Chapter 625
Sending the Bride
In the heavy snow, seventy-two men put down the red lacquered box they were carrying. The men stood straight and sturdy, like the stones of Guyuan standing firm in the wind and sand.
Thirty-six loads of betrothal gifts were lined up in the snow, the red silk cloth on the carrying poles fluttering in the wind and snow, like a triumphant red banner returning from Andingmen.
On the street, an elderly woman looked at the thirty-six loads of betrothal gifts and muttered to herself, "When I was still a maid in the Li family, there was a black fox fur in the young lady's dowry. She wore it for fifteen years and the fur never collapsed. A whole fur can't have a single stray hair, and it has to be peeled off from the whole tube without being pieced together. It's hard to find even one."
An old clerk in a gray squirrel fur coat squinted: "The three-ringed halo around the cat's eyes—those are all tribute items. The last pair that appeared in the capital was a tribute from the Western Regions during the Zhengde era. The late emperor bestowed it upon his concubine, and it was buried with her after his death."
"How much of a favor must they owe Chen Ji to be so generous?"
"It's been many years since I've seen such a presentable betrothal gift in the capital..."
Madam Zhang remained silent as she listened to the surrounding chatter. Some of the items on the gift list were things she had only heard of by chance. The ten-mile-long red bridal procession she had requested for her daughter had been provided.
More and more people gathered on Fuyou Street. At first, they were just ordinary people watching the excitement, but later even the owners and waiters of teahouses and taverns in the distance came out.
Later, several sedan chairs stopped at the street corner, also left behind by the magnificent thirty-six-bearer betrothal gifts.
At this moment, Xiao Jiu accepted the gift list.
Thirteen stepped forward and bowed to Madam Zhang with clasped hands: "Madam, my master said that worldly fame and fortune are nothing but fleeting clouds, and betrothal gifts are only for outsiders to see. Only the couple themselves know whether they are truly happy or not. The most precious item among these thirty-six loads of betrothal gifts is not the cat's eye or the fur, but a century-old magnolia tree in the Jinling mansion... My master wishes this loving young couple a long and happy marriage."
Madam Zhang frowned and asked, "Who is your master?"
Thirteen smiled and said, "Reporting to Madam, my master's surname is Qing."
Madam Zhang lowered her head thoughtfully: "This betrothal gift was originally intended for the Qi family by your master? But the Chen family gave the betrothal gift to the Qi family long ago."
Thirteen smiled and pointed at Zhang Xia: "Madam, you may not know this, but Miss Zhang and Chen Ji secretly pledged their lives to each other back in Chongli Pass. Miss Zhang also got her hair done and her face styled in Chongli Pass..."
Madam Zhang suddenly turned to look at Zhang Xia, making Zhang Xia feel guilty and turn his head away.
Thirteen continued, “When Chen Ji and Zhang Xia were engaged, my master presented them with a betrothal gift, a mutton-fat jade bracelet from Khotan… From then on, this betrothal gift was prepared. My master only recognized that bracelet; whoever wore the bracelet would receive the betrothal gift.”
Madam Zhang was taken aback.
Thirteen explained with a smile, "Speaking of which, this mutton fat jade bracelet has quite a history. It was a state gift from the King of Khotan to my master. With this bracelet, one can borrow eight hundred Star Moon Iron Cavalry and sit with the King."
The onlookers were in an uproar.
Who knows who this owner is, and what favor they did for the King of Khotan to make such a promise? The small kingdom of Khotan probably only has a little over a thousand cavalrymen in total, yet they are willing to lend eight hundred. Isn't that the strength of the entire country?
Zhang Xia looked down at the mutton-fat jade bracelet on her wrist. She had asked Xiaoman that day if it was mutton-fat jade from Khotan, and Xiaoman had replied, "Fake, fake, as long as it looks good on you, Sister Xia." Now it seemed Xiaoman had lied completely.
Zhang Xia looked up and searched for Xiaoman's figure in the crowd, but she didn't know where Xiaoman had hidden away with Wuyun.
At this moment, Madam Zhang stood under the oil-paper umbrella, pondered for a long time, and said, "It's snowing heavily today, so it's not suitable for a banquet..."
Thirteen abruptly changed the subject, saying, "The heavy snow has blocked the gates today, so the Chen and Zhang families probably didn't have time to prepare a feast. But Madam, don't worry, my master has booked the entire Bianyifang today. All the guests from the Chen and Zhang families will have plenty of meat and wine to drink until they're completely drunk... Madam, shall we head to Bianyifang now?"
This time, Thirteen was well-prepared and had blocked all excuses for delaying the banquet, so Madam Zhang could not even reschedule the event.
Chen Ji suddenly thought of Aunt Ping, who always had a backup plan. She was the same way in Changping, always thinking three steps ahead of others.
Zhang Xia looked at her mother with a newfound hope and pleading in her eyes.
But Madam Zhang still shook her head.
This time, she no longer looked at Zhang Xia, but at Chen Ji behind Zhang Xia: "These thirty-six loads of betrothal gifts are full of rare treasures. Even I am dazzled by them. No matter who gets married, it is respectable enough."
Madam Zhang changed the subject: "But my Zhang family is marrying off our daughter, not selling her. Whether it's Mr. Wang proposing marriage or these thirty-six loads of betrothal gifts, they are other people's intentions, not yours. I have one thing to say, and if you agree to it, I will let you two get married today."
Chen Ji was silent for a moment: "Please speak, Madam."
Madam Zhang calmly said, "After the marriage, you will live in my Zhang family, and the second child will take the surname Zhang."
Zhang Xia's body suddenly tensed up.
In the crowd, someone asked in surprise, "Living at the Zhang family's house... how is that any different from being a live-in son-in-law?"
Someone whispered, "It's still different. Chen Ji doesn't need to continue the Zhang family's incense offerings, but Miss Zhang Er still needs to be included in the Chen family's ancestral hall and genealogy. The incense offerings can be passed down. Moreover, the agreement is that the second child will take the surname Zhang, not the first."
One man retorted, "What the hell is the difference? Living in your wife's house is like being a dependent. Where is a man's dignity? If you can earn a living on your own, you shouldn't be living in your wife's house."
A scholar shook his head and said, "When a man marries a woman, the husband is the head of the household, and the man lives with his wife. This is a reversal of yin and yang and a loss of male dignity. If Chen Ji agrees, he will tarnish his family's reputation and will be looked down upon in his future career. Even Lord Zhang, who himself climbed up to the Xu family, never married into the Xu family."
Suddenly, someone in the crowd sneered, "Chen Ji is arrogant and conceited; I'm afraid he won't agree. Madam Zhang has also seen this out, and today she's determined not to marry her daughter off. Indeed, if I were from the Zhang family, I wouldn't associate with this corrupt eunuch Chen Ji either."
"That's right. Forming a marriage alliance with the eunuch faction only tarnishes one's own reputation. Now that Chen Ji's reputation is already ruined, Lord Zhang has finally made it into the cabinet. Don't let him drag you down with him."
Madam Zhang looked up at Chen Ji: "How is it?"
Zhang Xia gripped the reins tightly and said, "Mother, how can we let him live in our house? There's no reason for that..." Before she could finish speaking, Zhang Xia suddenly heard Chen Ji solemnly say behind her, "I agree."
Zhang Xia was stunned.
The heavy snow fell like goose feathers, and the whole world seemed to be filled only with the soft rustling of the falling snow. The grand sound gradually filled the world, as if it were an echo from a year ago.
This is Chen Ji's intention.
Madam Zhang stared at Chen Ji, puzzled, and asked, "You agree?"
Chen Ji smiled and said, "I agree."
After a long silence, Madam Zhang turned to Thirteen and said, "No matter who your master is, the Zhang family does not want this betrothal gift. Take it back."
In the crowd, someone exclaimed, "They won't even accept these thirty-six loads of betrothal gifts? If you gave them to me, I could spend them all in ten lifetimes!"
Someone said sourly, "These thirty-six loads of betrothal gifts might just be the blood and sweat of the people that the eunuch faction has plundered. It's too hot to handle if we accept them."
Thirteen looked at Madam Zhang, somewhat embarrassed: "Why doesn't Madam want it?"
Madam Zhang said calmly, "I've already said it, the Zhang family is marrying off our daughters, not selling them. Besides, the dowry from your master is of dubious origin. If he truly hopes for a good relationship between Zhang Xia and Chen Ji, he should stay away from them."
After saying that, she turned to the side of the road and finally made way for everyone.
Zhang Xia was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at Chen Ji: "My mother agreed!"
Chen Ji smiled gently: "Yes, I agree."
Xiaoman suddenly appeared out of the crowd, vigorously rubbing Wuyun's head: "Celestial Venerable, did you see that? It's done, it's done!"
As she spoke, she raised the back of her hand to wipe away her tears: "Young Master and Sister Xia have suffered so much, it's finally over."
Chen Ji rode slowly along, followed by Jin Zhu leading twelve servants and a disheveled musician playing a jumble of tunes.
I stood in the snow for too long and I was frozen stiff.
As the group was about to leave Fuyou Street, a person stumbled through the snow and came to the back of the group, crying out in anguish, "Chen Ji, you can't leave!"
It is Qi Zhaoning.
Her voice drowned out the scattered drum music, and she cried out in a mournful tone, "Chen Ji, I will definitely marry someone ten thousand times better than you. He will surely be of high rank and great power, while you are just a penniless illegitimate son of the Chen family. He will come to pick me up in a grand sedan chair carried by sixteen men, lacquered in vermilion, painted with gold and phoenixes, and adorned with pearls and colorful decorations, instead of just this lonely horse!"
However, at that moment, the thunderous sound of horses' hooves rang out in the distance. Everyone turned to look and saw hundreds of Imperial Guards galloping towards them, their armor gleaming silver in the snow and their cloaks fluttering.
Li Xuan, leading 136 Imperial Guardsmen, some holding banners with the sun, moon, and stars, some holding ceremonial swords, and some holding golden maces, reined in his horse and stood before Chen Ji and Zhang Xia.
The Imperial Guards were imposing, their warhorses snorting like white arrows in the wind and snow, startling the onlookers who quickly retreated.
Chen Ji hesitated, "What's going on here?"
Li Xuan laughed heartily, full of vigor: "Someone went to the gate of the Imperial Guard to report that you are getting married to Miss Zhang today, and we have come here to serve as your ceremonial guard. It's a pity we can't bring umbrellas, banners, flags, and ceremonial staffs, otherwise it would be even more magnificent."
Qi Zhenzhuo explained in a low voice, "The umbrella canopy, banner, flag, and staff are embroidered with dragon patterns. If you actually take them, you'll lose your head."
Chen Ji looked at Qi Zhenzhuo: "You are a member of the Qi family."
Qi Zhenzhuo sneered, "He's just a good-for-nothing from the Qi family."
Chen Ji shook his head: "It's still not acceptable. You are the imperial guards, how can you abandon your posts and serve as ceremonial guards for commoners?"
Li Xuan seemed to have made up his mind: "As long as we don't lose our heads, that's fine. We've wasted more than ten years in this capital, so it's better not to stay. We've been through life and death together several times, and now that you and Miss Zhang have finally found happiness, how can we not come? Have you forgotten what you said? Fate's will, the hearts of the people, all depend on this!"
Qi Zhenzhuo explained further, “Master, there’s no need to worry. Last month, the Governor wrote to Hu Junxian asking him to intervene and transfer us to the border army in Guyuan, starting as lowly soldiers. Yesterday, Hu Junxian requested permission to go to the capital, and the Ministry of War document signed by Mr. Wang has already been delivered to the Imperial Guard. We will leave after we finish your wedding banquet today.”
Chen Ji looked at Wang Daosheng, who smiled and nodded.
Li Xuan ignored him and turned his horse around, asking, "Where are the Imperial Guards?"
The Imperial Guards laughed loudly: "Here we are!"
"Let's go!"
"Yes!"
One hundred and thirty-six Imperial Guards turned their warhorses and lined up on both sides of the right side of the street. Their snow-white cloaks and the vermilion banners waving in their hands made them look like flowers blooming along the roadside.
They held Chen Ji and Zhang Xia firmly in their arms. Zhang Xia looked at the fluttering banners and whispered to Chen Ji, "What you did wasn't meaningless, was it?"
Chen Ji was momentarily lost in thought. (End of Chapter)