Zhu Yuanzhang: My second son is invincible!

The eighth day of the twelfth lunar month in the tenth year of the Hongwu reign (1380) is an auspicious day for marriage.

Before dawn, the streets and alleys of Yingtian Prefecture were already bustling with activity.

Soldiers from the Five Cities Garrison knocked on doors, not to collect taxes, but to hand out red lanterns.

"By order of His Highness the Crown Prince, today is the wedding day of the Prince of Wu, a day of celebration for the entire city! Every household shall hang a pair of lanterns, and with a lantern ticket, one can collect a pound of wedding candy from the government office!"

The soldiers shouted at the top of their lungs.

The people rubbed their eyes, opened the door, and happily accepted the bright red lanterns.

"His Highness the King of Wu is getting married? That's wonderful!"

"I heard she married that princess from the Northern Yuan?"

"Absolutely! From captive to princess, this girl has a really tough life!"

"Who cares where it came from? As long as His Highness likes it, that's all that matters. His Highness is the God of War of our Great Ming!"

"..."

The neighbors were buzzing with discussion, and quickly hung the lanterns on the door.

Before dawn, the entire Yingtian Prefecture was already bathed in red.

From the Forbidden City to Zhengyang Gate, from the Qinhuai River to Xuanwu Lake, everywhere you look is red lanterns, red silk ribbons, and red "double happiness" characters.

Even the patrolling Imperial Guards wore red belts over their armor, which looked both festive and eerie.

Inside the Kunning Palace, Empress Ma was personally adjusting Zhu Hui's ceremonial robes.

He wore a bright red prince's python robe, embroidered with a four-clawed dragon in gold thread, a jade belt around his waist, and a seven-tassel crown on his head.

Zhu Li stood there like a puppet, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

"Mother, this hat is heavy."

"You must wear it, even if it's heavy. Today is your wedding day, and you must have the dignity of a prince. In the blink of an eye, Li'er is about to get married..." Empress Ma carefully smoothed his clothes, her eyes a little red.

Zhu Yuanzhang, munching on an apple beside him, mumbled, "Why are you crying? It's a joyous day."

"I'm overjoyed. I'll treat the girl well when we go. Although she's from the Northern Yuan, once she enters the Zhu family, she's one of us."

Empress Ma glared at him, then turned to Zhu Hui and spoke softly.

"I know, I'm good to her." Zhu Li nodded honestly.

"You... actually, your mother is quite happy that you were able to pick out someone you like at first sight, unlike your older brother, whose marriage was arranged by our parents."

Empress Ma touched his face and suddenly smiled.

Zhu Biao happened to walk in and, upon hearing this, smiled and said, "Mother, what are you saying? Sister Chang and I are doing just fine, aren't we?"

"It's good, but it lacks a bit of fun. Here, take this and give it to the bride to wear on her wedding day. Consider it a gift from your mother." Empress Ma said, taking a brocade box from the palace maid. Inside was a pair of dragon and phoenix jade pendants.

Perhaps Zhu Biao and his sister Chang had some fun times in the Eastern Palace.

The jade pendant is warm and translucent; it's clearly a fine piece.

Zhu Hui took it and put it in his pocket.

"It's almost time. Go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to offer sacrifices to our ancestors, and then proceed with the wedding procession. Remember, you are the Prince of Wu of the Ming Dynasty. The entire city is watching today, so don't embarrass us." Zhu Yuanzhang tossed aside the apple core, stood up, and patted his son's shoulder as he spoke.

"It won't get lost." Zhu Li grinned.

……

The ancestral worship ceremony at the Imperial Ancestral Temple is very complicated.

Zhu Hui, dressed in that heavy formal attire, followed the master of ceremonies in bowing, offering incense, and reciting prayers.

His memory wasn't actually bad; there were quite a few jumbled fragments of memories from his past life. But reciting those difficult-to-pronounce words in front of the ancestral tablets still made his scalp tingle.

After finally enduring the long wait, the master of ceremonies announced: "The auspicious hour has arrived; the prince will leave the palace to fetch the bride..."

Zhu Li felt as if he had been granted a pardon and turned to leave.

"Your Highness! The crown! The crown hasn't been removed yet!" the master of ceremonies shouted from behind.

Zhu Li had already mounted his horse.

It was a pure white horse from the Western Regions, with a large red silk flower tied to its head.

He rode on horseback, followed by a royal retinue of eight hundred men, wielding golden maces and axes, with banners waving in the wind.

The streets were packed with onlookers, and children chased after the procession, their laughter and shouts blending together.

"Your Highness, the King of Wu!"

"Your Highness looks very refreshed today!"

"..."

Someone shouted.

Zhu Hui turned his head and grinned at the crowd. With that smile, all his previous air of authority vanished, and he reverted to being that simple and honest young man.

The procession moved slowly. It was only three miles from the Forbidden City to the Prince of Wu's residence, but according to custom, it would take an hour to walk there.

Zhu Li looked around from horseback and saw a vendor selling candied hawthorns on the street. He licked his lips.

He almost dismounted to help a child who had fallen, but was firmly held down by the official next to him.

"Your Highness, you must not dismount today!"

"Oh..." Zhu Li sat down reluctantly.

As he passed by Zhengyang Street, he suddenly saw his adoptive parents and Daya standing at the window of a restaurant on the second floor, waving vigorously at him.

Zheng Dazhu, wearing a newly made silk shirt, smiled with his face full of wrinkles.

Zheng Huangshi wiped away her tears.

Da Ya frantically shook the sugar figurine in her hand.

Zhu Huichong and the others waved and grinned even more broadly.

"Are those His Highness's adoptive parents?" the official in charge of ceremonies asked in a low voice.

"Yes, my father and my mother," Zhu Li said naturally.

The official in charge of ceremonies was filled with awe and respect.

The group finally arrived at the Wu King's Palace.

The area in front of the mansion was dazzlingly red, with red ribbons tied around the necks of the two stone lions.

Zhu Biao brought Zhu Di with him, and Zhu Su stood at the door to greet him. The brothers were all dressed in formal attire, and each one looked more spirited than the last.

"Big brother!" Zhu Hui dismounted, almost tripping over his robe.

Zhu Biao helped him up and laughed, "What's the rush? The bride isn't going anywhere."

"I'm hungry," Zhu Li said honestly.

I didn't eat anything when I woke up this morning, I just kept kowtowing.

Zhu Di pulled a paper packet from his sleeve and secretly slipped it to him: "Second brother, this is a meat pie. Have some to tide you over."

Zhu Li took it and swallowed it in a few bites.

Zhu Su shook his head from the side: "Fifth Brother, this is improper..."

"Is etiquette more important or is your second brother's belly more important?" Zhu Di raised an eyebrow.

Zhu Su thought for a moment, then took out a small bottle from his pocket: "Second brother, this is a stimulant I made. Take one, and you won't get drunk easily when we toast later."

Zhu Hui took it and put it in his pocket.

Zhu Biao watched his younger brothers interact, his eyes full of smiles.

He straightened Zhu Hui's crooked crown and said softly, "Go on, the bride is waiting in the side courtyard."

……

In the side courtyard, Guanyin Nu had already finished dressing up.

She wore a bright red wedding dress embroidered with phoenixes in gold thread, and a nine-phoenix crown on her head. A pearl curtain hung down, obscuring her stunningly beautiful face.

Guanyin sat in front of the dressing table, looking at the unfamiliar self in the mirror, and suddenly felt a little dazed.

Not long ago, she was a prisoner in a POW camp, chained up, not knowing what her fate would be.

But now! She has become the princess consort of a prince of the Ming Dynasty, and is even wearing a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe.

Fate is a mysterious thing.

"Princess... no, Your Highness, it's time to put on your veil," the nanny whispered a reminder.

Guanyin nodded.

The red veil gently fell, blocking his vision, leaving only a hazy red in his eyes.

Noises came from outside the door; the wedding procession had arrived.

Firecrackers crackled and popped outside, and drum music resounded through the sky.

Guanyin Nu couldn't help but take a deep breath under her veil, then gripped her sleeve tightly with her fingers.

The door opened.

Footsteps approached and stopped in front of her.

Through the gap under the veil, she saw a pair of black boots with gold patterns.

"I've come to pick you up." Zhu Li's voice rang out from above, still as honest and straightforward as ever.

Guanyin Nu did not speak.

Zhu Hui didn't mind. He simply bent down, reached out his hand, but instead of holding her hand, he picked her up in his arms.

"Ah!" Guanyinnu exclaimed.

Guanyin Nu nestled in his arms, feeling the warmth of his chest and hearing his steady heartbeat.

The veil swayed, and she secretly glanced up, only able to see his sharply defined chin.

Forget it.

She closed her eyes and let him hold her.

From the side courtyard to the main hall, a red carpet was laid out all the way, and the two sides were filled with guests watching the ceremony.

When everyone saw the groom carrying the bride out, they were stunned, then burst into good-natured laughter.

"His Highness the King of Wu is truly... a man of deep feeling!"

"That's what it means to love your wife!"

Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma, sitting in the main seats, saw this scene. One shook his head and chuckled, while the other covered her mouth and giggled.

Zhu Biao stood behind his father, his eyes filled with pride.

The ceremony of worshipping heaven and earth was conducted in a very proper and respectful manner.

First bow to Heaven and Earth, second bow to the parents, and then the husband and wife bow to each other.

Every time Zhu Hui bent over, the crown on his head swayed, making the master of ceremonies tremble with fear, lest the seven jade tassels be thrown off.

Guanyin Nu, with her head covered by a veil, moved somewhat stiffly, but managed not to make any mistakes.

After the ceremony, they were escorted to the bridal chamber.

According to custom, the groom must first go to the banquet to offer toasts, while the bride waits in the bridal chamber.

But Zhu Li did not leave immediately after sending Guanyin Nu into the bridal chamber.

He lifted a corner of the veil, leaned closer and whispered, "You rest first. If you get hungry, have Qingmei bring you food. I'll be back after I finish toasting."

The hot breath hit her ears, and Guanyinnu blushed and nodded slightly.

Zhu Hui was satisfied and turned to leave.