Chapter 169 Wedding

The tenth day of April, spring ends and summer comes, the whole city is full of flowers and it is a good time for marriage.

Today the weather was very nice, the sky was clear blue, and the sun shone brightly on the flower path. The Duke of Zhenguo Mansion was renovated, and the main gate, which had been silent for many years, was opened wide. The bright red ribbons were hung in the dark corridors of the main hall, which was simple and solemn. Passers-by, no matter rich or poor, old or young, only needed to glance at it to know that this family was going to marry off their daughter.

However, the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion was decorated solemnly, but there were very few guests. In recent days, the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion received many invitations, each of which was filled with enthusiastic praise, praising Ming Huashang to the sky, but in the end, they often pretended to regret that they could not come due to some unexpected circumstances.

Seeing that no decent guests had come to the bridal chamber for a long time, the bridesmaid was very embarrassed. She could only raise her voice and say auspicious words on purpose. She talked and laughed, wishing to fill the bridal chamber with her words. She felt very sorry for the princess. She was only 18 years old, beautiful and kind, but unfortunately she had bad luck. Marrying into the royal family was a good marriage, but who would have thought that there would be unpredictable events. Before the princess could enjoy the blessing, her husband had already lost power.

The palace naturally celebrated the wedding of Prince Yong with all its might. The emperor repeatedly asked the Ministry of Rites to take charge of the event, but Li Huazhang declined. The emperor was very sorry, and he sent a stream of gold, silver, treasures, silks and satins to Prince Yong's mansion, making such a big fuss that he wished the whole world knew about it.

The emperor was cheerful on the surface, as if he was happier about his nephew's wedding than his own son's. But everyone in Chang'an knew that Shengxin and Prince Yong had already had a rift, and the more rewards he gave, the more obvious it was. In such an environment, who would dare to risk offending the emperor and come to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion to marry?

At this moment, Ming Huashang, who was "very pitiful" and "lost favor before marriage" in the eyes of the bridesmaid, did not feel miserable at all. Her whole mind was on the flower-pin Zhaiyi in front of her. According to her rank, she should wear a blue silk embroidered Zhai bird wide-sleeved dress, nine flower-pins and nine trees, a knee-covering, a small ribbon, and two pendants at the wedding. Even though she was familiar with it before, when she really put it on, she was still confused by the complicated Zhaiyi and had no energy to care about what others thought of her.

She can hardly see herself.

Ming Huashang was getting married today, and Ming Yuji came early to help Ming Huashang comb her hair, put on makeup, and change clothes. She was very busy. After finally putting Zhai's clothes on her, Ming Yuji was sweating.

The maid brought the hair crown, and Ming Huachang's smooth black hair was tied into the bright and gorgeous flower tree crown. In an instant, she lost her lively and childish look and took on the dignity and stability of a princess. Ming Yuji looked at her and was suddenly filled with emotion.

Only then did she realize that Ming Huashang was going to get married. Although they were twin sisters, they were separated at birth and lived in different places. After a lot of effort, they finally met each other, but then the family split, the coup, the court and many other things happened one after another. They were led by the outside world and didn't have much time to spend together.

Before she learned how to get along with a sister of the same age, Ming Huashang was leaving home first. Ming Yuji felt guilty when she thought of today's situation. This was an important moment that only happened once in a woman's life, but Ming Huashang's wedding was empty. She really felt ashamed of the name "sister".

Ming Yuji was feeling depressed when she suddenly heard Ming Huashang whisper, "Sister."

Ming Yuji was startled for a moment, then turned around and asked, "What's wrong?"

Ming Huashang propped up her neck, staring at her like a deer, and said innocently, "I'm hungry. I remember there's frozen puff pastry on the menu. Can you ask the kitchen to make a few pieces for me?"

When the bridesmaid heard this, she hurriedly said, "Second Madam, you can't eat before the ceremony is over. Please bear with it for a while."

Weddings are very particular, and royal weddings are even more particular. If the bride wants to go to the toilet or feels uncomfortable during the wedding, it will be a loss of royal dignity, so just in case, the bride is not allowed to eat before the wedding. The bride is so strict that she is not even allowed to drink water.

Ming Huashang didn't know if other brides felt uncomfortable or not, but she couldn't hold on. She could die, but she couldn't starve.

Ming Huashang looked at Ming Yu Ji pitifully. Ming Yu Ji hesitated for a moment, but finally gave in.

Anyway, there were no guests coming to watch the wedding, so why bother putting on airs? As for whether the palace ladies who came to assist with the wedding would be unhappy after seeing this… they could say whatever they wanted. The emperor didn’t really bless this marriage anyway, so what difference did it make between worse and worse?

Ming Yuji said, "The frozen crispy flower cake is too cold. You may get upset if you eat it. Ask the kitchen to bring a plate of five-blessing cake. It's small and easy to digest. It's perfect for you."

Ming Huashang said hurriedly: "Leave me a few pieces of frozen shortbread cakes, I'll come back to eat them!"

The bridesmaid stared in astonishment as Princess Junyong finished a plate of five-blessing cakes in the blink of an eye. Before leaving the house, she even made a reservation for what to eat next time. The bridesmaid thought to herself that she was really a little girl who only remembered eating. When she gets married and takes care of the housework, takes care of her husband and children, and serves her in-laws, she may not be as cute and naive as she is now.

Thinking of this, the bridesmaid felt a little sad and said with a smile: "It is a blessing to be able to eat. The second lady is obviously a wealthy and noble person. If the second lady likes this taste, why not marry the cook who makes cakes to the palace, so that the second lady will not miss her parents' home."

"That won't do." Ming Huashang said, "The cook has to stay in the Duke's Mansion. Otherwise, how can I have an excuse to come back and eat for free in the future?"

The maids and servants in the room all laughed when they heard this. The bride wiped away her tears and said, "Second Lady has a really good relationship with her parents. She's already thinking about going back before she even got married."

"That's not true. Thanks to my sister who is capable of managing the household, I will not only be able to eat and drink for free when I come back, but I will also have to bring one more person with me."

There was a burst of laughter in the room. Ming Yuji felt helpless listening to Ming Huashang's nonsense, but she smiled unconsciously.

Yes, the wedding is just a ceremony. Ming Huashang is still a member of the Ming family. Their relationship has not been severed, but instead they have gained one more relative.

They are a family that lives a down-to-earth life, so why wouldn't they be able to enjoy a house full of friends and guests?

They were chatting and laughing in the room when they suddenly heard the maid report: "Madam, Madam, the Marquis of Pingnan is here!"

Ming Huashang was a little surprised. Ren Yao actually came? The situation was unclear and their families were having a hard time. She thought Ren Yao would not come. Ming Yuji was the first to react. She said "Please come in" and asked the maid to take away the cake box and re-make up Ming Huashang.

Ren Yao was wearing a purple Hu costume with beasts embroidered on it, and her long hair was simply tied up. She strode along the way with great vigor and vigor. When she came in, she saw the maids busy packing up the cake boxes, and said casually: "Eat when you are supposed to, why are you hiding it? Don't you treat me as your own?"

Ming Huashang chuckled when she heard this and said, "Sister Ren is right. Bring me the frozen shortbread cakes as well. I don't think I'm full."

Ming Yuji glared at her and said, "Still eating? You've even eaten your lip makeup. If the wedding party comes later, are you going to leave like this?"

"Why not? I'll use a fan to cover my face when I go out anyway, so no one can see me. How can they know I don't have lipstick on? When I fan myself at night, I'll say I got the lipstick scratched on me."

The more Ming Huachang thought about it, the more she felt that this was a perfect excuse. Ming Yuji was both angry and amused: "You only know how to cut corners on your own wedding. People who don't know would think you are getting married for someone else."

Ren Yao also said: "No need to put on so much makeup, after all, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. No matter how Er Niang dresses, Li Huazhang thinks she is the most beautiful."

Ming Huashang refused to give in and said, "That's because I am beautiful. It has nothing to do with him."

Seeing Ming Huashang talking and laughing without restraint, the bridesmaid gradually realized that her sympathy for Ming Huashang was groundless and even ridiculous. There were few guests on the wedding day, and the future of her husband's family was uncertain. If it were another woman, she would definitely feel wronged, but Ming Huashang didn't care at all. Instead, she talked and laughed, ate and drank, which showed that she was not worried about her future life at all, and she felt safe enough with her husband and family.

If you are living a happy life, why do you need spectators?

Just as the bridesmaid finished her thoughts, several more female guests arrived, from the Princess Taiping Mansion and the Prince Xiang Mansion. Princess Taiping and Prince Xiang were relatives of Li Huazhang, and it was inconvenient for them to come to the bride's banquet, so they sent their most capable daughters-in-law or daughters to the scene, silently expressing their attitude. The small concubine's room was gradually filled with people. Although there were few people, each of them was of great importance.

Before they knew it, it was evening, and the auspicious time for welcoming the prince was approaching. The maids who were watching the excitement at the second gate hurried in, shouting, "Prince Yong is here! Prince Yong is here!"

There was a flurry of activity in the bridal chamber, with the maids hurriedly looking for a kneeling blanket and a round fan to cover Ming Huashang's face. Ren Yao picked up a handy wooden stick, loosened his muscles, and said, "You guys take your time to look for them, don't worry, I'll go to the door to stop them, I'll never let Li Huazhang in easily while I'm here."

When Ming Huashang saw the wooden stick as thick as a table leg in Ren Yao's hand, her scalp went numb and she hurriedly said, "Sister Ren, be friendly!"

The Tang Dynasty followed the Northern Dynasties and the people were martial, even in weddings. If a son-in-law wanted to enter the house, he had to be tested by the bride's relatives. The bride's elders would beat the new aunt with a wooden stick behind the door, commonly known as "beating the son-in-law". Even the emperor was not immune to this custom. Sometimes the beating was so severe that it was not uncommon for people to die.

After the martial arts, the groom has to compose poetry. He has to recite a poem on the spot every time he passes through a door. When he arrives at the bride's room, he has to compose a poem to urge her to get ready. He can only see the bride when everyone on the woman's side is satisfied.

However, this is only the first step. After that, there are still obstacles, saddles, weddings in the green house, and fans. Anyway, Ming Huashang feels that if she is reincarnated as a man, she will never be able to marry a wife in this life. Fortunately, Li Huazhang is both civil and military, so it should be no problem for him to fight against Ren Yao... right?

鎮國公府正堂，李華章一身緋紅禮服，彎弓搭箭。一箭向天，謝天賜姻緣，一箭向地，敬祖宗保佑，一箭向婚車，退小人路煞，保佑夫妻餘生同心同德，白頭偕老。

他連射三箭，箭風氣勢如虹，引得圍觀路人拍手交好。李華章為這一天準備了許久，攔門詩根本不值一提，他又對鎮國公府的構造了如指掌，一路上勢如破竹，長驅直入，鎮國公府這邊還沒反應過來，他就已經闖到了最後一關——明華裳的閨房前。

任遙握着木棍站在門前，松了松肩膀，抱拳道：“雍王，見諒了。”

李華章看到任遙手裏兒臂粗的木棍，無奈嘆了口氣：“至少比我預料的強些，好歹沒拿紅纓槍來。”

“小瞧我？”任遙拿着桌腿，輕輕松松揮了道槍風出來，挑眉道，“你們一起上還是一個一個來？”

江陵在李華章宣布婚訊的時候就鬧着要當傧相，他煩了李華章半年，終于如願以償。江陵一路樂呵呵看戲，他看熱鬧不嫌事大道：“敵寡我衆，群攻非君子所為。”

“你說得對。”李華章點頭，毫無預兆将江陵推出去，自己閃身朝院門襲去。

李華章最讨厭冗員冗職，他安排人手絕無一人多餘，也絕無一人浪費。江陵寫詩不行，武功也不行，那李華章為什麽要用他當傧相？

顯然是要做些貢獻的。

江陵明明在看戲，突然全無防備出現在棍棒下，他看着棍子劈頭朝他打來，驚慌道：“手下留情！都是自己人，別動手！”

李華章用江陵作餌，成功金蟬脫殼，趁任遙不備逼近院門。但他才推開門，迎面一道勁風劈下，李華章忙後退一步，險險躲過。

明雨霁站在門後，掌心緩緩掂着木棍，似笑非笑：“偷奸耍滑，想抄近道？想得美。”

李華章看着面前另一根棱角分明的桌腿，果然人不該抱有僥幸之心，該躲得還是沒躲過，他嘆氣，無奈道：“你們到底拆了幾條桌子？”

明華裳坐在床上，聽着外面一陣陣歡呼聲、起哄聲，簡直坐立難安，心驚膽戰。

正常來說下婿只是個游戲，娘家借此殺殺姑爺的威風，提醒他要好好對新婦，并沒有多大危險。但他們家不一樣，任遙、明雨霁都是受過專業訓練的女暗衛，她們拎着木棍打人，是真的能打出人命的。

李華章在院子裏騰挪閃避，他不是打不過明雨霁，但婚禮下婿是習俗，他不能拿武器，只能被動躲避。靠躲倒也有辦法贏，但太慢了。

李華章看向不遠處薄薄一扇門，突然莫名其妙道了句：“冒犯了。”

明華裳握着團扇心神不寧，正在想要不要給明雨霁、任遙傳信，暗示她們差不多行了，突然房門被撞開，扒在門縫上看熱鬧的丫鬟們摔成一團。明華裳驚訝擡頭，透過金絲勾喜、彩鳳環繞的團扇，看到一個颀長高挑的少年穿過人群，如驚鴻般落在她面前，含着笑意說：“傳聞燭下調紅粉，明鏡臺前別作春。不須面上渾妝卻，留着雙眉待畫人。裳裳美貌，娶之不易，只能行此下策，來搶婚了。”

李華章拉着明華裳的手腕就往外跑，這時新房內的女子們終于反應過來他想搶婚，鬧哄哄道：“別讓他走，攔住他！”

李華章帶來的男方迎親隊伍終于有了用武之地，少年們一邊高聲起哄，一邊沖進來幫忙。任遙聽到裏面的動靜，忙要回去支援，江陵像只熊一樣撲過去，牢牢纏住任遙：“做人留一線，日後好相見。萬一把李華章得罪狠了，小心他在你的婚禮上報複你！”

任遙踢又踢不到，甩又甩不開，羞惱道：“放開，我才不怕他報複。”

“我怕！”江陵死不松手，賴皮道，“哎呦我腳崴了，站不起來。”

明雨霁見李華章這個無恥小人居然玩陰的，不老老實實闖關，竟打算搶婚，簡直氣不打一處來。她沉了臉，怒沖沖要過去阻止李華章，走到半途被旁邊一個人拉住。

蘇行止罕見換了身紅色衣服，站在人群中無奈地拉住明雨霁：“雨霁，雍王娶妻不容易，算了吧。”

明雨霁聽着心頭火起，一路走來就讓他作幾首詩，這就不容易了？鎮國公把一個女兒養大就很容易？

男人在這種事上總是很容易共情男人，明雨霁冷冷說“松手”，蘇行止猶豫了一下，還是沒放手。果然下一瞬間明雨霁的棒子就朝蘇行止揮來，蘇行止趕緊躲過，心道他這個觀禮賓客真是冤，只是說兩句公道話就被遷怒了。希望李華章不要辜負他的犧牲，趕快把妹妹娶走。

李華章拉着明華裳穿過亂成一團的人群，明華裳發冠上的珠寶來回碰撞，耳邊喧鬧的人聲仿佛霎間成了陪襯。她擡起一只手扶住搖搖欲墜的發冠，忍不住邊跑邊笑，問：“我們就這樣跑了，是不是不合規矩？”

“婚禮婚禮，能娶到心上人才是最重要的禮。”其實這并不是李華章的計劃，但一遇到她，尋常克己守禮的他就沒法循規蹈矩，他腦海完全被一個念頭占據，早點見到她。

迎親和送嫁隊伍都在找新人，雙方擠成一團，好不熱鬧，哪裏知道婚禮的主人公已經跑出去了。李華章帶着明華裳跑出院落，琢磨接下來要如何收場，他心裏忽的冒出一個念頭，要不就這樣帶着明華裳離開吧，抛開所有人，去一個只有他們兩人的地方。

他還沒來得及捋清這個瘋狂的念頭，迎面撞到一行人。鎮國公正在高堂裏等着女婿、女兒行禮，突然聽到奴仆傳話，說雍王搶婚了。

鎮國公還以為是下人以訛傳訛，二郎那麽懂規矩識大體的人，怎麽可能搶親呢？他匆忙趕過來，沒有任何美化的餘地，親眼撞到了李華章意圖拐帶他的女兒。

鎮國公大怒，暴喝道：“二郎，你們在做什麽？”

李華章到底還是知道輕重的，他乖乖回到正堂，按部就班完成後半截的禮儀，然後在衆人的起哄聲、岳父和妻姐殺人般的視線中，帶着明華裳上婚車，往雍王府駛去。

雍王府裏，此刻早已貴客滿堂，燈火通明，以相王、太平公主為首的李氏皇族已等候許久。

李顯雖然防備李華章，但李華章畢竟是章懷太子的遺孤、神龍政變的功臣，虧待了誰都不能虧待他的婚禮。雍王府的婚宴布置得非常盛大，相王、太平公主哪怕龍困淺灘，依然輸人不輸陣，帶了全家盛裝出席，排場擺得十分足。

随着婚車靠近，雍王府立刻響起奏樂聲和禮炮聲。李華章沒有理會路邊滿當當的人群，他下馬，目的鮮明走到婚車邊，伸手扶明華裳下來，仿佛世界裏只有這一件事。

他的手修長有力，是明華裳從小到大最熟悉不過的觸感。她手掌剛剛落入李華章掌心，就被他緊緊握住，明華裳近乎是被李華章半抱着，落到地面上。

地上已經鋪好了紅氈毯，明華裳視線被團扇遮擋，唯有順着紅綢緞另一端的牽引，木然往前走。訓練有素的侍女在旁邊跑動，不斷将後面的氈毯轉移到前面去，明華裳就這樣一路腳不沾塵，不需要擔心任何事情，和李華章一起跨過馬鞍、火盆，穿過熱鬧的賓客，穿過漫天灑落的金錢彩果，在禮官的唱喏聲中，于青廬前拜堂為夫妻。

李華章搶婚的戰績已經傳到王府了，陪嫁婢女明顯在防着他，之後的流程李華章沒有再突發奇想，他老老實實作了許多首卻扇詩，直到鎮國公府這邊的陪嫁全都滿意後，才終于撤去團扇，看到了美人真容。

燈火搖曳，明華裳擡眸，明眸皓齒，眼如秋波，像小時候捉迷藏贏了一般，對着他粲然一笑。

剎那間世間一切遠去，周圍賓客的說話聲淡化于無，李華章看着明華裳，已無法控制自己的感官。他仿佛只活在她這一刻的眼神中，從前種種，往後餘生，都有了答案。

太平公主見李華章一直凝視着自己的新娘，他們問了好幾句話都不想搭理，心領神會，主動帶着宗室們離開了。賓客離開後，宮女、女官也魚貫退下，鎮國公府的陪嫁丫鬟有些擔憂地看了明華裳一眼，被同伴拉走。

燈火幢幢的青廬中眨眼只剩他們兩人，明華裳意識到從現在起他們兩人的關系就不一樣了，心裏免不住緊張。然而李華章卻像毫無所覺，他走過來熟稔地扶住她的肩膀，為她拆下發冠，修長的手指摩挲在她發間，輕柔為她按摩：“餓了嗎？”

His words instantly brought her back to the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion. He was still her most reliable brother, and she only needed to be a lazy, brainless, useless sister. Ming Huachang's nervousness disappeared, and like a child going to school without parents for the first time, she half complained and half acted coquettishly: "I'm almost starving. I got up at dawn today and have been busy until now. I don't even have time to drink water. If I hadn't secretly eaten two pieces of cake, I would have fainted on the road."

It's hard to say for other young ladies, but Ming Huashang has never suffered such grievances since she was a child. When Li Huazhang heard that Ming Huashang had been hungry for so long, he hurriedly said, "Please bear with it for a while. I'll ask the kitchen to prepare a meal for you and serve it up right away. Do you want to eat now or after you take a bath?"

Ming Huashang hesitated for a moment and said, "Let's eat after taking a bath."

"Okay." Li Huazhang said, "The hot water is ready. Go take a shower first. I'll ask them to set the table."

Ming Huashang responded and went to the bathroom next door to take a shower.

Qinglou is a temporary wedding room, similar to the tents of the nomadic people in the Northern Dynasties. The newlyweds only sleep here for one night and will move back to the main courtyard tomorrow, so the furnishings in Qinglou do not need to be too exquisite, and it is basically only used for sleeping. But Li Huazhang is very clear about Ming Huashang's living habits. Even if it is a temporary residence for only one night, he has carefully prepared a bathtub, a mirror, and a screen. The furnishings are exactly the same as in the Zhenguogong Mansion. Everything is the most familiar look to Ming Huashang.

Ming Huashang sank into the hot water and breathed a sigh of relief.

She scooped up a handful of water and watched the water droplets slide down her arm, leaving only a petal on her skin, like a red plum reflecting the snow. Ming Huashang was originally a little scared of what was going to happen next, after all, they were once brother and sister, but now, she believed that no matter what happened, he was still the original second brother.

No matter if his last name is Ming or Li. No matter if he is the prince of Zhenguo or the prince of Yong, the protector of the country.