Shuqing get up and move toward the table, she immediately read the second line from the red paper in her hand. “Second step: drinking the nuptial cup wine.”

Mo Shuqing’s hand, which she had just raised to pat Gu Wenyao’s back, froze in mid-air. She saw Gu Wenyao with her handkerchief against her lips, head lowered, not speaking. She withdrew her outstretched fingers and turned to stand by the table, placing her hand on the wine pot.

Gu Wenyao, “…”

Gu Wenyao bit her handkerchief and turned to look at Yi Yun, her eyes so red she looked like she wanted to devour her. Her expression was incredibly complex.

Mo Shuqing stood to the side, lowering her eyes to look at her fingertips. Indeed, eight years had changed too many things.

Yi Yun felt a chill down her spine under Gu Wenyao’s gaze, but she was genuinely worried. She quickly raised her hand and gently patted Gu Wenyao’s back. “Are you alright, miss?”

Mo Shuqing’s gaze also turned over. “Shall we continue?”

She’s coughing like this; should they still continue the ritual and drink the wine?

Shall we continue?

Shall we continue?

Should we still keep in touch after we part?

Gu Wenyao lowered her head, slowly lowering the hand with the handkerchief from her lips. She gave a self-mocking smile. “Of course.”

Otherwise, why would she have actively sent two invitations after the Mo family returned to the capital, knowing full well that Mo Shuqing had not sent her a single letter for eight years?

Why would she put up with being rejected again and again?

Gu Wenyao smiled, put away her handkerchief, and actively picked up half of the gourd-ladle. She looked at Yi Yun and blinked. “What were the rules for drinking the nuptial cup wine again?”

She was determined to finish this ritual today.

Mo Shuqing wanted to get rid of her? Not a chance. She was the one who welcomed her. She was the one who bowed with her. The person who would share the nuptial cup with her tonight would also be her!

She wanted Mo Shuqing to remember her for the rest of her life whenever she thought of her big day.

Gu Wenyao smiled faintly, already looking forward to Mo Shuqing’s reaction when she learned they had to cross arms to drink.

But…

Her single question stumped Yi Yun.

Yi Yun looked at the red paper; it didn’t have such detailed instructions.

She had never been married and had no experience, so she truly didn’t know what the rules for drinking the nuptial cup wine were.

Yi Yun met Gu Wenyao’s gentle and friendly gaze, and hesitated. “Drink it from the gourd-ladle?”

What else? Drink it from a bowl?!

Seeing that Yi Yun was stumped, Mo Shuqing glanced at Gu Wenyao and calmly poured wine into both of their ladles. Then she reached out and placed her left index finger on Gu Wenyao’s right wrist.

Gu Wenyao froze, turning to look at Mo Shuqing.

It was only a light touch. After Gu Wenqing raised her right hand holding the ladle, Mo Shuqing discreetly withdrew her finger without any lingering.

Gu Wenyao stared at Mo Shuqing, her gaze wanting to see through her completely with this one gesture.

Mo Shuqing’s attention, however, was on the half-gourd in her hand. Her cool voice flowed like clear wine. “Drinking from a single gourd-ladle signifies that a couple becomes one. To share good times and bad, to stand by each other through thick and thin.”

Mo Shuqing lifted her eyelashes to look at Gu Wenyao, their forearms intertwined. Meeting her gaze, she put her lips to the ladle.

The “gourd” (jǐn) is a type of calabash. It tastes extremely bitter and is usually made into a ladle. One gourd is split into two ladles, with the stems connected by a thread. On the wedding night, the bride and groom each hold a ladle, cross arms, and drink the wine together, symbolizing their union.

Mo Shuqing was reciting the lines Yi Yun should have said while they drank.

“Sister-in-law has been away from the capital for many years. You must have broadened your horizons and met many people, which is why you’re so knowledgeable. Unlike me, who is trapped within these tall walls, unable to meet many new people or learn anything.”

Gu Wenyao said it as if it were a casual remark. She raised her wrist and, without any hesitation, lowered her head to sip the wine.

The wine wetted her lips, making them look alluringly lustrous.

Mo Shuqing withdrew her arm and looked up at Gu Wenyao. Her quiet eyes, like a tranquil lake without a ripple, showed no reaction to her seemingly casual words.

She was too calm.

Whether it was their reunion after a long separation or being left alone on her wedding night, Mo Shuqing’s emotions showed no fluctuation.

Gu Wenyao lowered her eyes and turned her body, using the movement of placing the ladle back on the table to lean forward. Her right shoulder was almost pressed against Mo Shuqing’s left arm. Her breath, hot with wine, maliciously sprayed against Mo Shuqing’s ear and neck.

“Sister-in-law, for the last part—consummating the marriage—do you need me to stay and complete it with you?”

Only then did Mo Shuqing turn to look at her.

Gu Wenyao gave a charming smile, slowly blinking her eyes, full of childish mischief. “I’m just teasing you, sister-in-law. Why are you taking it seriously?”

“Well, the rituals are done. I should be getting back to rest,” Gu Wenyao said with a cheerful smile as she tidied her sleeves. “Have a good rest, sister-in-law. See you tomorrow.”

Mo Shuqing nodded, at the same time putting down the ladle she had been holding.

“Miss,” Mama Liu walked over, hesitating. “Are you really not going to ask the Little Marquis to come?”

Watching Gu Wenyao’s frail and thin figure exit the door and gradually walk away, Mo Shuqing finally withdrew her gaze and said with a meaningful tone, “I’m destined to sleep alone tonight. Why bother him with another trip?”

She gestured to Qinglu and Mama Liu. “Let’s get washed up and go to sleep.”

…

After leaving Mo Shuqing’s courtyard, Gu Wenyao leaned against a rockery and began to cough violently, a cough that made her lungs tremble.

Yi Yun worriedly supported her, mumbling quietly, “You’re still sick. Why did you have to drink that wine?”

Even if she wanted to stop Mo Shuqing from consummating the marriage with the Little Marquis, she didn’t need to go this far.

Gu Wenyao coughed until she couldn’t stand straight, slowly squatting down, leaning against Yi Yun’s arms.

She thought of how Mo Shuqing had to hold back from taking a step back when she breathed into her ear, and she laughed with a sense of triumph, her voice hoarse and breathless. “Serves her right.”

She wasn’t talking about herself, but about Mo Shuqing, who she had schemed against and forced to sleep alone on her wedding night.