White-robed Minister

Chapter 159 0157 [The Wedding]

In ancient times, if the two families lived far apart, there was a set of alternative wedding plans.

A temporary venue was set up before the wedding.

A venue can be set up near the bride's home, where the groom can stay first and then bring the bride directly into the venue.

Alternatively, a guesthouse can be set up near the groom's home, where the bride can stay first and wait for the groom to come and fetch her.

The kind of wedding procession that travels thousands of miles across prefectures and counties, as depicted in the novel "Wrong Carriage, Right Groom," is almost impossible in reality.

Xu Lai is setting up a school in Shaozhou this time, and asked Sun Minxian, the prefect of Shaozhou, to help him choose a location.

Sun Minxian was a close confidant of Han Qi. In his early years, he served as the Tongpan of Daming Prefecture, where his superior was Han Qi, who recommended him to manage the Yellow River.

This is a water conservancy expert.

Sun Minxian said, "I will send people to clean up the Huanghua Hall, and Scholar Xu will decorate and furnish it himself."

"Is it inappropriate for me to use the guesthouse for my wedding?" Xu Lai asked.

Sun Minxian smiled and said, "What's wrong with that? It's only for a few days, and it's not a full stay. We can just reserve a few guest rooms. If there are other distinguished guests, we can invite them to our wedding banquet."

The Imperial Palace was a guesthouse in the prefectural government, equivalent to a luxurious official guesthouse.

Sun Minxian even planned to use official funds to furnish a new house for Xu Lai, but Xu Lai quickly declined.

Bu Chao and Chen Xiaoyi were sent back to their hometown by Xu Lai to pick up their relatives and friends. They only needed to come; they didn't need to bring anything. Xu Lai would purchase all the wedding items directly in Shaozhou.

Yu'er returned to the Yu family and joined the bride in the marriage.

Mr. and Mrs. Chen, who worked as Xu Lai's doorman and servant, stayed at the Huanghua Pavilion to help prepare for the wedding.

In fact, the decoration of the bridal chamber was also done by the bride's family, and Xu Lai only needed to prepare the items in advance.

The bride's family will invite a "blessed woman" whose parents, spouse, and both sons and daughters are alive. Having this blessed woman oversee the decoration of the bridal chamber is believed to pass on her good fortune to the newlyweds.

The next day, Yu Shanyuan rushed over upon hearing the news.

Xu Lai took Yu Shanyuan's hand and said with great joy, "Brother Tiren, it's been a long time."

"Congratulations, congratulations!" Yu Shanyuan said repeatedly.

Xu Lai asked, "How have you been lately, Brother Ti Ren?"

Yu Shanyuan said, "After all, I passed the imperial examinations many times and even went to the capital for the provincial examinations. It would be quite easy for me to be hired as a lecturer at the prefectural school."

"Things are quite peaceful now; I teach students in the state every day, and I don't have many worries."

"I will most likely stay in Beijing this time, and the possibility of being sent to a post outside the capital is very small," Xu said.

Yu Shanyuan laughed heartily: "Then I'll wait patiently for my worthy brother to become a local official."

After chatting for a few minutes, the two went out shopping together, taking Mr. and Mrs. Chen Dequan with them.

Wedding candles, makeup boxes, dress chests, clothing boxes, special hair ornaments, jeweled crowns, toiletries—these are all essential items for a wedding.

The food for the wedding day also needs to be ordered in advance.

Two sheep should also be purchased to bump into the bride's house. Some silk and satin should also be bought, wrapped in red cloth and decorated, to be carried to the bride's house during the wedding procession.

After all that was done, Xu Laicun's money was basically gone, since his income depended entirely on his salary and subsidies.

Even some of the silk fabric given to the bride during the wedding was brought from Yingtian Prefecture. The imperial court had provided him with a considerable amount of spring and winter silk.

"Haha, congratulations, top scholar!"

Upon returning from a day of shopping, Yuan Jiang arrived at the inn to offer his congratulations. It was Yuan Jiang, who was on his way to take up his post in Guangzhou, along with his grandson who would be serving as an official with him.

Yuan Jiang's grandfather was the prime minister of the Wuyue Kingdom and served five Wuyue kings.

This old gentleman later rose through the ranks to become the vice prime minister because of his support for Wang Anshi's reforms.

Xu Lai hurriedly asked for the man's name and learned that he was the newly appointed prefect of Guangzhou. He was passing through Shaozhou and staying at the Huanghua Hotel. Upon learning that Xu Lai was getting married, he brought his grandson to offer his congratulations.

Two days later, a recently retired magistrate from Chaozhou moved into the Huanghua Pavilion.

It became increasingly lively.

At that time, Chaozhou was really not a good place. Just look at the former prefect of Chaozhou and you'll understand. He served there for four years before finally being relocated.

Lianzhou, which is next to Shaozhou, is in an even worse situation.

Because of its remote and impoverished location, Lianzhou is plagued by bandits, salt smugglers, and various ethnic minorities. The current prefect of Lianzhou has been in office for four and a half years, and a new prefect has yet to arrive to take over. What a hardship!

On the one hand, the problem of redundant officials in the Song Dynasty became increasingly serious, and on the other hand, no one was willing to go to impoverished areas.

Several days after Xu Lai had prepared the wedding items, Bu Chao and Chen Xiaoyi finally invited their relatives and friends over.

Xu Lai's parents, second brother, Bu Chao's father, eldest brother, Uncle Zhang, and several comrades who had fought alongside him against the salt bandits. The reason so many people came was, of course, to help with the wedding procession.

For cross-state weddings, there's definitely no dowry; it's all converted into money.

These dowry items all belong to Pianpian and Xu Lai has no right to use them at will unless Pianpian takes them out voluntarily.

"This place is really grand!" said Xu An, the second brother, looking at the Imperial Palace.

Xu Lai asked, "Didn't your sister-in-law come?"

Xu An laughed and said, "She's at home taking care of the kids—hehe, she's pregnant again. I'll be happy whether it's a boy or a girl. If it's a son, we'll have one more person to work the fields. If it's a daughter, I'll have both a son and a daughter."

"Congratulations, brother." Xu Lai also smiled.

Mother Bu Erniang said, "The wedding room at home has already been prepared. Now we have several large tiled houses, not the thatched roofs of the past. When you became the top scholar in the imperial examination, many people from the county came to give gifts. Your father originally refused to accept them, but those people left the gifts and left."

The father, Xu Yongnian, remained silent; he was under immense pressure at that moment.

Some time ago, Xu Yongnian calculated the 27-month mourning period and asked the magistrate of Qingyuan County to send someone to Shaozhou to propose marriage. At that time, his second uncle Zhang accompanied him. After arriving at the Yu family, Xu Yongnian felt increasingly inferior.

He felt his son was marrying way too high.

"Grandpa, Grandma, Second Uncle, Third Uncle!"

Outside the Imperial Palace, the joyful shouts of the damselfly could be heard.

Dou Niang had been staying at the Yu family's house, and this time she came with the "blessed woman." According to custom, the "blessed woman" invited by the bride's family could only arrive two days in advance to decorate the bridal chamber.

"Damn damselflies have grown taller again!" Xu Lai squatted down and opened his arms.

The damselfly giggled and pounced on her, but Xu Lai picked her up and took her to talk to the blessed woman.

Xu Lai inquired carefully and learned that the woman was Pianpian's aunt.

Xu Lai also called her "aunt" and invited her to come in and see the bridal chamber.

The woman first inventoried all the wedding items, not even bothering to drink a sip of water, before directing everyone to begin decorating. Then, holding up a large red "囍" (double happiness) character, she asked, "What is this?"

Xu Lai explained, "The day of passing the imperial examination is the day of the wedding night. Double happiness arrives."

Upon hearing this, the woman smiled and said, "A good omen. In the future, if I help others decorate their wedding rooms, I will also put up big red '囍' characters for those newlyweds."

"Sanlang, someone has come to offer their congratulations!" Second Brother Xu An shouted loudly.

Xu Lai hurriedly went out to check, only to find a wealthy merchant he didn't know had come uninvited with gifts to congratulate the top scholar.

Moreover, the gifts were quite valuable.

Xu Lai quickly declined, forcibly returning most of the gifts.

Following closely behind, another twenty or so people arrived, all of whom Xu Lai did not recognize. They came to the wedding banquet, partly out of respect for the Yu family, and partly out of respect for the top scholar.

As the number of guests increased, Xu Lai quickly added several tables.

The Yu family, on the wedding day.

Madam Lin personally styled Pianpian's hair, saying with great reluctance, "I'm sorry to have troubled you; this time, the dowry is not very generous."

"Mom, please don't say such things. It's your daughter who has caused you worry." Pianpian felt a little like crying for no reason.

Madam Lin sighed, "Alas, when your father was alive, he wanted to see you and Fifth Sister get married with his own eyes. Come, put on the ceremonial cap."

Pianpian's dowry was indeed not very generous.

First, her third brother, Yu Shuying, got married; then her fifth sister got married; and then her eldest nephew got married. The three weddings were very close together, all occurring after Yu Jing's mourning period.

The Yu family's cash reserves were almost exhausted, and Pianpian's dowry this time would have to be raised by selling land. But they only managed to scrape together two hundred strings of cash, which was extremely meager for an official's family.

Even her elegant wedding dress didn't use sophisticated techniques like gold leaf embroidery.

Keep everything simple.

-

By the way, Yu Zhongxun and his wife and children are no longer in Shaozhou. After his mourning period ended, he returned to the capital and was appointed as the prefect of Hebei Circuit.

Yu'er held the pearl and jade crown and carefully put it on Pianpian's head: "My lady looks so beautiful today, she must have Sanlang completely bewitched."

"Stand up and take a look," said Old Mrs. Lin.

With Yu'er's help, Pianpian stood up, raised her arms, and slowly turned around.

She wore a green wedding gown with a long-sleeved shawl over it. Her hair was styled in a high bun, and the wig, along with many pearls and jade ornaments, as well as the phoenix coronet and wedding robes, were all sent by Xu Lai.

The groom needs to send the bride's complete wedding attire two or three days in advance. This is called the "bride-inducing gift."

Only after the bride's family received the dowry gifts did they send a blessed woman to help the groom decorate the bridal chamber.

Fearing that Pianpian's attire was too shabby, Madam Lin also prepared tassel earrings, pearl necklaces, and other items for herself.

A maid called from outside the door, "The geomancer says the auspicious time is almost here; the bride must hurry and get ready!"

Yu'er replied, "I'm all dressed up."

Xu Lai was already standing in the courtyard when the Yu family began distributing colorful ribbons and red envelopes to the wedding procession.

Uncle Zhang, Bu Chao, Chen Xiaoyi, and other men from Qingxi Village all took the colorful ribbons and tied them around their waists, putting the lucky money (red envelopes) into their pockets as well.

Immediately afterwards, the bride's family brought out wine and pastries to entertain the groom and his wedding party, so that they could have a bite to eat.

Xu Lai ate a piece of pastry.

Yu Shuying, who had just gotten married not long ago, smiled and said to Xu, "Sanlang, please come with me."

Xu Lai followed Yu Shuying out to the Yu family ancestral hall to pay respects to their ancestors. After the ceremony, he officially became a son-in-law of the Yu family.

Then he went to the inner courtyard to pay his respects to Madam Lin.

Then Xu Lai, holding a large goose (according to etiquette, a wild goose), went to the Yu family's hall. He stood on the west steps, knelt down facing the hall, and placed the goose on the steps.

Madam Lin stood on the east steps and ordered someone to take the goose away.

After paying his respects at the Yu family hall, Xu Lai bowed again to Old Madam Lin, then stood up to wait for the wedding procession.

"The auspicious time has arrived!" the fortune teller shouted.

Yu'er draped a crimson veil over Pianpian's head, while Pianpian held a palace fan to cover her face. The two walked from the inner room to the main hall.

A maid brought over a wine cup.

Madam Lin sat facing east and took the wine cup from the maid.

Pianpian first bowed to her mother, then took the wine cup and drank it.

Madam Lin said, "When you arrive at your husband's family, you must be respectful and obedient, and never forget the teachings of your parents."

"I understand, daughter." Pianpian returned the wine cup to the maid, tears streaming down her face.

She lost her biological mother when she was young, and her father also passed away. Now, only Old Madam Lin remains.

She had been so happy and excited last night that she hadn't slept a wink. But now, on the eve of her marriage, Pianpian felt inexplicably sad, watching as Old Madam Lin kept wiping away tears.

Madam Lin wiped away her tears and smiled, "Don't cry, smile."

She forced a smile while sobbing.

Madam Lin waved her hand: "Go ahead."

Yu'er helped Pianpian out the door, and Xu Lai, standing on the steps, also reached out to support her.

Madam Lin's personal maid led them out to their carriage. Xu Lai personally lifted the carriage curtain, and after Pianpian got in, he personally drove the carriage around the Yu residence.

Then, Xu Lai handed the carriage to the driver and rode ahead on horseback to lead the way.

The sound of gongs and drums rang out.

The wedding procession left the Yu family home, passed through the narrow country lanes, and gradually arrived at the streets outside the state capital.

"The top scholar is coming to his wedding!"

"The Yu family is getting their daughter married!"

"————"

The people of the city shouted, and the old, weak, women and children all ran to see what was going on.

Xu Lai, dressed in a bright red wedding robe, rode a fine horse borrowed from the post station, passing through the streets and alleys, beaming with pride, even happier than the day he passed the imperial examination with top honors.

A large group of children ran around wildly, and they could also grab red envelopes where the bride got out of the car.

"My wife, are you no longer crying?"

Inside the carriage, Yu'er teased.

Pianpian didn't know what was wrong with her. She cried her eyes out before leaving the house, but after leaving, she kept smiling like an idiot.

She couldn't help but lift the carriage curtain a crack to peek outside, as if talking to herself, or perhaps to Yu'er: "Today feels like a dream."

"Yes, it's like a dream, my wife is really getting married." Yu'er looked at the phoenix coronet and wedding dress, feeling envious. She also wanted to wear this outfit.

After an unknown amount of time, the carriage arrived outside the Imperial Palace.

Uncle Zhang, Bu Chao, and other members of the wedding party quickly took out strips of blue cloth, flower mats, and other items, and laid them between the carriage and the gate of the Huanghua Hall.

Yu'er helped Pianpian down from the carriage, stepping on the blue cloth strips and flower mats as they moved forward, her feet not touching the ground before entering the door. Then they stepped over the saddle and the scale, symbolizing health, peace, and fulfillment.

Xu Lai's second brother stood at the door and scattered copper coins and beans, and the little kids rushed to grab them.

Xu Lai helped Pian Pian into the house, where she paid respects to her parents and received wine.

The onlookers exclaimed in admiration, the man and woman in their red and green clothes looking like a perfect couple.

After drinking the wine given by their parents, the bride and groom were led to the bridal chamber. In the bridal chamber, they shared a meal, tied their hair together, and drank the nuptial wine. They didn't need to worry about anything else; the guests were entertained by their father and second brother.

After all the ceremonies were completed, everyone else left one by one, leaving only the newlyweds in the bridal chamber.

It was past dusk, and the sky was already dark.

Inside the room, red candles flickered, and outside came the sounds of guests drinking and laughing.

She sat gracefully on the edge of the bed, clutching the hem of her clothes with both hands, her heart pounding wildly.

Yu'er stood outside the door, peeking through the crack, but she couldn't see anything. She could only press her ear against the door to eavesdrop.

Xu Lai lifted the crimson veil and looked at Pianpian, who wore a phoenix crown and appeared even more beautiful in the red candlelight.

Pianpian closed her eyes, not daring to look at him.

"You look beautiful today," Xu Lai said, offering her unsolicited words of truth.

"Um.

""

Pianpian became increasingly nervous because, just days before her wedding, she had also seen those embarrassing comic books.

Xu Lai helped her remove the phoenix crown and wig, and pulled out the pearl and jade jewelry one by one.

Pianpian suddenly said, "I'm hungry. I haven't eaten since noon, except for a couple of bites with my roommate just now."

"Hahaha!"

Xu Lai laughed and tore off a roast suckling pig leg, handing it over: "Eat."

Roast suckling pig is their shared meal.

While gnawing on a suckling pig's leg, Pianpian said, "I want to drink more."

Xu Lai then brought out the nuptial wine and drank and ate meat with his bride.

Yu'er, who was outside the door, hadn't eaten either. Hearing the noise inside, her stomach started growling loudly.

(Thanks to Ai Ai Feng Zhong Yu Fan for the generous donation.)

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