Tiger Owl

Chapter 310 Shangxiang's Wedding
During the first round of negotiations, neither side paid much attention to the food issue; at that time, the demands of 200,000 immigrant households were the focus of both sides' discussions. Once the immigration negotiations were successfully resolved, the food issue became prominent.

Cao Cao wasn't concerned about the small amount of grain; rather, he couldn't accept the reason the other side used: war reparations. That was a term only a defeated party would be forced to use. It was clearly a ceasefire agreement, but it was being made to look like a negotiation after defeat.

"I can accept the court's reason of providing food for the resettlement of immigrants, but I cannot accept the explanation of war losses." Cao Cao frankly stated his bottom line to everyone.

The advisors exchanged glances, and Cheng Yu cautiously asked, "The other side is demanding at least 500,000 shi of grain. Can the Prime Minister accept that?"

Cao Cao stood by the window with his hands behind his back and said calmly, "We seized a total of 2.5 million shi of grain from Jiangdong. It is not impossible to give them 500,000 shi of grain, but I value the reasons and methods more."

Cao Cao then turned to the crowd and said, “Whether it is war reparations or war compensation, I cannot accept such a reason. It means that our southern expedition has lost its moral standing. I estimate that the other side also intends to make our southern expedition a kind of invasion, so that we cannot stand on moral ground.”

Xun Yu also said, "The Prime Minister is right. Gan Ning's real purpose is to block our next southern expedition. We have acknowledged the war reparations, and in the hearts of the people and noble families in the south, we are the evil ones and the invaders. When we launch our next southern expedition, we will be met with strong resistance from the people of the south. The consequences of this are far more serious than the loss of hundreds of thousands of bushels of grain."

This time, Cao Cao did not follow the strategist's advice. He directly said to Chen Qun, "I can agree to 500,000 shi of grain, but all of this 500,000 shi of grain is to be used by the court to resettle disaster victims. I don't care how it is used, but my reasons must be clearly stated in writing. 100,000 shi of grain will be given every month for five months."

After a pause, Cao Cao added, "I hope to form a marriage alliance with him. My daughter will no longer pursue the position of principal wife. I will persuade the emperor to grant her a position commensurate with her own strength."

"I understand the humble position!"

Cao Cao then said, "The situation in Hanzhong is not good. The ceasefire negotiations cannot be delayed any longer. In the future, if there are any matters that cannot be decided, we can communicate by pigeon so that we don't have to make another trip."

Chen Qun nodded repeatedly, and the next morning he took a boat back to Chaisang.

On the afternoon of New Year's Eve, in a villa in the south of the city, Sun Shangxiang, dressed in her wedding gown, accompanied by Xiao Qiao, boarded a painted boat adorned with colorful ribbons. In the south, weddings are mostly held on wedding boats. Three painted boats sailed through the city. The musicians on the first boat were playing their instruments with great effort, while the second boat was loaded with boxes of all sizes—Sun Shangxiang's dowry. The dowry was all genuine, a gift from Gan Ning.

Lunar New Year's Eve is an auspicious day for weddings. On their journey, they encountered two wedding boats, also carrying commoners who were getting married.

Xiao Qiao could sense Sun Shangxiang's nervousness, so she took her hand and whispered with a smile, "The last time I got married was with Yunqing, my eldest sister, and me. She didn't have a wedding before, so the three of us got married together. We chatted and laughed all the way; it wasn't a wedding at all, it was more like a shopping trip!"

"Pfft—" Sun Shangxiang was amused by Xiao Qiao's last words, and the tension in her heart vanished.

With the tension gone, Sun Shangxiang relaxed. Remembering something, she asked, "Ayu, I heard that Cao Cao wants to marry his daughter to his husband. Is that true?"

"Who did you listen to?"

"That's what everyone's saying; it's said to have spread throughout the entire city of Chaisang."

Xiao Qiao paused for a moment and said, "That's true, but this is a political marriage, not a normal marriage. Besides, she can't become the legal wife, so she poses no threat to us. Don't worry about anything."

"I'm not worried!"

Neither of them spoke. Sun Shangxiang turned her head to look out the boat window. She suddenly remembered that many years ago, she had almost been married off to her husband as part of a political alliance. At that time, she refused to marry because she could not become the principal wife. But now, even Cao Cao's daughter could not become the principal wife. Alas! Fate is truly strange.

The wedding boat docked at the pier behind the mansion, which was already brightly decorated with lanterns and thick red carpets. Maids carrying various gifts stood on both sides. Da Qiao and Xu Wei personally greeted them at the back gate. Da Qiao took Sun Shangxiang's hand and led her directly into a temporary pavilion erected in front of the main hall. This was the wedding venue, decorated festively but not extravagantly. A huge double happiness character hung in the air, with candles lit on either side. There were only a dozen or so guests: a dozen high-ranking officials and their wives, including Bu Zhi, Lü Fan, Zhou Yu, and others. These former high-ranking officials of Eastern Wu had all come to witness the marriage of their former lord's sister and offer their heartfelt congratulations.

There was no banquet. Today is Lunar New Year's Eve, and after attending the ceremony, the officials had to rush home to reunite with their families.

Gan Ning, dressed in wedding attire, waited in front of the green pavilion with a smile on his face. In his hand was a red ribbon, a huge red silk knot tied in a double heart shape. Gan Ning held one end, while Sun Shangxiang was surrounded and walked forward. Da Qiao picked up the other end of the red silk knot and handed it to her.

Sun Shangxiang gently accepted the red silk, gazing tenderly at her husband. The master of ceremonies announced, "The auspicious hour has arrived! Please invite the bride and groom to enter!"

As night fell, two maids led the bride and groom into the bridal chamber with lanterns in front.

The bridal chamber was naturally in Sun Shangxiang's courtyard. Sun Shangxiang's courtyard was right next to Xu Wei's, covering an area of ​​about two acres, consisting of a small garden of one acre and more than a dozen rooms. Sun Shangxiang, her three personal maids, and her two personal female guards all lived in this courtyard.
The courtyard gate was closed, and only the two of them remained in the small courtyard. Gan Ning led Sun Shangxiang into the room, where a feast was prepared, and a pot of wine was still soaking in a scalding hot water jug.

"Let's sit down and have something to eat!"

They had shared a bed in the study for several nights. Although they hadn't taken the final step, they were quite familiar with each other. Gan Ning pulled Sun Shangxiang down to sit, "You must be hungry too!"

Sun Shangxiang nodded gently. She had only drunk a small bowl of plain porridge since morning and was indeed hungry.

"I come!"

Sun Shangxiang served her husband a bowl of steaming white porridge, and then poured a cup of wine for both of them.

Gan Ning raised his wine cup and said with a smile, "May my wife give birth to a son soon!"

Sun Shangxiang blushed slightly, a little shy, raised her cup and gently clinked it with his. The two crossed their arms and drank the nuptial wine.

After the two ate something, Gan Ning took her hand, stood up, and said with a smile, "Let's rest!"

Sun Shangxiang lowered her head shyly, and Gan Ning picked her up and carried her into the bridal chamber. The bridal chamber was filled with joy, with a huge "double happiness" character hanging on the wall, two wedding candles burning brightly, and colorful satins and sachets hanging all around the huge bed.

The curtains were drawn low, and Gan Ning was about to carry his bride inside when Sun Shangxiang tugged at him and whispered, "Husband, please extinguish the candles!"

"My lady, I obey!"

Gan Ning placed Sun Shangxiang on the bed, then turned around, blew out the incense and candles, and went into the main tent. Although it was the dead of winter, the main tent was filled with the colors of spring.

That night, the couple were deeply in love and their bodies were intertwined.

(End of this chapter)