When the sky was still blue, Cheng Jiaoniang was woken up.
"Didn't you say that the wedding will be held in the afternoon?" she asked, putting on her daily blouse and reaching out to pick up the long bow hanging in the room.
"Oh, my wife." The maid shouted, reaching out and snatching it away, "I didn't ask you to get up so early to practice archery."
Banqin is also wandering around the house here.
"Should we wait for the hairdresser to come and wash up together, or should we cleanse our face first?" she muttered, while asking if the jewelry and hairpin rings were ready.
"Even if it's not laid out, it can only be obtained in a few steps in such a small room." Cheng Jiaoniang said, slowly walking to the mirror and sitting down.
"Banqin, don't be so nervous. You haven't slept all night. You should put on your makeup first," the maid said.
Banqin suddenly realized and reached out to cover his face.
"Don't embarrass me." She hurriedly ran out, unable to see the path under her feet and almost tripped, causing the two maidservants to yell.
As Huang entered the door, he was startled.
"Why is Banqin so nervous?" She laughed.
"Such a big event." The maid smiled, "How did it feel when the eldest lady married the eldest husband?"
"Hey, that time." Huang said with some recollection, "I was so nervous that my mind went blank. I just remembered that my mother gave me a fruit to eat, and she kept it in her hand until we arrived at Dalang's house.
Didn’t eat.”
The maids and girls all made them laugh.
Cheng Jiaoniang also smiled slightly.
At that time...
There were servants from the royal family inside and outside the house, and the decorations inside and outside Cheng's house didn't look like a married woman, but like a married woman.
Her heart was pounding nervously, and she crushed the ginseng slices her sister-in-law gave her in her hands. After walking around the city for half a day, she went to the palace to pay homage. She almost collapsed, but Yang Shan noticed her mistake and quietly treated himself
stuffed the ginseng slices into her.
"...Look, fortunately, I know that you are not fully prepared when you are careless..."
He smiled at her with a little smugness.
"...I can wield a sword and bend a bow to shoot horses, so why can't I do it even when I'm hungry?"
In fact, she thought later that she was not hungry, but nervous.
Laughter rang in her ears, interrupting her wandering.
"Look, the lady is nervous too, right?" the maid asked with a smile, half-kneeling down in front of her and putting on a new pair of shoes for her.
"Don't be nervous. In fact, I regretted it afterwards. Speaking of which, this day is the most leisurely time. Everyone is working hard and busy for you. Only you can care about nothing. This kind of day is only once in this life. It's really
You should enjoy it." Huang said with a smile.
While they were talking, the little girl ran in and said that Mrs. Chen was here, and Mrs. Huang hurriedly took her over.
The room became even more lively. Cheng Jiaoniang was sitting in front of the bronze mirror, having her hair and makeup done, listening to the women and daughters-in-law around her saying happy and auspicious words.
When it was daylight, everything was dressed up, and she would sit indoors like this until someone from the Jin'an County Prince's Palace came to welcome the bride.
"Sister looks so weird," Chen Danniang said with a smile.
Cheng Jiaoniang nodded.
It's a bit weird. Her bridal makeup wasn't like this at that time. It was so rich and colorful now.
"Don't talk nonsense." Chen Shiba Niang said, "Bridal makeup is all like this."
"Sister, you are not weird like this, but Sister Cheng looks so weird like this." Chen Danniang said with a smile.
"Okay, the banquet has started outside, everyone, please go out." Mrs. Chen's maid came to greet her.
"Do you want me to accompany you?" Chen Shiba Niang asked with a smile.
Cheng Jiaoniang smiled and shook her head.
"That's right, you may not be used to us accompanying you." Chen Shiba Niang smiled and said, "We will come and talk to you after dinner."
Most of these people were invited by Mrs. Chen. Although they have admired Mrs. Cheng for a long time, they still couldn't do it if they wanted to chat and laugh with each other like other women.
After all, I'm not used to talking and laughing with each other.
"Thank you very much." Cheng Jiaoniang looked at them and stood up to salute.
"Oh, no need." Chen Shiba Niang said with a smile, pulling up Chen Danniang who didn't want to leave and walking out.
The people in the room dispersed and became quiet again.
"Madam, are you hungry?" Banqin asked.
"Don't eat if you're hungry. It's been a long time. What if you have an emergency? Just bear with it." The maid said.
"But it's been a long time. Madam hasn't eaten anything in the morning. It's almost dark after the church service." Banqin said with a worried look.
Cheng Jiaoniang smiled and shook her head.
"It won't be long," she said.
Although he was ordered not to disturb Prince Jin'an's health care, there was still talk and laughter coming from the courtyard outside.
"What time is it?"
The curtain was opened and the voice of Prince Jin'an came out.
The two maids hurriedly answered.
Hearing what was said here, the waiter from outside hurriedly walked in.
"What's wrong?" he asked, looking at Prince Jin'an who was half sitting up.
"It's late, why haven't you left yet?" Prince Jin'an said.
The chamberlain smiled.
"Your Highness is not in a hurry," he said. "It's a shortcut from our place to the Cheng family. It's a quick round trip."
The prince of Jin'an County was stunned for a moment.
"A shortcut?" he asked.
What is important in getting married is excitement, with the man showing off his joy and the woman showing off her dowry. Especially now that dowries for married women in the capital are becoming more and more generous. In order to show their family's confidence, any respectable family would like to go around the city, and at the end of the day, they have to do it.
Walking along the hottest street in Beijing while beating gongs and drums.
A shortcut? Become a thief or flee? Get a wife or be a thief?
"It's the Queen Mother's order." The chamberlain whispered.
Prince Jin'an hummed and slowly lay back down, his eyes falling on the wedding dress beside him.
There were bursts of noise outside.
"Coming, coming."
Several children ran in first, shouting.
Standing on the porch, Banqin breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's finally here, why is it so slow?" she said.
She almost thought that she would never come, or that today was just her dream.
"Madam, cover your head quickly." She turned around and walked into the room and said.
The bright red hijab fell, covering Cheng Jiaoniang's face and blocking her sight.
The sunlight filtered through the hijab, making Cheng Jiaoniang's vision a bright red. She couldn't help but close her eyes and clenched her hands in front of her.
"Madam, don't be nervous." The maid's voice whispered in her ear.
There was Banqin's voice in my ears.
"I just said that the lady will be nervous...you are still talking nonsense..."
"But before, my wife didn't do anything wrong at all. No matter how I looked at it, she seemed to be staying out of it and relaxed."
"That's not the time yet."
Cheng Jiaoniang let go of her hand.
She wasn't nervous, she just didn't like the red color, especially the red color that was so close to her eyes.
Just like when their Cheng family was destroyed... Just like the overwhelming bright red that repeats forever in her dreams...
"Why so slow?"
Zhou Hao looked at the welcoming relatives who were walking in and asked with a sullen face.
The visitor laughed.
"What are you doing early?"
"There is no need to serve tea to the parents."
"As soon as you come, leave as quickly as you come."
A flurry of words came out, accompanied by laughter.
Fan Jianglin's face looked ugly.
"Okay, hurry up, don't miss the auspicious moment." The waiter said sharply, with a bit of impatience, "This is for auspicious things, if you miss it, your efforts will be in vain."
This is really disrespectful.
The faces of the people around him became a little strange, and many of them were busy avoiding him.
Zhou Hui glanced at these people, turned around and walked towards the backyard.
"Mr. Liulang is sending your wife off."
Accompanied by the shouts of the master of ceremonies, Zhou Sheng carried Cheng Jiaoniang on his back.
This was the closest contact he had with her recently, the first and last time.
Zhou Hui walked slowly, step by step, across the threshold and down the steps.
"What if..." He couldn't help but whisper.
At this moment, the sound of firecrackers sounded, the gongs and drums finally sounded, and the wedding atmosphere finally became intense.
"What does brother want to say?"
Amidst the commotion, Zhou Hao heard her voice coming from behind his head. It was not loud but very clear.
"It's nothing." Zhou Hui said.
The people behind him stopped talking.
Zhou Hao raised his head and looked at the door that was getting closer and closer. The noise around him gradually faded away, and the road in front of him became far and near.
If only it could keep going like this.
The street in front of Cheng's house was already crowded with people, and it would have been swamped if it hadn't been for the people from the Five Cities Soldiers and Horses Division.
"Come out, come out."
Seeing the newlyweds being carried out by a tall young man, the noise on the street suddenly became even louder, with everyone rushing forward.
But unlike other people watching the excitement of weddings, many people were holding bottles and jars in their hands.
"Is there any wine? Is there any wine?"
There were also voices asking questions one after another.
But when I saw the bride sitting in the sedan, the bride-to-be and the bride-to-be were all getting on the carriages and horses, the servants, women and girls were standing in two rows beside the sedan, the soldiers and horses in front were clearing the way, and the strong men behind were lifting the dowry, everything was still in harmony with other families.
Marriage is no different.
"Not again!"
There was a sound of regret at the scene.
"What's going on? Several dead brothers have caused such a big fight..."
"..Yeah, she even made wine for the new scholars to parade around the streets..."
"...Why is it that when it comes to things like myself, my own brother, etc., there is nothing..."
But there are still people who are hopeful.
"Maybe the excitement will be on the street."
"Yes, that's right, the immortals live over there."
The crowd rushed towards the busiest and busiest street, but halfway through the crowd, someone noticed something strange.
"Huh? That's not right."
They shouted in surprise and pointed at the wedding procession.
"Why are you going to the side street?"
Zhou Hui, who was riding a horse, looked at the people and horses in front, with a sneer on his gloomy face.
It really doesn't give any face at all.
The other people at the wedding party finally realized that something was wrong, their expressions changed slightly, and the girl couldn't help but speak in a low voice.
"Oh, did you go to the wrong place?"
Because she was afraid of any accidents, Mrs. Chen personally sent the bride off as a bride and groom. She kept paying attention to the outside. Seeing this, she immediately raised the car curtain and asked.
"Mrs. Lu Guo." The chamberlain on the side said with a smile, "Your Majesty is ill, and the prince is also ill. The Queen Mother said that everything should be kept simple."
After moving out, the Queen Mother said that Mrs. Chen could not say anything. She smiled reluctantly and stopped asking. She looked at the narrow street ahead and sighed softly.
There was no way, the royal family made it clear that they wanted to disgrace the bride.
Banqin, who was walking beside the sedan, looked slightly pale and his eyes were red.
"I know what the lady means." She murmured.
"What are you talking about?" the maid asked in a low voice.
"It won't take long." Banqin murmured.
There will be no parades around the city, no lively wedding ceremonies, only shortcuts to get in as quickly as possible, so you won’t have to wait too long before you can get in, eat, and rest.
She looked forward and saw that the suonas and gongs played by the performers from the palace were weak and thin.
And the people on the street were suddenly startled by the wedding procession that turned in.
There are still people giving weddings who avoid the streets? Could it be that they are from a small and humble family where the dowry is shabby?
But when they saw the soldiers and horses leading the way, everyone was so frightened that they immediately gave way.
This is at least the standard that only a prince can have.
But the prince’s concubine won’t be so shabby, right?
Everyone looked up curiously.
"What I said is correct."
In the wedding reception team, two men were chatting and laughing leisurely.
"Although this road is narrower than the main street, it is spacious for weddings."
Because there is no need to disperse the crowded crowd, and there is no need to slow down because of the crowd watching.
"I just said that we should have a bowl of wine before going out." Another man raised his hand and yawned, complaining with a hint of hangover, "We brothers, eating wine is the most important thing."
While they were chatting and joking, they suddenly saw a carriage coming out of an alley ahead, walking leisurely in front of the group.
The Imperial Guards who were clearing the road in front of them shouted "Hey" and "Hey" to drive away. The old man who was driving the carriage seemed to be deaf and didn't hear it. He still led the horse and walked slowly.
What does this look like!
The Imperial Guards patted their horses and wanted to move forward to drive them away.
It would be better if it didn't look like it. Didn't the Queen Mother's intention be to make this marriage not look like it?
A chamberlain reacted and hurriedly called to the imperial guards.
"It's not far, and the road is narrow. It would be troublesome to avoid him. Let him go first. Let's go slower," he said.
"Yeah, yeah, it's not in a hurry." Someone smiled and agreed.
These words caused more laughter, drowning out the sound of drums.
Banqin couldn't bear to look any further and lowered her head to let the tears fall away to avoid smearing her makeup.
The long and narrow street soon left.
"Turn around and walk one street and you'll be there."
"Let's continue drinking later."
The chatter and laughter in the team never stopped. When they turned a corner, the sound of a piano suddenly came, cheerful and high-pitched, drowning out the chatter and laughter one after another.
Who is playing the piano in the street?
The people seeing off their relatives couldn't help but stop talking and looking around, and saw a man sitting on the ground not far from the front of the street.
"Hey? Master Cui Qin?" someone shouted.
As soon as this sentence was spoken, more people recognized it.
Cui Qinshi, the musician in the palace, was indispensable for major sacrifices, and he was also a person whom the dignitaries in the capital would be proud to have at their banquets.
Why does he play the piano in the street?
Master Cui seemed to be immersed in the sound of the piano and didn't look at anyone in the team.
As the team approached, the sound of his piano became more and more cheerful, the drumming continued, and the laughter and greetings also echoed, but the strange thing was that everyone heard the sound of the piano clearly, and the sound of the piano became louder and louder.
It lingers in my ears, and there seem to be hundreds of birds gathering and circling before my eyes, and then scattering with a huff and a puff, which makes people want to stretch their bodies, chase and jump.
The sound of the piano made people on the street look over. Those who walked out of the door and those who stopped on the roadside could understand the obsession and the incomprehensible joy.
"I've never heard this song before," someone said.
This is a person in the wedding reception team, with a somewhat excited look on his face.
"It must be Master Cui's new composition!"
"But why does Master Cui come here to play the piano?" someone also asked.
At this time, they had already passed Master Cui's place, but the sound of the piano was still lingering in their ears, and everyone couldn't help but look back.
"Have you forgotten?" Someone suddenly said, "Who did Master Cui listen to play the piano before breaking through?"
Lady Cheng!
The sound of the piano purified the house, so cold that the foolish Prince Qing was fascinated by the piano master Cui.
"So, Master Cui Qin is..." Everyone said with a bit of disbelief but also a bit of surprise.
I came here specially to marry Mrs. Cheng.
"This song is so nice!"
"I must invite Master Cui to play at my house!"
But more people began to talk about this excitedly, and some even wanted to ask Cui Qinshi the name of the song immediately, but they couldn't do it because they were in the wedding party.
"Yes, yes, I must also invite him to play this...song...Ms. Cheng's wedding song!"
Lady Cheng’s wedding song?!
Once this song is named, the story of Mrs. Cheng’s marriage will be passed down forever.
The streets are connected on all sides, and things here spread quickly.
"Come and see, there's a palace piano master over there playing the piano for Mrs. Cheng's wedding!"
“It sounds amazing!”
Lady Cheng?
Is there such excitement?
Suddenly the crowd poured into the street here.
As the team marched, the sound of the piano gradually faded away, but many people couldn't help but look back. While they were reminiscing, someone suddenly shouted in front of them.
"Look! What is that?"
Does anyone still play the piano?
Everyone looked forward and saw a lot of people pouring out from both sides of the street. They were old and young, big and small. Some were wearing silk and blue cloth, but the same thing was that they all had money in their hands.
Hold the pen and ink.
This is?
Accompanied by everyone's doubts, many people were running on both sides. As they ran, a piece of white paper slowly unfolded in front of people like a cloth.
"Pick up the pen!"
someone shouted.
With this shout, people on both sides held the pens in their hands.
Leaving the sound of Master Cui's piano, the drum music that had been playing stopped again, and the actors also looked at the seemingly neat line of people lined up on the street, but it seemed chaotic because of their different status and age.
Countless people are coming from far away.
"rise!"
With this shout, these people began to splash ink on the white paper spread out in front of them.
This is….
The procession sending off the bride was stunned. The horses were moving forward, but they were already stiff. As they moved, their eyes passed over the people writing.
There are white-haired old men, young and handsome men, and even young children, but the same thing is that they have focused expressions, waving precious pens in their hands, or bald chickens, and big words appear on the white paper.
Small and skillful green handwriting.
"Nv Cheng taught me how to learn calligraphy."
"There is a way to follow each stroke."
"Be emotional first and then draw the strokes."
"The autumn leaves in the suburbs are all in shock."
Along with splashing ink, someone read loudly.
First there was one person, then there were more and more voices, old and young, one after another, step by step, they unfolded in front of everyone's eyes like a scroll.
The people on the horse were no longer laughing, and the soul-stirring sound of Master Cui's piano just now was obviously missing, but their hearts were filled with excitement.
Cheng Nu used to teach calligraphy skills!
The silent observation of calligraphy practice in front of the door, the copybooks given to anyone who asked for them, were never mentioned as professors, but it turned out that they could still be respected as teachers.
The maid stretched out her hand to cover her mouth, tears streaming down her face.
It turns out they all remember it, it turns out everyone remembers it.
If a lady doesn't tell or ask, not everyone will not ask or give.
I don't know when the crowds of people on the street became so crowded that it was noisier than the busiest street in the capital.
"Are you planning to marry Mrs. Cheng?"
"Oh my god, this is the first time I've seen this kind of wedding ceremony!"
"Look, I recognize the guy who wrote it. He's a famous gentleman from Menglin Hall!"
"I also recognize one, that is the third boy from my neighbor's house."
The paper unfolded on both sides of the road was a hundred feet long. Originally, the wedding team could pass the hundred feet in an instant, but at this moment, they walked slowly.
Firstly, everyone couldn't help but watch, and secondly, the crowds of people on the street also stopped, and the imperial troops in front had to clear the way with difficulty.
"It turns out that taking a shortcut or a small road won't work either." Someone in the team murmured.
It actually doesn't make any difference where you go, because the one who walks is married to Mrs. Cheng.
No one in the team was joking, and even the hangover on the face of the man who wanted to go back for a drink seemed to be gone, replaced by awe.
At this moment, there was a sudden loud noise in the air, and the noisy and crowded people on the street were frightened to death. Before they could recover, they saw fireworks exploding in mid-air, shining like clouds.
Fireworks that shine like clouds in the daytime!
In an instant, the noise in the street disappeared and fell into a strange silence. Everyone felt a numbness from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads.
There were sounds one after another, and colorful clouds dispersed in the sky.
With a roar, the street was boiling again.
"It goes without saying." Someone murmured, "This must be another person who has taught me skills in the past and came to see me off..."
"Empress Dowager, you won't send it..."
Someone in the wedding team looked up at the colorful clouds exploding in the air, looked at the dreamy street, and murmured.
"Someone sent..."
And this kind of gift cannot be given to you, the Queen Mother, even if you are rich and respected in the world...
Cheng Nu Xi taught... There is a way to follow... First, be emotional and sincere... Shocked...
Shocked!
Banqin reached out and grabbed the sedan window.
"Madam, Madam." She cried loudly, "Did you see it? Did you see it? Many people came to see you off! Many people came to see you off! Madam, you are wrong. It takes a long time to get married.
!”
Cheng Jiaoniang, who was sitting upright in the sedan and had not opened her eyes since she put on the hijab, slowly let go of her hands and slowly opened her eyes.
Red, there was still a dazzling red in front of her eyes, but it didn't seem to scare her that much anymore.
"Madam, madam, have you seen that? Many people remember you, madam, they all remember you."
Banqin's voice hit his ears with the constant sound of fireworks outside.
I saw it, I saw it.
Cheng Jiaoniang looked straight ahead, a tear falling from the corner of her eye.
