Chapter 13 The Grand Wedding
Upon hearing this, Jialuo was stunned. She was still holding the apple that Abu had bought for her in her hands. It was red and looked extremely juicy.
Her joy at that moment was suddenly shattered as if someone had poured a bucket of cold water on her.
Abu's expression was so gentle, his weathered face bearing the unique colors of the grasslands.
At this moment, Jialuo remembered the day she was seriously ill. At that time, Abu had not yet come to the capital, and she was destined to marry Fulin.
Now, Abu is in the capital, and her brothers are with her, which makes her feel as if she is still in Horqin, happy and lively.
But now, Abu is talking about her marriage to Fu Lin.
Jialuo instantly felt as if she had returned to the first time she heard that she was to marry Fulin.
Seeing his daughter remain silent, and noticing the reluctance in her bewildered eyes, Wu Keshan knew that she had never considered not getting married.
He stood up, looking at the pavilions, towers, and carved beams of the inner palace, and sighed softly, saying, "Xin Sari, Abu knows that you are willing to stay in the capital for the sake of our Borjigit clan. Abu also feels that only the best man in the world is worthy of you."
“But Abu never expected that the Emperor… the Emperor was unwilling to marry you as his empress. He even used the excuse of not wanting to marry you to divert Dorgon’s attention, allowing Jirhalang to return to the capital from Hunan smoothly.”
"It can be described as killing two birds with one stone."
"Alas, it seems that the Emperor is indeed a remarkable ruler, but he is not the husband of the new Sa'ri in Abu's heart."
"So, Xin Sari, you and Abu go back to Khorchin. As for the Empress, our Borjigit clan has many princesses of marriageable age. There is bound to be one that the Emperor will like."
Wu Keshan looked at Jialuo and said this.
As Jialuo looked at Abu, her heart felt as if it were being carefully and powerfully protected by a pair of large hands.
But she knew that this marriage was not so simple.
The Borjigit clan was an extremely ancient, noble, and large family.
The power struggles within the family were no less intense than those within the Qing Dynasty imperial family.
She knew that if a woman from the Borjigit clan married Fulin, she would become the Empress of the Qing Dynasty.
Then the entire Borjigit clan's internal power will be completely consolidated.
And the status of her Abu and her brothers and sisters will be greatly impacted.
So the sisters will definitely suffer some grievances in their husbands' families.
And for the remaining unmarried siblings, their future marriages will be approached with even greater care.
Moreover, by marrying Fulin, she would have more or less known what would happen afterward, and could protect her family and her own safety as appropriate.
After all, in a feudal society where men reign supreme, would she be happy if she married another man?
When a princess of the dynasty married, she would only become a woman in the inner quarters, and might even have to raise her husband's children and concubines.
Why couldn't her husband be the emperor? At least she could not only preserve her family's glory, but also live a comfortable life.
Her mother-in-law was her own aunt, and because of her status, her husband wouldn't deliberately make things difficult for her.
Even if we wait a few more years, she will be an empress dowager!
Thinking of this, Jialuo looked at Abu, who was waiting for her reply with warm eyes, and said, "Abu, I wish I could go back to my childhood, carefree, holding Abu's sleeve, watching the lambs walk and the hunting dogs learn to hunt every day, and seeing the beautiful scenery of the Horqin Grassland in all four seasons."
Wu Keshan lowered his eyes slightly and looked at his daughter.
The warm sunlight fell on her delicate face. After staying in the capital for so long, her skin had become even whiter, making her features even more radiant.
Wu Keshan always felt that his youngest daughter was like the flesh of his heart, always making his heart soften like a newborn lamb.
Sometimes, the princess and the others would say not to spoil Xinsa Ri too much, or she would become spoiled.
However, his new Sari has always been so sensible.
Yet, she was still sent here by Abu, whom she respected and relied on the most.
They suffered from serious illness and were also frightened.
But she did not back down; instead, she bravely went against the current!
Wu Keshan felt both guilty and proud.
“Child, you don’t need to stay in the capital for Abu and your people. We Borjigits fight for water and grass on horseback with scimitars. Now, in the court, it’s the same.”
"As for His Majesty, he now completely controls the power of the world. I have been paying my respects to His Majesty more often recently. He has the demeanor of a heavenly dragon and a heart that embraces all things. He is a wise and benevolent ruler bestowed by heaven."
“Naturally, we will employ virtuous ministers and uphold justice.”
"So you don't need to be the Empress of the Qing Dynasty."
After he finished speaking, he looked at his daughter with a resolute attitude.
Looking at her Abu, Jialuo felt incredibly fortunate to have met such a caring father in this era.
Her brothers and sisters also wanted the best for her.
She cannot allow their power and honor to be affected for her own selfish interests.
“Abu, your daughter has grown up.”
"My daughter also wants to do what she can for Abu and for the older brothers and sisters who have always loved and cared for me."
"You yourself said that the Emperor is a divine dragon sent by heaven, so for my daughter to marry the Emperor is the best marriage in the world."
"Marriage is a union between two clans. The daughter carries the Borjigit clan's loyalty to the Qing Dynasty and also the glory of the Borjigit clan."
"My daughter is willing."
She looked at her Abu, her expression reflecting the same certainty as his.
“My daughter is willing to contribute to the family on this path, and she can also live her own life.”
After Jialuo finished speaking, Wu Keshan remained silent for a long time. He looked at his youngest daughter and then said, "Xinsa Ri, you know you are here to be the empress, but do you know that the emperor is not an ordinary husband?"
"Sometimes even Abu can't protect you like a typical father-in-law."
Jialu noticed that Abu seemed hesitant, and there was uncertainty in his eyes.
She was a little confused. Why did he say that he wasn't an ordinary husband?
Why say at this time that Abu can't completely protect himself?
Could it be that Abu now thinks the Emperor would make her uncomfortable?
Will it make her feel different from being a princess consort to others?
Jialuo thought of the emperor's words in court, declaring that he did not wish to marry her.
“Abu, the Emperor married me not because he loved me, but because of a family commitment. The same applies to me. I have no personal feelings for the Emperor.”
"You have no worries, but I will be troubled by the Emperor's attitude."
Having said all that, what else could Wu Keshan say?
He reached out and pulled his daughter into his arms, then touched her hair.
“Abu knows that New Saji is so excellent, but you also need to know that Abu has never asked you to do anything.”
“New Sari, you came into this world to live the happiest and most carefree life. That is what Abu most hopes for.”
"Um."
Galo hugged her Abu tightly, nodding gently.
……………
As Garo had predicted, the marriage was arranged as agreed.
In this sweltering summer, Jialuo was made the first empress of the Qing Dynasty after it entered the Central Plains.
On August 13th, the sky was as clear as azure, and the city was ablaze with color.
Galo was awakened in the middle of the night and worked non-stop; it was only dawn.
Agate and several palace maids carefully brought in the wedding dress that she would be wearing today.
When Jialuo first saw the wedding robe, she never expected it to be so stunning.
Just by looking at it, one can feel the indescribable magnificence emanating from the bright yellow robe with its colorful cloud and bat patterns and golden dragon design, which represents the status of the mother of a nation.
Jialuo reached out and gently stroked the surface, feeling the lifelike embroidery technique.
Agate, beaming with joy, said with a smile, "Your Majesty, there's no need to try it. These celebratory firecrackers best reflect your dignified and majestic demeanor as the Empress."
Jialuo withdrew her hand, glanced at her, and was about to speak when she suddenly noticed her mother standing at the door.
She waved for Agate to present the wedding robe to the side, and then stood up.
"Mother!"
Jialuo's mother was a typical Khorchin woman. As she stepped into the room, her gaze never left Jialuo.
Only after Jialuo finished performing the rituals did she gently say, "Mother has come to see you."
Jialuo met her mother's gaze and complained, "I got up too early; my daughter isn't even awake yet."
"You only get one chance in your life, so don't be lazy."
"Come."
The woman took her hand and led her to the wedding robe.
"Mother wants to see you wear your wedding robe."
Upon hearing her words, Jialuo felt as if something had gently pressed down on her heart, making her feel a pang of sadness.
Jialu raised her hand, and the palace maids and her servants filed out one after another.
“Empress,”
She instinctively wanted to speak, but after calling out, she didn't know what to say.
Mother reached out and touched her face, whispering, "Mother didn't breastfeed you when you were a baby, do you remember?"
Jialuo was taken aback, and she looked up at her mother.
The woman was extremely beautiful, and now in her thirties, she was at the peak of her charm.
But slowly, the image of her face when she first saw her mother slowly surfaced in her mind.
She opened her eyes right after she was born.
Someone carried her in their arms and brought her to her mother.
Aside from the unfamiliar yurts, there were people lying on their beds, their faces covered in sweat, their cheeks flushed, and their expressions weary.
She still remembers that when her mother looked at her, there was no joy in her eyes, but rather a deep sense of entanglement and pain.
It even carried a hint of hatred.
Stared at by those eyes, Jialuo was startled and couldn't help but cry.
She never saw the woman from that night again.
Abu told her that her mother needed to rest and that her body was not suitable for breastfeeding.
She was breastfed by a young woman who had just lost her child.
Even in Jialuo's eyes, she was just a girl.
The girl was just fifteen years old. She had lost her own child, but she gave the newborn the warmth and nourishment it needed.
The girl's name is Namija, which means quiet and gentle.
For a time, Jialuo treated her as her mother.
Namilia is a reserved and quiet girl with a beautiful appearance and a delicate mind.
It wasn't until Jialuo was five years old that Eji truly approached Jialuo for the first time.
Unlike Namiia, she was stunningly beautiful and noble, and her gaze carried an air of arrogance.
Many people say that Mother loves her.
Abu said that Eji had her own sorrows, and Jialuo was the least likely person to blame her.
Jialuo understood; she thought her mother might be suffering from what later generations called postpartum depression.
She was the child her mother gave birth to at the cost of her life; it was Jialuo's rebirth, which her mother almost gave her own life for.
How could she blame her mother?
Until their first meeting when she was five years old, Jialuo has now lived with her mother for six years.
The two of them already had a normal mother-daughter relationship.
She didn't know why her mother would ask her this question at this time.
Of course, she could say many things that would make her mother happy.
But Eji's eyes just stared at her, and once again they held the pain that Jialuo felt when she first met her.
A note from the author:
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Hehe~
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