Returning home from an expedition was a big event. Even though Wang Yuan repeatedly asked to simplify the etiquette, Huang E still brought his servants and spread a carpet to welcome Wang Yuan into the main entrance.
Everything in Xiangxiang was confused. She followed Huang E and did whatever others did. But she couldn't see Huang E's gestures clearly, so she could only learn from the manservant opposite, put her hands on her chest and abdomen, and faced Wang E.
Yuan bowed his knees and saluted (the Wanfu ceremony in the Ming Dynasty was to place the hands right between the chest and abdomen. The position was wrongly placed in the previous chapter. This is corrected.)
"Wrong." Xia Chan reminded in a low voice and hurriedly changed the positions of Xiangxiang's left and right hands.
Whether you are bowing or bowing, you must follow the rules of men on the left and women on the right.
For example, when a man holds his fist in front of his face to salute, his left hand must be on top. If he puts his right hand on top, even if it is the same posture, it will directly become a mourning gesture.
Women are just the opposite.
During the CCTV Spring Festival Gala, the host often pays homage to the people across the country. Including those New Year films, he also pays homage to the audience during the Spring Festival.
I really want to thank you!
Although Xia Chan was talkative and jealous, she still had a clear mind. Instead of yelling loudly, she reminded her quietly and gently corrected Xiangxiang's posture.
After Wang Yuan stepped through the gate, he dismissed the servants, held Huang E's hand and said, "Little sister, I have been gone for a year, and you have been hard at home."
The resentment in Huang E's heart completely disappeared in an instant. He blushed and twitched his hands and said, "Others are watching."
"Just watch." Wang Yuan said with a smile.
In this way, Huang E was held by the hand and smiled sweetly all the way back. He also served Wang Yuan to change clothes and take a bath. After being busy for a long time, the couple finally went to the dining room to have a meal together.
In order to show his generosity, Huang E called Xiangxiang to join him for dinner.
Xiangxiang didn't understand it at all, so she sat down in a daze and didn't know what to say. She just sat there and picked up the rice without even using her chopsticks.
In the Ming Dynasty, there were two types of concubines, one was good concubines and the other was bad concubines.
A good concubine comes from a good family and has a slightly higher status. If she is abused by her head wife, her parents can report her, and in principle, she can get support from the court.
In the Yingzong Dynasty, there was a censor who took the daughter of the county magistrate as a concubine, but was beaten by his head wife. The county magistrate directly reported it to the Ministry of Punishment, saying that the censor had taken a good girl as a concubine. According to the law, he should be hanged, but he escaped under the amnesty.
A capital crime, but he was exiled to guard the border.
There are more than one or two cases of this kind. Whenever a good concubine is insulted by the head wife, her mother's family can sue her for taking a good girl as a concubine. Hu Guang, the chief minister of the Yongle Dynasty who edited the "Complete Collection of Four Books" and "The Complete Collection of Five Classics", his son Hu Huang (
He was then a doctor in the Ministry of Rites) and was sent to the frontier because of this kind of thing.
Therefore, the officials in the capital in the middle and early Ming Dynasty would not take concubines indiscriminately. There would be too much trouble.
First of all, when an official takes a concubine, he must write a document and report it to the court. Moreover, if the concubine steals someone, he will be laughed at by his colleagues, impeached by the official, and in serious cases, he will lose his official position. If he takes the daughter of a colleague or subordinate as a concubine, then
The risk is even greater, ranging from demotion to exile.
With so many troubles to worry about, why bother formally taking concubines? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a few more girls with whom we live together?
Well, this was the situation in the middle and early Ming Dynasty. In the middle and late Ming Dynasty, it was completely ruined. Even the officials were too lazy to impeach. It was even more nonsense among the people. According to the regulations, civilians without official status could only take concubines if they had no sons after the age of forty. But
Who the hell cares about so much?
As for concubines, it is easier to understand. They come from a humble background and are no different from slaves, as long as they are not beaten to death.
Xiangxiang comes from the Western Regions. It is hard to say whether she is good or bad, but she is definitely not qualified to eat at the same table. Huang E's move made Wang Yuan breathe a sigh of relief, and he was glad that the jealousy at home was not overturned.
"Second brother, this is a concubine contract. I'm ready." Huang E took out two copies of the document and said.
Wang Yuan was stunned for a moment, feeling increasingly guilty, so he signed and stamped his name, and then gave it to Xiangxiang to sign. This thing had to be reported to the court, otherwise he would be impeached if it was discovered, and the nature of it was very serious.
"Sister, put the text away." Huang E said.
Xiangxiang was confused throughout the whole process, vaguely understanding that this was her marriage certificate, but she didn't know that it was her guarantee for the rest of her life. In the future, if her son became an important minister, or her daughter became a queen or concubine, Xiangxiang would be able to get a royal title. Or maybe
Wang Yuan performed amazing feats. As a concubine, Xiangxiang could also get a concubine, but she was at least one level lower than Huang E.
Huang E smiled and said: "Continue eating."
Wang Yuan buried his head in eating, not daring to say anything, feeling extremely ashamed.
Huang E ignored Wang Yuan, gave Xiang Xiang some vegetables and said, "Don't just eat rice, try this."
"Well, thank you sister." Xiangxiang felt that this sister was really nice and she didn't bully her like her father said.
This girl had a bit of a naive personality. She didn't eat well all the way with the army. She had a huge appetite when she encountered delicious food. She stuffed three bowls of rice into her stomach. She covered her round belly and said with a serious face: "Chicken, it's so delicious. It's good."
eat!"
Huang E chuckled. She was really amused. She pursed her lips and said, "I will teach you etiquette in person tomorrow, but don't make any more jokes."
"Oh." Xiangxiang nodded dumbly.
Of course Xiangxiang is not stupid, she is just in a foreign country and can’t figure out anything.
But Xiangxiang still knew that Huang E was good to her. After eating, she took the initiative and said: "Husband, sister, let me sing to you."
"Okay." Huang E smiled.
Xiangxiang immediately asked Qiyun to bring the erxianqin, just like playing a guitar, holding it there and playing and singing. The lyrics were not understandable, but they sounded good, which made Huang E feel quite strange.
"What kind of piano is this? It's a bit like a xianzi (three-stringed instrument), but it has fewer strings than a xianzi." Huang E asked.
Xiangxiang said: "Call Duta'er."
"Dutar" is the transliteration of Persian, and the literal translation is "two-stringed harp".
Huang E asked again: "Can I play it?"
Xiangxiang quickly handed it over.
Huang E has been learning Ci Pai Qu Pai since she was a child, and she is also good at musical instruments. She fiddled with it a few times and asked, "What are these strings made of?"
"Sheep intestines." Xiangxiang replied.
"The sound is weird, but it has a unique flavor," Huang E said with a smile, "From now on, I will teach you literacy and etiquette, and you teach me how to play this..."
Xiangxiang said: "Only him."
"Yes, Duta." Huang E nodded.
The two girls were exchanging music there, but Wang Yuan was left alone, but it was still very enjoyable to watch the beautiful woman playing the piano.
After Wang Yuan was done drying, Huang E said: "It's getting late, let's rest."
Xiangxiang immediately hugged Qin and stood up.
Huang E said to Wang Yuan again: "Second brother, go to my sister's room...ah!"
Before Huang E could finish speaking, Wang Yuan picked her up, carried her on his shoulders like a bandit, and headed straight to their bedroom.
Xiangxiang and Qiyun were stunned.
Xia Chan followed them with a smile, helped them wash their faces and feet, and lay down outside to listen in the corner.
A long separation is better than a new marriage, and there has been no intimacy for a year. Suddenly the thunder from the sky stirred up the fire on the earth, causing Xia Chan to run away as if she had a fever.
"Second brother, Concubine Zhuang is pregnant, and I also want a child."
"Then work harder."
"I heard from my mother that this kind of thing should be done in moderation."
"More moderation tomorrow."
"Hmm...well, you are not allowed to go to the Xiangxiang room tomorrow, and you are only allowed to sleep with me."