Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 1: The Hu Woman Who Married on Behalf
Until this moment, Tan Huaike couldn't believe it——

Is she getting married?

Such a ridiculous marriage!
These people actually taught her how to perform the Qinglu ceremony with a tablet and spend the wedding night with a coffin...
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A bright and beautiful face is reflected in the bronze mirror.

Her features hadn't lost their childishness, and a thin layer of rouge on her rounded cheeks only accentuated her fair complexion. The woman's features were a blend of northwestern Hu characteristics: slightly raised brow bones, curled eyelashes, and large, bright light brown eyes. They looked a bit innocent, yet betrayed a sense of restraint and bewilderment.

Everything around her seemed to have nothing to do with her. No one asked for her wishes, no one cared about her feelings. After two elderly maids finished teaching her the complicated etiquette, they didn't say a word to her. They methodically combed her hair and put on her makeup until two chimes rang outside. Then they hurriedly put her hair in a bun and bowed, saying, "Young lady, get up and change your clothes."

Knowing she couldn't resist, Tan Huaike could only stand up obediently, open her arms, and let the maid dress her in the layers of ceremonial attire. She couldn't hide her curiosity. The dress, with its dark blue hem and crimson skirt and pendants, was crimson with a hint of yellow, and the fabric was thick and dense. It turned out that the "black robe and crimson skirt" of the Daxuan Dynasty was worn this way. She had only heard of it before, but she didn't expect to see it for the first time on herself.

Just as she was getting dressed and the maid was adjusting her collar and belt, a bright-looking woman entered the room, hurried around the screen, and urged, "You're not ready yet! The Shentu family's wedding procession is about to arrive. Don't miss the auspicious time."

The maids stopped what they were doing and turned around to reply, "Madam Fu, you are ready to dress up."

Tan Anfu looked Tan Huaike up and down and said with a smile, "It's just a formality. There's no need for such details. Aunt Fang, Aunt Lou, please go back. I have a few words to say to my...sister."

The two maids left immediately, leaving only a small girl with twin buns guarding the gate. Pei'er, a girl who had been bought by the Tan family only a few days earlier and hadn't yet fully learned the rules, was about to accompany the young lady on her wedding day. She was terrified and stood timidly in the courtyard, unsure how to handle the upcoming situation.

A few sporadic voices could be heard from inside the house, all of them were Tan Anfu lecturing:
"After all, she's a wild girl with barbarian blood, not presentable. Only this face can still intimidate people."

"Let me remind you again, I gave you this marriage. You are marrying into the Tan family as a concubine. You should consider what to say and what not to say."

"As for your husband... Haha, I'm letting you get away with something for free... That's good, since it won't reveal any flaws..."

She spoke unclearly and Pei'er could hardly understand.

The timid little maidservant didn't dare to ask any more questions. She only vaguely heard the servants mention that the marriage was originally between Tan Anfu, the legitimate daughter of the Tan family, and Shentu Heng, the eldest son of the Shentu family, but now it had fallen to Tan Huaike, the concubine's daughter. They also said that Shentu Heng was quite promising, a thousand-household commander in the army, and had a bright future.

Pei'er saw the Tan family as a renowned and wealthy merchant family in Zhangye County, Fu Niangzi as the eldest daughter and a beloved and beloved daughter, the Shentu family as a prominent and prestigious clan, and the young man as a military hero. This was clearly a perfect match. She couldn't understand what had gone wrong, how the young woman she served could have become the new bride.

It wasn't that she looked down on her master. After spending a few days with her, she felt that the young lady was a very kind person. However, anyone with a discerning eye could see that the Tan family didn't care about Tan Huaike, a concubine's daughter. Aside from today's wedding, they provided her with food, clothing, and other necessities that were not much better than those of a servant girl like her. Not to mention the competitive and arrogant Lady Fu. How could she possibly give up such a good husband who was so easily available to someone else?

Just as she was daydreaming, Tan Anfu pushed the door open and walked out. Pei'er knelt down in a panic to greet her.

Tan Anfu glanced at her and sneered, "You two parasites, so stupid! They'll be here to pick her up soon. Keep an eye on the young lady and make sure nothing goes wrong. Otherwise, it will be a disgrace to our Tan family!"

Pei'er agreed.

After a while, three chimes were struck outside, signaling that the wedding procession had arrived at the gate of the mansion.

Pei'er reminded softly: "My dear, the Shentu family is here to pick you up. It's time to leave..."

Before he finished speaking, Tan Huaike emerged from the deserted boudoir.

After Tan Anfu's boastful "advice," she actually figured out a lot of things. She changed her nagging and aggrieved demeanor when she was just being lectured by her elder sister. She smiled and called out to her dazed maid, "Come on, what are you dawdling about for?"

Her long skirt hindered her from crossing the threshold, so she lifted it high with both hands and strode out of the remote courtyard. When she reached the main house, she let go of her skirt, slowed her pace, smoothed the wrinkles on her clothes, put on a cautious look, and went to bid farewell to her parents.

Well, I can finally leave here.
-
Tan Huaike knelt respectfully in the middle of the main hall.

Sitting at the top were the head of the family, Tan Li, and the eldest lady of the Tan family. The seats on the left below were empty. The eldest son, Tan Anfeng, was not there. Tan Anfu sat on the right, reaching out to take some nut snacks from the small table in front of her and eating them. She just watched her sister who was about to get married as a fun thing to watch.

Although the wedding procession arrived, the "new son-in-law" did not enter the house. The Tan family had known this would happen, so they did not arrange any grand ceremony, and just let Tan Huaike go through the motions.

Pei'er brought the teacup, and Tan Huaike served it to everyone one by one, speaking briefly and distantly: "Grandfather, Mother, I bid you farewell."

Tan Li leaned on the table, drank tea happily, and pretended to be concerned and said: "Okay, okay, this marriage is a good match. You can live a good life in the Shentu family..." "Puff." Tan Anfu couldn't help laughing, and laughed so hard that the snack crumbs fell out.

"Fortunately, there are no outsiders here." Madam Tan put down her untouched teacup and frowned, scolding her, "You're so greedy right now? You're so unruly, what a disgrace..."

The maid handed over a handkerchief. Tan Anfu wiped her hands and face, saying angrily, "You only know how to blame me. Why didn't Mother talk about my brother? It's my younger sister's wedding day after all, and I don't even know where he is."

Madam Tan said, "Is Anfeng still awake? It's not a big deal. It won't hurt to let him sleep a little longer."

Tan Li snorted coldly, "What do you mean he hasn't gotten up yet? He hasn't come home all night! Who knows where he went to squander his money? If we don't take care of this family, he'll squander it all again!"

Mrs. Tan quickly pleaded for her son: "He's already learning to run the business. Aren't the four shops in the east of the city well managed? The child is tired and needs to go out and relax."

"Are those four shops his credit? They were the betrothal gifts sent by the Shentu family. Logically, they should be given to me. What does it have to do with him?" Tan Anfu said unconvinced.

"How did it become yours? Wasn't it because you refused to marry her, that's why you changed it...Huai Ke? If you insist, it's for Huai Ke." Madam Tan said as a matter of course, "She can't take these betrothal gifts with her. It's still our Tan family's property and should be managed by Anfeng. If you're not happy, you can ask your brother to give you more dowry later."

The whole family was chatting about family matters, leaving the main person aside. Tan Huaike's knees were numb from kneeling, but he didn't dare to interrupt.

Just then, Tan Anfeng returned. His narrow eyes, set against his chubby face, looked even more cramped. He seemed to have inherited his father's shrewd, mercenary nature, but in reality, he was often ripped off and deceived, making him a notorious victim in the county. His cheeks were puffy, dark circles formed under his eyes, and he looked exhausted, as if he had been out all night.

Tan Anfeng yawned and said, "I was wondering why the streets were so bustling. So they're coming to pick up the bride today? Look at my poor memory. I almost missed the date. Please don't blame me, little sister."

As he spoke, he took out two silver ingots from his arms and threw them to the kneeling Tan Huaike: "On this happy day, I will give you some dowry!"

Is there such a good thing?

Tan Huaike quickly put the silver ingot into his sleeve and said gratefully, "Thank you, brother."

I guess he won a lot at the gambling table last night, otherwise he wouldn't be so generous. Tan Huaike thought that what he called a "happy day" was probably the "happy day" of winning money.

Seeing the prodigal son carelessly giving away two silver ingots, Mrs. Tan felt distressed. "Oh, she's a match for the underworld... Her dowry has already been prepared, why are you adding to her dowry? Forget it, just consider it as accumulating blessings for our family. Are you hungry? Go and eat something hot, then go back to your room and get some sleep. Don't overwork yourself..."

Speaking of dowry, Tan Huaike felt ashamed.

To save face, the Tan family gave her two shops, both burdensome and burdened by years of losses, with a mountain of bad debts. Her jewelry was also pitifully small, and the only ones she could find that were presentable were all she wore today. They did give her two boxes of cloth, but unfortunately, they were all coarse, not a single piece of silk or satin. She was originally said to have several acres of land, but after some tug-of-war, they withheld it. The idea of ​​a wealthy businessman marrying off his daughter is truly a joke.

But there are so many jokes about her marriage, and this one is not the worst.

Over there, after scolding his son for not doing his job properly, Tan Li remembered Tan Huaike and waved his hand, saying the following: "You can go out now and be a quiet bride. If there is anything, take care of it yourself and don't cause trouble for our Tan family." As he said this, he took out a wooden slip and shook it in front of her, "Otherwise, I have plenty of ways to punish you."

His eyes fixed on the wooden slip, Tan Huaike stood up, bowed his head respectfully and left.

Pei'er supported her and felt that this wedding ceremony was more and more strange - the groom who was supposed to be welcomed in person never showed up from beginning to end, but no one in the family cared; the young master was confused and even forgot the day of the wedding; the master's words to the young lady were not like those of an ordinary father, but seemed to be mixed with some coercion in his polite words; the lady ignored the young lady at all, did not even drink her tea, let alone any reluctant advice; Lady Fu preached to her sister who married in her place, and then gloated as if watching the fun.

Even if the young lady is a concubine born to Hu Ji, she shouldn't be treated so coldly, right?

After stepping out of the door, Pei'er couldn't help but look back. She felt that the Tan family was festive yet gloomy everywhere.

Tan Huaike calmly held Pei'er's wrist and soothed her.

The master and servant walked together towards the sedan chair outside the gate of the Tan family.
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　Next chapter: Summoning the soul.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)