Chapter Thirty-three, Marriage

“Father, you look quite good today, has the medicine taken effect?” He Yang eagerly poured a cup of tea for He Heng, and stiffly waited around. He Heng glanced at him, slowly blew it, and seeing He Yang stare at him without even blinking, he then smiled and took a sip, then said, “You’ve worked hard, that medicine certainly is not bad, you’ve earned a merit for this. It just so happens that Iz have not yet planned for the ancestral ritual for spring, how about you arrange it, go gain some experience.”

Jin had a tradition of going to the ancestral temple for a ritual once they entered spring. The ancestral temple was not in the imperial city, and on the entire journey, officials would welcome them, have a banquet, but as for who goes, how to arrange the seating, each and every area had problems that could arise. Matters concerning the Emperor were not some small things, and in the past, it was all arranged by the Crown Prince He Xuan- not only could he place his own people, he could even take a portion from the banquet’s allocation of funds from the Board of Rites, that was a piece of fat meat everyone would fight for.

Not only that, the ancestral rite itself had a significance of bearing the country’s affairs- to allow He Yang to arrange the ancestral rite had a meaning of changing the heir of the country in private and public. He Yang got frightened by this surprise right in the face, and froze for the time being, then knelt down to express his gratitude, “Thank you Father for the graces, this son will definitely not let down Father’s expectations, and will properly plan this matter, please rest easy, Father.”

“En.” He Heng nodded his head, “If there is something you don’t understand, you can ask your brother.”

“Has his Majesty really let you arrange the ancestral rite?” Empress Liu leaned her body in with slight disbelief, and used her right hand to knock on the phoenix-engraved armrest made from pear wood, “This time, Old Second has been tripped up with a big one.”

He Yang nodded his head, and smiled joyously on the side.

Empress Liu paused, then spoke with a low voice, “Looking at it now, that White Ears is certainly a good thing. Ibghave asked the imperial doctors, it just so happens [White Ears] is suitable to grow in your territory. Go back and write a letter, and have Lu Zi Xi quickly encourage the farmers to grow some more White Ears, and have his Majesty remember your diligence.”

“Mother is the most thoughtful, this son will have it done.”

“En.” Empress Liu nodded her head, then called out to him again, “Go and see that Nan Hun Duke again. This time, you must thank the person more, give this to him, take it as a gift of gratitude.”

Empress Liu narrowed her eyes, she waved her hand, and had Lan Yi bring a small box. Inside of it was a jade pendant with delicate handicraft, smooth and sleek, warm to the touch, a rare and beautiful jade. That jade hung with a willow leaf, made of green jade, and when beneath sunlight, it would emit a blue-green cool hue.

“Mother is going to gift him such a good jade? [He is] a mere dog who lost his family, how could he deserve such an important present?” He Yang wrinkled his eyebrows and looked at that jade pendant, and was a bit unhappy.

Empress Liu lightly closed the box, and still gave it to him, and spoke up with ambiguity, “Just give it to him, Mother naturally has a purpose for it.”

❀

These few days, Xiao Zuo already felt much better. Laying in bed these few days made him feel like his entire body stoff right now, no matter how he turned around, he would be uncomfortable, so he got up from bed early everyday.

A few days ago, Xiao Zuo had the steward purchase some flower seeds, and planted them while it was still spring. Each day, he would ask the newly-hired gardener diligently, and follow him around to tend these pampered flowers, and found a sort of refined pleasure in it.

Xiao Zuo was still wearing old clothes these days, only slightly tying his hair, and draped on an outer robe to water the flowers in the yard.

“Who knew the duke had such refined interest.” He Yang put his hands to his back, followed with a small servant holding up a box.

Xiao Zuo placed the water pot down, then turned to bow, and smiled, “Greetings to the Fourth Highness.”

“Is your body better now?”

“Thanks to your Highness’ graces, it is already better.”

“En.” He Yang nodded his head, he couldn’t be bothered to pretend to be cordial with Xiao Zuo anymore, and directly said, “You did get in an accident in my residence, after all. I did not attentive enough. Since you are much better now, I have a small toy here for you, to express my apologies.”

“Your Fourth Highness is too kind, this is too much for me.” Xiao Zuo hurriedly waved his hands, “I cannot take this.”

“Aye.” He Yang still remembered he had to return to the residence to take care of the matters in his territory, and started getting annoyed, “If I let you take it, you take it, are you not willing to take it?”

“How could I dare.” Xiao Zuo paused, and could only accept it, “Then much thanks to your Highness.”

Xiao Zuo went inside to open the box to take a look. Seeing it was a top-rated quality jade pendant, he did not think much of it, then put it on the table to let Zi Wan take it.

Ever since that day he dreamed of He Xuan, Xiao Zuo couldn’t understand his own feelings even more. At first, he seemed to have some small knot, then afterwards, that small knot got bigger and bigger inside, up until it filled up his entire heart, to the degree it needing Hua Tuo[1] to reincarnate and cut it along with its stem to completely get rid of it, that he then had a bit of an enlightenment.

Thus, each time He Xuan came to visit these days, he would always decline by saying his body was unwell so he wouldn’t see him. Xiao Zuo actually long already missed him, wishing how he could immediately reincarnate and be the pillow on He Xuan’s bed, able to sleep together with He Xuan night after night, but he did not manage to organize those meandering hidden thoughts of his yet- he himself was still a mess, if He Xuan were to go inside his heart and make a mess too, then that really would be something that could not be cleared up even in the next year.

But He Xuan did not know of those meandering thoughts of Xiao Zuo’s either- these days, he was also very anxious. First, was a so-called secret prescription that He Yang found from somewhere, that stubborn wind chill of He Heng’s actually got better, and these two days, he also received a report from his subordinates, saying that He Yang would run to Xiao Zuo’s residence these few days, and even gifted him many presents.

“[He] even let He Yang take a foot in the ancestral rite now, does [he] still have megu in his eyes?” He Xuan tightly knitted his eyebrows, his right hand tightly gripped the jade Pixiu placed on the study table, and pretty much was about to crack that good sheep-fat jade, then stuff He Yang into that crack so he could then calm down.

“Please calm down, your Highness.” Xu Yu Hang sighed, “The ancestral rite is the most complicated of matters, if one was not cautious, it would be easy to make a mistake, it is the first time his Fourth Highness is doing it, it might not be a good thing.”

“Have some tea to calm down.” He Xuan pursed his lips, then took the tea that Xu Yu Hang handed over, and drank a mouthful with a stiff face. That steaming hot tea had a scorching warmth to it, went down along his throat, and slowly flattened that body of his that was steeped in cold air. He then calmed down and sat back on his chair, and wearily massaged the ridge of his eyebrows, “Don’t mention this anymore, your day of fortune is in a few days, right? At that time, Ig must cause some trouble for you.”

“It will be in three days.” Xu Yu Hang nodded his head, and said with a smile, “With the crown prince holding the show, this one will be honoured by your ever gracious presence.”

“Oh?” He Xuan narrowed his eyes and smiled, “Then at that time, if I have you drink wine, you can’t play tricks.”

“How could I, how could I, we’re not going back until we’re drunk.” Xu Yu Hang cupped his hands, and changed the topic, “Why haven’t I seen the small duke these few days?”

He Xuan paused, his face stiffened, and knitted his eyebrows and took back his smile, then pulled at the corners of his mouth, “It might be that they are very happy, why would they still have time to think of megu?”

Xu Yu Hang knew he had spoken wrongly, and it was not good to speak anymore of it, then muddled it over, “Is there any dishes you like, how about I have the chef add it to the celebration banquet?”

❀

Xu Yu Hang and Li Qian Yu[2] who he was marrying were both from aristocratic families, so when the two got married, the number of flags were rumoured to line two whole streets, while the boxes and boxes of gifts they brought in could not even fit a single room- the entire room was all filled with jade and gold bracelets, dazzling people’s eyes, all gold and glittering. Outside the residence, the continuous drums and instruments were constantly playing, and inside the residence, the pots and pans were also cooked fire-hot.

The one the Xu family requested was the head chef from Tian XiangHeavenly Fragrance Mansion, reserved a great few months in advance- the dishes were all made with an abundance of fish and meat, jars and jars of wine were opened, the fragrance of wine mixed with the scent of the dishes, making the entirety of Shang An’jing’s commoners all have a craving for wine and meat.

Xu Yu Hang was now dressed in a red groom’s clothing, with the chest tied with an embroidered brocade flower, happily waiting for the bride’s carriage at the entrance. According to Jin’s traditions, the bride’s carriage would normally arrive at the groom’s residence at dusk, led inside by the maids to perform the wedding rites, then the groom would toast and entertain the guests before returning to the room at night.

He Xuan rested for an afternoon, after considering that it was almost time, he then had the servant carry his gift, and sat in the sedan chair and went off to Xu Yu Hang’s residence.

“The bride hasn’t come yet.” He Xuan spoke a few words with Xu Yu Hang, Xu Yu Hang nodded his head, then slightly nervously said, “I don’t even know what she looks like……”

“She’s from a literary family, it can’t be that bad.” He Xuan patted his shoulder in understanding, “Ig will go inside first and sit.”

He Yang typically, in better words, did not mix well water with river water[3] with the Xu family, but in reality, they were on opposite ends- each had their own leaders, so at most, they would stiffen faces and go back and forth with some formal words. Lately, He Yang was also busy with the ancestral rite, and did not have this free time to make some surface-level work, and only sent someone to give the gift, while he himself evaded it with a my body isn’t well, I can’t come.

But this was also was good for He Xuan- he and Xu Yu Hang were close since young, and on Xu Yu Hang’s great big day, if he could not see this troubling thing He Yang, he would not see him the best he can, and was happy it was quiet.

He Xuan drank a few cups of wine, then picked up some slices of duck tongue, and the bride’s sedan then came.

Xu Yu Hang brought the bride in to have the wedding ceremony, then was coaxed by a bunch of people to toast table by table. He Xuan was at the first table, Xu Yu Hang first downed a cup without another word, and then begged artfully, “There are quite a lot at the end, do forgive this small one, I still need to go back to embrace the new bride.”

“Aye, you won’t drink other people’s, but are you not drinking mine’sgu ’s either?” This wine from Tian Xiang Mansion was fragrant and strong, with plentiful aftereffects. He Xuan was a bit tipsy at this time, he narrowed his eyes and propped on Xu Yu Hang’s shoulder, and stuffed the cup into his hands, then lowered his voice a bit, bearing a slightly sentimental tone, “In the blink of an eye ten or so years have passed, you’ve already gotten married too.” He Xuan paused, and lightly spoke, “That year when I couldn’t even recite the book, and Sir hit your palm, I still remember to this day.”

“Yes.” Xu Yu Hang was also a bit sentimental, he sighed, then finished the wine, “You deceived me into drinking wine again.”

“Today is a great day, it is not a problem to drink some more.” He Xuan smiled, then let him go, “Go to the next table.”

Xu Yu Hang nodded his head, then He Xuan sat back down again, and ate the newly-brought braised beef. He was in a bit of a trance at this time, and when the corner of his eyes glanced at Xu Yu Hang’s bright celebratory clothes, he untimely thought to Xiao Zuo, the stage in front still singing about a consort drunk on wine, He Xuan propped his chin, and listened to that brightly-voiced, beautiful-figured female role sing.

“Upon an island out at sea, a wheel of the icy new [moon] soars, watch the Jade Hare, the Jade Hare arises from the east early again, then when icy wheel leaves the island, the heavens and earth turn particularly bright……”[4]