Chapter 109: Green Cottage to be Married, White Horse Welcomes His Wife
A few days later, a happy event caused a sensation in Luoyang.
With the support of the Empress Dowager Bian, Emperor Cao Rui finally formally granted marriage to his cousin, Sanqi Changshi and Changling Marquis Xiahou Xuan.
The person whom the emperor granted marriage to Xiahou Xuan was a little-known daughter of the Qi people. This was a strange thing. After all, everyone in Luoyang City knew that the Xiahou family was the first noble family with different surnames in the dynasty. , all the outstanding children in the clan have been married to royal princesses for many years.
For example, this is the case with Xiahou Mao, the military minister of this dynasty, and Princess Qinghe, and Xiahou Shang, the general who conquered the south, and Cao Jue, the princess of Deyang Township.
The marriage between the Cao and Xia families has been established in this dynasty for many years. However, we never expected that this established practice would be broken in the hands of this young new head of the Xiahou family of the Changling Marquis lineage.
After the emperor granted the marriage, Xia Houxuan began to arrange the wedding matters himself. Although Xia Houxuan was smart and capable, he did not know much about hosting weddings. Therefore, the housekeeper Gu Ting began to work hard.
Since Huigu's parents died early, she was raised by her master Wu Pu and her uncle Fan A. Therefore, Xia Houxuan sent the letter of appointment to Dayan as a pair and sent someone to Wu Pu's home in Langya, Qingzhou, as a gift. The gift of acceptance.
As for the ritual of "asking for a name", commonly known as the ritual of combining eight characters, Xia Houxuan made careful preparations without any mistakes.
[Note 1: The matchmaker first sends the woman’s horoscope post to the man’s home. The man needs to place it in front of the ancestor’s case for inspection for a few days. If nothing happens at home these days, the man’s horoscope will be sent to the woman’s home. In the past few days, if any of the men and women's homes are stolen, items are damaged, or family members are sick, or other unlucky things happen, then the marriage will not be successful.】
Immediately afterwards, the rituals of "accepting the gift", "accepting the levy", and "asking for an appointment" were all prepared in an orderly manner under the arrangement of the head of the house Xia Houxuan and the housekeeper Gu Ting.
According to etiquette, the Changling Marquis Mansion and the Shaoling Marquis Mansion each prepared the following betrothal gifts:
A mouthful of white sheep, two pieces of broccoli, fifty pieces of silk, two pieces of animal skins, one hundred thousand coins, one piece of jade, twelve hugs of wine, and twelve husks of white rice.
[Note 2: "Naji", also known as "Xiao Ding" or "Wen Ding", is the engagement ceremony. The man chooses an auspicious day to go to the woman's house and gives the bride a token of love. "Na Zheng" is commonly known as Dazheng or Wan Ding. For betrothal, the man selects an auspicious day to hold an engagement ceremony at the woman's home. The betrothal ceremony is usually held from ten days to one month before the wedding. In addition to the betrothal fee, six or twelve gifts must be prepared. The names of the betrothal gifts have auspicious connotations. The number is an even number, which means to be in pairs. "Please date" is commonly known as date selection. The groom's family selects the wedding day and asks the bride's family for permission.]
In the blink of an eye, the most complicated and important step among the six rites has arrived: welcoming in person.
A few days later, it will be a good and auspicious day.
On this day, the streets of Luoyang were crowded with people, and the people passing by were like a surging tide. It was bustling and lively.
Today's Luoyang is probably even more lively than the civil and military wedding ceremonies at Luoshui River and Xuanwu Field a few years ago.
Because today is a special day - the owner of the Changling Marquis Mansion, Xia Houxuan, the Sanqi Changshi, and the general, the third son of the Shaoling Marquis Mansion, the deputy general of the Wuwei Camp, Cao Xi, will marry their brides at the same time today.
Naturally, there have been weddings of important people in Luoyang City, but it is rare to see such lively weddings held by several big families together.
Because of this, everyone in Luoyang wanted to see with their own eyes the beauty of these two famous young talents in the capital, as well as the two brides.
Many people even thought that it would be great to just take a look at the luxurious honor guard motorcade welcoming them from a distance.
The auspicious moment has arrived. On the Long Street of Qingshiguandao in the inner city of Luoyang, dozens of Xuanjia Guard soldiers of the Xiahou Mansion, dressed in red costumes and riding horses, are crowding around with a group of servants who are playing and playing.
There was a sedan chair carried by eight people, followed by the bride-welcoming ceremonial convoy escorted by fifty chariots and escorted by the head of the family, Xia Houxuan [Note 3], with gongs and drums beating, and it was very lively.
[Note 3: During the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the number of first-rank official titles, wedding cars, and wedding cars was one hundred for princes, fifty for first-rank officials, thirty for second- and third-rank officials, twenty for fourth- and fifth-rank officials, and ten for sixth- and seventh-rank officials.
There are five carriages from the eighth to the common people. Xia Houxuan’s Marquis of Changling is of the first rank.]
The groom, Xia Houxuan, was dressed in a red wedding dress, with a red headband on his hair. He was riding a white horse with an elegant gait and an extraordinary steed. He looked very handsome and eye-catching.
The bride was waiting for the groom to come to her in the green gauze tent in the eastern suburbs outside the city. Li Huigu, wearing a phoenix crown and a harem, was sitting in the green gauze tent. [Note 4] She was obviously a little agitated.
Nervous, she couldn't help but hold on to her red sleeves. She was getting married in a green house, on a white horse, and the person she was marrying was not a stranger she had never met before, but a lover with a deep friendship. This made her feel less uneasy and worried.
Uneasy, my heart doubled with joy and happiness.
[Note 4: "In the ancient wedding customs of the northern dynasties, the bride had to wait in a green gauze tent (i.e. Qinglu) to be welcomed. From the Eastern Han Dynasty to the early Tang Dynasty, the ancients held weddings in tents made of green cloth. "Qinglu"
The "hut" is generally located on the "auspicious place" in the southwest corner of the house. The bride getting off the sedan walks on the specially prepared felt mat and finally enters the green house. "New Ode to the Jade Terrace·An Ancient Poetry Written by Jiao Zhongqing's Wife": "On the day of cattle and horses
Hiss, the bride enters the Qinglu." "Youyang Zazu·Etiquette" written by Duan Chengshi of the Tang Dynasty: "For weddings in the Northern Dynasties, the green cloth curtain was the house, inside and outside the door, it was called the Qinglu, and we worshiped here." Pu Songling of the Qing Dynasty "
"Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio·The Goddess": "The young master said goodbye and said: 'Tomorrow night, the ninth day of the seventh lunar month, the new moon will fall, and a girl will get married. It is an auspicious day, and we can prepare for Qinglu.' The ancients removed the "Qinglu"
"As a wedding room for couples to get married, the wedding is sometimes called "Qinglu". This has the same meaning as how we now use "bridal chamber flowers and candles" to refer to marriage. In modern times, some people still call "Qinglu"
"Refers to marriage."]
Not long after, the sound of music and people outside the tent in the distance got closer and closer, and she knew that it was his personal guard of honor who was coming.
"Bride, please come out... Bride, please come out... Get on the sedan chair and come in..." Outside the tent, the accompanying servants of Xiahou Mansion, Xiahou Xuan's relatives and friends, and the people on the roadside who were watching all began to say
They yelled "to urge makeup" [Note 5]. The shouts of Xun Can, He Kuan, Sima Zhao, Zhuge Dan, Wei Lie, Yu Huan, Guanqiu Jian and other relatives and friends were so loud that Hui Gu had already applied the medicine
Her red cheeks were even more rosy.
[Note 5: This is an ancient wedding custom, urging makeup, also called makeup urging. In the old custom, when a bride gets married, she must be urged many times before dressing up and setting off. It may be said that this is a custom left over from the ancient plundering of marriage traces. Duan Chengshi of the Tang Dynasty
"Youyang Zazu? Etiquette Yiyi" says that at a wedding in the Northern Dynasties, the husband's family led people with a carriage to the bride's house and shouted "Bride, come out" until the bride got on the carriage.]
And today, Xia Houxuan, wearing a red wedding crown, a dashing red wedding dress, and a bowl of big red flowers on his chest, came riding with a white horse, followed by dozens of chariots, he was so high-spirited,
It even made the people of Luoyang who were watching marvel with joy.
The two maids Xi Niang who came to welcome the bride walked slowly into the Qinglu tent amidst the cheers of the crowd. They carefully supported the bride and drove slowly towards the groom's car. Huigu and Wei Yuan
The bride just got into Xia Houxuan's and Cao Xi's sedan chairs, and then headed towards Jiuhua Terrace in the southern suburbs.
Originally, according to wedding customs, the groom should take the bride back to his home for a ceremony, but this time His Majesty the Emperor and the Empress Dowager Bian wanted to, as elders, witness with their own eyes the marriage of Xia Houxuan and Cao Xi.
It was a wedding, so the two families decided that Jiuhua Terrace would be the auspicious place to attend the ceremony.
As a prince of the royal family, Cao Xi was accompanied by as many as ninety ceremonial vehicles, which was only ten fewer than the ceremonial convoy used for the prince's wedding. This grand ceremony made the people of Luoyang even more moved.
Cheering, many young scholars secretly vowed to seek fame in the future so that they could be so high-spirited on their wedding day.
The welcoming motorcade of the two people came out from the two gates in the city: Pingchang Gate and Jinyang Gate almost at the same time, beating gongs and drums, and slowly and joyfully headed towards Jiuhua Terrace on the outskirts of the city.
[Note 6: In the wedding etiquette of the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the prince's wedding convoy numbered 100 vehicles. Cao Xizhi's father, Cao Zhen, was the adopted son of Emperor Wu Cao Cao who entered the Cao family genealogy, and his status as a prince was only one step away. 】
Xia Houxuan and Cao Xi each carefully welcomed their brides from the sedan chair and climbed up the stairs.
According to the wedding customs at this time, the two brides did not wear hijabs, but each held a folding fan with their hands open to cover their faces. It is said that only the bride can meet her husband after paying homage to the church, so that it will be auspicious.
[Note 7: This is the wedding custom of Quefan in the south of Han and Wei dynasties.]
Si Lilang and Gu Ting, the steward of Xiahou Mansion, were already in place at this time. Seeing that the two newlyweds were ready, he was very excited. He silently said to his deceased master Xiahou Shang in his heart: General, look quickly, Xuan'er
Today, they are finally getting married. At the same time, Gu Ting shouted according to etiquette: "Bride price!"
The groom's official, Xia Houxuan, and Cao Xi's matchmakers and servants immediately presented the betrothal gifts they had prepared.
After Gu Ting saw that the ceremony was completed, he continued to shout: "Welcome the bride!"
Xiahou Xuan and Huigu, Cao Xi and Wei Yuan each held a handkerchief (i.e., a hydrangea ball or a concentric knot, which was called a handkerchief in the Han Dynasty). In Sima Shi, Sima Zhao, Xun Can, Fu Gu, He Kuan, and Zhuge
On Christmas Day, Yu Huan entered the wedding hall together with the guidance of his relatives and friends.
The two newlyweds finally arrived in front of the family elders under the guidance of the visitor.
On the high platform, in the Xitang, Emperor Cao Rui and Empress Dowager Bian faced the south steps and sat on rattan couches. General Shaoling Hou Cao Zhen, Princess Cao Jue of Deyang Township, as well as Minister of Civil Affairs Wei Zhen and other relatives.
If you are tall, you will sit on the left and right, watching the festive ceremony slowly approaching from a distance. At this moment, everyone's face is filled with expressions of happiness, joy and relief.
Seeing that the newlyweds were already in place, Gu Ting, the chief minister of ceremony, continued to preside over the wedding. He only heard him praise loudly:
"Although the ceremony is simple, the ceremony is grand; heaven is superior to the earth and the earth is humble, and the king, village and ministers are respectful. When a man and a woman get married, the phoenix and the dragon follow the dragon; there is no need to establish a marriage, the family is prosperous and the country is prosperous. The newlyweds both worship heaven and earth!"
At this time, Xi Niang, who was waiting for the newlyweds, took away the handkerchiefs held by the two newlyweds, while Si Lilang continued to shout:
"kneel!"
Xia Houxuan and Huigu, Cao Xi and Wei Yuan were extremely happy at this moment.
They joined hands with their loved ones and kowtowed three times to the center of the Hall of Happiness.
Si Lilang saw that the ceremony of worshiping heaven and earth was completed, so he continued to shout: "Get up! Bow to the high hall!"
Xia Houxuan took Huigu's hand and slowly turned to the seats of his maternal grandmother, Queen Mother Bian, and his mother, Cao Jue, and slowly bowed down. In this way, the two newlyweds performed the three-kowtow and kneel-down ceremony.
Cao Rui, Empress Dowager Bian, and the newcomer's elder parents Cao Zhen, Cao Jue, Wei Zhen and others looked at Xia Houxuan, Li Huigu, Cao Xi, and Wei Yuan as they knelt down and worshiped, their faces full of joy.
Gu Ting was so filled with joy at this moment that his voice had an imperceptible tremor. He continued to shout in praise: "Get up! Pay homage to the matchmaker!"
At this time, the two newlyweds turned to the east of the wedding hall and bowed to the matchmaker. The ceremony of bowing to the matchmaker was completed.
When Gu Ting saw that the ceremony was completed, he shouted loudly: "Husband and wife, bow to each other!"
With a smile on his face, Xia Houxuan gently held Huigu's hand and returned to the center of the wedding hall. Xiahouxuan looked at Huigu's red hijab, and even his breathing became rapid. The two newlyweds knelt in front of each other like this, and three times again Kowtow.
Gu Ting looked at the tall and handsome Xia Houxuan and Cao Xi, and then recalled those innocent and lovely children back then. He could no longer hide the relief and joy in his heart. He shouted at the top of his voice: "Get up! Bring in the newcomers." The bridal chamber!".
At this point, the wedding is finally over.
After the emperor and the empress dowager witnessed the wedding of the newlyweds, the couple's two teams of chariots took the bride back to their respective mansions in the city.
The Changling Marquis Mansion is now decorated with lanterns and festoons, and new red silk and lanterns are hung on each eaves.
"Please invite the newlyweds to perform the wedding ceremony."
In the wedding room, the maid held a lacquer plate with a jar of new wine and two wine glasses tied with red thread. Under the guidance of the ceremonial maid, Xia Houxuan and Li Huigu each picked up half of the wine. A wine cup is used to hold wine and drink together.
[Note 8: In the Zhou Dynasty, a planed ladle was used for Henuo wine, while in the Han Dynasty, a wine cup was sufficient.]
"I want to know you and live forever." Li Huigu looked at her husband Xia Houxuan with affection and recited this Yuefu love song involuntarily.
"Mountains have no mausoleums, and rivers are exhausted. Winter thunders tremble, and summer rains and snows. Heaven and earth are united, so I dare to be with you." Xia Houxuan held his wife Huigu in his arms, and the feeling of happiness came over him like a tide. He felt that everything was wonderful. Like a dream, he said silently in his heart:
I hope that I can shoulder the heavy responsibility of this family in the future and love Huigu all my life.
After night falls, the brilliance of the colorful lanterns and red cages in Luoyang City is reflected on the Luoshui River, making it look extremely gorgeous. On this day, Luoyang City is full of joy, and even the clouds in the sky seem to be dyed with a layer of joy. flush.