Only an hour passed between the arrival of the first wedding guest and the last. Compared with an ordinary wedding, that was remarkably fast. Some guests would often arrive at seven, while others turned up just before the ceremony at eleven, or even before the meal at noon. Anyone who frequently attended weddings or banquets would have experienced this.
In some respects, Kuo City's lockdown was a blessing. It allowed all the preparations for Yuan Qian and Shen Yun's wedding to be completed quickly, leaving only the wait for the appointed hour. Otherwise, delays caused by the absence of important guests were hardly uncommon.
People generally did not play cards to pass the time in the morning. Besides, nobody in Kuo City was in such a leisurely mood these days, even at a wedding. There probably would not be anyone playing cards in the courtyard that afternoon either.
Playing cards whiled away idle hours; not playing cards merely wasted those idle hours.
A middle-aged woman entered the room. Her figure was shapely, her beauty undiminished, and she carried a fragrance that only a select few mature women possessed. Her features were dignified and gentle, with a jewel-like air of nobility. Both her looks and bearing were exceptional, making her a rare specimen even among perfect women.
She was Yuan Qian's mother, Yuan Yan. Twenty years ago, she had been Kuo City's prettiest, most vivacious young maiden. Now, she was its most beautiful and captivating married woman.
Yuan Yan waved a hand as she entered. The women attending to Yuan Qian stopped their work, nodded, and left the room.
Yuan Qian said nothing, and neither did Yuan Yan. She simply picked up the rouge from the dressing table and continued applying the finishing touches to her daughter's makeup.
Yuan Yan's movements