Chapter 3, A Ten-Mile Red Wedding Dress
The regulations of the Great Qin state that the dowry is to be accompanied by items cherished by the woman when she enters the marital home
Faced with this imposing momentum, everyone couldn't help but cheer.
Throughout history, who has been able to send a bride with an army?
"What is this?" Xia Yuque frowned and reprimanded, "Ye Zhao has recaptured Manjin, instilling fear in the northern desert. He is a distinguished contributor to the Great Qin and is also deeply favored by the Emperor. No matter how outrageous you are, you should not be so disrespectful! Accept it! Moreover, he may not be ungracious either!"
In the Great Qin tradition, the dowry is prepared by the mother
Ye Zhao coldly pointed out: "The essence of martial arts lies in the dedication of the heart"
Huang wept bitterly
Everyone agrees that it is so
Ye Zhaoxin absentmindedly said: "You take charge."
True hero
The guards and personal soldiers following her could not help but exclaim in praise, commending her highly
Regardless of whether they are royal relatives or common folk, everyone is straining their necks to witness their misfortune. There are even private betting houses opening up to speculate on which day after their marriage they will have a violent quarrel leading to separation
Huang had no choice but to brace herself and, with a worried expression, asked, "General, our family does not lack for silver, but where can we buy the goods?"
Still silent
Ye Zhao was dressed in a black fitted outfit, tightly cinched at the waist, with a sword slung diagonally. She sat upright in the study, holding a full array of concealed weapons in her hand, her expression solemn
The elder sister is knowledgeable and reasonable, gentle and virtuous; you are merely speaking without experiencing the pain. Xia Yujin turned her head away in indignation, retorting coldly, yet her expression softened slightly, "As for that Ye Zhao, let her obediently be a general; I absolutely refuse to acknowledge such a thing as a woman"
Everyone is very curious, eager to see a hole in the red cloth.
As the dowry was carried over, each large piece of furniture garnered a compliment as it passed by. After the boxes and crates, the last thirty loads were peculiar items tightly wrapped in red cloth, the burden causing the carriers to stoop low, with a few drops of cold sweat on the foreheads of the soldiers responsible for the transport, indicating their apparent struggle
Gentlemen
Everyone opened their eyes wide, held their breath, and stared blankly at the object on the ground
Ye Zhao was flipping through the roster and resumes of his subordinate generals in his study, not raising his head as he said: "Just put something together, it will do."
On the day of the dowry delivery, the street from the Duke of Zhen Guo's residence to the Prince of An's mansion was once again bustling with people. Many laborers or shopkeepers even closed their businesses to come and watch the spectacle, which more than doubled the business of the nearby taverns and tea houses. Even the small stalls selling cold tea and wontons by the roadside made a substantial profit.
With a swift motion of her left hand, she chased the wind and the sun, piercing two unsuspecting flies with long needles, firmly pinning them to the wall. With her right hand, she unleashed a flurry of flower-like rain, as seventeen or eighteen silver needles shot towards the paws of a cat that was trying to sneak in through the window, embedding themselves in the ground, causing the cat to be so frightened that it fled in a panic.
Ye Zhao's worries had turned his sister-in-law's hair three strands white. After listening to her cry and lament about her deceased brother for three hours, he felt a sense of guilt and acted accordingly. The remaining dowry was gathered from various sources, and with the additional gifts from the Emperor and Empress Dowager, it was finally complete
The two soldiers responsible for the transport calmly exchanged a yoke, together placing the weapons back into the dowry, called out, lifted it again, and strode away with great strides
The Duke of the State, Old Master Ye, is quite confused. Whenever he sees everyone busy, he joyfully exclaims, "My grandson is going to get married." No matter how others explain it, it is of no use, leaving everyone in a state of both laughter and tears.
A spiked mace, glimmering with a chilling light, lies on the bluestone path, with what appears to be uncleaned stains of blood between its sharp spikes
Fortunately, heaven showed mercy and fulfilled their wishes. As they approached the Prince An's residence, one of the carrying poles could not bear the weight and suddenly broke, causing the items to fall heavily to the ground, creating two cracks in the bluestone pavement, and then they rolled over twice
Come quickly! Do not let the prince escape over the wall!
Huang inquired again: "There are also wedding dresses and jewelry. When you have time, come and choose. Would you prefer the pearl phoenix hairpin or the glass gold thread step-shake? Or perhaps the pair of eight treasures jade phoenix butterfly hairpins, orchid inlaid with blue sapphire earrings, or the mutton fat jade bracelet..."
Continue to remain silent
The first set of dowry carried was the black iron whip bestowed by the Emperor, and the second set was the seven-colored gemstone golden headpiece granted by the Empress Dowager. The dazzling gems reflected each other, making it difficult for one to open their eyes. Following were the additional adornments gifted by the Empress, the Imperial Concubine, and noble officials, including the exquisite Eight Treasures Pavilion, Western-style mirror stand, and rosewood dressing cabinet. Their delicacy raised suspicions that they had brought out the finest items to please the most powerful general of the time for their daughters. Next came the practical items personally provided by the Duke of the State, including common auspicious items such as the bucket for a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons. The materials used were meticulously chosen, yet the designs were quite simple, devoid of any hint of a boudoir atmosphere. Following were the additional adornments gifted by the Empress, the Imperial Concubine, and noble officials, including the exquisite Eight Treasures Pavilion, Western-style mirror stand, and rosewood dressing cabinet. Their delicacy raised suspicions that they had brought out the finest items to please the most powerful general of the time for their daughters. Next came the practical items personally provided by the Duke of the State, including common auspicious items such as the bucket for a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons. The materials used were meticulously chosen, yet the designs were quite simple, devoid of any hint of a boudoir atmosphere.
One hundred and twenty sets of dowry, stretching several miles in length, with one end entering the door while the other has yet to exit.
Ye Zhao was extremely busy and felt dizzy listening to her ramble on. After enduring for half an hour, he finally exclaimed in anger: "Enough! I am a grown man, why would I have the patience to deal with these women's trivial matters?! Just pick a few and throw them in."
Xia Yujin, dressed in a splendid red gown, had a once beautiful face that had turned as pale as paper. She stood listlessly outside the gate of the Prince An's residence, her eyes darting around as if searching for an escape route. The whole demeanor did not resemble that of a bride, but rather that of someone about to face execution. Her brother, Xia Yuque, greeted the arriving guests with a cheerful demeanor, yet he too felt that his younger brother's expression was rather ominous. Out of fraternal concern, he offered some words of comfort: "Do not take it too much to heart. After all, you are still a member of the Xia family, the nephew of the current emperor. Even if the general's temperament is rather overbearing, he will still give you some face and will not go too far. Now that you have been granted the title of a prince and are marrying a wife, you must also take care of yourself and refrain from causing trouble in the future."
The bride, Ye Zhao, has never conformed to traditional feminine norms since childhood. She is obsessed with martial arts and military strategy, displaying exceptional talent. Neither of her two older brothers can match her skills. In their sorrow, her grandfather and father raised her like a son, wishing they could forget her gender and truly transform her into a son. After eight years of warfare and mingling with illiterate soldiers, her gender identity has become so distorted that it has turned into an ingrained habit, deeply rooted and difficult to change. Furthermore, as Ye Zhao has just taken command of the two hundred thousand troops in the capital, she is overwhelmed with various responsibilities, often working so hard that she does not return home, leaving her with no awareness of the need to marry.
The marriage between Xia Yujin and Ye Zhao did not possess the nobility of an imperial wedding, the extravagance of a princess's marriage, nor the liveliness of a celebration at the Prince of Qing's residence. However, due to the general's unique status and the absurdity of the prince's identity, it garnered more attention than any wedding in the capital over the past century
Moreover, her mother having passed away, the household was managed by the widowed eldest daughter-in-law, Mrs. Huang, who dared not make decisions in the face of the powerful Ye Zhao. It was only when she subtly reminded her to prepare the dowry that she came to her senses, with less than half a month remaining before the wedding.
Huang appeared from behind, elongating his tone, twisting a handkerchief, and sorrowfully called out: "General... it is important to be earnest..."
The groom, Xia Yujin, pretended to be ill and lay in bed, secretly instructing someone to spread unfavorable rumors about himself at the Duke of Zhen's residence, hoping that the other party would grow tired of him and call off the engagement. He has always been a tough character, unafraid of beatings, insults, or damage to his reputation, and now he clearly displayed an attitude of preferring death over having this bride enter his home. The Emperor and the Empress Dowager, left with no choice, had to join forces to suppress him, declaring that if he continued to be disobedient, they would punish his mother, thus preventing him from taking any excessively outrageous actions. He has always been a tough character, unafraid of beatings, insults, or damage to his reputation, and now he clearly displayed an attitude of preferring death over having this bride enter his home. The Emperor and the Empress Dowager, left with no choice, had to join forces to suppress him, declaring that if he continued to be disobedient, they would punish his mother, thus preventing him from taking any excessively outrageous actions.
Huang inquired further: "Find someone familiar in the court, borrow a few items from their daughters' dowries, and return them after we have crafted new ones in the future"
Ye Zhao's expression twisted like an iceberg, and she lowered her head, continuing to fixate on the incongruous embroidery frame in the study filled with weapons and military books. On it lay a plain, unadorned bright red wedding dress, as if she wished to see a hole in it, and then draw out a hidden weapon from the needle box. After a moment's hesitation, she began to stab at it forcefully and haphazardly.
In the Great Qin tradition, women are required to personally embroider their wedding garments before marriage
Ye Zhao noticed the other party's shock, and it took a long time for them to react and realize what had been said incorrectly
The crowd fell silent and quietly withdrew
When the northern desert was breached, the Duke's residence was completely looted, and even the dowry that the Duchess had left for her daughter was taken away. Now, Ye Zhao has been appointed as the Grand General of the Empire, and after years of warfare, he has plundered various tribes of the Manjin, along with royal rewards, which have made his family wealth considerable. However, most of this wealth has been used to purchase land and shops, leaving little for the intricately crafted items such as dressing tables and mirrors that are commonly used as a daughter's dowry.
Silence
The Anwang Mansion opened its main gate early. Not long after, the sound of celebration echoed, and the bearers of the dowry were not ordinary servants, but a full complement of fierce cavalry soldiers. All stood tall, their steps in perfect unison, effortlessly carrying the heavy furniture boxes. They marched through the street with an imposing presence, their expressions solemn as if they were completing a mission to escort military supplies.
Huang was left speechless.
I have studied hidden weapons for many years, and to receive guidance from the general is truly a stroke of great fortune.
Xia Yujin's unpleasant expression slightly eased, and Xia Yuque seized the opportunity to continue flattering him. Unexpectedly, not far away, a young nobleman from the royal family whom Xia Yujin had previously bullied shouted at him with a smirk: "General Ye is a hero of great talent, and Prince Xia is a beauty of remarkable grace; they truly are a match made in heaven! In the future, a good wife will follow her husband, creating a timeless tale!"
The general is proficient in all eighteen types of weapons, truly a master of martial arts
Xia Yuque braced herself and tried to comfort her, saying: "It's not that bad, don't listen to their nonsense. The dowry we see still has a feminine touch. That exquisite zhenlong mirror stand is so delicate. Who knows, the general might still have some feelings of affection for a daughter. What are those things behind? They have strange shapes and look quite heavy..."
Xia Yujin is naturally beautiful and is particularly sensitive to jokes about her appearance. Those few words were like daggers, sharp and piercing, directly stabbing at the most vulnerable part of her heart, causing it to bleed profusely