Chapter 311 A grand and festive collective wedding
Luo Li was an outsider in the matter of buying dowries in this era, so she didn't get involved. The three personal maids and Hong Gu were like relatives to her. They took out a stack of banknotes.
"Hong Gu, Ruhua, Siyu, Tingting, you can buy your dowries by yourselves. I will give each of you 30,000 taels of silver as a dowry. You can buy whatever you like.
" Ruhua hurriedly refused, "Miss, this is not possible. 30,000 taels of silver as a dowry is too much. Even the rich and powerful families would not be willing to give such a huge sum of money as a dowry when marrying their daughters."
"Yes! Miss, following you, we all saved a lot of money. We dare not take such a large sum of money." Siyu also hurriedly refused.
Tingting's eyes were wet with emotion and anxiety, "Miss, please take it back, we really can't take it."
Hong Gu said, "Miss, this sum of money is really too much, we won't take it. It's not okay to not let you add silver, otherwise, you give us three thousand taels of silver each as a dowry, which is equivalent to the standard of a wealthy family marrying off their daughter."
"The four of you know how good I am at making money, so you are not allowed to refuse. You are all my relatives, if it weren't for the fact that so much silver was thrown in to make military supplies in the past few months, I would have given you double.
After the war, we will make a lot of money later! You have followed me loyally, how can I treat you badly in this life? Miss has become the richest person in Song Dynasty, and the people around her must be "You are only suitable for a rich woman, right? Take them all, don't be stingy when buying dowry, buy me whatever you like!"
Ruhua walked over with tears in her eyes and took the banknotes, "Thank you, Miss, I will share it with them." Yingchun, who
was standing by and serving, had tears in her eyes. She was more moved than the four people who got the banknotes. As the eight personal maids of the princess in Ning Xinyuan, it was really a blessing for them to cultivate for eight lifetimes.
The wedding of 166 couples was a grand occasion, and it could only be held in the spacious camp of the Big Foot Women's Army Corps.
Captain Luo gave each female soldier 300 taels of silver for makeup, and the Regent Palace was responsible for all the expenses of the wedding.
Those whose homes were close to the capital had their parents and family members brought over, as time was tight. Those who lived far from the capital could only inform their parents in the future.
There were no big guests, but the elite soldiers of the Moyun Cavalry and the female soldiers of the Big Foot Women's Corps were enough to create a lively scene.
When the young emperor Zhao Wuji found out, he insisted on attending the event as a distinguished guest. The Empress Dowager was also very surprised and insisted on being there to watch the excitement.
Of course, the Empress Dowager Zhaoning and Princess Yongqing could not be left behind. A huge ceremonial guard came out of the palace and marched to the Big Foot Women's Corps camp in the west of the city.
The most honorable emperor of the Song Dynasty, the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager personally attended the collective wedding as guests, and gave each couple 100 taels of silver, which excited the newlyweds. They could tell their children and grandchildren about such an honorable wedding in their lifetime.
As the families of the two deputy commanders of the Big Foot Women's Army Corps, the Bohai County Prince's Mansion and the Tianbo Yang Mansion both received invitations. Bohai County Prince Gao Huaide and Tianbo Yang Mansion's Old Lady She were happy to bring their families to the scene. As the female soldiers' families, gifts were a must, and each female soldier received 60 taels of dowry gifts from the Gao Mansion and the Yang Mansion respectively.
The marriage was free and they also received a fortune, which made the parents and families of the female soldiers smile so much that they couldn't stop, and they were all glad that they had decided to let their daughters come here.
On the large parade ground in the camp of the Big Foot Women's Army, the high platform was decorated with red lanterns and colorful silks, and the two big Chinese characters for "happiness" and the wedding couplet read: "We will be happy to be together for a thousand miles, and we will be happy to be together for a hundred years", which was written by His Royal Highness the Prince Regent.
Lord Luo Jiluo was the master of ceremonies. The old man went on stage to give a joyful speech with a lot of auspicious blessings. The parents and family members of the newlyweds sitting on the stage only understood auspicious words such as "May you live happily together forever", "May you fly together with wings", "May you grow old together", "May you have a son soon"
, etc. The excited Moyun cavalry soldiers and female soldiers below the stage clapped their hands until they hurt. The young emperor Zhao Wuji did not go up to say a few words of blessing. He was afraid that once he went on stage and opened his mouth, thousands of people below would kneel on the ground and shout "Long live the bride and groom", stealing the limelight from the master of ceremonies and the newlyweds.
The Empress Dowager looked at the joyous and lively scene, and said to the Empress Dowager Zhaoning with a smile: "This collective wedding is so joyous and lively that it is unforgettable. If it weren't for Yongqing's status as a princess, it would be great if she and Yang Yanzhao also participated in this collective wedding?"
The Empress Dowager Zhaoning covered her mouth and smiled, "Mother, you are becoming more and more open-minded, all thanks to Li'er."
The Empress Dowager was stunned, and then she remembered her own status, and said embarrassedly: "Li'er is a child with magic. Anyone who stays with her for a long time will be led astray by her."
Princess Yongqing shyly and affectionately glanced at Yang Yanzhao who was sitting next to her brother, thinking of the love words he said that day, her heart was hot and her cheeks flushed. After the Northern Expedition, they will also get married.
One hundred and sixty-six pairs of newlyweds in wedding attire were led to the stage by young women in pink uniforms.
Princess Yongqing smiled and explained to her mother and the Empress Dowager, "Mother, those women in pink uniforms are the female employees of the "An Xiang Ju Ren" shop."
"Oh! It's really refreshing. Only Li'er can come up with such eye-catching tricks."
The first newlyweds, holding the jade-like groom Yun Yi, were so choked up that their ears were red and hot.
Luo Cong led Ruhua, Luo Ning led Tingting, Mo Wen led Honggu, and Wu Xing led Mulaner. When Shen Qiu led Pang Ying, who was covered with a large veil, onto the stage, there was a burst of laughter
. The families of the newlyweds were stunned.
Pang Ying, who stood out from the crowd, lifted the veil, and with a flushed face, he looked sternly at the thousands of people below.
She shouted in a high voice: "What are you laughing at? Although my husband Shen Qiu is in my hands and can't show his head and feet, he is very capable and can make any exquisite equipment with his clever mind and hands. Who among you is not convinced?"
The laughter became more and more lively, and the nobles in the guest seats next to them also laughed so hard that they forgot to maintain their appearance.
The little emperor Zhao Wuji smiled and said: "Auntie, there are hidden talents in your big-footed women's army! This Pang Ying is no less than Yu Li."
Yu Li glared! She said to the little emperor without any awe, "We are straightforward and frank, and we say whatever we want to say. If you are not used to it, just cover your ears."
Luo Li laughed with tears in her eyes, patted Yu Li and said, "Calm down, the emperor is praising you!"
Shen Qiu was so embarrassed that he wanted to bury his head in his crotch, but after hearing the last two sentences of Pang Ying, he immediately straightened his chest. What's wrong with my wife being taller than me? She still loves me, Shen Qiu.
The spacious high platform was a festive red, and the 166 newlyweds formed a spectacular red festive scene.
The master of ceremonies sang the ceremony loudly, "Bow to heaven and earth..."
One hundred and sixty-six couples bowed down.
"Bow to your parents!"
One hundred and sixty-six couples turned around and bowed down to the high platform where their parents and family members were.
"Husband and wife bow to each other!"
One hundred and sixty-six couples turned around and bowed to each other... Now it was lively. Although the high platform was spacious enough, more than 300 couples lined up in three rows to bow to each other. It was still unknown who would touch whose feet or whose veil would fall off. The newlyweds were in a hurry, which caused another round of laughter from the audience...
"Send to the bridal chamber..."
The brides with veils on their heads were shy and sweet in their hearts. They were led by the grooms holding their red ribbons to a barracks at the back.
After the young emperor and the Empress Dowager stood up and said goodbye, the banquet was set up. The empty space in front of the barracks was filled with banquets, the aroma of wine and meat, the clinking of glasses, and the joyous atmosphere.
Regent Prince Zhao Defang and Luo Li drank three cups of toasting wine and hurried back to the palace. Their two-month-old son was waiting for his mother to prepare a meal for him at home!