Chapter 5, the wedding wine.
Ji Yang occasionally tilted her head slightly to smile at them, and although those people could not clearly see her face, they all gasped in astonishment, struck by the grandeur of the royal princess
Having successfully completed these rituals, Shen Du was to go outside to toast. Since Ji Yang held the esteemed title of princess, the womenfolk did not dare to linger and engage in merriment. Yu Sui and the other maidservants then accompanied Ji Yang to the purification room to change her attire
The curtain is drawn, and the candlelight casts a red glow in the deep boudoir. The pleasant atmosphere lingers, never fading, as the painted hall experiences the spring breeze day by day
In the ambiguous song of the scattered accounts, Ji Yang and Shen Du together lifted their robes to receive the colorful fruits, the more they received, the better, as this would ensure a harmonious marriage and abundant blessings with many children
Ji Yang was assisted by Yu Sui Er as she boarded the phoenix carriage. Her procession would circle around Jizhou City before arriving at the residence of the Marquis of Xinyang to hold the wedding ceremony
Ji Yang shyly gazed at Shen Du with her watery eyes, thinking to herself: No wonder men wear red when they marry; it turns out that because he is dressed in red, he looks so captivating that it leaves one’s eyes unable to look away.
Indeed, beauty surpasses spring | Water melts the hard ice, elegance competes with Shu brocade in the sandy stream. Stunningly beautiful, the golden crow emerges from the eastern mountain, loveliness veils the ice mirror hanging in the vast sky
The gaze flows and sparkles, a fleeting glance ignites brilliance, in a gentle moment, it stirs the soul, leaving one unable to refuse, evoking sighs from the crowd; what need is there for any seductive means? In the stillness and movement, it is already the epitome of beauty and grace.
After this interlude, the joyous woman began to sing the wedding song, leading a group of female relatives to scatter money, flower petals, and auspicious fruits such as jujubes, peanuts, and longans over the bride and groom
A woman dressed in vibrant and elegant attire, with a basket of colorful flower petals in her hands, joyfully scattered the petals from her basket towards the approaching carriage of the groom, accompanied by bursts of cheerful laughter.
This young lady has been completely spoiled by the luxury of the palace, and ordinary wealth cannot catch her eye
Ji Yang looked at the one-meter-high bathtub and felt somewhat unaccustomed to it, but at this moment, her mind was not on that. The line "The curtain in the deep boudoir casts a red candlelight" from the song made her blush, and she then thought about marrying and becoming a wife, as well as bearing children.
After the elaborate wedding ceremony, having paid respects to heaven and earth as well as to the ancestors, and after exchanging mutual bows, Ji Yang held the other end of the red silk, guided by Shen Du, as they entered the bridal chamber
... ...
Who is Ji Yang? She has just flown out of the birdcage, having finally escaped those constraints, and is impatient to hear those self-important female scholars preach again. "No need, without them, we are even freer. Is there anyone in this mansion who can bully us?"
Today, Princess Ji Yang rode in a phoenix carriage, which was adorned with no banners on all sides, allowing the common people to catch a glimpse of the royal princess's grace. She sat upright but was restless, occasionally nodding slightly to the left to acknowledge the citizens, and at times turning to the right, making the crowd feel as though the amiable princess was looking directly at them
At this moment, Ji Yang was thinking about Shen Du when she heard footsteps and the sound of greetings from outside
Ji Yang looked out through the golden chain in front of the flower crown. The city of Jizhou was bustling with grandeur, with pavilions standing tall, markets filled with jewels, and households adorned with fine silks. Its opulence and splendor were not much inferior to that of Luoyang. On both sides of the streets, there were neatly constructed stone drainage ditches, with intricately carved water urns placed every hundred meters for the purposes of cleaning and firefighting.
A few words left Ji Yang in a haze, and it was unclear how one was supposed to enjoy it. However, such matters are always somewhat embarrassing.
While drinking, as their cups touched, the foreheads of the two nearly came together. Ji Yang's cheeks flushed with two patches of crimson, gradually spreading, adding a captivating charm to her already stunning beauty
Ji Yang does not like to apply too much hair oil, but today, while styling her hair and wearing a crown, she inevitably applied a bit more. She was attended to by Yu Cui'er and Lu Zhu'er while bathing and washing her hair. Fortunately, she has retrieved all her dowry, and she is accustomed to using only the bathing and hair-washing items from the palace, which were all made together with Empress Su. Her mother always knows what is best.
These women are relatives of the marquis's family and likely know some details about the circumstances surrounding the marriage of Princess Anle into the marquis's household. They all coincidentally believe that with Princess Anle's exceptional beauty, it is indeed not a good thing
Before leaving the palace, Empress Su had set aside the female officials and personally instructed her daughter on matters of the bridal chamber. However, such matters require an understanding that cannot be conveyed through words. Thus, Empress Su succinctly expressed the experiences she had gathered from men over the years: in such matters, you should simply indulge and enjoy as you please, finding your own joy in the process.
The Shen family of Jizhou has managed the northern part of Jizhou for several generations. Jizhou is as solid as a fortress, with the common people living in peace and merchants thriving in their businesses. Merchants from all directions, even those from beyond the borders, prefer to conduct trade in Jizhou. Amidst the chaos of the world, Jizhou remains a land of happiness.
Two stout women carried a steaming bathtub into the room, bowed their heads in greeting, and then silently withdrew.
Although Empress Su is renowned for her beauty, in the hearts of these women, who are themselves exceptionally beautiful, how much more attractive can Su Jiang be compared to them? It is merely a matter of some beguiling tricks. Such arrogance, until today when they encountered Ji Yang, made them realize the bias and wonder of fate.
In the northern part of the tent, a hint of color appears between the brows. The warm hibiscus tent endures the spring night, while the moon goddess sorrowfully invites the guests of the moon palace
After the matchmaker recited a lengthy series of auspicious words, a maidservant approached Shen Du, holding a tray that bore a golden star-shaped balance scale.
Ji Yang slipped on her soft satin shoes adorned with pearls and stepped out of the purification room. Shen Du had not yet returned from the front, while Yu Sui'er and Lu Zhu'er twisted her hair strand by strand with a towel, wrapped it up, and held an incense burner, moving it back and forth beneath her.
The figure of Shen Du, adorned in a red robe with a golden belt and riding a white horse with a carved saddle, leads the way before the carriage of the book phoenix.
As they looked at Ji Yang, Ji Yang had already seen clearly the densely packed women in the room through the gaps in the golden chain.
On both sides of the street, there are numerous shops, including wine houses, vinegar shops, paper horse stores, steamed bun shops, pharmacies, and cloth shops, and there are even specialized clinics for consultations
"Princess, should we have His Highness Prince An send a message to Her Majesty the Empress to assign another lady-in-waiting?" Yu Sui'er asked softly. After all, they were still young and lacked the authority to command the situation. In the presence of the elderly matriarchs of the marquisate, whose faces were as stern as coffin lids, they often felt at a loss for words.
However, there are no incense cakes in the stove, as Ji Yang does not like to smell those scents. She values the essence of nature, and since her birth, she has possessed a natural fragrance that is more refreshing than any other scent. Therefore, the bath beans she uses and the shampoo she applies do not contain any added fragrances
Isn't this too shabby?" Yushui Er looked at the bare purification room in astonishment, noting that it was completely different from the purification room with the white jade pool in the palace, which was like heaven and earth. Unable to hold back, Yushui Er murmured, "It's still the Hou residence, yet it's become this poor.
Shen Du took the auspicious scale and slowly lifted the bride's red veil depicting the mandarin ducks playing in the water. Everyone held their breath, eager to catch a glimpse of the beauty of the unparalleled enchanting princess, the only daughter of the Anle Duke. However, upon seeing the golden chain hanging down in front of the bride's face as she raised her head, they let out a sigh of regret and disappointment.
The north-south thoroughfare within Jizhou City can accommodate ten horse-drawn carriages side by side, exuding an impressive grandeur. On the street, in addition to the local residents of Jizhou, Ji Yang also observed blue-eyed people from the Western Regions, bare-armed individuals from Liaodong, and Hui people wearing white hats, as if people from all corners of the world had gathered in Jizhou
Ji Yang could still hear a woman's delicate laughter by her ear, saying, "Got it, got it." It was likely that her petals had fallen onto Shen Du's robe
The jade-carved phoenix and bird double wedding cup was presented on a painted lacquer tray, and the wine carried a hint of bitterness, symbolizing the wish for the newlywed couple to share both joys and hardships together
After Shen Du, before Princess Ji Yang's phoenix carriage, there were astronomers guiding the way, accompanied by the princess's ceremonial retinue. Eight young attendants, with hairpins in their heads, held lanterns, carried bowls, wielded staffs, and held umbrellas. Eight jade maidens carried flower pots, while there were four peacock fans and four golden silk round fans. Additionally, there were six walking screens and three sitting screens. The procession moved grandly towards the city.
When Ji Yang shyly raised her head again, the entire room of people saw Princess Anle's true appearance for the first time
In fact, these grand ceremonial regalia were lost long ago by the banks of the Zhang River, and it was fortunate that they were recovered by the subordinates of Shen Du. However, it is likely that a considerable amount has been lost. To reorganize and procure everything anew in Jizhou within just a few short days is indeed a considerable challenge for the Hou residence
Only Shen Du remained calm and composed when he saw Ji Yang's expression. Noticing Ji Yang looking at him for help, he glanced up, cleared his throat lightly, and it was then that the matchmaker first regained her senses
In Jizhou City, colorful pavilions were set up, ribbons were hung, and lanterns were decorated, all to celebrate the marriage of the Duke of Xinyang to this noble lady from the imperial family. In order to see Princess Anle's royal procession enter the city from the front row, many citizens queued up on the streets in the middle of the night. On this day, nearly all the citizens of Jizhou City flocked to the streets
While Yusui and the others were busy with everything, Ji Yang enjoyed a bowl of bird's nest porridge with sweet rice cake. What used to make her frown, after experiencing the escape and hunger of the past few days, surprisingly tasted very sweet tonight. One must cherish blessings.
Ji Yang observed the genuine joy on the faces of the common people, their cheerful voices ringing out, and realized that Shen Du was likely very beloved by the people of Jizhou. This was something Ji Yang had not witnessed during her tours with her father and mother, as the common folk always appeared pale and were driven forward by soldiers, only willing to come forth to bow and pay their respects.
Ji Yang had long been accustomed to the ungracious behavior of these individuals. Those who first saw her appearance after she grew up always reacted in this manner. If they had managed to maintain their composure, perhaps she would have been a bit more surprised. Of course, Ji Yang still noticed some differences in their expressions, but at this moment, she did not wish to waste any more of her attention on them and could not help but look at Shen Du with a pleading gaze.
The bridal chamber is located in the North Courtyard, which is now the Princess's Mansion. The room is spacious and broad, with a bed in the center draped with a canopy of a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons, covered with a quilt of a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons, all in a vibrant red hue
Lacking experience is indeed a lack of experience. Ji Yang has been too naive in her thoughts. Empress Su raised her with utmost care, shielding her from the harsh realities of the world, the bloodshed and suffering that exist outside. Even during this recent peril, with Li He and the others protecting her, Ji Yang was not truly frightened; instead, she regarded it as an additional topic of conversation, something to joke about.
Today marks the descent of Princess Anle and the wedding day of Marquis Xinyang, making the streets particularly lively. Vendors, seizing the opportunity, carry goods on their shoulders and backs, selling wine, berries, dried fruits, fried cakes, and stir-fried liver to the gathered crowd, their shouts ringing out incessantly
It was just stammering and not smooth at all, "Please, the bride and groom, drink the nuptial wine."
In the originally lively bridal chamber, a sudden silence fell, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. After a few breaths, it was unclear who first sighed and said, "There is no pair more suited than this in the world."
The room was simply too quiet. When Ji Yang turned her head to look beside her, she saw that everyone's expressions were strange, their smiles seemingly frozen, and even the lady who was acting as the matchmaker momentarily stiffened and forgot to speak.
At this moment, Shen Du followed the gaze of the matchmaker, lifting his robe to sit beside Ji Yang. Ji Yang turned slightly towards Shen Du, lowering her head slightly. Shen Du raised his hand to gently lift the golden bead chain in front of her, placing it atop the floral crown.
Indeed, Ji Yang also harbored selfish motives, fearing that those female officials would come and point fingers at the prince, thereby damaging the couple's relationship. Her aunt, as well as several of her elder sisters, had all been harmed by those female officials who remained unmarried for life. Although they did not dare to openly lecture Ji Yang, who could tolerate the sight of those wrinkled faces?