"It seems getting married won't be so easy; I need to figure something out..."
When Jiang Yan received the report from the servants in the manor, she was strolling through the market with Luosang. It was a large-scale market that had only recently appeared. Most of the vendors were people from Lingzhou and Youzu who set up stalls to sell their goods. It was proposed by the governor of Lingzhou to facilitate the exchange of goods and services, which truly established a trading market between the two sides and also led to the formulation of a series of local laws and regulations.
Of course, all of this was implemented only after consulting with Jiang Yanhui, and so far the results seem to be good.
When people are happy, they are in high spirits. Under Jiang Yanhui's careful care, Losang's little face became rounder, and his cheeks were as rosy as peach blossoms in spring. Everything in the market seemed new and interesting. He would walk ahead and curiously watch what interesting things people were selling. No matter how far away he was, he would never be more than three steps away from Jiang Yanhui before he would run back to be next to her.
As the saying goes, food is the most important thing for people. Since there are goods for sale in the market, there are naturally food for sale as well. This attracted many children who were curious about what the You tribe people ate. Similarly, the You tribe people were also curious about what they ate on a daily basis.
Jiang Yanhui, whose servant found a teahouse to rest, couldn't help but glance at the pile of items on the table and Luosang happily eating glutinous rice cakes. She sighed that the King truly doted on Luosang, even putting aside his official duties to stroll around the streets with him.
"Your Majesty, Young Master Dou has arrived in Lingzhou and is resting at your residence. He is accompanied by a young master from the capital."
Losang's eyes lit up. The wedding date was set for next month, an auspicious day according to some calculations. Losang never needed to worry about such things. Marrying Jiang Yanhui meant their futures would be intertwined forever, which was enough to make Losang happy. The unexpected joy of her good friend traveling from afar to attend the wedding was even more delightful.
He tugged at Jiang Yanhui's sleeve, blinked his big, bright eyes, and smiled with a bit of soybean powder still stuck to the corners of his mouth. He could already speak short words with ease, and said, "Go home."
Jiang Yanhui sighed and wiped the food off his lips. "Then let's go back."
No sooner had Dou Yu stepped into the mansion than she arrived after receiving the news. She changed out of her dusty old clothes from the journey and seemed quite familiar with dressing up. Her head and body were covered with jingling things, making her look truly noble, although her rolled-up sleeves were a bit undignified.
Dou Yu stood on tiptoe to look behind the two, raising her eyebrows. "Where's the Youbu prince? His name is Losang, right? Where is he?"
Jiang Yanhui seemed to have expected this, and didn't bother with Dou Yu who was jumping around looking for someone. Instead, she looked at Song Wenxuan, who was bowing respectfully, and asked, "Does Lord Song know that you are here?"
Song Wenxuan paused, then guiltily looked away. "I know."
The implication is that while they know the information, whether they agree with it is another matter.
Losang turned his head and searched with Dou Yu, his eyes crinkling with laughter. They searched all around but couldn't find the Prince of Youbu, even though he had clearly heard a servant say that Jiang Yanhui had taken that person out.
"Where is he?" Dou Yu asked.
Losang tilted his head, almost as if a question mark was about to appear on his forehead.
"Ah Chou, don't worry! Your brother came here especially to back you up! Who cares if he's a prince of the You tribe or a prince of the grasslands! We don't care about him. Me and..." Dou Yu pulled Song Wenxuan over and patted his shoulder, "Song Wenxuan and I are on your side no matter what! We won't let anyone bully you!"
Losang blinked, looking on in confusion for Jiang Yanhui's help. Jiang Yanhui, exasperated by her cousin's peculiar thought process, didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and first asked the most crucial question, "Does Dou Yao know you've come to Lingzhou?"
"Ah!" Dou Yu smiled smugly, "Of course I know, my mother even agreed! As your cousin, how could I not attend my cousin's wedding!"
Jiang Yan narrowed her eyes. "Where is Song Wenxuan?"
"Ah... this... this..." Dou Yu scratched his head guiltily, "Lord Song knows about this, it's just... there are some twists and turns, but Lord Song will definitely understand when we get back!"
Jiang Yanhui was too lazy to pay attention to Dou Yu, who was trying to cover for her. Since she was already there, she couldn't just rush back. She took Luosang's hand and walked into the mansion. Dou Yu and Song Wenxuan followed behind, chattering incessantly about where the Prince of Youbu was, their little mouths never stopping.
"Ah Chou, don't worry. I'll stay in Lingzhou for a year or two this time, figure out that Losang's personality, and make sure he doesn't dare to mess with you, then I'll go back to the capital." Dou Yu followed behind, afraid that her good friend would suffer any loss.
Now, Jiang Yanhui was holding A Chou's hand and walking forward, which Dou Yu saw as impatience. She was very dissatisfied with her cousin's rudeness and said indignantly, "Cousin, didn't you see that A Chou can't even keep up with you! Have you forgotten how good A Chou is to you now that you have that Prince Luosang of the You tribe? A Chou likes you so much! He always thinks of you! How can you treat him like this!"
Chattering like a little sparrow, Losang suddenly realized that Dou Yao had said so much without knowing that he was Losang. Losang wanted to laugh, but seeing Jiang Yan's darkening face, she immediately suppressed it and quickly stopped Dou Yu from saying anything more.
He pointed to himself.
“Ah Chou, I know you really like my cousin, but you have to fight for yourself! That Youbu prince is of noble status, you could be his wife! But you at least need to fight for a title, otherwise you'll be bullied.” In Dou Yu's heart, Ah Chou was just an innocent child who didn't care about worldly affairs, so she put on an elder's air and said, “You can be indifferent, but you can't be without her! And you can't let that Losang look down on you!”
The more she talked, the angrier she became, as if Losang had already bullied her good friend Achou. Dou Yu yelled, "Where is that Youbu prince! I'm going to have a good talk with him right now!"
Losang silently pointed to his face again, and, fearing that Dou Yu hadn't realized it yet, said, "It's me."
"You? What do you mean 'you'? I'm looking for..." Dou Yu's eyes flickered, and she suddenly realized something. She stammered and grabbed Song Wenxuan in disbelief, taking a couple of breaths. "A Chou, are you saying that you are Prince Luosang of the You tribe?"
Losang nodded and smiled shyly.
Dou Yu and Song Wenxuan: "..."
Silence, and more silence, a long, drawn-out silence...
Dou Yu knew that A Chou held some position of importance within the You Clan, but he never imagined he was actually a prince of the You Clan. His vision blurred, his mind filled with the image of A Chou—no, it was Luo Sang—making his bed. Good heavens! What had he done! Making a prince of the You Clan serve him!
Song Wenxuan was equally shocked. He had no idea that A Chou, who was a servant in his memories, had any connection with the You tribe. It was as if one second he was an ordinary servant, and the next he was a noble You tribe prince.
After the initial shock came the relief of seeing her friend in a sigh of relief. Others might not understand Losang's love for Jiang Yanhui, but Dou Yu saw it clearly. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so worried that she would rush back to Lingzhou as soon as she received the news, fearing that Losang, who was not fluent in speech, would be bullied.
Dou Yu glanced silently at Jiang Yan Hui's face, scratched his head awkwardly and smiled, "Oh dear, what a mess this has made! Hahaha, Song Wenxuan, aren't you sleepy? Let's go back and rest!"
Without waiting for Song Wenxuan to react, he took off running.
The wedding preparations were progressing quickly. Losang watched as the palace changed every day, feeling both delighted and nervous, but mostly overwhelmed by a sense of unreality.
Jiang Yanhui and Luosang were already closer than husband and wife. Holding a wedding was just to give outsiders a reasonable explanation and to give each other a suitable status.
Before the wedding dress arrived, Urentuya gave her younger brother his dowry and a large mansion in Lingzhou. According to Urentuya, if her younger brother and Jiang Yanhui had a conflict one day, he could return to Youbu or his own mansion, and would not have to stay under someone else's roof with his head bowed.
This unexpected departure disrupted the plan. Originally, Losang only needed to dress up and hold a wedding ceremony at the palace on an auspicious day, but now, according to custom, he had to return to his own residence three days before the wedding and be picked up by Jiang Yan on the wedding day.
Jiang Yan Hui was somewhat reluctant to part with him after being separated for three days. Normally, she always wanted to keep him under her watchful eye, especially before their marriage, when she hoped to see him day and night. However, the rules were paramount, and even the renowned Prince of Jiangbei had to bow his head and obey.
Urentuya brought not only a dowry and a mansion, but also a group of carefully selected servants from the You tribe to serve her young prince in Lingzhou. However, they wouldn't be allowed into the royal palace; they would all stay in Losang's mansion to work, which greatly excited Losang, who was usually inseparable from her.
Uncle Ban accompanied Losang to the mansion to prepare for the wedding ceremony. Dou Yu and Song Wenxuan naturally followed along, leaving the mansion much emptier.
Looking at the festively decorated palace, Jiang Yanhui chuckled, "It's my people who have all gone with Losang."
Aunt Pan said, "That's because Prince Losang is so likable."
“He is indeed likable.” Jiang Yan’s eyes curved into a smile. “You’ve suffered, having to stay with me for three days of separation.”
Aunt Pan clasped her hands in front of her, her eyes crinkling with fine wrinkles as she smiled. She let out a long sigh. "To be frank, my servant and Mr. Ban treat Luosang like our own child. Mr. Ban may not say it, but he truly cares for Luosang and has become much more humane than before."
Lausanne is like the dazzling sun in winter; everyone who gets close to him is moved and inspired, as if some people are born to be treated well by many people.
——
Today, Lingzhou City is exceptionally lively. Even eighty-year-olds are standing by the main road with canes, looking at the novelty. Lingzhou City has been covered in ice and snow and shrouded in sandstorms, but it has never been decorated with red silk.
Children chased after the wedding procession in the streets and alleys, scrambling to eat the scattered candies. Their innocent and clear eyes were much more naive than adults'; they only knew that the long wedding procession was more lively than the New Year, and that the person riding a horse at the very front of the procession must be the King of Jiangbei! He was so beautiful! I had never seen such a beautiful woman before.
Riding on the back of the tall and strong Black Cloud, Jiang Yanhui was dressed in a fiery red wedding gown. Usually dressed neatly and cleanly, she rarely dressed so flamboyantly. The tassels and gold hairpins on her head jingled as the Black Cloud moved forward. Her lightly made-up face was enough to amaze everyone.
Her lips, rouged with crimson lipstick, curved slightly upward, radiating the satisfaction of marrying the one she loved. A gentle breeze carrying the scent of flowers added to her good mood.
The wedding procession arrived at the gate of a large mansion, which was decorated festively. A crowd of onlookers gathered around, smiling as they watched the procession arrive.
A red carpet stretched from directly beneath the main gate to the front of the procession, with a long bench placed on each step, upon which lay rows of bowls of wine. The custom in the Youbu region was that to bring one's beloved home, one had to drink all the wine offered at the gate as a gesture of goodwill.
Inside the gate stood young men, among whom Dou Yu was the tallest, bouncing around the most. He held onto the wooden pole in the middle of the gate with one hand and pointed to the wine bowls extending into the gate with the other, laughing, "If you all drink, we'll raise the pole and let you in."
Most of those who came to fetch the bride were military officers stationed in Lingzhou. Putting aside other matters, they were all exceptionally good drinkers. They immediately rolled up their sleeves, dismounted, and drank directly from their bowls without hesitation, drawing cheers from those around them.
Even the best drinker can't withstand bowl after bowl of wine; soon they'll feel dizzy and unable to drink anymore. The last table they reach is a large round table, also filled with bowls of rice wine made from grains. Leaving aside whether they'll get drunk, just the sheer amount of water they drink will make them feel unbearably full.
Dou Yu, who had been bullied by Jiang Yanhui since childhood, finally found a legitimate opportunity to get revenge. Of course, she wouldn't miss it and rushed to the front, covering her mouth and gloating, "Cousin, there are only two people left with you. It wouldn't be right if you didn't drink."
Lang Rong and Deng Jiajin, standing on either side of Jiang Yanhui, exchanged a glance. Lang Rong shook his head helplessly, rolled up his sleeve with one hand, and picked up the bowl. "This is the last hurdle. We have to get through it no matter what."
"Drink! Drink!" Dou Yu watched as Jiang Yan Hui also picked up her bowl, smiling like a triumphant little fox. Whether to provoke or encourage Jiang Yan Hui, she said, "I went to see him this morning. Luo Sang is dressed so beautifully today, just waiting for you to take him back to the manor, cousin. Hurry up and finish your drink so you can see him soon, right?"
The bowl was brought to her lips, but Jiang Yanhui pulled it away and smiled, "Take this opportunity to be sarcastic."
Dou Yu, hands on hips, hadn't figured out how to reply when a sense of foreboding from Jiang Yanhui, which had been brewing for so long, surged into her heart. She immediately knew something was wrong. Then she heard Deng Jiajin cry out in pain and lunge forward, instantly overturning the round table. Not only were the wines scattered, but even the bowls rolled all over the floor.
"Why is it so slippery underfoot?" Deng Jiajin said, pretending to be nonchalant.
The waist-high gatepost was no match for the battle-hardened Jiang Yanhui, who leaped over it using the raised edge of the round table.
Dou Yu was the first to react, and immediately called the others to chase after Jiang Yan Hui, who had already disappeared. They couldn't let her see Luo Sang so easily!
Lang Rong had only been drinking a bowl of wine for a short while when he looked at the gate and found it deserted. Confused, he stared at the mess on the ground and then belatedly realized what had happened.
"There's another trick like that!"
Deng Jiajin, who kept his merits hidden, dusted off his clothes and stood up. He glanced back at the drunken officer behind him, whose face was red and neck thick, and shook his head, saying, "Military officers have their drinking capacity, and civil officials have their methods."
"Brilliant!" Lang Rong wiped his mouth and couldn't help but give a thumbs up. "Absolutely brilliant!"
Deng Jiajin said, "No one's stopping us now, why don't you hurry in and help the general escort the groom out?"
Regardless of whether he was drunk or not, he strode after Lang Rong to catch up with Jiang Yan and go back.
When Lang Rong and his group arrived, there was a crowd of people standing outside the courtyard gate. They learned that Jiang Yanhui had already figured out the route of the mansion and went straight to the main courtyard where Luosang was. They couldn't catch up with her and could only watch helplessly as she entered the house without any trouble.
Dou Yu said, both amused and annoyed, "I told Losang this morning that if my cousin knocked on the door, I should wait before opening it. But Losang didn't even need to knock; she just squatted down at the door waiting."
Sure enough, as soon as they entered the house, all the doors and windows were closed, and they wouldn't let them in.
——
"Why weren't you waiting for me inside?" Jiang Yanhui grabbed Luo Sang's slender waist with one hand and pulled him into her arms, her lips affectionately brushing against his earlobe.
Today, Losang wore a bright red wedding dress that accentuated her red lips and white teeth. It seemed as if she had applied rouge to the corners of her eyes, making her look pitiful.
When he was getting ready in the morning, Dou Yulai told him that he just needed to stay inside and guard the door. But Losang couldn't bring himself to shut Jiang Yanhui out. He was fine before sunrise, but as soon as the sun came out, Losang missed Jiang Yanhui even more, which led to the scene of him sitting at the door waiting for her.
A noisy crowd had gathered outside the door. Jiang Yan kissed Losang's eyebrows and eyes back, and whispered, "It seems that leaving the door won't be so easy. I'll have to find a way to kidnap you."
The woman's smile was dazzling, and Losang couldn't take his eyes off her. He nodded foolishly without even listening to what she was saying.
"Hey! The door's open!"
Dou Yu rushed in first, only to find the room empty and the window shaken twice. He immediately said, "Jiang Yanhui has run away with his men!"
He turned and ran towards the gate of the house, but it was too late.
Jiang Yanhui was seen carrying Luosang as he rode the tall Black Cloud, a horse adorned with a festive red flower on its chest, its nostrils flaring with pride. Upon seeing them, Jiang Yanhui flicked the reins, and Black Cloud shot off like an arrow, its red robes fluttering in the air like burning flames.
Oblivious to the situation, Losang poked his head out, rested his small chin on Jiang Yanhui's shoulder, and waved his arms happily at Dou Yu, Song Wenxuan, and the others without a care in the world.
Dou Yu's expression softened, and she nudged Lang Rong beside her with her elbow, "Alright, I won't pursue it anymore. As long as my cousin and Losang are happy, that's all that matters."
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