novel-bin Chapter 1: A Bride's Wedding
Chapter 1: A Bride's Wedding
"Marriage is a major event, the beginning of human relations and the foundation of social morality. I have heard that Wei Dongning, the daughter of Marquis Zhongxin, is virtuous, generous, and talented; and Gu Peiyan, the son of the Minister of Personnel, is virtuous, talented, and outstanding in appearance. This is a match made in heaven. I hereby grant that a date be chosen for their marriage to be held, so as to make it known to the world. This is my decree."
"Your subject accepts the imperial decree and expresses gratitude."
After the Marquis of Zhongxin led everyone in bowing, he received the bright yellow robe from the head eunuch.
"My lord, the Emperor has said that the second day of next month will be an auspicious day. Miss Wei and Young Master Gu do not need to go to the palace to express their gratitude after their marriage."
The eunuch left behind these words before departing, which deepened the lines on Marquis Zhongxin Wei Liangzhe's brow.
That old fox, the Emperor, definitely did it on purpose.
Who in and around the capital doesn't know that he and that Gu fellow are mortal enemies?
To arrange a marriage between them now is just like matchmaking!
He doesn't believe the old fox wasn't just looking for a show.
Moreover, there are only half a month left until the second year of junior high school.
The timeframe is too rushed.
"My lord, what should we do?" Lady Bai Suyun of the Marquis's mansion asked with a worried expression.
Dong Ning was someone she had gone through a lot of trouble to give birth to.
They treat it like a precious gem, afraid of dropping it if they hold it in their hands or melting it if they keep it in their mouths.
She's only just come of age, why is the Emperor already bestowing a marriage upon her?
"Mother, I'll marry him!"
Wei Dongning stepped forward and hooked her arm around Bai Suyun's.
She traveled to this world yesterday.
In the original world, she died of heart disease at the young age of eighteen.
When her soul left her body, a little guy who called himself System 005 said he could give her a chance to come back to life and give her a healthy body.
Faced with such a great temptation, she agreed without hesitation.
Now all we need to do is get her married.
She'll marry him!
Having finally been given a second chance at life, she certainly didn't want to end up disobeying imperial orders and having her entire family executed.
Regardless of whether Gu Peiyan is tall or short, round or flat.
It doesn't matter.
She now has only one life motto:
Just being alive is enough!
As the old saying goes, it's better to live a miserable life than to die a good death.
Using an excuse, Wei Dongning returned to her room, dismissed the maid Xiao Fu who had been following her, and began to call out Xiao Wu's name in her mind.
"Xiao Wu, could you help me look up Gu Peiyan's information? The more detailed the better."
The summoned Xiao Wu was munching on a peach: "(chewing) I don't have that permission, I can only show you his picture at most. (chewing) Don't worry, the pixel quality and resolution will satisfy you. (chewing) This peach is really sweet, do you want some?"
"I won't eat. Do you have any special abilities? Like mind reading or something?"
When she was lying in the hospital bed, she often read Yang Shizi's time-travel novels on her phone. The characters in those novels all had cheat codes, spatial abilities, and so on.
As a system, it shouldn't be too much to ask Xiao Wu to provide some superpowers, right?
"No, honey, I'm just a companion system."
"So what can you do?"
"Like I said, I'm a companion system. I'm always with you. But when you're bored, I can play TV series and movies for you. No membership or early access required, isn't that great?"
"You can't do anything, so you're just good at keeping me company? I really thank you." Wei Dongning sighed and smiled wryly.
Xiao Wu pouted in dissatisfaction: "Why did you make me sound like a good-for-nothing? Do you still want to see the photos?"
"Look!"
The next second, a photo popped into Wei Dongning's mind.
The man in the photo is wearing a long robe with dark blue patterns and is holding a scroll in his hand.
The sunlight shone on his profile, making his bone structure even more prominent.
"Tsk, she's pretty, but you can tell at a glance she's a bit old-fashioned." Wei Dongning rested her chin on her hand.
These kinds of people are the hardest to get along with.
"Xiao Wu, when did you take this photo?"
"The Supreme God just took this picture for me."
"Why is your lord so good to you?"
In the novels she had read, weren't the main gods always incredibly busy?
There are even such thoughtful versions?
"I'm his own daughter, if he doesn't treat me well, who will he treat well?" Xiao Wu proudly raised her little face.
If she weren't incorporeal, Wei Dongning would have definitely gone up and pinched her face.
"My apologies. Then why don't you have any abilities at all?"
Xiao Wu touched his nose guiltily: "You know, even a hero can't withstand three bouts of diarrhea. I accidentally put too much laxative in my dad's water, so he took back all my abilities."
"..."
Wei Dongning was completely convinced.
It's only because your dad didn't beat you to death that he's so kind-hearted.
"Xiao Wu, how can he be so calm?"
There was no reaction whatsoever after receiving the imperial edict.
That's truly admirable.
"Forget it, asking you is pointless. Just play the TV series I didn't finish watching in my past life for me. Don't forget to turn it on fast." Wei Dongning threw herself onto the bed.
The male protagonist didn't take the arranged marriage seriously, so if she kept bringing it up, it would seem like she was being too eager.
Before an episode of the TV series had even finished airing, Xiao Wu suddenly stood up in Wei Dongning's mind: "Stop watching, your scheming half-sister is here."
Her half-sister, Wei Qiuci, was extremely jealous.
She wanted to have everything the original owner possessed, and in front of outsiders, she had to pretend to be a delicate and innocent girl.
Wei Dongning didn't want to have any conflict with her.
Anyway, she's not her biological sister, and she's getting married soon anyway.
Wei Dongning straightened the wrinkles in her clothes and calmly poured herself a cup of tea.
Then he stared at the graceful figure walking in from the front.
She muttered to herself, "Why is she so gentle and weak? When the original owner was training martial arts with Marquis Zhongxin since childhood, was this half-sister slacking off? Wasn't it said that Marquis Zhongxin treated all three children in the family equally? Speaking of the three children, I haven't seen my adopted older brother for the past two days. I wonder what he looks like. Sigh, I miss my real brother a little. I wonder if he will be so sad that he can't eat or sleep after I die."
Xiao Wu murmured from the corner, "You really have a big mouth."
"Thank you for the compliment." Wei Dongning took another sip of tea, suppressing the murmurs in her mind.
Wei Qiuci sat down opposite Wei Dongning without any ceremony and poured himself a cup of tea: "I haven't congratulated you yet, little sister. Your big day is just around the corner."
"Thank you, sister. Would you like some almond cookies?"
Wei Qiuci's next words got stuck in her throat.
Suddenly I forgot what I was going to say next.
"eat."
After finishing two almond cookies, Wei Qiuci finally remembered what she had come for: "My sister's marriage is settled. I heard that Young Master Gu is about to take up his post at the Censorate. As his older sister, I am truly envious."
"Oh."
Wei Dongning had no intention of accepting the challenge.
Oh my, who invented almond cookies?
Really delicious.
One more piece, please.
Wei Dongning reached into the plate and took another piece of almond shortbread, putting it in her mouth.
"?"
Wei Qiuci was puzzled.
What was her reaction?
Shouldn't she have had a big fight with me, given her usual personality?
She didn't say anything, so how was I supposed to continue the conversation?