21. the sky's the limit
On Zi Wei's wedding day, He Qi entered the palace early in the morning, arriving at Jing Yang Gong in time to help Zi Wei dress to go bid farewell to the emperor, empress and empress dowager at Ci Ning Gong.
"You didn't have to come in so early," Zi Wei said as He Qi examined the various hair ornaments on the dressing table. "There are more than enough people here to help me, Ling Fei Niang Niang made sure of that."
"I know that, of course," He Qi said, smiling at her sister as their gazes met in the mirror. "But since I won't be able to see you off all the way to your new home today, I just want to be there for as much of the journey as possible."
Zi Wei was prevented from answer by Jin Suo coming into the room with a brass basin of water scented with rose petals for Zi Wei to wash her hands and face.
"Jin Suo, what about you? Are you all ready to move to Hui Bin Lou?" He Qi asked as Jin Suo set the basin down.
"Yes, everything is ready, Ge Ge," Jin Suo said. "There is not much to prepare, in any case. I just have a few personal effects to take with me. Zi Wei Jiejie will be busy on the two days after the wedding, but on the third day, you all must come to Hui Bin Lou for lunch, as we have so much to celebrate."
"As if I could keep Xiao Hu away," He Qi said, chuckling. Then, looking between Zi Wei and Jin Suo, she added slyly, "You have agreed to call Zi Wei 'Jiejie'. Is there any chance I can get you to drop the 'Ge Ge' with me as well?"
"This is the palace! I couldn't possibly!" Jin Suo exclaimed.
"And what of outside the palace?"
Jin Suo merely ducked her head. He Qi laughed and exchanged a look with Zi Wei. "We'll work on it, I suppose," she said merrily, before they all turned back to getting Zi Wei ready for the day.
For Zi Wei, the entire day seemed to be marked by dizzying bouts of confusion as she tried to catch up with everything that was happening around her. She seemed to be entirely too overwhelmed with everything that she needed to remember and everything she was required to do to consciously feel any happiness. This was strange, because of all the emotions in the world, she had expected to feel happy today.
"The happiness will come later," He Qi told her with a smile that hinted that there was more meaning to her words than Zi Wei was yet willing to read between the lines. But as at any given moment, three different people would want her attention at the same time, Zi Wei didn't have time to dwell much on her sister's words, which was probably just as well, because if she thought too much about it, it might end up making her too nervous to function.
Later in the day, Zi Wei simply sat still as numerous women fluttered around her, dressing her and placing various heavy ornaments of gold and jade on her head and about her person. She had no idea how Ling Fei could possibly remember everything that needed to be done, but it seemed like with every passing minute, she seemed to suddenly remember yet anything that Zi Wei must be wearing or carrying that was still missing, and sending palace maids flying around like brightly-coloured birds.
"Jiejie," Zi Wei whispered to He Qi when the butterflies in her stomach seemed to have turned into twisting serpents, "I am so nervous, I feel like something is going to go wrong."
He Qi grasped both Zi Wei's hands between her own and squeezing them in comfort. "Nothing is going to go wrong," she said. "I know it's all overwhelming now, but believe me, the moment that red veil is placed on you, everything will go as smoothly as it should. You don't have to worry about anything. Just let them guide you to where you need to be."
Zi Wei nodded. She wished there was more time for He Qi to tell her more reassuring words of comfort, but before either of them could say anything else, suddenly a maid appeared at He Qi's elbow with an open jewellery box.
"Wu Ge Ge, I need to help Zi Wei Ge Ge put on her earrings," the maid said.
"I'll do it," He Qi said, "you go do other things."
The maid curtsied and handed the box over to He Qi before hurrying away.
Zi Wei sat, nearly breathless, as He Qi gently slid three gold and pearl earrings into the piercings on each of her earlobe.
"I think that should be everything, He Qi," Ling Fei said, approaching the two sisters. "Zi Wei, come, stand up and let us see you."
With Jin Suo and He Qi's help, Zi Wei managed to get to her feet. Jin Suo then led her to a large mirror; looking into her reflection, Zi Wei could hardly recognise herself. It was so strange, because she knew she was no different right now than she had been yesterday, or even simply this morning, but at the same time, she was on the precipice of change. In a few hours, she would be entirely transformed, and this reflection she only half-recognised was the first visible signal of that change.
"If only Taitai could see you now," Jin Suo said softly beside her.
"Do you think Mother would be happy for me, Jin Suo?"
"Of course she would!"
The voice that answered Zi Wei's question was not Jin Suo's voice, and it managed to startle them both. All around them suddenly rang out a chorus of "Huang Shang jixiang" and the rustling sound of gowns as everyone knelt at the emperor's entrance.
"Everyone, stand up, there is no need for such formality," the emperor said jovially, before stepping closer to Zi Wei.
"Huang Ah Ma," Zi Wei greeted him with a shy smile on her face.
"Well, let me look at you," Qian Long said, giving her an once-over. Then, giving her a soft smile and a warm squeeze of the hand, he said, "You look very well, Zi Wei." His voice was gruffer as he added, "Your mother would surely be very proud of you today."
"Thank you, Huang Ah Ma," Zi Wei replied shyly.
Her father didn't immediately let go of her, but simply gazed at her for a long moment.
"I will miss you, Zi Wei," he finally said gently.
She didn't know why, but that was all that was required for tears to start smarting Zi Wei's eyes and she had to turn away to dab them away. "I will miss you too, Huang Ah Ma," she managed to whisper.
"Huang Ah Ma, you have ruined everyone's hard work by making Zi Wei cry," He Qi said, approaching the two of them and looking at the emperor with a playful reproachfulness. However, up close, Zi Wei could tell she her eyes were a little red as well. "You will see her again often enough, as you still see me often, don't you?"
"Yes, of course, you are right," Qian Long said, smiling fondly at both his daughters. Then, clapping his hands together once, he said, "Well, I just wanted to see Zi Wei before she leaves. I suppose I should go outside and take my place now, so that everyone in here can finish all the final preparations. It seems I am only in the way."
Though everyone protested against this, everyone was indeed relieved to see the emperor leave the room, because at that moment, Qing Er, who had just arrived with Lao Fo Ye, came into the room to tell Ling Fei that it was nearly time.
Zi Wei turned and grabbed the nearest person to her. "Jin Suo…"
"You will be fine, Jiejie," Jin Suo assured her.
Qing Er, having greeted Ling Fei, now approached Zi Wei with an approving smile on her face. "You look wonderful, Zi Wei," she said, giving her hand a comforting pat. "And Jin Suo is right, everything will be well."
Zi Wei could only give them both a shaky, nervous nod. Then, she turned to He Qi to find her sister standing nearby, the red veil in her hands.
"You will be very happy, Zi Wei," He Qi said, smiling brilliantly. "I am sure of it."
Zi Wei was sure the smile on her own face was just as radiant as she answered sincerely, "With Jiejie's blessing, I am sure I will be."
"It's time, Zi Wei," Ling Fei said, smiling through happy tears as well.
All of the sudden, Zi Wei found she was too choked up to speak, but then, she supposed from this moment until all the marriage ceremonies were over, she was no longer expected to speak. So she just looked around at all her loved ones around her, giving them all a grateful smile to thank them for everything each and every one of them had done to help her have today.
The final person she turned to look upon was He Qi, who pulled her into a tight hug. Then, as her sister let go, Zi Wei could only watch through hazy tears as He Qi drew the wedding veil over her head, until suddenly all she could see was red.
She felt Ling Fei pressing a ruyi scepter and an apple into each of her hand, before whispering, "There, now you are ready."
Zi Wei felt emotions rise in her chest as she thought it was Jin Suo who reached out to squeeze her hand a final time, before handing over to Ming Yue and Cai Xia. In that moment, there was nothing else for Zi Wei to do but to take a deep breath and allow the two maids to lead her by the arm out of the room, and into the main room of Jing Yang Gong, where the emperor, empress and empress dowager were waiting for the final leave-taking. Her heart how was so full of an odd mixture of nervousness, anticipation and elation, that she hardly knew what she did next, but then she trusted that Ming Yue and Cai Xia would guide her through all the ceremonies that were left and would not let her stumble.
Once Zi Wei had made all the requisite bows and listened to all the necessary wisdoms of the elders, finally, the eunuch who had been acting as the master of ceremonies announced in a high voice, "Ming Zhu Ge Ge takes her leave!"
Ming Yue and Cai Xia had helped Zi Wei rise to her feet and turned her towards the door. Just as she stepped over the threshold, suddenly she felt someone grab her wrist. Then, so quickly and so quietly that she was sure no one else but Cai Xia and Ming Yue would be aware, Zi Wei heard Xiao Hu's earnest whisper.
"Be happy! Good luck!"
Zi Wei turned her head slightly in his direction, and though she knew he could not see it, she smiled. Then, Xiao Hu let go of her wrist, and stepped back to allow Ming Yue and Cai Xia to lead her out into the night. Cool air slithered in beneath her veil, kissing her cheeks warm with anticipation of Er Kang, and the blissfully happy future that she was sure awaited them both.
-End-
A/N: So this is really the end, even though I know I set up but then left a few plot threads open, like Jin Suo and Liu Qing, and Xiao Jian and Qing Er, plus Qian Long still doesn't know about Xiao Jian and Xiao Hu's parentage. But since in canon, revealing their father's identity was simply a way to shoehorn Zhi Hua in to cause drama, let's just assume that we don't need to deal with that here in this universe :D
Thank you so much for reading, and even more massive thank you for everyone who commented. As is always the case with my fics, this took ridiculously more time than I anticipated. I was scanning through Send Me the Miles the other day, and apparently, I started writing this fic way back when I was finishing up Send Me the Miles, which was in like 2016 :O I definitely did not expect it to grow this massive, but then who am I kidding, I am incapable of being brief, I should not be shocked that my initial plan of, "oh it's probably going to just be 80k tops" grew into 150k+
Anyway, thank you again for getting this far, and if you're like me and prefer to read things once they're finished, I would love to know what you think. Feel free to drop a comment, it will make my day :D