Becoming the Villain's Discarded Wife
Chapter 401 Marriage 3 (Provocation)

Chapter 401: Chapter 401 Marriage 3 (Provocation)

Number Twelve eagerly picked up the note, but froze when he saw the words on it,

What does this mean?

He seemed slightly confused.

"What does the note say?"

Number Eleven, who was initially curious about what the bride looked like, had by now thoroughly gotten into the spirit of things. He saw Number Twelve staring at the note without speaking and couldn’t help but lean in to take a closer look.

"Choose... one of two?"

The three words on the note had utterly baffled both of them.

What did this mean?

Especially for Number Eleven, who subconsciously turned his gaze towards Shen Zhiyu upon seeing these words.

There is a popular saying among the common folk: a stepmother often brings with her a stepfather.

Could it be that this new sister-in-law wanted Brother Shen to choose between her and Zhiyu?

"Choose one of two? What does this mean?"

"No idea. The riddles that this Lin girl set for her wedding are quite unconventional."

Ring toss is common, but usually, the target is set only a few yards away, not as far as it was today.

Furthermore, that bell-ringing challenge was also peculiar.

However, it was expected that the City Lord, who is a general, would have some tricks up his sleeve.

But this ’choose one from two’...

What could it possibly mean?

Are the City Lord’s legitimate heirs to choose one from their two available options?

While the crowd was scratching their heads trying to decipher the meaning, the three men from the Lin family exchanged a silent glance, with no one daring to say a word.

The first two challenges had been a collective decision made by their family.

This third one, however, was entirely conceived by the rotund maid.

But what did ’choose one from two’ actually mean?

Shen Wenchen’s eyes remained the same, showing neither confusion nor anger. On the contrary, his gaze fired with burning intensity, as if he could burn a hole through the wooden door with his eyes alone.

"Choose one from two, huh."

The man muttered to himself before suddenly breaking into soft laughter.

"Brother Shen?"

Number Eleven, bewildered, alongside all the surrounding villagers who were straining their necks, couldn’t wait to hear his interpretation of the riddle.

"In this lifetime, I, Shen Wenchen, will only take Lin Nanzhi as my wife."

Before everyone could unravel the meaning behind his words, Shen Zhiyu, with an exalted expression, already proceeded to move the stool and open the room door.

As the door swung open, there stood Lin Nanzhi, resplendent in her bridal attire, her delicate face half-covered by a fan.

Shen Wenchen’s peach-blossom eyes sparkled with awe and admiration. He then proceeded to step forward, walking in her direction.

"Wenchen, today I entrust my daughter to you. Please treat her well."

Although Mother Lin’s eyes were still tinged with red, her usual laughing face bore a grave seriousness as she spoke to him.

"Please rest assured, mother-in-law. As long as I, Shen Wenchen, still breathe, I will protect her with my life."

His voice was steady, and his eyes firm.

The once bashful young man had now become a truly gallant gentleman, far from his youthful past.

"Good," Mother Lin nodded in approval, releasing her grip on Nanzhi’s hand.

"Bring the bride to the palanquin!"

The giddy matchmaker standing by promptly yelled.

Shen Wenchen bent down to lift her in a bridal carry. As their bodies touched, they could both feel each other’s warmth and wildly racing heartbeats.

The groom picked up his bride and was tasked to carry her to the palanquin.

Nanzhi could feel the slight trembling in Shen Wenchen’s arms, a sensation that filled her heart with an unspeakable sweetness.

However, tradition forbade the bride from speaking with the groom before entering the bridal chamber.

Thus, Nanzhi could only press her lips together while resting one hand around his neck and use the other to hold the fan covering half her face.

Even though only half her face was visible, the sight was enough to make many protrude their eyes in awe.

Nanzhi’s skin was naturally quite good. Although she used to work several part-time jobs, after college, she had stopped staying outdoors under the sun. And after coming to this world, she had even less occasion to run around under the hot sun.

After months of tending, her skin had grown several shades lighter.

With those gorgeous eyes and perfect vision, she was a sight to behold, dressed up so beautifully. Her almond-shaped eyes shimmered like the surface of a clear pond, seemingly capable to ensnare someone’s soul.

The phoenix crown and the wedding dress she wore did not suppress her in any way. Instead, they highlighted her radiant beauty.

Such a lovely bride she was...

While some were just thinking this, those bolder had already started cheering, provoking an echoing chorus from the crowd, and instantly, the atmosphere livened up again.

The city lord’s residence was adorned with brightly lit lanterns. It was bustling with excitement.

Everything was ready. The sound of the gong filled the air.

The newlyweds entered the hall—

They bowed to heaven and earth—

One bow, they respected the heavens, acknowledging the divine arrangement of their union.

Two bows, they respected the earth, celebrating their joyous union.

Three bows, they respected the profound cycle of nature, praying for their love to last forever.

Nanzhi and Shen Wenchen turned together, bowing towards the doors.

They bowed to their senior kin—

Aside from Shen Miaomiao and her family, the Shen family had no other relatives. So, Aunt Guihua and Shen’s third elder were the only seniors seated on both sides of the hall.

In the center of the table, only the memorial tablets of Shen Wenchen’s parents and Grandma Nanzhi were placed.

Shen Wenchen’s heart trembled as he remembered his parents.

He was after all an unfilial son...

A sourness welled up in Nanzhi’s nose. Looking at the memorial tablets, her heart tightened uncomfortably.

She never mentioned this.

Even though she had thought about placing her grandmother’s memorial tablet there, she hadn’t mentioned it to Shen Wenchen.

But she never expected that Shen Wenchen would do so without her prompting.

The couple bowed to each other—

After one bow, they pledged fidelity, promising to grow old together.

After two bows, they committed to mutual consent and compromise, forever basking in the river of love.

After three bows, they declared themselves as blessed in every life, under the guidance of the three stars, forever tied at the heart.

The couple turned to face each other and bowed once more.

Entry into the bridal chamber—

As the master of ceremonies announced, a round of applause and cheers erupted from outside the hall.

The maid assisting Nanzhi led her to Shen Wenchen’s room and after making sure she was settled, bowed and left.

Shen Wenchen’s room was clean and adorned with red silk drapes while the windows were plastered with large red paper cutouts that signified ’happiness’.

The ’Wishing for A Son Immediately’ set, with dragon and phoenix wedding candles, was placed in the middle of the table.

As the surroundings quietened down, Nanzhi snapped back to reality.

Had she just gotten married?

Staring into space, Nanzhi fixated her gaze on the ridge pole in a stupefied manner.

Only that heart of hers was thumping wildly within her chest, as if it could leap out any second.

Shen Wenchen, with his companions aged around 11 or 12, was busy hosting the guests. Each was equipped with a jug of wine, ceaselessly moving through the crowd.

Shen Zhiyu and Lin Zihan were seated at the head table. Many nosy individuals started to approach.

"Young Master Shen, aren’t you afraid that your father will forget about your mother after marrying a new wife?"

Several children were enjoying their meals when a man suddenly approached, sighing with a resigned tone.

"Who are you?" Shen Zhiyu turned to look at the man, confusion in his eyes.

He did not recognize this man.

"Young Master Shen need not ask who I am, I’m just concerned about you." A hint of cunning flickered in the man’s eyes, though he tried his best to maintain composure on the surface.

"You need not worry about my affairs," Shen Zhiyu replied firmly, each word pronounced distinctly.

"I’m just thinking about your well-being..."

The man hadn’t expected such a firm retort from a child, and his face turned somewhat unsightly.

"My father marrying her means she becomes my mother, the lady of Yan City. If Uncle has too much free time, he could go to the outskirts and reclaim the wasteland. The citizens there might even praise you for it."

Shen Zhiyu showed no courtesy to the man. He recognized this person.

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