The Ming Dynasty: Starting with the border troops, it was overthrown and the Qing Dynasty was destro

Chapter 276 The Grand Wedding of the King of Han
In the winter of the eighth year of the Chongzhen reign, after finishing the roll call and plaque-erecting ceremony at the Martyrs' Shrine, Zhao Sheng, the head steward, immediately began arranging Jiang Han's wedding.

Now that we have established a kingdom and a system, we cannot act like a makeshift organization and do things hastily.

Zhao Sheng and his ceremonial officials not only thoroughly searched through the "Collected Statutes of the Ming Dynasty," but also found detailed ceremonial procedures in the records of the Prince of Shu's residence.

According to Jiang Han's plan, he should first marry Wang Chengbi's daughter, Wang Yiying, and then marry Li Manwen from the Li family.

After all, Wang Yiying had left a good impression on Jiang Han, being more lively and talkative.

The first step in a wedding ceremony: discussing marriage.

After Jiang Han finally settled on Wang Yiying's name, the next day, Zhao Sheng, the head of the Ministry of Rites who was officially given the role of "matchmaker," wore a brand-new silk official robe and held an official document stamped with the seal of the Prince of Han's Mansion.
Accompanied by a well-dressed retinue of guards, they traveled by carriage to Wang Chengbi's residence in Chengdu.

The Wang family had already been notified, and the main gate was wide open.

Wang Chengbi, along with the main male members of his household and his wife, dressed in formal attire, waited respectfully outside the mansion gate.

Despite having anticipated it, Wang Chengbi could not hide his excitement when he saw the Han King's entourage arrive in full force. His face flushed, and his fingers trembled slightly as he adjusted his clothes.

After getting out of the car, Zhao Sheng straightened his clothes slightly, then stood in the Wang family courtyard, unfolded the document in front of everyone, and read it aloud:
Emperor Han's decree:

I respectfully request that Wang Chengbi, the Prefect of Long'an Prefecture, have long heard of your daughter, Yiying, who is virtuous, gentle, and of impeccable character.

I, having received the mandate of Heaven, governed the land of Shu. The internal affairs were initially settled, but the Empress's position was still vacant.

I hereby dispatch Zhao Sheng, the chief official of the Ministry of Rites, as an envoy to inform your family that I wish to betroth Wang Yiying, a daughter of the Wang family, to serve as a royal consort and assist in managing the inner palace.

You should admire it!

The document was written in elegant language, yet its meaning was crystal clear:

The King of Han has taken a liking to your daughter and wants to marry her as his queen. This is to formally inform your family.

Upon hearing this, Wang Chengbi immediately led his family to bow down, his voice filled with emotion:
"Your subject, Wang Chengbi, kowtows to express his gratitude for Your Majesty's grace!"

"My daughter is of humble birth, yet Your Majesty has shown her favor and bestowed upon her marriage. This is an extraordinary honor for my entire family, and we could not repay it even if we gave our lives!"

"Your humble servant, Yi Ying, is willing to obey the king's command!"

These words mean "to give," indicating that the Wang family is willing to give their daughter in marriage.

Wang Chengbi respectfully received the document from Zhao Sheng and handed it to his wife, Zhang, to be enshrined in the main hall of their home.

He then took out a "Letter of Thanks" from a brocade box brought by a guard and handed it to Zhao Sheng as a return gift.

The text lavishly praises the King of Han's benevolence, stating that it is a great honor for the family for their daughter to serve the king, and reiterates that "we respectfully obey the king's command and are willing to agree to the marriage."

This "Letter of Thanks" was sent back to the Prince of Han's residence, and a copy was made and submitted to the Ministry of Rites for archiving.

With this, the "informing the other party of the intention" stage was successfully completed, and the marriage received formal approval from the woman's family.

The next step is the second step: acceptance and asking for the name.

On the auspicious day of October 18th, the Prince of Han dispatched Zhao Sheng, the chief official of the Ministry of Rites, as the chief envoy, and Feng Chengxuan, the commander of the personal guards, as the deputy envoy, leading a well-dressed procession to the royal residence once again, carrying betrothal gifts.

The betrothal gifts included: two bolts of black and red silk, two sheep, twenty jars of wine, eighty catties of dried meat, and twenty catties of tea.

Most importantly, there was the "betrothal document" bearing the seal of the King of Han. The document was drafted by the Ministry of Rites, and its elegant language explained the reasons for the King of Han's choice of a bride, demonstrating the majesty of the royal family.

Wang Chengbi and his family waited respectfully outside the mansion gate early in the morning to welcome them.

After Zhao Sheng read out the betrothal letter, the Wang family knelt to receive the gifts, and then held a banquet to entertain the envoy.

The following day, the Wang family sent gifts in return, including brocade clothing, writing implements, and so on.

Furthermore, Wang Chengbi personally wrote a letter of thanks and presented it to the King of Han.

The ceremony of asking the name and the betrothal were held on the same day.

After the banquet, Zhao Sheng stepped forward with the "Name Inquiry Form" and solemnly inquired about the name, birth date and time, and the names and places of origin of the three generations of ancestors of the candidate for the princess.

Wang Chengbi answered truthfully one by one, and neatly wrote all the information on the "name card" and handed it to Zhao Sheng to take back to the palace.

Originally, this step required the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to verify the woman's birth chart to check whether it conflicted with the auspicious dates for sacrifices at Jiang Han's ancestral temple and the Prince's Mansion.

But Jiang Han had no access to the Imperial Observatory, and the group of Western missionaries didn't understand anything about auspicious days, so they had no choice but to give up.

The third step in the wedding ceremony is the formal presentation of betrothal gifts.

The betrothal gifts are as follows:

One hundred taels of gold, one thousand taels of silver, one hundred bolts of various colored silks, ten robust Hequ horses, fifty chests of exquisite brocade and silk fabrics, a set of pearl and jade jewelry (including a dazzling phoenix crown), and two sets of finely crafted ceremonial armor.

According to the rules, this step should have involved granting land deeds, but Jiang Han rejected it.

Jiang Han wouldn't easily give away these farm properties, which had been harvested with great difficulty.

After the betrothal gifts are delivered to the Wang family, the fourth step is to set the wedding date.

After discussing with the Wang family, Zhao Sheng chose an auspicious day, the tenth day of the eleventh lunar month, intending to complete the wedding ceremony before the winter solstice.

Zhao Sheng, as an envoy, went to the Wang family residence again with a "request for a date".

After receiving the letter, Wang Chengbi bowed his head in gratitude and held a grand banquet in his residence, inviting officials of all ranks in the city to accompany him.

During the banquet, Wang Chengbi loudly read out the "Letter of Thanks for the Engagement," expressing his gratitude to Wang En and solemnly promising to send his daughter off to the wedding as scheduled.

From then on, both parties began to make full preparations for the wedding ceremony.

In the winter of the eighth year of the Chongzhen reign (1644), on the tenth day of the eleventh month, the streets of Chengdu were deserted as everyone flocked to the city, and colorful lanterns were hung high in the sky.

The auspicious hour has arrived, and the gates of the Han King's mansion are wide open.

Although according to etiquette, Jiang Han was not required to personally go to fetch the bride, the wedding procession he sent was extremely grand, displaying great honor.

Led by generals Dong Erzhu and Heizi, a group of trusted and fierce generals, including Li Laowai, Shao Yong, Cao Er, and Li Zicheng, all dressed in red and colorful robes, served as the wedding procession.

Behind them, thirty-six pieces of ceremonial guard (flags, drums, gongs, umbrellas, banners, and pennants) were arranged in a solemn manner, and the drummers played the "Celebrating Wedding Music" loudly. The red satin wedding sedan chair, carried by eight people and inlaid with gold, shone brightly.

"Damn it, I've fought a whole life, and this is the first time I've done this kind of work. It's even more nerve-wracking than attacking a city!"

Li Laowai touched the red flower on his head, grinned, and muttered to Shao Yong beside him, which drew a burst of laughter from the surrounding generals.

Shao Yong straightened his robes and smiled calmly:

"Today is a grand occasion for the King, and also an honor for us. Let's all keep our spirits up!"

Looking at the lively scene, Li Zicheng, whose rugged face rarely showed a smile, said to Cao Er beside him:
"Hehe, Your Majesty is indeed magnificent!"

These battle-hardened warriors, though somewhat out of place mixed in with the honor guard, stood tall and proud, each one of them feeling honored.

The streets were packed with cheering civilians and soldiers, and children scrambled to grab the small copper coins scattered on the ground.

With the deafening sound of gongs and drums and the soaring suona horns, cheers erupted wherever the procession went.

The people were not only celebrating for the King of Han, but also for this hard-won good day.

The procession arrived at the Wang family residence.

Inside the Wang family residence, a farewell banquet had already been prepared.

Wang Chengbi and his wife, dressed in formal attire, led their entire family in a respectful wait.

The bride, Wang Yiying, walked out with the help of her maids. She was dressed in a blue pheasant robe of the rank of a princess, with a beautiful and dignified pheasant pattern. The phoenix crown on her head was adorned with pearls and jade tassels, dazzling and eye-catching.

Although her face was obscured by a round fan, her tall and slender figure and the faintly visible delicate features amazed the onlookers.

Wang Chengbi stepped forward, looking at his daughter who was about to get married, his eyes filled with both reluctance and immense joy.

He cleared his throat, his voice tinged with excitement, and respectfully gave his instructions:
"Yi Ying, from today onwards, you will be the Princess Consort of Han."

"After marrying into the royal family, you should respect your husband, be filial to your parents-in-law, uphold the virtues of a wife, manage the household diligently, and live up to the king's kindness and the family's reputation."

(In ancient times, "姑舅" specifically referred to the husband's parents, i.e., the parents-in-law. The Erya (a Chinese dictionary) records that "a woman calls her husband's father '舅' and her husband's mother '姑'.")
After Wang Chengbi finished speaking, his wife, Madam Zhang, stepped forward, gently took her daughter's hand, and added in a choked voice:
"Daughter, once you arrive at the Prince's residence, remember to serve the King well, manage the Empress's affairs, and ensure harmony between husband and wife..."

She paused, transforming her deep reluctance to part into the simplest of blessings.

"Your mother only wishes you to be free from illness and disaster, and to live a peaceful and prosperous life."

After saying that, he couldn't help but wipe the corner of his eye with a handkerchief.

Wang Yiying responded softly through the round fan:
"Daughter...will obey her parents' wishes."

"I will certainly live up to the kindness of my parents in raising me, and I will not fail the favor of Your Majesty."

Afterwards, she tearfully bid farewell according to etiquette, and was personally helped by her father, Wang Chengbi, to the wedding sedan chair step by step.

Upon receiving the princess, Zhao Sheng bowed and bid farewell to the royal family, then raised his hand and shouted to the generals behind him:
"Lift the sedan chair! Return to the manor!"

Upon hearing this, several generals and guards immediately stepped forward to lift the sedan chair, joyfully chanting:

"Let's go, carry the bride to the king!"

Amidst the commotion of music and drums, the wedding procession quickly carried the sedan chair to the main gate of the Prince's Mansion.

Because Jiang Han's mother had passed away, the bride's mother, Zhang, stepped forward to lift the sedan curtain for her daughter.

The maidservants helped Wang Yiying down from the sedan chair. First, they stepped over a brazier to ward off evil spirits, and then stepped on a bag of rice to symbolize the continuation of the family tradition.

Supported by maids and escorted by the wedding procession, Wang Yiying slowly stepped into the main hall of the palace.

Inside the main hall, incense smoke wafted from the altars for Heaven and Earth and the ancestral temple.

Jiang Han, dressed in a crimson dragon-patterned imperial robe, stood majestically to the left of the table; Wang Yiying, dressed in a blue pheasant-patterned robe, stood gently and virtuous to the right of the table.

The wedding ceremony officially began with the officiant's loud praises.

First, they worshipped Heaven and Earth. The couple bowed three times to the altar in the center, while the officiant recited the "Prayer to Heaven".

Next came the ancestral temple worship. The procession moved to the circular hall of the Prince's Mansion and bowed to the ancestral tablets of Jiang Han's parents. Zhao Sheng then read the "Temple Admonition" on their behalf, reporting the matter of the ancestors taking a concubine.

If Jiang Han's parents are still alive, he should bow four times to them and offer them tea. Afterward, his parents will reciprocate by giving him a jade pendant.

But now we can only omit them all.

After the ancestral temple worship, the couple bowed to each other. Jiang Han and Wang Yiying turned around and bowed to each other, symbolizing mutual respect and equal status between husband and wife.

After the wedding ceremony was completed, amidst the respectful farewells of civil and military officials, the newlyweds, guided by eunuchs and maids, were led to the meticulously decorated East Palace (the bridal chamber).

This place was originally an empty hall, but it has now been completely renovated and used as the bedroom of the King of Han and his queen.

The corridor leading to the bridal chamber was covered with a red carpet, and the palace maids and eunuchs standing on both sides all bowed their heads respectfully.

Just when no one was paying attention, Jiang Han quietly took Wang Yiying's slightly cool hand under the cover of his wide sleeves.

Wang Yiying stiffened slightly and subconsciously tried to pull away, but Jiang Han held her firmly.

Even more outrageous, Jiang Han took the opportunity to reach out his finger and gently scratch her delicate palm.

Wang Yiying's ears turned bright red instantly, her cheeks burning under the phoenix crown, and her heart pounding like a drum.

Surrounded by people, she dared not struggle or act strangely in the slightest, and could only pretend to be calm, letting Jiang Han secretly do his dirty work.

Wang Yiying blushed, but still kept her eyes straight ahead, only her slightly trembling fingers betrayed her inner panic.

Upon entering the new house, a warm and fragrant aroma wafted towards you.

The hall was spacious and bright, with a thick red velvet carpet on the floor.

The hall was decorated with bright red brocade and paper-cuts with the double happiness symbol. Huge dragon and phoenix candles burned on gilded candlesticks, illuminating the entire room as bright as day, yet also exuding a warm, ambiguous red glow.

On the east side of the main hall is an exquisite rosewood carved couch, and on the west side is a large rosewood table, on which are placed various dried fruits and pastries and a pair of jade ruyi scepters.

The most eye-catching feature was undoubtedly the wedding bed in the very center of the room.

The bed is extremely large and is meticulously carved from precious rosewood. The bed frame is engraved with auspicious patterns such as "a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons" and "the phoenix and the dragon singing in harmony".

The bed was covered with a bright red brocade quilt with gold threads, and bright red embroidered gold curtains hung around the headboard, with layers upon layers of curtains.

A small table was placed in front of the bed, on which were placed the utensils needed for the nuptial ceremony: two halves of a gourd and a jar of fine wine.

The eunuch announced the ceremony, and the two performed the nuptial cup ceremony.

Jiang Han and Wang Yiying each picked up half of a gourd from the table and took a ladleful from the wine jar to drink from each other.

While drinking, Jiang Han's smiling gaze fell on Wang Yiying's face, making her extremely embarrassed. She almost choked on her drink and could only hurriedly cover her face with her sleeve.

After drinking, the two ladles were put together and carefully stored by the eunuch, symbolizing "husband and wife as one, sharing joys and sorrows, and never being separated."

This is followed by the shrouding of the tent.

Jiang Han personally scattered auspicious items such as five-colored rice and peanuts around the wedding bed, and recited auspicious blessings:

"Spread the tent to the east, and your descendants will prosper; spread the tent to the west, and you will enjoy both fortune and longevity..." This saying implies the wish for an early birth of a son and lasting blessings.

Finally, there is the hair-tying ceremony.

The two cut off a lock of their hair, carefully tied them together with red silk thread, and placed them in an exquisite brocade box for safekeeping, symbolizing "marrying as husband and wife, with unwavering love and trust."

With this, all the rituals were finally completed.

The eunuchs and maids bowed silently and withdrew, gently closing the palace doors behind them.

When the news reached the banquet outside that the King and Queen had drunk the nuptial wine and completed their hair-tying ceremony, the atmosphere at the banquet instantly reached its climax.

"it is good!!"

Old Li slammed his hand on the table and roared.
"The ceremony is complete! Let's drink!!"

"To the king! To the princess!"

The generals responded enthusiastically, raised their glasses and drank heartily, and cheers resounded.

Inside and outside the Prince's Mansion, music and singing filled the air, and toasts were exchanged, creating a festive atmosphere that permeated every corner of Chengdu.

In the bridal chamber of the Eastern Palace, after the eunuchs left, only Jiang Han and Wang Yiying remained in the room.

The red candles flickered, instantly creating a subtle and intimate atmosphere.

Wang Yiying kept her head down, staring at her toes, not daring to look at the groom opposite her at all.

Jiang Han chuckled as he looked at her ostrich-like appearance, took a step forward, and gently lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him.

His rough fingertips were warm, and his tone was full of mockery:
"When I saw you a few days ago, weren't you very eloquent?"

"Are you nervous?"

Wang Yiying's cheeks were burning hot, her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of her chest, and her voice was barely audible:
"Great... King..."

"Still calling me King?"

Jiang Han raised an eyebrow, deliberately moving closer, his warm breath brushing against her ear.

"It's time to change your tune."

Wang Yiying was so amused by him that she had nowhere to hide. Her eyes were filled with shyness. Finally, she mustered her courage and called out in a voice as soft as a whisper:

"Hu... Husband..."

"Ah."

Jiang Han smiled with satisfaction, then lowered his hand, but took her hand again and led her to the bed.
"You've been busy all day with so many rules and regulations. Your Highness must be very tired."

Holding his hand, Wang Yiying felt the warmth and strength from his palm, and her nervousness strangely dissipated. She responded softly:
"The etiquette cannot be abolished."

"I do not feel it is hard to be valued by the King of Han and treated with courtesy."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Han stopped in his tracks, his gaze lingering on her flushed face. Suddenly, a mischievous smile crept across his lips as he leaned close to her ear and whispered:
"The formalities outside are all done, but has my wife forgotten there's one more thing to pay respects to?"

His warm breath brushed against her earlobe, tickling Wang Yiying, who instinctively shrank her neck.

"What...what other gifts are there?"

"of course--"

Jiang Han drawled, his eyes filled with even more provocation, and suddenly swept her up in his arms.

"—The rites of the Duke of Zhou have been observed!"

Caught off guard, Wang Yiying let out a short gasp and instinctively reached out to hug Jiang Han's neck to prevent herself from falling.

The pearl and jade tassels on the phoenix crown swayed violently due to the sudden movement, making a crisp clanging sound.

Jiang Han laughed heartily, holding the beautiful and soft-smelling woman in his arms. He felt as light as a feather and took three steps at a time to reach the bedside covered with a bright red brocade quilt with mandarin ducks playing in the water.

Jiang Han placed Wang Yiying in a soft, bright red mass, his tall body then closing in.

Wang Yiying looked up at him. The candlelight outlined Jiang Han's handsome features, making his sharp eyes appear even more profound, almost melting her heart.

Wang Yiying's heart pounded like a drum. She shyly looked away, her long eyelashes trembling incessantly.

Jiang Han bent down and deftly removed the phoenix crown, the elaborate wedding dress peeling away layer by layer like flower petals;
The candlelight flickered, filling the room with a sense of spring; clothes trailed on the floor, and the silk curtains swayed gently.

The spring night is warm and cozy, the soft flesh and fragrant scent of jade fill the air; the beauty of the night has only just begun…

Compared to the grand and extravagant wedding at the Prince of Han's mansion, the wedding of ordinary soldier Yang Lin took place on the same day in a simpler way, filled with simplicity and joy.

There was no betrothal ceremony or formal engagement.

Wang Guilan wore no elaborate wedding attire, only a clean, newly dyed red cotton-padded jacket, and a silver hairpin that Yang Lin had bought for her with his salary. Her face radiated satisfaction and happiness.

Yang Lin changed into his new military uniform, wearing a large red silk flower on his chest, and his face was full of an unstoppable silly smile.

Those who came to the wedding banquet were all Yang Lin's sworn brothers.

Three square tables could barely fit in the courtyard. The dishes were far less refined than those in the Prince's Mansion, but the large bowls piled high with stewed meat, the whole, glistening roast chicken, and the unlimited supply of strong liquor exuded a more intense and unrestrained atmosphere of life.

The brothers were making a ruckus in the new house, speaking the rough language of the military camp, their laughter almost shaking the small courtyard.

Wang Guilan's two children, Xiao Shitou and Xiao Ya, also changed into new clothes. They timidly yet excitedly hid behind their mother, curiously watching the group of hearty soldiers.

A fellow teammate, who was quite drunk, pulled the two children over, his face flushed, and stuffed his rough hands full of pine nuts:
"Kid, eat!"

"From now on... if your dad dares to yell at you, just tell us, and we'll grab something and beat him up!"

But the two children stubbornly shook their heads and said in unison:
"Don't you dare hit my dad!"

This caused everyone to burst into laughter.

Yang Lin's eyes welled up with tears as he watched this lively yet heartwarming scene.

He picked up a rough porcelain bowl, inside which swirls a strong liquor, and shouted to his brothers:

"Brothers! I, Yang Lin, am a rough and tough guy. I used to be so hungry that I never dreamed I would have a day like this!"

"To have my own place, and to be able to get married!"

"All of this was given to me by the King!"

"This bowl of wine is offered to Your Majesty. Long live the King!"

"Long live the king!"

All the soldiers rose to their feet with a roar, whether drunk or sober, and shouted in unison, their voices loud and sincere, before tilting their heads back and drinking.

For Yang Lin, the grand wedding of the King of Han, which resembled a royal ceremony, was an unattainable myth, while his own marriage was a real and tangible happiness.

He doesn't need palaces and elaborate rituals; a small courtyard, a dozen acres of land, and a caring woman who can support the family are enough.

Not to mention his two adopted children who call him "Dad".

This is his entire world, and it is also the reason why he will fight to the death and never retreat.

The king's wedding was announced to Sichuan, uniting the nation; while Yang Lin's wedding brought peace to his own family.

These countless small families form the most solid and deepest foundation of Jiang Han's newly established regime.

(End of this chapter)