Chapter 138

Chapter 138: Into the Bridal Sedan

Chun Zhi thought of the days in Dongzhou, when Song An Lan was gravely ill and had entrusted the Song Clan’s affairs, along with Song Wan’er, to her; [if Huo Zheng had not appeared, we would have almost become husband and wife].

She lifted her eyes to look at Song An Lan, but before she could speak, he said with a smile: “You must not be like Official Mu and say you do not want it. I am your elder brother. It is right for me to add to your dowry.”

Chun Zhi could not help saying with a soft sigh: “This is more than a little.”

Song An Lan laughed lightly and answered: “It is only a small token of my heart.”

Song Wan’er walked with Chun Zhi to the window. Seeing the courtyard filled with dowry chests, she was not surprised. [If not for Prince Chang’an, Chun Zhi would already be my sister-in-law.] Elder Brother could not marry Chun Zhi, so giving her more dowry was the only way he could wish her a good life.

When Song Wan’er noticed Chun Zhi still wanted to speak, she hurried her along: “The auspicious hour is almost here. Sister, tell Elder Brother the rest another time. For now, please go back to the mirror and finish your hair and makeup.”

The courtyard was full of women, so Song An Lan did not linger. While Song Wan’er spoke, he turned and left.

Chun Zhi did not have time to say what she meant to say to him. Song Wan’er pulled her back to the dressing stool in front of the bronze mirror and sat her down.

Yu Zhu and several maids stood around Chun Zhi, combing her hair into a bridal bun and putting on her makeup.

Outside, the house bustled with joy. Inside, the women worked busily around Chun Zhi.

Before long, Madam Mu came in and asked with a smile: “How is the bride’s dressing going?”

Song Wan’er answered, also smiling: “Almost done. We were just waiting for Mother.”

Madam Mu moved behind Chun Zhi. Looking at her daughter who was as lovely as a flower, her heart ached that she had not been there to watch her grow up. In her mind, she had only the image of Zhi’er before the age of nine, and then the sight of her again when they reunited, already grown.

“Madam,” said Yu Zhu as she handed over a jade comb.

Taking the comb, Madam Mu gently smoothed Chun Zhi’s hair and spoke slowly with each stroke: “First comb, smooth to the hair tips; second comb, may your brows turn white together; third comb, may children and grandchildren fill the home; fourth comb, may you be joined in lasting harmony; fifth comb, may you get along with all your in?laws; sixth comb, may blessings come upon your household; seventh comb, may good fortune meet you and disasters pass you by; eighth comb, may your wealth multiply; ninth comb, may your table be full of good flavors; tenth comb, may all be free of taboos and go well.”

Traditionally, an auspicious matron should comb the bride’s hair, but Chun Zhi had asked that her mother do it. So Madam Mu did it herself, every line a sincere blessing.

After the combing, the maids finished the bridal bun and placed the phoenix coronet on Chun Zhi’s head.

Song Wan’er stared at her for a long moment, then blurted out: “Sister, you are so beautiful.”

Chun Zhi laughed and said: “When it is your turn to be a bride, you will be just as beautiful.”

Song Wan’er’s cheeks turned a little red as she muttered: “There is not even a hint of that yet. Sister, what are you saying?”

Smiling, Yu Zhu placed the bridal fan in Chun Zhi’s hand. She had just opened her mouth to speak when the wedding matron outside called out: “The auspicious hour has arrived. Bride, leave the house!”

Yu Zhu and Song Wan’er lifted Chun Zhi to her feet and guided her out. The maids followed on both sides. The Mu residence was bright with red banners and lanterns, full of joy.

At that very time, at the main gate of the Mu residence, Mu Kai Ji was leading Song An Lan and the others to block the door. Many feared Prince Chang’an, but as the bride’s elder brother, he did not. He stopped Huo Zheng and made him compose poems urging the bride to finish dressing, even pulling Song An Lan up front as another elder brother to join in the teasing.

On a wedding day, rank did not matter. Even Prince Chang’an had to follow the rules of the wedding procession.

Gu Yuan Jia and the others had come with Huo Zheng, and they composed three urging-the-bride poems on the spot.

Though Mu Kai Ji meant to make things a bit difficult to show that a Mu family girl was not easy to marry, before long he had no reason left to block them.

While the front gate filled with laughter and banter, Chun Zhi stood in the main hall with the bridal fan in her hands and bowed to bid farewell to her parents.

Since returning to the capital, Mu Qing Shan had thrown himself into official work. Matters at home were handled by Madam Mu and Mu Kai Ji. As the head of the household and a high official, he kept a proper distance from his daughter, so they mostly saw each other only at supper. In the blink of an eye, more than a month had passed. Today, as Chun Zhi married, Mu Qing Shan told her to live in harmony with her husband and to be a good wife and mother in the days to come, but before he finished, his eyes filled with tears.

Madam Mu also gave Chun Zhi many reminders, but even before her words were done, her tears were already falling.

Seeing this, Song Wan’er hurried forward with a handkerchief to wipe Madam Mu’s eyes and coaxed her: “Mother, today is Sister’s wedding day, a day of great joy. Do not cry, do not cry.”

“I am not crying. I am happy,” said Madam Mu as she dabbed her eyes. “On a day like this, I cannot help being happy.”

“Madam,” murmured Mu Qing Shan, speaking softly to comfort her as the husband and wife stood hand in hand.

“The groom is here,” called the wedding matron with a laugh.

Held up by the elder brother-in-law at the door, Huo Zheng had passed several playful tests before reaching the main hall. When he saw Chun Zhi in her red wedding robes with the bridal fan in her hands, he paused in surprise. In a flash he remembered their simple wedding in the tofu workshop. Back then, Chun Zhi wore a dress she made herself and a red flower at her temple, neat but plain. They set only two tables of wine, inviting the small vendors who were her friends and a few neighbors.

Now the hall was dazzling with color, family stood close by, and Chun Zhi wore a rich embroidered gown with a phoenix coronet. From head to toe she was refined, and her beauty was beyond compare. Staring through the edge of the bridal fan, Huo Zheng could not look away.

The wedding matron teased with a grin: “Groom, do not just stare. Hurry and bow to your father?in?law and mother?in?law.”

Everyone in the hall laughed.

Chun Zhi lowered her head slightly behind the fan.

Coming back to himself, Huo Zheng saluted Mu Qing Shan and Madam Mu and said: “Greetings to Father?in?law and Mother?in?law.”

Mu Qing Shan answered with a smile: “Prince, there is no need for too much ceremony.”

Before everyone, the couple told Huo Zheng that they hoped he would be kind to Chun Zhi, that husband and wife would be of one heart for a lifetime.

Huo Zheng agreed one by one and said firmly: “I will remember your words. Chun Zhi and I will surely share one heart and one purpose, grow old together, and stay together to the end.”

Mu Qing Shan and Madam Mu nodded with satisfaction.

“The auspicious hour has arrived. The bride will enter the sedan,” cried the wedding matron.

Huo Zheng stepped forward to help Chun Zhi, but the wedding matron held him back and said, laughing: “Prince, do not hurry.”

By custom, the wedding matron must help the bride into the sedan. Only after reaching the Prince’s Manor may the groom personally help her out. The wedding matron had already explained all these steps to Huo Zheng, and he had listened closely. Who knew that on the day itself, the moment he saw the bride he forgot everything.

People around them could not help but snicker.

Mu Kai Ji stepped up and said: “Prince, wait a moment. There is no need to be so eager.”

Huo Zheng’s gaze kept drifting to Chun Zhi without his knowing it. Teased by his soon?to?be brother?in?law, the tips of his ears turned a little red. Though he and Chun Zhi had already married once before, today still felt like the first time.

“Bride, into the sedan,” the wedding matron called, guiding Chun Zhi outside.

Huo Zheng walked at Chun Zhi’s side, watching her steps at every moment for fear she might stumble.

The Mu family accompanied her to the gate.

The bride entered the bridal sedan, and Huo Zheng mounted his horse.

Firecrackers burst, the musicians led the way, and Prince Chang’an’s wedding procession set out from the Mu residence toward the Prince’s Manor.

At the same time, at the other end of the street, Lu Jing Yun turned his Wang Clan bridal sedan back toward home. The two wedding processions met head?on in the middle of the avenue.