The Gu carriage arrived, and the two girls made their way into their respective carriages.
The biggest carriage was reserved for the second son, which Su Rouyan now boldly stepped into.
"My lady, be careful," Zuen and Xuen helped Su Qinglan into the other carriage.
"Take good care of yourselves…" Master Su shouted as his wife sobbed in his arms.
"Due to the bad weather, the two ladies' carriages will stop at the East Temple, but do not be alarmed as their husbands will be waiting to pick them up there before taking them back to the Gu residence," the head maiden, who had been sent by the Gu family, notified as the two parents nodded.
"Alright, we leave our daughters in your hands."
They exchanged bows, and the head maiden turned around to leave. "Let's move it!"
She shouted as the riders of the carriage started moving while the other maids and guards, who were part of the dowry, accompanied on foot.
As the carriage moved, Su Qinglan removed her veil slightly, lifting the curtains at the carriage windows.
Beside the windows were Zuen and Xuen, both walking as fast as they could to keep up with the carriage.
"Hiss… you two, come inside… it's about to rain, come in…" Su Qinglan whispered slightly, but the two of them shook their heads, refusing.
Su Qinglan frowned slightly when both Zuen and Xuen shook their heads, their faces already showing worry.
"N-no, my lady," Xuen said quickly, gripping the edge of the carriage tightly. "We can't enter. The bride's carriage is meant for you alone. It's the rule."
Zuen nodded right away. "If we enter, it'll bring bad luck, my lady. Please don't make us."
Su Qinglan let out a soft sigh. Rules?
Those same useless rules had cost her more than she could count in her last life.
She looked out the window again. The sky had turned darker, and the soft drizzle was already starting to fall. The horses neighed softly as thunder rumbled from afar.
She pulled the curtain aside and called out, "Stop the carriage!"
The rider immediately slowed down, startled, and the wheels came to a stop on the muddy road.
The head maiden, who was riding on horseback nearby, turned quickly. "What's going on? Why did the carriage stop?" she barked, her tone sharp.
Su Qinglan lifted the curtain and said calmly, "I want my maids to come inside."
The head maiden blinked in disbelief. "Inside? My lady, that is not allowed. The bride's carriage is sacred. No one is to sit inside except the bride herself!"
Su Qinglan's eyes hardened. "It's about to rain," she said evenly. "They're my maids. I want them with me."
The head maiden frowned, clearly annoyed. "My lady, those two can handle a little rain. Besides, it's not proper for servants to sit with their mistress during a wedding procession. The Gu family—"
Before she could finish, Su Qinglan's voice cut through firmly, louder this time.
"Do I look like I care what the Gu family says?"
The head maiden froze, shocked at her tone. Zuen and Xuen's eyes widened too; they had never seen their mistress speak that way before.
The head maiden had known one or two things about the Su sisters, the eldest being timid and naive while the youngest was sharp-mouthed and spoiled. Yet why was the eldest this bold?
Su Qinglan's gaze didn't waver. "If they have a problem, they can take it up with me after the wedding. Now, let my maids in, or have you forgotten that you are also as lowly as these maids here, or do you dare go against me?"
The head maiden's lips twitched with irritation. "You—"
"Do it," Su Qinglan said flatly, her voice cold.
Something in her tone made even the maiden hesitate. There was no trace of the timid, soft-spoken girl the Su family had sent off. This Su Qinglan sounded different.
Finally, the head maiden huffed and waved her hand. "Fine! But don't blame me later when someone scolds you for breaking the rules."
Su Qinglan ignored her words. She leaned forward and reached her hand out to her maids. "Get in, both of you."
Zuen and Xuen hesitated, glancing at each other, then slowly climbed into the carriage, sitting at the far corner.
The rain began to pour almost immediately after, hitting the carriage roof in loud patters.
Su Qinglan let out a quiet sigh as she watched the drops slide down the window. Her fingers tightened on her lap.
Last time… I let them walk.
She could still remember it clearly, the rain that had soaked through their thin clothes, the way Xuen kept sneezing and shivering for days after. The fever wouldn't go away.
And because the Gu family didn't care about servants, she had to use her own silver to buy medicine. Even then, the cold stayed with Xuen forever, making her weak and fragile.
Su Qinglan looked at them now, both sitting stiffly in front of her, unsure what to say.
"Sit properly," she said softly. "You're already here. I don't want to hear any complaints."
Xuen's eyes glistened with emotion. "My lady… you're too kind."
Su Qinglan smiled faintly. "No. I'm just not foolish anymore."
Outside, the head maiden muttered to herself, "Hmph, spoiled noble ladies… think they can change tradition as they please."
But when the carriage started moving again, Su Qinglan didn't care. She simply leaned back, watching the rain blur the scenery outside.
In her heart, she made a silent promise.
This time, I'll protect the ones who stayed loyal to me. No matter what it takes.