Chapter 89 Be good, open your mouth!
In the main hall, the matchmaker led the way, and the newlyweds stepped over the threshold.
Lu Zhaoying held a round fan to cover her face, making it impossible to see her features. Jiang Heng, on the other hand, was smiling so broadly that his eyes were almost closed. He looked utterly worthless, yet he was the most touching.
I glanced at Jiang Liangxu beside me; things were completely different from what was written in the book.
But once certain memories are stirred up, it's impossible to let yourself continue to wallow in them.
The wedding banquet was lively. Jiang Heng was more fiery than his brother. He had also made a group of like-minded friends in the city guard camp, and the wedding night was filled with lively teasing.
Zhao Xian held Xiu'er in her arms, listening to the maid relaying messages over and over again.
They were all people who knew each other well, but there was always a fear that things might go too far, so someone was always watching over them.
After the banquet ended at night and the guests were seen off, Zhao Xian returned to Haitang Residence, exhausted.
Jiang Liangxu was toasted quite a bit, and he leaned against the soft couch with his cheeks slightly flushed. There was a bowl of hangover soup on the table.
"Why didn't you finish the hangover soup?" Zhao Xian picked up the half-eaten soup and handed it to Jiang Liangxu. "Drink it all, or you'll have a headache when you wake up tomorrow."
Jiang Liangxu, with his eyes closed, said, "Madam, please."
Zhao Xian gently pinched his nose. "Are you sure you want me to feed you? Then I'll pinch your nose and force-feed you."
Her eyes, which had been closed, suddenly opened, her gaze gentle, with the long, narrow corners of her eyes upturned.
Zhao Xian raised an eyebrow, pinched his nose, and said, "Be good, open your mouth."
Their eyes met, and Jiang Liangxu smiled faintly. He looked away and saw the soup bowl in her hand. His slender fingers gripped the rim of the bowl as he drank the hangover soup.
Seeing this, Zhao Xian withdrew her hand. "I can't deal with you now!" Before she could hide her smugness, he grabbed the back of her head. Jiang Liangxu suddenly sat up and pressed his lips to hers, transferring the hangover soup from his mouth to hers.
The empty bowl fell onto the carpet with a soft sound.
Zhao Xian tried to push him away, but a hand grabbed her waist, restraining her and forcing her to swallow the hangover soup.
With their lips and teeth locked in a fierce struggle, Jiang Liangxu conquered territory step by step.
Zhao Xian originally had something to ask him, but in the end, he aroused her desire, and she completely forgot about what she wanted to ask.
Overnight, the towering iceberg in the basin melted into a basin of clear water.
Early in the morning, when Zhao Xian opened her eyes, she felt that she had forgotten something from yesterday.
"What are you thinking about? The second son will be coming to offer tea soon. Don't you want to get up?"
Seeing Jiang Liangxu sitting beside her in his undergarments, Zhao Xian suddenly remembered, "I heard something happened at the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence?"
She overheard some ladies discussing this matter privately while entertaining guests yesterday.
It is said that the Marquis was directly demoted to Earl, and the Marquis's Mansion became the Earl's Mansion. After the Earl of Dingyuan died, the Earl's title was taken back, so the Earl's Mansion would have no heir. I also heard from a lady that even when the Princess went to plead for him, she couldn't get the Emperor to change his mind.
"His Majesty has tolerated Marquis Dingyuan for a long time. This time, the censor impeached him, and many ministers followed suit and submitted a lot of evidence." Jiang Liangxu nodded and said, "His Majesty, out of consideration for the old Marquis, did not directly strip him of his marquisate, but demoted him. This can be considered an act of mercy."
"Were you involved in this?" On the day of the Sixth Prince's residence, the Lady of Dingyuan Marquis tried to establish a marriage alliance with Zhao Xian, but Zhao Xian slapped her without any mercy, and many people witnessed it.
Although some people privately discussed whether this matter was related to her, none of them came directly to Zhao Xian to verify it.
She was too busy to chat with anyone, but she figured that since they were all officials in the court, Jiang Liangxu must know.
I was originally planning to ask him that evening.
Thinking about how he had given her the hangover soup last night, Zhao Xian was so angry that she kicked him.
Seeing her angry expression, Jiang Liangxu was somewhat confused. "The Marquis of Dingyuan's residence cannot be touched?"
"No, it should be moved. You have no idea how much that Lady Dingyuan is thinking. What kind of son does she have? She still wants to marry Tingyue. She couldn't get the Empress Dowager to grant her a marriage, so she actually spread rumors to ruin Tingyue's reputation. She's shameless."
Jiang Liangxu was even more confused, "Since I did nothing wrong, why did you kick me, my wife?"
"I didn't kick you because of the Dingyuan Marquis's mansion." With that, Zhao Xian pulled the bell rope, and soon, maids filed in to help her with her washing and grooming.
After breakfast, the two went to the side hall. Today was the day of Jiang Heng and Lu Zhaoying's wedding tea ceremony. The newlyweds could be late, but they, as elders, could not, so as not to make the bride feel that the Jiang family did not value them.
While waiting, Jiang Liangxu brought up the autumn hunt, saying, "Would you like to go for a visit, Madam? This time His Majesty has allowed families to bring their children, and the princes should be able to put on a good show. The younger generation will also be participating. Isn't the government looking for a husband for Tingyue? It's a good opportunity to see more potential husbands."
The portraits he had previously helped him look at were only selected from those she provided. With more people attending the autumn hunt, he could take his time to look at them.
Zhao Xian's first reaction was, why the sudden autumn hunt? The current emperor is not a wasteful and extravagant monarch.
The last autumn hunt was in the first year after Jiang Liangxu was promoted and returned to Jin'an. The reason was a great victory at the border. The autumn hunt was a celebration. At that time, Jiang Liangxu was not qualified to go. He was only allowed to go by the emperor's special request. Zhao Xian was even less qualified to go.
This autumn hunt is a plot point in the book, and it's in a tragic story. After the autumn hunt, a new emperor ascends the throne, and with the change of dynasties, the court officials also change. Jiang Wei becomes a favorite of the new emperor.
Those who were dissatisfied attributed his rise to power to the help he received from his missing father.
Judging from the fact that Jiang Wei is increasingly valued in the Dali Temple, he is a capable person with a clear goal of climbing the ranks.
But who is the new emperor in the book? Because it's a tragic novel that focuses on romance, there's not much written about court affairs; many are just mentioned in passing.
"I'll go. Autumn hunting is a rare treat; I've never been before," Zhao Xian agreed. "Which month are you planning to go to?"
It concerns an important point in the book, and she doesn't want to miss it, especially since Jiang Liangxu is not missing now, and she doesn't know if the plot will change.
"Mid-September, there are still more than two months to go."
Zhao Xian nodded: "The timing is fine; it avoids Wei'er's coming-of-age ceremony."
Jiang Wei will turn twenty this year. Normally, his birthday doesn't need to be celebrated in a big way; his family can just celebrate it. But his coming of age is different. Like a girl's coming of age, it is very important and cannot be taken lightly.
The coming-of-age ceremony in the book was not held. According to the plot, everyone was busy searching for the missing Jiang Liangxu, so no one cared about Jiang Wei's coming-of-age ceremony.
Zhao Xian felt that her amnesia was like filling a void, and thankfully, it had been filled.
Jiang Liangxu had no objection to this, saying, "It is fine as Madam arranges it."
The two were talking about the autumn hunt and Jiang Wei's coming of age when a maid announced that the eldest son, the eldest daughter-in-law, and Xiu'er had arrived.
Jiang Shuxiu broke free from her father's embrace and ran to Zhao Xian, calling out, "Grandmother."
Zhao Xian bent down and hugged the little one in her arms.
Jiang Wei helped Li Lianniang, whose belly was already showing, to sit down. Although her face was still expressionless, at least he didn't hear much about the eldest son and his wife arguing.
Moreover, Li Lianniang's complexion seemed alright. Jiang Wei, the male protagonist of this tragic novel, didn't exhibit the blindly credulous behavior often seen in the book, which actually made him appear quite wise.
Cui Tingyue followed Jiang Wei and the others a few steps behind, saying, "Daughter greets godfather and godmother."
"sit."
Jiang Heng and Lu Zhaoying arrived not too late. Before they even stepped across the threshold, Jiang Heng's face was beaming with joy, while Lu Zhaoying was reserved and shy. The couple held hands, looking every bit the newlyweds.
The Jiang family is a small family, and the tea ceremony was straightforward; everyone presented their prepared tea offerings.
After serving tea, the two took their seats.
Jiang Heng wasn't one to keep secrets. "Father, Mother, my father-in-law and mother-in-law are leaving for their new posts today. I'd like to take Yingying with me to see them off."
Jiang Liangxu didn't react much. "Go ahead. Your mother has prepared a homecoming gift for you. You can take it with you."
"There's no time to lose, son. Let's go now, or we'll miss it."
With that, the young couple prepared to take their leave.
Zhao Xian suddenly spoke up: "I remember you said before that you had made meritorious contributions in the city guard camp and were given a whole month's leave."
Jiang Heng didn't know why his mother was asking this, so he nodded and said, "Yes."
"If you're worried, bring more people with you. Calculate the auspicious days for the journey and escort your parents-in-law. It'll also be a good opportunity to take Yingying out for a trip."
There was no such thing as a honeymoon trip in ancient times.
Lord Lu was demoted, not exiled. Although the court urged him to leave Jin'an, the journey was not as harsh.
According to the original novel, Lord Lu returned to Jin'an three years later, but that was the result of Jiang Wei and Jiang Heng mediating between them.
I wonder if the Lu family wasn't exiled this time, and Jiang Heng married Lu Zhaoying again, so he'll still be running around for his father-in-law.
Upon hearing Zhao Xian's words, Lu Zhaoying suddenly looked up, her eyes filled with shock and joy.
On the way, she talked to Jiang Heng about seeing her parents off. They were both worried that her father-in-law and mother-in-law would not agree, since she had only been married into the family for a short time.
Jiang Liangxu added, "That's a good idea. Bring more people, plan the journey and the days carefully, and don't delay our business."
"Father and Mother, you and your son have the same idea. But since you've put it that way, then your son won't stand on ceremony." Jiang Heng's actual plan was to take Lu Zhaoying to see his parents-in-law off, and then tell his parents about it later.
But now that things have been brought up openly, Jiang Heng is even less likely to hold back.
Lu Zhaoying was very polite, and although she didn't say anything, her eyes were full of excitement.
The two returned to the courtyard, packed some more things, and hurriedly left the mansion with the return gifts.
In contrast to the book, where Zhao Xian feigns illness to avoid attending the wedding of the main characters in a sweet romance novel, thus losing face as a junior, the tea ceremony the next day is naturally fraught with conflict.
Although he later managed to appease her with his charming words, the seeds of conflict had already been sown long ago.
The couple in this sweet romance novel doesn't have many conflicts. The only conflict is probably with her, so Zhao Xian thinks that restraining herself is the best way to help them.
The two would be gone for five or six days at a time. Jiang Heng often went to the city guard camp and was away from home for twenty days at a time. Zhao Xian was used to his absence and was not too worried, especially since they brought many guards with them when they went out.
After paying her respects, Cui Tingyue lingered in the embroidery room, then hesitantly asked, "Mother, are you free the day after tomorrow, the Qixi Festival?"
Zhao Xian blurted out, "The Qixi Festival? Isn't that a festival for you young ladies? Why are you asking if I'm free? You want me to go with you to the Qixi Festival? That's not impossible."
The Qixi Festival in Jin'an is very lively. Last year, the festival was canceled due to flooding, but this year it is expected to be very lively.
Normally, it should be young men and women going on a trip. Xu Luohua is actually a good kid, but after the Sixth Prince's residence last time, Zhao Xian felt that Madam Xu might not be a good mother-in-law. The other party probably also thought she was too fierce, so they haven't been in contact since.
Li Lianniang twirled the round fan in her hand: "I've signed up for a Qiqiao (Festival of the Seventh Month) competition. Would you like to come and watch me compete that day, Mother?"
Zhao Xian knew about the competition; many unmarried girls went to join in the fun, but she had never gone to watch it. Now that she thought about it, what was she holding back for all those rules? She had ruined all the fun.
“Great! I remember there was a needle-threading embroidery competition, which is one of your specialties.”
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Author's note: The major plot of the autumn hunt is almost over, and we are moving towards the end.
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