In mid-August, Princess Danyang and Yan Shang returned to Chang'an.
The two of them went into the palace to pay their respects to the emperor and reply.
At this time, the princess' wedding was almost ready, and it became a hot topic among the people of Chang'an recently. Not only because the royal family had not had a princess get married for a long time, but also because the princess who got married had an extraordinary experience - she returned from the marriage and was able to marry again smoothly, which was amazing.
Yan Shang walked through the streets. No one in Chang'an mentioned the previous consort Pei Qing. The people of Chang'an had a short memory. A consort who didn't have a result was not a real consort. Yan Shang was such a low-key person. When he heard his name and deeds frequently appearing in the mouths of the people, he tried his best to suppress his joy and warned himself not to be impatient.
After getting off the horse at the alley entrance, a servant came to lead the horse. Yan Shang looked up at the mansion he hadn't been back to for three years, and his heart was filled with mixed emotions. When he left Chang'an, he was so depressed that he never thought he would be able to come back.
His mansion located opposite the princess's palace has still not been sold - Mu Wanyao doesn't want to be neighbors with anyone else.
Yan Shang was thinking at this time: When he and Yaoyao get married in the future, he will naturally live with her in the princess's mansion. So is it better to sell this mansion? Why keep it and spend more money?
As he stood at the gate of the mansion in a trance, he heard the chaotic footsteps inside. The old imperial physician was very skilled and experienced, and now his eyesight had recovered 80%. He looked into the mansion when he heard the sound, and the few people who came towards him made him stare blankly, with all kinds of feelings in his heart.
Walking towards him quickly was a middle-aged man with a good appearance, clean and elegant, leading two young men, and followed by two young ladies with buns that he had never met. There were also children running after the adults, grabbing the hems of their fathers or mothers' clothes, and looking at Yan Shang with curious black eyes.
Yan Xiaozhou walked the slowest. Seeing her second brother standing at the bottom of the stairs in a daze, she couldn't help but smile happily. She called out, "Second brother!"
Yan Xiaozhou walked briskly, passed her father and brothers and sisters-in-law, and ran towards her second brother with mist in her eyes. Among the brothers, she had the best relationship with her second brother, because when she was a child, her mother was sick and her father took care of her mother. Among the two brothers, only the second brother was attentive and played with her wholeheartedly all day long.
When her second brother left home, she was only thirteen years old; now that her second brother is getting married, she is eighteen years old.
Five years!
Yan Shang stretched out his arms and hugged his sister who threw herself into his arms. His sister had grown up, with curved eyebrows and frowning eyebrows, and had become a gentle and ladylike girl. However, the way she eagerly threw herself into his arms and hugged him still made him return to his childhood.
Yan Xiaozhou's voice choked with sobs: "Second brother, you have lost a lot of weight. How did you become so thin?"
——It must have been extremely difficult for him to be an official for several years, right?
Yan Shang gently persuaded her not to cry. His gentle voice was the same as before, which made Yan Xiaozhou burst into laughter and stepped out of her brother's arms. Then Yan Shang stepped forward and looked at his father, who had tears in his eyes, and his eldest brother and third brother.
He lifted his robe and was about to kneel, but Yan's father came forward and grabbed his arm.
Father Yan is middle-aged, but he doesn't look old. He is still elegant and refined. He was quite popular among the girls when he was in Lingnan. But at this moment, Father Yan's eyes were filled with tears, unlike his usual appearance: "Erlang, get up quickly."
Yan Shang choked up: "It is my unfilial son who made my father run around like this..."
Yan's father's eyes were even more tearful than his, with tears hanging down his cheeks: "What's the big deal? It's so hard for us to meet because you're getting married. I'm very happy to be able to attend your wedding..."
Yan Shang suppressed his agitated emotions and persuaded his father not to cry. His father was soft-hearted, even a little cowardly, and often more emotional than him. He was just a little tearful, but his father was already crying. This funny look made Yan Shang suddenly return to his youth when he was still at home. Not only did he have to worry about his brothers, but he also had to care for his father...
Yan Shang coaxed his father and helped him into the house. He smiled at his elder brother and greeted his elder sister-in-law. Sanlang did the same. Finally, he saw a few children. He came back in a hurry and didn't prepare any gifts, which made him feel regretful.
Yan Shang helped his father back to his room first, and the two sisters-in-law were left behind, muttering about the Yan family's Erlang: "Sister-in-law, the second brother seems to have a good temper, unlike those officials.
"Erlang seems to be in a very high position, right?
"Isn't that the princess's residence next door? I haven't dared to go out these past two days, for fear of running into the princess. I come from the countryside, and it would be embarrassing for Erlang... Oh, Chang'an is so prosperous, the people here are so beautiful, and the clothes are made of materials I've never seen before, which is completely different from our Lingnan."
-----
After receiving the imperial decree granting marriage to their Erlang and the Princess of the Heavenly Family, the Yan family traveled thousands of miles from Lingnan to Chang'an. Before Yan Shang arrived in Chang'an, Yan's father and his family had already set off from Lingnan. Yan's father and his family had lived in Yan Shang's house for half a month. Every day when they looked at the Princess's Mansion next door, they felt uneasy and a little unreal.
Yan's father learned from the correspondence at the beginning of the year that Erlang was engaged. He had just prepared the bride price from the man's family and planned to send it to Nanyang, but then he received an imperial edict saying that Erlang was not going to marry an ordinary girl, but a princess from the royal family. So Yan's father and others changed their route halfway and did not go to Nanyang, but went directly to Chang'an.
The two sides exchanged greetings for a while, and Yan Shang briefly explained his marriage to Yan's father and others. With the addition of Sanlang and Yan Xiaozhou, who had arrived in Chang'an a long time ago, everyone finally admitted: Erlang was really going to marry the princess.
The two sisters-in-law of the Yan family looked at each other in bewilderment. When they married Dalang and Sanlang, they only knew that Yan's father was a Jinshi and that Erlang was an official in Chang'an. They had no idea that Erlang was so capable... that he could marry a princess.
Not to mention their excitement and timidity, Yan's father was filled with uneasiness about this marriage.
Father Yan murmured, "This princess of the royal family is not easy to marry... What's the difference between marrying her and marrying into the royal family?"
As long as the princess of Wei did not rebel, she would have great power. The traditional Confucian school would have a headache when hearing about the princess. After all, Yan's father had been to Chang'an and knew the tempers of those princesses. Besides, they had seen the princess mentioned by Erlang in Lingnan. Thinking of Mu Wanyao's attitude of not taking all of them seriously, Yan's father became even more timid.
Yan Shang comforted them: "Father, don't worry. Your Highness and I...are in love. I was not forced."
Father Yan sighed and stared at his son Erlang's handsome and slightly red face. After a moment's observation, he knew that Erlang still liked this marriage very much. So... they had to muster up the courage to support Erlang.
Yan's father told Yan Shang: "In that case, when you go to the princess's mansion in the future, you must be more considerate to the princess and serve her well. You must be more attentive and don't be kicked out by her..."
Yan Shang: “…”
He had to emphasize: "I am marrying a wife, not marrying into the family."
Father Yan waved his hands casually, thinking, You dare to say that you are getting married, but I dare not let a princess bow to me and show filial piety in front of me.
From this moment on, Yan's father felt helpless about selling his own Erlang to the royal family of the Heavenly Family... There was really no other way.
-----
Upon hearing that his father-in-law and others had arrived in Chang'an, Yan Shang went to receive them. Mu Wanyao was in the palace listening to the emperor speak, and became a little absent-minded.
Her last marriage was different from this one, and she had no experience getting along with the man's elders and brothers. Now thinking about how she used to be so arrogant and torment the Yan family when she lived in Lingnan, Yan's father and others might not have a good impression of her...
Mu Wanyao thought to himself: What does it matter? Do they dare to refuse me from entering their house?
"Yaoyao," the emperor sighed and laughed, "Yaoyao, why are you distracted again?"
Mu Wan came back to her senses, acted like a child, and smiled shyly at her father. The emperor sighed, "I am asking you about the southern troops entering Chang'an through the noble families. Have you discussed this with your uncle's family?"
Mu Wan shook his head and responded, "Yes, don't worry, father. The Li family and I are now dependent on each other, so this matter will not go wrong."
The emperor nodded. He was about to say something else, but when he saw his daughter's eyes wandering and looking out the window absentmindedly, he couldn't help but laugh. The emperor said, "Forget it. It seems that your mind is not here today. Is it that Yan Suchen's family has arrived in Chang'an? If you want to go and see them, go and see them."
Mu Wanyao acted like a good daughter in front of the emperor. She said shyly, "I am sorry to make you laugh."
Seeing her happy, the emperor's mood also improved. Originally, everything was his political planning, and his children's marriages were all calculated by him. But seeing that Mu Wanyao liked this marriage so much, he felt that he had really done a good thing.
He smiled and said, "It's fine if you like Yan Shang. Just remember that you are the king and he is the minister. If there is anything wrong, come directly to the emperor and he will make the decision for you."
Mu Wanyao knew that the emperor's admonition was to ask her and Yan Shang to check each other, but she was still moved by the fact that she could rely on her father in everything. Her father was the common ruler of the country, and his mind was not on his small family. He was not a loving father who cared about his children, so the occasional true feelings were even more precious.
Mu Wan leaned on the emperor's lap and whispered, "Don't worry, father. My marriage this time will be a good one."
The emperor felt a little bitter in his heart and stroked her thick black hair. Then he whispered, "A Nuan, did I do anything wrong this time?"
Mu Wanyao was startled, and suddenly raised his head, and saw that his father turned his head to the side, looking at the void beside him. He was mumbling to himself, talking to a person in his imagination, with tenderness in his eyes and chattering in his words. Mu Wanyao stared blankly at his vicissitudes and haggard face, and saw that he coughed from time to time, but his eyes looking into the void were filled with infinite tenderness in pain...
Tears fell silently from Mu Wanyao's eyes and she bent down and hugged her father's knees.
While thinking that this was retribution, I also felt sad that he had ended up being so foolish.
-----
After leaving the palace, Mu Wanyao did not go back home directly, but went to the imperial temple and ancestral shrine to burn a stick of incense for his deceased mother.
She stared at her mother's tablet and told her mother about her marriage. It was hard for her to tell how she felt about her father and mother. She understood how difficult it was for them to send her to marry, and she didn't hate them, but she also didn't forgive them.
She said coldly: "...I will marry Yan Shang. This marriage is my own choice. People like him are different from you. Once we get married, he will never betray me. So I will drag him and force him to marry me even if I die."
The host next to her lowered her head, thinking that everyone in Chang'an said that the princess and her husband were a match made in heaven, so why did the princess describe her marriage in such a cold manner?
After Mu Wanyao finished speaking, he turned to leave the ancestral hall and happened to meet someone coming in.
When Princess Luling saw her, Mu Wanyao nodded slightly and was about to leave. Princess Luling said sarcastically, "Yaoyao, you are so arrogant now. You just nodded when you saw your aunt. Don't you have any manners at all?"
Mu Wanyao, supported by her maid Qiu Si, had already left the temple gate and was about to go down the stairs. She turned around and smiled at her aunt calmly, "I thought my aunt didn't want to pay attention to me."
Princess Luling stared at her resentfully. She gritted her teeth and said, "You are so proud now that you don't take me seriously. I have no power and influence, so I can't say anything. But I would like to advise that a married princess should be like your fourth sister, sitting at home and giving birth to children, and not going out and showing up in public all day like you do now, so that people will say that our royal princesses are uneducated!"
Qiusi was angry when she heard this.
Mu Wanyao smiled nonchalantly, "How am I uneducated? My future husband and I are in love with each other. I have no intention of keeping a concubine, nor have I searched for beautiful boys to sleep with me. I have never done anything truly uneducated. Even if others say that our princess of the Heavenly Family has a bad upbringing, it is probably not me they are talking about."
She looked at the stiff face of Princess Luling and said calmly, "Besides, you know that Yan Shang and I have known each other for several years, and we know each other very well. He is not the kind of pedantic man who wants me to sit at home and have children every day. It's not like you haven't dealt with him before, so don't you know him?"
Princess Luling suppressed her anger and said, "You are used to pretending in front of others. I know better. A person like Yan Erlang..."
Mu Wanyao leaned closer to her, with a smile in his eyes: "Aunt, you must have been very regretful for not being able to have him, right?"
Princess Luling: "I was deceived by you guys that day and let Yan Erlang go. I was harmed and ended up in this state. I really regret it..."
She meant that she didn't dare to keep a lover now, and people like Feng Xianyu who were sensible around her were also driven away by her. She was now the eldest princess, but she didn't have a close friend around her. She couldn't have fun and had to worry about her future...
Mu Wanyao still had a smile in her eyes, but her expression was cold: "Regret or not, it's up to you, aunt. But if you dare to covet her like you did before, I will never let you go."
Princess Luling took a step back at the coldness in her eyes. She was afraid of the stubbornness and ruthlessness in Mu Wanyao's eyes. She took two steps back and felt that it was ridiculous for a princess like her to be suppressed by a junior. "How dare you talk to me like that? Let's go to your father and ask for justice!"
Mu Wanyao smiled at her, and ignored the eldest princess' hysterical chattering behind her. She held Qiusi's hand and walked away.
As Qiu Si helped the princess get on the carriage, she murmured to herself, "The eldest princess is really looking for trouble. We didn't provoke her, but she bumped into us..."
Mu Wan shook her head and said calmly, "She is also a pitiful person. Seeing me like this now, she is just jealous. Besides, she is just reminding me with good intentions, but her words are not pleasant to hear. I won't argue with her."
Qiu Si didn't understand: "She is the eldest princess, why is she jealous of Your Highness? How did she remind Your Highness? I can't see it."
Mu Wan stepped on a stool and got on the carriage. She stared at the sunset in the sky and explained to Qiu Si softly, "You don't know, my aunt has a very difficult life. When she got married, she was also loved and enjoyed great glory. After marriage, she and her husband lived in harmony. However, the conflict between the royal family and the aristocratic family stood between her and her husband. She repeatedly reported the news to my father, which made her husband quite dissatisfied with her.
"Although the prince consort didn't dare to take a concubine, he had another woman outside. My aunt was pregnant at the time, and when she found out, she ordered the woman to be beaten to death. The prince consort was also hot-tempered, and came to her to ask for an explanation. I don't know how they quarreled, but in the end, the prince consort committed suicide, and my aunt gave birth to a stillborn baby.
"From then on, my aunt wanted to be a nun and refused to marry. She began to indulge in sensual pleasures, lingering on beautiful women, and collecting all kinds of beautiful boys. She always liked gentle and clever men. I thought that this was somewhat similar to her husband.
"When I was young, I saw my uncle, who was also a good-tempered person. Who would have thought that he had such a fierce temper and ended up committing suicide.
"My aunt came to remind me. She felt that I was flamboyant and reckless, just like she was back then. She was afraid that I would not be considerate of my husband and would not know how to be a good wife. I would fail to balance the royal family with other forces and end up killing my lover."
Qiu Si uttered a soft "ah", lowered the corners of her lips, and said pitifully: "If you put it this way, it's also difficult for Her Royal Highness the Princess."
Muwan shook his head.
She said: "It's hard for us royal princesses because we are born into a marriage business. I was just lucky to have waited for Yan Shang."
The sky was covered with rosy clouds. She stared at it for a long time and swore to herself, "I will be with Yan Shang very well."
-----
In September, leaves are flying, and red maple leaves cover the sky.
Princess Danyang got married at this time.
The emperor was in poor health, but he managed to hold on to see his daughter, who was wearing gorgeous and exquisite makeup, in front of the green tent. When the auspicious time came, Yan Shang put on her wedding dress and, accompanied by the best minister, knelt to receive the emperor's marriage decree.
After receiving the imperial edict and kneeling three times, Yan Shang looked at the bride who was holding a fan.
Under the candlelight, she did not look at him, but lowered her eyes, her gaze fell on the fan in her hand, and listened attentively to the master of ceremonies' instructions. Mu Wanyao attached great importance to this marriage, and when she heard the master of ceremonies asking the prince consort to salute, she turned to Yan Shang.
Yan Shang bowed his hands and saluted her, then welcomed the princess to start the journey. The group of people left the palace in a grand manner, boarded the carriage, and headed for the princess's residence. The emperor sent Liu Wenji to host the wedding banquet for them, so the palace gates were opened, and the prince consort drove the carriage for the princess with a whip, followed by a group of palace servants, and the lights stretched for ten miles.
Chang'an was ablaze with lights and stars. Citizens gathered to watch the princess' wedding. The princess' maids and the eunuchs in the palace sprinkled gold leaves on both sides of the road. Citizens scrambled for loot behind the imperial guards, making the scene very lively.
They were led to shout some auspicious words, and the crowd was noisy.
The protagonist of the wedding banquet walked around the city, then took the sedan chair and entered the princess's residence. The prince consort walked in front, and the princess followed in the sedan chair.
The princess's mansion was open to everyone tonight. Those officials in the court who had no chance to see the princess on weekdays could see her this night. The officials watched the princess's wedding just like the common people outside. They had heard many rumors about the princess and her husband, and they were moved to see the two of them getting married.
The Crown Prince, the King of Qin, and the King of Jin, no matter how much they had quarreled with Mu Wanyao, they all acted like good brothers to support their sister. The one who sincerely hoped that Mu Wanyao would be happy after marriage was probably the fourth princess, Princess Yuyang. When Princess Yuyang saw her sister getting married, she was so moved that her husband laughed at her.
The officials were noisy and confused, watching Yan Shang holding Mu Wan's shaking hand and walking across the felt carpet. When the princess and her husband passed by the officials of the Honglu Temple, one of the officials of the Honglu Temple exclaimed -
"Your Highness...you look so familiar."
His voice was very soft, but the master of ceremonies was silent at the time, and no one around was talking either. The young official's voice was heard by the newlywed couple.
Yan Shang looked over here and recognized his old colleague. He nodded with a smile. Mu Wanyao beside Yan Shang also looked over here. Her hair was full of gold and green, and her forehead was covered with a golden ribbon. The gold foil at the end of her eyes made her look charming and elegant. She looked at him with a bright and radiant look that made people's hearts flutter.
She didn't remember this official. Yan Shang tilted his head and whispered a few words in her ear. Mu Wanyao then showed an expression of sudden enlightenment, gave the official a teasing smile, and blinked.
Instantly, as if struck by lightning, the official suddenly remembered:
When Yan Erlang was helping out in the Honglu Temple, a maidservant insisted that she was Yan Erlang's maidservant. She was so bold as to teach them a lesson in the Honglu Temple, and she was so arrogant that she scolded him harshly.
At that time, he asked Yan Erlang for this maid, but Yan Erlang refused.
But now it seems... now it seems...she is not a maid at all!
So early on, Yan Erlang hid the princess behind him, blocking him from seeing her.
The princess was already flirting with Yan Erlang so early!
The official was stunned, watching the newlyweds walking towards the candlelit wedding room. The newlyweds even wanted to toast the prince consort's father... The official suddenly smiled, feeling melancholy, understanding, and a little lost.
He shook his head and said to himself, "Interesting."
Afterwards, the couple offered sacrifices, drank wine together, and shared the same cellar. And so it went, the marriage was finally complete!
-----
Yan Shang was called to the front to accompany drinking, and Mu Wanyao sat alone in the room.
In the front yard, the people of the Yan family were helping the princess and her husband entertain the guests. Yan Xiaozhou bumped into someone while busy. She turned around and was supported by the man's shoulder. She was about to bow her head to thank him, but the man supported her shoulder and gently rubbed it, so abrupt.
The candlelight was dim, and the two of them bumped into each other unexpectedly when it was not a private meeting. Yan Xiaozhou looked up and saw that it was Yang Si.
Yang Si asked, "Why are you here?"
Yan Xiaozhou smiled with her eyes bent, she had known that they would meet. Just as she was about to answer, her third brother's loud voice behind her called out: "Xiaozhou, the second brother is looking for you..."
Yan Xiaozhou responded verbally, Yang Si was surprised, and his eyes showed joy, and he said: "So you are Yan Er's sister? Yaoyao even lied to me that Yan Er didn't have a sister, but she never said a true word..."
Yan Xiaozhou blushed and smiled. She knelt and bowed, then turned and left. Yang Si stared at her back, absorbed in watching her. The prince followed behind her, looking suspiciously at her.
The prince frowned: The goddess in Yang Si's dream turned out to be Yan Shang's sister? How could this be possible?
-----
Prince Jin and his family were also at the wedding banquet. Chunhua followed Prince Jin and the princess, acting as an invisible person all the way, trying not to offend those two people today.
During the banquet, when the Prince of Jin and his wife were communicating with officials from all over the country, the children running around disappeared. Chunhua heard that her son took the son of the Princess of Jin to play somewhere while everyone was running around, and she couldn't help but feel nervous. She was afraid that the Princess of Jin would blame her, so she didn't disturb the maids, but quietly left the table to look for the two children.
Chunhua was very familiar with the princess's mansion and did not need directions. Although it was a little different from before because of the wedding, the familiar shadows everywhere still made her feel dazed. She walked by the lake in the backyard, whispering the names of her son and Princess Jin's son, worried that the two little ghosts would not cause trouble.
In the darkness, some distance away from her seat, she saw a white-haired woman standing confusedly beside the reeds by the lake, so she kindly went up to her and asked.
The woman saw that she looked kind and friendly, and hurriedly grabbed her hand and begged: "My lady, I went out to relieve myself earlier, but I can't find the way back. Can you help me..."
Chunhua smiled gently, thinking that the two children couldn't escape from the princess's mansion, so she sent the old lady back to the table. The old lady was very grateful for her good talk.
Chunhua was surprised that all the dignitaries were present at the banquet tonight, but this old lady didn't look like a noblewoman... Could she be Yan Erlang's relative? But Yan Erlang's mother had passed away long ago. Who was this old lady?
Chunhua was confused, but she didn't ask any questions. She could see that the old lady was a little timid and nervous all the way, so she tried to talk about some light topics to make her relax. Before they even reached the table, they met a middle-aged man with a solemn face who was looking for someone.
Chunhua thought the old woman was the other person's mother, but she heard the middle-aged man whispering, "Don't run around. Yan Zimei was kind enough to secretly bring us to the princess to take a look at Wen Ji. If you are discovered, how will the Yan family explain to others?"
The old woman let go of Chunhua's hand and apologized to the man repeatedly. The middle-aged man looked at Chunhua and bowed hesitantly: "This is my wife. Thank you for your help. Please don't tell others about seeing us."
Chunhua's face turned pale and he stared at the couple.
The man's temples were gray, while his wife's hair was completely white. At first glance, they looked like mother and son, but they were actually husband and wife... They said "Wenji".
Liu Wenji.
They are Liu Wenzhi's parents.
The scene was full of splendor, the aroma of wine, and the noise of people. Chunhua stared blankly at the middle-aged couple supporting each other. She vaguely looked for Liu Wenji's shadow in the other's eyes, but she couldn't see it clearly. The couple walked away, and Chunhua squatted on the ground with her face covered.
Full of sorrow and guilt. Those years could not be passed, nor could they be returned. Tears fell from her eyes unexpectedly, and she thought of so many pasts and so many laughs in her heart——
The couple has become gray-haired!
"Princess, what's the problem? What are you doing squatting here?"
Chunhua heard the eunuch's voice and looked up. With tearful eyes, she saw the cold Liu Wenji standing behind the eunuch. He looked at this place indifferently, as if he was looking at a stranger.
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