In the lobby, Xue Tao bid farewell to his father. His beloved daughter was about to get married. Xue Xun was also a little sad, but her daughter was already eighteen years old and could not always stay with him. Moreover, it was not easy for her to find a congenial husband.
So Xue Xun was sad but also very happy.
"I have already said what I need to say before becoming a father. When I say goodbye, I wish you a happy life, a husband and a son, and that I can have a grandchild as soon as possible."
Xue Tao gave a blessing gift and said, "Father taught me, and my daughter will remember it. That daughter is gone!"
"Go! Let's not be sad. This is still your home. You can come back at any time."
Although he said not to be sentimental, his voice was choked up. He quickly turned his head and waved his hand, "Let's go quickly!"
Xue Tao was also very sad. She held back her tears, bowed to her parents again, and walked towards the yard with the support of Ah Qiu.
The Tang Dynasty objected to the bride wearing a hijab, thinking it was against etiquette. Therefore, there was no custom of covering the bride's face when she got married. At most, the bride would cover the bride's face with a fan when going out or entering the house.
It was not until the Song Dynasty that the ancient ritual of hijab was restored and continued until the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Xue Tao boarded the carriage with the support of two Xi Niangs. As a dowry maid, Ah Qiu also followed her into the carriage, and then came Xiao Yu Niang. Her status is not a lowly status, but a normal civilian status, with a monthly salary.
She paid the poll tax to the government, but she often lost her identity and always regarded herself as Guo Song's little maid.
Guo Song didn't know how to arrange her, so he could only use her as Xue Tao's personal guard.
At this time, Guo Ying shouted, "The auspicious time has come, let's go!"
As the drums played, Guo Song said goodbye to Xue Xun and Han. The Xue family sent everyone to the door and watched the carriage leave amid the drums.
Xue Xun smiled at everyone and said, "Close the door! It's time for us to set off."
The Xue family took four carriages and took a shortcut to Qujiang Garden House. They expected to arrive half an hour early and could have a few glasses of wedding wine.
The wedding procession went up Chunmingmen Street and turned west. They arrived at Jinguang Gate in the west, then turned south and circled back to Zhuque Gate. Then starting from Zhuque Gate, they walked south along Zhuque Street.
, leave Chang'an City from Mingde Gate. This is the rule for Chang'an people to welcome brides. No matter how you go, you must walk through Zhuque Street.
Guo Song followed closely beside the carriage on horseback. Inside the carriage, Xue Tao was looking at the carriage with great interest. This carriage was specially customized for her, and she would always ride in this carriage when she went out.
The carriage is very spacious, with a simple and comfortable layout. There is also a small compartment in the back, which contains a toilet. It is fastened tightly and can also be removed. It is convenient for long distances. It is well sealed, so there is no need to worry.
A peculiar smell enters the cabin.
The three of them sat comfortably in the carriage. Xue Tao leaned on the cushions with his back and looked at his husband outside the gauze curtain. From today on, he is her husband.
She gently opened a gap in the gauze curtain and shouted: "Guo Lang!"
Guo Song heard the beauty's cry and smiled slightly: "How about the new carriage?"
“Very comfortable, I’m very satisfied.”
"The key is comfort. Otherwise, if you follow me to Ganzhou, I will be very worried on the way."
"When will we leave for Ganzhou?"
Guo Song thought for a moment and said, "Almost ten days from now!"
"Guo Lang, are you nervous?" Xue Tao couldn't help but asked in a low voice.
"A little bit! However, it's more of anticipation than nervousness."
Xue Tao blushed and quickly closed the door. She knew what Ai Lang was looking forward to. Her mother told her in detail the night before yesterday that the incident was going to happen tonight. She was nervous in her heart, but she also had a trace of expectation. Unexpectedly,
At that point, how can she be a mother?
Although it is already early spring and February, it still gets dark relatively early in winter. At almost five o'clock in the afternoon, the sun sets and dusk arrives.
Many people are looking at each other in front of the Xue Mansion. They started eating at noon and are almost full by now. Now they are waiting for the final wedding ceremony to begin.
At this time, there was a faint sound of drum music in the distance, and a wedding attendant rushed back and shouted: "Coming! Coming!"
Several Taoist priests from the Qingxu Palace quickly spread the carpet from the gate to the green hut in the west courtyard. This is one of the two necessary rules mentioned by the master of ceremonies. The bride can only formally set foot on the land of the groom's family after paying homage to the church. Although
Xue Tao had been here several times before, but she was not yet a bride at that time.
It was first used to rotate two felt rugs back and forth, which was called zhuan rug. This was a custom of the Xianbei people, and it also affected the Tang Dynasty. After the mid-Tang Dynasty, the trend of luxury gradually increased, and the wealthy and powerful families began to lay long carpets, while the common people still continued to lay down long rugs.
Keeping the old custom of using two felt rugs in turn, this is actually more due to the lack of financial resources to use long rugs.
Anyway, whether you are a wealthy family or a commoner, you must follow this rule.
As for customs such as riding a brazier, riding a saddle, sprinkling dates, feeding the mother-in-law's family, etc., these are determined according to the circumstances of each family and are not required, so they are not available here in Guo Song. However, the second must-do rule is to sit
The tent is held after the wedding and when relatives and friends of both parties give their blessings.
As for drinking Hexin wine, it is not a rule, it is a wedding procedure.
Amidst the joyful sound of drum music, the carriage slowly stopped in front of the gate. A dozen Xiniangs holding large fans ran up and formed a passage with their fans. Xue Tao slowly stopped with the support of Aqiu and Xiaoyu Niang
Get off the carriage slowly.
Although the large fan was tightly covered, many guests could still catch a glimpse through the cracks and saw the bride's peerless appearance. They were so shocked that they couldn't help but applaud and cheer.
"The bride enters the house!"
The master of ceremonies shouted loudly, and Xue Tao, surrounded by more than a dozen wedding ladies, entered the mansion, walked along the red carpet to the west courtyard, and walked into the huge green house.
The green house has been decorated, with a big Chinese character "囍" in the middle. The table below is filled with various festive objects, such as wild geese, hundred-seeded pomegranates, mandarin ducks, etc. There is a huge red candle on each side, which is bright.
The ground is burning.
There are huge red hanging curtains on both sides, filling the entire Qinglu with a festive atmosphere.
There is a back tent in Qinglu. Xue Tao moved into the back tent. Xiniang, who specializes in makeup, came forward and put some makeup on her.
This is the first time I have seen a beautiful and gentle bride, comparable to the concubines in the palace."
Xue Tao smiled lightly, "Thank you for the compliment!"
Another bride next to her also sighed: "The groom is also very young. I heard he is a high-ranking official in the imperial court, and he can live in such a big garden house. It is difficult to find such a husband even with a lantern!"
A sweet smile appeared on Xue Tao's face. She didn't care when others praised her, but she was very happy when others praised her husband. Although the praise was rather tacky, Xue Tao could tell that she was praising her from the bottom of her heart.
Who can say otherwise? My husband-in-law is far beyond what the rich and powerful son can compare with.
At this time, the master of ceremonies asked outside the tent: "Has the bride finished her makeup? The auspicious time is coming soon."
Xiniang quickly replied: "That's okay!"
At this time, the sky was getting dark, and there was still the last bit of afterglow on the horizon. It was just before dark, and the lights in the green house were brightly lit, shining like daylight. Almost all the guests entered the green house.
There are a row of soft piers on the left and right in front. The woman's parents are sitting on one side. The man's side is a little funny. There are two gray-haired old people. One is Guo Ziyi. He and Guo Song are indeed of the same race and have blood relations, so
As the elder of the husband's family, he is also the witness.
But the other one is Aunt Gongsun. Guo Song regards his master as his father. As his aunt, Aunt Gongsun is also an elder recognized by Guo Song. If you don't know them, you will think that they are an old couple and they are the man's grandparents.
The master of ceremonies said loudly: "It's a beautiful time, we are blessing the wedding of a couple today, and now the auspicious time is coming."
Before the master of ceremonies finished speaking, someone outside shouted: "The emperor's gift has arrived!"
Everyone moved out of the way, and Guo Song hurriedly stepped forward to greet him. He saw the eunuch Huo Xianming walking in quickly. He clasped his fists and laughed and said: "Congratulations to Governor Guo on his wedding. Our family has been entrusted by the emperor to present Governor Guo with a wedding gift!"
Guo Song quickly clasped his fists in return, "Thank you Eunuch Huo for coming!"
Huo Xianming smiled and waved his hand, and a eunuch came forward holding a jade plate. On the jade plate were two five-inch-tall little people, white, fat, and cute, both wearing wedding clothes. The groom was made of gold, and the bride
It is carved from white jade, which means a golden boy and a beautiful girl, and there is a gold medal next to it, which says God-given marriage.
Guo Song quickly took the jade plate and thanked him again. Huo Xianming smiled and said: "Our family has to go back to resume life, so we won't disturb Governor Guo's wedding."
"Please invite Eunuch Huo to have a glass of wedding wine before leaving!"
"Guo Song quickly winked at Zhang Lei and asked him to thank the eunuch."
Zhang Lei understood and quickly invited Huo Xianming to the lobby. There was a lot of discussion in the Qinglu. No one expected that the emperor would send a congratulatory gift. The groom was too proud.
Guo Ziyi stroked his beard and smiled without saying a word. It seemed that the emperor had high hopes for Guo Song to go to Hexi.
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[Happy New Year’s Day, book friends! I also wish you all good health in the new year, and may all your wishes come true!]