Chapter 28 The Li Family's Friends and Relatives: From Son-in-Law to Poet
Ah Cai was extremely anxious and rummaged through her dressing case, finding a few shad scales and a box of fish maw glue.
She picked up the scissors, unsure which pattern to choose.
"Little ancestor, please don't move around anymore..." A-Cai prayed with her hands clasped together to Changsun Qingjing, who was preparing to personally search for the dried peony petals.
The heavy headdress restricted her movements, so Wang Wan took out a peony that was dehydrated but still retained its spirit and showed it to A Cai. After a moment's thought, A Cai began to cut out freehand peony shapes from the shad scales.
The sharp-eyed Wang Wan noticed something amiss: "These are peonies from the Forbidden Garden. I've seen several of them, bestowed by the Emperor, at my great-uncle's place. I wonder which noble person gave them to my aunt?"
Changsun Qingjing raised an eyebrow and said, "I don't remember clearly, but it was probably a gift from a relative or friend of the Gao family in Luoyang."
"I don't believe it." Wang Wan rubbed the flower stem and carefully put it into her dressing case. "Only the Luoyang Palace has peonies grown with earth fire... The only person who has recently visited the Luoyang Palace and had the interest to bring you peonies is your husband. He is deeply in love with you!"
"Mind your own business!" Changsun Qingjing was about to reach out and poke Wang Wan's chest, but was stopped by A Cai.
"Don't move, my lady!" A layer of fish glue was applied to the back of the exquisite peony flower ornament. A Cai breathed on the ornament and stuck the fingernail-sized peony flower ornament to Changsun Qingjing's forehead.
Wang Wan swayed left and right, admiring Changsun Qingjing's new makeup, and said with great delight, "When the groom sees this peony when the fan is turned off, he should be both surprised and fond of it. It's a pity I won't be able to see you two looking at each other."
“If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll make things difficult for the groom at your wedding and make sure you can’t leave home.”
This threat had no intimidating effect whatsoever, only eliciting a chuckle from Wang Wan: "Auntie should worry more about how many obstacles Uncle will have to overcome to take you away."
“I’m not in a hurry to leave home.” Changsun Qingjing’s eyes sparkled with the joy of the rising sun, contradicting her words.
"Only the lips are left." Ah Cai sighed. "I wonder how things are at the entrance? Will the young men be able to stop the grand wedding procession?"
"Wait a minute." Wang Wan closed the lid of the lip rouge box. "We must be a little reserved and slowly apply it when it's time for the makeup. Don't make the groom anxious!" The elders who remained in the main hall clapped and laughed, praising Wang Wan for her cleverness and thoughtfulness.
Changsun Qingjing nodded and smiled. With the three of them having made their decision, Acai leaned against the table and pretended to doze off with Changsun Qingjing's tacit approval, while Wang Wan leaned out to look behind the screen.
The maids who stayed behind began preparing the saddle for the goose offering ceremony, tying five-colored silk threads on it.
Changsun Qingjing looked around the parade grounds. Apart from Madam Gao, Madam Zheng, his mother Gao, his maternal aunt Xianyu, his uncle Changsun Chang, and his paternal uncle Changsun Cao, all the other guests and their families, young and old, were present.
"Don't worry." Madam Gao stepped closer to inspect the ceremonial hat of her eldest grandson Qingjing. "With your elder sisters protecting you, you will not lose face, and your husband will be safe."
Changsun Qingjing's heart was in turmoil and confusion. She was unsure whether she cared more about the self-righteous dignity and self-respect of a noblewoman or about the safety and well-being of her future husband.
The sound of the wedding procession's drums echoed in the air, then moved beyond the surface, vibrating and impacting every corner around them, finally stirring in her confused heart, making her unsure whether the powerful thumping in her chest was her heartbeat or the drumbeats.
The moment the drumbeats stopped, Changsun Qingjing knew that the wedding procession had arrived.
The Gao and Changsun families, along with their relatives and friends, had already crowded around the door, ready to tease the groom. Changsun Qingyu pushed through the crowd and tapped on the shoulders of Dazhi and Dahui, who were peeking through the crack in the door, signaling everyone to listen to her instructions. The young men of the Changsun family had all experienced the shrewishness of this elder sister, and they were all trembling with fear.
Li Shimin and his cousins dismounted, inspected the two geese, and straightened their clothes. After confirming that everything was in order, Li Shimin quickly stepped forward, grasped the door knocker, and knocked on the door, but no one answered.
Although he knew that the servants who were gathering information had already turned around to report when they heard the convoy, and that all the women and guests in the Gao family were gathered on one side of the gate, he still couldn't help but shout loudly according to the custom: "Thieves must be beaten, guests must be seen, tell the sisters-in-law to come out and see."
The people on the other side of the door exchanged glances, unsure how to react. The young women could only mutter at most, "That's quite a loud voice," but dared not make a move.
Changsun Qingyu winked at his relatives and friends, coughed deliberately a few times, and loudly responded towards the door: "Who are you, sir? What talent are you? You are full of vigor and spirit, what brings you here?"
Young girls and women peeked at the groom through the crack in the door, whispering and commenting on everything from his appearance and physique to his clothing.
Standing behind Li Shimin, Li Xiaogong spoke with the air of someone who had been through it all: "It seems we'll be reciting poems at every turn today. Try to come up with a few random lines to get by!"
Li Shimin pondered how he could boast about himself without being laughed at, given that he was not the heir apparent to the Tang dynasty and currently held no official position.
Li Daoxuan stepped forward first and answered: "I am a gentleman from Chang'an, born into a noble family, and was selected as a prefect, hence my high status."
The child's clear, innocent voice brought laughter to the crowd on the other side. They whispered among themselves, "The groom's little brother is so adorable!"
Changsun Qingyu beckoned Changsun Wuyi over and whispered a few words in his ear. Changsun Wuyi then asked in a higher tone, "Since you are a gentleman from a distinguished family, superior to the elite, may I ask your purpose and what you seek?"
On the other side of the door, Li Daozong covered Li Daoxuan's eager mouth, reserving his most sincere and passionate declaration for the groom: "Having heard your eloquent words, I have come to visit you. A beautiful and virtuous lady is the object of a gentleman's affections."
The sound of a loose bolt coming from inside the door was heard. The wedding party pushed forward to open the door, but it remained firmly in place.
The Li brothers called over the Dou family, and the Yan brothers helped out as the door gently opened and closed.
After this happened three times, Changsun Qingyu gave Changsun Wuji a wink and ordered everyone to back off. Then, another shout came from outside the door to encourage everyone, and the groom and his cousins staggered and stumbled into the room.
The bride's relatives and friends were naturally overjoyed. Carrying bamboo canes, they surrounded the groom's brother-in-law, Changsun Wuji, making a show of force and shouting to intimidate him. Although the Gao family's new residence was much smaller than their previous mansion, with the main hall immediately visible upon entering, after some rearrangement, it didn't appear too shabby compared to the Li family's wedding procession.
Amidst the cheers of the crowd, Changsun Wuji adopted the demeanor of a patriarch, asking in a pretentious tone, "What is the purpose of this operation? Who is accompanying you? State your details in order, without any confusion!"
Changsun Minxing nudged him from behind and said, "Louder!"
Li Daozong laughed and said, "You're going to keep exchanging poems endlessly, aren't you?"
“If you’re not satisfied, you can stand in for the groom and do the wedding knife!” Li Dazhi challenged Li Daozong defiantly.
"Gentlemen, please don't argue! We have a prior agreement: we will recite poems and drink wine as we move. The groom must not refuse toasts from the bride's relatives and friends, must not snatch the bamboo cane, and must not complain about our difficulties." Changsun Qingyu said, standing beside Changsun Wuji. "Young Master Li, if you agree to these terms and fulfill them all, we will allow you to take your sister away. Do you agree?"
"Of course I agree," Li Shimin replied decisively.
While Li Shimin was getting to know all of Changsun Qingjing's aunts and sisters-in-law, Changsun Wuji turned to his elder sister Changsun Qingyu and whispered, "Sister, you must not actually get Li Shimin drunk and hurt him."
Changsun Qingyu tapped Wuji's back lightly with his bamboo cane and said, "It is clearly your sister who is getting married, yet you, brother, are worried about your brother-in-law's safety. What is the reason for this?"
"Isn't it because I'm afraid everyone's sons-in-law will go too far? My sister is only complaining about me! When she gets angry, she's not like a lynx barging into the hall, completely reckless!" Changsun Wuji wanted to protect Changsun Qingjing's dignity and face, knowing that Li Shimin would have to suffer a bit, but he also knew how much Li Shimin cared for his sister and even the entire Gao Shilian family, so he couldn't bear to torture him to death. He could only joke with his cousin to beg for mercy for his friend.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Changsun Qingyu gestured for someone to bring over the wine and instructed Dazhi to fill his glass. "Our Changsun family's prestige cannot be diminished, and the Li family's reputation must also be preserved. Am I someone who is ignorant of human relationships? Go, let him drink and compose poetry first!"
Changsun Wuji straightened his clothes and exchanged greetings with the Li brothers.
"Now that we have descended to the gate, please recite a poem, my dear husband." It was rare for Changsun Wuji to speak to Li Shimin so seriously, and he almost couldn't help but laugh.
Li Shimin pointed to his bamboo tablet and, inspired by a not-so-thick cypress tree in the central courtyard, recited: "This cypress is the cypress of Nanshan Mountain, which will serve as the lintel for the gate. The lintel will stand forever, but the woman is just a temporary guest."
Changsun Wuji took the wine pot from Changsun Qingyu's hand and laughed, "Nonsense! Don't you dare bully my family because we have no one to rely on! Who said my sister is just a temporary guest with no one to back her up? If you don't treat her well after the marriage, I will definitely not forgive you!"
"The new brother-in-law is right! The new son-in-law misspoke and should be punished!" the crowd jeered.
Changsun Wuji picked up a bamboo cane and gently poked Li Shimin's chest as a form of punishment. Li Shimin smiled and bowed to everyone.
Li Dazhi shouted, "The blow was too light, it doesn't count!"
"Alright, then I'll punish myself with a cup of wine." Li Shimin accepted the wine cups handed to him by Changsun Wuyi and Changsun Minxing, readily acknowledging the punishment.
The rest of the relatives and friends who were crowding in front of the groom, led by Li Dazhi, held bamboo canes and dropped them haphazardly onto the groom's chest, back, and limbs.
Li Daozong also received a few light blows, and then pointed at Li Dazhi and said jokingly, "Don't be arrogant. From now on, you are not allowed to call my brother 'brother' anymore. Remember to call him 'uncle'!"
The crowd burst into laughter again, forcing Li Dazhi to change his tune. Dazhi's face immediately turned purplish-red.
Li Daoxuan snatched the third cup of wine poured by Changsun Wuyi: "Brothers are of one mind, I will accept the punishment on behalf of my elder brother."
Changsun Wuyi said, "No cheating allowed."
Li Daoxuan scoffed, "Your elder sister only said you couldn't refuse, not that you couldn't take the punishment on her behalf. You're the one who's cheating!"
"No more rambling, let's have a drinking contest if you dare."
"Let's fight then."
After the two children finished speaking, they each took a wine cup, neither wanting to be outdone.
The crowd was amused by the fierce and aggressive talk and behavior of the bride and groom's younger brothers. They laughed as the brothers each drank a few cups of wine before the crowd snatched the cups away and forcibly dragged them away.
Compared to the grand wedding procession of the Li family, the Gao family's new house seemed rather cramped. Fortunately, the lively atmosphere of relatives and friends, the tapping of bamboo canes, the clinking of cups, and the elegant recitation of poems made up for this shortcoming.
When Li Shimin arrived at the central gate, the bride's family and friends had already locked the door. Changsun Wuji tapped the key with a bamboo cane, signaling Li Shimin to recite a poem.
Li Daozong stepped forward to help: "The lock is a golden hook lock, with copper and iron interlocked. Please use the key to open it for now and let the governor pass."
Li Dazhi had recovered from the embarrassment of being mocked at the beginning, and he said sarcastically in the crowd, "Hey, your poem doesn't quite capture the meaning, try again!" As soon as he finished speaking, his mother hit him on the head with a key.
Changsun Qingyu warned her son, "That's enough. Hurry up and take the key to open the middle door."
Changsun Wuji laughed and said, "Although the writing is a bit crude, it is not without sincerity. Dazhi, please remove the golden hook lock and remove the sandalwood lock for your new son-in-law."
The bride's relatives and friends blocked the entrance to the main gate, pretending to hit the groom with bamboo sticks to drive him away, shouting as they went to bolster their presence; the wedding party, surrounding the groom, showed no fear and headed straight for the main hall...
Author's Note: Reconstructing a Sui and Tang Dynasty Wedding Based on Limited Resources
In addition, I'll add some of my own reasonable imagination (speculation).
Please forgive any shortcomings.
If you like it, feel free to comment and save it.
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