Chapter 21 The matchmaker is tricked into going on a date by her mother and uncle.
The emperor abandoned Daxing once again, preparing to arrive in Luoyang before the twelfth lunar month.
Gao Shilian needed to leave Daxing before the twelfth lunar month and arrive in Jiaozhi before the third lunar month.
Because of recent rumors that the twelfth lunar month is unlucky for marriage, the Li and Gao families need to hold their wedding before the twelfth lunar month to avoid bad luck.
Therefore, when the emperor's grand procession once again departed from the Vermilion Bird Gate, Dou Kang, who had been retired for a long time, sent a marriage certificate and betrothal gifts as a messenger.
The procession was grand and imposing. At the head of the procession were two fine horses carrying the letter, followed closely by a palanquin carrying the letter, and then palanquins carrying various items in succession, including colorful gifts, bundles of silk, money, pigs and sheep, noodles, game, fruit, ghee, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, pepper, ginger, scallions, and garlic.
The Gao family had prepared a bed in the main hall, with a table on it, upon which were placed an incense burner, a water bowl, and a knife. After the messenger Dou Kang arrived, Gao Shilian, following protocol, accepted the letter, took the knife, opened the sealed nanmu box, and publicly read aloud the marriage agreement:
"Yuan respectfully submits: My second son is of marriageable age but unmarried. I am pleased to learn of my virtuous niece, who possesses all four virtues, and wish to arrange a marriage between us. I have made this request through matchmaker Dou Kangdao. If you do not grant my request, I await your kind decision. Respectfully submitted by Yuan."
Because Changsun Qingjing's father, Changsun Sheng, had passed away, the entire Gao family shed three soft sobs to express their condolences.
After Changsun Chang and Gao Shilian exchanged pleasantries, Gao Shilian, as the maternal uncle, drafted the marriage proposal.
"Jian Jin replied: My niece is still young and not yet accustomed to proper etiquette. Chengxian's second son is unmarried, and considering the possibility of marriage, we wish to entrust him with the assistance of a matchmaker. I respectfully submit this request through matchmaker Dou Daosheng. Jian Jin."
The servant presented a gift box measuring one foot and two inches long, one inch and two-tenths inches wide, with a wooden board two-tenths of an inch thick and a seal three-tenths of an inch thick, and placed the marriage proposal inside. Finally, it was tied with five-colored thread, sealed, and handed over to Dou Kang.
Afterwards, Gao Shilian accepted the betrothal gifts from the group and hosted a meal for Changsun Chang and his envoy Dou Kang. During the meal, Dou Kang and Gao Shilian chatted amiably, even forgetting that they had originally sat together to arrange marriages for their respective nephews and nieces.
Following his cousin's instructions, Dou Kang chatted briefly with Changsun Qingjing about everyday matters. In his view, marriages among impulsive young people were mostly based on lust, and the woman's supposed virtue and talent were all nonsense and future considerations. Such was the way of the world, and he, as the matchmaker, didn't need to fuss over it. It was rare that his nephew had chosen the girl himself; he could bear the future troubles himself. As the messenger, he had done his job flawlessly by following the proper procedures.
Of course, there were some unspeakable reasons behind Dou Kang's quick agreement to act as matchmaker and his efforts to facilitate the marriage. He truly loathed Emperor Yang Guang! He loathed the emperor's unfounded suspicions and the stripping of his title! He also loathed the behavior of his cousins, who were related to the emperor, as if they were village women tirelessly inquiring about Li Shimin's marriage!
Therefore, Dou Kang felt more empathy and pity for Gao Shilian, who was unjustly demoted, and also felt more affection for the two children who were fostered in Gao Shilian's home.
He even felt a pang of regret that he hadn't met Gao Shilian sooner when he was young. The piece "Guangling San" that the latter played for Dou Kang and Changsun Chang in his drunken state today had the power to shake the Five Sacred Mountains and make the rivers and lakes seem to turn upside down, but unfortunately, he would never hear it again.
On the way back, Dou Kang recalled Li Yuan and his wife's doubts about Changsun Qingjing's escape from his uncle's house, and surprisingly volunteered to prepare a defense for the child: "What's the big deal about injuring a worthless servant? Long Yue is making a mountain out of a molehill. Such a filial and righteous child would rather go to a malarial land to serve his adoptive father than miss out on the grandeur of Daxing. Doesn't he deserve the status of the Longxi Li family?"
So the two families consulted the oracle and set a wedding date, then each offered their prayers at the temple.
On a clear winter morning, just after the morning bell rang, Lady Dou, who had been bedridden for several days, felt her mind clear and wanted to move around. Suddenly, she asked how many days it had been since Emperor Taizong of Tang left Daxing.
"It's been two days." The son, who had been keeping watch all night, woke up alertly and hurriedly instructed the maid to bring him medicine.
"Has the marriage proposal from the Gao family arrived yet?" the mother asked anxiously. Her illness had been flaring up more frequently lately, causing her to suffer from insomnia. But for her son's sake, she often endured the excruciating pain and concealed the truth.
“My uncle sent it yesterday. Father has seen it and instructed that invitations be sent out. The wedding should be completed before the twelfth lunar month.” Li Shimin frowned and said, “Recently, rumors have been circulating in Daxing City that the bride and her parents-in-law cannot meet in the twelfth lunar month, so many people have changed their wedding dates at the last minute…”
This hasty wedding made Li Shimin feel somewhat guilty towards Changsun Qingjing, and on the other hand, there was indeed no better way to accommodate Gao Shilian's limited time remaining in the capital.
“I should have found an opportunity to see that child during a performance of He Sheng or Tan Rongniang in the marketplace, but I imagine his family is in low spirits because of Gao Shilian’s demotion. If I were to invite him, it would seem like I was forcing them. His mother and uncle would inevitably think that our Li family is playing both sides, which would make you look bad. Since you insist on marrying him yourself, and your uncle praises her highly, then I have no objection… I heard from your Uncle Daosheng that she is also a strong-willed child. In order to be with the uncle who raised her, she did not hesitate to run away from her uncle’s house alone.” A faint smile appeared on Madam Dou’s face.
"Why did you cover it up for her? You even begged your fourth sister to keep these things from me too. That day, your fourth sister came back in a panic and secretly told me how eccentric and violent the woman you admired was, how she injured the servants, which really frightened your father and me. Fortunately, your uncle found out what happened, and your father and I were relieved enough to send the marriage certificate."
"It's strange, really. You say she's gentle and talented, Fourth Sister says she's arrogant and ruthless, and your uncle praises her for her unyielding will. You all have your own opinions, which only makes me more curious. Although I haven't personally met that lady who's as beautiful as Sui Zhu, I feel an inexplicable affinity with this child. She's probably an interesting girl who can rival you," Madam Dou said with a smile.
"Mother, you will definitely like her." Li Shimin could not use clear metaphors to describe Qingjing, nor could he tell his mother about their interactions and correspondence. He could only make a promise to Lady Dou with the most clumsy and vague words.
"You've promised me so many times. I like her even before I've met her. I'm just wondering why you used to always find excuses to go to the Gao residence, but lately you haven't been going at all? Don't you miss her at all?"
"Unless things change, there's no need for repeated testing and confirmation of what we've agreed upon. Mother, who do you think will change their mind first?"
Madam Dou laughed heartily: "You two are quite alike in your arrogance. Then you should spend more time with your old mother. Give the order to prepare a carriage for me; I'm going to Xianyang Plain to visit an old friend."
"Is Mother going to Xiaoling Mausoleum to pay respects? Or should I go visit Emperor Wu in her place? Mother shouldn't overexert herself for now. Once this illness has passed, I'll accompany Mother to Xianyang Plain, is that alright?"
“No good.” When the topic of worshipping the emperor who had raised her came up, Madam Dou suddenly became paranoid and stubborn.
“I often dream of my uncle lately. He is still the same dashing man in his thirties, while I have reverted to a six-year-old child. He sits beside me with a smile, letting me rummage through his room full of scriptures, playfully tugging at his beard, and leaning down to talk to me: ‘Lady Hedouling, are you hiding some good news from your uncle again? I raised you like a princess! Why didn’t you tell your uncle?’ The last time he spoke to me so affectionately in my dream was before my wedding, advising me not to be impulsive and reckless, and to live a good life. I have always listened to his advice.” When mentioning Emperor Wu of the Great Zhou, Yuwen Yong, who has been dead for many years, Lady Dou’s sorrow is still as deep as it was when she was nine years old.
“Mother, the divination results are very auspicious. My marriage with Lady Changsun will be happy, and Mother will surely live to be a hundred years old and healthy.” Li Shimin comforted her.
Madam Dou replied with a half-smile, "Thanks to the auspicious words of the divination, I dare not fail to recover from this illness, and therefore I dare not fail to pay my respects to my uncle. I am just afraid that one day I will fall ill and forget everything, and I will not even be able to remember my uncle's face. I must take advantage of the fact that my mind is still clear before I can tell him the good news."
In the stubborn tug-of-war between mother and son, the son finally lost the upper hand.
The mist had not yet dissipated over the fields on the south bank of the Wei River. Looking out the carriage window, Dou saw the dilapidated Zhuque Gate plaque of Zhou Xiaoling Mausoleum seemingly floating in the air. A strong north wind swept through, biting to the bone; the weeds bowed low, and the pine forest rippled like waves. It was a desolate and ruined scene.
Li Shimin dismounted and helped his mother out of the carriage. Clearly, the dilapidated walls before them indicated that the imperial mausoleum complex was no longer in use.
Madam Dou gave a cold snort: "The Yang family is indeed shameless. They stole my sacred artifacts, killed my descendants, stopped my sacrifices, and cut off my blood offerings. Such meanness will surely backfire."
The mother and son stood before the spirit tablet for a long time. Li Shimin allowed Lady Dou to whisper to the beloved and admired spirit of the deceased.
The young man suddenly realized that even his dashing and carefree father was not perfect. At least in his mother's heart, there was a hero whom even his father could not replace.
After paying respects to Yuwen Yong, Dou felt a great weight lifted from her heart, and a rare sense of relief and joy appeared on her face.
The shadows of the clouds were frozen, and the sunlight could not pierce the rigid sky.
A fierce wind swept across the land, crashing against the forgotten, towering walls with a clanging, metallic sound; it was like a stealthy army, moving swiftly without orders, secretly brewing an even greater calamity.
On the overgrown path, a few forgotten willows trembled, their tangled branches enduring a thousand torments as they struggled to live, waiting for the spring of next year.
Looking at the winter sun struggling in the rosy clouds, Madam Dou said, "It's still early. Find an excuse to go to the Gao residence. You can say you're visiting Mr. Gao. Why don't you think of a way to take Lady Changsun to see the Hesheng Opera? Ladies of that age all like Hesheng Opera."
Li Shimin laughed and said, "After we get married, I will accompany you two to watch the wedding ceremony and various performances. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
"Great!" Li Shimin said with anticipation.
"I'm just afraid that if you fall ill again, you might be deprived of the joys of singing, dancing, and leisure for a long time," Madam Dou said thoughtfully.
She looked back at the few broken willow trees; the frost was melting, turning into drops of dew that soaked the entire parched tree. In the dim morning light, the withered branches possessed a glassy luster.
"Mother, we'll come again next spring."
The horses neighed and the carriages creaked. Once again, Xiaoling Mausoleum fell silent, blending into the pale light and desolate mountains.
"You should go to Liren City, Metropolitan City, or Chongde Lane instead." Madam Dou looked back at the desolate and dilapidated Xiaoling Mausoleum from the carriage. "Vitiha, you're too noisy at home. Let me have some peace and quiet."
“But I clearly…” Li Shimin was about to retort, but then he understood and shut up.
Changsun Qingjing, dressed in men's clothing, with Gao Shilian's book list tucked into his sleeve, slowly made his way towards Liren City with a horse, a maid, and a song.
She felt something was amiss with today's events. In previous years, when it came to purchasing almanacs or similar items, it was always her elder brother, Wuji, who would go, and she would always be the one to cry and insist on going along. She didn't know why her uncle had allowed her to go alone today.
But then I thought, perhaps my uncle really needs to visit those old friends who tried their best to rescue him when he was in trouble, and bring his nephew, whom he treats as his own son, to show his respect.
"That day is just around the corner..." she sighed, unable to bear thinking about it any longer. "I'll spend as much time as possible with my uncle while he's still in Daxing, and I won't go against his wishes."
A horse suddenly darted out from the side path and galloped head-on towards Changsun Qingjing, its body almost brushing past him.
Both horses were startled and neighed incessantly.
A fish-shaped oil paper bag fell from the other person's body.
"Are you blind?" The retainer chased after him, angrily cursing at the young man who had carelessly bumped into Changsun Qingjing's horse, intending to pull him off the horse and make him apologize to Changsun Qingjing.
"Wait, they're family!" Ah Cai rushed between the two startled, neighing horses and picked up the oil paper bag.
A note from the author: Life is inevitably full of ups and downs.
Can you guess why Mom and Uncle wanted to find a way to kick the young couple out?
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