The First Uncle of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 63 Getting married
On the 16th day of the first lunar month, Ma Xun got up early and started to wash and dress.

Suddenly Ma Xun was stunned. He felt something was wrong. "Who brought this?"

It’s no wonder that Ma Xun was frightened, because in front of him was the Tongtian Crown.

Although this is a common crown ornament, it has been passed down from the Qin Dynasty to the Song Dynasty. It is the ceremonial crown that the emperor would wear during major ceremonies. Although it was not used in the Yuan Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang restored the Tongtian crown after establishing the Ming Dynasty.

It is shaped like a mountain, with an upright front and a crown made of iron.

Xu E said quickly, "It was given by His Majesty. The master is Prince Xu, so it is natural for him to wear a Tongtian crown and a crimson gauze robe on his wedding. The crown is decorated with a golden Boshan, with twelve cicadas, and the head is decorated with pearls and jade, a black cap, a group tassel, and a jade hairpin."

Ma Xun became even more anxious, "Isn't this harming me? I don't have a title now, so I can't dress like this."

"Just wear it if I tell you to. Why are you talking so much nonsense?" Ma Xiuying pushed the door open and said directly, "Are you still going to get married?"

Ma Xun was really anxious, "Sister, won't people laugh at us if this gets out?"

Ma Xiuying asked directly, "Is this a joke? If it were really a joke, you should have inherited the title of king a long time ago! Hurry up and get dressed. The wedding dress will be ordered in a few days. By then, you won't be able to wear it even if you want to."

Ma Xun seemed to understand that this was to create a time difference.

In the final analysis, the ritual system is not yet complete. There is debate as to whether the emperor should follow the example of the emperors in history and customize six types of crowns or five types of crowns. Zhu Yuanzhang thought it was too complicated and only kept the crown. He wore the Tongtian crown on slightly formal occasions and the Yishan crown on ordinary occasions.

However, princes and other relatives can wear a Tongtian crown and a crimson gauze robe during weddings or sacrifices.

Ma Xun was terrified and asked, "Sister, you're not going to send the phoenix crown over there, are you?"

Xu E stepped aside, and Ma Xiuying picked up the comb and said, "It's not a phoenix crown. I have a nine-dragon and four-phoenix crown. The one for my sister-in-law is a phoenix crown. This wedding day is a celebration, so I'll give her a nine-dragon and four-phoenix crown today."

Ma Xun sat there blankly, and asked, "What about the ordinary imperial concubines and princesses? What about the other ladies?"

"A princess is the same as an imperial consort or a prince's consort. She is one level lower than an imperial consort." Ma Xiuying said as she combed Ma Xun's hair. "Why do you care about that?"

That's right, the so-called phoenix crown and bridal robe are also divided into different levels. In the early Ming Dynasty, the requirements for wedding attire for the common people were not very strict.

Ma Xiuying laughed and said, "It's been less than a year, and my hair has grown a bit longer, and I can wear a crown."

Ma Xun was in a good mood and said, "It's hard to take care of my long hair. It's a good thing that someone can help me comb my hair now."

Ma Xiuying felt a little sad at first, but then she laughed, "Someone will take care of you in the future. Your parents are gone now, so you should grow your hair and beard."

Xu E and the others stood quietly aside. They were supposed to help Ma Xun put on his clothes, but now the Queen was helping, so the others could only help out at the side.

It doesn't matter if other people don't understand. Xu E has always been by the Queen's side, and he understands that if nothing unexpected happens, Her Majesty the Queen will only help the King's Uncle to get dressed today.

Ma Xun also understood this, so he was sitting here peacefully, because there was no one else at home except this pair of siblings.

For example, Liu Shuning also needed to have her face made and clothes dressed, but her stepmother was not qualified to help. Only the wives of Liu Lian and Liu Jing were qualified.

As for whether they would be envious of Liu Shuning's clothes, that was another matter. They definitely had no chance to wear them, even though it was tacitly allowed for folk marriages to go beyond the limits of clothing, they could not go too far.

For example, the current regulations are that commoners are allowed to wear ninth-rank clothing when they marry.

Ma Xun suddenly heard the donkey braying and asked, "Are Lao Er and the others messing with Wang Cai again?"

Ma Xiuying smiled and said, "Your brother-in-law doesn't allow his ministers to neglect riding and shooting. They must ride horses when traveling, not sedan chairs. Today you can't ride a donkey, you have to ride a tall horse to look impressive."

Ma Xun understood and said, "Wangcai dragged his father's coffin back, and now he wants him to drag the phoenix carriage back?"

Ma Xiuying corrected with a smile, "That's called a Yan Zhai car!"

"Then I have to drive the cart. Wangcai isn't that strong." Ma Xun said, "We need to arrange some people to help push it so that it won't get too tired."

Ma Xiuying naturally understood that the donkey's strength was not very great, "It's not too heavy, and it can't go far."

Ma Xun's wedding was actually a little unusual in that it was not held in the evening.

The so-called wedding is also a dusk ceremony, in which the ceremony of marrying the wife is performed at dusk, and everything has the meaning of welcoming the yin energy into the house.

But Ma Xun's wedding was not like this, because the queen was in charge, and she could not wait until the evening to bring a bunch of children back to the palace. If nothing unexpected happened, the emperor would most likely come after attending court.

The Imperial Censor Liu Bowen was in the palace with mixed feelings. The emperor granted him a day off. Ma Xun, who was dressed up, naturally would not wear a big red flower or a hairpin, as that was not the custom of the Ming Dynasty.

The one wearing the flower is Wangcai, with a silk flower on his head.

Li Zhen smiled and said, "I look very energetic! Okay, let's go to welcome the bride quickly."

Zhu Chong and Zhu Gang were smiling happily, each holding a wild goose in his hand.

Zhu Di and others were envious, they could only follow. Zhu Jingru and Zhu Jingxian both had important tasks, they would go directly to Liu Shuning to get on the car, naturally there would be no "crying wedding".

Some customs of the Ming Dynasty were also different from the ancient rites. The betrothal gifts had already been paid before, and the Ming Dynasty generally did not use wild geese when proposing marriage proposals, but there were some special exceptions.

In the final analysis, the Han orthodoxy had just been restored, and many customs and habits were still being corrected and restored, and sometimes it was inevitable that too much force was used.

The team was already ready outside the mansion, waiting for Ma Xun to go and pick up the bride.

"You have to come back in an hour, don't miss the time!" Ma Xiuying was a little worried and reminded again, "Remember, don't miss the auspicious time!"

Chang Mao immediately lit the firecrackers, and the music started. Ma Xun, who was riding a tall horse, was not socially phobic this time. He walked towards Liu's mansion amid the curiosity or envy of the onlookers.

As for the Liu Mansion, needless to say, they sent people to report the dynamics of the wedding procession at any time, while preparing things in an orderly manner.

For example, when Liu Shuning paid respects to her parents, her sister-in-law prepared meals for her and gave her instructions.

"My uncle is getting married!" Zhu Chong said proudly, "Come and welcome my aunt!"

Liu Lian quickly took the goose and stepped aside, "Please."

Such things as looking up to marry a daughter and bowing your head to marry a wife do not exist at this moment.

The wedding procession entered Liu's residence in a grand procession, and Ma Xun was happy to see Liu Bowen again in the main hall.

"Father-in-law."

Liu Bowen choked and took the tea woodenly, "My dear son-in-law."

Liu Shuning, who was wearing a red veil, had just been helped out by her two sisters-in-law. Zhu Jingru and Zhu Jingxian immediately stepped forward to help.

Although Liu Bowen was reluctant to let his daughter get married, he knew that his daughter had made a good marriage this time. Apart from other things, the attitude of the emperor and the empress towards the emperor's uncle could tell.

There was no such thing as wedding pranks. After Ma Xun and Liu Shuning paid their respects to Liu Bowen, they left amid music and dance.

The deacon lit the lights and the promoter began the ceremony. After Ma Xun uncovered Liu Shuning's red veil, he took her to the ancestral hall to pray for blessings and burn incense.

When they arrived at the wedding hall, Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying were sitting in the main seats.

Zhu Biao smiled happily and said loudly, "The bride enters the hall!"

Liu Shuning covered her face with a round fan and slowly walked into the wedding hall.

"A tribute to heaven, a perfect match made in heaven."

"Respect the yellow earth and tie the knot happily."

"Respect heaven and earth three times, forever and ever."

This is three bows and nine kowtows (bows), not three bows.

Ma Xiuying couldn't help wiping away tears, and said, "You must love your husband and wife and continue the bloodline of our Ma family."

Liu Shuning replied respectfully, "Sister-in-law will follow your instructions."

Zhu Biao said happily, "Send her to the bridal chamber!"

It wasn't even dark yet, but Zhu Yuanzhang had already stood up and said, "Everyone go to the banquet, no one is allowed to go to the backyard!"

Ma Xiuying didn't care about that and urged Ma Xun, "What are you waiting for? Let's go to the new house!"

Ma Xun suddenly felt that his wedding this time looked lively, and seemed to be particularly efficient, smooth, and even easy!
(End of this chapter)