The ancestral homes of Jingkou people were mostly from the north, so their customs for welcoming brides and wedding ceremonies still retained the northern traditions of the past.
Li Mu welcomed the bride’s brother and ceremonial official who had come with the wedding procession, while the bride temporarily remained on the boat to rest.
At the auspicious hour, a woman led seven or eight people aboard with beaming smiles to welcome Luoshen ashore.
This woman was twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with refined and dignified features and a kind smile. She introduced herself as Shen Shi, the wife of Li Mu’s sworn brother Jiang Tao, whom Li Mu usually called Sister-in-law.
The Li family had suffered calamity in the past, and now only had one mother, Lu Shi. According to custom, when a bride came from afar, she should be received by an older female relative of the groom’s generation. Shen Shi naturally took this responsibility, bringing these enthusiastic neighbors who regularly interacted with the Li family to welcome her together.
After the accompanying women boarded the boat and saw that while the bride’s vessel only looked larger from outside, the cabin was decorated extremely luxuriously—not only were the cabin floors covered with exquisite brocade carpets, but even the serving women were dressed exceptionally well, each carrying themselves with dignity. This made them somewhat constrained, and after boarding, they dared not speak casually, following Shen Shi’s every move.
Shen Shi appeared to have seen some of the world. After boarding, she showed no sign of intimidation, maintaining her smile as she greeted A’Ju about the hardships of the journey. After exchanging pleasantries, she asked if the bride had rested well, and if she was ready, they could escort her ashore.
The young mistress who had been born with a golden spoon, raised on fine clothes and jade food, and treasured as the apple of the Eldest Princess and Minister Gao’s eye, was now forced to marry into such a place, to a humble military general whose name she had never even heard before. As angry as the Eldest Princess was, A’Ju was equally sorrowful.
Though she had tried to restrain her emotions in front of Luoshen and the servants, facing Shen Shi who had come to welcome the bride, she could not manage a pleasant expression no matter what. She smiled faintly and asked Shen Shi to wait a moment.
This nursemaid who had accompanied the bride from the Gao family clearly held a significant position. The several women who had come together to welcome the bride, sensing her polite but distant attitude, became even more constrained, standing in the cabin not daring to speak any of the festive words they had prepared, hardly daring to move, fearing that any impropriety would make the other side look down on them even more.
But Shen Shi maintained her smile, nodding: “Thank you for your trouble, Nursemaid. The bride has traveled far and worked hard. If she’s not ready, we can wait a bit longer—it’s no matter.”
A’Ju turned and entered the inner cabin.
Luoshen had finished changing clothes and preparations, covered from head to toe with that veil, standing there.
The conversation between the welcoming party and A’Ju outside all reached her ears.
Through the layer of purple gauze of the veil, she looked at A’Ju.
A’Ju stopped before her, gazing at her for a moment, then extended her hand, saying softly: “Let’s go.”
Luoshen steadied herself and followed A’Ju out of the inner cabin. Under the silent gaze of Shen Shi and the other women, she exited the cabin door and came onto the deck.
Near evening, the slanting sun cast a golden glow over the river surface and the boats in the river.
Though the Gao family bride delayed in leaving the cabin and coming ashore, the onlookers at the dock not only hadn’t decreased but had grown even more numerous.
“She’s coming out! She’s coming out!”
Someone shouted loudly, immediately causing a stir on the shore.
The cabin door of the large boat carrying the bride opened, and under the guidance of a group of well-dressed maidservants before and behind, a graceful figure appeared on the bow deck painted with golden sunset.
Her entire body from head to foot was covered by a layer of light purple veil, making it impossible to see her features clearly.
A evening breeze blew past, stirring that layer of light gauze, allowing only a glimpse of her swaying skirts and fairy-like bearing.
But this was enough.
From the moment she appeared at the bow, everyone seemed to feel the beauty, nobility, and seemingly innate dignity emanating from the bride, the daughter of the Gao family.
This lofty beauty formed a sharp contrast with Jingkou’s rough vigor, to the point of incompatibility.
The surroundings quickly quieted down.
The smiles gradually disappeared from people’s faces, and no one spoke anymore.
Moments before, the place had been noisy with everyone excitedly waiting to see the bride, but when Luoshen came ashore, not half a sound could be heard, not even coughing.
Luoshen could even hear the soft rustling of fabric from the dozens of maidservants sent by her mother who followed behind her as they moved.
She thus came ashore, under the gaze of countless eyes, stepping on the ground mats laid out in advance, walking toward an ox cart waiting by the shore.
“Bride! Bride!”
A little child finally managed to struggle out from the crowd with great effort, running joyfully to Luoshen’s front, pointing at her and shouting with upturned face and grinning.
Before shouting twice, he was yanked back by his mother behind him, receiving a heavy smack on his bottom with a “slap.”
The little child, hurt from the beating, burst into tears with a “wah,” his crying full of grievance and confusion.
Luoshen stopped, turning to look.
A’Ju made an imperceptible gesture to a maidservant behind her. Understanding, the maidservant took a silk bag of osmanthus pine nut candy from their food box, approaching with a smile and handing it to the little child.
The little child clutched the candy bag tightly to his chest and smiled.
The woman showed an expression of both nervousness and joy, gripping the child’s arm tightly while bowing repeatedly and thanking in low voice.
Luoshen boarded the decorated ox cart. The accompanying maidservants and female attendants also took separate carts, guided by Shen Shi toward the Li family home near the Town God Temple in the eastern part of town.
The ox cart carrying her gradually departed, and only then did the people behind swarm to follow and watch the excitement.
However, they dared not follow too closely, maintaining some distance behind while discussing among themselves.
Some marveled at the Gao family daughter’s nobility and bearing, while others began worrying for Li Mu—daring to marry such a woman, wouldn’t he have to worship her like an immortal goddess in the future?
“You think Li Langjun is as foolish as you? Women—once the door closes, even if she’s a fairy from the nine heavens, isn’t it all the same? Li Langjun dares to marry her, so he dares to bed her. Just watch—before long, Li family children will be running all over the place!”
After the Gao family daughter departed, a man who had migrated from Guanzhong in the north blurted out a phrase in his native dialect.
This crude colloquialism, carrying certain suggestive implications while full of masculine bravado, immediately resonated with the men but provoked displeasure from several fierce women, resulting in a chorus of laughing curses and general merriment, instantly livening up the atmosphere that had grown solemn due to the Gao family daughter’s appearance.
Life was like this. As long as there were no military disasters or wars, no matter how difficult, one could find joy in hardship and live well.
Luoshen couldn’t hear the discussions behind her, nor was she concerned with them.
She sat in the swaying cart, looking through gaps in the curtains at this unfamiliar place outside.
To say it was completely unfamiliar wasn’t quite accurate.
Luoshen remembered that as a child, she had once accompanied her cousin to Guangling in Yangzhou, passing through Jingkou to cross the river by boat.
However, she was only seven or eight years old then, and it was just a passing through. Jingkou’s impression on her was of being poor and chaotic, full of bad people—she didn’t like it.
Now, after so many years, even those initial impressions had long become blurred.
Life truly takes unexpected turns.
When she was still a little girl passing through this place, how could she have imagined that years later, she would come here as a bride to face a strange man who would thereafter be called her “husband.”
A’Ju beside her seemed to sense her current mood, quietly reaching over to grasp her hand hidden beneath sleeves embroidered with beautiful patterns.
“Young Mistress, don’t worry. The Eldest Princess said that even if you marry now, you can divorce later.”
A’Ju seemed to hesitate momentarily, then leaned close to whisper in her ear.
Luoshen looked toward A’Ju, seeing her smile at her.
As if to prove the existence of this hope, she squeezed her hand firmly, then released it, turning to take the head covering and gently, lovingly placing it over her head.
“We’ve arrived. Young Mistress, don’t be afraid. A’Ju is here.”
Luoshen’s world was separated by that square veil.
The cart slowly stopped.
Around them were the sounds of cattle and horses, music playing loudly, and guests seemingly filling the roads.
Luoshen was helped down from the cart, continuing to step on the ground mats beneath her feet, crossing a threshold, entering the main gate, passing through a hanging flower gate, crossing a courtyard, and reaching the ceremonial hall.
Amid the surrounding din of voices, she heard the voices of her cousin Gao Yin and Feng Wei, who served as ceremonial official by imperial decree.
The ceremonial official announced the rites. Under the guidance of those beside her, she performed mutual bowing ceremonies with that completely invisible person opposite.
She bowed first, then rose.
The man bowed after, rising first.
Such was the protocol. Even though she was of noble status, once married down, this was how it had to be.
Husband superior, wife inferior—it seemed natural law.
And only through such mutual bowing could the ceremony be complete.
From this moment, it meant she had become a woman of the Li family, Li Mu’s wife.
Luoshen felt neither joy nor sorrow in her heart. Manipulated by others, she finally completed the wedding ceremony and, amid the renewed loud music, entered the bridal chamber.
Originally there should have been a custom of disturbing the bridal chamber to tease the bride, but perhaps because the Gao family daughter was too special, no one dared enter the bridal chamber to disturb her. After Luoshen entered, A’Ju had the maidservants distribute generous sweets and wedding money to the neighborhood children who came in. Soon everyone left, and the surroundings finally quieted down.
Luoshen removed the veil covering her head and face herself, casually tossing it aside.
This step was supposed to wait for the groom to enter and have him lift it.
A’Ju saw her remove it herself, hesitated slightly, but said nothing, only stepping forward to quietly ask if she wanted to eat.
Luoshen shook her head.
She didn’t want to eat and couldn’t eat, only looking around the room she was in.
Red candles burned in the room, illuminating everything brightly. The walls were freshly whitewashed, the floor even and dry. The sitting couch, tables, and screen were all new, and it was evident that even the doors and windows had been recently replaced.
The most conspicuous object in the room was naturally the bed.
That bed wasn’t the delicate and refined style Luoshen was accustomed to seeing, but rather the traditional northern style, emphasizing sturdiness and size—a bed that could last a hundred years. A canopy hung down from the bed, with curtain doors hooked up on both sides, revealing the brand-new bedding spread inside. At the head of the bed lay a long pillow embroidered with mandarin ducks playing among lotus flowers.
A’Ju had long since seen the Li family house—a three-courtyard quadrangle that would naturally be considered spacious for ordinary people. But for Luoshen…
A’Ju said quietly: “Young Mistress, if you’re not accustomed to this place, we can move to our own garden in a couple of days.”
Xiao Yongjia had long ago bought an estate near Jingkou for her daughter in the name of dowry.
Luoshen felt somewhat tired, sitting there without saying a word.
Seeing her show signs of fatigue, A’Ju came over to remove several heavy hair ornaments from her head, helped her remove her outer garments and shoes, and supported her as she lay down, saying gently: “There are many guests outside. Li Langjun won’t come in early. If you’re tired, rest first.”
Luoshen lay on her side on the bed, curling into a small ball, watching as A’Ju, Qiongshu, Yingtao and the other maidservants quietly went out. She stared at the red candle before her for a while, then slowly closed her eyes.