The six rituals between Chen Caozhi and Lu and Xie were very compact. On the first day of the second lunar month, they accepted the gifts and asked for their names on the second day. The two matchmakers, Zhang Ping and Xi Chao, obtained the names of Xie Daoyun and Lu Weirui from the Lu and Xie mansions respectively. According to the text of birth date, month, day, stems and branches, Xie Daoyun was born on the 16th day of the twelfth month of the first year of the reign of Emperor Kangdi of the Jin Dynasty, that is, the year of Guimao, the month of Yichou and the day of Guisi; That is, in the year Jiachen, in the month of Renshen, on the day of Xinsi——
On the third day of February, the old patriarch Chen Xian, accompanied by the spy commander Shi Jia Bizhi, compared the birth date of his sixteenth nephew Chen Caozhi (Jiachen year, Bingzi month, Renshen day) with Lu and Xie February's date. The zodiac signs were sent to Dr. Taichang to predict the suitability of marriage. As expected, Dr. Taichang got a good omen after using Yuan Gui's divination. Chen Xian and Chen Man came to the house with gifts that afternoon. After informing Dr. Taichang of the auspicious omen obtained by the divination, the three parties decided to enter into marriage. This is the gift of Naji——
The sixth day of the second lunar month is the wedding ceremony, which means that the man formally pays a betrothal gift to the woman. As Chen Cao's sixth-grade official, he must prepare two leopard skins, 10 pieces of silk, 20 pieces of brocade, 60 pieces of silk, and 120 pieces of cloth. Horses, two calves, two lambs, six sheep, six hogs, twenty bushels each of wine, millet, rice and flour, plus two hundred thousand coins -
Chen Caozhi made two betrothal gifts at the same time, which cost no less than 2 million yuan. Chen Man, the sixth uncle who was responsible for taking care of the family property, was very heartbroken. If the Chen family estate had not expanded rapidly in the past two years, he would not have been able to afford the betrothal gifts. , Fortunately, Chen Man firmly believed that the dowries of the two daughters Lu and Xie would be very considerable. He heard that two years ago, the Yu family in Kuaiji married their daughter to Lu Na's nephew Lu Shi, and the dowry alone was twenty hectares of fertile land. The status of the Xie family is still higher than that of the Yu family in Kuaiji, so the dowry will definitely be rich and gratifying——
After the four rites of nacai, asking for names, naji, and nazheng, it is time to ask for a date. Originally, this requires the man to choose a good date through Dr. Taichang's divination and then notify the woman. However, Chen Caozhi's double wedding has never happened before. , there is no convention to follow, and even the Lu family and the Xie family are not willing to welcome him personally, so on the evening of the seventh day of February, Chen Xian invited Xie An, Lu Na, Xi Chao, and Zhang Ping to the main hall of the east garden of Chen's house. , let’s discuss the date of welcome——
Zhang Ping laughed and said: "Chen Zi remarried, the government and the public are paying attention. In the past few days, people are talking about Chen Zi remarrying. What the people are most concerned about is when is the date of Chen Zi remarrying? Did the left and right wives come first? Finally, we still get married on the same day? If we get married on the same day, how can we arrange the wedding night? Haha."
Xi Chao smiled and added: "Even if you marry on the same day, there is a priority. There is only one Zi Zhong, so you can only go to the girl's house one by one to marry."
Xie An and Lu Na are both smiling at each other. It is impossible to be fair and neutral. It just depends on who is willing to give in?
Xi Chao looked at Chen Caozhi, who was standing respectfully on his side, and asked with a smile: "Zizhong is so wise, do you have any good ideas?"
Chen Caozhi said honestly: "There is nothing we can do."
Everyone laughed and the atmosphere was relaxed.
The old patriarch Chen Xian said: "It is better to welcome each other on the same day. If we choose the date first and last, and then choose the date according to divination, I am afraid it will be half a month and a month apart. It is difficult to tell. What do An Shigong and Zu Yangong think?"
Xie An and Lu Na both expressed no objections. If Chen Caozhi wants to marry two girls on the same day, then go ahead. How to arrange the bridal night is your Chen family's business, but as Xi Chao said, marrying on the same day also comes first. Later, it had to be decided whether Chen Caozhi would go to the Lu Mansion first or the Xie Mansion to welcome the bride first, because he had to choose a good time in advance. If Chen Caozhi ran in both directions, he might be in a hurry and not look solemn enough——
Xie An has long been worried about it, just like his niece Xie Daoyun wanted to become an official. Xie An is never in a hurry. He believes that he can always find a solution to everything. At this time, he said: "I have a suggestion. Tell it to Patriarch Chen.
Lu Shangshu discussed together——"
Chen Xian and Lu Na both said: "Gong An Shi, please speak."
Xie An said: "Since the marriage between Miss Lu and my niece was granted by the Empress Dowager Chongde, why not ask the Empress Dowager to come forward. On the day of the wedding, all the ladies on the left and right will go to Chongde Palace to express their gratitude, and then go to Chongde Palace to bring the two girls together."
Welcome back to the Chen Mansion together, so that there won’t be any confusion, and we won’t have to rush back and forth, what do you think?”
Chen Xian and Chen Cao were overjoyed, and Lu Na also felt that this method was exquisite and comprehensive, and was the most feasible. He secretly praised Dongshan Xie Anshi's talent, which can be reflected in small things——
Once this major problem is solved, other things will be easier to handle. We also discussed the date of his personal welcome, because Chen Caozhi will go to Jingkou in the near future to assist Huan Xi in rebuilding the Beifu army. The next few months will be very busy, and Xie An knows
The Northern Expedition is not far away, so Chen Caozhi’s wedding date should be before the Northern Expedition and after the Beifu soldiers have initially been established, so August should be the most suitable time——
In the afternoon of that day, Chen Caozhi wrote a letter and asked his third brother, Chen Shang, to submit it to the Empress Dowager Chongde. In the evening, the Empress Dowager Chongde sent her chamberlain to reply, saying that she was willing to accept the beauty of adulthood.
The next day, Chen Xian went to visit Dr. Taichang. The date of the fortune divination was the eighth day of August. The two matchmakers, Xi Chao and Zhang Ping, went to the Lu Mansion respectively. The Xie Mansion asked for advice. The Xie Mansion had no objections, and the Lu Mansion was very happy.
Because the eighth day of August is Lu Weirui’s birthday, it can be described as a double happiness.
The five rites have been decided, and it is still early to welcome him personally. Chen Caozhi must also go to Sizhou to take up his post as Sima Zhi. He will first go to Gushu Xifu to meet Huan Wen, and then take a boat from Gushu to Jingkou——
The day before Chen Caozhi left for Gushu, he went to Lu Mansion and Xie Mansion to say goodbye. At Xie Mansion, he learned that Xie Xuan would marry Huan Huo's daughter on the ninth day of next month. He couldn't help but worry that he would not be able to come back by then. Xie Xuan laughed and said
: "It doesn't matter if you can't come back in time. The marriage between Zizhong and my sister is confirmed. This is what I am most happy to see. It is important to rebuild the Beifu army. Zizhong should not think about my wedding date."
That night, Chen Xian, Chen Man, Chen Shang, Chen Caozhi, Ran Sheng, as well as Ding Youwei and Chen Zongzhi's mother and son discussed matters in the main hall, and decided that Chen Man and Jing Nu would return to Qiantang at the end of the month, while the old patriarch Chen Xian would stay in the capital, etc.
After Chen Caozhi got married, he returned to Qiantang. Zongzhi also followed his sixth uncle Chen Man to Wu County and continued to study under Dr. Xu. When Zongzhi turns fifteen next year, he will be able to participate in the Qiyun Mountain Gathering and Dingpin. With Zongzhi's
With his knowledge and reputation, as well as the status of the Qiantang Chen family after the marriage with the Lu and Xie clans, it is completely expected that Zongzhi will be promoted to a high-ranking official by the state Dazhong——
Of course, Ding Youwei and Run'er stayed in the capital. Run'er liked her new home in Dongyuan very much, and she often visited her two ugly aunts these days. She felt at home like a fish in water. She and Lu Weirui served flowers together, learned painting, and asked Xie Daoyun for advice.
When Xuanru had problems, he learned to play drums and harp, and Ding Youwei sometimes went with him. He got along very well with the female relatives of Lu and Xie Houses——
After the discussion, everyone returned to their sleeping quarters. Chen Caozhi sent his sister-in-law and Zongzhi back to the "Shuixiang Pavilion" on the north bank of the lotus pond. This "Shuixiang Pavilion" was also named by Run'er. A plaque written by Chen Caozhi was hung on the lintel.
.
The night in the middle of mid-spring is still quite cold, with a bright semi-circular moon, camphor trees and magnolias by the pool, the fragrance of magnolia is cool, the water in the pool is like a mirror, and the reflection of the moon is like a jade stone——
Ding Youwei said: "Zongzhi, please go back to Champs Elysees first. Mother and your ugly uncle have something to say."
Chen Zongzhi agreed and stepped forward. After hearing Madam Youwei's words, the two maids Axiu and Yuyan also quietly fell behind so that Madam Youwei could talk to Mr. Cao Zhi——
The two-acre pond is winding and winding, and there are about a hundred steps around the pond (about 150 meters in modern times). Ding Youwei clasped his hands, walked slowly, and said: "Sister-in-law is very happy these days, little one."
Lang's marriage has been confirmed, which has relieved a heavy worry for my sister-in-law. When I think about how Xiao Lang wants to marry both Wei Rui and Dao Yun in the past few days, my sister-in-law can't help but laugh. She has never experienced such pleasure."
Chen Caozhi smiled and said: "My sister-in-law has been worrying about me these past few years. My sister-in-law has never blamed me for being too ambitious."
Ding You smiled slightly and said: "Xiao Lang can always do things that others dare not do or even dare to think about. Xiao Lang is amazing!"
Chen Caozhi smiled and said nothing.
Ding Youwei got to the point: "Xiaolang is going to Gusse tomorrow, why don't you take Xiaochan with you? You are always served by Xiaochan."
Chen Cao said: "I'm going to Jingkou, and I won't be able to stay there for a few days. I have to go to the Huaihe River to lobby the various Wu sects. I'm going around like an envoy last year. It's inconvenient for Xiaochan to follow me."
Ding Youwei said "hmm" and warned: "Xiao Lang himself is out there, so be careful."
Chen Cao said: "Sister-in-law, don't worry. I can travel thousands of miles from Chang'an to Yecheng. It doesn't matter what the two Huaihe Rivers are. I will take good care of myself."
Ding Youwei was silent for a while, and then said: "Xiao Lang's marriage has been decided now, and Xiao Chan has been waiting for you for many years. Xiao Chan was the concubine that Aunt asked you to take before she was alive. You can't betray her, and you know it."
Yes, that girl Xiaochan is completely devoted to you. A few years ago, Qingzhi married Laide, but she refused to marry. She said she would rather be an old maid like Yinggu - Xiaolang, what do you think?"
Chen Cao said: "I have always regarded her as sister Xiaochan, just like my own relatives——"
Ding You smiled and said: "That's alright, let's do this. After you marry Wei Rui and Daoyun, you will take Xiaochan as your concubine. Taoist priest Li of Chuyang once said that Xiaochan is the perfect match for a child. I'm going to Xixi
The Lou Chen family has only a few people, and the clan is still young, so we all hope that the young man will spread his branches and spread his leaves, and the family will be full of descendants."
Chen Cao's Weiwei.
…
On February 12th, Chen Caoyi entered Taicheng early in the morning to bid farewell to Emperor Sima Yu. Sima Yu expressed his kind words of praise and high hopes. Chen Cao expressed his loyalty and bowed to the emperor. He left the palace and went to the car door to meet several people.
A chamberlain and a palace maid accompanied a palace carriage that came slowly. When it got closer, the carriage stopped and the carriage opened slightly. Sitting in the carriage was Princess Sima Daofu of Xin'an. Sima Daofu was surprisingly calm and said:
"Chen Caozhi, I really didn't expect you to marry Lu and Xie. Did you get your wish?"
Chen Caozhi did not answer, but saluted and said, "Your Highness, Princess, is well."
Sima Daofu sighed and said: "Wherever it is safe, it is not safe at all."
Chen Caozhi didn't dare to say anything more, so he bowed and said, "I have something important to attend to, so I'll take my leave."
Sima Daofu knew the general situation well and did not yell. He looked at Chen Caozhi's back, his lips moved slightly, and he didn't know what he was mumbling to himself.
