Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1197 An Auspicious Day for the Dong Family to Welcome the Bride

According to the Chinese almanac, the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month is an auspicious day when "the virtue of the year is Ren, and the virtue of the month is Bing; Ren and Bing combine to transform, and Yin and Yang are in harmony," making it a lucky day for the union of heaven and earth and for all things to go smoothly. There is also a folk saying: "Marrying on the sixth day ensures a harmonious marriage for a hundred years; receiving blessings on the sixth day ensures no disasters year after year," demonstrating that holding a wedding on this day is inherently blessed with good fortune. Furthermore, this day coincides with the approach of the "Laba Festival," when the flow of Yin and Yang is more balanced, embracing both the stillness of winter and the vitality of spring, making it an excellent choice for marriage, settling down, and receiving blessings.

On this auspicious day, the Liang Prince's Palace (the former imperial city) had been lit with palace lanterns since last night, shining brightly until dawn. The palace gates were wide open, with red silk and colorful satin hanging from the lintels, mingling with the red lanterns peeking out from the houses on both sides, the entire street enveloped in a festive atmosphere. Crowds thronged to watch the spectacle, children carrying candy melons weaving through the crowd, and old men leaning against the walls muttering, "This scene is probably even more grand than the late emperor's wedding."

At the third quarter of the hour of Chen (7:45 AM), the auspicious time arrived. King Liang, dressed in a black royal robe embroidered with golden auspicious beasts, with a jade belt neatly fastened at his waist, further accentuated his upright posture, rode on the "Aurora Steed." The horse seemed to understand human nature, with a large red silk flower tied around its forehead and its mane combed smooth. Its hooves pounded lightly as it trod across the bluestone path, as if it too knew of the joyous occasion.

Behind the BMW, six snow-white horses pulled a gilded carriage, its curtains embroidered with a design of a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons, the tassels jingling as the carriage swayed. The Western Liang generals flanking them were all dressed in brand-new auspicious robes, their armor gleaming in the sunlight—they were both guards and ceremonial guards, their every step perfectly synchronized, exuding an imposing aura.

Further on, a procession of three hundred golden-armored soldiers and three hundred palace maids in colorful robes carried banners and lanterns, accompanied by the sounds of sheng, xiao, drums, and music, drawing cheers from the crowd. This spectacle was far from an ordinary wedding procession; it was clearly a grand scene of a king's inspection tour, yet it was also imbued with the tenderness of a wedding—the red silk on the precious horses, the embroidered carriages, and the "Mandarin Duck Song" mingled with the music all spoke of the perfect ending to this joyous occasion.

As the procession reached the street corner, an old man stroked his beard and sighed, "The sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, a match made in heaven! The marriage between the Prince of Liang and Miss Dong is destined to become a beautiful story!"

Children chased after the horsemen, waving homemade flags, their laughter and music mingling and echoing through the street, even the cold wind carrying a sweet scent. The King of Liang reined in his horse, gazing at the bustling crowd before him, then turning to look at the carriages behind him. A smile played on his lips, a warmth warmer than the winter sun.

A shower of copper coins rained down from the carriage windows, like a string of tiny raindrops hitting the bluestone slabs with a clattering sound. Children cheered and rushed forward, clutching the coins in their clothes and palms. Even the elderly, with their graying hair and beards, hunched over, picked up a few coins that had rolled to their feet, their faces etched with smiles. The soldiers of the wedding procession watched the spectacle, their hearty laughter making the copper bells on the eaves jingle softly. This, mingled with the blessings of the people wishing them "a son soon" and "a long and happy marriage," filled the entire street with a thick, festive atmosphere.

At the rear of the procession, Liu Biao gripped the reins, his brocade robe still stained with dust from the road. Despite being a member of the Han imperial family, he had been appointed by Ma Chao as the wedding envoy. Gazing at the money-sprinkling carriage, a forced smile, more like a grimace, stretched across his face, his brow furrowed. As a member of the Han imperial family, he saw Ma Chao's six-horse chariot, the accompanying soldiers and palace maids—every detail exuding an air of presumptuous arrogance. Yet, the resentment he felt for the injustice done to the Han dynasty was suppressed by a deeper bitterness. Now, he was living under someone else's roof, even his former troops from Jingzhou had scattered; what right did he have to speak of rules? His bitter smile reflected more of a sigh for his own vulnerability, like a broken stalk adrift on water, devoid even the courage to utter a single angry rebuke.

At the edge of the crowd, Xun Yu stood beneath the old locust tree, his blue robe fluttering slightly in the wind. Copper coins rolled to his feet, but he remained oblivious, his gaze fixed on the smiling faces of the people clutching them. The children's joyful shouts reached his ears, and his brows furrowed even more, a struggle churning in his eyes. The childhood admonition of "the ruler is the guide for the subjects" still burned in his heart, but the genuine happiness on the faces of the people before him was like a basin of warm water, slowly softening the stubbornness in his bones. Ma Chao's words of advice from that day echoed vividly in his mind: was the corrupt Han Dynasty more important, or the people's peaceful and prosperous life? He looked at the ostentatious procession, then at the old woman beside him holding the copper coins, his Adam's apple bobbing—should he cling to the increasingly decadent title of the court, or embrace the vitality in this bustling atmosphere and let the name "Han" live on in a new way?

The crisp sound of copper coins tumbling through the wind swept past the street corner. Xun Yu raised his hand and pressed the jade pendant at his waist; the cool touch calmed his chaotic mind slightly. In the distance, Ma Chao's entourage was turning the corner of the alley. The eye-catching banner shone so brightly in the sunlight that it was hard to open one's eyes, but wherever the banner's shadow swept, there were smiling faces of the people looking up.

The Dong mansion had been swept and cleaned thoroughly. Red silk cascaded down from the lintel like a waterfall, wrapping around the pillars and window frames. Even the old plum tree in the corner of the courtyard was adorned with crimson pom-poms. A breeze carried a delicate, festive atmosphere throughout the courtyard. Red lanterns strung together under the eaves formed a long dragon, casting a warm red glow on the blue brick floor. The air was filled with the sweet aroma of steamed cakes and the rich scent of newly opened wine jars, mingled with the footsteps and laughter of servants, creating a lively atmosphere that seemed to lift the roof off.

Hua Xiong, Xu Rong, and several other veteran generals were already standing at the gate, their armor gleaming, making the wrinkles on their faces seem to shine. Their usual fierce and domineering air had been largely suppressed; they greeted everyone with a cupped-hands smile, the wrinkles around their eyes crinkling like chrysanthemums. Niu Fu stroked his beard, occasionally tiptoeing to look towards the alley entrance, his boots leaving shallow marks on the bluestone slabs. Li Ru's usually piercing eyes were now misty, and he held Dong Huang's hand, babbling, "If Lord Dong could see today, how happy he would be..." Before he could finish, he laughed, unable to hide the moisture in his eyes.

The sound of horses' hooves and the soft thud of carriages rolling on the ground came from the alley entrance. Hua Xiong suddenly sat up straight: "They're here!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw the Liang King's entourage slowly approaching. The grandeur and solemnity of the procession were enough to demonstrate Ma Chao's high regard for the Dong family. Li Ru looked at the scene, sighed softly, and then quickly replaced it with a smile. Since Lord Dong's passing, who would have thought that the Dong family not only hadn't fallen apart, but had instead, with the help of the Xiliang cavalry, had built up its fortunes even more steadily than before? Now, even the Liang King himself had come to welcome the bride; who in the world wouldn't take notice? Those warlords who had once laughed at them as "remnants of Dong Zhuo" were now obediently joining in the celebration.

Children's laughter echoed from the corridor. The younger generation of the Dong family, dressed in newly made brocade jackets and carrying red paper-cut "double happiness" characters, ran by, their skirts sweeping across the red carpet and leaving a trail of light, cheerful sounds. Dong Huang patted Li Ru on the shoulder: "Brother-in-law, stop being so sentimental, let's go greet the guests."

The Aurora-class steed crunched through the thin snow before the gate, its mane jingling with golden bells. As Ma Chao dismounted, his black brocade robe swept across the saddle, the movement so swift it created a gust of wind. Upon seeing this, the crowd waiting at the gate of the Dong residence all knelt down, about to address him as "King Liang," when he quickly stepped forward and helped up Li Ru, who was at the front.

"Mr. Wenyou, get up quickly," Ma Chao said earnestly, his palms warm. "Today I am not some Liang King," he said loudly to the crowd. "I am the son-in-law who has come to the Dong family to welcome the bride. How can a son-in-law receive such a grand ceremony from his wife's family? Get up quickly, you're making me feel too embarrassed."

Li Ru was helped to his feet, his hand stroking his beard trembling slightly, the moisture in his eyes still wet. Hearing these words, his throat moved, but he couldn't speak. The Dong family members felt a warmth in their hearts. They had been somewhat reserved before, but now they relaxed and crowded around Ma Chao, leading him inside, saying repeatedly, "Please come in quickly," and "There's wine warming inside."

As they walked through the corridor, Xu Huang suddenly appeared out of nowhere, sidled up to Li Ru, and winked mischievously: "Mr. Wenyou, your eyes were all red just now, were you moved to tears by our King?"

Li Ru glanced at him sideways, his voice low but carrying an air of authority: "Do you think Hua Xiong is itching for a match today and want to practice your spear skills with him? Or do you think Xu Rong and the others haven't shown their archery skills in a long time and want to be their live targets?"

Xu Huang shrank his neck and quickly waved his hands: "No, no, no, I was just being cheeky. Sir, you are a magnanimous person, please pretend I didn't say anything!" With that, he ran ahead and helped lift the curtain.

Li Ru watched his retreating figure, a smile involuntarily playing on his lips. He turned to look at Ma Chao, who was surrounded by the crowd—the King was speaking with Dong Min, his demeanor humble, yet his eyes radiated an undeniable air of heroism. He recalled their first meeting; the young general, riding his horse and brandishing his spear, his eyes gleaming with sharpness. Now, settled and established, he had gained a gentler, more approachable demeanor, making him seem even more reassuring than before.

The flickering candlelight in the main hall made the red silk ribbons wrapped around the beams and pillars appear even more vibrant. Liu Biao, as the wedding envoy, dressed in embroidered black robes, glanced at the solemn crowd in the hall and began the wedding ceremony, proclaiming loudly: "The King of Liang personally welcomes us, his carriages and robes are magnificent, his horses are orderly, and his banners are fluttering. He speaks of the old alliance, and we once again pledge our allegiance to the high hills. The bundles of silk are abundant, and the four horses gallop with a resounding thud."

After finishing his words, he slightly turned his head, his gaze falling on the relatives of the Dong family below the steps, his tone becoming increasingly deep and resonant: "The Dong family has a daughter, her face as beautiful as a young girl, who loves me dearly, adorned with jade and precious stones. She regards me as her own, and has given me a place to live, a suitable home and family, where blessings and prosperity will come in abundance."

Before the last notes had faded, soft exclamations of praise echoed through the hall. These few lines of congratulatory words, imitating the style of the Book of Songs, blended the grand scene of the welcoming ceremony with the expectations for the newlyweds, exuding an ancient elegance and solemnity that perfectly suited the atmosphere.

Upon hearing this, Li Ru straightened his brocade robe and stepped forward. Although his temples were streaked with gray, his back was ramrod straight. As he returned the greeting with clasped hands, the hem of his sleeve brushed against the bronze wine vessel on the table, producing a soft clinking sound.

“On the auspicious day of Gengwu, we rushed to their door,” Li Ru’s voice was not as loud as Liu Biao’s, but carried a gentle warmth that came from years of immersion in classical texts, “The drums beat deep and resonant, the bells and drums resounded.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the wedding carriage waiting outside the hall before returning to Liu Biao, and continued, "My daughter, Lady Dong, is favored by the King of Liang. Today, she is personally welcomed, which is both in accordance with ancient rites and in accordance with the people's wishes. May she live in harmony and peace from now on."

Liu Biao nodded in agreement and gestured for his attendants to present the bundle of silk. The silk was as white as silk, tied with a crimson silk ribbon, which was exactly the "bundle of silk" custom in ancient etiquette.

After completing these elaborate rituals, the wine vessels on the table were filled with newly brewed sweet wine, the amber liquid gleaming warmly in the candlelight. Dong Min picked up the foremost vessel, his aged knuckles turning slightly white from the effort. He gazed at Ma Chao, his cloudy eyes brimming with indescribable excitement.

"Your Majesty, this cup of wine is to celebrate the marriage alliance between our two families." Dong Min's voice was hoarse with age, yet every word was clear. The veteran generals of Xiliang stood in unison on both sides, the cold gleam of their armor reflecting the frost on their temples. The fierce courage they had shown when they followed Dong Zhuo across the battlefield had now turned into emotion in their eyes.

Ma Chao raised his hand in a gesture of obstruction, the sleeve of his dark ceremonial robe brushing against the edge of the table, stirring a gentle breeze. "Wait a moment." His gaze swept over everyone in the hall, finally settling on Dong Min, his tone respectful yet carrying an undeniable firmness, "Today, I have come to welcome Bai'er. As the son-in-law of the Dong family, I request that you all move to the ancestral hall so that I may kowtow before the memorial tablet of Lord Dong to fulfill my filial duty."