Chapter 128 Getting Married

The next day, the weather was sunny with a gentle breeze and a slight chill in the air.

Brother Li didn't go on duty today; it's his day off.

This year, things happened to fall on Brother Li's days off, which were the day before, the day of, and the day after the Mid-Autumn Festival.

This is the first time since Brother Li started serving in the Jinwu Guard. In previous years, he was lucky to have even one day off.

The more festive the occasion, the busier the Imperial Guards become. In addition to patrolling and guarding Chang'an City day and night, they also accompany and protect the emperor when he travels. Fortunately, Emperor Wu is not young, and he generally does not leave the palace except for occasions that he must attend.

According to rumors circulating in Chang'an, Emperor Wu had faced too many assassination attempts since ascending the throne and was weary of them. He also believed that a wise man avoids dangerous situations, so he rarely left the palace.

Early riser Brother Li led his four children to stretch their muscles in the yard. By the time Third Sister Li got up, they had already practiced their boxing techniques once.

Li San Niang got up early today, because she was very concerned about Shen Qiu Niang's happy occasion and the girl she had rescued on the main street of the West Market.

Since Shen Qiuniang had fled to Chang'an with her parents and family and now had no relatives around, and Tuva was a Turk from the Western Regions, the two of them discussed with the Li family that it would be better to keep the wedding simple.

Weddings at this time were indeed full of rituals, and even ordinary people had to go through all the rituals.

When Brother Li and Brother Li got married, they did everything exactly as required, from the betrothal and asking the name, to the auspicious date selection and presenting gifts, and finally setting the wedding date and welcoming the bride.

Although Li San Niang has now divorced Wang Er Lang, she still followed all six rites in the past. It's only when there is a seriously ill elder in the family who needs to observe mourning and delays the continuation of offspring that the rites are hastily followed before the wedding is held.

However, the previous steps were all done according to the wishes of Chen Qiuniang and Tuva, and were only briefly completed. Both of them had no father, mother, or relatives by their side, and only wanted to become partners as soon as possible and live a good life.

This was the first time in a long time that Li San Niang had breakfast with Li Da Xiong in the morning, and she found it very novel.

After having a simple breakfast together, Brother Li hung a wooden sign in the front hall that read "Family celebration, business closed for one day."

Father Li stood to the side, calling to his four children, Li Da, Li Er, and Li Xiao, to hang red silk and paste up the character for "happiness".

Meanwhile, Li's mother and the others were gathered in the small house in Li San Niang's courtyard. Li's mother was combing Shen Qiu Niang's hair, saying auspicious words as she did so.

Li San Niang neither knew how to comb hair nor could she help tidy up the green wedding dress like Li Da Sao did.

Since Li Ersao came from the countryside, and Chen Qiuniang wanted the event to be simple and festive, it was not appropriate for Li Dasao, who came from a relatively well-off military family in Chang'an, to be the one to preside over it.

Therefore, Li Ersao whispered to Shen Qiuniang about today's wedding ceremony.

What is Li San Niang doing?

Li San Niang, along with Lu Zhu'er and Xiao Huang, stared wide-eyed at the scene.

When she saw Li's mother about to draw two big red blobs on Shen Qiu's face, she simply couldn't stand it.

Li San Niang quickly stepped forward and took the rouge from Li's mother's hand. She dipped her fingertip in a little rouge and gently blended it on Shen Qiu Niang's cheekbone.

Looking at the faint blush on Chen Qiu Niang's face, Li's mother said, "This is too faint, it won't do."

Li's mother snatched the rouge from Li San Niang's hand and applied another layer to Shen Qiu Niang. After looking at it, Li's mother still felt it wasn't red enough and wanted to apply some more.

“Mother, that’s enough, that’s enough. It’s very festive.” Li San Niang showed the polished small bronze mirror to Chen Qiu Niang.

Seeing Shen Qiuniang nod shyly, Li's mother finally put down the rouge in her hand.

Originally, Li San Niang offered to vacate her and Lu Zhu'er's room for Shen Qiu Niang's wedding, but Shen Qiu Niang did not agree. She said that she had already taken a great advantage from the Li family, and that she and Tuva had no real foundation, so she should not ask Li San Niang, her savior, to vacate her room.

Aside from the fact that Li San Niang couldn't stand seeing anyone harm her daughter in the street at first, Shen Qiu Niang later repaid the kindness by helping the Li family a lot during her recovery period. Not to mention helping with housework and drying medicinal herbs, Shen Qiu Niang spent a considerable amount of time taking care of Lu Zhu'er.

Therefore, Li San Niang selected a few light but exquisite silver jewelry pieces from the thank-you gifts she received as a dowry for Shen Qiu Niang.

Li's mother also felt that Shen Qiuniang's life had not been easy in the first half of her life, and that she had become involved with her family by chance, so there was nothing wrong with treating her as a relative.

Therefore, not only did Li's mother agree to let Shen Qiu Niang marry out of the Li family, but she also prepared a dowry for Shen Qiu Niang according to the customs of common people marrying off their daughters. All the betrothal money that Tuva had given her before was given back to Shen Qiu Niang by Li's mother without missing a penny.

Li's mother and sister-in-law also went to the fabric shop themselves and bought new fabric to make several quilts.

The furniture in the courtyard that Tuva bought in the outer three cities was also purchased by Brother Li through Chen Yalang in the neighborhood, who helped him buy a lot of good quality and inexpensive items.

Li Da Sao and Li Er Sao jointly funded the making of this red-and-green wedding dress for Shen Qiu Niang as a congratulatory gift, and also gave her some small items as dowry.

The wedding ceremony was to begin at dusk, but that didn't mean there was nothing to do before dusk.

On the contrary, there are quite a few things to do during the day today.

Besides decorating with red silk and the character for "double happiness," Li's mother specially invited a familiar chef, Wang, to cook a banquet for the guests at noon.

Although Shen Qiuniang no longer had any blood relatives in Chang'an, Li's mother's decision to let her marry out of the Li family was tantamount to acknowledging her as a relative. Therefore, the Li family had sent invitations to all their acquaintances, informing them that they were having a wedding today.

That is, the families they knew in the alley, as well as the maternal families of Sister-in-law Li and Sister-in-law Li, and also the family of Uncle Li.

Furthermore, Tuva said that some of his acquaintances from the troupe of acrobats in the western market would come to help with the wedding procession.

Busy as the sun shone brightly, the first household to come for the dowry arrived. It was none other than Qiu Niangzi, who had previously taken over the work of making surgical gowns for Li San Niang in the alley.

Presumably out of respect for the Li family, the dowry gift was a piece of rather exquisite red fabric, which looked like it could be used to make a set of clothes.

At noon, the Li family set up three tables in the courtyard to entertain the neighbors and relatives who came to help with the wedding.

Afterwards, Li San Niang spoke privately with Shen Qiu Niang, discussing some points regarding the important matter of marital relations, and advising her to take better care of her health before trying to conceive.

Although Shen Qiuniang was not a first-time bride, she still listened to Li Sanniang speak with a blush on her face, suppressing her shyness.

“Qiu Niang, although I did not examine Tuva’s pulse, he appears to be a healthy man.”

Newlyweds, you should take care of your health.

"You two aren't young anymore, but you're not that old either, especially you. Take good care of yourself and stay healthy so you can have a healthy child."

During her interactions with Tuva, Shen Qiuniang never made any intimate moves. When she suddenly heard Li Sanniang say that Tuva was a healthy man, she was extremely embarrassed, but she still nodded to show that she had heard.

Shen Qiu Niang understood that Li San Niang was giving her such instructions because her former lover was unable to work.

“I have been very kind to Third Sister, and I can never repay her in this lifetime. From now on, whatever you need, please just say the word, and I will do my best to help you.”

Holding Li San Niang's hand, Shen Qiu Niang said with deep emotion that when she thought about the life she had lived in the past, the life she was living now, and the wonderful life she could live in the future, she felt both sad and happy and couldn't help but tear up.

Li Sanniang carefully wiped away the tears from Shen Qiuniang's eyes with the corner of her handkerchief. "Alright, you can't cry on such a joyous occasion. You can't ruin your makeup. Your future happiness is the best reward for me, and it will make my efforts to save you worthwhile. That's enough."

Shen Qiu Niang knew that apart from Li San Niang, the rest of the Li family members were also very kind to her.

Keeping her gratitude in her heart, Chen Qiuniang resolved to repay Li Sanniang and the Li family properly in the future.

Li Ersao brought in some snacks, leaving Shen Qiuniang and Li Ersao to chat. Li Sanniang went out of the house and walked to the main courtyard, where she saw the four little ones huddled under the jujube tree, whispering to each other.

Before Li San Niang even got close, Li Da Lang heard her footsteps. He called out "Little Aunt," and the rest of them stood up one by one to greet her.

What are you talking about?

"Auntie, we're discussing how to make things difficult for Tuva later?"

Upon hearing this, Li San Niang understood that this was a way for the bride's family to make things difficult for the groom during the wedding procession, so that he would know that this wife had gone through countless hardships to bring home and that she must be treated well.

Li San Niang found it interesting and joined the four little ones, offering them advice on how to make things difficult for them in a way that would be both amusing and friendly.