Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

For the next ten days or so, everyone in the Jia family and the Northern and Southern Divisions of Jinyiwei were all busy. Everything was serving Jia Cong's wedding, and they didn't even celebrate the Lantern Festival.

Only Jia Cong works as the hands-off shopkeeper all day long, doing nothing except practicing martial arts and handling some official duties.

All parts of the East Mansion are busy decorating the mansion and ancestral halls, putting up lanterns and colors, and purchasing various utensils.

Jin Yiwei was busy cleaning up the street stalls to ensure that Jia Cong was absolutely safe along the way to the wedding.

Qiu Liang, the commander of the Military and Horse Department of the Five Cities and the grandson of Marquis Jingtian, is now also a member of Jia Cong's party. In order to please the big boss, he mobilized the entire department to repair and clean the road to welcome the bride. The ditches on both sides of the road were cleared and washed. Rush again, making sure it's smooth and clean along the way.

The battle was much grander than that of Concubine Yuan's wedding, and all government offices began preparations more than ten days in advance.

On the day of Lantern Festival, the Ministry of Rites sent someone to the door and explained the wedding etiquette. Jia Cong had to listen patiently. Anyway, the housekeeper and Jia Zheng's Qing guests remembered it, so he didn't need to worry.

On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, we welcomed the bride.

Early in the morning, Jia She and Jia Cong wore black brocade emblem sacrificial clothes and crowns to pay homage to their ancestors.

Under the auspices of the deacon, Jia She read a splendid congratulatory speech with four parallels and six figures. Jia Cong didn't understand a word of it and guessed the meaning of just one sentence:
Ancestors, take a look. Heaven has sent us a favor. Our child has great potential and will become a prince-in-law. You will also be happy in heaven.

After the sacrifice, in the afternoon, Jia Cong changed into the official robes, wearing a red hairpin dotted with emerald hair crown, red arrow sleeves with eight treasures pattern, and an azure silver rat skin suede satin tasseled jacket.

Under the guidance of the deacon, they met with Jia She and Mrs. Xing in Shenshi Hall, while the deacon paid tribute.

"bow."

"bye."

"Goodbye."

"prosper."

"Flat body."

"kneel."

"梢第."

Jia Cong inserted an ivory wat into his belt.

"Honored."

Next to him, Wang Cai poured a glass of wine for Jia Cong.

Jia Cong finished it in one gulp and gave it back to him.

"Listen to the instructions."

Jia Cong stood with his hands down.

After listening to Jia She's precepts, which are pre-marriage instructions, it means that you are an adult and remember to be nice to the princess in the future, otherwise the Tian family will be blamed and don't bring trouble to the family.

"Get out of the wat."

Jia Cong took out the wat board from his waist.

"Prostrate."

Jia Cong obeyed and bowed down.

"prosper."

"Reset."

"bow."

"bye."

"Goodbye."

"prosper."

"Flat body."

"The ceremony is over."

Jia Cong was a little confused by this complicated process. After being served by the maid, he returned to the inner hall, changed his clothes, put on the royal red bullfighting suit, tied a jade belt, and led the soldiers and the ceremonial guard team to play and beat. Go to the palace.

Another two groups of people, led by Jia Lian and Jia Huan respectively, went to the Xue family and Lin family to welcome the bride.

Jia Cong and his entourage, led by drum music, dismounted at the west Meridian Gate. A eunuch sent by Dai Quan had been waiting for him, leading him to rest in the court room inside the door.

At the time of application, two eunuchs led Jia Cong to stand at the red door on the right in front of Fengxian Hall, and two more eunuchs led him to the inner envoy's prison.

After a while, a eunuch came to report: "Her Royal Highness, the wedding ceremony will be completed."

The eunuch then led Jia Cong back to the west side of the right red door, and stood facing east, waiting.

Jia Cong secretly laughed. It turns out that princesses have to be reprimanded before getting married. I don't know what they are talking about.

After a while, a bright yellow sedan came out, followed by a huge Fenghu Banyu and many palace maids and eunuchs.

When Jia Cong saw the sedan stopped in front of him, he secretly thought that the Tian family was very kind to the prince-in-law, and they also knew that they would arrange a sedan for me. Although it was much worse than the princess's carriage, it was okay, and it was better than walking, so he wanted to step in.

The eunuch beside him hurriedly pulled him and whispered: "Master Marquis, this sedan is not for you to sit in. Please lift the curtain."

ah? Oh, right, right. Only then did Jia Cong realize that this was a step to welcome the bride. The official of the Ministry of Etiquette seemed to have said it yesterday and hurriedly reached out to lift the curtain.

But when she saw Princess Ruyi, wearing a bright red flounder pattern Yanju crown dress, coming out of the sedan chair, she rolled her eyes at Jia Cong, and with the help of the palace maid, she got on the Fenghu Banyu, and the eunuchs carried the empty sedan away.

Jia Cong stood there stupidly, seeing people and cars moving, what's going on? He glanced at the eunuch next to him.

The eunuch, who was Dai Quan, had already received the request and said with a smile: "Please leave the palace and return to the house first. Princess Hou will arrive."

Only then did Jia Cong realize that he was waiting for him to leave first, so he turned around and left quickly.

Go out from the west corner gate of the Meridian Gate, get on your horse, and take the people back home.

Along the way, people gathered on the roadside, watching the excitement, pointing and pointing, which was very festive.

Seeing Jia Congfeng's handsome appearance, high-spirited appearance, golden crown, and bright clothes, countless young girls and young wives in the attic on the roadside couldn't help teasing each other. Only the princess with a golden branch and jade leaves could bear with such a wishful husband.

There were even bolder girls who picked up the pole on the window and wanted to throw it at Jia Cong. Maybe they would be lucky enough to be favored by the Marquis, but they were hurriedly stopped by the girl's sister-in-law beside them.

Most people would forget about seeking death. If they dare to throw away Jia Cong, they will have to go to jail.

Jia Cong rode on the horse, shaking his head and laughing. It was lonely to welcome the bride. When he left, he was alone, and when he came back, he was still alone. Who set the rules.

Not long after I returned home, I waited at the door for a while before I saw the eunuch leading the princess' honor guard. First there were thirty-six female musicians playing drums, followed by several palace maids and eunuchs holding fans, flowers, lanterns, and boxes. ten people.

In the middle is the princess's phoenix, escorted by seven or eight princes on horseback. Behind them are the sedans used by the princes and hundreds of officials to send off their brides. Behind them, in addition to hundreds of palace officials carrying the princess's dowry, are five hundred imperial guards.

Let me go. The battle is not small. Do you have food for so many people at home? Jia Cong was a little worried.

Fortunately, when they arrived at the gate of the mansion, all the princes did not go in. They greeted Jia Cong and left each other. All the wives also went home respectively.

Feng Chu stopped at the gate.

Jia Cong smiled and sent the princes away. This time he learned the lesson and went to lift the curtain of Fenghu without being reminded.

The eunuch who reminded him just now in the palace hurriedly pulled him back and whispered: "Master Marquis, wait a moment."

"What?" Jia Cong was confused again. Why don't you just stop here and wait for me to lift the curtain? I still understand this rule.

"Have you forgotten that there are two ladies? Now that the curtain is unveiled, will the princess enter or not?" the eunuch reminded in a low voice.

"Well, that makes sense. Are you from Manager Dai? You're quite sensible." Jia Cong smiled.

"My servant, Xiao Guizi, the Minister of Internal Affairs has ordered my servant to pay more attention to anything he has missed."

"This name sounds promising. Go back and tell Manager Dai to thank him for his love." Jia Cong said.

The Ministry of Rites seemed to have accurately calculated the time. After about a stick of incense, the other two groups of people came from the east and west sides at the same time and arrived at the door together.

Two large red sedans with eight carriages, draped with colorful tassels and pearl silk ribbons, were parked on both sides of Fenghu.

Followed by Shili Hongzhuang, both are the top specifications of the 128-carat dowry.

This was a folk standard. Princess Ruyi was deeply loved by the emperor and empress, and her dowry even exceeded the regulations of the Tian family.

Including headdresses, court beads, leather clothing, clothing materials, various utensils, toiletries, furnishings, various dowry personnel, various industrial land deeds, etc., everything is available, which can almost transform the Huanhou Mansion into a princess palace.

Xiao Guizi reminded: "Master Hou, please lift the curtain."

Jia Cong hurriedly opened the curtains of Fenghu's sedan chair first, and then opened the curtains of the left and right sedan chairs respectively.

But two female officials helped Ruyi come out, and Baochai and Daiyu also walked down with the help of maids wearing phoenix crowns and harems.

Jia Cong looked at the three beautiful, plump and thin wives, and was dazzled for a moment. They stayed there, at a loss, not knowing whether to go in alone or with them, whether to stand in the middle or on the side.

Seeing this, Xiao Guizi hurriedly helped him stand facing the door. The female officer supported Ruyi and stood beside him, while Bao and Dai stood side by side behind them.

"Master Marquis, please." Xiao Guizi whispered to the side.

Oh, Jia Cong hurriedly walked in, and everyone filed in after him.

Jia Cong made a habit of going straight in and entering the Yimen. Next to him, Wang Cai hurriedly whispered: "Sir, you should go to the ancestral hall to pay homage to your ancestors first."

Oh, that's what happened.

Jia Cong hurriedly led the team in a 90° turn, crossed a landscape stone bridge, and entered the ancestral hall courtyard.

Ruyi turned her head and rolled her eyes at him angrily, idiot.

Jia Cong keenly caught her eyes and laughed softly: "How did I know that being a prince-in-law is so troublesome? I feel a little unfamiliar the first time. No wonder."

Ruyi glared at him fiercely, bastard, how many more times do you want to do this?
The ancestral hall had already been prepared, with several colorful futons placed on the ground. The female officials in the palace led Jia Cong, Ruyi and Baodai into the ancestral hall to pay their respects. Jia Cong stands in the east and Ruyi stands in the west.

Bao and Dai stood behind Ruyi.

"bow."

"bye."

"Goodbye."

Jia Cong and his three daughters bowed twice to their ancestors.

The female officer then led Jia Cong to the throne of Emperor Gaozu's concubine, and the three women were still standing there worshiping him.

"kneel."

Jia Cong and the three women knelt.

"梢第."

"Jinjue."

"Honored."

Xiao Guizi knelt down to the right of Jia Cong. Jia Cong drank it in one gulp and returned it to him.

Xiao Guizi's face turned pale on the spot, "Oh, my ancestors, this is wine for your ancestors, why did you eat it?"

Jia Cong didn't know the etiquette of presenting a title, so he thought it was Jia She's intention to give him wine at noon in Shenshi Hall, so he took it and ate it.

Looking at the empty wine barracks, Xiao Guizi felt as if ten thousand straw horses were running past. How to offer this empty wine barracks? If something goes wrong with the princess' wedding, he will definitely be killed.

Jia Cong didn't know why, and was wondering why the rhythm had stopped.

The female officer who praised me was also panicked. She had never seen anyone snatching the ancestors' wine and food. She hurriedly responded to the situation and praised again: "Jinjue."

The eunuch next to him hurriedly handed over another glass of wine.

Xiao Guizi trembled and handed it over, burying her head and whispering: "Master Marquis, this is not for you to drink."

Jia Cong suddenly realized that he had made a mistake.

"Honored."

Jia Cong took the wine glass and held it in his hand without moving.

"Master Marquis, give me the wine glass." Xiao Guizi was so anxious that she broke into a cold sweat and secretly cried out that something bad was going to happen today. Something big is going to happen today.

Oh, Jia Cong reacted and handed the wine glass to Xiao Guizi.

"Honour."

Xiao Guizi breathed a sigh of relief and laid a memorial ceremony in front of Jia Cong's imperial throne.

The process of entering, receiving, and presenting a title was repeated, and Xiao Guizi laid a memorial ceremony for Jia Cong in front of the throne of his great ancestor, Jia Cong.

"Get out of the wat."

"Prostrate."

"prosper."

Jia Cong and the three women stood up again.

Next, the female officer led Jia Congyi, great-grandfather Kao Yi, and Zu Kao to the various shrines. As before, at the end of the ceremony, she paid homage to the old Duke Rong, Jia Yuan and his wife, and to the former Duke Rong, Jia Daishan.

Jia Cong had long been confused by this overlapping set of operations, which were just carried out mechanically. He would get up when he was called and kneel when he was called. Fortunately, Xiao Guizi reminded him all the way and did not steal the wine from his ancestors.

Ruyi and Baodai, who were next to them, had already been amused by what he had done so much that they burst into laughter, but they just had to hold it back.

After paying homage to the ancestors, the female official praised: "I wish you the best."

Read the blessing? What do you mean? Jia Cong looked left and right.

Xiao Guizi didn't have the slightest hope for Jia Cong. For the sake of his head, he was more cautious and followed suit, like a demented child. He led him to the place next to him where he was reading blessings.

"kneel."

Jia Cong knelt down, and the three women also knelt down.

……

Jia Cong looked at the female officer with a blank expression, which made the female officer sweat in cold sweat. Xiao Guizi said anxiously from the side: "Master Marquis, read the congratulations."

Congratulations, oh, congratulations, yes, yes, Jia Cong remembered that Pang Chao had written a congratulation to himself in the morning, and hurriedly took it out of his sleeve.

Congratulatory speeches were always eloquent, and Pang Chao also overestimated Jia Cong's cultural level in his two generations, thinking that he was the most talented person in the world, but he didn't expect that there were many words he didn't know.

However, Jia Cong also had a way to skip the words he didn't recognize, and finally finished the reading with stumbling steps.

Ruyi and the other three were already overjoyed and couldn't help but laugh. If it weren't for a wedding, they would really want to laugh out loud. This bastard can't read the congratulations clearly, and he's not afraid of laughing to death for his ancestors.

The female official who presided over it was also frightened by this hellish wedding, and she just wanted to end this torture as soon as possible.

Something went wrong at Jia Cong's wedding. He was fine, but he was doomed.

"Prostrate."

"prosper."

"Bear down again."

"bye."

"Goodbye."

"Xing. The ceremony is over."

Jia Cong breathed a sigh of relief and whispered: "Is it over?"

Xiao Guizi said in a low voice: "No, we will finish the ceremony later."

Jia Cong looked at the sky. It was almost dark. He had never seen marriage so troublesome before in costume dramas.

The female official and others introduced Jia Cong and Ruyi into the five main rooms behind Shenshi Hall, which is the residence of the head wife.

It used to be the cozy home of Jia Cong, Chu Chan, Qingwen and others, but now it has been occupied by the palace servants and has been rearranged.

Another female official led Baochai and Daiyu to their respective courtyards.

Baochai occupied You's courtyard in front of the East Road courtyard, and Daiyu occupied the courtyard immediately behind. They were all high-quality houses, with more than twenty houses in each courtyard, which was very spacious.

There are several courtyards side by side at the back, which are more than enough to accommodate Sister Feng, Chu Chan, Wanyan and other sisters. However, they like to be lively, so they all live in the same courtyard, which also reserves space for anyone to come in in the future.

Jia Cong and Ruyi entered the main room. Under the guidance of several female officials, they stood facing each other and bowed to each other twice.

Sitting opposite each other, the female officer presented the table with food and poured the wine into the room. Jia Cong and Ruyi each drank a glass and presented the dishes.

Jia Cong glanced at the princess and then at the dishes in front of him, meaning it was ready to start? I'm already hungry.

Ruyi rolled her eyes at him angrily, picked up the ivory chopsticks, gently picked up a handful of vegetables and ate it.

Jia Cong hurriedly followed suit.

The female officer poured wine again.

The two drank again.

The food is served again, and the two of them eat with chopsticks.

The female officer poured wine into two cups and poured them together to advance.

The two of them had another drink and some vegetables.

The female officer removed the table and praised: "My consort, princess, if you are happy, please take your place."

The two stood up and faced each other again.

"bye."

"Goodbye."

"It's done."

Jia Cong breathed a sigh of relief and almost collapsed on the ground. Damn it, feudal ethics are not only cannibalistic but also tiring! The female officer hurriedly helped him up.

"Does this count as a success?" Jia Cong said with a wry smile. This wedding was so different from the one on TV. I thought it would be just a matter of bowing to heaven and earth, bowing to the high hall twice, and then the husband and wife bowing to each other before entering the bridal chamber, but I didn't expect it to be so troublesome.

"Return to the Prince Consort, the ceremony has been completed."

"Okay, okay, let's go down, it's time for you to move around." Jia Cong stretched out his hands and feet, as if he wanted to show off his skills.

Ruyi glared at him with a blushing face and said: "You bastard, I've finished the ceremony here, but it's not done yet at Sister Bao and Zhuer's place, so hurry up and go!"

Jia Cong's expression froze: "Will you come here twice?"

"Hmph, what do you think?" Ruyi spat.

"Prince-in-law, please come with us," the female officer said.

Jia Cong smiled bitterly and followed them to Baochai's room and Daiyu's room to complete the wedding ceremony.

Little did he know that this set of wedding ceremony was what made a couple happy for a hundred years. It also showed that Bao and Dai were equal wives. His aunt was not qualified to perform this set of ceremony. (End of chapter)