Qin Shaozong was a military general. Although he had read some books, he certainly could not compare to the civil officials who could effortlessly compose essays and poems.
Hearing the mention of composing a poem, not only Qin Qinian but also the other military officers who had accompanied Qin Shaozong to receive the bride all felt their scalps tighten.
Just a moment ago, their eyes were bright and they were full of energy, but now they all turned their heads away in unison, terrified of meeting their superior's gaze.
Qin Shaozong fell silent.
The surroundings were deathly still, and some people did not even dare to breathe loudly.
After a long time, Qin Shaozong finally said, "Then I shall compose a short poem titled 'Inviting Madam'."
He had not even started and had only announced the title, but the group of military officers behind him completely abandoned their previous dead silence. They immediately clapped and cheered, filled with the relief of "thank goodness it's not me," and unanimously shouted out their support for Qin Shaozong.
Among them, Qin Qinian cheered the loudest.
The young man's mouth twitched.
Qin Shaozong coughed lightly. "Spring mountains serve as dark eyebrows on a face like jade, red beans convey affection and draw out longing. Do not hide the bright moon behind the clouds, I ask Madam to return with me."
It was quite rough. There were no majestic phrases or gorgeous words, but it was straightforward enough. It was so straightforward that anyone present, whether they had read books or not, could understand it.
The military officers all paused for a moment, then erupted into a burst of applause even louder than before.
"Amazing, the Marquis is the reincarnation of the God of Literature!"
"With the pen he can secure the state and pacify the world, with the sword on horseback he can settle the universe. The Marquis is truly a great man!" Wei Qing cheered.
As soon as he finished speaking, someone nudged his chest with an elbow. "Good on you, Old Wei, aren't you quite eloquent yourself."
Wei Qing backhanded Mo Yanyun in return. "Today is the Marquis's wedding, how could I steal his thunder?"
Today there were no taboos, and some people were countless times bolder than usual, deliberately raising their voices to say, "The Marquis has already sent his longing, when will the mistress return it?"
As soon as this was said, the others immediately echoed:
"Yes, when will the mistress return it?"
"It must be returned right now!"
Amidst the chaotic noise, the room door creaked open. The clamor abruptly stopped, and everyone looked over in unison.
A tall and graceful figure came into view. She was dressed in a trailing long skirt of black and red, wearing a magnificent dangling hairpin on her head. With the phoenix hairpin slightly swaying and her delicate steps gracefully moving, the young woman slowly walked out of the room, holding a circular fan to cover her face.
Reflected in the sunlight, the young woman's fair fingers holding the fan and the gold and jade on her head seemed to emit a faint glow together. The golden phoenix on her shoulder also seemed to come alive. Even without seeing her face, there was an indescribable, resplendent beauty about her.
Silence spread.
"Why are you still blocking the way?" Qin Yanzhou frowned.
The crowd awakened as if from a dream and scattered like birds and beasts, making way for a path.
Covering the face with a circular fan provided a much wider field of vision than a red veil. Although she could not see too much ahead, walking steadily was not a problem.
Surrounded by the crowd, Dai Li walked out of the Qin residence and, under the eager gazes of the surrounding commoners craning their necks, sat inside the brand-new, festive carriage.
"Hey, I saw the side profile of the Marquis's wife. She looks just like an immortal from a painting, so incredibly beautiful."
"Coming from a humble background, marrying for the second time with a son, marrying up into the Marquis's estate, and even becoming the primary wife... I wouldn't even dare to dream this big."
"Take a few more looks and remember it. Go back and dream about this tonight."
...
In the Book of Rites, the Meaning of Marriage, it is said: "When she descends and goes out, she mounts the bride's carriage, and the groom hands her the strap, driving the carriage for three revolutions."
This meant that after the bride was received outside, the groom had to personally drive the carriage for her, making the wheels turn three times. This symbolized the completion of the odd and even numbers of yin and yang, ensuring future marital harmony and a stable marriage.
After helping Dai Li into the carriage, Qin Shaozong sat in the driver's seat at the front and gently tapped the horse ahead with his whip.
The wheels rolled slowly and stopped after three revolutions.
The wedding ceremony was also called the "dusk ceremony," as it had to be held right at dusk. Therefore, after Qin Shaozong received his bride, he did not rush back to the Marquis's estate but instead led the procession on a detour around the city.
However long they walked, the spectating commoners followed, trailing along to watch the excitement.
The long procession wandered through the city, and wherever they passed, sounds of congratulations were endless. Qin Shaozong rode his horse at the front, occasionally turning his head to look back at the carriage behind him. Whether it was because the sunlight was too intense or something else, the depths of his eyes seemed to be paved with a layer of crushed diamonds, shining much brighter than usual.
When the golden sun gradually slanted westward, just about to sink below the horizon, the convoy returned to the Marquis's estate.
The main gates of the residence were wide open, and the carriage stopped in front of them.
"Mistress, please disembark."
Dai Li picked up the circular fan from the side again. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that the carriage door had been opened, and a footstool was placed below. She stood up and slowly stepped out of the carriage using the footstool.
The guests were all in their seats; one group sat in the main hall, and another in the front courtyard. Long tables laden with delicious delicacies were lined up neatly row by row, packed so tightly that for the first time, the spacious Marquis's estate felt crowded.
The moment Dai Li stepped into the front courtyard, she felt countless gazes fall upon her. Appraising, amazed, curious, scrutinizing...
"A match made in heaven, surely a blissful union," someone said first, though it was unclear who.
With someone starting it, a wave of blessings swept through.
"Created by heaven and set by earth, truly a perfect match."
Amidst the chorus of congratulations, Dai Li did not stop her steps. Continuing to hold her fan, she walked forward into the main hall together with Qin Shaozong. The hall had clearly been redecorated and was equally festive.
Qin Shaozong's parents had passed away, so the step of kneeling to the parents and listening to their instructions was omitted. After the mutual bowing ceremony was completed, the bride entered the inner chambers while Qin Shaozong temporarily remained outside to entertain the guests.
The Marquis's estate covered a much larger area than the Qin residence. As Dai Li walked along, she saw pavilions and halls situated one after another in the distance, with winding corridors and high-peaked eaves. After entering the main courtyard, there was even a rockery and a fish pond, looking just like a miniature backyard garden placed within.
"Madam, the Marquis will not return this quickly. Please eat something to pad your stomach first." Nianxia brought over some pastries.
Dai Li was indeed a little hungry, but right after finishing a small piece of pastry, she heard Bipo, who was waiting outside, say, "The Marquis has arrived."
"This fast?" Nianxia asked in astonishment.
Dai Li unhurriedly took a few sips of tea and wiped her mouth clean with a brocade handkerchief before raising her circular fan once again.
Qin Shaozong turned into the inner room. A pair of red candles burned quietly in the room, which contained many exquisite ornaments.
A sandalwood incense table stood to the side, upon which rested a black-lacquered, gold-painted makeup box. Not far away was a three-fold carved screen depicting flying birds, and the gauze curtains hanging over the bed swayed gently in the breeze, half-revealing their cloud patterns.
But at this moment, Qin Shaozong could not see any of that at all. He stared unblinkingly at the young woman on the bed. The woman held a fan to cover her face, her skirts spreading out to the sides like a blazing red lotus.
She was in his bedroom, and after today, they would be husband and wife.
From now on, they would share the same bed in life and the same tomb in death.
"Marquis, please compose a poem to ask the bride to remove her fan," the master of ceremonies who had come with Qin Shaozong said with a smile.
Qin Shaozong stiffened for a moment.
Dai Li blocked her face with the fan and could not see, but after hearing the master of ceremonies' words, there was a long, enduring silence in the room.
The fan-removing ceremony; the word for "remove" here also meant "to take away."
The groom needed to compose a poem to move the bride, and only then would she "remove the fan." Everyone knew this procedure, and generally speaking, the groom would prepare a poem in advance.
But if this poem had been used ahead of time due to some accident...
Behind the circular fan, Dai Li secretly curled her lips.
Don't tell me Qin Changgeng has been thinking all afternoon and still hasn't come up with one.
Seeing the atmosphere suddenly freeze, the master of ceremonies was greatly alarmed. He could not help but look at Qin Shaozong, only to see his jawline pulled taut as a bowstring, as if he were facing a formidable enemy.
"Did Your Grace perhaps spend too much breath entertaining the guests outside just now? Why not have a cup of tea first to soothe your throat?" The master of ceremonies hurriedly asked a maid to serve tea.
Qin Shaozong brought a fist to his lips and coughed softly. "That works."
The smile on Dai Li's lips deepened.
After finishing the tea, Qin Shaozong spoke, "It is still 'Inviting the Madam'. Snowy skin, silken hair, and a golden swaying hairpin; a round fan hides half your painted face. My beloved, from now on you are my wife, there is no need to shyly conceal your jade-like visage."
Dai Li could not help but chuckle.
This was even more careless and straightforward than the first poem.
However, she could tell that as a military general, he had truly tried his best. If he were asked to compose another one, he probably would not be able to come up with anything even if he thought until tomorrow morning...
The round fan blocking her front was slowly moved away.
At this moment, it was as if a vibrant painting had been unrolled. Under the lamplight, the red mole between the woman's brows was bright and beautiful, her cloud-like hair thick and lustrous. As her red lips curved into a slight smile, it was like a peony blooming to its absolute peak on a high terrace swaying gently, bringing forth a dizzying, mature, and gorgeous allure.
Qin Shaozong's Adam's apple bobbed.
With the fan-removal ceremony complete, the hand-washing ceremony followed. Simply put, it was cleansing the hands, symbolizing the start of a new life with a pure heart.
Dai Li rose from the couch and went to wash her hands together with Qin Shaozong. After they wiped away the water droplets on their hands, Nianxia stepped forward carrying a tray of beef.
The meat-sharing ceremony, to share joys and sorrows.
Dai Li picked up the jade chopsticks and took a small, thinly sliced piece of beef.
Qin Shaozong also picked up his chopsticks, but unlike Dai Li, who was careful while eating the meat to avoid ruining her lip rouge, he kept his eyes on her from beginning to end. His brown eyes, illuminated by the firelight, were completely filled with her reflection.
That gaze was too scorching, as if kerosene had been poured over her body and then completely melted into her blood and bones, making it impossible to ignore.
Dai Li's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she did not raise her eyes to look at him.
After they put down their jade chopsticks, Bipo brought over a silver tray, upon which lay a bitter gourd that had been split into two halves.
Drinking from the nuptial cups, from now on, husband and wife are one.
Clear wine flowed into the gourd halves. Standing facing each other, the two raised their cups and drank at the same time. He and she stood very close; when they raised their hands, the ends of their wide sleeves fluttered and gently brushed against each other.
The gourds were emptied, and the millet wine slid down their throats.
The nuptial cup ceremony was complete.
Dai Li set down her half of the gourd. The hard bottom of the gourd struck the silver tray with a soft clack, sounding like the settling of dust.
That passionate, brazenly greedy gaze from before looked over once again. Dai Li sighed inwardly and finally met his eyes. "May I share one heart and one mind with you, my lord, and may we treat each other with mutual respect."
Qin Shaozong's long eyebrows furrowed imperceptibly.
He was somewhat satisfied, yet somewhat displeased.
But that slight hint of displeasure was quickly dispelled by the two locks of long hair presented to them. These locks of hair were naturally not cut right then, otherwise Dai Li's intricate hairstyle would definitely be ruined.
The hair had been taken yesterday, to be used for the hair-tying ceremony today.
Qin Shaozong waved the others away and personally picked up the two locks of long hair to tie them together. His movements were skilled, and he actually tied them neatly.
Dai Li's brow arched slightly. Recalling the time he had accidentally pulled out her hair before, she suspected he had practiced in private more than just once.
With the hair tied, the wedding ceremonies were thus concluded, and what followed was the consummation in the bridal chamber.
However, since Qin Shaozong's parents had already passed away, the situation was special. The guests outside required him to personally go out and entertain them. "Madam, will you go with me?"
Dai Li thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.
Entertaining guests inevitably involved drinking. Not only did Qin Shaozong have to drink, but a few of the younger generation could not escape it either. She did not know how Zhou Zhou's alcohol tolerance was, so she had to go and see.
The two walked out hand in hand.
Earlier, Dai Li had walked all the way with the round fan covering her face. Many guests had only seen her side profile and not her full face, but now they all saw it.
Glorious as the autumn chrysanthemum, lush as the spring pine.
Her eyes and brows were exceptionally beautiful. The slightly upturned outer corners of her eyes looked as if they had been painted with fine brushwork. She was distinctly alluring, yet due to her aura, she appeared incredibly dignified, without the slightest hint of vulgarity.
Dai Li followed Qin Shaozong to entertain the guests, occasionally glancing at Qin Yanzhou. Seeing that he had not drunk too much wine, she finally felt relieved.
The wedding was held at dusk. By the time the guests enjoyed themselves to the fullest and returned home, the sky had long since darkened.
There was only one last item left for today's wedding.