Chapter 120
The nineteenth year of Ningwu was a good year. This year, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince married the Crown Princess. The Emperor showed his grace and issued a general amnesty, exempting agricultural taxes for one year and 30% of commercial taxes.
The people of Dasheng began singing praises after hearing the imperial edict last autumn and winter, thinking about the good days ahead - their families would be exempt from land taxes for the year, and they would save up grain for their own food and then sell it all for silver to marry their children off or build houses.
In short, it's all good to look forward to.
As for their prince marrying a male concubine as the heir to the throne, the people don't care whether she is a man or a woman. As long as she can be exempted from land tax, then she is a good prince consort and it is a great joy.
This year, the snow in the north indicated a good harvest, and there were several consecutive spring rains. Spring rain is as precious as oil, so this year was a good time for the harvest.
"It seems that God has blessed our Crown Prince and Crown Princess."
"I heard that the local masters have presented gifts."
"The emperor and queen have only one son, the prince. I heard that he is doted on and pampered since he was a child. The prince likes boys and she indulges him. The princess comes from a scholarly family, and her uncle is highly regarded by the emperor in the cabinet."
"Where are the Crown Princess' parents?"
"I heard that he went to heaven to become a god because of his pursuit of immortality. His parents are all gone."
"That's fine, that's fine."
"I heard that the Crown Princess is very beautiful, like a fairy from heaven."
…
After the people praised the emperor, they went on to praise the crown prince and the crown princess. They were illiterate and did not understand the court struggles. They only knew that since the current emperor came to power, life has been getting better year by year and that the current emperor is a good emperor.
There are a few sayings among the people: The Crown Princess has a hard life and her parents are unlucky, but they have not spread widely. Instead, the most common sayings are that the Crown Princess is not an ordinary person on earth, her parents are immortals, and after giving birth to the Crown Princess, they completed their merits and returned to heaven to become immortals. The Crown Princess was very talented when she was studying, and she was the God of Literature. The Crown Prince is the son of a real dragon, and the Crown Princess is here to assist him.
This is called harmonious marriage, a match made in heaven.
Even in some places, wedding parties were held for His Highness to marry the Crown Princess - local officials also strongly supported it. In fact, it was mainly for merchants to make a fortune. In recent years, ordinary people have had some spare money and took their families, young and old, out to attend wedding parties.
It's similar to a temple fair, but the wedding atmosphere is more festive than at a temple fair.
If anyone is having a wedding for their child this year or next, they can come and do some shopping. In addition to food, drink and entertainment, the wedding party mostly has red silk, red cloth, red thread, and some head and facial jewelry for the bride, both expensive and cheap, as well as some small paper-cuts with exquisite craftsmanship. You can also ask for a pair of wild geese, mandarin ducks and other wedding objects.
Therefore, this wedding party became popular and held in some prosperous places in the south of the Yangtze River on March 13th every year.
It is held every year.
This is a later story.
March 13th is an auspicious day.
Shengdu City is particularly lively. Today is the auspicious day for His Highness to marry the Crown Princess. Two days ago, wedding cakes and money have been distributed in various places in Jiumen. As long as you wait at the auspicious time, you can basically get them.
The children were so happy that they ran around very fast. They could buy maltose and candied haws with the money they received. When the parents were not paying attention, the children disappeared. The parents were so scared that they shouted the children's names in the crowd.
After a while, the soldiers came over carrying the child by the arm.
"Your Highness' wedding day is coming up soon. There will be a lot of people around, so keep an eye on the child."
"Hey, what the official said is right." The common people who were bullied could only thank God and breathe a sigh of relief that their children were not abducted, so they didn't care about the official's fierce tone.
As soon as the official leaves, spank the child a few times.
After the child stops crying, the adult will give him a few copper coins to buy him a piece of candy to comfort him.
Scenes like this were not uncommon on the streets of the Nine Gates of Shengdu City these past two days. They happened from time to time. Because they happened so often, the people were surprised: "The official is really kind-hearted. He even found the child for us."
"I heard that His Highness had predicted this and ordered that no kidnappers should take advantage of the wedding to kidnap children. If you send a child back, the official can accumulate merits and reward them later."
“No wonder.”
"That's what I said."
"But your highness, it's a good day. It would be abominable if some kidnappers took advantage of the chaos to fish in troubled waters."
As expected, several kidnappers were caught at one of the Nine Gates. The people applauded and cheered, and everyone shouted for their beating. After they were beaten, they were sent to the Taichang Temple.
The warm-up two days before was already joyous. All the shops facing the main street in the city hung red lanterns, red cloth, silk, and pasted the word "囍" on them. On the wedding day, the people also heard the process: His Highness would first leave the palace to pick up the bride at Yan's Mansion, and then go around the two main roads, and the people could all watch and celebrate. Afterwards, the carriage would enter from the Xuande Gate, the main gate of the Taiji Palace, and the ceremony would be held in front of the Taiji Hall.
Chen time.
At seven o'clock in the morning, Xuan Duofu had been awake for half an hour. He quickly finished his meal, which was still dry. He didn't need the chief steward Wang to remind him. It seemed that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had gone through this process in his mind many times.
After finishing my meal, I began to get dressed anxiously.
Zhufeng and Zhuixue stepped forward and helped His Highness dress with a smile.
Zhuyue Zhuixing got married the year she came back from the southern tour. His Highness added to her dowry and bought her everything good he saw along the way, making full preparations for the two of them. Now the two of them are newlyweds with their husbands, and Zhuyue Zhuixing is pregnant.
Zhufeng and Zhuixue were first-class palace maids in the Eastern Palace who were trained by the two of them.
The auspicious dress was layered, with pendants and ornaments totaling 23 pieces. One person certainly couldn't wear them all. Xuan Duofu didn't like to wear these before, but today he stood there with his head held high and chest puffed out, not moving, and said, "Put some powder on me and draw some eyebrows later."
Chief Steward Wang: ...
"Banban, don't think it's weird for a boy to wear makeup. This is a big day. If I don't dress up, I'll have to parade through the streets and wave to the people. I have to look dignified and elegant, so that when people see me, they'll say, wow, the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess are a match made in heaven."
Chief Steward Wang: ...
Is he the kid raised by Xu Xiaoman? Why is Xiao Duofu so much like Xu Xiaoman in the way he likes someone, so happy and careless.
Xuanyifu happily dressed up and sat in front of the mirror. He had just combed his hair and was now wearing a crown. After putting on the crown, Xuanyifu instructed someone to put on makeup for him skillfully, "I want my eyebrows to look more heroic."
"Don't make your lips too red. It makes me look unmanly."
"Don't make the powder too thick, in case it gets too hot and the soup comes out."
Zhuixue suppressed her smile and said, "Good Your Highness, this white powder won't cause white liquid to flow out when applied to the face. It's a top-quality powder, and it's not very hot today."
"That's good." Xuanyu Fu was satisfied.
It was a beautiful day with birds singing and flowers blooming. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, smelling a strong fragrance, walked towards the Zichen Palace with the wind. He first went to pay his respects to his two fathers and said that he was going to pick up his wife. The two fathers gave him a few words of blessing and the procedure ended. Then he got in a car and the Crown Prince's entourage set out from Xuande Gate to pick up the bride.
When the Emperor and Empress met the Crown Prince, they found that he was relatively calm today and performed the etiquette properly - because the ceremonial officer was watching and reminding him of the procedure from time to time.
After receiving the gift, the prince stood there excitedly, looking at his two fathers.
Two fathers: ...
Xu Xiaoman almost couldn't hold back his laughter, and Duoduo looked like he was saying "Dad, hurry up and say your blessings", "I have to pick up my wife, don't delay the auspicious time".
Zhong Yun was speechless and gave a few words of blessing.
Don’t scold your son on a happy occasion.
After the prince left, the empress sat aside. Xu Xiaoman said, "As expected, people are in high spirits when they are happy. Duoduo looks so handsome today with a rosy complexion."
Today is a big day, and everyone in the palace is in high spirits. Even if a palace maid makes a small mistake, she will not be punished today. At most, she will be told not to make the same mistake again. His Highness got married, and three months' salary was increased two days ago.
Zhao Erxi said in a humorous way: "I heard that His Highness even put on powder and drew eyebrows today."
"..." Zhong Jue.
Xu Xiaoman laughed and said, "It's his due! It's a big day and he'll be meeting people soon, so he should tidy up."
At half past eight, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince left the palace from Xuande Gate in a carriage, accompanied by a huge procession of ceremonial guards and gifts, which were so numerous that one could not see the beginning but the end. They left the Taiji Palace and headed for the Yan Mansion.
The Yan Mansion is relatively close, at the junction of the palaces of the royal family and officials in the inner imperial city. The emperor awarded the house all at once that year, and the gate of the house faces the street. Yan Ning has always been favored. Over the years, because the emperor values him, he has been slowly polishing his talents. Yan Ning himself is not impatient, but very steady and low-key. Even when he is teased and praised by others, he is still a reserved and humble person.
But since the year before last, when the Crown Prince returned from his southern tour, the Emperor granted him a marriage and his nephew was named the Crown Princess. Since then, Yan Ning - has been able to keep a low profile no longer.
Fortunately, at that time, the daughter of Hua Ge was chosen to be the Crown Prince's Consort of Prince Li's Mansion, so she could share some of the glory.
However, after the clan case last year, Zhong Huanxiong and the Crown Prince's Consort got married in the second half of the year. It was quite lively, but it was much more low-key. The civil and military officials saw clearly that the Crown Prince of Prince Li's family had no chance, but since His Highness had no children, it was estimated that the Crown Prince and the Crown Prince's Consort would have a child...
Nowadays, no matter what rumors are spread outside, no one can be as prosperous as the Yan Mansion today. The front door of the Yan Mansion was swept clean and covered with red cloth, and there were lights and decorations everywhere. The door was open, and the streets were not cleared, but soldiers were dispatched to draw a line, and the people could only watch from both sides of the street.
Liu Qiang dragged Wang Yuansun to Yan's house early in the morning, rubbing his hands and saying that he would "perform well" today, and even talked to Li Ze - the two of them discussed how to set up the wedding reception checkpoints.
"What's so special about Linhai Prefecture?" Liu Qiang had been asking two days ago.
Li Ze: "There are literary tests and martial arts tests..." That's what he said.
Liu Qiang cheered continuously. He said that he and Wang Yuansun had married a few years ago and Wang Yuansun had made many things difficult for them. Now he could get his revenge! Wahahahaha!
So when the Crown Prince's carriage arrived, Liu Qiang, Wang Yuansun, Li Ze and his group of fathead fish and dandy people were guarding the gate of Yan's mansion. Liu Qiang was the first to go and said with a big smile: "Your Highness, our Young Master Yan is the God of Literature. How can we take him away so easily?"
Many blessings: a noble sneer.
He guessed that Liu Qiang would definitely make things difficult for him, but fortunately he was prepared.
His Highness stood at the bottom of the stairs, still with great momentum, he glanced at the people on the stairs and said, "Do you think I'm afraid of you? You mob, come on!"
"Your Highness is truly magnanimous." Li Ze praised.
The three fathead fish followed Li Ze's words like supporting actors.
"The first one is a martial arts test at the gate." Liu Qiang said.
Many people clapped their hands, and Xu Lingguan and the Jinwu Guards came forward. Liu Qiang: ...Just short of shouting "You have no shame" and "Can't afford to play?"
"You talk first, I'll do it together, okay?" Xuanyue Fujin's tail was so high up in the sky that he followed Liu Qiang and the others to have some fun.
Everyone started to make a fuss and began to give His Highness difficult questions.
Things like arm wrestling, hopscotch, and hopping on one leg to hit the other side, and whoever puts down the leg first loses - these were all activities that were often played in physical education classes in Chongming Hall in the past.
Xuanyifu led the best soldiers of the Jinwu Guards and went to attack Wang Yuansun first. Liu Qiang cried anxiously. Xuanyifu held Wang Yuansun's hand and said, "Hold on, I will tell you a secret of Liu Qiang."
"Liu Qiang has no secrets from me," said Wang Yuansun.
Xuanyu Fu: I can’t even fool you. Damn it.
"I'll lend you the book that Liu Qiang likes to read."
"What storybook?"
Oh, Wang Yuansun didn't know this! Manyu Fu quickly took advantage of the situation. Wang Yuansun smiled and said that today was His Highness's big day, so everyone was just having fun and it would definitely not be a real deal. So he nodded and agreed to the deal.
So Xuanyifu first "captured" Wang Yuansun, and Liu Qiang's subordinates were scattered.
Xuanyu Fu was beaming with joy, wearing a bouquet on his chest, and waved: "Follow Gu Chong!!!"
They were allowed through the main gate and arrived at the second door of the inner house, which was for the written test.
Li Ze set the questions for the written test.
Manyu Fu applauded and Zhou Quan and Li Ang stepped out.
He also sighed: Pan Zihong has gone to work as an official in the local area, otherwise, based on our friendship, the former top scholar would have come to his aid!
"Your Highness, why do you always ask someone else to answer the questions? This is cheating."
Someone in the crowd shouted at the top of his lungs.
Many blessings: ...
Liu Qiang, don’t think that I won’t know it’s you just because you pinched your throat!
"Liu Qiang, wait for me!"
Everyone laughed.
Li Ze directly asked the question: matching love poems. Zhou Quan, who had no romantic taste, only read serious articles and didn't read the love poems much, and actually gave up first - Xuan Fu: What a bad decision, what a bad decision. He turned to look at Li Ang.
Li Ang gritted his teeth and waved his hands, meaning that he didn't know much about this.
Liu Qiang cried out excitedly, "Li Ze, your idea is great. They are all serious people, so this will be a real problem."
"Li Ze, Liu Qiang said you are not a serious person!" Xuanyu Fu immediately tried to sow discord.
Li Ze: …
Liu Qiang: "It's not that I didn't praise you, brother. Don't be fooled by him!"
"Your Highness, how do you feel about the Crown Princess? We are all watching your response." Li Ze said with a smile.
Xuanyifu: Damn it, I failed to instigate the conflict.
"Come over here."
Li Ze defeated Zhou Quan and Li Ang one after another, and then it was the turn of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Li Ze wanted to let him go, thinking that the fun had been enough, and His Royal Highness had to go and get the Crown Princess to not waste the good time.
"We all grew up together. Your Highness and the Crown Princess have been childhood sweethearts. For the last question, Your Highness, please write a poem to express your love for me—"
Many blessings: This is good, this is good.
"Does doggerel count as poetry?"
Li Ze was very considerate and said, "Of course, forget it."
The other students couldn't hold back their smiles. It was so hilarious today.
Many people in Fuzhuang were calm and composed, as if they were "I can write a poem for you in seven steps". He concentrated and thought for a while, but he was too excited today. His mind was full of thoughts like "I love Yan Jinjin, Yan Jinjin loves me, and we are so sweet together".
“…”
Everybody is waiting.
Xuanyu Fu didn't care anymore and yelled at the top of his lungs: "I love Yan Huaijin, Yan Huaijin loves me, we are sweet and happy, blessed with a long life and full of joy."
Hahahahahahahaha.
Everyone laughed.
Some people shouted: "The Crown Princess is here!", "Hey Crown Princess, His Highness hasn't cleared yet, why are you running out?", "Yan Huaijin, you are too impatient.", "Go back, go back."
Yan Huaijin did not go back. He was wearing a bright red men's wide-sleeved robe and a golden crown on his head. He was very handsome and extraordinary. At this time, he walked through the crowd and stood in the second door. He smiled at Xuan Duofu and said, "Your Highness, I will hold your hand and grow old with you."
Manyu Fu couldn't hold back his teeth and laughed out loud.
whee.
Did you hear that!
The ceremonial officer sang a speech of auspicious words with extraordinary literary grace, and then His Royal Highness and the Crown Princess, holding the red silk, the two newlyweds walked slowly to the front yard to bid farewell to their uncle and aunt.
There was a lot of noise all around.
Manyu Fu walked next to Yan Jinjin and whispered, "You look really good today, Yan Jinjin."
She is so beautiful with a complexion like jade, red lips and white teeth.
She is his blessed daughter-in-law.
Yan Huaijin looked over and saw Xuanxuanfu's face was red and there was some sweat on his forehead. He was afraid that he must have been tired from breaking in all the way. He disregarded the rules and, while others were watching, he raised his sleeves to wipe the sweat off Xuanxuanfu's forehead in public.
Manyu Fu was feeling very happy, but suddenly he remembered, "Hey, don't wipe it off. I put on powder and drew my eyebrows this morning. Did my makeup come off? Does it look ugly?"
"It looks great." Yan Huaijin said seriously.
Manyu Fu's eyes met, and for some reason, his heart beat very fast. He felt a little shy and hummed, "Let's meet my uncle and aunt first."
Yan Jinjin's eyes were so passionate, as if she wanted to spend the wedding night with him right away!
After bidding farewell to his uncle and aunt, the two said some good wishes from the elders. Fu listened politely and seriously, saying that he would take good care of Yan Huaijin and treat Yan Huaijin well, and asked his uncle and aunt to rest assured.
Watching brothers.
Liu Qiang: I am very lucky to be the head of a family.
Li Ze: Could it be that I’m standing in the wrong position?
Wang Yuansun didn't care about this.
At Yan's house, the couple had a bowl of sugar water, and left the house just after 11 o'clock in the morning. They rode in a carriage with a ceremonial guard around the city. The carriage was empty on all sides, and was decorated with canopies, flowers, and silk. They drove around the two main streets, and wherever they went, the people came to bless them.
Long live the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess.
In the car, Yan Huaijin took out a piece of peanut candy from his purse and handed it to Xuanyuefu, saying with a smile: "Eat some, I also have some dried meat."
"!!!" Manyu Fu was shocked, "How do you know I'm hungry?"
"You must not have eaten well this morning."
"I was so excited I only ate my burger."
Xuanyunfu took the candy, just like he was eating it secretly at school. Yan Jinjin cooperated with him very well. He first raised his arm, as if waving at the people on His Highness' side, and his wide sleeves just blocked His Highness's figure.
His Highness immediately put the candy into his mouth.
So sweet.
Many blessings, all smiles on faces.
Parading through the streets and waving to the people, it was not boring. Xuanfu sat with Yan Huaijin, talking in private, behaving intimately, and sharing snacks. It seemed like they were back to their student days, but something was different.
Because - he is not innocent anymore.
It’s great to be in love.
At the end of the hour of Wei, the imperial carriage entered from the Xuande Gate. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess walked slowly towards the Taiji Hall amid a procession of officials. The Emperor and Empress were already waiting there and personally presided over the celebration for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.
First bow to heaven and earth, second bow to parents, and then husband and wife bow to each other.
"The ceremony is over——"
All the officials performed a great ceremony and knelt on the ground to wish the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess a happy marriage.
At the hour of You, the palace held a banquet with singing and dancing. At dusk, when the sun was setting, Xuan Fu and Yan Huaijin entertained guests together - his father had done the same thing in the past.
All officials have long since adapted to this and are no longer surprised.
When Xuanfu was toasting, it was Liu Qiang's turn, and Xuanfu beat Liu Qiang violently. Liu Qiang shouted: "You beat the guests on your wedding day."
"I only beat you!"
Liu Qiang: "... Yan Huaijin, don't worry about it."
"I don't care." Yan Huaijin said with a smile: "I am one with Duofu."
Many blessings: hehe.
Then Wang Yuansun also came. Manyu Fu: ...
Quit while you're ahead.
"Everyone, enjoy your meals and drinks, my classmates. I am super happy today, hahahaha."
"I feel your highness's happiness."
"Today is a good day."
"I wish you a happy marriage."
"I wish your highness and Yan Huaijin a happy and sweet life."
Everyone laughed again. This was a limerick that His Highness wrote today to tease him.
Yan Huaijin thanked them one by one very seriously. He did not find the poems written by Xuanfu funny at all. Instead, he liked them very much. When the night got darker, the two returned to the East Palace courtyard. Yan Huaijin said, "The poems you wrote today are very good."
Xuan Fu originally wanted to say that you are making fun of me too, but he knew Yan Jinjin would not do that. If she said that, it must be because she really thinks it is a good thing. He was a little shy and awkward - he himself knew that the poem was not even a poem, but Yan Jinjin remembered it in her heart and praised it seriously.
Because he liked Yan Huaijin's heart, Yan Huaijin loved him too.
Xuanxuanfu's face slowly turned red.
The nanny asked them to drink the wedding wine, and the dragon and phoenix candles burned all night long. After a lively day, everyone left and the whole room became quiet. Xuan Fu blushed and looked at Yan Huaijin. Yan Huaijin was so handsome.
"Yan Jinjin, you really are just like what the storybook says, a handsome and unparalleled scholar who won the imperial examination."
Yan Huaijin curled his lips and smiled, holding His Highness's cheek with his slender hands, and said gently: "Your Highness has been tired all day today, and you must be exhausted. Let me help Your Highness undress."
"Ah? Okay, okay." Xuan Xu Fu was completely confused.
How come Yan Jinjin is so gentle?
Really take care of me, and a little shy.
After taking off the heavy golden crown, Xuan Xuanfu felt a little lighter. He knew what was going to happen. He had been eager to try and said that he was a big sex maniac, but when the day really came, he was a little bit at a loss and nervous.
What does the storybook say?
Should I take a shower first?
The Internal Affairs Office also provided ointment.
Manyu Fu secretly looked at the drawer next to the big bed.
Yan Huaijin noticed and asked, "What are you looking at, Your Highness?"
Xuanyifu told the truth in a rush. Yan Huaijin's gaze deepened. His white jade fingers slid to His Highness's shoulders and undressed him. His fingers seemed to be electrified. Xuanyifu felt numb from his scalp to his shoulders, and most of his bones were numb.
"Don't worry, Your Highness."
What are you worried about?
The two of them took off their outer robes and accessories. After the Crown Princess did all this, the Crown Prince felt weak all over. He was led to the bed by the Crown Princess, and the bed curtains were drawn.
Xuanyuefu was nervous. Here it comes, the bridal chamber is here. He would first put his hand into Yan Jinjin's underwear and feel around. Then what should he do? Kiss, kiss for a while...
The Crown Princess put her arm around His Highness' waist.
"Hehe, it's a little itchy." Xuanyu Fu tilted his body, wanting to avoid it but feeling very comfortable, it was a weird feeling.
The Crown Princess's hands were warm and gentle. They slid from His Highness' waist to his inner garments, her fingertips touching His Highness' skin, and then moved forward from the back...
Xuanyu Fu: I can’t do it anymore!
My mind is confused!
"Your Highness, I want to kiss you."
"Does Brother Duofu like this?"
No, no, no, I should be on top.
The author has something to say:
His Highness Duozi worked hard to study the bridal chamber for a month and returned——
Lie down, feel comfortable, hehe, no more, haha, come again hehe hehe, it seems I forgot something, who cares hehe
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