Han Ji

Xun Cai stood inside the gate, dressed in a crimson robe with gold embroidery on the hem, and a crown with dangling pendants, pearls and jade hanging from her forehead. Her face was covered by a silk fan—according to etiquette, a bride must cover her face with a fan, and she may only reveal her face after performing the fan-removal ceremony at her husband's house.

Even though only half of his face was visible, his figure was enough to make Liu Bei hold his breath.

Xun Shuang stepped forward and admonished according to etiquette: "When you go to a woman's house, you must be respectful and cautious, and never disobey your husband."

Xun Cai knelt down, his voice choked with emotion: "Though I am not clever, I dare not disobey your command."

As she stood up, she turned her head slightly, her gaze meeting Liu Bei's briefly behind her fan before quickly looking away.

The two stood side by side and bowed to Xun Shuang and his wife in farewell.

Madam Xun wiped away her tears, while Xun Shuang remained calm and simply said, "Treat her well."

"Don't worry, father-in-law."

The bride boarded the carriage. The dowry procession then began to move.

The first cart contained books, thirty large boxes wrapped in oilcloth. The second cart contained clothing, brocade and fur, for all seasons. The third cart contained objects, bronze mirrors, dressing cases, lacquerware, and jade artifacts. The fourth cart contained furniture, tables, screens, beds, chests, and cabinets. The fifth cart contained land deeds, stored in an iron box. The sixth cart contained gold, silver, and money, the lid of the box slightly ajar, its golden light dazzling.

The onlookers were in an uproar.

"This dowry is equivalent to a year's tax revenue for a medium-sized county!"

"The Xun family's century-long accumulation of knowledge and experience is indeed not an empty reputation."

"Liu Duwei is truly blessed!"

The convoy returned, circling half of the city. By the time they reached Liu's residence, it was nearly noon.

A green tent was set up in the courtyard, covered with a green cloth curtain, symbolizing the beginning of heaven and earth. Liu Bei took Xun Yu's hand and entered the tent, performing the sacrificial ceremony.

A waiter served meat, and the two ate together. The meat was cut into large pieces; Liu Bei chewed while watching Xun Cai take small bites, his face still hidden by his fan.

Next came the nuptial ceremony. A gourd was cut in half into ladles, with a red thread connecting the handles. Sweet wine was poured inside, and the two each took a ladle and drank it all. As they drank, Xun Cai covered her fan with her sleeve, and Liu Bei noticed her slender wrists and the white jade bracelet sliding down to her forearms.

After the ceremony, they were escorted to the bridal chamber.

The banquet begins.

Since there wasn't enough room in the courtyard, they set up thirty tables at the entrance. Soldiers, fellow villagers from Zhuojun, and old friends from Luoyang were all present. Liu's mother, Lu Zhi, sat at the main table, with Xun Shuang beside her. They raised their glasses, drank, and chatted amiably.

Zhang Fei, carrying a wine bowl, went around offering toasts, his face and neck already flushed red. Guan Yu, though not a drinker, substituted tea for wine, engaging with the others. Jian Yong, busy greeting guests, had his voice hoarse from shouting.

Warm atmosphere.

Liu Bei changed into casual clothes and came out to offer a toast.

Walking over to Lu Zhi's table, Lu Zhi pulled him down to sit and whispered, "I just received news that Zhang Rang has been saying a lot of bad things about you in the palace."

"His student is getting married today, he wouldn't do that..."

"It's precisely because you're getting married that he's trying to cause trouble," Lu Zhi sneered. "With the Xun family marrying their daughter to you, the literati and upright officials will mostly side with you. How can the eunuch faction sit idly by?"

Liu Bei remained silent.

"But don't worry too much." Lu Zhi patted his hand. "His Majesty asked about your marriage today and bestowed upon you a pair of jade discs. To outsiders, that phrase 'my brother' carries some weight."

Emperor Ling needed the imperial clan to check the eunuch faction, and Liu Bei was precisely that pawn.

"The student understands."

"I understand." Lu Zhi raised his glass. "Come, have a drink with your teacher. Today is a joyous day for you, let's not talk about these troublesome things."

Respect to the teacher.

After several rounds of drinks, the night deepened.

The guests gradually left.

As dusk fell, Liu Bei was already quite drunk. Guan Yu helped him back to his room, and at the door he whispered, "Brother, sober up."

Liu Bei shook his head and pushed the door open to go inside.

Red candles burned brightly in the room, and twelve candlesticks were arranged around the couch. Xun Cai sat by the couch, her face still hidden by a fan, but she had changed out of her wedding dress and was now wearing a scarlet undergarment, her black hair cascading over her shoulders.

Liu Bei closed the door and leaned against it, panting. The alcohol was getting to him, and his vision was blurry.

"Husband...husband?" Xun Cai called softly.

"Hmm." He walked over, his steps unsteady, and sat down on the edge of the tatami mat.

The two sat side by side, so quiet that the candlelight crackled.

According to custom, the fan-removal ceremony should take place, during which the groom must compose a poem, and only after the bride is satisfied will the fan be removed. Liu Bei hesitated for a long time before finally managing to say, "Cai'er... I forgot the poem."

A soft laugh came from behind the fan: "Then I won't do it."

"You're welcome..."

"Rituals are dead, but people are alive." Xun Cai slowly put down his fan.

In the candlelight, she removed her heavy makeup, leaving only a light touch of rouge. Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her eyes like autumn waters, and her lips were a touch of vermilion. Nine years of longing through letters, now that she was before him in person, her beauty made Liu Bei forget to breathe.

"Are you stupid?" Xun Cai smiled, pursing her lips.

"Beautiful." He stammered.

Xun Cai blushed and lowered her eyes: "The nuptial wine has not been finished yet."

There was a teapot on the table, and she poured two cups. The two drank together, this time without any formalities or restraints. When their cups clinked, their fingers touched and trembled slightly.

After finishing his wine, Liu Bei stared at her, as if trying to etch her image into his eyes. In his past life, he had seen many beauties on screen, but they were all fictional. The one before him, however, had warmth and vitality, so real that it made him want to cry.

"Cai'er," he said, taking her hand, "I...I'm not very good at it."

"I don't know either."

"Then... learn by doing?" Liu Bei's mind flashed back to teaching videos of various teachers from his previous life in Japan.

"Um."

He reached out and touched her cheek, the touch soft and warm. Xun Cai closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly. The kiss landed, awkward yet tender. The scent of wine lingered between their lips and teeth, along with the fragrance of orchids emanating from her.

Her clothes were undone layer by layer, and the candlelight illuminated her skin. Liu Bei saw the smooth lines of her shoulders and neck, her delicate collarbones, and as her inner garment slipped down, a lotus-colored bodice embroidered with twin lotus blossoms was revealed.

His hands were shaking so badly that he couldn't untie the ribbon.

"Silly." Xun Cai chuckled, reaching behind his back to loosen the strap.

The candlelight flickered.

Liu Bei's Adam's apple bobbed as he leaned down to kiss her shoulder. Their skin touched, and both trembled. Xun Cai wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in the crook of his shoulder, her breathing rapid.

"Tell me if it hurts," he said hoarsely.

"Um."

The bed curtains swayed gently, and the candlelight flickered. Xun Cai went from tense to pliant, her fingers leaving red marks on his back.

The red candles had burned halfway down, and the darkness inside the tent gradually subsided. Liu Bei held Xun Cai in his arms; her sweat-dampened hair clung to his chest, and her body trembled slightly.

He gently stroked her back, touching an old scar on her delicate skin, about an inch long, on her shoulder blade.

"This is?"

"I was learning to play the piano when I was young, and a string snapped and cut me," she said in a muffled voice.

"Did it hurt at the time?"

"It hurts, but I didn't cry." Xun Cai looked up, the candlelight illuminating her flushed face. "Father said, 'A daughter of the Xun family sheds blood but not tears.'"

Liu Bei kissed the scar: "From now on, I'll be here for you. You don't need to hold back."

Xun Cai's eyes reddened, and she hugged him tightly.

The two embraced quietly. Outside the window, the autumn wind swept through the courtyard; inside, the candlelight was warm and the curtains were cozy. Liu Bei recalled those lonely nights in his past life, the blood and fire on the battlefield in this life, his mother's tearful eyes, his teacher's gratified smile, and his brothers' drunken revelry.

At this moment, he held his wife in his arms, their breaths mingling.

This is his home.

"Cai'er".

"Um?"

"Thanks."

"What are you thanking me for?"

"Thank you... Wait for me."

Xun Cai looked up and kissed his chin: "I also thank my husband for being willing to marry me."

They looked at each other and smiled.

The red candles burned out, and moonlight streamed in through the window. Liu Bei, holding Xun Cai, fell into a deep sleep. Having lived two lives, their first grand wedding was finally complete.