Border Cook

Chapter 708 The Big Wedding
The reward was so generous that the yard was almost filled to the brim with rewards, leaving no room to step.

Xia Mingyue asked people to count the items and register them for storage.

Xia Yunji was also very happy looking at the pile of things. He just looked at this and touched that, and the corners of his mouth almost reached his ears.

Xia Mingyue and Lu Qiyan knew that he was happy because he had more things to use as betrothal gifts when he went to the Fan family to propose marriage, so they just let him go to the warehouse to choose slowly and helped him make a list of betrothal gifts.

The Dingyuan Marquis's mansion is busy, and the Jingguo Duke's mansion is also lively.

Fan Honghui also received great rewards. In addition to the official position and title, the entire warehouse was almost filled with treasures and antiques.

Fan Jinglan was conferred the title of Princess, and the Ministry of Rites assisted in preparing a dowry for her according to the ceremony for a princess.

Their children had received such great honor that Duke Jingguo and Madam Fan were filled with joy.

What made them even happier was the Xia family’s attitude.

Not only did she risk being reported by the censors, but she also had to return to the capital so early to prepare various matters personally. She also selected the most valuable things from the emperor's rewards and used them all as betrothal gifts, which she sent to the Fan family like water.

In addition, although Lu Qiyan and Xia Yunji are now very popular in the capital, and have married into the Fan family of Duke Dingguo, countless officials in the capital have come to their homes to give gifts and send invitations to pay a visit, but the two are not keen on these superficial social interactions. Even the various precious gifts sent to Marquis Dingyuan by others are all registered in the book, reported intact, and confiscated in full.

As for all the social interactions within the rear house, they were just casual acquaintances and there was not much intimacy between them.

The most important thing is Xia Yunji. Although he looks cheerful on the surface, he is actually mature and steady on the inside, and his manners are polite. It is impossible to find any fault with him.

Even Fan Hongyu, who usually disliked his future brother-in-law, now showed a smile when he saw Xia Yunji. From time to time, he called Xia Yunji to go to the teahouse for tea, go hunting in the wild, and ask him for help in the fields.

Preparations for Xia Yunji's wedding were being made in full swing. Although the Ministry of Rites and the subordinates were busy, Xia Mingyue was still concerned about many things regarding her own brother's marriage and did everything herself.

Especially since Xia Yunji was given the title of Zhengxi Earl and the Emperor rewarded him with an Earl's Mansion, all the costumes needed to be arranged by Xia Mingyue, his elder sister.

Lu Qiyan turned into Xia Mingyue's personal servant. During the day, he accompanied Xia Mingyue shopping and selecting various items. At night, he helped Xia Mingyue massage her waist and legs, and told her some of her favorite stories to entertain her.

And late at night...

Well, the interesting things in the boudoir should not be spread to others.

The days passed one by one, and soon it was the second year.

In March, the spring is warm and green, and flowers are in full bloom. The whole capital city is thriving, and it is a breathtaking sight.

On such a sunny day with charming spring scenery, Xia Yunji, dressed in a bright red wedding gown with a red silk tied around his body, climbed onto a tall horse that was also covered with red silk. Amid the sound of firecrackers and gongs and drums, he welcomed the wedding sedan to Zhengxibo's mansion.

When people are happy, they are in high spirits, dressed in fine clothes and riding horses, full of energy and vigor, and particularly eye-catching.

Especially the extremely luxurious sedan chair carried by eight people behind her and the endless red wedding dress were even more jaw-dropping.

Many people are tired of saying the word "envy", and it eventually turns into one sigh after another.

I marveled at the grand wedding of the daughter of Duke Dingguo, at Xia Yunji's great fortune, and even more at the fact that the two of them were a perfect match made in heaven, with both of them having great talent and beauty.

The wedding procession was grand and magnificent, and the Zhengxibo Mansion was extremely lively.

Almost all the nobles and high-ranking officials in the capital were present, even the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and Old Madam He came to watch the ceremony in person. The Empress Dowager even served as the master of ceremonies, teaching the couple to live in harmony, respect and love each other after marriage.

This kind of grand ceremony was the first of its kind since the founding of the Great Zhou Kingdom. This kind of glory once again attracted the admiration and envy of everyone present.

Amidst the excitement, Xia Yunji and Fan Jinglan completed their wedding ceremony. Fan Jinglan was escorted to the bridal chamber by her maid, while Xia Yunji went to the guest table to toast and entertain the guests.

Only after three rounds of drinks, when Xia Yunji was reeking of alcohol and staggering a little, did the guests at the table let him go.

On the wedding night of the young couple, the guests had a great time and did not stay for long, but just said goodbye.

Lu Qiyan and Xia Mingyue were busy seeing off the guests and instructed their servants to clean up.

After the last guest had left, Xia Mingyue asked someone to take one of her coats, put it on a bamboo pole, and place it outside the window of Xia Yunji and Fan Jinglan's house.

This is called listening to the room.

Using clothes to represent people can both fulfill customs and avoid embarrassment, killing two birds with one stone.

After finishing all the work, it was almost midnight when Xia Mingyue and Lu Qiyan returned to Dingyuan Marquis Mansion.

At this time, Xia Mingyue was not sleepy at all. On the contrary, she was too busy and had not had a good meal, so her stomach was empty. She asked Yin Qiao to prepare some midnight snacks for her.

Rice noodles with tofu skin in chicken soup, served with refreshing kimchi and crispy meat pie, is a home-cooked delicacy that is perfect for filling your stomach.

Xia Mingyue was eating happily, but as she was eating, she sighed.

"What's wrong, ma'am?" Lu Qiyan asked.

"Today is Yunji and Lan'er's wedding day. Although we had already burned incense in front of our parents' tablets and informed them of this matter when we woke up in the morning, I feel relieved that the wedding is over now. I also think that our parents should be very happy in their netherworld."

Xia Mingyue said, "After I got separated from my parents, they have always been worried about me. Now that I have been married to you for several years, my parents should be relieved."

"Father and mother-in-law are naturally happy." Lu Qiyan shook Xia Mingyue's hand and said with a smile, "But I also felt a lot when I saw Yun Ji and the princess' wedding today."

"What do you mean?" Xia Mingyue tilted her head.

"The wedding of Yunji and the princess was very grand and ostentatious, making the whole capital city envious. I saw the light in many people's eyes, which was like the stars in the sky at that moment, and they were all amazed and envious."

Lu Qiyan said, "As I listened to what these people said and looked at Yun Ji and the princess, I suddenly remembered the time when I married my wife."

When Lu Qiyan married her?

Xia Mingyue's thoughts drifted away a little. After thinking for a moment, she couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Speaking of which, when Mrs. Lu bought me back and said I would be your wife, I was terrified at the time, fearing that the person I was going to marry would be ugly or have bad behavior. In my heart, I was even considering running away from the marriage."

"So, the idea of ​​escaping the marriage was given up when you saw your husband's face?" Lu Qiyan joked.

"To be exact, I gave up my idea when you slept in the main room that night, and the next day you processed the household registration documents for me and gave me money for my living expenses." Xia Mingyue smiled. At that time, Lu Qiyan did not force her at all, and did not even ask her to do or say anything. He showed great respect to her, which made her feel at ease.

It also made her want to stay and live a peaceful life, and deal with the future later.

Lu Qiyan also laughed. "At that time, I was Lu Qiyan on the surface, but actually I was Wen Yu. My identity was extremely special. I only thought about how to gain a foothold in the army and how to get rid of the control of the Wen family. I was also calculating when I could bring down the evil Wen family. I never thought about getting married."

"At that time, I often said that I had no parents, was alone, and lived on the edge of a knife. I didn't know when I would lose my life. My original intention was to explain to others why I had not yet married. I never thought that Brother Zhao and Sister Lu would take pity on me and directly marry my wife into their family."

"I was also shocked at the time, but after thinking about it carefully, I felt that having a family would make me more like an ordinary person, and it would be difficult for people to discover my true identity. It would also avoid the trouble of the Wen family arbitrarily arranging a marriage for me, so I felt that it was a good thing."

"But when I think about how pitiful it is for my wife, a daughter of an innocent family, to marry a husband like me who has no feelings for me, I plan to keep her at home. If my wife wants to look for her family or falls in love with someone else, I will make other plans."

As a result, he was deeply trapped in it and couldn't extricate himself.

Many times, whenever he thought back, Lu Qiyan felt that this was an incredibly wonderful fate.

It brought some color to his originally bleak and dark life and gave him greater motivation to survive.

This is what is called a gift from God.

Lu Qiyan, who was massaging Xia Mingyue's shoulders, stopped, held Xia Mingyue in his arms, and pecked her on the cheek, "But I didn't expect it to be such a good thing."

Xia Mingyue felt her cheeks itchy and couldn't help but giggle. She turned around and put her arms around Lu Qiyan's neck, "Then tell me, when did you become attracted to me?"

"The first time I saw my wife, the next day when I was eating the clear noodle soup she made." Lu Qiyan spoke his true situation without any reservation, "At that time, I felt that this marriage was taken seriously, and it seemed that it was not a bad idea."

So, is this where Lu Qiyan's love for noodles comes from?

Xia Mingyue smiled and hugged Lu Qiyan tightly.

Love grows over time, and they are in love with each other, a match made in heaven.

This is what is meant by fate.

"It's just that the marriage ceremony with my wife at that time was very simple, which really wronged my wife." Lu Qiyan suddenly said.

There were no matchmakers or betrothals, no phoenix coronet or bridal bridal robe, and not even any wedding ceremony. Even what Xia Mingyue was wearing at the time was just an old dress that Lu wore when she was young.

He was also conflicted at the time and did not take the matter seriously. He wore armor and did not even change his clothes. He did not even go through the ceremony of getting married with Xia Mingyue, but just became a couple.

Really, it’s too unfair to my wife.

"Things are different now, so there is no need to look back on the past. Moreover, my husband has treated me very well since we got married, and I have never felt wronged. You don't have to say that."

Xia Mingyue opened her mouth to comfort him, and even joked, "Besides, even if my husband is regretful, can we still have this wedding?"

Hold another one?
Lu Qiyan's mind was immediately moved, but he didn't say anything. He just kissed Xia Mingyue on the forehead again and again.

In May, Xia Mingyue and his group set out on their journey westward.

The same people came to the capital and returned.

Even Old Madam He came along and was going to live in Dexin Garden.

The weather was a bit hot in May, but as we headed west, it was a little cooler than in Beijing, so it wasn't particularly uncomfortable to travel.

Moreover, they were not in a hurry to go back this time. They got up early in the morning and traveled in the evening. When it was hot at noon, they found shelter from the heat in the woods, by the river, or even at the foot of the mountain.

Even when the journey becomes a bit boring, I would look for famous mountains and rivers, ancient temples and monasteries nearby to spend a day or two to relax.

It can be said that we are on a journey, but it can actually be described as sightseeing.

Therefore, the journey that was originally expected to take one month took more than two months, and by the time we arrived at Jinqiu County, it was already August.

In July, there is fire, and in August, it is not young.

The weather has become cooler in the mornings and evenings. Even though it is still hot at noon, it is not as scorching as in midsummer, and there is a hint of coolness in the breeze.

This kind of weather is perfect for going out and playing.

Xia Yunji and Fan Jinglan were both full of energy. Even though they had walked for such a long time through mountains and rivers, they still couldn't sit still. They did not rest at home, but went directly to the farm to fish and hunt rabbits.

Lu Qiyan was thinking about military affairs, and went to the military camp on the second day after returning to Jinqiu County.

The house suddenly became quiet, allowing Xia Mingyue, who was tired from the journey, to sleep comfortably for several days.

Until this morning, when Yinqiao woke him up early.

Xia Mingyue was sleepy. Seeing that the sun had not risen yet, she simply lay down again and muttered, "It's still early. I'll sleep a little longer."

"If you sleep any longer, your butt will be exposed to the sun." Yin Qiao walked into the house with a smile, "If you want to sleep, it won't be too late when we get there."

"Yeah, okay." Xia Mingyue responded subconsciously, but then she felt something was wrong and stood up suddenly, "To where, where?"

"Madam, have you forgotten that Madam Fan had agreed with you to go to the farm today to eat the fresh fish and rabbits that she and her husband caught?"

Yin Qiao helped Xia Mingyue to get up, "If you don't get up now, I'm afraid you won't be able to make it in time for lunch."

"That's right." Xia Mingyue hurriedly got out of bed and put on her shoes. "I remember Yunji said that he invited the soldiers to go to the farm together. It's already this hour, we need to hurry up, otherwise it would be quite rude if we are late."

"Don't worry, my lady. Qingju and I will help you wash and dress." Yinqiao smiled as she brought Xia Mingyue water for washing her face, took her clothes, and combed her hair.

Xia Mingyue sat in front of the dressing table and cooperated with the two of them.

Qingju helped Xia Mingyue with her makeup and dressing, while Yinqiao kept packing things into the box.

Seeing the boxes piled high, especially the many luxurious hairpins, hairpins and head ornaments inside, Xia Mingyue laughed, "It's just a trip to the farm, why are you packing so many things?"

"Didn't the general say that someone from the army would come? In that case, after you get there, I'll see if you want to change some clothes and jewelry."