Chapter 294 The Grand Wedding (Part 1) But...
Once the fates of these remonstrating officials were revealed—some were demoted, others exiled—the voices criticizing the new emperor's extravagance vanished.
However, one of the reborn ministers secretly came over and muttered a few worried words: "His Majesty has just ascended the throne, his reputation..."
Qi Chengming, however, felt much more comfortable.
Why didn't they say anything when the retired emperor was acting willfully and recklessly?
His wedding is just around the corner, and anyone who starts a fight at this crucial moment without listening to his explanation is up to no good.
After this punishment was handed down, the remaining days passed peacefully. Qi Chengming nitpicked and demanded that the Ministry of Rites revise the details of the grand wedding ceremony, but no one dared to object.
"Continue to expand the coal stoves, wool mills, and cotton mills, and strive to ensure that the people can have warm winters in two years," Qi Chengming ordered.
From the cotton he collected and cultivated in Liuzhou, to the coal briquettes and stoves he promoted the year he returned to Beijing, and the wool mills he gradually established after signing contracts that year, all were aimed at making winters easier for the people. There's a saying among the common people: "firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea," with firewood, for heating and cooking, being the most important.
Qi Chengming once enabled employees in the coal furnace factory to exchange their coal for coal furnaces, which only solved the livelihood and winter needs of some people in the suburbs of Luoyang. Now that the cotton quilt factory and wool workshop have spread to the people, the same policy must be followed.
With the royal family controlling the price, the price was gradually driven down over several years, making it inexpensive.
"Yes." Huang Yonglan was the one who took on this supervisory task.
He pondered the timing thoughtfully, trying to decipher His Majesty's thoughts, and suddenly an idea came to him.
A few days later—
October 9th is the day of His Majesty's wedding.
The palace was brightly decorated, and everyone was busy at work.
Along the main road from the Tao residence to the palace, lanterns were hung everywhere, and strings of firecrackers were set off, their crackling sounds filling the air. Several sheds were set up outside the city, where rice porridge was cooked and distributed to passing people. On two streets further away, many shops began selling at half price to congratulate His Majesty. A glance at the signs revealed that these were all new shops that had opened in the last two years, selling the novelties that His Majesty had come up with.
—The Tao family's resources are insufficient for such an undertaking. This was spontaneously organized by wealthy merchants in the capital, all for the sake of His Majesty's attention. Perhaps they could seize this opportunity to rise to prominence.
There were also the three major categories of coal briquettes, wool, and cotton, which Huang Yonglan was in charge of. He specifically chose the day of His Majesty's wedding to announce the sale and open them for business, taking the opportunity to accumulate fame and good fortune for His Majesty. Coincidentally, many people wanted to buy these, and the entrance was packed with people, queuing up to share in His Majesty's joy.
What did Tao Zhaiwei do?
Just as the bride was about to leave, the servants were made to stand by the bustling roadside and carry out several heavy baskets filled with Thai baht, the smallest denomination equivalent to copper coins. They would grab a handful and scatter them out.
Adults and children gathered around and immediately screamed and cheered, bending down to frantically pick up the items.
In the boudoir of the Tao family residence.
Tao Jiang nestled reluctantly in her mother's arms, but only leaned back slightly to avoid messing up her makeup and hairpins: "Mother, once we leave this door, I can't act so spoiled anymore..."
Her face had already been shaved, but instead of the usual wedding makeup for brides of this era, a skilled aunt from the palace had applied makeup to her in a style more fashionable in the previous dynasty. Her face was as beautiful as a peach blossom, with red lips and white teeth. Paired with her phoenix coronet and wedding robes, and the tinkling of her jade pendants, she was breathtakingly beautiful.
"The time is almost here, my child... Once you enter the palace, you'll be an adult." Madam Tao was reluctant to let go, but she didn't dare to hold him tightly, and could only suppress her reluctance as she spoke. This bright red wedding dress was worth a fortune, and she was afraid that if she touched it even slightly, she might break one of the gold threads, which would be a sin.
"Madam, Grand Secretary Mu and the Imperial Clan Court Master have arrived together, along with officials from the Ministry of Revenue! Master and Madam Weiyong have gone ahead to greet them." A servant hurriedly came to report.
These are all part of the ceremonial procession to welcome the Empress.
Elder Mu, one of the Three Dukes, the Imperial Clan Court Director in charge of the Imperial Clan Court, and so many officials from the previous dynasty...
Early this morning, the highly respected matriarch of the Marquis of Weiyong's mansion was invited to the Tao residence to oversee things. This was to reassure the Tao family as a female elder. At that time, she held Tao Jiang's hand with eyes full of affection, her love overflowing. Not long ago, seeing that it was getting late, she excused herself to give the mother and daughter a final moment to talk.
"...So fast!" Tao's mother suddenly separated from her daughter as if she had been burned. Hearing the music outside suddenly getting louder, she knew it was almost time, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"Think carefully about what I taught you last night, and watch it closely," she urged urgently.
Tao Jiang, who was about to burst into tears, was suddenly overcome with embarrassment upon hearing this, and turned her head away helplessly: "...Mother!"
"Don't be temperamental. I usually spoil you, but this is the most important thing!" Tao's mother quickly grabbed her hand, staring intently at her, determined to get a promise.
If things don't go smoothly on the Emperor and Empress's wedding night, how can things be good afterward? Besides, even a fool could see that if her daughter's womb was fertile, their marriage could last longer. But if her daughter couldn't produce a son... Dingguo truly had a throne waiting to be inherited! Could her daughter then stop other concubines from entering the palace?
Tao's mother was very anxious, but she didn't want to put too much pressure on her daughter by saying it outright. She could only focus on the one reason that the wedding night of the emperor and empress should be harmonious.
"...Mmm." Tao Jiang's cheeks flushed crimson, a blood-red hue, and she forced herself to nod. Just thinking about how her mother had meticulously explained everything to her last night made her wish she could faint and avoid facing all this so stiffly.
"Your Majesty..." the maid outside couldn't help but urge again in a low voice, as it was time to wait no longer.
The Tao residence was thrown into chaos.
...
Qi Chengming was initially a little depressed.
He's the emperor, so nobody can make him too busy today. All the memorials today have been taken by the diligent Mr. Qin and divided among the Grand Secretaries, ensuring he won't have the slightest worry.
Qi Chengming originally planned to personally lead a procession on horseback to Tao's residence to fetch the bride, but the ministers persuaded him to stay at the palace gate. There were simply too many people celebrating in the streets today, and the scene was chaotic. Commander Mao was not confident that he could protect His Majesty, but His Majesty did not allow them to be disturbed during their festivities.
The two sides compromised and decided that Grand Secretary Mu, whom Qi Chengming valued most, and his uncle Ling, the head of the Imperial Clan, along with his beloved maternal grandmother, would jointly preside over today's wedding ceremony.
When the officials of the previous dynasty escorted the empress's entourage to the palace gate, Qi Chengming wanted to make a show of respect for the empress and greet her there again. The emperor and empress then entered the palace together and held a ceremony in the Zichen Hall to bestow titles and perform rituals.
While it was still early in the day, Qi Chengming couldn't leave the palace, nor did he want to sit idly in the hall and get anxious, so he simply climbed the tall palace wall and looked out over Luoyang City.
"It's really noisy." He listened intently; the nearby streets were filled with laughter, gongs, and drums. The crowds below were dense and bustling. Taking advantage of the Emperor and Empress's wedding, the streets were lively today. Many vendors, knowing that the roads wouldn't be cleared, had become bolder and busied themselves doing business, resulting in the current spectacle.
Qi Chengming loved seeing this kind of commotion, and he looked around.
His excellent eyesight allowed him to see that even the streets were swept clean, unlike the chaos when he first arrived.
"Our Emperor is getting married... I'm so happy!" Nanny Liu had come to the palace today and was here with him to talk.
Her status wasn't high enough to meet the Emperor and Empress after the wedding; she could only come today to participate. The wet nurse's voice choked with emotion, yet also filled with relief. She could finally see this day; she truly had no regrets even in death.
Upon noticing someone, Nurse Liu's gaze suddenly sharpened, then deepened into a smile as she pointed into the distance: "Your Majesty, look, who else has arrived?"
Qi Chengming looked at the spot she was pointing to.
A troop of soldiers, led by reins, struggled through the traffic, heading straight towards the palace gate. If Luoyang hadn't renovated its roads this year, separating carriage lanes and pedestrian walkways, who knows how difficult this journey would have been for them.
Qi Chengming took a closer look. The young man in the lead was unshaven and unkempt, looking more like a wild man than a hermit. He clearly had been traveling for days, enduring wind and rain. But his features… his mannerisms…
"Cousin Shuo?!" Qi Chengming was surprised, but also delighted.
As the war gradually subsided and the stationed troops rotated, my cousin should have returned long ago like his older cousin. However, his station was the farthest away, and in the past two years, whenever Qi Chengming encountered any matters, big or small, those closer to him were entrusted to him for handling. Fortunately, despite his best efforts, he managed to return on his wedding day, preventing it from becoming a regret.
Qi Chengming quickly descended the city wall and hugged his cousin Wang Shuo, who was entering the palace. He patted him a couple of times and said, "Good lad, hurry up, don't say anything, go back and rest and get some more sleep! There's still plenty of time, you won't miss the grand wedding tonight."
"Cousin." Wang Shuo grinned, his face full of satisfaction, but he didn't have time to say anything else. "I'm going back now. I ran into my grandfather on the way. He asked me to pass on something very important. He said it was a token of our family's goodwill. I need to give it to you first before I go back to sleep."
"What is it?" Qi Chengming had a feeling. Everyone had sent their wedding gifts one after another. His cousin's gift was sent by his maternal grandfather. Now that didn't make sense, what would his grandfather send?
Wang Shuo pulled a bulging book from his pocket, stuffed it into the arms of Xiao Chengzi who was waiting beside him, turned around and left, lowering his voice: "Cousin, you make the decision! I'm going to report back to Grandfather!"
Qi Chengming unfolded it in confusion and looked at it: "…………"
Speechless.
Do they all think of him as an inexperienced young boy? Just like the box of books that Uncle worried about sending over yesterday!
We're all modern people now, who doesn't understand these things?
Qi Chengming selectively ignored the fact that it was because he had dismissed the palace maids who were supposed to serve him before his wedding that others started to gossip.
He calmly closed the book again, pretending to be deep in thought, and ordered, "I'm going back to the palace. Don't disturb me before the appointed time."
"Yes." Nanny Liu thought it was something important, so she also made an excuse to leave. Xiao Dezi and Xiao Chengzi quickly agreed, and no one dared to disturb His Majesty's business.
Qi Chengming returned to Yinbing Palace alone—it wasn't appropriate to use Zichen Palace, where he worked, as his private residence today. After dismissing everyone, he hid under the window, sat upright, and began to study the books he hadn't looked at carefully before.
"I wonder what kind of version the woman is reading," Qi Chengming chuckled, guessing it wasn't as vivid and lifelike as the ones he had in his hands.
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